4Front Engineered Solutions introduced the Talon trailer restraint, the company’s newest innovation in loading dock safety equipment, offered under both the Kelley and Serco brands.

“Due to pending National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) regulations affecting the design of trailer rear impact guard (RIG) bars, many trailer restraints are no longer compatible or are simply less effective at restraining and releasing trailers,” the company said in a news release. “Newer-style five-sided RIG bars with pentagonal cross-sections or tilted configurations require a different approach to trailer restraint design.”

To keep redesigned RIG bars more secure during loading and unloading trailers, Talon’s additional upper hook provides true four-sided RIG bar capture.

The four-sided capture also prevents the RIG bar from hopping over the hook and releasing the trailer from the dock. Talon accomplishes all of this as a powered restraint without using the powered hydraulics or a motor, resulting in lower maintenance costs and a lower total cost of ownership, the company claims. 

While some trailer restraints have excessive running room between the restraint and RIG bar during forklift movement, to eliminate running room issues as a trailer moves toward the loading dock bumpers and engages with the Talon, the three-position slide lock limits trailer movement for a more stable loading environment. Meanwhile, external red and green LED indicators inform the driver whether the restraint is still engaged or disengaged so the trailer can safely depart.

“Its clever design means that it works better with a wider range of trailers, cutting down on complexity while making it the most advanced trailer restraint system out there,” said Ryan Talbot, vice-president of sales and marketing at 4Front Engineered Solutions.