Loading Dock Accessories

Types of Loading Dock Accessories

Most accessories fall into one of five categories.

Trailer Wheel Chocks

Wheel chocks help reduce trailer movement during loading and unloading operations. Available materials include:

• Rubber
• Urethane
• Aluminum
• Laminated rubber
• Recycled rubber

Wheel chocks are designed to help reduce trailer creep, also known as dock walk, which is the gradual movement of a trailer away from the dock during repeated forklift travel.

Dock Door Weather Seals & Draft Blockers

Weather seals, threshold seals, and Dock Door Fangs® help reduce air infiltration, moisture intrusion, dust, debris, and pests around the dock opening. These products are often used to improve environmental control and reduce energy loss around loading dock doors.

Dock Leveler Seals & Insulation

These products help seal and insulate the dock leveler pit area, which can be a significant source of energy loss.

Available products include:

• Dock Leveler Brush Ring Seals
• Dock Blankets
• Neoprene and EPDM sheeting

Dock blankets are specifically designed to reduce cold-air infiltration when no trailer is present at the dock position.

Dock Materials & Bonding Products

This category includes specialized installation and repair products such as:

• 3M® VHB high-bond acrylic foam tape
• Neoprene sheeting
• EPDM rubber sheeting

These materials are commonly used to support dock-door sealing and repair projects.

Dock Communication & Controls

iDock Controls are hardware-based dock communication and control systems that integrate dock levelers, vehicle restraints, and dock lights into a single operating system.

Unlike the current product listing description, iDock Controls are not software. They are physical dock-control hardware that can optionally connect to myQ® Dock Management software for analytics and reporting.

Accessory Selection Guide

Trailer Creep and Dock Safety

One of the most common loading dock hazards is trailer creep, sometimes called dock walk.

Trailer creep occurs when repeated forklift movement gradually pushes the trailer away from the loading dock, creating a gap between the trailer floor and dock leveler. Over time, this separation may increase the risk of accidents and loading interruptions.

Wheel chocks and vehicle restraints are commonly used to help address this hazard.

Wheel Chocks and OSHA Requirements

When powered industrial trucks enter a highway trailer, OSHA 29 CFR 1910.178(k)(1) requires truck brakes to be set and wheel chocks placed under the rear wheels to help prevent movement during loading operations. OSHA guidance also permits an equivalent positive mechanical securing system when properly installed and used.

Wheel chocks remain one of the most common trailer-securement methods used at loading docks.

Wheel Chocks vs. Vehicle Restraints

Both products are intended to help prevent trailer movement, but they function differently.

Wheel Chocks

• Manually placed against trailer tires
• Portable and economical
• Available in multiple materials and sizes
• Depend on proper placement and inspection

Vehicle Restraints

• Mechanically secure the trailer
• Reduce dependence on manual placement
• Often integrate with dock communication systems
• Can serve as an equivalent mechanical securement method under specified OSHA guidance

Facilities with high trailer volume often evaluate both options as part of their dock-safety strategy.

Energy Loss Around the Loading Dock

Many facilities focus on trailers, levelers, and doors while overlooking smaller openings that allow conditioned air to escape.

Common energy-loss locations include:

• Dock door perimeter gaps
• Dock leveler pits
• Pull-chain openings
• Threshold transitions
• Trailer perimeter gaps

Weather seals, dock blankets, draft blockers, brush-ring seals, and sealing materials help address these areas and support a more efficient loading dock environment.

Purchase Online or Request a Quote

Many wheel chocks, seals, installation materials, and accessories are available for online purchase directly from the product listings on this page.

For integrated controls, dock-leveler accessories, specialty configurations, and assistance with product selection, request a quote online.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a loading dock accessory?

A loading dock accessory is a supplemental safety, sealing, communication, or maintenance product that supports the performance of a loading dock system. Common examples include wheel chocks, weather seals, dock blankets, draft blockers, and communication controls.

What is trailer creep?

Trailer creep, also called dock walk, is the gradual movement of a trailer away from the dock caused by repeated forklift travel during loading and unloading operations.

Are wheel chocks required by OSHA?

OSHA 29 CFR 1910.178(k)(1) requires truck brakes to be set and wheel chocks placed under the rear wheels when powered industrial trucks board a highway truck. OSHA also recognizes equivalent positive mechanical securement systems under specified conditions.

What is the difference between a dock weather seal and a dock blanket?

Weather seals help close the gap between the dock door and trailer during loading. Dock blankets help insulate the dock leveler pit area and reduce air infiltration when no trailer is present.

What is iDock Controls?

iDock Controls is a hardware-based dock communication and control system from Poweramp that integrates dock levelers, vehicle restraints, and traffic-light communication into one control platform.

Can these accessories be installed by facility maintenance staff?

Many products, including wheel chocks, dock blankets, draft blockers, and weather seals, can often be installed by facility personnel. Larger sealing projects and control-system integrations may benefit from professional installation support.

Loading Dock Accessory Selection & Installation

Barron Equipment helps warehouses, manufacturers, distribution centers, food-processing facilities, and commercial operations evaluate loading dock accessories based on trailer safety, environmental control, energy efficiency, communication needs, and operational goals.

Shop standard accessories online or request a quote for integrated dock-control systems, specialty applications, and installation support.