Dock Board vs Dock Plate - What's The Difference?

Having the right equipment for the job can be the difference between a smooth shift and a nightmare disaster. If you've worked in a warehouse for a little while, you've most likely seen it yourself. Broken equipment, long delays, stuck cargo, lost business, or even worse - injuries.

Having the right equipment is crucial to ensuring smooth operations and reducing the risk of accidents. In particular, dock boards and dock plates are two essential pieces of equipment that are often used in loading and unloading goods from trucks and trailers. Let's take a look at the differences in Dock Boards vs Dock Plates.

What are dock boards used for?

Dock boards are essentially ramps that bridge the gap between a loading dock and a truck or trailer. They are usually made of steel and can be manually or electrically operated. Dock boards are commonly used when there is a height difference between the loading dock and the truck or trailer. They are designed to withstand heavy loads and can support the weight of forklifts and other heavy equipment.

What's the Difference Between Dock Plates and Dock Boards?

While dock plates and dock boards serve the same purpose, they differ in construction and weight capacity. Dock plates are typically made of aluminum and have a lower weight capacity than dock boards. They are designed for use with lighter equipment and loads, such as hand trucks and electric pallet jacks. Dock plates are usually portable and can be easily moved around as needed.

Dock boards, on the other hand, can often only be moved by forklift or pallet jack. They can be as heavy as 500-700lbs so lifting and moving them by hand is not an option.

Dock Board Features

• Made of steel
• Higher weight capacity than dock plates
• Designed to withstand heavy loads and support the weight of forklifts and other heavy equipment
• Available in different sizes and weight capacities to meet the needs of different warehouses and loading docks

Dock Plate Features

• Usually made of aluminum (but can also be made of metal)
• Lower weight capacity than dock boards
• Lightweight and portable, making them easy to move around as needed
• Available in different sizes and weight capacities to meet the needs of different warehouses and loading docks

Dock Board vs Dock Plate Prices

Dock boards are generally more expensive than dock plates due to their heavier construction and higher weight capacity.

At WAREHOUSEWIZ, we offer a range of dock boards and dock plates at affordable prices. For example, our Dock Board with the 13000lbs capacity costs only $900 - $1100. This is 30%-40% cheaper than other dock board suppliers out there.

Our signature Dock Plate with a 7300lbs capacity costs around $700-800, also much cheaper than the competition for the same features. We also offer a range of other sizes and weight capacities to meet the needs of different warehouses and loading docks.

Dock boards and dock plates are both essential pieces of equipment for loading and unloading goods from trucks and trailers. While they serve the same purpose, they differ in construction, weight capacity, and portability. At WAREHOUSEWIZ, we offer a range of dock boards and dock plates at affordable prices to meet the needs of different warehouses and loading docks. By choosing the right equipment for your warehouse, you can ensure smooth operations and reduce the risk of accidents.

We hope this article helped you. If you're not sure which one is right for you, please contact us and we will be happy to guide you through the process.