Why a patented smart wheel chock is safer

In loading and unloading operations, the wheel chock has been the same part for decades: a wedge the operator places by hand and no one thinks about again until an accident happens. That basic action concentrates one of the biggest risks at the dock: the truck pulling away while a forklift is still inside the trailer.

The figures show the scale of the problem: around 25% of warehouse accidents happen in loading and unloading areas, and in Spain alone 49,911 accidents in these operations and 48 dock fatalities were recorded in 2025 (source: cadenadesuministro.es).

The blind spot of the traditional chock

A conventional chock performs a single mechanical function: stopping the wheel. But it does not answer the questions that really matter for safety: was the chock placed, or did the operator forget? Is it properly positioned, or just resting? Is it still there when the truck moves? Who placed it, and when?

With a traditional chock, the answer to all those questions is the same: nobody knows for sure. Safety depends entirely on a person performing a manual action correctly, with no verification or record. And where there is no information, there is no control.

What changes with a smart chock

A smart IoT chock like SiChock adds sensors and connectivity to that same part, turning it into a system that verifies and communicates its status: it detects whether the truck is properly chocked before the operation starts, interlocks door and ramp to prevent the operation if the vehicle is not secured, logs every placement with its time and traceability, and alerts if the chock is removed too early.

The difference is not incremental, it is categorical: you move from relying on a person’s memory to a system that checks and keeps a record.

Why the patent matters

SiChock holds a European patent granted by the European Patent Office (EPO): EP4428072B1. For a procurement or safety manager, a patented technology is not decoration: it means the solution is technically unique and protected —not a generic copy, but a development with an officially recognised innovation— and that there is serious engineering behind it, subject to the EPO’s rigorous examination.

In a sector where safety allows no improvisation, choosing patented technology is a guarantee of soundness.

From safety to data

A smart chock does not only prevent accidents: because every operation is logged, it generates data that did not exist before. Real loading and unloading times, occupancy of each dock, frequency of use. The same part that protects the worker becomes a source of information to optimise operations.

In short

A conventional chock stops a wheel. A patented smart chock verifies the vehicle is secured, communicates it, records it and prevents the operation from starting if something is wrong. In terms of dock safety, that difference can be the one that separates a normal day from a serious accident.

Frequently asked questions

How is a smart chock different from a normal one?

A normal chock only blocks the wheel. A smart chock detects whether the truck is properly chocked, interlocks door and ramp, logs every operation and alerts if it is removed too early.

Can it be installed on docks I already have?

Yes. SiChock digitalises existing chocks or restraint systems and connects without changing the dock infrastructure.

What does SiChock being patented guarantee?

The European patent EP4428072B1, granted by the European Patent Office, certifies it is a unique, protected technology, not a generic copy.