Receiving: Inbound Trailer Unloading
Safe receipt and unloading of inbound trailers at the dock, covering trailer securement before entry, trailer floor and dockboard inspection, the unloading sequence, and handling of damaged or short freight.
- Audience
- Receiving associates, dock personnel, and certified forklift operators
- Review cycle
- annual
- Last reviewed
- 2026-08-14
- Revision
- 1
Receiving: Inbound Trailer Unloading: what is in the procedure
7 sections. Regulatory language is fixed and passes through verbatim. Sections marked customized get rewritten around your facility, your equipment, and your job titles.
- 01
Purpose
FixedThis procedure establishes how inbound trailers are secured, inspected, and unloaded at the receiving dock.
- 02
Scope
CustomizedThis procedure applies to every inbound trailer received at the facility, including live unloads and drop trailers, and to every associate who enters a trailer, operates equipment inside a trailer...
- 03
Responsibilities
CustomizedDock personnel secure the trailer, verify the restraint, and complete the trailer inspection before any equipment enters.
- 04
Procedure: Trailer Securement and Inspection
FixedComplete every step below before any person or powered industrial truck enters the trailer.
- 05
Procedure: Unloading
CustomizedUnload from the rear of the trailer forward, working across the full width so the remaining load stays stable.
- 06
Defect and Exception Handling
CustomizedStop and escalate before continuing whenever any of the following is found: a trailer that cannot be secured, a broken or soft trailer floor, a leveler or dock plate that will not seat or is damaged...
- 07
References
Fixed29 CFR 1910.178 Powered industrial trucks.
Regulatory references
Receiving: Inbound Trailer Unloading: 29 CFR 1910.178(k)(1)
Every SOP generated from this template cites the paragraphs below, with a plain-language summary of what each one requires. Citations are informational and are not legal advice.
Brakes shall be set and wheel blocks shall be in place to prevent movement of trucks, trailers, or railroad cars while loading or unloading.
| Standard | Title | What it requires |
|---|---|---|
| 29 CFR 1910.178(k)(1) | Powered industrial trucks: trucks and railroad cars | The brakes of highway trucks must be set and wheel chocks placed under the rear wheels to prevent the truck from rolling while it is boarded with powered industrial trucks. The regulation text specifies chocks; OSHA interpretive guidance recognizes a dock lock or other mechanical restraint that prevents trailer movement as an equivalent means of securement. |
| 29 CFR 1910.178(m)(7) | Powered industrial trucks: trucks and railroad cars | Brakes must be set and wheel blocks placed to prevent movement of trucks, trailers, or railroad cars during loading and unloading, and the flooring of trucks, trailers, and railroad cars must be checked for breaks and weakness before vehicles are driven onto it. |
| 29 CFR 1910.178(n)(11) | Powered industrial trucks: dockboards and bridgeplates | Dockboards and bridgeplates must be properly secured before they are driven over, and they must be driven over carefully and slowly, with the load centered and the rated capacity never exceeded. |
| 29 CFR 1910.22(a) | Walking-working surfaces: general requirements | Walking-working surfaces must be kept in a clean, orderly, and sanitary condition, free of hazards such as sharp or protruding objects, loose boards, spills, and debris that create slip, trip, or fall hazards. |
Compliance checklist
Receiving: Inbound Trailer Unloading: what an inspector looks for
Trailer brakes are set and wheel chocks are placed under the rear wheels, or a dock lock is engaged as the facility-approved equivalent restraint, before a powered industrial truck boards the trailer
29 CFR 1910.178(k)(1)
Dockboards and levelers are seated and secured before use and are driven over slowly with the load centered
29 CFR 1910.178(n)(11)
Dock, leveler, and trailer floor surfaces are kept clean, dry, and free of debris and protruding objects
29 CFR 1910.22(a)
The trailer flooring is checked for breaks and weakness before a forklift is driven onto it
29 CFR 1910.178(m)(7)
Freight damage, shortage, and overage are noted on the bill of lading before signing and recorded in the receiving system
Defective levelers, dock locks, and dock lights are tagged out of service and the door is taken out of use
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This page is informational and is not legal advice. Have a qualified safety professional review any procedure before it goes into service at your facility.