Dock Seal, Shelter, Bumper & Dock Light Repair in Spokane & Spokane Valley, WA
For dock seal, dock shelter, bumper and dock light repair in Spokane and Spokane Valley, WA, call (385) 325-7138 about torn pads, a ripped shelter curtain, crushed bumpers, or a gap around the trailer. Trailer restraints have their own page, linked below. Tell us the facility location and the bay.
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 dock equipment is it?
A loading bay has more than a door and a leveler. Seals and shelters close the gap around the trailer. Bumpers take the hit when a trailer backs in. Lights, chocks and signals help the crew and driver work safely. Here's how to tell them apart.
| Equipment | How to recognize it | Common damage | Where it belongs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Compression dock seal | Thick foam pads covered in heavy fabric on the sides and top of the opening. The trailer presses into them | Torn covers, flattened foam, pads pulled off the wall | This page |
| Dock shelter | A frame with fabric side and head curtains that the trailer backs into | Ripped curtains, bent frame | This page |
| Inflatable seal or shelter | Bags that blow up around the trailer with a blower | Won't inflate, torn bags, blower fault | This page |
| Dock bumpers | Rubber, molded or steel-faced blocks bolted to the dock face | Worn through, torn off, missing | This page |
| Dock lights | Swing-arm lights that shine into the trailer | Broken arm, dead light | This page |
| Wheel chocks | Blocks placed at the trailer's tires | Worn, missing, chain or holder broken | This page |
| Communication lights | Red and green lights for the driver and dock crew | Lights out, wrong colors | This page, or trailer restraints if they're tied to a restraint |
| Trailer restraint (dock lock) | A hook or arm that holds the trailer to the dock | Won't engage or release | Trailer restraint repair |
| Dock plate or board | A loose bridge plate | Bent, cracked, slipping | Dock plate and board repair |
| Dock leveler | A ramp built into the dock | Won't rise, lip won't extend | Dock leveler repair |
Dock seals and dock shelters
A dock seal or shelter closes the gap between the building and a parked trailer. A torn or flattened one lets in cold air, rain, snow and pests, and in a heated or cold building, it wastes energy. Trailers backing in off-center or too hard can tear them.
| What you see | What a provider may look at | Repair or replace? |
|---|---|---|
| Torn fabric cover, foam still good | Cover material and size | Often a new cover or patch |
| Foam flattened and won't spring back | Pad age and size for your trailers | Usually new pads |
| Head curtain torn on a shelter | Curtain, frame | Often a new curtain |
| Shelter frame bent | Frame and wall anchors | Frame repair or replacement |
| Inflatable won't inflate | Blower, bags, controls | Blower or bag repair |
| Daylight around every trailer | Seal size vs your trailer fleet | Often the wrong size. Ask about resizing |
Seal or shelter? A seal presses against the trailer. A shelter surrounds it without touching the sides. If you're not sure which you have, say what it looks like.
Dock bumpers
Bumpers are the blocks on the dock face that take the impact when a trailer backs in. When they wear through or fall off, the trailer hits the building, the leveler or the door frame instead.
| What you see | Why it matters | What to ask |
|---|---|---|
| Rubber worn down to the bolts | Trailers now hit the steel or concrete | "Can you replace them with the same size?" |
| Bumper torn off, holes in the wall | Anchors may be damaged | "Do the anchors or concrete need work?" |
| Bumpers too short for your trailers | Trailers may hit the leveler | "How far out should our bumpers stick from the dock face?" |
If the concrete behind the bumpers is broken, that's a separate trade. The provider can tell you where their work stops.
Dock lights, wheel chocks and communication lights
These are small items that matter at a busy dock. Dock lights let people see inside the trailer. Wheel chocks help keep a trailer from moving. Communication lights show bay status to the driver and dock crew. When one of them fails, the crew works slower or less safely.
Washington's forklift rule calls for brakes and chocks or wheel blocks, but it also allows mechanical means instead of chocks or blocks when the device prevents trailer movement away from the dock, is used and maintained per the manufacturer, and damaged equipment is immediately removed from service (WAC 296-863-40050). If your chocks are worn or missing, ask about replacing them. If a restraint is involved, see trailer restraint repair.
Trailer restraints
A trailer restraint (dock lock) is designed to help prevent a trailer from moving away from the dock, and usually runs the red and green lights. Restraint problems, such as a hook that won't release with a driver waiting, have their own page with safety guidance: trailer restraint and dock lock repair.
A trailer tore the seal off this morning
A hanging curtain or loose frame can fall or catch the next trailer, and a torn seal leaves the bay open to weather. Keep people clear and follow your facility's process for taking the bay out of use if the damage affects safe operation.
Example of what to say: "The shelter curtain at door 9 in our Spokane warehouse got torn off by a trailer this morning."
The provider tells you on the call whether it can take the job and when.
Call to describe the bay.
What's covered and what isn't
Covered: dock seals, dock shelters, inflatable seals and shelters, dock bumpers, dock lights, wheel chocks and communication lights at commercial docks: repair, replacement and resizing.
Not covered:
- Concrete dock faces, pits and slabs (a separate trade)
- Trailers and truck bodies
- Boat docks and boat lifts
- Parts-only orders
- Garage doors at homes
What happens when you call
- You call and describe the equipment. Say which bay and what's wrong.
- The call may be shared with an independent repair company. Uptime doesn't send technicians.
- That company confirms the details. It confirms whether it can take the job, when, the scope and the price, and works under its own terms.
If you reach voicemail, leave the facility address, the door or dock number if known, what's wrong, and a callback number.
More on the model: how Uptime works.
What helps on the call
- Which bay or bays
- Seal, shelter or inflatable
- The door size, if you know it
- The kinds of trailers you get (standard vans, reefers, box trucks)
- Photos are welcome if the provider asks, but you don't need them to call
What does dock seal, shelter or bumper repair cost?
We can't quote your dock equipment repair from a web page. The price depends on the equipment, the damage, parts, and access. Here's what to ask before you authorize work.
| Cost driver | Why it changes the price | Ask this |
|---|---|---|
| Seal vs shelter vs inflatable | Different parts and materials | "What type do we have?" |
| Patch, new cover or new unit | A cover is less than a full seal or shelter | "Can you replace just the cover?" |
| Size | Bigger openings and custom sizes cost more | "Is this a standard size?" |
| Number of bays | Doing several bays at once can change the price | "Is there a price for multiple bays?" |
| Bumper type and anchoring | Steel-faced and larger bumpers cost more. Damaged anchors add work | "Do the anchors need work?" |
| Lead time | Custom covers can take time | "How long for parts?" |
Ask for the scope in writing, and ask what warranty the provider gives.
Call to get the bay priced by the provider.
Before you hire: Washington checks
Ask whether the company is registered as a contractor with Washington L&I for work on the building, and check it on Verify a Contractor, Tradesperson or Business. Dock lights and inflatable blowers are wired. In the City of Spokane, the City issues electrical permits. Elsewhere in the area, Washington L&I does (L&I list).
Where you can call from
Calls are welcome from facilities in Spokane, Spokane Valley, Airway Heights and the West Plains, Liberty Lake, Millwood, Cheney, Medical Lake, Deer Park, the north county and Stevens County. The provider confirms the address and whether it can take the job. See the service area or go back to the Spokane & Spokane Valley loading dock repair page.
Questions about dock seals, shelters and bumpers
Should we repair or replace a torn dock seal?
If only the cover is torn and the foam still springs back, a new cover is often enough. If the foam is flattened, new pads are usually better. The provider checks.
Dock seal or dock shelter: which do we have?
A seal is foam pads the trailer presses into. A shelter is a frame with fabric curtains the trailer backs into. Describe it and the provider will know.
Are missing bumpers a problem?
Yes. Without bumpers, trailers hit the building, the leveler or the door frame. Replacement is usually a small job compared with the damage it prevents.
Are dock lights covered?
Yes. Broken swing arms and dead dock lights are covered. Say which bay.
Close up the bay
Tell us which bay and what's torn, crushed or out. If the bay 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.
Sources
Core sources checked September 23, 2026. WAC 296-863-40050 rechecked September 24, 2026.