Loading docks are busy and congested areas, and having a proper safety plan can benefit your business by preventing costly and disruptive accidents.

Truck Restraints

When trailers enter a loading dock bay, making sure the truck stays in place is crucial to the safety of your employees. As lift trucks maneuver in and out of trailers and pallets are transferred, substantial weight fluctuations ensue. As trailers are jostled they will move unless they are safely fastened in place by some type of restraint system.

Any time a trailer is accidentally moved, it is called “trailer creep.” This is exceptionally unsafe for a lift truck driver, as the dock leveler is disconnected from the trailer. A forklift can easily plummet from the dock edge, resulting in severe injury or death.

Another problem is unscheduled departures. Sometimes drivers will depart from the loading dock before loading or unloading is concluded due to error or misunderstanding. If a lift truck is active when a truck moves it can be catastrophic.

Truck restraints are engineered to impede trailers from driving off from a loading dock until it is advisable to do so. Restraints can be as simple as wheel chocks, or they can be as elaborate as hydraulic hooks that tie into doors and dock levelers through interlock security systems.

Trailer Restraints (Dock Locks)

Trailer restraint mechanisms are essentially claws that grasp the ICC bar on a trailer to secure it solidly in place. These hooks can be simple, mechanically operated systems or more complex electric or hydraulic configurations.

Many times, truck restraints are directly tied to the signal lights and leveler equipment on a dock bay, so that they can’t be disconnected if the door is in the open position, the dock leveler is in use or the truck driver has a “no go” signal from the dock operator. These safety features are invaluable on any high traffic loading dock and can greatly improve safety and productivity.

Wheel Chocks

Using wheel chocks is probably the simplest way to keep a vehicle stable. Why not just use chocks instead of fancy restraint systems? While plain wheel chocks can easily hold a vehicle in place, there are some additional risks:

• Forgetful employees can occasionally neglect to place chocks correctly
• Uneven surfaces can cause chocks to slip or not function properly
• Chocks can get misplaced, and busy workers may choose to not use them instead of falling behind
• Setting wheel chocks may require workers to get down near the pavement where truck drivers can’t see them, putting the employee in harm’s way if the truck moves

Dock Restraints Near Me

To find out more about dock locks or additional dock safety equipment, get in touch with a dock and door expert at Raymond West today.

Raymond West's Orange County service area includes Anaheim, Costa Mesa, Fullerton, Garden Grove, Orange, Santa Ana, Tustin and all surrounding areas.

Raymond West | Orange County Material Handling Equipment Supplier

Orange County, CA
(714) 790-9300