MRO Today - No more runaway trucks

No more runaway trucks!

We all want to get that truck off the loading dock ASAP, but when it leaves too fast things can get ugly. When a truck pulled away prematurely from the Millennium Inorganic Chemicals’ Baltimore, Maryland distribution center, it caused a dock plate to fall. Chris Gagliardi, warehouse distribution superintendent, decided he need to physically restrain trucks during loading and unloading. The incident could have caused serious injury.

After researching the subject, Millennium selected Castell’s Salvo trailer interlocking safety system to prevent unscheduled truck departures, reduce risk to workers and potential damage to loading docks and equipment. Millennium evaluated traditional bar systems and the Salvo system, but Salvo’s error-proof design and cost-effectiveness cinched the deal. Millennium installed eight Salvo Automatic Interlock Systems at the plant.

Each system consists of a Salvo gladhand lock, control panel, automatic door interlock and barrier chain. Upon arriving at the plant’s loading docks, drivers attach the gladhand lock to their brake line, securing the device in place and releasing a uniquely coded key. The lock ensures that brakes are applied and trailer movement has stopped, in compliance with FMSCA’s braking requirement.

Until the barrier chain is replaced and the automatic door interlock is bolted, the control panel will not release the key needed to open the Salvo gladhand lock, making it impossible for a driver to depart.

“Since installing the systems more than a year ago, we haven’t had a single incident of a truck pulling away,” says Gagliardi. “We still have a set of keys from months ago. Clearly the driver did not give us the keys to his trailer. Without the Salvo system, he could have easily made an unscheduled and unsafe departure.”

For more information, call 859-341-3075 or visit www.castell.com. Item 158

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Zip, zilch, zero
0:	Number of unscheduled loading dock departures since installing Salvo Automatic Interlock Systems on the docks at Millennium Inorganic Chemicals’ DC in Baltimore, MD.