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The Battle of Wheel Chocks -
Rubber vs. Urethane

Wheel chocks represent critical safety equipment in industrial, mining and aviation environments. Their proper and sustained use ensures that lives are protected! There are multiple types of wheel chocks available on the market, including those constructed of aluminum, wood, rubber and urethane. Safety regulations/guidelines do not generally specify the type of material that must be utilized for industrial applications; however, rubber and urethane are the two most commonly selected.

A comparison study done by Checkers Industrial reveals that urethane is a stronger competitor than expected. Below are 4 reasons why using urethane wheel chocks will not only reduce your wheel chocks spend, but drastically reduce the chance of injury!

KH973
  1. Greater Strength and Flexibility: Initial independent testing showed (and repeated subsequent testing has confirmed) that urethane chocks consistently have a higher load-bearing capacity and are better able to absorb high impacts from heavy machinery than their rubber counterparts. While mimicking the flexibility of urethane chocks also showed significantly greater strength and resistance to abrasion. Over time, the urethane chocks also proved to better withstand harsh working conditions and extreme weather.
  2. Improved Ease of Use: Urethane chocks have been shown to be 20 to 50 percent lighter in weight than similarly sized rubber chocks, providing ease of carrying and transport. The molding of built-in carrying handles has also helped facilitate the transport of these chocks. Urethane construction also provided the ability to mold ANSI-compliant chocking guidelines into the chocks themselves; an option not available in traditional rubber manufacturing.
Checkers Industrial

Urethane chocks provide greater strength and flexibility, improved ease of use, superior on-site visibility and long-term cost savings.

Cracked Rubber Wheel Chock

  1. Superior On-Site Visibility: One of the most impactful uses of urethane is the ability to produce wheel chocks in high-visibility safety colours, which further aids in proper chock placement as well as raising awareness for those walking or driving around equipment secured by these wheel chocks.
  2. Cost Savings: While rubber chocks are initially less expensive than urethane chocks, they must be replaced far more frequently. This is due to rubber's rapid deterioration and susceptibility to damage.

When compared with rubber chocks of similar size and rating, independent testing of urethane chocks showed them to provide greater strength and flexibility, improved ease of use, superior on-site visibility, and long-term cost savings.

Consult the Wheel Chock Reference Guide