If you are ordering one of the thousands of pieces of restaurant equipment that Central Restaurant Products offers, you will need to consider how the product will be received. Typically, heavy equipment—refrigerators, ovens, dishwashers, and the like—is shipped on a pallet and arrives on a semi-truck. If you have access to a loading dock at your facility, that’s great! The truck will pull up, and you should be good to go. However, how will you get your product off the truck without a dock? That’s where liftgate service comes into play.
What is a Liftgate?
Liftgate service is a delivery option that you can request through your Central product consultant for an additional charge. A liftgate is a hydraulic lift on the back of a truck that lowers freight from the truck to the curb or street. It is an essential feature to have if you don’t have a way to get the product off the truck yourself. See the following video to see a liftgate in action.
Why You Need Liftgate Delivery Service
At this point you may be wondering if the benefits of liftgate service outweight the costs.
Sam Rairden, a freight strategist with Central, puts it this way: “The most important thing that I think our customers forget is they just purchased a $2,000+ top-heavy unit and just how dangerous (to both them and the equipment) it is to try and offload without the proper equipment. Paying to have it offloaded upfront saves them time, money, and ensures that the professionals handle the riskiest part of the delivery is handled.”
What’s important to note is that not every truck is equipped with a liftgate. To guarantee a liftgate delivery when you order, make a note at checkout or tell your product consultant that you will need liftgate service. If you need additional assistance like having the equipment brought inside or uncrated, your product consultant can help set that up for you, as well.
If you’re not sure whether you need it, just ask! If you don’t request liftgate service and your delivery is unable to be moved off the truck, the carrier will likely charge you a re-delivery fee in addition to the liftgate fee that you’ll also have to pay.
If you need assistance ordering a liftgate, speak to a product consultant at 800-215-9293.
Cody Bell is a content specialist with Central Restaurant Products. With over 7 years of experience in the foodservice industry, Cody has developed knowledge on topics from all aspects of commercial foodservice, from the front of the house to back of the house. He is a NAFEM Certified Foodservice Professional. In his free time, Cody likes to spend time with his wife and puppy.
