Before unloading, it is essential to ensure that the vehicle is safely secured. Which of the following is true when safely securing a truck for…

Safely securing a truck for unloading is a multi-step process designed to prevent unintentional movement. According to the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and established industry best practices, this procedure requires both setting the truck's parking brake and placing wheel chocks against the rear wheels. These actions work together to ensure the trailer remains stationary and flush against the loading dock, preventing dangerous "trailer creep" or separation while forklifts and personnel are working in and around the vehicle. Both measures are critical components of a safe unloading operation.

A. The trailer should be able to move freely.

A secured vehicle must be completely immobile. Any free movement creates a severe risk of accidents, especially separation from the dock during forklift operations.

B. The ultimate responsibility of these safety checks lies with the warehouse supervisor.

While supervisors have oversight, the direct responsibility for applying brakes and chocking wheels lies with the vehicle driver and/or the dock personnel performing the task.

1. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), U.S. Department of Labor. Powered industrial trucks standard, 29 CFR 1910.178(k)(1). This regulation explicitly states, "The brakes of highway trucks shall be set and wheel chocks placed under the rear wheels to prevent the trucks from rolling while they are boarded by powered industrial trucks."

2. University of California, Berkeley, Environmental Health & Safety. Powered Industrial Truck Safety Program, Section 7.3.10, "Loading and Unloading". The document mandates, "Set the brakes and chock the wheels of trucks and trailers before entry."

3. Iowa State University, Environmental Health and Safety. Forklifts Safety Document, Section: "Loading/Unloading Trailers". This guide instructs operators to "Ensure trailer brakes are set and wheels are chocked prior to entering a semi-trailer."