The patented HYDRA CAM^TM lip control is designed to decrease walk-down force on levelers, including those made for heavy capacities and with larger lips. Its counterbalance mechanism improves lip extension, and when the hold-down is released, the dock leveler raises and the lip is extended gently, without the violent action of other lip mechanisms. Once extended, the lip remains this way until the operator starts to walk the leveler down. A hydraulic shock-absorbing cylinder controls the rate of lip fall as the leveler is walked down to the truck. The lip is yieldable throughout the entire working range.