GMR Safety, designer and manufacturer of wheel restraint systems for loading docks is introducing the newest evolution of its highly successful and patented Power Chock® product line with the addition of Power Chock Auto, an automatic version of the system.
The Power Chock Auto is equipped with high-quality optical sensors that can detect all types of vehicle wheels, including semi-trailers, straight trucks, and delivery vans, up to 21.5 feet from the loading dock wall. By simply pressing a control panel button inside the facility, an operator automatically positions the wheel chock in front of the vehicle’s wheel, requiring no driver intervention to set and secure the vehicle.
To ensure safety, the dock door or dock leveller can only be operated if the chock has been properly set in front of the wheel and the correct position of the chock is confirmed by a sensor. Visual indicators and audible alarms inform inside warehouse personnel and the driver outside about the position of the chock and the safe availability of the loading dock.
To provide full visibility and better control, the Power Chock Auto is equipped with a camera on the outside, facing the loading area, and a screen on the inside, next to the control panel. This visual communication system allows the operator to ensure that the loading area is devoid of any human presence prior to deployment of the wheel chock.
The mechanical movement system is not subject to any torsional forces as all the pressure from the truck is transferred on the Power Chock gripping to the ground plate. Using simple physics to restrain any type of vehicle, the Power Chock systems feature a patented combination of a 23-inch high-tensile steel wheel chock and a hot-dip galvanized restraining plate anchored to the ground. The system immobilizes the wheel, the sturdiest part of any vehicle.
“Accidents at loading docks pose a significant threat to warehouse operators and contribute to a substantial portion of workplace injuries,” said Gaétan Jay Jetté, founder and CEO of GMR Safety. “Automating our Power Chock system provides loading docks with additional safety measures to ensure safety at this vulnerable area in the logistics journey.”
The company’s innovative solution is a direct response to statistics that point to the prevalence of workplace accidents, with more than 10 percent of them rated as fatal. The fatal injury rate in the transportation and logistics industry segment is twice the all-industry rate, which no company should ever ignore.
Other key benefits to this life-saving system include universal compatibility with all vehicle types, including those with liftgates. It is also highly adaptable for seamless installation on any driveway approach and requires minimal maintenance. Loading dock accidents consist of various scenarios, including trailer creep (vehicle movement caused by forklifts entering and exiting the trailer), unexpected trailer departures — often leading to falls from the dock edge.
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