In most cases, commercial motor vehicle (CMV) operators are not required to chock their wheels when parked at loading docks, but the answer depends on which government agency — the FMCSA or OSHA — has authority over the vehicle at the time.
The FMCSA has authority over all “commercial motor vehicles” as defined in 49 CFR 390.5. The FMCSA’s parking-brake standard in 393.41(a) requires that every CMV be equipped with a parking-brake system that can hold the vehicle in place under any condition of loading, even if the approach to the dock is sloped. However, there are four exceptions: agricultural commodity trailers, converter dollies, heavy haulers, and pulpwood trailers — as defined in 393.5 — must carry and use chocking blocks to prevent movement when parked.
OSHA’s wheel chocking requirements in 29 CFR 1910.178(k)(1) and 1910.178(m)(7) of the Powered Industrial Truck standard do not apply to CMVs. However, the OSHA regulation at 1910.26(d) does require “measures,” such as wheel chocks or sand shoes, to be used to prevent transport vehicles (e.g., trucks, semi-trailers, trailers, or rail cars) on which a dockboard is placed from moving while employees are on the dockboard. The key to knowing whether this OSHA standard applies is knowing whether the vehicle is regulated as a CMV (making it subject to FMCSA regulations) or a non-CMV (making it subject to OSHA regulation) while parked at the dock. OSHA claims authority over: