The Importance of a Strong Wheel Choc

Nothing provides stability and safety for a large vehicle quite like the humble wheel choc. Wheel chocs keep everything from boat trailers, and small pickup trucks, to heavy rescues and tanker apparatus from accidentally rolling away. When properly placed underneath a fire truck, they can increase the overall security of an often, chaotic fire scene.

Chocs have been around for quite a while. The original choc was most likely a simple wedge made of wood. According to some reports the word’s original meaning was “lumpy piece of wood,” from the Old North French choque, or “block.” Wheel chocs have since evolved and are now often made of rubber or metal.

Not all wheel chocs are the same. An effective wheel choc that lasts in firefighting, needs to be made of strong material. Ziamatic’s wheel chocs, which have been produced and improved upon over the years, are made of high tensile strength aluminum, are NFPA compliant, and many have been third party tested.

Ziamatic’s wheel chocs have been tested or certified by a third party and performed in accordance with NFPA 1901. These include Ziamatic’s AC-2, AC-32, and SAC-44-E.  In one test, one wheel choc of each model was mounted against the front wheel of each side of a fire truck, while a force of 16,100 lbs. was applied using a load cell, to simulate an 82,000 lb. truck on a 20 percent grade. With the transmission in neutral and the parking brake released, the wheel chocs were able to hold the truck stationary with no rolling, sliding, or evidence of failure. In the second test, one wheel choc of each model was mounted against the left front wheel and against the left rear wheel of the fire truck and the same force was applied as with the first test. The wheel chocs were able to hold the truck stationary with no rolling, sliding or evidence of failure.

Ziamatic’s AC-32-Y in high visibility yellow.

Ziamatic has safe and trust worthy options in our wheel choc product line. We have small, medium and large options for many different applications. Some models are even offered in a bright yellow color, assuring you never leave your chocs behind.  

You can learn more about Ziamatic’s Wheel Choc solutions here: https://www.ziamatic.com/product-category/fire/quic-choc-wheel-chocs/