- Location
- Fleetwood, Lancashire
- Main postcode district
- FY7
- Nearby (straight line)
- Thornton-Cleveleys (4 miles), Poulton-le-Fylde (6 miles) and Blackpool (8 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.
Where does this fit at a dock in Fleetwood?
Replacing loose bridge plates at a dock in Fleetwood with a fixed edge-of-dock leveller removes the need to lift and position heavy plates by hand. Tenants of leased warehouses in Fleetwood who cannot cut into the slab may find an edge-of-dock leveller the most workable way to improve loading.
If trailer heights at a site in Fleetwood vary widely, our survey will tell you plainly whether an edge-of-dock leveller can cope or a pit leveller is needed.
If you are planning edge-of-dock levellers for a site in Fleetwood, expect four stages. A free survey and fixed written quote come first. We then agree a programme with you, including any out-of-hours work. Specialist installation engineers carry out the installation under our management, with us as your single point of contact. Finally, the equipment is tested, your staff are shown how it works and everything is handed over with its documentation.
How is an edge-of-dock leveller fitted to an existing dock?
An edge-of-dock leveller is fixed to the front face or top edge of the dock from the yard side, and installation usually takes around half a day to a day per bay. No digging is involved.
- The dock face is inspected, and damaged concrete or worn edge steel is repaired or replaced first if needed.
- The leveller is positioned centrally on the door opening and bolted or welded in place.
- Bumpers are fitted or repositioned so trailers stop at the right distance from the plate.
- On hydraulic units, the power pack and controls are connected.
- The leveller is tested across its working range.
You will need to keep the yard approach to the bay clear, take the bay out of use and, for hydraulic units, provide a power supply near the door or ask us to include one. Because the work is outside, very wet or freezing weather can affect welding and fixing, so we keep the date flexible where we can.
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.
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
- Scope to convert ground-level doors into docks or add lift tables
- Clear opening width and height for each door
- Temperature requirements for chilled, frozen or ambient goods
- Whether planning, building control or a building warrant may be needed
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.
Wider or heavy-duty plate
A wider plate or higher rating for larger forklifts, heavy loads or pallet trucks with a wide wheel track, specified after we look at your equipment.
Which rules apply in England?
Lift tables and dock lifts in Fleetwood 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 Fleetwood
Can you work alongside our main contractor on a new build in Fleetwood?
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.
Which building and safety rules apply to a site in Fleetwood?
It depends on which UK nation the site is in. England and Wales use Building Regulations approval, Scotland uses building warrants and Northern Ireland uses building control approval from the council. Workplace safety is regulated by HSE in Great Britain and HSENI in Northern Ireland, and energy rules differ between nations. For your site in Fleetwood, we check what applies at survey and design to it.
Do you remove and dispose of the old equipment?
Yes, where it is part of the scope. When we replace doors, levellers, shelters or seals at a site in Fleetwood, removal and disposal of the old equipment can be included and is itemised in the quote, so it is clear what is covered. If anything should be kept, such as a frame or motor that is still serviceable, we agree that at survey.
Can edge-of-dock levellers be used with vans?
Usually not. Edge-of-dock levellers are designed for trailers whose beds sit close to dock height, and many vans sit well below a typical dock, beyond the leveller's range. A lift table or a ground-level door is normally the better way to handle vans.
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 Fleetwood
Other towns within reach of Fleetwood on our coverage list include Thornton-Cleveleys (4 miles), Poulton-le-Fylde (6 miles) and Blackpool (8 miles), all covered on the same terms.
Other loading bay services in Fleetwood
Full guide to edge-of-dock levellers · Everything we do in Fleetwood
Tell us what is happening at your Fleetwood dock, what equipment is there and when it is used, and we will suggest the right next step.