A Guest post by Wayne State Student: Samuel Dalton
Wait, that’s my truck!!!!
General Information:
A wheel chock, this simple item that is often overlooked. Nearly every commercial vehicle has a wheel chock designed for it, and though it might not be the best tool it is the most common and one of the least expensive. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has set guidelines for the use of wheel chocks when loading and unloading vehicle, but OSHA only has jurisdiction over all intrastate motor vehicles. Commercial vehicles in general fall under the jurisdiction of The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA).
Regulations:
OSHA: In its simplest form CFR 1910.178(k)(1) states that wheel chocks must be placed under the rear wheels of a trailer to keep the vehicle from rolling while being boarded with industrial trucks to off load materials and merchandise. Now CFR 1910.178(m)(7) much like the other standard sited states wheel chocks must be placed in a manner to prevent rolling properly but the brakes should also be engaged and before loading anything onto a vehicle the flooring should be checked for weakness and any breaks.
FMCSA: The FMCSA rules are different than OSHA’s when it comes to requiring wheel chocks. CFR 393.41 states in its simplest form that air-braked power units (made on or before March of 1975) are enough to keep a commercial motor vehicles from moving during the loading and unloading process. The FMCSA does however require wheel chocks for all agricultural commodity trailers, plywood trailers, and heavy haulers.
Sample Procedure/Policy
Resources:
https://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_table=DIRECTIVES&p_id=1533
https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/49/393.41
http://blog.uscargocontrol.com/wheel-chock-regulations-whats-required-and-whats-just-common-sense/
http://blog.uscargocontrol.com/basic-wheel-chock-use-and-safety-tips/
Visual Reason to Use Wheel Chocks:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IduTy9INMnw
Wait, that’s my truck!!!!
General Information:
A wheel chock, this simple item that is often overlooked. Nearly every commercial vehicle has a wheel chock designed for it, and though it might not be the best tool it is the most common and one of the least expensive. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has set guidelines for the use of wheel chocks when loading and unloading vehicle, but OSHA only has jurisdiction over all intrastate motor vehicles. Commercial vehicles in general fall under the jurisdiction of The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA).
Regulations:
OSHA: In its simplest form CFR 1910.178(k)(1) states that wheel chocks must be placed under the rear wheels of a trailer to keep the vehicle from rolling while being boarded with industrial trucks to off load materials and merchandise. Now CFR 1910.178(m)(7) much like the other standard sited states wheel chocks must be placed in a manner to prevent rolling properly but the brakes should also be engaged and before loading anything onto a vehicle the flooring should be checked for weakness and any breaks.
FMCSA: The FMCSA rules are different than OSHA’s when it comes to requiring wheel chocks. CFR 393.41 states in its simplest form that air-braked power units (made on or before March of 1975) are enough to keep a commercial motor vehicles from moving during the loading and unloading process. The FMCSA does however require wheel chocks for all agricultural commodity trailers, plywood trailers, and heavy haulers.
Sample Procedure/Policy
- Make sure you have chocks that are specifically designed for the type of vehicle you are driving, especially paying attention to size.
- Never use a make-shift chock. (rocks, pieces of lumber, or bricks)
- Make sure to keep sets of chocks in the truck or trailer, do not rely on the docking facilities to always have them.
- When the vehicle arrives at its destination set the brakes, and if at a docking facility activate the locking mechanism included on the dock. Engage the chocks on both the left and right wheels that are closest to the loading dock or if in the field set the wheel chocks to counter act the terrains grading.
Resources:
https://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_table=DIRECTIVES&p_id=1533
https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/49/393.41
http://blog.uscargocontrol.com/wheel-chock-regulations-whats-required-and-whats-just-common-sense/
http://blog.uscargocontrol.com/basic-wheel-chock-use-and-safety-tips/
Visual Reason to Use Wheel Chocks:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IduTy9INMnw
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