Dock levellers and lifts are generally permanent fixtures at each door of a dock.
Dock plates and dock boards are generally, by contrast, portable, and not fixed either to dock or truck.
Aluminium dock plates are thus more suitable for lighter loads, such as handcarts and dollies,
whereas steel dock boards are more suitable for heavier motorized equipment such as fork lift trucks and electric pallet trucks.
Another difference between dock plates and dock boards, in addition to their load-bearing capabilities, is their construction.
Dock plates are simple flat plates, whereas dock boards have curbs, bolted or welded to the edge of the board.