- Location
- Alton, Hampshire
- Main postcode district
- GU34
- Nearby (straight line)
- Bordon (5 miles), Farnham (9 miles) and Basingstoke (9 miles)
- Survey and quote
- Free, with a fixed written quote
An edge-of-dock leveller is a compact leveller mounted on the front face or top edge of a loading dock, with no pit needed. A short hinged plate and lip bridge the gap between dock and trailer, but it can only cover a small height difference above and below dock level, so it suits sites where trailer bed heights are consistent.
Is this right for your site in Alton?
Tenants of leased warehouses in Alton who cannot cut into the slab may find an edge-of-dock leveller the most workable way to improve loading. Companies running their own vehicles in Alton, where every trailer has a known bed height, are well placed to use edge-of-dock levellers instead of pit units.
Wholesalers and trade suppliers in Alton adding a second loading position can often do so economically with an edge-of-dock unit.
Any project involving edge-of-dock levellers at a working site in Alton takes planning. We survey free of charge, quote a fixed price in writing, and then agree a programme that keeps as much of the dock running as possible. Specialist installation engineers carry out the work under our management, out of hours if that suits you better. On completion we test each item, show your team how it operates and leave the documentation with you.
Do edge-of-dock levellers need the same inspections as pit levellers?
Yes, an edge-of-dock leveller is work equipment just like a pit leveller, so it must be kept in a safe condition and inspected where deterioration could lead to danger. Its small size does not exempt it.
- Great Britain: PUWER 1998 applies, with HSE as the regulator.
- Northern Ireland: PUWER (Northern Ireland) 1999 applies, with HSENI as the regulator.
- Insurer inspections: engineering insurers commonly inspect dock levellers under PUWER at 12-month intervals, so ask your insurer to confirm edge-of-dock units are on the schedule.
- Standard: the dock leveller safety standard is BS EN 1398:2009, which is current and under review.
- Trapping points: HSE guidance notes that guards or skirting may be needed on dock levellers where something could be caught, so hinge areas and plate edges are checked.
Mechanical units rely on springs and hinges that wear, so an inspection should cover these as carefully as the hydraulics on a powered unit.
How much height difference can an edge-of-dock leveller handle?
An edge-of-dock leveller can only handle a small height difference, typically in the region of 75 to 150 mm above and below dock level depending on the model. That is enough where trailers are consistent, but not where bed heights vary widely.
Typical UK docks are around 1,200 mm above yard level, while trailer bed heights can range from roughly 900 to 1,600 mm across rigid, curtain-sider, refrigerated, double-deck and container chassis. If your trailers sit outside the leveller's range, the plate becomes too steep to use safely.
- Good fit: dedicated fleets or regular suppliers with similar trailers.
- Poor fit: sites receiving everything from low rigids to high double-deck trailers.
Where trailer heights vary, a pit leveller such as a swing-lip dock leveller gives a much longer, gentler ramp. We record your trailer heights at survey to confirm which suits.
The same published guide range applies across England; access, out-of-hours working and site conditions are confirmed at the free survey.
What we look at on site
- Working hours, shift patterns and windows for out-of-hours work
- Headroom above the opening and which track type will suit it
- Forklift and pallet truck loads crossing the leveller platform
- How drivers are prevented from pulling away too early
- Escape routes and pedestrian doors close to the bay
- Drainage on recessed or sloping dock approaches
Options to discuss
New edge steel and bumpers
A replacement steel edge angle and correctly positioned bumpers to give a sound fixing and protect the leveller from trailer impact.
Hydraulic edge-of-dock leveller
Push-button operation with a compact power pack, easier for frequent use and able to be interlocked with dock doors and traffic lights.
Planning, building control and safety law in England
Lift tables and dock lifts in Alton may fall under LOLER, with thorough examination at least every 12 months, or every 6 months where people are lifted. It depends on the equipment and how it is used, and your insurer or competent person will confirm. Dock levellers are usually treated as work equipment under PUWER. We check what applies at survey.
Questions about edge-of-dock levellers in Alton
How do you price edge-of-dock levellers for a site in Alton?
Guide budgets for supply and fit are £1,800 to £4,400 per leveller, excluding VAT. The figure moves with size, insulation, the operator, electrics, access, any pit or groundworks and out-of-hours working. Where levellers are involved, the guide assumes an existing, sound pit. After the free survey you receive a fixed written quote, and that is the price for the agreed scope.
Can you work alongside our main contractor on a new build in Alton?
Yes. For new warehouses and fit-outs, we can supply and install the dock package as part of a wider project, working to the main contractor's programme, site rules and permits. We will need drawings, dock levels and the programme, and we coordinate pit details, power supplies and door openings with the relevant trades before installation begins.
What warranty comes with new loading bay equipment?
New equipment comes with the manufacturer's warranty, which varies by product. Our workmanship terms are set out in writing in the quote for your Alton site, so you can see what is covered before you commit. Check the warranty terms for any servicing conditions, and we can quote for planned maintenance once the installation is complete.
Is an edge-of-dock leveller better than a loose dock plate?
For regular use, usually yes. A fixed edge-of-dock leveller cannot slide out of position or be dropped, and it does not need carrying between bays. Loose plates still have a place for occasional use, but they bring handling and slipping risks that a fixed unit avoids.
How long does an edge-of-dock leveller take to install?
Usually half a day to a day per bay, as there is no pit to form. Concrete or edge steel repairs add time, and hydraulic units also need connecting to power. We plan the work so the rest of the dock keeps operating while each bay is fitted.
Edge-of-dock levellers near Alton
If your site is not in Alton itself, it may be near one of these: Bordon (5 miles), Farnham (9 miles) and Basingstoke (9 miles). Pick the closest.
Other loading bay services in Alton
Full guide to edge-of-dock levellers · Everything we do in Alton
Phone us to discuss your loading bay in Alton, or start with the online quote tool if you prefer to send details first.