Dock Seal and Shelter Installation and Replacement
We specialize in the installation and replacement of commercial dock seals and shelters. These systems close the gap between transport trailers and your facility. This containment is critical for climate control, preventing external heat, rain, dust, and pests, a requirement for cold storage, food processing, and pharma operations.
Because every loading dock requires tailored dimensions, all projects begin with an on-site technical assessment.
We serve facilities throughout the South Florida Tri-County area: Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties.
To expedite your quote, please complete pages 1, 2, and 8 of our Site Survey Form and return it via email alongside photographs of your loading dock.
Dock Seals
A dock seal is a set of foam pads, one across the top and one down each side of the door. The trailer backs into the pads and presses them against its top and sides, closing the gap tightly. That makes a seal the best choice when you need to hold temperature, such as on cold storage, food and pharma docks, and when the trailers you receive are close to the same size.
Dock Shelters
A dock shelter is a frame that stands out from the wall with fabric curtains across the top and down the sides. The trailer backs in and the curtains lie against it, so nothing presses on the trailer and the full opening stays clear for loading. A shelter is the better choice when your trailer mix varies in height and width, or when you need full access to the back of the trailer.
Dock Seal or Dock Shelter?
- Dock seal: tightest closure, best for holding temperature, works best when trailers are close to the same size.
- Dock shelter: full access to the trailer opening, handles a wider mix of trailer sizes, nothing presses on the trailer.
The survey settles it: your trailer mix, your door and what you load decide which one fits.
What We Check on Site
- Door width and height, and the space between doors
- Dock height and how far your bumpers stand off the wall, so the pads compress the right amount when a trailer is against the bumpers
- Whether the drive slopes toward the dock, which calls for tapered side pads
- The wall the seal or shelter mounts to, and anything in the way: dock lights, vehicle restraint controls, conduit, canopies
- The heights and types of trailers you receive
Our site survey covers the same points; pages 1, 2, and 8 are the ones for seals and shelters.
When It's Time to Replace
- Foam that stays crushed and no longer springs back
- Torn fabric that exposes the foam or the wood behind it
- A rotted or loose backing frame, or a bent shelter frame
- Fabric faded and cracked by the Florida sun
- Daylight showing around a trailer at the door
The one repair we do is re-mounting: when a pad or a section has come away from the building but the fabric and frame are still sound, we put it back. We do not repair the equipment itself: no fabric, no cover, no foam, no lumber, no metal. When those are worn, we replace the seal or shelter.
FAQs
What is the difference between a dock seal and a dock shelter?
A seal presses foam pads against the trailer for a tight closure. A shelter drapes fabric curtains against it and leaves the full opening clear. Seals hold temperature better; shelters handle more trailer sizes.
How do I choose the right one?
It depends on your trailer mix, your door size and how much temperature control you need. Our on-site survey gives you the answer.
Can dock seals be used with different trailer sizes?
Seals work best when trailers are close to the same size. If yours vary, a shelter or a seal with a head curtain may fit better.
How do dock shelters improve energy efficiency?
They limit the air that escapes around the trailer, so conditioned air stays inside and dust, insects and weather stay out.
What maintenance do dock seals and shelters need?
BXC Dock Services inspects your dock seals and shelters for torn fabric, crushed foam, and loose mounting framework—critical issues that cause energy loss and water infiltration. Following our inspection, we provide a detailed estimate for any possible re-mounting or replacement to keep your loading dock protected.
¿Hablan español e instalan sellos y abrigos de andén?
Sí, hablamos español. Instalamos y reemplazamos sellos y abrigos de andén, a la medida de su puerta y sus camiones, después de una inspección en el sitio. También volvemos a montar almohadillas o secciones que se han desprendido del edificio. Llámenos al 786-554-8077.