Dock Plate & Dock Board Repair in Spokane & Spokane Valley, WA
For dock plate and dock board repair in Spokane and Spokane Valley, WA, call (385) 325-7138 about a bent, cracked or slipping plate or board that bridges your dock to a trailer. Tell us the facility location and what's wrong with it.
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.
Is it a dock plate, a dock board, or a leveler?
A dock plate or dock board is a loose, portable bridge laid across the gap between the dock and the trailer. A dock leveler is built into the dock. Different equipment, different repair. The federal rules call all of them "dockboards," a word that covers "bridge plates, dock plates, and dock levelers" (29 CFR 1910.21).
| Device | What it is | How it's moved | Where it belongs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dock plate | A flat plate, often aluminum, with a bent lip at each end | By hand or with handles | This page |
| Dock board | A heavier plate, often steel, usually with raised side curbs | Usually with a forklift, using lifting loops or pockets | This page |
| Bridge plate | A light plate for short gaps, often between two docks or a dock and a van | By hand | This page |
| Built-in dock leveler | A hinged ramp set into the dock floor or face | Push button, pull chain or air | Dock leveler repair |
| Portable yard ramp | A long ramp from the ground up to a trailer | Wheels or forklift | Not covered |
Makers draw the line between plates and boards differently. Many sell light aluminum plates for hand trucks and pallet jacks and heavier boards for forklifts, but some steel plates are rated for forklifts too. The rating marked on your device is what counts. The national standard for portable devices is ANSI MH30.2-2022 (MHI).
When should you stop using a plate or board?
Stop using it when it's bent, cracked, has a broken weld, has lost its locking legs or pins, or slides when a load crosses it. A plate that gives way under a forklift or pallet jack can drop a load or a person. Pull it from service the way your facility normally does, then call.
| What you see | What a qualified provider may inspect | Why it matters | What to mention |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plate bent or bowed | Deck, lips, whether it still sits flat | A bent plate can rock or slip | Our 48-inch plate is bowed in the middle |
| Crack or broken weld | Welds, deck, curbs | Cracks spread under load | There's a crack along the curb weld |
| Slides or shifts during loading | Locking legs, pins, anchoring | Washington requires portable dockboards to be secured | It shifts when the jack crosses |
| Lip worn or chewed | Lip edges, bearing surface | A worn lip may not sit on the trailer bed | The lip is chewed up |
| Capacity label missing or unreadable | The device and its maker's rating | You can't confirm what it's rated to carry | Can't read the capacity label |
| Wrong size for the gap | Length and width against the gap and height difference | Too steep or too short is unsafe | It's too short for our high trailers |
Can a damaged dock plate be repaired?
Sometimes, sometimes not. It depends on the damage, the material and the maker. Keep a cracked, bent or field-welded device out of service. Ask a qualified company to check the maker's instructions, its rating and whether repair is allowed; if safe use cannot be confirmed, ask about replacement.
| Situation | Usual direction | Question to ask |
|---|---|---|
| Missing locking pin, leg or handle | Often a part replacement | "Is this a factory part?" |
| Light lip wear | May be repairable, depending on the maker | "Does the maker allow this repair?" |
| Bent deck | Often replacement. Straightening can weaken metal | "Can this still carry its rated load?" |
| Cracked deck or broken weld | Often replacement | "Does the maker permit repair, or should we replace it?" |
| Wrong size or capacity for today's loads | Replacement with the right device | "What size and capacity fit our trailers and equipment?" |
Washington rules for dock plates and boards
Washington runs its own workplace safety program through L&I's Division of Occupational Safety and Health, called DOSH (OSHA). Washington's rules say:
- Secure it. "Portable dockboards are secured by anchoring them in place or using equipment or devices that prevent the dockboard from moving out of a safe position" (WAC 296-24-75006).
- Keep the trailer still. "Positive protective measures, such as wheel chocks or sand shoes, are used to prevent the transport vehicle… from moving while employees are on the dockboard" (same rule).
- Don't overload it. For forklifts: "Make sure loads do not exceed the dock-board's rated capacity" and "Properly secure dock-boards before driving on them" (WAC 296-863-40040).
- Run-off protection. Dockboards put in service on or after October 1, 2020 must be "designed, constructed, and maintained to prevent employees from running off the dockboard edge" (WAC 296-24-75006).
The federal baseline, 29 CFR 1910.26, says a dockboard must be "capable of supporting the maximum intended load." The provider repairs or supplies the device. Your safety program decides how it's used.
Is the plate out of service? Call and describe it.
What's covered and what isn't
Covered: dock plates, dock boards and bridge plates used at commercial docks: inspection, parts, repair where the maker allows it, and replacement.
Not covered:
- Built-in dock levelers (see dock leveler repair)
- Concrete dock edges and curb angles (a separate trade)
- Boat docks and ramps
- Forklifts and pallet jacks
- Parts-only orders
What happens when you call
- You call and describe the plate or board. Say what's wrong and where.
- 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 help, 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.
Example of what to say: "Our steel dock board at the Spokane warehouse has a cracked weld, and we've pulled it from use."
More on the model: how Uptime works.
What does dock plate repair or replacement cost?
We can't quote your plate or board from a web page. The price depends on the device, the damage, whether it can be repaired, and access. Here's what to ask before you authorize work.
| Cost driver | Why it changes the price | Ask this |
|---|---|---|
| Repair vs replacement | Many damaged plates are replaced, not fixed | "Repair or replace, and why?" |
| Size and capacity | Longer, wider and higher-rated devices cost more | "What size and capacity do we need?" |
| Aluminum vs steel | Different materials, different prices and weights | "Which material fits our loads?" |
| Stock vs special order | Odd sizes can take longer | "Is it in stock?" |
| Trip charge | Some companies charge to come look | "Is there a trip charge?" |
Ask for a written scope and what warranty the provider or maker gives.
Call to get the plate or board priced by the provider.
Before you hire: Washington checks
If the job includes work on the dock itself, such as anchoring or replacing a built-in device, ask whether the company is registered as a contractor with Washington L&I, and check it on Verify a Contractor, Tradesperson or Business. For work on the dock itself, see the permit and registration guide.
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 plates and boards
Can a bent dock plate be straightened?
Ask the provider or the maker. Bending metal back can weaken it, and the rating may no longer hold. Many bent plates are replaced.
Can we weld a crack in a dock board ourselves?
Don't. Keep it out of use and ask a qualified company to check the maker's instructions and rating. If safe use cannot be confirmed, ask about replacement.
How do we know what capacity our plate is?
Look for the maker's capacity marking on the device, if you already know where it is. If it's missing or unreadable, say so on the call.
Is a dock plate the same as a dock leveler?
No. A plate is loose and portable. A leveler is built into the dock. Both are "dockboards" under federal rules. See dock leveler repair.
Get the right plate back in service
Tell us what's wrong with the plate or board. If it's out of use and 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.
Sources
All checked September 23, 2026.