- Location
- Chorley, Lancashire
- Main postcode district
- PR7
- Nearby (straight line)
- Leyland (4 miles), Darwen (7 miles) and Wigan (7 miles)
- Survey and quote
- Free, with a fixed written quote
A telescopic-lip dock leveller is a hydraulic pit leveller whose front lip slides forward out of the platform, rather than swinging on a hinge, and can be extended by a controlled amount onto the trailer bed. Telescopic lips commonly extend 500 to 1,000 mm, which lets operators reach over tail lifts, place the lip between pallets and load the last row in a trailer.
Why do sites in Chorley choose this?
Retail distribution sites in Chorley receiving both artics and tail-lift rigids at the same bays can handle the whole mix with a telescopic-lip leveller. Before recommending a lip extension for a dock in Chorley, we record the trailers that actually arrive, including tail lifts and rear overhangs.
A container-handling operation in Chorley can benefit from a telescopic lip, as container floors and chassis heights vary more than standard trailers.
Your loading bay stays our responsibility from the survey to the handover. In Chorley, the survey and written quote are free, and the quoted price is fixed for the agreed scope. Installation is carried out by specialist engineers working under our management, at times planned with you to protect your loading schedule. Out-of-hours work is available by arrangement. We finish by testing the equipment and handing over its documentation.
How should staff use a telescopic-lip leveller safely?
Staff should only operate a telescopic-lip leveller once the trailer is secured and the dock door is open, and should always return the lip and platform to the stored position before the trailer leaves. Simple routines prevent most damage.
- Extend the lip only as far as needed and check it has the overlap on the bed that the manufacturer specifies.
- Keep feet and loads clear of the platform sides while it moves; that is what the toe guards are for.
- Never operate the leveller with a forklift or load standing on it.
- Use the automatic return function where fitted, so the lip withdraws and the platform stores at the end of loading.
- Report hydraulic leaks, unusual noises or a sticking lip straight away.
Training new dock staff on these steps, and displaying them beside the control panel, keeps practice consistent across shifts.
How far should a telescopic lip extend?
A telescopic lip should extend far enough to reach clear bed space on every trailer you load, including over tail lifts, while still leaving a secure overlap on the bed. Telescopic lips commonly extend 500 to 1,000 mm.
- Around 500 mm: suits fleets without tail lifts that need precise placement and end loading.
- Up to around 1,000 mm: reaches over folded tail lifts and across the larger gap left where deep bumpers hold trailers back from the dock edge.
- Platform length: should match the lip, as a long reach on a short platform can leave steep gradients.
- Lip width: full-width lips suit most work, while narrower or tapered lips help with smaller vehicles.
We record the rear details of the trailers you receive, including tail lift depth and bumper projection, then recommend the shortest extension that covers them all. A longer lip than you need adds cost and weight without benefit.
The same published guide range applies across England; access, out-of-hours working and site conditions are confirmed at the free survey.
What do we check at the survey?
- Wheel guide positions and yard markings for reversing vehicles
- Drainage on recessed or sloping dock approaches
- Clear opening width and height for each door
- How often each door cycles during a typical shift
- Lighting inside trailers and at the dock face
- Access for deliveries, cranes or lifting equipment during installation
Options to discuss
Insulated cold store version
An insulated platform with perimeter seals for chilled and frozen docks, often paired with an inflatable shelter and an insulated dock door.
1,000 mm lip extension
A longer reach that clears folded tail lifts and deep bumper projections, so rigids and tail-lift trailers can be loaded at the same bay.
What do the rules in England mean for the work?
Workplace safety in England is regulated by HSE. For a loading bay in Chorley, that means doors meeting regulation 18 of the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992, equipment maintained under PUWER and suitable safeguards against vehicles driving away too early. We check what applies at survey and design the bay accordingly.
Questions about telescopic-lip dock levellers in Chorley
Is the site survey in Chorley free?
Yes. For new installations, replacements, upgrades, conversions and complete bays, the site survey and written quote are free and come with no obligation. The survey lets us measure the openings, check the dock and structure, and understand how the bay is used, so the quote reflects your site. Repair and servicing visits are different: they are chargeable, with the price agreed before anyone attends.
Will you deal with building control and planning for a project in Chorley?
We check at survey whether the work is likely to need approval. Forming a new opening or dock pit may need Building Regulations approval, a building warrant or building control approval, depending on the nation, and external structures such as loading houses can need planning permission. Where approval is needed, we explain what is involved, work with your designer or agent, and build it into the programme.
Can you work outside our normal operating hours in Chorley?
Yes, by arrangement. Evening, night and weekend working can be planned so the installation causes as little disruption as possible to your loading schedule. Out-of-hours work can affect the price, so mention it at the survey and we will include it in the written quote. The agreed times are confirmed in the programme before the job starts.
Can a telescopic lip bridge a larger gap to the trailer?
Yes, that is one of its strengths. Where deep bumpers hold the trailer further from the dock edge, a telescopic lip can extend to bridge a gap that a fixed swing lip may not cover. We check bumper projection at survey so the lip length suits the dock.
Are telescopic levellers suitable for cold stores?
Yes, telescopic levellers are widely used in cold stores because refrigerated trailers are often loaded right to the rear doors. Insulated platforms and perimeter seals reduce cold loss through the pit, and the leveller is usually interlocked with the door and shelter.
Telescopic-lip dock levellers near Chorley
Distances are measured from Chorley. Nearby towns we cover include Leyland (4 miles), Darwen (7 miles) and Wigan (7 miles), and other towns in the area are covered too.
Other loading bay services in Chorley
Full guide to telescopic-lip dock levellers · Everything we do in Chorley
Have photos of the door, leveller or shelter? Send them with your enquiry and we can give a clearer answer for your Chorley site.