Loading docks are heavily used and potentially dangers areas, and implementing a comprehensive safety program can benefit your business by preventing costly and disruptive accidents.

Truck Restraints

When trailers enter a slot on your loading dock, making sure the trailer remains stationary is essential to the safety of your labor force. As forklifts maneuver on and off trailers and goods are added or removed, substantial weight fluctuations ensue. As trailers are jostled they tend to shift unless they are firmly tethered in place by some kind of restraint system.

When a trailer is accidentally moved, it is called “trailer creep.” This is exceedingly hazardous for a lift truck operator, as the dock board is disconnected from the trailer. A forklift can quickly fall off the dock edge, ending up in severe bodily harm or death.

A further consideration is unintended departures. From time to time, truck drivers may depart from the loading dock before loading or unloading is finished due to miscalculation or miscommunication. If a lift truck is engaged when a truck moves it can be disastrous.

Truck restraints are designed to impede trailers from pulling away from a dock until it is advisable to do so. Restraints can be as rudimentary as wheel chocks, or they can be as elaborate as hydraulic hooks that tie into doors and dock levelers through interlock safety mechanisms.

Trailer Restraints (Dock Locks)

Trailer restraint systems are essentially hooks that grab the ICC bar on a trailer to hold it solidly in place. These devices can be bare bones, mechanically operated systems or more complex electric or hydraulic configurations.

Trailer restraints are often wired directly into the signal lights and leveler equipment on a dock bay, so that they can’t be detached if the door is in the open position, the dock leveler is in use or the truck driver hasn’t been instructed to proceed by the dock operator. These safety features are invaluable on any active loading dock and can greatly improve safety and productivity.

Wheel Chocks

The most basic way to hold a trailer in place is to chock the wheels. Wouldn’t it make more sense to just use wheel chocks instead of an expensive restraint system? Although plain wheel chocks can easily hold a vehicle in place, there are several risks:

• Absent minded employees can sometimes neglect to put chocks in place
• A sloped or uneven approach can cause chocks to slip or not function properly
• Wheel chocks can get lost, and busy workers may forego them rather than fall behind
• Setting wheel chocks may require employees to get down near the pavement where truck drivers can’t see them, endangering the worker if the truck moves

Dock Restraints Near Me

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

Raymond's Reno / Sparks service operation includes all of Western Nevada, including Reno, Sparks, Carson City, Minden, Gardnerville, Incline Village, Virginia City, Indian Hills, Johnson Lane, Fernley, Fallon, Dayton, Silver Springs, Spanish Springs, Yerington, Genoa and Zephyr Cove.

Raymond West | Reno / Sparks Material Handling Equipment Supplier

975 Terminal Way
Reno, NV 89502
(775) 356-8383