Control systems for operation of loading dock equipment, and associated methods of manufacture and use

A system for controlling operation of a plurality of pieces of loading dock equipment at a loading dock, the system comprising:

• a display screen;
• a processor operably connected to the display screen;
• and
• a computer-readable medium containing non-transitory instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to—
• display, via the display screen, a first control element, wherein user interaction with the first control element causes activation of a function of a first one of the pieces of loading dock equipment;
• and
• automatically display, via the display screen, a second control element in the absence of the first control element after receiving a signal from the first one of the pieces of loading dock equipment indicating that the function of the first one of the pieces of loading dock equipment has been completed or has not been completed, wherein:
• when the signal indicates that the function of the first one of the pieces of loading dock equipment has been completed, user interaction with the second control element causes activation of a function of a second one of the pieces of loading dock equipment;
• and
• when the signal indicates that the function of the first one of the pieces of loading dock equipment has not been completed, the second control element provides an indication to the user to engage an alternate one of the pieces of loading dock equipment.

A loading dock system, comprising:

• a first piece of loading dock equipment;
• a second piece of loading dock equipment;
• and
• a control panel, comprising—
• a display screen;
• a processor operably connected to the display screen;
• and
• a computer-readable medium containing non-transitory instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to—
• display, via the display screen, a first control element, wherein user interaction with the first control element causes activation of a function of the first piece of loading dock equipment;
• and
• automatically display, via the display screen, a second control element in the absence of the first control element after receiving a signal from the first piece of loading dock equipment indicating that the function of the first piece of loading dock equipment has been completed or has not been completed, wherein:
• when the signal indicates that the function of the first one of the pieces of loading dock equipment has been completed, user interaction with the second control element causes activation of a function of the second piece of loading dock equipment;
• and
• when the signal indicates that the function of the first one of the pieces of loading dock equipment has not been completed, the second control element provides an indication to the user to engage an alternate one of the pieces of loading dock equipment.