Also known as a tail lift, this is a mechanical device that is installed on the back of trucks to enable the handling of goods. It either gets cargo from the ground level to the truck's bed or from the truck's bed to the ground level.

The majority of liftgates utilize pneumatic, hydraulic, or mechanical mechanisms to facilitate operation. An operator typically uses an electric relay switch to control the movement. A liftgate is usually employed when there is either no equipment to load/offload cargo or when using such equipment is impractical.

Also, if the loading dock is a raised platform, a liftgate can serve as a bridge to aid the loading of goods.

Most liftgates can lift up to 5000 pounds.