Dock Seal, Shelter, Bumper & Dock Plate Repair in Evansville, IN

For dock seal, shelter, bumper and dock plate repair in Evansville, IN, call (385) 325-7138 about a torn seal or shelter, a bumper that's cracked or gone, a bent dock plate or dock board, or a broken dock light. This covers the loading-dock equipment around the bay at warehouses, plants and distribution docks. Tell us the facility location and the dock number.

Call(385) 325-7138

Call to describe the problem—if the door is stuck open or the dock is down, say so first.

Independent service-request website. Calls may be shared with an independent commercial dock-and-door repair company. That provider confirms availability, scope, pricing, and service terms.

Facts checked: September 23, 2026.

Which piece of dock equipment is it?

Seals, shelters and bumpers sit on the outside face of the dock, around the door. Dock plates and dock boards are portable bridges that get set in place between the dock and the trailer. Lights and wheel chocks help the loading work go safely. Built-in levelers and trailer restraints have their own pages.

Equipment	What it does	How to recognize it	What to mention	Names you may see (examples)
Dock seal	Pads press against the trailer to close the gap	Fabric-covered foam pads around the door opening	Which door; pads torn or flattened	Kelley, Serco, Nordock
Dock shelter	A frame and curtains the trailer backs into	Fabric side and top curtains on a frame	Which curtain is torn	Kelley, Serco, Nordock
Dock bumpers	Take the hit when a trailer backs in	Rubber or molded blocks below the door	Missing or cracked	—
Dock plate or dock board	A portable bridge from dock to trailer	A loose metal plate, often with handles or a forklift loop	Which plate, and what's bent or cracked	—
Dock light	Lights up the inside of the trailer	A lamp on a swing arm by the door	Light out or broken	—
Wheel chock	Blocks a trailer wheel from rolling	A wedge at the trailer's wheels	Chock damaged or missing	Kelley
Trailer restraint (dock lock)	Holds the trailer at the dock	A hook or arm at the base of the dock face	See trailer restraint repair	—
Dock leveler	A built-in bridge in the dock floor	A hinged steel deck with a lip	See dock leveler repair	—
Dock lift	Raises and lowers loads where there's no dock height	A lift platform at the dock	Ask on the call. The provider confirms what it works on.	—

Brand names are identification examples from each maker's own product pages. A brand name doesn't mean a repair company is an authorized dealer for it.

For a general guide to dock equipment, see the national page on loading dock & dock door repair.

Dock seals and shelters

A dock seal and a dock shelter both close the gap around a trailer, but they work differently. A seal uses foam pads that the trailer presses against. A shelter uses a frame and fabric curtains that wrap the sides and top of the trailer. Torn or flattened ones let weather, heat and cold into the dock.

What you see	What a qualified provider may check	Why it matters	How to report it
Torn fabric on a seal pad	Pad cover, foam	Weather gets in, and the tear grows	Which door; pads torn or flattened
Pads squashed flat	Foam, mounting	Gaps open up around the trailer	Which door; which side
Shelter curtain ripped or hanging	Curtains, frame	Weather and energy loss	Which curtain is torn
Top curtain down	Head curtain, frame	Rain and air come in over the trailer	Top curtain down
Frame bent after a trailer hit	Frame, mounting, the wall behind it	It may not fit the next trailer	What hit it, and where
Gaps around every trailer	Fit for the trailers you get	Heating or cooling loss	That trailers don't seal

This is loading-dock seal work, not parking-lot sealcoating. If your trailers are unusual sizes, say so on the call. Fit matters.

Example of what you might say: "The dock shelter at door 7 is torn after a trailer backed into it at our Evansville warehouse." That's only an example. You don't need a script.

If a torn seal or shelter is letting weather in, call and name the door.

Call(385) 325-7138

Dock bumpers

Dock bumpers are the rubber or molded blocks on the dock face. They take the hit when a trailer backs in, which protects the wall, the dock edge and the leveler. Missing or cracked bumpers are worth reporting before the next trailer arrives.

Say which door, and whether the bumper is cracked, worn thin, loose or gone. If the concrete or wall behind it is broken, say that too. The concrete itself is outside this work, but the provider needs to know what the bumper would mount to.

This covers bumpers mounted on the dock. It doesn't cover the bumper bar on the trailer. That's a trailer shop job.

Dock plates and dock boards

A dock plate or dock board is a portable bridge that someone sets between the dock and the trailer. It isn't bolted in place like a leveler. MHI, the dock-equipment makers' trade group, says dock boards are usually built for heavy loads from material handling equipment. Dock plates are usually for lighter hand loading or hand trucks (MHI LODEM). The name alone doesn't tell you the rating. The rating marked on the plate, and the maker's instructions, do.

Topic	What the source says	Source
What counts as a dockboard	"Dockboards include, but are not limited to, bridge plates, dock plates, and dock levelers."	29 CFR 1910.21
Load	Dockboards must be "capable of supporting the maximum intended load."	29 CFR 1910.26(a)
Run-off protection	Dockboards put into service on or after January 17, 2017 must prevent vehicles from running off the edge, unless the employer shows there's no such hazard.	29 CFR 1910.26(b)
Securing portable plates	Portable dockboards are anchored, or held by devices that keep them in a safe position.	29 CFR 1910.26(c)
The trailer	"Measures, such as wheel chocks or sand shoes," keep the trailer from moving while employees are on the dockboard.	29 CFR 1910.26(d)
Handling	Portable dockboards have "handholds or other means to permit safe handling."	29 CFR 1910.26(e)
The standard	ANSI MH30.2-2022, "Performance and Testing of Portable Dock Leveling Devices"	ANSI Webstore

When a plate or board is damaged. Take it out of use following your facility's process. Don't move it if it's unsafe to handle. Don't weld it, straighten it or put it back into service on your own. The maker's instructions and a qualified provider decide whether a repair is allowed.

Repair or replace? That's the provider's call. It depends on the damage, the maker's rules, and whether the plate is still rated for what crosses it. If you need a plate for forklifts, say so. The provider can match the rating to the job.

Dock lights and wheel chocks

Dock lights light up the inside of the trailer. Wheel chocks block a trailer's wheels. Both come up in federal rules. OSHA's forklift rule says: "The brakes of highway trucks shall be set and wheel chocks placed under the rear wheels to prevent the trucks from rolling while they are boarded with powered industrial trucks" (29 CFR 1910.178(k)(1)). In plain words: set the trailer's brakes and chock its rear wheels before forklifts drive in. Report a broken dock light, or damaged or missing chocks, the same way as any other dock problem: which door, and what's wrong.

Chocks on a chain or arm, and restraints that hold a wheel, are part of the trailer restraint family. See trailer restraint repair.

Planned dock equipment checks

Seals, shelters, bumpers and plates wear with every trailer. Ask about planned checks when you call. The repair company that takes the work sets the scope and the schedule with you.

A provider may look at:

seal pads and shelter curtains for tears and flattening;
bumpers for cracks and loose mounts;
dock plates for bends, cracks and missing handholds;
dock lights and their arms.

Levelers, restraints and doors have their own checks: planned leveler service, planned restraint checks, and door maintenance.

What's not covered here

This page is for loading-dock equipment on commercial buildings. It doesn't cover:

the trailer's own bumper bar, doors or lights (call a trailer shop);
concrete dock faces, pits or slabs (call a concrete contractor);
boat docks;
parking-lot sealcoating;
parts-only orders.

Built-in levelers, trailer restraints and doors are covered on their own pages, linked above.

If it's commercial dock equipment, call and describe it.

Call(385) 325-7138

What happens when you call

You describe the facility and which dock. Your call may be shared with an independent commercial dock-and-door repair company. That company confirms whether it can take the work, then agrees scope, timing, price and its own terms with you.

You call and describe the facility location and the observable problem.
Your call may be shared with an independent commercial dock-and-door repair company.
That provider confirms whether it can take the work and agrees scope, availability, pricing, scheduling, and its own service terms directly with your facility.

We are a service-request website, not the repair contractor. Read how Uptime works and about Uptime.

If you reach voicemail, leave the facility address, the door or dock number if known, what's wrong, and a callback number.

Call and name the dock number.

Call(385) 325-7138

What to have ready—and what you don't need

The facility location and the dock number are enough. These help if you already know them:

what's damaged: seal, shelter, bumper, plate, light or chock;
how many docks need work;
whether a trailer hit it;
the trailer sizes you usually get, if the job is a seal or shelter;
the rating marked on a plate, if you can read it without handling a damaged plate.

You don't need measurements, photos or part numbers to call.

What affects the cost?

We can't quote your dock equipment repair from a web page. The price depends on the equipment, the damage, the parts, and access. Here's what to ask before you authorize work.

Cost driver	Why it changes the price	Ask
Equipment type	Seals, shelters, bumpers and plates are different jobs	"What exactly are you repairing or replacing?"
Repair or replace	New pads or curtains cost differently than a full unit	"Can you replace just the damaged part?"
Fit	Seals and shelters are sized to the door and the trailers	"Will the new part fit our trailers?"
Mounting damage	A hit can damage the mount or the wall	"Is the mounting damaged too?"
Number of docks	Several docks at once changes the job	"Is it priced per dock?"
Parts and lead time	Some parts are made to order	"Are the parts in stock? What's the lead time?"
Trip charge and after-hours work	If the provider has them	"Is there a trip charge, or a different after-hours rate?"

The repair company sets the price. Start with a call, then ask these questions before you say yes.

Call(385) 325-7138

Evansville rules that touch dock equipment

Indiana and Kentucky each run their own OSHA-approved safety program, IOSHA in Indiana and Kentucky OSH across the river. Both use the federal dockboard and forklift rules quoted above.

State programs. IOSHA covers most Indiana workplaces. Kentucky OSH covers private workplaces in Kentucky.
Wiring. Dock lights and powered equipment need wiring. Wiring is licensed locally in Vanderburgh County (Evansville Code ch. 5.70) and by the state in Kentucky (KRS 227A.020).
Henderson. Kentucky facilities: see Henderson, KY.

Your facility's safety program decides how the rules apply at your docks. The provider and the issuing office confirm what applies to the job.

Where facilities can call from

Facilities in Vanderburgh, Warrick and Posey counties, Indiana, and in Henderson County, Kentucky can call about dock equipment. The repair company that takes the work confirms the facility address and availability. See the full Evansville service area or go back to Evansville dock & door home.

Questions before you call

Are dock seals and dock shelters the same thing?

No. Seals are foam pads that press against the trailer. Shelters are a frame with curtains that the trailer backs into. Both close the gap around the trailer.

Can a bent dock plate be straightened and put back in service?

Don't do it on your own. Take the plate out of use. The maker's instructions and a qualified provider decide whether a repair is allowed, or whether the plate should be replaced.

Can a dock plate be used with a forklift?

It depends on the plate's rating, not its name. MHI says dock boards are typically built for heavy-duty equipment, while dock plates are typically for hand or hand-truck loading. Check the rating marked on the plate, or ask the provider.

Does bumper replacement include fixing broken concrete?

No. Concrete dock faces and slabs are outside this work. Tell the provider about the damage anyway, because a bumper needs something solid to mount to.

Call about your Evansville dock equipment

Tell us the facility location and the dock number.

Call(385) 325-7138

Call to describe the problem—if the door is stuck open or the dock is down, say so first.

Independent service-request website. Calls may be shared with an independent commercial dock-and-door repair company. That provider confirms availability, scope, pricing, and service terms.

Change service area

Sources

All checked September 23, 2026.