Loading Docks & Warehouses for Drivers

Loading docks are among the most dangerous places a driver visits. Forklifts, moving trailers, open dock edges and busy crews all share a small space. Drivers are hurt or killed when a trailer pulls away, when they fall from the dock, or when they walk into forklift traffic. Knowing the rules and the signals keeps you safe at every dock.

• Truck Drivers
• Delivery
• Warehouse

Main dock hazards for drivers

• Trailer creep and early departure: a trailer can move away from the dock while a forklift is inside, which can cause the forklift to fall. This can happen from air brake release, forklift forces or a driver pulling out early. See Dock Levelers & Vehicle Restraints.
• Falls from the dock: an open dock edge is a drop of 4 feet or more. Missing the dock plate or stepping off the edge causes broken bones and head injuries.
• Forklift traffic: forklifts move quickly in and out of trailers, and operators may not see a driver on foot. See Forklifts and Warehouse Safety.
• Crushing and pinching: between the trailer and the dock bumper, or between the dock plate and the trailer.
• Slips and trips on wet, icy or cluttered dock floors, plates and trailer floors. See Slips, Trips & Falls.
• Poor trailers: damaged floors, bad doors, broken landing gear and unsafe loads.
• Fumes and heat: engines idling in enclosed docks. See Carbon Monoxide.

Backing and positioning

• Follow the facility’s traffic rules, speed limits and one-way routes. Walk the site if needed. See Backing & Docking and Truck Blind Spots.
• Use a spotter when you can’t see, or follow the “get out and look” (GOAL) method. Never back blind.
• Align the trailer straight with the door. Back slowly and stop at the bumper, without ramming it.
• Set the parking brake (and tractor brakes) once in position, as the dock’s procedure calls for.
• Wait for the dock staff’s signal, such as a light or sign, before leaving or entering.

Wheel chocks and vehicle restraints

• OSHA requires that trailers have wheel chocks or fixed jacks and other protection to prevent movement when a powered industrial truck (forklift) is used to load or unload (29 CFR 1910.178(k)). Many docks use vehicle restraints instead of, or along with, wheel chocks.
• Vehicle restraints (dock locks) hold the trailer to the dock by gripping the rear impact guard (ICC bar) or by a wheel restraint. A restraint usually has a light system: red means do not leave, green means it’s safe to leave. The inside light faces the dock staff and the outside light faces the driver, and they may be reversed, so know the system at each dock.
• Don’t pull out unless you have the green light or the okay from dock personnel, and the restraint is released.
• If a restraint doesn’t work, or you have no restraint, chock the wheels and tell the dock supervisor.
• Check the rear impact guard on your trailer. A damaged or missing bar can’t be locked, so report it.
• Set the trailer’s landing gear (if dropped) on firm ground, and be sure it’s secure before you unhitch. A trailer that isn’t supported can tip when a forklift enters. See Coupling & Uncoupling.

Staying safe on foot

• Know where drivers are allowed to be. Many docks require drivers to wait in the cab, in a driver lounge or in a marked safe area, not on the dock or in the trailer during loading.
• Stay out of the trailer and away from the dock edge while forklifts load or unload, unless the facility allows you to help and has told you the rules.
• Wear high-visibility clothing, safety shoes and a hard hat if required. See High-Visibility Clothing and Foot Protection.
• Walk in marked pedestrian aisles. Make eye contact with forklift operators before crossing their path, and never assume they see you.
• Use stairs or ramps to climb up to the dock, never jump from the dock. Keep three points of contact on the trailer steps and cab. See Climbing In & Out.
• Watch for dock plates and levelers. Don’t stand under a raised plate. Use the plate that is in place, and don’t cross a damaged or unsecured plate.
• Keep keys with you, or follow the facility’s key policy. Some facilities have drivers hand keys to staff to prevent early departure. Never leave a running truck unattended.

Before and during loading

• Inspect the trailer before loading and unloading: floor condition, door operation, walls, lights, landing gear and seals. Report defects. See Pre-Trip Inspection.
• Check the load and make sure it is balanced, secured and not over weight. See Cargo Securement and Weight Limits & Scales.
• Make sure all the freight is accounted for and the bill of lading matches. Don’t sign for what you haven’t seen.
• Check for loose cargo before opening trailer doors. Freight can fall out and injure you. Stand to the side as you open doors.
• Keep hazmat documents and placards in order, and follow special rules. See Hazmat Placards.
• If you help load, use proper lifting. See Lifting & Ergonomics and Driver Health & Ergonomics.

Drop-and-hook and yard moves

• Yards have trailers, yard trucks and workers moving around. Watch for traffic and obey speed limits.
• Check the trailer brakes, glad hands, lights and landing gear before you hook. Do a full pull test and tug test. See Coupling & Uncoupling.
• Make sure the trailer is in the right spot and chocked, and the brakes are set, before you uncouple.
• Never pass under a trailer or between a moving truck and a dock.

When something looks unsafe

• If the dock is unsafe (no restraint, missing chocks, broken plate, forklifts speeding, no lighting), tell the dock supervisor and your dispatcher. You may refuse unsafe work. See Safety Culture & Stop Work and Worker Rights.
• If a trailer is damaged or overloaded, don’t take it on the road until it’s fixed or corrected.
• Report injuries and near misses, even small ones.

Dock safety checklist

• Trailer is straight, parking brake set, and the vehicle restraint or wheel chocks are in place
• I know the restraint light signals; I leave only on green or the staff’s okay
• I wait in the safe area, not on the dock or in the trailer during loading
• High-visibility clothing on; I watch for forklifts and cross only with eye contact
• Landing gear supported; trailer and load inspected; doors opened from the side
• Unsafe conditions reported to the dock supervisor and my dispatcher

Last updated: October 4, 2026