Liftgate Delivery: A Site Preparation Checklist
Check access, surface, pallet size and unloading arrangements before booking a liftgate delivery to a storefront or job site.
Published by Big Mack Trucking LLC
Start with where the truck will stop
A liftgate lowers freight from the truck bed to ground level. It does not solve every problem between the road and the receiving door. Before booking, identify a stopping place where a straight truck can unload without blocking a junction or requiring the driver to reverse into an unsafe space.
Check the approach as well as the delivery address: overhead obstructions, tight turns, parking restrictions, steep slopes and access hours all affect the plan. Send photos of the approach and unloading area if the site is difficult to describe. Arrange permission for any private loading space before the truck arrives.
Measure the complete pallet
Give dispatch the length, width, height and gross weight of each pallet, including its packaging. Product dimensions alone omit the skid and overhang. The liftgate platform must accommodate the freight and the equipment needed to handle it.
Big Mack lists a 3,500-lb liftgate, but that rating is not a promise that every 3,500-lb item can be unloaded. The pallet jack and any other load on the platform count too; platform dimensions, load position and the equipment instructions also matter. Dispatch must confirm the individual move.
- Describe oversized bases, uneven loads and any overhang.
- Flag freight that cannot be tilted, stacked or exposed to weather.
- Tell dispatch whether a forklift is available at either end.
Check the route from the liftgate
A standard pallet jack needs a suitable, firm rolling surface. Gravel, soft soil, broken pavement, thresholds and steps can prevent movement even after the pallet reaches ground level. Measure doors and corridors against the outside dimensions of the loaded pallet.
For example, a pallet that fits through a doorway may still be impossible to turn inside a narrow entrance. Photograph the whole path and disclose slopes. Do not assume a liftgate quote includes carrying freight up stairs, unpacking it, or moving it through a building. Confirm the agreed handoff point in writing.
Assign someone to receive it
Give the carrier a receiver name and a phone number answered during the delivery window. The receiver should know where freight belongs and have access to the premises. Confirm an appointment with the facility rather than relying on the business hours shown in a directory.
Keep the unloading route clear. At delivery, compare the piece count with the paperwork and record visible exceptions before signing. If a pallet cannot be unloaded safely, stop and agree a revised plan with dispatch instead of improvising equipment.
Copy this checklist into your quote request
These details let a carrier identify unsuitable equipment before dispatch and price the agreed service. Final acceptance depends on the specific truck, site and freight.
- Pickup and delivery addresses, contact names and opening hours.
- Pallet count; length × width × height and gross weight per pallet.
- Dock or no dock at each end; forklift availability.
- Photos of access restrictions and the intended unloading path.
- Appointment window and agreed delivery point: curb, dock or another confirmed location.
- Any inside delivery, special handling or return requirements to price separately.
References and equipment checks
Use these official references alongside the instructions for the actual equipment and facility.
Related planning guide
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