Dock bumpers, overhead doors, industrial doors, loading dock safety – many of these terms are foreign to drivers that aren’t involved with trucking, transportation, trailers, etc. Today, we’re going to take a look at such bumpers, what they are, their purpose, and the benefits of having them.
Dock Bumpers
When a truck hit’s a building (and it happens more often than you’d like to imagine) there is always a damage risk. It doesn’t matter if a traffic dock is a hub of bustling activity or if it experiences low traffic. These things happen. Worst-case scenario, the building and/or the truck sustains severe damage – best case scenario, minor scratches or almost no damage occurs. Dock bumpers, however, are the perfect way to avoid the damage described. When there is trailer or truck impact, 80% of the impact force can be absorbed by this type of bumper.
Clearly, an essential line of defense can be found through the use of dock bumpers as protection against any truck or trailer making deliveries. But there are different kinds of dock bumpers available. How do you know which one to choose?
Types of Dock Bumpers
There are several basic types of dock bumpers:
Steel faced dock bumpers – When it comes to wear, these dock bumpers have the greatest capabilities. Compared to laminated dock bumpers, they offer four times the protection. One question to ask in order to determine if steel faced dock bumpers are right for you: where loading dock equipment or another type of trailer is concerned, what is the likelihood of a collision involving either one? If the likelihood is good, these bumpers could be the perfect choice for you.
Laminated dock bumpers – Where wear capacity is concerned, laminated dock bumpers are about mid-range. They provide flexibility in height, length, and thickness.
Molded dock bumpers – While these are the most attractive dock bumpers available, compared to other types of bumpers, they are far easier to gouge or chip. So, you need to decide, do you want to sacrifice durability for style?
Some Problems May Arise
Even with dock bumpers installed, problems can arise. One common issue does occur when the height of the loading dock bumper doesn’t quite match up against the height of some trailers or trucks. There are companies that will custom make dock bumpers that are raised in order to help guard against damage to the building, docks, trailers, and trucks.
Mickey Carries Dock Bumpers
If you have shopped for parts or accessories through Mickey Genuine Parts, you already know that if we receive your order by 2 PM Eastern Standard Time, we can begin the shipping process that same day. Special order items will be expedited as soon as possible, usually within three days from the order. Currently, we have a 2″ x 24″ dock bumper in stock. The product code is 6012315 – but don’t stop there! Grab a paper and pencil and make a list of all the parts and accessories you think you might be interested in. Now peruse the Mickey Genuine Parts website to see what kinds of equipment we have in stock.
At Mickey Genuine Parts, we offer all types of accessories, safety equipment, dock bumpers, and much, much more. We also provide some of the finest work available at our service centers, located throughout the United States. If you haven’t already experienced the Mickey difference, give us a call today to find out how we can best serve you.