Guide for commercial door and dock repair companies · checked 12 November 2026
Commercial door and dock repair software for levelers, restraints, AAADM doors and NTE work orders
A dock and door company keeps freight moving and front doors opening. At the back of the building it services pit levelers, vehicle restraints with red and green lights, seals and shelters at a distribution center with dozens of positions. At the front it inspects automatic sliding and swing doors to ANSI/BHMA A156.10 and signs the annual AAADM label. Much of the work comes in through facility platforms that set a not-to-exceed amount and count every check-in. This guide covers how that work runs, what to record and how to set software up around it.
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Short answer
Dock and door service companies in the US mostly run on ServiceTitan's Dock and Door product or a general commercial field service system, plus the facility platforms their clients dispatch through, such as ServiceChannel. UK companies use FieldMotion or Klipboard. What matters is a register of every dock position (leveler type, capacity, lip, restraint, lights, seal, door) and every automatic door with its AAADM inspection date, 90 day PM visits per manufacturer manuals, and work order handling that respects the client's NTE, check-in and proposal rules.
GVW x 2.5
LODEM's guideline for dock leveler capacity: forklift weight plus heaviest load, times 2.5, raised for more than 8 trucks a day, angled entry, 3 wheel trucks or over 4 mph
source: MHI Loading Dock Equipment Manufacturers (LODEM), Dock Planning 101 (Jan 2023)
4 in
Minimum lip purchase on the trailer bed under ANSI MH30.1; a standard 16 in lip projects 12 in past the bumpers
source: MHI Loading Dock Equipment Manufacturers (LODEM), Dock Planning 101 (Jan 2023)
1 year
Life of an AAADM inspector license; renewed each January with a 10 question refresher exam
source: DASMA Door + Access Systems, Possible benefits of AAADM inspection approach (Summer 2026)
30 minutes
ServiceChannel's ask for a provider to accept or decline a work order (15 minutes for emergencies)
How a job runs
One commercial door and dock repair job, from first call to paid
The order the work really happens in, and what has to be written down at each step so nothing is argued about later.
- 1
Take the work order the way the client sends it
A national retailer or 3PL rarely phones. The job arrives through ServiceChannel or a similar platform with a store or DC number, a dock door or entrance number, a priority and a not-to-exceed amount. ServiceChannel asks providers to accept or decline within 30 minutes, 15 for emergencies, and a decline needs a reason. Smaller warehouses still call or email.
- 2
Find the position before rolling a truck
Dock door 14 at a distribution center means one leveler, one restraint, one light set, one seal or shelter and one overhead door. The office pulls that position's record: leveler make and type (hydraulic, air, mechanical, vertical, edge of dock), capacity, lip length, restraint type and serial, and the last visit. That decides whether the tech needs hydraulic hose and fluid, a lip hinge pin, a restraint hook motor or a seal pad.
- 3
Check in the way the client counts it
ServiceChannel counts only GPS or IVR check-ins toward its 90% check-in compliance goal, and at IVR check-out it asks how many techs were on site. A tech who leaves for parts should not check out; the work order goes to an in progress or incomplete status instead.
- 4
Make the dock safe, then diagnose
The trailer is restrained or chocked and the leveler is held on its maintenance strut before anyone goes under the deck. Rite-Hite's checklist for a down leveler covers debris in the hinge and lip, worn lip pins, links and chains, hydraulic cylinders, hoses and power units, condensation in the control box, cracked welds and torn bumpers. Restraint calls start with the light sequence: inside green and outside red should change together when the restraint engages.
- 5
Price within the NTE or stop and ask
If the fix will go over the NTE, the tech calls for approval before carrying on. If parts alone exceed it, a proposal goes in before parts are ordered. ServiceChannel wants proposals within 48 hours (24 for emergencies) with photos, a diagnostic description and labor broken out as hours x approved rate x techs, and quoted prices held for 30 days.
- 6
Run the planned maintenance on the manual's interval
Rite-Hite's service guidance sets daily checks by the site and a full inspection every 90 days: labels, bumpers, lip and hinge pins, welds, lubrication. Hydraulic and air units add fluid level and air tower checks, and a 360 day retorque of control box hardware. A DC with 60 doors is 60 positions, each with its own findings.
- 7
Inspect the automatic entrances
At the front of the building an AAADM certified inspector checks each sliding, swing or folding door against ANSI/BHMA A156.10 or A156.19: sensors and monitoring, closing force, breakout, signage at 50 in plus or minus 12 in, and the daily safety check label. A passing door gets the annual compliance label at the bottom of its safety information label. AAADM asks that a safety check of the label's minimum items is done on every service call, not just the annual one.
- 8
Quote the deficiencies as projects
PM visits find the bigger work: a mechanical leveler that should become hydraulic, a missing restraint where staff still chock by hand, a 9 ft door that needs a taller shelter for high cube trailers, an old sliding door without monitored sensors. Each goes out as a proposal tied to the position, with photos.
- 9
Close, invoice and set the next date
Before and after photos go on the work order. ServiceChannel asks for invoices within 10 days of completed or confirmed, inside the NTE, with labor, techs, materials, trip charge and freight broken out; a job not invoiced within 90 days becomes ineligible for billing. The position's next PM date and the door's next AAADM date are set from the visit.
What to record
The fields every commercial door and dock repair job should capture
Each dock position (one record per door number)
- Leveler: type (hydraulic pit, air pit, mechanical pit, vertical storing, edge of dock), make, model, serial, width (6, 6.5 or 7 ft), length, rated capacity, lip length
- Service range: dock height, trailer types served (reefer, high cube, city delivery without a RIG bar), approach grade
- Restraint: RIG hook or vertical barrier, wheel based, or chocks only; make, serial, light package inside and outside, interlocks to leveler or door
- Seal or shelter type and size, bumper type and projection, overhead door size and operator
Each dock PM and repair visit
- Trailer restrained and maintenance strut in place before work under the deck (yes, photo)
- 90 day items: labels legible, bumpers (Rite-Hite asks for 4 in of bumper protection), lip and hinge pins, welds, lubrication points
- Hydraulic and air units: fluid level, hoses and fittings, power unit, air tower; 360 day control box hardware
- Restraint test: engages RIG or wheel, lights change inside and outside together, alarm and override function; deficiencies with photos and a red tag if taken out of service
Each automatic pedestrian door
- Door type (slide, swing, fold, revolving, low energy), operator make and model, standard it falls under (A156.10, A156.19, A156.38)
- Sensors: activation and presence, monitored yes or no, knowing act switch location
- Force to prevent closing (AAADM: no more than 15 lbf on a force gauge), breakout tested, signage present and legible
- AAADM inspector name and license, annual label date, daily safety check label present, owner familiarization done
Each client work order
- Platform work order number, store or DC number, door or position number, priority, NTE
- Check-in and check-out times and method (GPS, IVR, app), techs on site
- Proposal: diagnosis, hours x rate x techs, parts, freight, photos, submitted and approved dates
- Invoice date against the client's deadline (ServiceChannel: 10 days after completion)
Rules and standards
The rules that shape the work, with their sources
| Rule | What it means on the job |
|---|---|
| Dock leveler standard: ANSI MH30.1 | LODEM, the MHI group of loading dock equipment makers, publishes ANSI MH30.1 for dock leveling devices. Its planning guide states that the lip must extend at least 4 inches into the trailer per MH30.1. A standard 16 inch lip projects 12 inches past the bumpers; reefer trailers with a rear step may need 14 inches or more past the bumpers. source: MHI Loading Dock Equipment Manufacturers (LODEM), Dock Planning 101 (Jan 2023) |
| Leveler capacity: a guideline, not a law | LODEM's guideline is load capacity = (forklift weight + heaviest load) x 2.5, raised when more than eight trucks a day use the position, forklifts turn on the deck, three wheel trucks are used, speeds exceed 4 mph or attachments are fitted. Rite-Hite points out there is no recognized industry standard for capacity, and makers use different terms (rated load, dynamic, rollover), which is why two 35,000 lb levelers are not always equal. source: Rite-Hite, Dock leveler evolution from capacity to performance rating (2022) |
| Dockboards: OSHA 1910.26 | Dockboards must hold the maximum intended load. Those first put in service on or after 17 January 2017 need run-off protection unless the employer shows there is no run-off hazard. Portable boards must be secured, and wheel chocks, sand shoes or similar must stop the transport vehicle moving while employees are on the dockboard. source: 29 CFR 1910.26, Dockboards (Cornell LII) |
| Restraints in place of chocks: OSHA STD 1-11.7 | OSHA's 1981 instruction lets a positive mechanical device that secures the trailer to the dock stand in for wheel chocks. Failure to chock is then a de minimis violation, provided the device effectively prevents movement, is installed, maintained and used as the manufacturer recommends, and any damaged unit is taken out of service immediately. That last condition is why a restraint fault found on a PM should be tagged out, not just noted. source: OSHA Instruction STD 1-11.7, Securing trucks or trailers at loading docks (5 Aug 1981) |
| Chocking over-the-road trailers | Under an agreement with FMCSA, federal OSHA does not cite chocking on commercial motor vehicles. State plan states are not bound by that agreement, and an employer whose forklift drivers enter trailers must still protect them from trailer creep and early departure, which is what a restraint with lights does. source: J. J. Keller, When can OSHA enforce chocking on CMV trailers? (Jan 2023) |
| Automatic doors: which A156 standard | The 2024 IBC (1010.3.2) and NFPA 101 (7.2.1.9) send power operated doors to ANSI/BHMA A156.10 (full power), A156.19 (low energy and power assist swing) or A156.38 (low energy slide and fold). Breakout must open the door to full width, with breakout force limited to 50 lbf applied 1 inch from the lock stile. NFPA 101 exempts automatic sliding doors serving fewer than 50 occupants if they open manually within its force limits; the IBC has no such exemption. source: I Dig Hardware, Decoded: automatic sliding doors (Jan 2025) |
| Monitored sensors since A156.10-2017 | The 2017 edition, effective 11 November 2017, requires presence sensors to be monitored at least once before each closing cycle, and the door must not run until a fault is cleared. Low energy doors started by a motion sensor need monitored sensors too. Whether an existing door must be upgraded depends on the code edition the jurisdiction adopted. source: I Dig Hardware, Decoded: new requirements for pedestrian automatic door operators and sensors (Oct 2017) |
| AAADM annual inspection: recommended, widely specified | A156.10 strongly recommends inspection at installation and at least annually by an AAADM certified inspector; it is a should, not a shall. Project specifications and some manufacturers require AAADM certification to buy or install their operators. The annual compliance label sits at the bottom of the safety information label on the door. source: I Dig Hardware, WWYD: AAADM requirements for automatic doors (Aug 2020) |
| AAADM inspector license | Training is about 1.5 days, in one of two tracks (swing, slide and fold, or revolving), with a 50 question exam. The license belongs to the person, lasts one year, and is renewed each January with a 10 question refresher; failing it means retaking the training and the full exam. Inspectors must leave an owner's manual with a daily safety checklist and offer the owner a familiarization session. source: DASMA Door + Access Systems, Possible benefits of AAADM inspection approach (Summer 2026) |
| Automatic door signage | AAADM lists the decals per door type: operating decal visible from both sides with its centerline 50 in (plus or minus 12 in) from the floor and letters at least 5/8 in high; low energy doors marked 'Automatic Caution Door' on a sign at least 6 in across, black on yellow; 'Activate Switch to Operate' at separate switches. The owner should get the daily check instructions, the breaker location, the signed AAADM form and the completed annual label. source: AAADM, Liability and signage |
| UK: LOLER and the 12 month examination | Lifting equipment needs a thorough examination every 12 months, or every 6 months if it lifts people, unless a competent person's examination scheme sets other intervals. The report must carry the next due date, and serious defects go to the enforcing authority. ALEM's guidance, as reported by Warehouse News, applies the same 12 and 6 month split to loading bay equipment. source: HSE, Thorough examinations of lifting equipment (LOLER) |
Rules vary by state, council and contract. Checked 12 November 2026; confirm against the source for your area before relying on it.
Numbers
The figures a dock and door company sizes, inspects and invoices against
Each figure is from the source named. Leveler sizing is a planning guideline from the manufacturers' group, not a regulation; platform targets are one platform's published goals.
| Item | Figure | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Typical dock height | 46 to 52 in | MHI LODEM Dock Planning 101 |
| Pit leveler service range | Up to 18 in above and below; 12 in each way is common | MHI LODEM |
| Edge of dock leveler working range | About 3 in above or below dock | MHI LODEM |
| Leveler widths | 6, 6.5 or 7 ft nominal; 6 ft most common | MHI LODEM |
| Leveler capacity guideline | (Forklift + heaviest load) x 2.5; multipliers run 2.0 to 5.0 | MHI LODEM, Pentalift |
| Worked capacity example | 8,824 lb truck + 2,000 lb load = 10,824 x 2.5 = 27,060 lb, so a 35,000 lb leveler | Pentalift |
| Forklift empty weight | 170 to 210% of rated capacity (IC); electric adds 1,100 to 1,800 lb | MHI LODEM |
| Dock doors | 9 ft wide for 8 ft 6 in trailers; 12 ft centers minimum, 14 ft common | MHI LODEM |
| Leveler PM | Daily site checks, full inspection every 90 days, 360 day hardware retorque | Rite-Hite |
| Automatic door closing force | No more than 15 lbf to prevent closing | AAADM |
| Breakout force | 50 lbf, 1 in from the lock stile | I Dig Hardware (IBC, A156.10) |
| ServiceChannel provider goals | Check-in 90%; proposals 48 h; invoice in 10 days; 30 day warranty | ServiceChannel trade partner guide |
source: MHI Loading Dock Equipment Manufacturers (LODEM), Dock Planning 101 (Jan 2023)source: Pentalift, Dock leveler capacity: understanding loading dock capacitysource: Rite-Hite, How to know when your loading dock levelers need to be serviced (2018)source: AAADM, Liability and signagesource: I Dig Hardware, Decoded: automatic sliding doors (Jan 2025)source: ServiceChannel, Trade partner guide
Where it breaks
Where spreadsheets and generic software fall over
A DC's dock PM lives in a spreadsheet with one row per building, so the tech cannot tell that door 22's leveler had its lip hinge pin replaced last quarter and is wearing again.
Every door number is its own position record with leveler, restraint, lights, seal and door underneath it, and every visit writes findings to that position, so repeat failures show up by door.
A tech finds a restraint hook that will not engage, writes 'restraint needs repair' and leaves it in service, even though OSHA's chock exemption depends on damaged units being taken out of service.
A failed restraint test forces a choice of tagged out with a photo of the tag, or repaired on site, and the site contact is told the dock is back to manual chocking.
The tech checks out of ServiceChannel to fetch a hydraulic hose, checks back in by app instead of IVR, and the visit drops out of the check-in compliance score.
The job screen shows the client's check-in method and blocks a check-out while the work order is still open for parts, prompting the incomplete status instead.
A $650 NTE leveler call turns into a $2,400 power unit replacement; the part is ordered before the proposal is approved and the client refuses the invoice.
Parts lines that push the job past the NTE lock the order button until a proposal with photos and the approval number is attached.
A grocery chain's automatic doors all got their AAADM label in March, but the inspector's license lapsed in January and nobody checked.
Each tech's AAADM license carries its expiry; an automatic door inspection can only be assigned to, and signed by, a tech whose license is current.
A new leveler is quoted at the same capacity as the old one, though the site now runs three shifts and heavier electric trucks with clamps.
The replacement quote asks for forklift weight, battery, attachment, heaviest load and trucks per day, applies the 2.5 guideline and shows when the conditions call for a higher rating.
Checklist
The commercial door and dock repair operations checklist
Print it, or hand it to whoever runs the office side.
- Every dock door number registered as a position with leveler, restraint, lights, seal or shelter and door
- Leveler type, serial, capacity, width and lip length recorded per position
- Maintenance strut and trailer restraint confirmed before any work under a deck
- 90 day PM per position with photos; 360 day hydraulic and air hardware items
- Restraint and light sequence tested every visit; failures tagged out, not just noted
- Interlocks (restraint to leveler, restraint to door) tested where fitted
- Automatic doors registered with the A156 standard each falls under
- Monitored sensors, closing force, breakout and signage recorded per automatic door
- AAADM label date per door and AAADM license expiry per tech
- Client platform rules stored per account: accept time, check-in method, NTE, proposal format, invoice deadline
- Proposals with photos and hours x rate x techs before parts over the NTE are ordered
- Before and after photos on every work order
- Capacity worksheet on every leveler replacement quote
- UK sites: LOLER or PUWER examination date and next due date per leveller
Software options
What software commercial door and dock repair companies actually use
Judge each one on whether it fits the way your jobs run, not on the feature list. Bring a real job to every demo.
ServiceTitan (Dock and Door)
US dock and door contractors with commercial maintenance books
Covers customer sites with dock equipment, nameplate and barcode scanning for doors, levelers and restraints, recurring maintenance plans, inspection forms, projects for leveler replacements and a customer portal. Ask to see a per-position record and an AAADM door form in the demo.
ServiceChannel Provider
Any door company that services national retail, grocery or 3PL accounts
Not your back office: it is the client's platform, where work orders, NTEs, check-ins, proposals and invoices are judged and scored. Most providers run their own system and work in ServiceChannel alongside it, so check how a candidate system syncs with it.
FieldMotion
UK and Irish industrial door companies
Targets roller shutters, sectional and high speed doors, dock levellers and barriers, with a door register, offline checklists, force test certificates and Xero, QuickBooks or Sage sync.
Klipboard
UK automatic door businesses
Offers a door asset record, planned maintenance from contract terms, a form builder that supports BS EN 16005 inspections, offline engineer app and parts tracking for motors, panels and safety edges.
Published prices, compared:source: ServiceTitan, Dock and door softwaresource: ServiceChannel, Trade partner guidesource: FieldMotion, Industrial doors softwaresource: Klipboard, Automatic door maintenance software (UK)
Questions to ask any vendor
- Can every dock door number be its own record holding leveler, restraint, lights, seal and door, with history by position?
- Can a failed restraint test force a tag-out or repair decision before the visit can close?
- Can each client account store its own NTE, check-in method, proposal format and invoice deadline, and enforce them on the job?
- Can parts that push a job over the NTE be blocked until an approved proposal is attached?
- Can automatic door inspections be limited to techs with a current AAADM license, and can each door carry its label date?
- Can a leveler replacement quote capture forklift weight, load, attachments and trucks per day and show the capacity math?
Bring one real commercial door and dock repair job. We show it running in Fieldproxy.
Get DemoHow Fieldproxy is set up for this
Commercial door and dock repair on Fieldproxy: built around how you already work
A Fieldproxy setup for a dock and door company is built around the position, not the building: dock door 14 with its leveler, restraint, lights, seal and overhead door, and entrance 2 with its sliding operator, sensors and AAADM label. Client work orders, NTEs, PM visits, tag-outs, proposals and replacement quotes all attach to that position.
Module 1
Site and dock position register
A DC with 60 doors needs 60 histories, and the fix depends on the exact leveler and restraint at that door.
- Records: Client > Site (DC or store number) > Position (dock door or entrance number) > Leveler, Restraint, Light package, Seal or shelter, Overhead door, Automatic door
- Leveler fields: type, make, model, serial, width, length, rated capacity, lip length, service range, install date
- Restraint fields: RIG hook, vertical barrier, wheel based or chocks only; serial; interlocks to leveler or door
- Position status: In service, Restricted (manual chocking), Tagged out, Replaced
Module 2
Client platform work order intake
National accounts judge the provider on acceptance time, check-in method and NTE discipline.
- Per account settings (e.g.): accept within 30 min (15 emergency), GPS or IVR check-in, NTE default, proposal format, invoice due in 10 days
- Fields: platform WO number, priority, NTE, position number matched to the register, requested by
- Statuses: Received, Accepted, Dispatched, On site, Incomplete (parts), Proposal sent, Approved, Completed, Invoiced
- Rule: a decline needs a reason; an accept timer shows on the dispatch board
Module 3
Dock PM program by position
Manuals set 90 day inspections, and heavy doors wear faster than quiet ones.
- Agreement lists each covered position, visit interval (e.g. 90 days), and what is included
- PM checklist per leveler type: labels, bumpers, lip and hinge pins, welds, lube points; hydraulic fluid, hoses, power unit; air tower; 360 day hardware
- Rule: work under a deck cannot start until 'maintenance strut in place' and 'trailer restrained' are ticked with a photo
- Findings rolled up per site into a deficiency list with photos and a quote per position
Module 4
Restraint, lights and tag-out workflow
OSHA's acceptance of restraints in place of chocks depends on damaged units being taken out of service.
- Restraint test: engages, holds, lights inside green and outside red together, alarm and manual override
- Fail path: Repaired on site, or Tagged out with tag number and photo; position status flips to Restricted
- Site contact gets a notice naming the door and that manual chocking applies until repair
- Rule: a tagged-out restraint opens a repair job that stays on the board until closed
Module 5
Automatic door inspection program
Each entrance needs its A156 checks, label and owner paperwork every year.
- Door fields: type, operator, standard (A156.10, A156.19, A156.38), sensors monitored yes or no
- Inspection form: activation and presence sensors, closing force (15 lbf limit), breakout, signage heights, daily check label
- Rule: only techs with a current AAADM license can be assigned or sign; the label number and date are recorded
- Owner pack: daily safety check instructions, breaker location, signed AAADM form
Module 6
NTE, proposals and parts
Ordering parts before approval is the most common reason a client rejects a door invoice.
- Running job total shown against the NTE on the tech's screen
- Rule: parts lines that pass the NTE lock ordering until a proposal is approved
- Proposal template: diagnosis, photos, hours x rate x techs, parts, freight, valid 30 days (e.g.)
- Parts by van: hydraulic hose and fittings, lip pins, restraint hooks and motors, seal pads, sensors
Module 7
Replacement and upgrade quoting
Levelers last for years, so the capacity and type picked now decide the next decade of calls.
- Capacity worksheet: forklift weight, battery, attachments, heaviest load, trucks per day, entry angle, speed
- Applies the 2.5 guideline and flags conditions that call for a higher rating
- Options: mechanical to hydraulic, add restraint and lights, vertical leveler for wash-down or cold docks, taller shelter for 10 ft doors
- Projects for multi-door retrofits with a schedule by position so the DC keeps doors open
Module 8
Technician skills and dispatch
An AAADM door, a hydraulic power unit and a seal replacement need different people and parts.
- Tech profile: AAADM license and expiry, manufacturer training (e.g. leveler and restraint brands)
- Emergency dock-down calls routed by distance and van stock
- Multi-door PM days planned so a crew finishes a site, not a door
- Check-in and check-out captured by the method each client counts
Module 9
Client outputs and reporting
Facility managers want a dock map, the safety team wants tag-outs, and the platform wants a scorecard.
- Site portal: every position with status, last PM, open deficiencies and photos
- Automatic door report with AAADM label dates for every entrance
- Management: check-in compliance, proposal turnaround, invoices against deadlines, repeat failures by position
- QuickBooks or Xero sync for invoices once approved
The AI agents, set up for commercial door and dock repair companies
| Agent | When | What it does | What you get |
|---|---|---|---|
| Document intelligence agent | A facility platform emails a work order, or a 3PL sends a PDF list of damaged dock doors | Reads the work order number, site, door numbers, priority and NTE, and matches each door to the position register | Jobs on the right positions with the NTE and accept deadline set |
| Watcher agent | A position is tagged out, a job nears its NTE, an AAADM label or tech license approaches expiry, or a 90 day PM is overdue | Checks position status, running job totals, label dates and license dates against each account's rules | An alert to the service manager naming the site and door, and a repair, proposal or inspection task |
| Vision agent | A tech photographs a leveler, restraint or door operator nameplate | Reads make, model, serial and capacity from the plate | Filled equipment fields on that position, ready for parts lookup |
| Dispatch agent | An emergency dock-down call or a batch of automatic door inspections is ready to assign | Matches techs by distance, AAADM license, leveler and restraint training and the parts in each van | Assigned techs with arrival times inside the client's window |
| Autopilot | A proposal for a tagged-out restraint or a leveler replacement has no approval after e.g. 3 days | Drafts a follow-up naming the door, the failed test, the photos and that the dock is on manual chocking | A draft email the office approves before it sends |
| Scheduler agent | Every Monday morning and the 1st of each month (e.g.) | Totals open PMs per account, check-in compliance, proposal turnaround and invoices near their deadline | An emailed briefing to the service manager with the doors and work orders at risk |
Straight answers
Commercial door and dock repair: FAQ
What software do commercial door and dock repair companies use?
In the US, many use ServiceTitan's Dock and Door product or a general commercial field service system, alongside client platforms such as ServiceChannel. UK firms use FieldMotion or Klipboard. What matters is a record per dock position and per automatic door, 90 day PMs, a restraint tag-out workflow, AAADM inspection tracking and NTE and check-in rules per client.
How do you calculate dock leveler capacity?
LODEM's guideline is to add the forklift's weight (with battery and attachments) to the heaviest load, then multiply by 2.5. Raise it if more than eight trucks a day use the door, forklifts turn on the deck, three wheel trucks are used, speeds exceed 4 mph or attachments are fitted. For example, 8,824 lb + 2,000 lb = 10,824 lb x 2.5 = 27,060 lb, so a 35,000 lb leveler.
How often should dock levelers be serviced?
Rite-Hite's guidance is daily checks by the site and a full inspection every 90 days. Hydraulic and air units add fluid level and air tower checks, and control box mounting hardware is checked every 360 days. Always follow the manual for the model and serial. Heavy-use doors may need shorter intervals.
Does a vehicle restraint replace wheel chocks under OSHA?
OSHA instruction STD 1-11.7 accepts a positive mechanical restraint in place of chocks if it effectively prevents movement, is installed, maintained and used per the manufacturer, and damaged units are removed from service immediately. Federal OSHA does not cite chocking on FMCSA-regulated trucks, but state plans may.
How far must a dock leveler lip go into the trailer?
At least 4 inches, per ANSI MH30.1 as stated in LODEM's planning guide. A standard 16 inch lip projects 12 inches in front of the bumpers; reefer trailers with a rear step may need 14 inches or more past the bumpers.
Are AAADM inspections required by law?
Not directly. ANSI/BHMA A156.10 strongly recommends inspection at installation and at least annually by an AAADM certified inspector, as a should rather than a shall. Building codes reference A156.10, and project specifications and some operator manufacturers require AAADM certification, so most commercial owners treat the annual inspection as required.
How long is an AAADM certification good for?
One year. It is renewed each January with a 10 question refresher exam; failing it means retaking the roughly 1.5 day training and the 50 question exam. The license belongs to the individual and moves with them between companies in the industry.
What is the closing force limit on an automatic door?
AAADM's daily check says the force to prevent closing should not exceed 15 lbf, measured with a force gauge. Breakout force on a sliding door is limited to 50 lbf applied 1 inch from the lock stile.
What does ServiceChannel expect from a door provider?
Its trade partner guide asks providers to accept or decline within 30 minutes (15 for emergencies), check in and out by GPS or IVR toward a 90% compliance goal, call before exceeding the NTE, send proposals with photos within 48 hours and invoice within 10 days of completion.
How often are dock levellers examined in the UK?
Lifting equipment is examined every 12 months under LOLER, or every 6 months if it lifts people, unless a competent person's examination scheme sets another interval. The report must give the next due date.
What does a Fieldproxy setup for a dock and door company look like?
It is built around each position: the dock door number with its leveler, restraint, lights, seal and overhead door, and each entrance with its operator, sensors and AAADM label. Client work orders with NTEs, 90 day PMs, restraint tag-outs, proposals and capacity worksheets for replacements all attach to that position.
Related guides
All sources on this page (25)
- source: MHI Loading Dock Equipment Manufacturers (LODEM), Dock Planning 101 (Jan 2023)
- source: DASMA Door + Access Systems, Possible benefits of AAADM inspection approach (Summer 2026)
- source: ServiceChannel, Trade partner guide
- source: Rite-Hite, Dock leveler evolution from capacity to performance rating (2022)
- source: 29 CFR 1910.26, Dockboards (Cornell LII)
- source: OSHA Instruction STD 1-11.7, Securing trucks or trailers at loading docks (5 Aug 1981)
- source: J. J. Keller, When can OSHA enforce chocking on CMV trailers? (Jan 2023)
- source: I Dig Hardware, Decoded: automatic sliding doors (Jan 2025)
- source: I Dig Hardware, Decoded: new requirements for pedestrian automatic door operators and sensors (Oct 2017)
- source: I Dig Hardware, WWYD: AAADM requirements for automatic doors (Aug 2020)
- source: AAADM, Liability and signage
- source: HSE, Thorough examinations of lifting equipment (LOLER)
- source: Pentalift, Dock leveler capacity: understanding loading dock capacity
- source: Rite-Hite, How to know when your loading dock levelers need to be serviced (2018)
- source: ServiceTitan, Dock and door software
- source: FieldMotion, Industrial doors software
- source: Klipboard, Automatic door maintenance software (UK)
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