FAQs

Yes. Blue Giant’s Vertical Storing Dock Leveler is specifically engineered for cold storage and washdown applications. Its upright storage design helps seal the dock, preserve internal climate, and simplify sanitation. A Pit Style Dock Leveler can also be engineered for cold storage and wash-down applications providing flexibility; however it is less energy efficient.

Yes, Blue Giant Dock Levelers can be retrofitted into existing dock bays — even when conventional pit installation isn’t available — using a variety of alternative install solutions.

Available Retrofit Solutions:

• Pour-in Pans: Pre-built pans that are placed into an existing pit space, allowing standard pit-style levelers to be installed without pre-forming or field welding. These pans include curb angles and support full-leveler integration in retrofit or new builds. 
• Pit Kits (Prefabricated): Structurally accurate kits that allow installation of pit-style levelers by constructing proper pit dimensions on-site, even if the dock was not originally built for pits. 
• Curb Angle Kits: Modular curb angle assemblies (4-, 6-, or 8-piece) that provide proper anchoring and geometry when retrofitting a pit-style leveler into an existing bay. 
• Free-Standing Frames: Support frames that enable installation of pit-style dock levelers even when dock pits are not structurally possible (due to utilities or slab layout). These frames come with built-in guards and bumpers and support hydraulic, mechanical, and air-powered models.

It is important that your dock leveler fits your facility’s application, operational, environmental, and budgetary requirements. Please consider:

• Frequency of use, load capacity, trailer and fleet heights: helps you select the right type and model dock leveler.
• Facility Environment: for cold storage or food-grade facilities handling temperature-sensitive products, vertical storing or sealed pit levelers are recommended.
• Outdoor or corrosive environments: select hot-dipped galvanized or weatherized models in highly corrosive environments.
• Lifecycle cost (upfront price vs. maintenance): Mechanical models have a lower upfront investment, but are more costly to maintain, whereas hydraulic models have a higher upfront investment, but lower total cost of ownership.
• It is recommended to consider vehicle restraints (to prevent trailer creep & early departure) when selecting a dock leveler.
• Always consider integrated controls (dock leveler + restraint + doors on a single panel) for better safety and productivity.

Blue Giant recommends regular Planned Maintenance Program (PMP) service. In winter or harsh environments, it’s advisable to clear snow, ice, and debris frequently, ensure the velocity fuse and safety devices are free of buildup, and inspect hydraulic components for freeze-related wear. Our documentation and maintenance guides highlight these best practices.

Daily Operator Inspections: Before each use, operators should perform a routine visual and functional check to ensure safety: looking for debris, checking lip engagement, visual damage, and confirming smooth operation using the daily checklist provided by the manufacturer.

Planned Maintenance Program (PMP) by a Qualified Technician: Blue Giant recommends following our Planned Maintenance Program (PMP), which ensures safety and performance through regular service. Maintenance intervals depend on usage frequency:

• Single-shift operations (typical retail/warehouse loading): maintenance every 90 days.
• Multi-shift operations (continuous or high-frequency loading): maintenance every 30 days.

Annual or Regulatory Inspections: In many jurisdictions, regulations mandate at least one certified inspection per year, even for low-use docks, to confirm structural and operational safety.

Blue Giant offers a comprehensive lineup of Dock Levelers. Dock levelers broadly include:

• Pit-Style Mechanical (Springassisted) Levelers: Operate with a manual pull-chain; no power required. Lower initial investment, but springs undergo wear and may require more frequent maintenance. Recommended for light duty usage.  
• Pit-Style Hydraulic Levelers: Use electro-hydraulic cylinders for automated deck and lip movement. Offer reliable push-button control and ergonomic operation ideal for high-frequency, heavy-duty environments. 
• Pit-Style AirPowered (Pneumatic) Levelers: Lift the deck via a blower-activated airbag. Provide reliable, simple and eco-friendly performance with fewer fluids to maintain. 
• Vertical Storing Levelers: Store upright within the pit, allowing the dock door to close flush. Ideal for clean, temperature-controlled environments and easy pit wash-down. 
• Edge of Dock (EOD) Levelers: Compact and budget-friendly, surface-mounted ramps attached to the dock face, available in mechanical or hydraulic models. Suitable for retrofit where pit installation isn’t possible. 
• Dock lifts (specialty) used for unique or non-dock applications.

Blue Giant NextGen M, A, H and V Series offer live load capacities of 12,500, 19,000, 26,000, 33,000, 40,000, 50,000 lbs.

Cycle life refers to the number of operating cycles (deck lift/lower sequences) a leveler can reliably handle over its lifetime. High cycle life ensures long-term durability and lower total cost of ownership. Blue Giant offers robust design, steel construction, and proper maintenance through our PMP to optimize cycle life.

A Pit Style Dock Leveler sits in a recessed concrete opening (pit) and can be mechanical, hydraulic, or airpowered. It provides a flexible working range and is most common in standard dock installations. Pit Style Dock Levelers fit a wide range of trailer heights and applications.

In contrast, a Vertical Storing Dock Leveler is stored upright in the pit when not in use, permitting the overhead dock door to close directly on concrete, and enabling easy pit cleaning without opening to the environment. It is ideal for facilities where temperature control and cleanliness are critical (food processing, pharmaceutical, cold storage). 

While Blue Giant does not specify a set lifespan, features like welded construction, velocity fuses, maintenance-friendly hydraulics, and PMP support are designed to ensure a long service life and minimize total cost of ownership.

Blue Giant Dock Levelers’ safety suite includes:

• Non-adjustable hydraulic velocity fuse, which limits loaded platform free-fall to within 3" (76 mm).
• Mechanical fall-safe legs on spring-assisted units to reduce fall distance in the event of premature truck departure.
• A deployable maintenance strut that supports the deck and lip during maintenance service.
• High visibility yellow run-off guards allow wider access to the trailer entry while protecting operators from falling off the deck sides.
• High visibility toe guards with OSHA striping in beveled and full range protection.
• Assured Motion Float (4” of deck float) to maintain lip contact and reduce shock.
• Inverted, self-bleeding hydraulic cylinders to prevent corrosion and ensure fast response.
• Optional slip-resistant deck surface for enhanced traction.
• High-contrast safety paint for improved visibility.
• Control station safety features like constant pressure touch buttons, stop, supervisory lockout, and diagnostic feedback.
• Optional upgrades such as light communication packages, audible alarms, door interlocks, and integration with vehicle restraints.

Yes. Blue Giant Vehicle Restraints are designed to safely engage a wide range of trailer configurations, including those with bent or damaged ICC (RIG) bars. When an ICC bar is missing, we recommend using wheel-based restraints such as Interlock Chock or WVR303.

Yes. Powered restraints are recommended to be integrated with a sequence of operations and interlocks involving levelers, lights, doors, and other dock equipment, using centralized control systems to ensure coordinated safety and operation.

Powered restraints include control panels and light communication systems that provide real-time confirmation of proper engagement status.

Maintenance needs are minimal. Blue Giant recommends regular inspections and part replacements as needed through our PMP service program. Occasional washdowns are also recommended to remove debris.

Vehicle restraints prevent trailer creep, premature departure, and accidental disconnection during loading and unloading, ensuring the trailer remains securely positioned at the dock. This reduces the risk of forklift roll-offs and other serious accidents.

Blue Giant offers Mechanical (manually actuated), Hydraulic (automatic powered), and Electric models (with digital control). Models include the StrongArm ML10 (mechanical), TL85, SVR303, RVR303 (hydraulic), and HVR303 (electric) series.

Restraints (locks) help prevent trailer creep, unscheduled departure, and forklift roll-offs — key safety concerns for loading dock operations. There are several regulations, industry standards, and best practices that involve vehicle restraints. 

Key Compliance Takeaways 

1. OSHA: Wheel chocks (1910.178(k)(2), (m)(7)) are the minimum requirement. Mechanical dock locks (trailer restraints) are OSHA-accepted substitutes, provided they are properly installed and maintained.
2. ANSI MH30.3: Industry standard defining performance criteria for trailer restraint devices. While not OSHA law, it is widely recognized as best practice.
3. MOL / Audits (Canada / US): Investigators expect restraints beyond chocks at modern high-volume docks, since chocks alone can be bypassed or are ineffective on snow/ice.
4. American Trucking Associations (ATA) and ANSI: Encourage vehicle restraints at all docks with powered industrial truck traffic.
5. Insurance Carriers and Auditors: Often require powered restraints because they reduce risk compared to wheel chocks alone.
6. Best Practice / Liability Protection:

• Use RIG-based hook restraints where possible.
• Use wheel-based restraints for liftgates, damaged/missing RIGs, or intermodal chassis.
• Combine with communication systems (red/green lights inside and outside) to reinforce operator safety.

Mechanical restraints rely on manual operation via push bars and linkages, whereas hydraulic or electric models use automatic powered actuation for ease of use, with an interlocked sequence of operation and alarms to promote consistent, correct usage rather than avoidance.

Yes, and at no additional charge. It can also be off-centered on the side. There will be a down rating factor for the axle loading capacity over the sides, however.

Custom sizes are available, but shorter units may compromise vertical travel.

Yes, but only at slow speeds and only when the lift is fully lowered and resting on its rated mechanical stops and on the weight of the trailer. For heavier trucks, Blue Giant offers a rollover capacity feature, fortified for this type of application.

Yes, and at no additional charge. The rails can be put on the ends or in an "L" configuration.

The hinged bridge is manually operated. When the lift is raised to truck bed level, the bridge is simply pushed over onto the truck bed. When there's a lifting chain attached to the lip, the dock attendant can use it to assist in lifting or lowering the lip.

If a spring assist is present, the lip will be easier to pull back using the lift chain. With a hydraulic lip assist, the lip is controlled by a single button control station.

16" (406mm) on all models. Consult the factory for alternate lengths.

Federal regulations do not require full skirts, only 8" (203mm) bevel toe guards, which are standard on pit mounted dock lifts. If personnel protection is desired beyond that required by federal regulations, use electric toe guards.

Fabric roller shades and accordion bellows skirting are not durable and because they do not provide a rigid physical barrier, their protection is based upon the notion that "what you can't see can't hurt you."

Telescoping sheet metal skirt sections are more rigid, but are very susceptible to damage which makes them inoperable.

Damage may occur, depending on the impact forces. Please contact an authorized Blue Giant representative to inspect the unit before putting it back in service.

It depends upon the application, but generally bridges over 24" (610mm) should be split. Capacity is the primary determinant of when a hinged bridge should be split.

Every loading dock has its own unique requirements. Factors such as dock height and approach, bumper projection, door opening size, wall construction, trailer sizes, and amount of access needed to the trailer all need to be taken into account.  To assist architects and customers with correct product selection, Blue Giant has a Seal and Shelter Questionnaire that's easy to fill out and covers all main considerations.

Inflatable shelters fit around the top and sides of a door opening to create a tight seal between the building wall and the truck. They are designed to be inflated to help prevent energy loss and maintain internal temperatures. The air bags are deflated before the trailer leaves the loading dock.

A dock seal is typically designed to enclose a loading dock reducing its width to tightly surround the top and sides of a parked trailer, while a dock shelter is designed to permit full access to the trailer without limiting or restricting the available space around the door. Spring steel stays slide along the sides of the trailer and do not compress like a dock seal.