Shipping & Delivery:
Do You Need a Liftgate?
Ensuring your industrial lubricants arrive safely and efficiently. Understanding offloading requirements is critical to a successful delivery.
What is a Liftgate?
A liftgate is a specialized hydraulic platform attached to the back of a delivery truck. It is designed to lower heavy pallets or drums from the truck bed directly to the ground level.
Standard freight trucks stand approximately 4 feet off the ground. Without a loading dock or dedicated machinery, offloading industrial-sized oil shipments is physically impossible without a liftgate.
Handles weights up to 2,500 lbs safely.
When Do You Need One?
Use this decision guide to determine if your facility is equipped for standard freight delivery or requires liftgate assistance.
No Loading Dock
If your facility does not have a raised platform (dock height) for the truck to back into, a liftgate is mandatory.
No Forklift/Skid Steer
Truck drivers do not carry unloading equipment. If you cannot mechanically lift the pallet off the truck, you need a liftgate.
Residential/Curbside
Deliveries to shops, garages, or sites without industrial infrastructure almost always require a liftgate service.
Crucial: Failing to request a liftgate when needed may result in redelivery fees from the carrier exceeding $150.
Delivery
Protocols
Operating within industrial standards ensures safety for our drivers and your team. Please review our mandatory delivery notes.
No Automatic Equipment
Freight trucks do not automatically come equipped with liftgates or pallet jacks. These are premium services that must be scheduled in advance.
Customer Responsibility
The receiver is responsible for providing the dock or mechanical means (forklift, skid steer) to unload. Drivers are not permitted to manually lift heavy drums.
Driver Limits (Tail of Truck)
Drivers are responsible for getting the shipment to the 'tail' of the truck or to the ground (if a liftgate is present). Their liability ends at the pavement.
No Interior Delivery
Drivers WILL NOT move pallets or oil drums into buildings, garages, or up stairs. Delivery is curbside or dock-side only.
Signature Required
You MUST be on-site to receive and sign for freight shipments. Check for visible damage before signing the Bill of Lading (BOL).