Dock Bumpers Comparison Sheet

Why use vehicle dock bumpers?

Dock bumpers protect buildings and help prevent costly damage caused by trucks reversing in the dock.

Issues to consider when selecting dock bumpers

It is important to consider the flowing issues when choosing dock bumpers:

Bumper height: certain trucks, especially those carrying containers are higher, so it is important to position your bumpers at the right height.

Bumper thickness: the thicker the bumper, the less overlap there is between the dock leveler and the truck. This can increase the risk of accidents where the leveler slips off the truck.

Inclined access ramp: if the access ramp is inclined towards the dock, it is important to check that the top of the truck does not touch the top of the door (for optimum safety, the door needs to be higher than the truck). If the truck touches the top of the door, it might be possible to solve the problem by using thicker dock bumpers.

Bumper fixing method: for a durable build it is best to have large steel panels sealed onto the building’s wall. The dock bumpers can then be screwed or welded onto the panels.

Outer materials: some bumpers are made of soft, shock absorbing surfaces (such as rubber) that can easily be damaged by vehicles – especially if the ramp is inclined towards the dock “pushing” vehicles towards the dock.

Shock absorbing properties: if the materials are too hard they will not absorb the shock properly. This could lead to the damage of your building.

Pros and cons of the different bumpers available on the market

Solutions	Pros	Cons
1 - Wall fixing
	Solution "a": no fixed panels
	Low cost	Can be ripped Uneven spread of shock on the wall Cannot be welded onto the wall
	Solution "b": steel fixed panel
	Even spread of the shock on the wall Can be welded onto the wall Solid	Heavy and a little more expensive
2 - Shock absorbent material
	Solution "a": rubber (shore 65)
	Cost effective Works well	Can be damaged by the vertical friction of the truck on the bumper unless fitted with a friction panel
	Solution "b": hard synthetic material
	Wear resistant – can be in direct contact with the truck	Little shock absorption Expensive
3 - Surface in contact with vehicles
	Solution "a": shock absorbent material in direct contact with vehicle
	Cost effective	Rapid wear of material
	Solution "b": standard steel plate
	Wear resistant Easy to make	Can bend under shocks
	Solution "c": “spring back” steel plate
	Heavy duty Shock resistant	Can be more expensive
4 -Following of the up and down movements of the vehicle
	Solution "a": spring mounted
	Should follow the vehicle movements	Unreliable Difficult to manufacture
	Solution" b": fixed mount bumper with wear resistant surface
	Simple	Needs to be mounted extremely solidly