Liftgate Services - LTL Accessorials

If you’re wondering what is liftgate delivery or how trucks with lift gates work, then this guide will walk you through everything you need to know. We’re going to unwrap what is liftgate service, what the service includes, the key components, when it’s required and what is the actual cost.

Let’s begin with the most important: liftgate meaning!

Liftgate Meaning in Shipping - What Is a Lift Gate Service?

If you’re wondering what is a liftgate is for freight shipping services, this refers to the foldable metal stand or platform, attached to the rear of freight trucks. The lift gate helps with the heaviest objects such as giant boxes and pallets that need to be loaded or unloaded and works with a press of a button.

There are different types of lift gates, and the platform size may vary, ranging from 80 to 89 inches in width, as well as 30 to 70 inches deep. The liftgate weight limit can range from 1500 lbs to 3500 lbs and the platform can weigh more than 150 pounds.

That’s everything regarding the lift gate service meaning, so let’s check what it involves!

What Does Liftgate Service Include?

Now that you know what is a lift gate, let’s review some of the key components the service includes:

Trucks With Lift Gate

The primary component of the lift gate delivery service is the trucks with lift gate, used to deliver the cargo and unload it at the specific location. The liftgate-equipped vehicle could be a box truck, pickup truck, flatbed truck, van, semi-truck, or any other specialized vehicle.

Loading and Unloading

The primary benefit of the liftgate services is the accessibility and opportunity to entirely bypass the loading dock since the hydraulic lift can load and unload at different heights.

This allows the loading and unloading of bulky and oversized objects that cannot be lifted manually, minimizing the risk of damage.

Driver’s Helping Hand

You can also count on the driver’s training in operating the pickup truck liftgate, to assist you throughout the loading and unloading process. This guarantees the smooth handling of the cargo as well as minimizing the risk of injury to the personnel.

Designated Locations

A service truck lift gate also includes delivery to designated locations such as construction sites, driveways, warehouses, and everywhere wheels can get you. Hence, you don’t need a specialized location, but the liftgate delivery service is most useful for residential sites without a loading dock.

Why Would a Lift Gate Be Required?

Now that we know what is a lift gate delivery, and how it works, it’s time to learn more about when the service is required. The primary reason why a business would need a lift gate service is when there are pieces of equipment, oversized objects, or cargo that cannot be lifted manually.

Another reason why your business would require a lift gate service is when the freight weighs 150 pounds or more and there is no shipping dock available. Hence, with a liftgate truck, the freight can be loaded at any site, without specialized docking required and no manual lifting.

Now you know what is lift gate service, and when it’s required, so let’s proceed with the types!

Types of Lift Gates - Know the Options!

Now, when knowing what is a liftgate on a truck, you should also familiarize yourself with what is a lift gate truck equipped with. Let’s review some of the most popular lift gate types and options!

Railgate Lift Gates

This type of lift gate is primarily attached to the truck’s rails and provides a big open platform that goes vertically. The railgate lift gates are mainly designed to lift the heaviest cargo out there and are perfect for industrial freight shipping, commonly used in box trucks.

Cantilever Lift Gates

These platforms are designed to move horizontally reaching the loading dock lift gate with the opportunity for tilting, which allows for handling the cargo on uneven surfaces. Hence, the cantilever lift gates are perfect for providing versatility and stability for big-time freight applications.

Column Lift Gates

The column lift gates are perfect for loading and unloading which require perfect leveling of the shipment, providing outstanding stability of the gate service. These lift gates are primarily used on longer trucks in industrial freight delivery applications.

Slider Lift Gates

The slider lift gates are designed to provide an open space for the cargo area since they slide out from underneath the truck bed. These gates are ideal for trucks with lift gates that require full use of the truck’s bed, making them a perfect fit for commercial freight shipping needs and loading with a pallet jack.

Note: There are even more types of lift gates such as tuckaway and flipaway liftgates which unfold from beneath and provide extra space.

Which Carriers Offer Lift Gates?

So, we now know what is a liftgate delivery, when it’s required, and what are the different types, but which carriers actually offer it?

Well, there are logistics companies and freight carriers that offer lift gate services, for helping with loading and unloading bulky and heavy items. To name a few let’s mention:

  • UPS Freight
  • FedEx Freight
  • YRC Freight
  • Estes Freight
  • XPO Logistics
  • Roadrunner Freight
  • ABF Freight
  • R+L Carriers

So now that you know what is liftgate, how it aligns with your business, you can contact some of the freight shipping companies providing the service and request a shipment. However, don’t forget to ask how much does a liftgate weigh and whether their vehicle is capable of handling your specific cargo.

There is one important thing left to discuss, and this is the price, so keep reading…

How Much Does Lift Gate Delivery Service Cost?

With the liftgate delivery meaning aside, the next question that comes to mind is how much it costs.

Well, the average lift gate charge is between $100 and $250, considering that there might be an extra charge, based on the location, type of cargo, and the carrier you’re working with.

Hence, there is no way to tell exactly how much your liftgate freight delivery will cost until you leave a quote or call for a discussion. Simply ask what is lift gate delivery cost, they will ask you a few questions about your lift gate delivery service requirements and share the price.

Wrapping Up:

So, in this guide, we’ve learned exactly what is a lift gate on a truck, how the service aligns with businesses, the benefits, and the cost. We can conclude that if there is cargo that cannot be lifted manually and no loading dock is available at the site, liftgate services will come in handy.

You must now know everything about what is a liftgate for shipping, so you’re ready for an order!