System and method for operating a docking station

1. A method of evaluating whether a parked semi-trailer is ready to be at least one of loaded or unloaded, the method comprising:

providing a video camera having a field of view encompassing a forward portion of a parked semi-trailer in front of the parked semi-trailer's landing gear;

powering the video camera to capture images corresponding to the field of view;

communicatively coupling the video camera to a visual display;

displaying the captured images on the visual display, the captured images depicting whether a trailer stand system is between an underside of the forward portion of the parked semi-trailer and the ground; and,

allowing access to a bed of the parked semi-trailer, for at least one of loading or unloading goods on the bed, if the captured images depict the trailer stand system is between the underside of the forward portion of the parked semi-trailer and the ground.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein:

the captured images depict whether the trailer stand system is wedged between the underside of the forward portion of the parked semi-trailer and the ground;

access to the bed is allowed if the captured images depict the trailer stand system is wedged between the underside of the forward portion of the parked semi-trailer and the ground; and

access to the bed is prohibited if the captured images depict the trailer stand system is not wedged between the underside of the forward portion of the parked semi-trailer and the ground.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein:

providing the video camera includes mounting the video camera to an exterior of a loading dock facility; and

the visual display is located on an interior of the loading dock facility.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising signaling, responsive to displaying the captured images on the visual display, a worker to reposition a trailer stand system to correctly assume a weight bearing position between the underside of the forward portion of the parked semi-trailer and the ground.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the captured images are from at least one of sporadic visual data generated by the video camera.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising prohibiting access to the bed of the parked semi-trailer if the captured images depict the trailer stand system is not between the underside of the forward portion of the parked semi-trailer and the ground.

7. A method of stabilizing and verifying stabilization for a parked semi-trailer ready to be at least one of loaded or unloaded, the method comprising:

repositioning a trailer stand system at least partially underneath a forward portion of a parked semi-trailer, in front of a landing gear of the semi-trailer, the trailer stand system comprising at least one repositionable jack;

collecting images using a video camera having a field of view encompassing the position of the trailer stand system with respect to the ground and the semi-trailer;

displaying the collected images on a visual display located in an interior of a loading dock; and,

accessing a bed of the parked semi-trailer, for at least one of loading or unloading goods on the bed, after repositioning of the trailer stand system underneath the forward portion of the semi-trailer and after verifying a position of the trailer stand system with respect to the semi-trailer in the collected images on the visual display.

8. The method of claim 7 , further comprising repositioning the at least one repositionable jack of the trailer stand system, while at least partially underneath the forward portion of the parked semi-trailer in front of the landing gear, to wedge the trailer stand system between an underneath surface of the parked semi-trailer and the ground, wherein accessing the bed of the parked semi-trailer occurs after repositioning of the at least one repositionable jack and after displaying the collected images to verify that the trailer stand system is wedged between the ground and the semi-trailer.

9. The method of claim 7 , further comprising prohibiting accessing the bed of the parked semi-trailer, for at least one of loading or unloading goods on the bed, in the absence of visual verification that the trailer stand system is underneath the forward portion of the semi-trailer.

10. A method of operating a docking station of a distribution center, the method comprising:

engaging a docking restraint system to restrain a vehicle at the docking station;

activating a camera to obtain at least one image of the vehicle;

displaying the at least one image on a graphical user interface; and

verifying if the vehicle has been restrained based on the at least one image of the vehicle.

11. The method of claim 10 further comprising, after verifying that the vehicle has been restrained based on the at least one image of the vehicle, enabling control of a door of the docking station via the graphical user interface.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising:

actuating the door of the docking station; and

upon complete actuation of the door of the docking station, enabling a leveler of the docking station.

13. The method of claim 10 further comprising displaying on the graphical user interface a request for verification that the vehicle has been restrained if a predetermined amount of time has passed since displaying the at least one image on the graphical user interface without verification that the vehicle has been restrained.

14. The method of claim 10 wherein engaging a docking restraint system with the vehicle comprises engaging a rear impact guard (RIG) dependent restraint, a wheel lock, a trailer stand, a wheel chock, or a combination thereof.

15. The method of claim 10 further comprising, upon verification that the vehicle has not been restrained, restricting control of a door of the docking station.

16. A method of operating a docking station of a distribution center comprising the steps of:

receiving a trailer at a docking station of a distribution center;

engaging a trailer restraint system to secure the trailer against removal from the docking station;

upon trailer restraint system engagement, automatically activating a restraint verification system configured to require a restraint verification indication prior to permitting access to the trailer;

displaying an image of a trailer restraint from the trailer restraint system for user review; and

sending the restraint verification indication upon user approval of the image of the trailer restraint.

17. The method of claim 16 further comprising, upon receiving the restraint verification indication, activating a remote control door system of the docking station.

18. The method of claim 17 further comprising:

automatically actuating the remote control door system of the docking station in response to a remote activation signal to provide access to the trailer from the distribution center;

detecting actuation of the remote control door system of the docking station; and

remotely activating a dock leveler system of the docking station in response thereto.

19. The method of claim 16 wherein engaging a trailer restraint system to secure the trailer comprises engaging a restraint from one or more of the following categories: rear impact guard (RIG) dependent restraints, wheel locks, trailer stands, and wheel chocks.

20. The method of claim 16 wherein displaying the image of the trailer restraint from the trailer restraint system for user review comprises displaying the image on a graphical user interface.