Dock traffic lights and interlocks in Surrey

In short

Dock traffic lights are red and green signals mounted outside and inside a loading bay to tell the driver and dock staff when it is safe to move or load. Interlocks are control links that stop equipment operating out of sequence, for example preventing the door opening until the trailer is restrained, or the leveller operating until the door is fully open.

Is this right for your site in Surrey?

Loading docks in Surrey where drivers wait in their cabs for a hand signal can replace guesswork with a clear red and green light at every bay. Sites around Surrey that run night shifts often find traffic lights easier for drivers to read than staff waving or knocking on the cab door.

If a site in Surrey has had door panels damaged by levellers raised too early, a leveller-to-door interlock is a straightforward fix to consider.

Your loading bay stays our responsibility from the survey to the handover. In Surrey, the survey and written quote are free, and the quoted price is fixed for the agreed scope. Installation is carried out by specialist engineers working under our management, at times planned with you to protect your loading schedule. Out-of-hours work is available by arrangement. We finish by testing the equipment and handing over its documentation.

How much do dock traffic lights and interlocks cost?

Dock traffic lights and interlocks typically cost £650 to £3,400 per bay, supplied and fitted, excluding VAT. A pair of manually switched LED signals sits at the lower end, while a full interlock panel linking door, leveller, restraint and shelter sits towards the top.

What moves the price:

Level of control: standalone lights, door-linked lights or a full interlocked sequence.
Existing control panels: modern door and leveller panels often accept interlocks directly; older panels may need replacing with a combined bay panel.
Sensors: door position switches, trailer presence sensors and restraint signals each add parts and wiring.
Cable runs: distances between lights, panels and the power supply.
Number of bays and timing: repeat bays reduce the cost per bay, while out-of-hours working adds to it.

These are guide budgets. After a free site survey we send a written quote, and that quote is the fixed price. VAT is added at the standard rate.

How do inside and outside dock traffic lights work together?

Inside and outside dock lights always show opposite colours: when the driver sees red, dock staff see green, and the other way round. Each light is aimed at a different person, so each one only ever gives one instruction.

Outside light, facing the driver: red means stay on the bay because loading is in progress; green means the bay is clear to leave or to reverse on to.
Inside light, facing dock staff: green means the trailer is in place and it is safe to open the door and load; red means do not open the door or enter the trailer.

Lights can be switched in three main ways:

Manually, by a switch beside the door, relying on dock staff to change it at the right moment.
By door position, so opening the door automatically turns the outside light red.
By the restraint, so the light only changes when the trailer is physically held.

Towns we cover in Surrey

We provide dock traffic lights and interlocks right across Surrey. Pick the town closest to your site from the list below.

Guide price

£650–£3,400 per bay, ex VAT

Budget range for supply and fit. The written quote after a free survey is the fixed price. All guide prices.

Planning, building control and safety law in England

Sites in Surrey fall under the rules for England. Structural changes such as forming a new opening or a dock leveller pit may need Building Regulations approval, and external structures such as loading houses, canopies or new dock approaches can need planning permission from the local planning authority. We check what applies at survey and build any approvals into the plan.

Questions

Which building and safety rules apply to a site in Surrey?

It depends on which UK nation the site is in. England and Wales use Building Regulations approval, Scotland uses building warrants and Northern Ireland uses building control approval from the council. Workplace safety is regulated by HSE in Great Britain and HSENI in Northern Ireland, and energy rules differ between nations. For your site in Surrey, we check what applies at survey and design to it.

Can you work outside our normal operating hours in Surrey?

Yes, by arrangement. Evening, night and weekend working can be planned so the installation causes as little disruption as possible to your loading schedule. Out-of-hours work can affect the price, so mention it at the survey and we will include it in the written quote. The agreed times are confirmed in the programme before the job starts.

Will interlocks slow down my loading operation?

Interlocks add a fixed sequence, but each step takes only moments and staff soon get used to it. In practice many sites find the sequence saves time overall, because there are fewer arguments about when to open the door and less damage from levellers being raised into part-open doors.

Which way round do the inside and outside lights work?

The inside and outside lights always show opposite colours. While a trailer is being loaded, the outside light is red so the driver stays put and the inside light is green so staff can work. When loading is finished and the door is closed, the inside light turns red and the outside light turns green for the driver.

Other services in Surrey

Full guide to dock traffic lights and interlocks · All loading bay services in Surrey