What is the commonly used term for the steel plate that spans the gap between a truck and a loading dock?

• A. Ramp plates
• B. Dock plates
• C. Bridge plates
• D. Gap plates

Answer: (B)

Spanning the gap between a truck and the loading dock to create a safe, continuous surface for forklift wheels is the main idea here. The term you’ll most often hear for that steel plate is dock plates. They’re portable plates designed to cover the gap, providing a level, smooth path for pallets and forklift movement. Good dock plates have beveled edges to prevent wheels from catching, a non-slip surface, and a load rating appropriate for the loads being moved, and they’re positioned securely so they don’t shift during transfer.

Ramp plates and bridge plates aren’t the standard term in this context. Ramp plates imply a slope, which isn’t the typical flat-plate solution used to bridge a dock gap, and bridge plates can refer to other bridging devices. Gap plates isn’t a recognized term for this equipment.