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Although it is not very common you can use a lift truck on a dock lift if the dock lift is properly sized, rated and equipped. Some of the factors to first consider. The dock lift platform size should accommodate the overall length of the lift truck with the longest load that the lift truck will be carrying. The width of the dock lift should be sized to allow the lift truck operator to exit the lift truck and move around freely on the platform. When selecting the dock lift capacity consider a combination of the overall weight of the empty lift truck plus the maximum load weight that the lift truck is rated to carry. Higher capacity dock lifts are often rated in 5,000 lb increments; select the next capacity higher than the total of the weight to be lifted. A very common option for this application is equipping the dock lift with an Automatic Hydraulic Roll Off Stop. The automatic roll off stop is a powered bridge plate installed on the end of the dock lift platform opposite the truck end. When the dock lift is in the lowered position the automatic roll off stop is flat and level allowing the lift truck to drive across it and onto the dock lift platform. As soon as the lift button is activated the automatic hydraulic roll off stop immediately powers upward into the almost vertical position behind the lift truck. The roll off stop now acts as a barrier to prevent the lift truck from accidentally driving off the dock lift when it is in the raised position. When the dock lift is returned to the fully lowered position the hydraulic roll off stop automatically retracts to the flat level position. The lift truck can now safely exit the dock lift platform.