A conveyor grate for the transport and cooling of bulk material, for example cement clinker, comprises a grate floor having multiple planks (12), adjacently situated transverse to the direction of transport on associated support structures and operationally moved longitudinally relative to one another individually or in groups, with moving gaps (14) designed as blow openings situated therebetween, and a method for operating such a conveyor grate. The mutually facing side edges or side edge regions of two adjacent planks (12) form two complementary, mutually engaging profiles between which the moving gap (14) is formed. In the method according to the invention, at least a quantity of the cooling air is blown through the moving gaps (14) which is sufficient to blow the moving gaps (14) completely open.