Vehicle restraint system for a loading dock having a delayable release signal

A method for operating a vehicle restraint, the method comprising steps of:

• operating a barricade member from a stored position to a blocking position;
• operating a locking member from a release position to a locking position to secure the barricade member in the blocking position that is configured to secure a vehicle in a parked position relative to a loading dock assembly;
• delivering an instruction to operate the locking member from the locking position to the release position to release the vehicle from the parked position;
• verifying that the locking member is moved away from the locking position;
• storing the instruction in an instruction queue in the event the verification step confirms that the locking member is prevented from moving away from the locking position by an interfering force;
• delivering an alert to an area proximate the vehicle to remove the interfering force;
• confirming that the interfering force is removed from the locking member;
• delivering the instruction from the instruction queue to move the locking member to the release position;
• moving the locking member to the release position;
• and
• moving the barricade member from the blocking position to the stored position.

A method for operating a vehicle restraint, the method comprising steps of:

• operating a barricade member from a stored position toward a verification position to determine the presence and location of an impact guard of a vehicle relative to a loading dock assembly;
• operating the barricade member from the verification position to a proximal blocking position of a plurality of blocking positions, wherein the proximal blocking position locates the impact guard between the barricade member and the loading dock assembly, wherein an additional blocking position is not defined between the proximal blocking position and the impact guard;
• operating a locking member from a release position to a locking position to secure the barricade member in the proximal blocking position that is configured to secure the impact guard in a parked position relative to the loading dock assembly;
• delivering an instruction to operate the locking member from the locking position to the release position to release the impact guard from the parked position;
• verifying that the locking member is moved away from the locking position;
• storing the instruction in an instruction queue in the event the locking member is prevented from moving away from the locking position by an interfering force;
• delivering an alert to an area proximate the vehicle to remove the interfering force;
• confirming that the interfering force is removed from the locking member;
• delivering the instruction from the instruction queue to move the locking member to the release position;
• and
• operating the barricade member from the proximal blocking position to the stored position.