Dock equipment refers to the items used to assist with the loading and unloading of materials from trucks to buildings. Dock equipment is designed for efficiency and safety in docking areas, even after taking a large degree of abuse. Dock equipment categories include dock boards, dock bumpers, dock seals, dock levelers, dock lights, dock shelters, dock doors, dock restraints, dock guides, and dock chocks.

Dock boards are a type of dock equipment that is used to bridge the gap between the truck and the dock. Typically, dock boards are flat and made of heavy-duty aluminum or wood. Other materials can be used, but durability and moving weight are issues must be considered. Dock boards may also being referred to as dock platforms or dock plates. 

Once the bridge from dock to truck is setup, dock bumpers are used to protect the docking area of a building and truck from the force of a collision.  This type of dock equipment may be mounted onto the building, below the dock opening, or on to the back of a truck. When the area is not in use, the area is secured by dock doors. Dock doors are usually metal, but can be made of different materials depending on the environment, or based on specific security and safety needs. Dock seals are a category of dock equipment that provides a seal between the docking area and the truck.

When the truck is connected to the dock, other forms of dock equipment are used to make loading and unloading easier. Dock levelers are connected to the back of the truck to compensate for height differences. Levelers are similar to dock boards, except that they can be expandable or mechanically raised and lowered. Dock lights are specialized rugged lighting fixtures that improve visibility in docking areas. This form of docking equipment includes warning and signal lights.

Dock shelters and string doors are common types of dock equipment. A dock shelter is an overhang that is used to protect workers and materials while loading or unloading a truck. Strip doors are material strips (often plastic) that also hang. Strip doors are hung vertically in doorways to control the overall environment of an area. They regulate temperature and the amounts of airborne debris.

Truck restraints, wheel guides, and chocks are dock equipment that controls a truck’s movement during the loading and unloading processes. Truck restraints are used to fix a truck into position at a dock. This form of dock equipment eliminates the risk of a truck from moving during the unloading process. Once a truck is restrained, two types of dock equipment are used to keep it secure. Wheel guides and chock maintain a trucks position. Wheel guides assist with the overall positioning of the truck, while chock are wedges that are inserted behind the truck’s tires.