Dock Bumpers & Accessories

What are Dock Bumpers?

Dock bumpers are bumpers fitted to a loading dock, sometimes referred to as dock leveller bumpers. They vary in size and material, but fundamentally all do the same thing:

• Absorb impact from reversing lorries, to prevent damage to vehicles and buildings.
• Ensure correct alignment of vehicles on the loading dock, which ensures correct positioning of dock levellers.
• Help drivers align correctly with the loading dock.

Installations normally involve two dock bumpers. There is normally one each side of a dock leveller, lined up with the top of the loading dock. However, site conditions and operational differences can lead to other configurations. For example shipping containers are often higher than standard trailers, sometimes requiring longer bumpers, potentially set above dock height.

What Dock Bumper size do I need?

Our TWB-1018-4 (250x450x100mm) dock bumper is the most common bumper size. Our TWB-1030-4 (250x750x100mm) offers a longer length, to cover a wider range of vehicle heights. Various other sizes are also available.

See how our part number structure works to help you find the right bumper:

Dock bumper naming structure

We also offer a range of other bumper sizes and shapes to suit other installations – our rubber D-section bumper can be used to protect longer lengths; for example loading docks without levellers.

What type of bumpers?

Rubber is traditionally used for dock bumpers. It is relatively cheap, and extremely good at absorbing the impact from the reversing vehicles. However, rubber is more susceptible to wear as the vehicle is (un)loaded, (it will normally move up and down due to the weight transfer). Rubber dock bumpers may require more regular replacement than some alternatives.

Steel front plates can be fitted, dramatically improving wear resistance, yet maintaining the impact absorption from the rubber bumper.

Nylon dock bumpers can also be used. We generally recommend fitting thinner nylon fronts over a rubber backer, again offering a mix of impact absorption, and wear resistance. Their yellow colouring can also help with visibility, which can aid reversing drivers.

We also offer a sliding nylon dock bumper. This is designed the give the benefits of a nylon bumper, but with further wear resistance due to the way the bumper moves up/down with the vehicle.

How are dock bumpers fitted?

If you have a traditional concrete loading dock, you can simply bolt straight through using appropriate fixings for concrete. However, we generally recommend fitting a steel backing plate first, and then the bumper is fixed to the backing plate. This allows for easier replacement in future. Without the backing plates, it becomes complex to replace damaged fixings into concrete, but if the backing plates stays in place, damaged fixings can easily be replaced by grinding/welding.

Our above dock bumper supports allow fitting of dock bumpers above the loading dock height. This can be critical in ensuring correct vehicle alignment.