Structural response of quay crane should be paid more attention to with the growth of worldwide logistics demand. This paper analyzes the response mechanism of the metallic structure of the quay crane induced by trolley traveling. On-site test is conducted. The time domain of crane girder acceleration signal shows that the main influence of the trolley travelling on crane structure is the high-frequency impact as it passes through the hinge point. The spectrum shows the main frequency of structure vertical vibration and impact vibration. Based on Euler-Bernoulli beam theory，a numerical model of quay crane single beam structure is established. The influence of different working conditions on the dynamic response of the beam structure and effect of the centrifugal acceleration term in the dynamic equation on logistics equipment such as quay cranes is analyzed. A refined model of the whole structure including the critical parts of the structure，such as the hinge points，the rail girder and other structural geometric features is established. The trolley is simulated with simplified mass points，and the interaction between the trolley and the girder is realized by the contact between the mass and the shell elements in the dynamic analysis of the quay crane structure. The eccentric force of the rail girder is considered，and the acceleration response of the girder hinge point is calculated，which is basically consistent with the measured signal results. After calculation and analysis，the frequency spectrum of the measured acceleration signal and the calculated signal spectrum at the girder hinge point of the quay crane show that the main influence of the trolley traveling on the quay crane structure is the high-frequency impact. The influence of the impact on the surrounding structure cannot be ignored. At the same time，the displacement results of 10 measuring points on the girder of the quay crane model and the trolley show that when the trolley runs at a constant rated speed with the rated load，the front end of the girder of the quay crane produces a vertical quasi-static displacement. The displacement spectrum indicates that the trolley is mainly affected by the vertical direction forced vibration.