A dock leveler (12) includes a vehicle-engaging pivotal lip (26) extending from the front end (22) of a pivotal deck (16), wherein the lip has one or more unique features that provide a smooth transition for forklifts traveling between the lip and a trailer bed (14) upon which the lip is resting. The smooth transition minimizes jolting and vibration of the forklift and its driver as the forklift wheels pass over the leading edge of the lip. The special features of the lip may include one or more of the following: a curved traffic-bearing surface (42,60,84) terminating at a sharp or blunt leading edge (34 a-g), a traffic-bearing surface (70) that includes both flat (50,72) and curved (74) sections, a multifaceted traffic-bearing surface (62) that approximates a curved surface, a rubber or plastic shock absorbing element, (78,86,114), an articulated nose piece (98) at the lip's leading edge, and a main lip plate (106,116) that is coplanar with the deck's traffic surface (36) (i.e., zero crown angle).