Which Vehicle Restraint is Right for You?

Since the vehicle restraint industry was created in 1980 with the introduction of the Original Dok-Lok® Rotating Hook Restraint, it’s continued to evolve with changes in trends, expansion of the global supply chain and the rapid adoption of technology.

Although the available vehicle restraint options help support safety for loading dock applications, the decision can be overwhelming when deciding which is right for your facility.

Rite-Hite has four questions to simplify your decision:

1. What is your loading style?
2. What types of trailers does your facility service and/or receive?
3. What types of environments are your docks in?
4. What does loading dock labor look like today? Tomorrow?

Once you’ve answered these four questions, you can more confidently decide which restraint types meet your facility’s needs.

Loading Style

Loading style is a key factor in your decision. Each type has pros and cons relative to facility safety and productivity. The two common loading styles to consider are:

1. Live loads
2. Dropped trailers (If both, defer to dropped trailers)

What are live loads?

Live loads are when the truck’s tractor stays connected to its trailer and waits to be loaded or unloaded. The driver will typically remain in the cab or lounge. Because the tractor stays connected to the actively loaded or unloaded trailer, the risk of landing gear collapse, trailer pop-up or upending isn’t a factor. The fifth wheel of the tractor connected to the trailer also helps prevent catastrophic vertical movement, potentially making the budget-friendly vertical barrier restraint your best option.

What are dropped trailers?

A dropped trailer, or drop-and-hook load, is when the driver “drops” the trailer at one loading dock position and “hooks” a spotted full trailer before leaving the facility. With dropped loads, the tractor disconnects from the trailer which increases the risk of landing gear collapse, trailer pop-up or upending. Because there is no counterbalance and stability when material handling equipment is in the trailer, a trailer stand paired with a vehicle restraint is typically your best solution.

If your facility drops loads or has a mix of live and dropped loads, it’s necessary that your vehicle restraint is designed to help address traditional trailer separation accidents when the tractor is missing.

Depending on trailer type, the restraint must properly engage the rear wheel in wheel-based applications or provide substantial “wrap-and-hook” around any rear impact guard (RIG) type to help prevent the dropped trailer from tipping over, popping up or upending.

Rite-Hite's Vehicle Restraint Selection Guide gives you side-by-side comparisons between our models.

Trailer Type

With your loading style determined, the next consideration involves the types of trailers your facility services and/or receives. With the rise in global logistics and ecommerce, it’s common for facilities to receive multiple trailer types in a day. The material handling industry’s most common trailer types are either delivery vehicles or standard over-the-road.

Parcel or delivery vans

Last-mile delivery vans don’t have RIGs to engage, so a wheel-based application is necessary. Because of the smaller tire diameter and the inability to drop the load, the Global Wheel Chock is often the best vehicle restraint for parcel or delivery vans. Rite-Hite's ergonomic GWC-1000 helps secure the widest variety of trailers with an extra-long footbed. It maintains continuous downward force while providing constant operational communication.

Standard over-the-road (SOTR) containers

Named for the U.S. DOT dimensions they follow, SOTR containers range from 48-53’ in length. They’re designed to transport the most versatile dry and refrigerated goods — fully enclosed and protected from outside elements. Although standardized in length, these containers have a variety of RIG types, including:

Standard or reinforced (pentagonal) RIGs A RIG is not always an ICC bar — those were outdated with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) standards set in January 1998. Standardized RIGs are 22” or more above the ground and at least 3.94” (100mm) in width. The standardization helps reduce ineffective restraint engagement and creates 5x stronger RIGs in case of premature departure or automobile accidents. In the case of live loads, Vertical Barrier Restraints or Rotating Hook Restraints are suitable solutions.

Obstructed RIGs

The global economy brings an influx of intermodal container chassis, many of which have RIG obstructions. Obstructions prevent unequipped restraints from helping to safely secure the trailer to the loading dock, helping prevent worker injury, lost productivity, and equipment or product damage. In the case of live loads, Vertical Barrier Restraints or Shadow Hook Restraints are suitable solutions. If servicing dropped trailers or a mix of both live and dropped, Shadow Hook Restraints are appropriate.

Broken or missing RIGs

In the case of a broken or missing RIG, the trailer should be engaged by any Wheel-Based Restraint.

Liftgate

Common for delivery applications or food, beverage & grocery, liftgates are fold away metal platforms that mount to the back of a trailer. When stored, they obstruct access to the RIG. When in use, the platform extends out from under the truck to serve as a bridge from trailer to ground, creating a sizeable gap from loading dock to trailer bed. Because of this, Wheel-Based Restraints are the only solution to properly engage trailers equipped with liftgates.

Obstructed RIGs

With the emerging global economy comes an influx of intermodal container chassis, many of which create RIG obstructions. The obstructions prevent unequipped restraints from helping to safely secure the trailer to the loading dock which can cause lost productivity, equipment and product damage and most importantly – worker injury. In the case of live loads, Vertical Barrier Restraints or Shadow Hook Restraints are suitable solutions. If servicing dropped trailers or a mix of both live and dropped, Shadow Hook Restraints are the suitable solution.

If your facility already has an RHR-1100 Rotating Hook Restraint, a Shadow Hook upgrade can ensure your existing equipment is compatible and safe with a wider variety of trailer types.

Broken or Missing RIGs

In the case of a broken or missing RIG, the trailer should be engaged by any Wheel-Based Restraint.

Liftgate

Also common for delivery, as well as in Food and Beverage applications, liftgates are fold away metal platforms that mount to the back of a trailer. When stored, they obstruct access to the RIG. When in use, the platform extends out from under the truck to serve as a bridge from trailer height down to the ground creating a sizeable gap from loading dock to trailer bed. Because of this, Wheel-Based Restraints are the only solution to properly engage a trailer equipped with a liftgate.

Specialty Stabilizing (AGVs)

As technology advances, so does the industry’s adoption of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Industrial Automation Solutions. To support the rise in Automated Guided Vehicles (AGVs), it is imperative that loading dock applications address both vertical and horizontal movement during loading. Thus, minimizing movement to costly forklift and computer components as they cross from building floor to trailer bed. Stabilizing Trailer Restraints are the industry’s only solution, whether live or dropped trailers, to reduce trailer drop to only 1-2”, compared to 6+” without stabilizing support.

Environment

Environmental, operational and safety needs are your most dynamic consideration when selecting loading dock equipment. Your equipment must keep pace with incremental upgrades and enhancements that don’t break the bank or create too much dock downtime. Focusing on what’s physically around the loading dock and your industry, some key environmental, operational and safety considerations are:

Demanding, heavy-duty loads

Industries like food & beverage, automotive, and pulp & paper have heavy, demanding load needs. Those require vehicle restraints that can withstand the weight of their products and material handling equipment crossing over their docks. Frequency of loading increases stress on vehicle restraints and other loading dock equipment. Vehicle restraints with heavy-duty components and reinforced high- pressure (failure) points reduce costly downtime and unplanned maintenance, especially in the event of an attempted premature pullout.

Corrosive environments

Some industries move chemicals and other abrasive materials that put equipment at risk of corrosion. When vehicle restraints corrode and rust, it reduces their l ongevity and can complicate maintenance — components rust together making removal or access time-consuming and difficult. Vehicle restraints with a corrosion-resistant coating maintain aesthetics while reducing the risk of rust for longer-lasting units. These units successfully ensure 1,000 hours of salt spray testing compared to only 100 hours for galvanized restraints.

Flood risk

Declined dock approaches and environments that receive heavy or consistent rainfall can be at risk of flooding. Wall-mounted vehicle restraints are recommended, as their components are housed in sealed carriages mounted above ground to help keep moving parts away from water and debris. For added flood protection, the SHR-5100 Shadow Hook Restraint is recommended as it comes standard with an IP68 flood protected chainless motor.

Need for snow removal

Facilities in cold, snowy climates must consider how vehicle restraints will impact their current snow removal processes, specifically on the drive approach. Wall-mounted or under-leveler vehicle restraints are stored out of the way for shovels and plows to facilitate ease of snow removal. Ground-mounted and ground-stored vehicle restraints create an obstruction for snow removal and run the risk of being impacted by snow removal equipment.

Labor needs

Labor remains a significant challenge for facilities. In hiring and retention, employee attrition has created a competitive landscape with managers exploring ways to replace labor or optimize the current workplace for existing employees.

Operation

Vehicle restraints are available with either manual or powered (automatic) operation. Choose what’s best for your loading dock configuration, application and workforce. Manual restraints are cost-effective and sufficient for facilities with fewer dock positions and less trailer turn. Powered vehicle restraints are the most ergonomic option, only requiring the simple push of the button to operate RIG- or wheel-based restraints. Powered restraints are also safer — they don’t require employees to bend over the dock door opening or walk out on the dangerous drive approach to operate equipment.

Regardless of operation style, the most important factor is constant restraint-status awareness via light communication inside and outside.

Supports boots-off-the-ground

Facilities with a boots-off-the-ground policy must choose a vehicle restraint that can be operated from inside the loading dock with an interior control panel. Powered vehicle restraints ensure personnel do not place themselves out on the dangerous drive approach, a policy that safety-minded companies put in place — because semi-trucks are the second leading cause of back-over fatalities in the United States.

For facilities with manual, wheel-based restraints or simple wheel chocks, Approach-Vu™ can enhance safety for every dock. This light-and-horn system presents a clear visual and audible proximity warning to pedestrians on the drive approach when it detects a backing vehicle. The advanced notification system indicates an immediate need to safely that area due to imminent threat.

Automation (AGVs, AMRs)

The rise of industrial automation solutions has helped loading docks evolve and keep up with shipping demands, even with labor constraints. Equipment like AGVs and autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) are now common for facilities looking to scale their operations. Automated loading dock solutions are more efficient, but heavier than typical forklifts. That requires facilities to install heavy-duty loading dock equipment — ideally solutions that provide a smooth transition from building floor to trailer bed while supporting sensitive computer components that guide its path. Stabilizing trailer restraints are recommended as they minimize vertical and horizonal movement by reducing trailer drop to only 1-2” (compared to 6+” without stabilizing support).

The Rite Restraint

Choosing the right vehicle restraint for your facility can feel difficult. By answering these four simple questions, though, you can confidently determine which type meets your needs.

Rite-Hite offers industry-leading solutions for every application. All vehicle restraints expertly designed with must-have features and to accommodate future facility needs.

Once you have determined which vehicle restraint is right for your loading dock application, team up with a team of local loading dock experts who handle the rest — including a four-page site survey to confirm restraint selection and installation requirements. If you’re still unsure which restraint is ideal for your application, our team of experts is here to help.

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