Tail-Lift & Tailgate Delivery in Brisbane

A tail lift is a powered platform on the back of a truck that raises and lowers freight between the deck and the ground. Tailgate delivery uses that platform so heavy or palletised goods can be delivered to sites that have no forklift and no loading dock. Road Linx Transport runs tail-lift trucks from three to 12 tonnes across Brisbane, which means we can deliver almost anywhere, not just to places set up for trucks.

If your delivery point is a shopfront, a home, a small unit or a bare block, this is the service that gets heavy freight off the truck safely.

Why tailgate delivery matters

Most freight assumes there's a forklift waiting at the other end. A lot of the time there isn't. Without a tail lift, the only options are a risky manual lift or turning the delivery away, and neither is good for anyone.

The tail lift solves it. The platform takes the weight, the driver operates it, and a pallet that weighs several hundred kilos comes down to ground level under control. No forklift, no dock, no injuries.

Where tail-lift trucks earn their keep

• Retail shopfronts and strip shops with no rear dock
• Cafes, gyms and fit-outs taking heavy equipment
• Residential and home-business deliveries
• New or interim premises before the dock and forklift are in
• Construction sites where the forklift is tied up or not there yet

Anywhere the freight is heavier than a couple of people should lift, and the site can't lift it for you, a tailgate delivery is the safe answer.

Trucks and capacities

We run tail lifts across a range of truck sizes so the vehicle suits both the load and the access.

Smaller tail-lift trucks

Three to six-tonne tail-lift utes and trucks handle single pallets, appliances and equipment, and they fit into tight streets and car parks where a big truck can't turn.

Larger tail-lift trucks

Up at the eight to 12-tonne end, the tail lift handles heavier pallets and multiple items while still delivering to a ground-level site. This is the middle ground between a small ute and a full semi-trailer.

Safe operation, every drop

A tail lift is only as good as the person running it. Our drivers are trained to load, restrain and operate the lift correctly, so the platform is used within its rating and the freight is stable while it's being raised or lowered. The same Chain of Responsibility discipline that applies on the road applies at the tailgate.

It's a small detail that prevents the two most common tailgate problems, which are damaged stock and hurt people.

Pairing tail lift with other services

Tailgate delivery slots into plenty of our other work. A distribution run might use tail-lift trucks for the drops without docks. A taxi truck job to a shopfront will go on a tail-lift vehicle. A warehouse move into a new unit uses the tail lift until the site's own gear is installed. You don't need to book it separately, just tell us the delivery has no forklift and we'll send the right truck.

Booking a tail-lift delivery

• Tell us the weight and size of the freight and the access at the delivery point.
• We match the tail-lift truck to the load and the site.
• We deliver, lower the freight to ground level safely and place it where you need it.
• You get a signed POD on request.

Tell us about the delivery point

A tailgate delivery goes smoothly when we know what the truck is arriving to. The tail lift needs firm, level ground to work on, so a few details up front save time and prevent a failed drop.

• Ground surface at the delivery point: sealed, gravel, grass or dirt
• Any slope or gradient near where the truck will park
• Parking and access for the truck size, including low clearances
• How far the freight needs to go from the truck to its final spot

With that information we send the right size truck and the driver arrives ready. Soft or steeply sloped ground can affect how a tail lift operates, so it's always worth flagging.