Edge of Dock Levelers | Loading Dock Plates | Loading Dock Leveler

Now that you have installed your dock leveler, it is finally time for the fun part – operating it. We have instructions for hydraulic operation in our manual. Here are some high points in regard to operating a non-hydraulic edge of dock leveler.

It is essential to reference all safety points before beginning to operate our edge-of-dock dock leveler.

Before operating a dock leveler, it is important to understand the basic concept of how this equipment is meant to work.

The edge-of-dock dock leveler is intended to bridge any gaps caused by height differences between a loading dock and a freight carrier. Filling these gaps makes for safer and more efficient freight transfer. Our mechanical edge-of-dock dock leveler is spring counterbalanced. The hand leveler is used to position the ramp and the lip onto the truck bed and also to return the dock leveler to the store position. The hand leveler also controls the lip extension link. Moving the lever forward extends the lip of the dock leveler onto the truck, and then off the truck after the load has been moved.

With those basics in mind, here are the steps required to operate a Copperloy edge-of-dock dock leveler.

Step 1: Wait until the truck is in the proper position against the dock bumpers. Doing anything prematurely can result in property damage and/or serious injuries.

Step 2: Alert the driver of the industrial vehicle that the truck needs to stay at the dock

Step 3: Chock or hitch the truck at that point.

Step 4: Remove the end loads once the dock leveler is in the stored position.

Step 5: Now it’s time to extend the dock leveler lip into the truck.

Step 5.1: Insert the hand leveler into the lever socket you’ll see on the right side of the ramp plate. Make sure you keep both hands firmly on the hand leveler while you are lowering or raising the dock leveler, and keep all other people and body parts clear. Never use legs or feet to move or hold the hand lever.

Step 5.2: Pull back the hand lever until the lip extender link is properly situated on the extender pivot bushing (for diagrams, please reference our manual).

Step 5.3: Raise the hand lever so that the lip extends as the ramp is lowered.

Step 5.4: Once the dock leveler is securely on the truck bed, the hand lever can be removed. Do not operate the dock leveler when anyone is on it or in front of it, and all personnel should stand clear while the dock leveler is moving. No one should walk or drive on the dock leveler or lip until it is fully extended and supported by the truck bed. Do not use a fork truck or any other material handling equipment to lower the ramp or the lip section. The dock leveler should be operated only as indicated here.

Step 6: The team can now load or unload.

Step 7: Once everything has been loaded or unloaded, the dock leveler can be returned to its stored position. The hand lever is reinserted into the socket on the right side of the ramp plate. Pull on the hand lever until the lip clears the truck bed. Once everything is in its stored position, the hand lever can be removed and the truck can be unchoked or released. Make sure the truck does not leave before the dock leveler is in its fully stored position. If the truck pulls away too soon, the lip will fall to the pendant position. The hand lever needs to be used to return the dock leveler to its proper position, or serious injury or death can result.

Step 8: Verbally alert the driver that the truck can leave the dock once everything is secure.