Loading Dock Signs - Page 6

A safe dock uses a few signs together. The core set is a dock-edge warning such as Do Not Climb On Or Jump From Dock, a chock wheels sign at each door, a forklift-traffic warning, and a dock door clearance sign for height limits. Number the bays with dock number signs so drivers and staff can direct traffic cleanly.

A wheel chock sign reminds drivers and dock staff to block the trailer wheels before loading. It is not just good practice: OSHA 1910.178(k)(1) requires the truck brakes to be set and chocks placed under the rear wheels before a forklift boards the trailer, and a positive trailer restraint (a dock-lock) is accepted as an equal alternative.

Yes. Walk the dock the way a driver and a forklift each move through it and check each point. At the property approach: directional and dock number signs. At each door: a chock-wheels sign and a clearance sign. At the edge: a fall warning. Through the area: forklift-traffic and pedestrian signs. On the trailer side: a truck driver policy sign. Email customerservice@smartsign.com and we can help match signs to your dock.

Size the sign to its reading distance. A door-level instruction such as a chock-wheels sign is usually 10 by 14 inches or 12 by 18 inches, while a directional or dock number sign a driver reads from a moving truck works better at 18 by 24 inches or larger. When in doubt, go one size up, since a dock is a fast-moving area where a sign has only a moment to be read.

Heavy-duty aluminum is the best outdoor choice. It is rust-proof and weatherproof and holds up to exhaust, moisture, and temperature swings. For a dock that runs into the evening or takes deliveries at night, choose reflective aluminum so the sign reads under headlights, which matters most for directional, clearance, and dock door signs. Rigid plastic is fine and economical for an indoor, covered dock.

Yes. Beyond signs, we carry the loading dock safety chain kit to barrier an open dock door, and wheel chocks to keep a trailer from rolling. Pair the equipment with the matching signs so the rule and the tool sit side by side at each door.

Yes. Start from a custom dock arrow sign to add your own text, a dock number, or your company name, and pick the size and material. Bilingual English and Spanish signs reach every driver and worker. For the shipping and receiving side, see our shipping and receiving signs. For a facility-wide or multi-site order, call our team at (800) 952-1457 (Mon to Fri, 8:00 am to 7:00 pm EST) or email customerservice@smartsign.com for a quote.