- Location
- Hawick, Scottish Borders
- Main postcode district
- TD9
- Nearby (straight line)
- Galashiels (13 miles) and Peebles (22 miles)
- Survey and quote
- Free, with a fixed written quote
A dock seal is a set of fabric-covered foam pads fixed to the building around a loading bay door, usually a head pad and two side pads. When a trailer reverses in, its rear end presses into the foam, which compresses to close the gaps around the trailer body. Seals give a very tight fit but work best when the trailers using the bay are a consistent size.
Why do sites in Hawick choose this?
A dedicated chilled fleet serving a site in Hawick can be sealed closely with foam pads, at lower cost than fitting an inflatable shelter. Where trailers reverse onto a bay in Hawick slightly off-centre, tapered side pads and wheel guides help protect the seal from rubbing.
Own-fleet distribution sites in Hawick, where the same trailers arrive day after day, are well suited to foam dock seals and the tight fit they give.
We keep the process simple for sites in Hawick. A free survey tells us what the dock needs; a fixed written quote tells you what it will cost and what is included. We then organise the installation, with specialist engineers under our management and a programme agreed around your shifts. Night and weekend work is available by arrangement. Before we leave, the new equipment is tested, demonstrated and handed over with its documentation.
How are dock seals fitted to a loading bay?
Dock seals are fixed to the outside wall around the dock door, normally on brackets or a frame that sets their projection, and a set usually takes a few hours to fit. No power supply is needed.
- The wall is checked for sound fixing points, with a frame or spreader plates added on cladding.
- The head pad and side pads are positioned to suit your trailer width and height.
- Projection is set relative to the bumpers, so trailers compress the foam by the right amount.
- Bumpers are checked and, if worn, replaced at the same time.
- A trailer is docked to confirm an even seal along the head and sides.
From you we need the bay taken out of use, a clear area in the yard for powered access equipment and, ideally, one of your usual trailers available at the end of the job so the fit can be checked under real conditions.
Why does the gap between the seal and the bumpers matter?
The distance between the face of the seal and the face of the bumpers decides how far the trailer compresses the foam, and getting it right is the difference between a good seal and pads that are crushed or leave gaps.
- Too little projection: the trailer meets the bumpers before it presses the foam enough, leaving gaps at the head and sides.
- Too much projection: the foam is over-compressed, which crushes the pads, strains the fixings and can push the trailer forward as the foam recovers.
- Worn bumpers: let trailers travel further than designed, over-compressing the seal every time.
Correct projection depends on the foam depth and your trailers, so we set it at installation and it should be checked at each service. Keeping dock bumpers in good condition protects both the seal and the leveller from repeated impact.
The same published guide range applies across Scotland; access, out-of-hours working and site conditions are confirmed at the free survey.
What does the free survey cover?
- Drainage on recessed or sloping dock approaches
- Escape routes and pedestrian doors close to the bay
- Traffic routes for vehicles and separation of pedestrians
- Dock height and the mix of trailers you load
- Headroom above the opening and which track type will suit it
- Gaps around trailers where heated or chilled air escapes
Options to discuss
Tapered side pads
Side pads tapered in section so they guide the trailer in and intrude less into the trailer opening, which extends pad and cover life.
Fixed head pad seal
A head pad and two side pads of set depth, the simplest and tightest arrangement where every trailer using the bay is the same height.
Which rules apply in Scotland?
HSE is the workplace safety regulator in Scotland. At a loading bay in Hawick, doors need to satisfy regulation 18 of the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992, dock equipment must be kept safe under PUWER, and drivers must be prevented from pulling away too early. We check what applies at survey.
Questions about dock seals in Hawick
Is VAT included in your guide prices for dock seals?
No. Our customers are businesses, so guide prices exclude VAT, which is added at the standard rate. The same guide range applies in the Scottish Borders as everywhere else: for dock seals, it is £1,100 to £2,600 per set, excluding VAT. It covers supply and fit for a typical installation. Your fixed written quote after the free survey shows the net price, the VAT and exactly what is included.
What details do you need from us to quote for dock seals?
To get started, send the site address in Hawick, the number of bays or openings, approximate sizes, and photos of the dock from inside and outside. Tell us what vehicles you load, what goods you handle and any temperature requirements. Drawings help on new builds. We then arrange the free survey and confirm the details before the written quote is issued.
Do you remove and dispose of the old equipment?
Yes, where it is part of the scope. When we replace doors, levellers, shelters or seals at a site in Hawick, removal and disposal of the old equipment can be included and is itemised in the quote, so it is clear what is covered. If anything should be kept, such as a frame or motor that is still serviceable, we agree that at survey.
Do trailer doors need to be opened before docking against a seal?
Yes, the rear doors are opened and folded back before the trailer reverses onto a seal, so the pads press against the rear of the trailer rather than the doors. Gaps can remain at the door hinges, which is a known limitation of seals compared with shelters.
How can I tell if seal projection is wrong?
Look at the pads with a trailer docked. Daylight around the head or sides suggests too little compression, while pads squashed flat or bulging around the trailer suggest too much. Worn bumpers are a common cause, and both can be checked at a planned service.
Dock seals near Hawick
Nearby places we cover, measured from Hawick, include Galashiels (13 miles) and Peebles (22 miles). Ask if your own town is missing.
Other loading bay services in Hawick
Full guide to dock seals · Everything we do in Hawick
Send a few photos of the dock and a short description of the problem, and we will come back to you about your Hawick site.