Vehicle Restraint Comparison Sheet

Why use vehicle restraints?

Vehicle restraints stop trucks leaving the dock while they are being loaded or unloaded, which can help to avoid the risk of forklift trucks coming off the dock.

Issues to consider when selecting truck restraints

It is important to consider the following issues:

What happens when vehicles drive over the restraint?

What happens when the wheels move away a few centimetres during loading / unloading?

Could the restraint become stuck in the truck’s wheels?

Could the restraint slip when the vehicle moves forward?

Pros and cons of the different systems available on the market

Solutions	Pros	Cons
1 - Basic manual wedge

	Cost effective Simple Ages well	Can be either fragile or heavy Easy to forget Easy to lose Not very effective No way of knowing if the restraint is in place from the dock
2 - Basic manual wedge with electrical signal

	Can detect any object in front of the wedge Visual signal allows you to see that the wedge is in place from the dock Average effectiveness	Not always heavy duty Heavy if heavy duty Not reliable Only detects object within a few centimetres of the wedge If the wheels move away a little when loading the signal may be lost High maintenance costs Longevity - low
3 - Automatic restraints
	There are different systems available on the market. For each system, we need to consider the following:
	Effectiveness of the restraint Capacity to accommodate different vehicle types Resistance to tear Solidity of the system – can it withstand shocks caused by reversing trucks Simplicity Can it work in extreme weather conditions	Does it need daily, weekly or monthly checks Maintenance costs – can it be maintained in-house? Is it necessary to have wheel guides? Conformity to European Standards Cost of the system – to buy and maintain How long does it last? Does it age well?

GPS vehicle restraints

Calematic system

	A series of chocks that retract underground
	Restrains all vehicles types Shows a smooth surface when lowered Works everywhere Maintenance free	Needs to be installed by civil engineers Cost

To find out more, visit our vehicle restraints page.

Vehicle Restraint Comparison Sheet

Why use vehicle restraints?

Issues to consider when selecting truck restraints

Pros and cons of the different systems available on the market

1 - Basic manual wedge

2 - Basic manual wedge with electrical signal

3 - Automatic restraints

There are different systems available on the market. For each system, we need to consider the following:

GPS vehicle restraints

Calematic system