Dock Equipment — Stein Service & Supply

Dock Equipment Services

We select each item for the heaviest load, the number of trucks per day, and the trailers at each door.

North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Virginia make up our main service area. In 2025 we also completed projects in 24 other states.

Aluminum dock plates, and dock boards in aluminum and steel
Edge-of-dock, mechanical, airbag, and hydraulic dock levelers
Load rating, width, and trailer height sizing
Dock seals and dock shelters for each door size
Leveler fall protection and made-to-order dock safety nets
Stocked equipment for most items, ready to ship

Loading Dock Safety Nets Our loading dock safety nets are made from durable polyester webbing to provide unrivaled elasticity that absorbs most impacts with minimal damage. C… Learn More

Dock Shelters Dock Shelters have different impact levels. All of them enable efficient unloading and loading while keeping out debris, snow, or rain, and provide… Learn More

Dock Seals Dock Seals will increase productivity, and save money in reduced energy costs by maintaining a comfortable, safe working environment. In-stock and… Learn More

Hydraulic Dock Levelers Hydraulic dock levelers are well-known for their superior performance and come in a variety of different capacities and sizes to suit almost any… Learn More

Mechanical Dock Leveler Mechanical dock levelers can be operated by pulling the ergonomic pull-chain and walking the deck onto the truck bed or trailer. Available in a… Learn More

Airbag Dock Leveler Our Airbag Dock Levelers operate efficiently and safely under heavy usage, extreme temperatures, and caustic substance exposure. In-stock and ready to… Learn More

Steel Dock Boards Steel dock boards are fully-welded to provide a safe ramp for powered vehicles. In-stock and ready to ship! Learn More

Edge of Dock Leveler If you are looking for an ergonomic solution for your warehouse operations, the Edge of Dock Levelers are a very good choice. They offer superior… Learn More

Aluminum Dock Boards Aluminum dock boards are similar to dock plates, but they have added structural components located above the plate and occasionally on the underside… Learn More

Aluminum Dock Plates If you are looking for a low-cost solution to bridge the gap between your loading dock, your trailers, and your trucks, aluminum dock plates have a… Learn More

Dock Plates, Dock Boards, and Dock Levelers

The right equipment depends on three things. The first is the total weight that crosses it, meaning the heaviest load plus the forklift or pallet jack that carries it. The other two are the number of trucks the door handles each day and the height difference between the trailer bed and the dock.

Plates and boards are portable and have the lowest cost. Levelers are fixed at the door, and pit levelers, installed in a pit in the dock, carry the heaviest loads.

Equipment	Load rating	Operation	Typical use
Dock plate	Lighter loads than a dock board	A flat aluminum plate with no curbs. Optional telescoping handles allow one person to position it without a forklift, although a forklift can also lift it with chains.	Dollies, hand trucks, or pallet jacks at low or medium volume.
Dock board	10,000 to 15,000 lb in aluminum, higher in steel	A plate with curbs on both edges, for forklift traffic. Aluminum is lighter to move, while steel costs less and carries heavier forklifts.	Forklift loading at low or medium volume, with one board moved from door to door.
Edge-of-dock leveler	Light loads, under approximately 20,000 lb	Mounted on the face of the dock, with no pit. The operator lifts the handle to extend the lip onto the trailer bed.	Trailer beds within 5 inches of the dock height. The cost is higher than a dock board and much lower than a pit leveler, including material and labor.
Mechanical pit leveler	Up to 26,000 lb	Installed in a pit in the dock. The operator pulls a chain and walks the deck down onto the trailer. No electrical power is required.	Light traffic, a limited budget, a wet dock, or a door with no power.
Airbag pit leveler	30,000 to 45,000 lb	A push button inflates a low-pressure air bag that raises the deck and lip. The deck lowers onto the trailer when the operator releases the button.	Heavy use, extreme temperatures, or exposure to caustic chemicals.
Hydraulic pit leveler	Up to 40,000 lb	A push button operates hydraulic cylinders for the deck and lip. The operator does not bend or pull.	High truck volume. It requires less maintenance than a mechanical leveler. Its controls resist corrosion and moisture, for use in chemical plants and refrigerated warehouses.

Sizing a Dock Board or Leveler

Three measurements size a dock board or leveler. The first is the load rating, which should cover the heaviest loads expected in the future. A leveler with a higher rating costs slightly more at purchase, but that cost is lower than replacing an undersized leveler. The other two measurements are width and trailer height.

Width

12–18in

Wider than the widest forklift, pallet jack, or load

On a dock board, the curbs use approximately 6 inches of this width. Aluminum dock boards are 48 to 84 inches wide and 36 to 96 inches long.

Trailer Height

±5in

Working range of an edge-of-dock leveler

We measure the dock height and the bed height of the most common trailers. When some trailer beds are more than 5 inches above or below the dock, a pit leveler covers the wider range.

Dock Seals and Dock Shelters

A leveler spans the gap between the dock and the trailer bed. A seal or shelter closes the gap around the trailer, keeping heated or cooled air inside and rain, dust, and pests outside. A dock seal is a set of foam pads that the trailer backs into. A dock shelter is a frame with fabric curtains that press against the sides and top of the trailer.

	Dock seal	Dock shelter
Seal	A tight seal on three sides, where the trailer compresses the foam.	Depends on the model. An older or lower-cost shelter leaves a gap at the trailer door hinges of approximately 2.5 square feet per door. Newer shelters close the hinge gap and seal as well as a good dock seal.
Forklift access	The compressed side pads extend into the trailer opening and can obstruct a forklift.	Full, open access to the trailer.
Door size	Doors from 8 by 8 feet to approximately 9 by 10 feet.	Larger doors, approximately 10 by 10 feet, and a wider range of trailer heights.
Projection from the wall	Less, approximately 10 inches for a standard seal.	More, from approximately 21 inches.
Wear	Foam wears at high-traffic doors, so friction-resistant fabric and reinforcement boots are available for them.	More durable, because no part is compressed.
Price	Basic seals cost less than shelters. Premium seals cost more.	Generally higher than seals.

Loading Dock Safety Equipment

One of the most serious dock accidents occurs when a trailer creeps forward or pulls away early and a forklift falls into the gap. The equipment below protects against this hazard and against falls through an open dock door.

Vehicle Restraints and Signal Lights

A vehicle restraint engages the rear impact guard of the trailer, so the trailer cannot creep forward or pull away during loading. A restraint is safer than wheel chocks, which a person must set by hand for each trailer. Signal lights and alarms connected to the leveler show the driver and the dock crew when it is safe to proceed.

Leveler Fall Protection

If a trailer pulls away while the deck is loaded, a velocity fuse on the hydraulic levelers we supply limits the drop to 3 inches. The mechanical levelers use two fall-safe legs instead. Side toe guards, available on the hydraulic levelers, keep feet out of the gap.

Dock Safety Nets

Dock safety nets are 1-inch polyester webbing, hung between steel posts across an open door, and are rated to stop 300 lb. One run can span several doors without interfering with the overhead door. Safety net details

Dock Equipment Questions

What should be checked at the dock before a building is leased?

Count the doors needed for receiving and for shipping. Newer buildings usually include seals or shelters and pit levelers, and the landlord should deliver them in working order. Also check for dock lights, signal lights, barriers for unused doors, and lighting for the trailer interiors. Space planning checklist

What equipment is best for a cold or refrigerated dock?

Dock seals and vertical-storing levelers both reduce air loss while trailers are loaded. A vertical-storing leveler is a hydraulic leveler that stands upright when not in use. The hydraulic levelers we supply have moisture-resistant controls for refrigerated warehouses. For dock boards used with refrigerated trailers, specify the 14-inch lip in place of the standard 11-inch lip.

How high and wide should a new loading dock be?

Most docks are 48 to 52 inches high, and the exact height is set by the most common trucks at the facility. Most trucks are 8 feet wide. Wider doors use more space, so the door width should stay close to the truck width.

Is this equipment in stock?

Most of the plates, boards, levelers, seals, and shelters on this page are stocked and ready to ship. Safety nets are made to order.

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Discuss a Dock Equipment Project

Contact us with the dock height, the most common trailers, and the heaviest loads.

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