Outbound Trailer Loading
Loading of outbound trailers at the shipping dock, covering trailer securement and floor inspection before entry, the load plan and axle weight distribution, blocking and bracing freight against shifting in transit, and bill of lading verification before the trailer is sealed and released.
- Audience
- Shipping associates, dock personnel, and certified forklift operators
- Review cycle
- annual
- Last reviewed
- 2026-08-14
- Revision
- 1
Outbound Trailer Loading: what is in the procedure
8 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 outbound trailers are secured, loaded, verified, and released at the shipping dock.
- 02
Scope
CustomizedThis procedure applies to every outbound trailer loaded at the facility, including live loads 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 Before Entry
FixedComplete every step below before any person or powered industrial truck enters the trailer.
- 05
Procedure: Load Plan, Weight Distribution, and Securing Freight
CustomizedBuild the load so it arrives the way it left.
- 06
Procedure: Bill of Lading Verification, Sealing, and Release
CustomizedVerify before the trailer leaves, because a count error found after release becomes a claim.
- 07
Exception and Defect 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 trailer that is not fit to carry the freight because of holes, leaks...
- 08
References
Fixed29 CFR 1910.178 Powered industrial trucks.
Regulatory references
Outbound Trailer Loading: 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 1910.176(b) | Handling materials, general: secure storage | Storage of material must not create a hazard. Bags, containers, bundles, and other material stored in tiers must be stacked, blocked, interlocked, and limited in height so that the storage is stable and secure against sliding or collapse. |
| 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
Outbound Trailer Loading: 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)
Freight is stacked, blocked, and braced so it is stable and secure against sliding or collapse
29 CFR 1910.176(b)
Voids are filled and the rear of the load is secured for over the road transit, per the DOT cargo securement rules at 49 CFR 393.100 and the carrier's loading requirements
Dock, leveler, and trailer floor surfaces are kept clean, dry, and free of debris and protruding objects
29 CFR 1910.22(a)
The physical count is verified against the bill of lading and the seal number is recorded on the document and in the system before the trailer is released
Templates related to Outbound Trailer Loading
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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.