GANGWAYS & CAGES
Fall Protection for Truck and Rail Car Access
Easy and quick access from the loading platform to the tops of trucks and railcars is essential to keep the line moving and achieve profitable throughput.
When your loading terminal handles vehicles at a consistent, predictable height — hopper cars, cement trucks, pneumatic trailers, or frac sand tankers — a flat ramp gangway is the most reliable and cost-effective access solution. The Carbis Flat Ramp Gangway provides OSHA-compliant access to vehicle tops with a slip-resistant surface, spring-assisted operation, and optional safety cage enclosures. Custom-engineered to your platform height and vehicle fleet.
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Flat Ramp Gangway
Flat ramp gangways provide a safe, stable walkway for workers to move between docks and vessels or across uneven industrial surfaces, enhancing accessibility and reducing fall risks
Choose your optimal customization:
Material of construction – available in steel (galvanized, primed mill finished, or painted), stainless, aluminum, or fiberglass
Flat Ramp Design
Choose a flat ramp gangway when your vehicles sit at a consistent height every time — hopper cars, cement trucks, pneumatic tankers, and frac sand trailers are typical applications. A flat ramp gangway is simpler, lower maintenance, and well-suited to high-throughput bulk loading operations. If your terminal handles vehicles at varying heights — liquid tankers, mixed truck fleets — a folding self-leveling truck gangway is likely the better fit. Our engineers can assess your vehicle mix and recommend the right solution.
Safety Cage Integration
Carbis truck or railcar gangways are available with an integrated safety cage that provides continuous fall protection from the moment they step off the platform to when they reach the vehicle. The cage moves with the gangway, staying in position regardless of vehicle height, so there’s no gap in protection at the critical point of access. This design meets OSHA 29 CFR 1910.23 fall protection requirements for elevated walking-working surfaces giving your safety team the compliance documentation they need and your operators the confidence to work without hesitation.
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Available Widths | 24", 30", 36", 48" standard — custom widths available on request |
| Vehicle Application | Hopper cars, cement trucks, pneumatic/hopper trailers, frac sand tankers, and other fixed-height vehicles |
| Ramp Type | Fixed-angle flat ramp — designed for consistent, predictable vehicle hatch heights |
| Height Adjustment | Spring-assisted articulation — optimised for operations where vehicle height does not vary significantly |
| Actuation Options | Manual (spring-balanced) standard — optional pneumatic or hydraulic actuation available for high-cycle terminals |
| Deployment | Single-operator deploy and retract; spring-balance counterweight minimises operator effort |
| Load Capacity | Rated per OSHA 1910.23 requirements — contact Carbis for project-specific load data |
| Primary Materials | Aluminium structure with stainless steel hardware; hot-dip galvanised options available for corrosive environments |
| Walk Surface | Aggressive slip-resistant tread (open grating or solid) for secure footing in all weather conditions |
| Safety Cage Options | Hopper trailer cage, 2-rail railcar cage, 4-rail truck cage, custom configurations — See Safety Cages |
| Vehicle Protection | Padded lower contact edge to protect vehicle surfaces on deployment |
| Finish Options | Mill finish, primer-coated, powder-coated, or hot-dip galvanised — specify at time of order |
| Mounting | Fixed platform-mounted or track-mounted for multi-hatch access — see Track Mounted Gangways |
| Compliance | Designed to meet OSHA 29 CFR 1910.23 fall protection requirements OSHA ANSI A1264 |
| Custom Engineering | Every gangway is custom-built to your site requirements. We can visit your facility to specify the right solution. |
| Need specific dimensions or a non-standard configuration? Talk to a Carbis engineer → | |
Frequently Asked Questions
A flat ramp gangway is a fixed-angle access ramp that bridges the gap between a loading platform and the top of a vehicle — such as a hopper car, cement truck, or pneumatic trailer. Unlike a telescoping or self-leveling gangway, the flat ramp is designed for applications where the vehicle's hatch height is consistent and predictable, making it the most cost-effective access solution for bulk loading and unloading operations. The Carbis TCG-2000 Series is spring-assisted, manually operated, and available in multiple widths. Safety cage enclosures are available to meet OSHA fall protection requirements at the hatch.
A flat ramp gangway is the right choice when your vehicles sit at a consistent, fixed height every time. The most common applications include hopper cars, cement trucks, pneumatic trailers, and frac sand tankers — operations where platform-to-vehicle height variation is minimal or controlled. If your terminal handles vehicles at varying heights, a self-leveling folding stair gangway may be a better fit. Our engineers can assess your operation and recommend the right solution for your specific fleet and platform geometry.
Flat ramp gangways used for vehicle top access are subject to OSHA 29 CFR 1910.23, which covers walking-working surfaces and fall protection requirements. This standard addresses ramp angle, walking surface slip resistance, load capacity, and the requirement for fall protection at open hatch access points. Carbis flat ramp gangways are engineered to meet these requirements. When paired with a compatible safety cage, the integrated system provides OSHA-compliant fall protection at the hatch opening. Compliance documentation is available upon request — contact us to find out more.
Yes. Carbis offers flat ramp gangway models designed specifically for truck access (the TCG-2000 Truck series) and for railcar access (the TCG-2000 Railcar series). The primary difference is the ramp angle and platform geometry, which are configured to accommodate the height and hatch geometry of each vehicle type. Both models can be custom-engineered to your platform height, vehicle fleet, and site-specific requirements. Track-mounted options are available for multi-hatch railcar access.
Safety cages are almost always purchased alongside a flat ramp gangway to meet OSHA fall protection requirements. Carbis supplies the Hopper Trailer Cage (for pneumatic tankers and cement trucks), the 4-Rail Truck Cage (for liquid tank truck hatches), and the 2-Rail Railcar Cage (for hopper cars and flat railcars). Custom configurations are also available for non-standard vehicle types. All cages are designed as an integrated system with the gangway. See all Carbis safety cage options →
Contact Carbis Solutions directly to discuss your application. Our engineers will want to understand your platform height, vehicle type, hatch geometry, required gangway width, actuation preference, and any safety cage requirements. Call us at 1-800-948-7750 (US) or +1-843-669-6668 (Global), or use the Request a Quote form on this page. We serve customers across North America and internationally, and can visit your facility to specify the right solution.
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Talk to Us About a Solution Tailor Made for You
This is where our engineering team can work with you to assess your facility and how different gangway systems could be the solution you need. One option is the Series Flat Ramp Gangway, a manually operated, spring-assisted, articulating gangway that provides safe access to the tops of various types of truck and rail car vehicles.
This unit is particularly useful when you have trucks or rail cars passing through your loading bay that are a standard fixed height. As with all Carbis Solutions gangways, they can be custom-engineered to meet your specific needs.
Key Takeaways
A flat ramp gangway is the right choice when:
- Your vehicles sit at a consistent, fixed height every time
- You operate hopper cars, cement trucks, pneumatic trailers, or frac sand tankers
- Platform-to-vehicle height variation is minimal or controlled
You need a simple, reliable access solution without the complexity of a self-leveling stair
If your terminal handles vehicles at varying heights — tanker trucks with different dome heights,
for example — a folding self-leveling gangway may be the better fit. Our engineers can assess
your operation and recommend the right solution."
Engineering Safety Access Solutions
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✓ Run best-in-class safety measures
✓ Transform throughput
✓ Boost workforce morale and commitment
✓ Set you on the road for a better future




