Dock Leveler Operation Expert Article

Dock levelers are devices used to bridge the gap between a loading dock and the bed of a truck/trailer during loading and unloading. Because the working height of trailers and loading docks can vary, dock levelers are used to provide industrial trucks (fork trucks) and dock workers a safe transition between dock and trailer.

Trucking & Warehousing Operations: Dock Levelers

Dock levelers are also known as dock boards or dock plates; these terms can be used interchangeably. Below are descriptions of the three most common types of dock levelers:

Flush Mount Levelers: The most common type of dock leveler. The bridge section of the leveler is mounted flush within the floor of the warehouse, and a hinged lip hangs vertically. When the leveler is activated, it rises and the hinged lip begins to extend. Once the lip is extended, the leveler is lowered onto the rear deck of a truck/trailer.

Most flush mount levelers are powered. The operator presses a button on a control panel to raise and lower the leveler. Other flush mount levelers are manually powered and require the operator to pull a chain or a cable to release springs and cables that raise and lower the leveler.

Edge of Dock (EOD) Levelers: These levelers are not mounted into the floor of the facility but instead attach to the exterior of the building. The operator uses a metal handle to manually tilt the EOD up and lower it into a truck / trailer.

Portable Dock Plates: Some facilities use a portable dock plate that can be moved from one dock door or another as needed. These often have lower load ratings than permanently installed levelers.

Separating Truck/Trailer from Dock Leveler

When loading/unloading is completed both the manual and powered dock leveler should be raised and stowed in the original position prior to the truck pulling away.

The lip of the dock leveler should lay flat against the outside of the loading dock. As the lip lays flat, some dock levelers will create a safety barrier to prevent fork trucks from driving off the end of an open dock.

Some facilities utilize barrier guards or choose to implement a closed-door policy to protect against fork trucks and workers falling from open bays. Lockout/tagout procedures are required when servicing powered dock levelers.

Investigating Injuries Involving Dock Levelers

Common injuries involving dock levelers are slips/trips or incidents where a fork truck crashes to the tarmac below the loading dock.

Liability in these incidents can be nuanced, but if you know the answers to the following questions, an expert specializing in trucking and warehousing safety should be able to discuss potential strengths and weaknesses of your case.

Fork Truck Crash to Tarmac – Expert Questions

• Were the wheels of the trailer chocked to secure against movement?
• Was paperwork returned to the driver before the truck pulled away?
• What policies and/or procedures did the facility have in place to prevent an early departure?
• What were the training/qualifications of the fork truck operator?
• Were any barrier systems utilized to control fork truck movement?
• What was the service/maintenance history of the dock leveler?
• What was the make/model of the dock leveler?

Slip, Trip, and Fall Incidents at Loading Docks – Expert Questions

• What material was being loaded/unloaded and how?
• Did the facility have measures to prevent/control moisture from weather?
• Did contaminants affect the safety of walking surfaces?
• Did loading/unloading operations impact walkway safety?
• What was the service/maintenance history of the dock leveler?
• What was the make/model of the dock leveler?

Trucking Operations Investigations

The Commercial Trucking Experts at Robson Forensic have decades of experience in the trucking/transportation industry. All are CDL licensed drivers who moved into the safety and compliance departments and became safety managers and safety directors for Motor Carriers across the United States. These experts use their countless miles of driving experience and management/oversight work to examine every facet of a trucking incident investigation.

Industrial/Engineering Investigations

Some forensic investigations involving dock levelers, warehouse doors, or industrial trucks require the analysis of a licensed engineer. While not specifically addressed in this article, Robson Forensic has the depth and breadth of in-house experts to address the design, engineering, maintenance, and possible failure of nearly every type of equipment involved in warehousing and transportation.

For more information, submit an inquiry or call us at 800.813.6736.

Featured Expert

Jeffrey A. Boesger

Commercial Trucking Expert

Jeffrey Boesger is a Commercial Transportation Expert with 30+ years of experience in trucking, distribution, transportation management, trucking and warehousing safety, regulatory compliance, and… read more.