Workplace safety is a critical concern across all industries, with thousands of preventable injuries and fatalities occurring each year. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) and also analyzed by the National Safety Council (NSC), 4,543 deaths were attributed to preventable injuries in 2023. The transportation and warehousing sector remain one of the most affected, ranking second in fatal work injuries, with 839 deaths and 320,000 medically consulted injuries reported that year.
Despite various awareness efforts on the importance of reliable dock safety solutions, wheel restraint systems, designed to physically secure trailers during loading and unloading, are still not universally implemented. While OSHA and other health and safety organizations advocate for the implementation of safety measures, some companies hesitate, viewing them as a cost rather than a strategic investment. High upfront costs often deter businesses, as implementing safety solutions like wheel restraints requires significant expenditures on equipment, installation, and training. Additionally, companies that have never experienced a major accident may perceive the risks as low and believe their current practices are sufficient. However, those who have integrated vehicle restraints into their operations have not only improved worker protection but also reduced accident-related downtime, liability risks, and insurance costs, further proving that safety is a crucial factor in long-term profitability.
Technology Evolution
In North America, the most commonly used vehicle restraints generally fall into two categories: hook-based and wheel-based systems. Hook-based restraints secure a trailer by latching onto its ICC bar (aka Rear Impact Guard). While these systems are widely used in the industry, they come with significant limitations. One key drawback is that many trailers have damaged or missing ICC bars, rendering the system ineffective. Not to mention that the ICC/RIG bar was not designed to secure trailers at loading docks; rather, it was created to reduce the severity of road accidents by preventing smaller vehicles from sliding under trailers during a collision. In contrast, wheel-based restraints, such as locking arms and wheel chocks, work by directly immobilizing the trailer’s wheels, offering a much more versatile and reliable solution for securing trailers during loading and unloading operations. However, one of the major flaws of locking arm systems is their unreliability due to a basic principle of physics. In the event of unintended movement or an early departure of the trailer, the pressure exerted by the wheel directly on the bar causes the mechanism to bend. This often leads to the system breaking prematurely.
Among the most advanced and reliable options available today is GMR Safety’s Power Chock®, a patented wheel chocking system engineered to provide the highest level of safety. Unlike locking arm systems, which fail to effectively restrain semi-trailers during early departures, Power Chock absorbs the pressure exerted by the truck from the front, through the tire’s rubber, transferring it directly to the ground-anchored restraining plate. This solution significantly outperforms not only locking arm systems but also traditional hook-based restraints and other vehicle restraints in key areas. In fact, GMR Safety’s solution offers an unmatched restraining force of 50,000 lb., compared to the 32,000 lb. provided by hook-based systems and has a lifespan exceeding 15 years, backed by an exclusive market-leading 5-year warranty, making it the vehicle restraint with the lowest total cost of ownership.
A Two Decade Partnership with Sysco
For over 15 years, the partnership between GMR Safety and Sysco has been a resounding success, built on shared values of safety, reliability, and innovation. As a global leader in food distribution, Sysco manages complex logistics with thousands of trailers on the road and hundreds of distribution centers worldwide. With loading dock safety being a top priority, Sysco chose the Power Chock wheel-based vehicle restraints to optimize operations and reduce the risk of accidents.
Alexander Simm, Fleet & Facility Manager at Sysco Pittsburgh, explains that the initial solutions, such as rubber wheel chocks, proved to be ineffective and costly to maintain. ‘’We started out using basic wheel chocks, but they turned out to be inadequate.’’ These challenges led Sysco to seek a more durable and efficient solution, ultimately leading them to Power Chock.
With its design and its integration with a communication system, these advanced wheel chocks have not only improved dock safety but also simplified daily operations by significantly reducing maintenance needs. ‘’One huge benefit of the Power Chock is its reliability. It is extremely robust, and even when it makes a beating, (in the event of an early departure), it continues to work.’’ In addition to providing optimal protection against drive-offs and trailer creep, the Power Chock operates efficiently in all weather conditions, a major advantage for locations dealing with harsh and snowy winters.
Today, Sysco continues to expand the use of Power Chock across its North American facilities. ‘’We greatly value our relationship with GMR Safety because we seek reliable and innovative suppliers who partner with us by providing great service and a real value to our company.’’
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