Abstract: A dock leveler assembly includes a base and a ramp that is pivotably movable under the influence of a biasing arrangement to a raised position. The ramp is lowered into engagement with a truck bed, preferably via a lip connected to the outer end of the ramp, and a holddown assembly maintains the ramp in a lowered position during loading and unloading of the truck bed against the force of a biasing arrangement that urges the ramp toward a raised position. The holddown assembly includes an extendible and retractable mechanism which is selectively fixed in position to maintain the ramp in a desired position. A “float” apparatus using a compression spring accommodates a certain amount of vertical movement of the ramp as the truck bed moves up and down during loading and unloading.