A freight delivery can arrive at the right address and still hit a dead end if they don’t have a way for the team to unload the vehicle. Without a loading dock, suitable forklift, or other safe unloading method, a liftgate may be necessary to complete the delivery.
What is liftgate service and how does it work?
A liftgate is a hydraulic platform attached to a truck or trailer. It raises and lowers freight between truck-bed height and ground level.
During an unload, the freight is moved onto the liftgate platform while it is level with the truck bed. The platform then lowers the load to the ground. From there, the freight can be moved away from the truck with the appropriate material-handling equipment.
In other words, the liftgate replaces the missing connection between an elevated truck bed and a ground-level receiving area.
Liftgate service generally covers that vertical movement. If the freight also needs to be moved inside a building, positioned in a particular area, or handled in another specific way after unloading, those requirements should be discussed separately when booking.
3 reasons a freight delivery needs a liftgate
A missing loading dock by itself does not mean every shipment needs a liftgate. The decision comes down to three things: the loading dock, the equipment available, the safety needs of the job.
Reason #1: The location does not have a loading dock
When there is a loading dock present, the truck can back up to a raised receiving platform. A dock plate or dock leveler bridges the small gap between the trailer floor and the dock, acting as a surface that forklifts and pallet jacks can travel across.
Freight can then be moved directly out of the trailer and into the facility without first lowering it to the ground.
But when the delivery address is a ground-level location, this option simply isn’t available. The trailer floor is elevated above the pavement, and although a pallet jack can move a pallet across a surface, it can’t lower it from the truck to the ground.
With a liftgate, the freight is moved onto a platform at truck-bed height. The platform then lowers the freight to the ground.
Reason #2: There is no forklift available
A forklift can sometimes remove heavy or palletized freight without a liftgate by lifting the load directly from the truck.
But if there isn’t a suitable forklift available when the truck arrives, the carrier will need a different way to lower the freight.
This is why dock and forklift availability are important questions when booking. The answers tell the carrier whether the location can unload the freight with its own equipment or whether the truck needs to arrive with a liftgate.
Reason #3: The freight cannot be safely unloaded by hand
The other side of the equation is the freight itself.
Small or lightweight items may be removable without mechanical equipment even when a location has no dock. Heavy pallets, crates, machinery, and other large pieces can be different. Their weight, dimensions, or packaging may make manually lowering them from truck-bed height impractical or unsafe.
Being palletized does not automatically mean a shipment needs a liftgate. If the site has a usable dock or forklift, it may already have a way to unload the pallet.
What your carrier needs to know before dispatch
Once you know liftgate service may be needed, the carrier still has to determine which truck and lift equipment can handle the shipment.
When you call your carrier to get a quote, make sure you the following information ready:
- Weight of the heaviest handling unit: Give the weight of the individual pallet, crate, piece of equipment, or other unit that will be placed on the liftgate.
- Dimensions: Length, width, and height help determine whether the freight will fit on the liftgate platform and can be handled safely.
- How the freight is packaged: Let the carrier know if it is palletized, crated, boxed, or irregularly shaped.
- Which location needs the liftgate: Specify if it is required at pickup, delivery, or both.
- Site access: Mention conditions that could affect the truck or unloading area, including gates, restricted entrances, tight access, or other known limitations. These details can be especially important for jobsite and construction deliveries.
- What needs to happen after unloading: If the freight requires additional handling after it reaches ground level, describe that when requesting the quote rather than assuming it is part of liftgate service.
These details give the carrier the information needed to evaluate the load and the equipment rather than relying on the word “liftgate” alone.
Frequently asked questions about liftgate service
What’s the weight limit on a liftgate?
There is no universal liftgate weight limit.
Capacity varies by liftgate model. That makes the most important number the total load that will be on the liftgate platform during operation. That can include the freight, pallet or packaging, material-handling equipment, and operator, depending on how the load is handled.
Give the carrier accurate weight and dimensions so it can determine whether the assigned equipment is suitable.
Is a liftgate the same as a pallet jack?
No. They perform different parts of the unloading process.
A liftgate raises or lowers freight between the truck and ground. A pallet jack is designed to move palletized loads across a surface when vertical stacking is not required. Crown identifies pallet trucks as material-handling equipment used for applications including loading, unloading, and transporting pallets.
They can be used together. A liftgate may lower a pallet to ground level, while a pallet jack moves it away from the truck.
Does liftgate service cost extra?
That depends on the carrier. A1 Xpress uses flat-rate pricing quoted before dispatch. Tell the team that a liftgate is required when requesting the quote so the equipment and handling requirements are known upfront. For more on how carrier charges are structured, see our guide to how freight pricing works.
Plan the unload before the truck arrives
A liftgate requirement is easier to address when the shipment is being booked than when the driver is already at the receiving site.
Tell A1 Xpress what you’re moving, the weight and dimensions of the freight, and how the pickup and delivery locations are equipped. Call 732-431-9112 to request a freight quote.