Container Ramps

There are many different types of container ramps, but they all serve the same purpose — to load and unload cargo from a truck or ship. These ramps can be made from steel or aluminium, depending on your budget and needs.

Standard Container Ramps

This container ramp is designed for getting pallet jacks in and out of shipping containers. Standard container ramps provide forklift access to shipping containers by bridging into standard 3m, 6m and 12m containers from ground level. A forklift is required to move this ramp. Access is using the tyne pockets located at the front or side of the ramp.

Fold-Out or Two-Piece Container Ramps

Fold-out container ramp is designed with a flip-over extension footing and is used for bridging into standard shipping containers from ground level. When used on slightly uneven ground, the self-levelling lip allows for full load capacity. Ideal for when you need the incline from the container to be as shallow as possible. This ramp can be easily relocated by forklift. Lifting holes become accessible to a forklift’s tynes when the footing has been folded over.

Long Container Ramps

This type of container ramp usually comes in standard 3m length, giving you extra space to operate when offloading packed containers, and has a safe working load (SWL) of 8000kg. The additional length allows operators to easily place and remove pallets into a container and also provides peace of mind when using forklifts, as the SWL can easily accommodate the load capacity of most forklift trucks.

Reefer or Refrigerated Container Ramps

Refrigerated containers, also known as Reefer Containers, need higher ramps due to the entry point being higher than standard containers. Since the floors of reefer containers are higher than those of a standard container, it needs higher ramps to bridge the ground and the container floor. Reefer ramps are mostly higher compared to standard ramps though some are self-levelling. They also have longer flaps so that the ramp doesn’t have to be butted completely flush with the container.

Lightweight Container Ramps

Lightweight container ramps are portable ramps that are typically made of aluminium, though some are made of rubber or steel. Most have two handles on each side, making them very easy to carry and position. They are designed to allow pallet trucks or trolleys to easily access Standard 6m and 12m shipping containers.

1. Platform Length

When using a container ramp to load and unload a shipping container, one factor to consider is the length of the top platform area of the ramp. The length you need will be determined by what sort of machine you will be loading/unloading with, how close the pallets are to the container ceiling, and how far they are sitting within the container doorway.

The machine will be more angled when entering the container if the platform is shorter. When entering a container when the flat platform is too short, the forklift's rear wheels remain on the angled section of the ramp, causing the forklift to enter the container at an angle. This can make it difficult to access the first pallets in the container or cause a very tall pallet to hit the ceiling when entering or leaving the container.

2. Tyne Pockets

Most container ramps are built with tyne pockets on either the front or side part. Fork pockets provide easy movement and positioning of the ramp 

3. Side guards

Raised side rails or side guards prevent forklifts, carts, and pallet trucks from going over the edge of the ramp.