An example dock leveler with safety supports including a deck having a deck plate, a plurality of support beams, a first side plate and a second side plate. The deck plate has an outer perimeter defined by a front edge, a rear edge, a first lateral edge and a second lateral edge. A first deck obstruction extends underneath the deck plate and is selectively configurable to at least one of a blocking position or a stored position. The first deck obstruction is elongate in a lateral direction and the first deck obstruction has a protruding end. The first side plate is closer to the protruding end when the first deck obstruction is in the stored position than when the first deck obstruction is in the blocking position. The first deck obstruction extends laterally beyond the deck width when the deck obstruction is in the blocking position. The first deck obstruction includes a pulling enhancement at the protruding end.

Methods and apparatus for monitoring a dock leveler are disclosed. An example method for monitoring a loading dock includes determining if a door at a doorway of a loading dock is in an open position; determining if a vehicle is present at the doorway; determining if a body is present in a first area of the loading dock, the first area including a deck positioned adjacent the doorway; and determining if a body is present in a second area of the loading dock adjacent the doorway, the second area including only a portion of a deck adjacent the doorway.

A dock leveler includes a frame configured to support the dock leveler that includes at least one leg. The at least one support leg having a first tube operatively coupled to the frame. A second tube is slidably disposed within the first tube such that the second tube is operable between a first position and a second position. The second tube includes a locking portion. A foot is positioned on an end of the second tube and a shipping pin is configured to engage the locking portion of the second tube such that the second tube is selectively held in one of the first or second positions.

In one aspect, a method is provided for controlling access to a facility including a movable barrier and a plurality of loading docks. The method includes receiving, from a user device associated with a vehicle, a check-in communication that includes a check-in identifier. The method includes receiving a verification communication that verifies a presence of the vehicle relative to a sensor associated with the movable barrier. The method further includes causing a movable barrier operator associated with the movable barrier to move the movable barrier between closed and open positions in response to the check-in identifier indicating authorization to access the facility and in response to receiving the verification communication. Further, the method includes selecting a particular loading dock from the plurality of loading docks and communicating a loading dock identification representative of the particular loading dock to the user device to direct the vehicle to the particular loading dock.

Dock leveler safety supports are disclosed herein. An example dock leveler disclosed herein includes a deck movable relative to a platform between a raised position and a lowered cross-traffic position when the dock leveler is in a working configuration. The deck to be inhibited from descending toward the lowered cross-traffic position when the dock leveler is in a service configuration. A first deck obstruction is movable relative to the deck between a secured position and an unrestrained position. The first deck obstruction in the secured position configures the dock leveler in the service configuration. The first deck obstruction in the unrestrained position configures the dock leveler in the working configuration. The first deck obstruction in the secured position to block movement of the deck toward the lowered cross-traffic position and the first deck obstruction in the unrestrained position to permit movement of the deck toward the lowered cross-traffic position. A first connector to couple the first deck obstruction to an obstruction actuator. The first connector including a rod, a sleeve to telescopically receive the rod, and a spring held in compression between the rod and the sleeve.

A dock leveler with a lip hinge. The dock leveler may include a lip that may be disposed at a front portion of a deck. The deck and the lip may be connected via a joint to allow the lip to pivot relative to the deck. The joint may comprise a C-shaped shaft coupled to one of the lip and the deck. The C-shaped shaft may have a hollow interior and a radial opening to the hollow interior, the opening being less than 180 degrees. The joint may further comprise a pivot bar coupled to either the deck or the lip. The pivot bar may be pivotably disposed in the hollow interior of the C-shaped shaft in a manner allowing the lip to pivot relative to the deck between a down position and an up position.

Systems and methods for the modification of loading dock environments are provided that allow trailers and shipping containers on chassis' to park at a loading dock with closed doors and have these doors opened into the loading dock environment and resealed while the trailer remains at the loading dock. A resilient, semi-rigid protective panel can also be removably attached to cover part of the inside face of an opened trailer door, so as to protect it from impact by equipment or goods as they pass into and out of the trailer.

A side-dump truck containing aggregate material can be driven over a ramp assembly for unloading. Aggregate material from the side-dump truck is deposited laterally to a side conveyor system, which has a first side conveyor and a second side conveyor pivotable from the conveying configuration to a transport configuration. The aggregate material is conveyed by the side conveyor system being in the conveying configuration to an unloading conveyor system, which has a first unloading conveyor at least partially beneath the side conveyor system.

The vehicle leveler includes a first portion which has a leading edge and a trailing edge, the trailing edge is disposed further from the driveway than the leading edge. The embodiment also includes a second portion which has a leading edge and a trailing edge, the leading edge of the second portion is attached to the trailing edge of the first portion and the leading edge of the second portion is disposed further from the driveway than the trailing edge of the second portion. The device has opposing side portions and a walkway. The opposing side portions include at least one or more lights which illuminate the leveler and the walkway.

The vehicle leveler includes a first portion which has a leading edge and a trailing edge, the trailing edge is disposed further from the driveway than the leading edge. The embodiment also includes a second portion which has a leading edge and a trailing edge, the leading edge of the second portion is attached to the trailing edge of the first portion and the leading edge of the second portion is disposed further from the driveway than the trailing edge of the second portion. The device has opposing side portions and a walkway. The opposing side portions include at least one or more lights which illuminate the leveler and the walkway.