dock padding damage or... normal wear and tear?

[mtltrans]

A shipper is trying to claim that a truck trying back up to this dock caused damage to their dock padding. They sent us pictures. The trailer doesn't have any scuff marks.
(tried to upload pictures but they were too large)
They're claiming for new dock padding.
Thoughts appreciated

 

[mtltrans]

Here it is

 

[XPORTIN]

The camera on the dock should be able to show video footage of the dock padding before and after your truck left the dock.

 

[mtltrans]

The camera on the dock should be able to show video footage of the dock padding before and after your truck left the dock.

They didn't have any video footage, oddly enough. But the agent sent a pic of their trailer backed up to the door. Says that the shipper didn't make any remarks about damage even though it took him time to back up for some reason.

 

[LrgCar]

Uh this is a tough one, those pads are either in great condition or beat up. Looks like this has been abused I don't think one truck backing up to it will do that much damage. These are there to protect the dock and it is going its job, they are not an aesthetic piece. I would consider this wear and tear, really hard to argue without having before and after pictures, could have been a truck, weathering, natural deterioration, etc i think the dock owner is just trying to have this replaced at someone else's expense and unfortunately, you happen to be just that. Personally i would ask for proof and if it cant be provided then kick rocks

 

[XPORTIN]

I wonder if the truck before yours on the same dock received the same ultimatum..

 

[Mario]

The padding on the corner that is ripped is worn away. This is old damage and let him prove you did it

 

[mtltrans]

Uh this is a tough one, those pads are either in great condition or beat up. Looks like this has been abused I don't think one truck backing up to it will do that much damage. These are there to protect the dock and it is going its job, they are not an aesthetic piece. I would consider this wear and tear, really hard to argue without having before and after pictures, could have been a truck, weathering, natural deterioration, etc i think the dock owner is just trying to have this replaced at someone else's expense and unfortunately, you happen to be just that. Personally i would ask for proof and if it cant be provided then kick rocks

Thanks, this is our thinking as well. It looks like someone's looking for a free ride but wanted to see what the experience of others is.

 

[mtltrans]

The padding on the corner that is ripped is worn away. This is old damage and let him prove you did it

Yes, this seemed very odd. The damage would look more catastrophic if the driver had totally managed to do it.

 

[tasuinam]

Yes, this seemed very odd. The damage would look more catastrophic if the driver had totally managed to do it.

similar incident where our driver did damage a wood staircase (raining / no light at dock / and backing in with help of team driver) - and they claimed that the entire dock wall was structrually damaged - had no pics to prove the damage except what my driver took and sent a repair bill for the entire dock.... needless to say the claim died right there

 

[Brenda]

A shipper is trying to claim that a truck trying back up to this dock caused damage to their dock padding. They sent us pictures. The trailer doesn't have any scuff marks.
(tried to upload pictures but they were too large)
They're claiming for new dock padding.
Thoughts appreciated

I'm checking into this with someone who deals with these. I'll let you know what they say

 

[Brenda]

Yes, this seemed very odd. The damage would look more catastrophic if the driver had totally managed to do it.

Here is the reply from someone who was in the dock industry for years:

Look at the condition of it. Did the last truck tear the dock pad, likely, but the pad is old and was likely susceptible due to years of wear and tear. It's like drinking the angel share and the owner expecting the bottle to be replaced.

"Waiter, this pizza tastes odd, but Sir you ate all but one piece, yes, but it tasted odd, so I want a new one"

For what it's worth.....

 

[LrgCar]

Here is the reply from someone who was in the dock industry for years:

Look at the condition of it. Did the last truck tear the dock pad, likely, but the pad is old and was likely susceptible due to years of wear and tear. It's like drinking the angel share and the owner expecting the bottle to be replaced.

"Waiter, this pizza tastes odd, but Sir you ate all but one piece, yes, but it tasted odd, so I want a new one"

For what it's worth.....

Would be the equivalent of me walking down your fragile stairs, the railing breaking and you coming after me for the damages. Did I break the railing by mistake? yes but were the stairs in good operating condition? No, so a reasonable person would think the damages would be on you. Be a different story if I put all 230LBS on your perfectly well-built railing and broke it. Again this seems like a "we are too cheap to replace it, let's wait for the next poor trucker to come through and slap it on them"

 

[Rob]

If a one off shipper or receiver sorry Charlie not my issue unless you have it on video. Good shipper or receiver we go too all the time send me the bill.

 

[Nawk]

We had something similar happen when a driver backed into a door that didn't have any side or top padding. There was missing parging around the door where it had been struck multiple time before.

Our driver admittedly hit the dock harder than he planned on (it happens sometime) and the consignee came running out saying that we'd damaged his door and "look at all the missing parging!" The consignee started taking pictures all around the door... Our driver did too... then our driver started taking photos of the ground. The consignee asked the driver why he was taking photos of the ground. The driver said "So that I can show that there is no debris on the ground. The area around your door is definitely damaged... but we didn't do it and we're not going to pay for it. Nice try though."

This becomes a business decision for you (as Rob said).

Is this your top shipper (Jesus... I hope not)... You can pay to shut them up and make your money back via future business.

Is this a place you go to twice a year... tell 'em to pound salt!

 

[Jim L]

Looking at the picture, you can see that the foam is yellow (shows that it has been exposed for quite some time) and that a lot of the square foam is missing. This was not the work of one truck/trailer.

We had a similar situation. It was a dock where the tractor trailer descends down to it. When it is designed so that you basically back into a decline the top of the trailer hits first before the dock bumpers located at the trailer bumper. There is usually a lot of pressure on this upper point. Then add a fork lift going in and out of the trailer the trailer which causes the trailer to rub these spots quite aggressively.

It is not a one truck situation in my point of view.

 

[SCAM CHASER]

Here is the reply from someone who was in the dock industry for years:

Look at the condition of it. Did the last truck tear the dock pad, likely, but the pad is old and was likely susceptible due to years of wear and tear. It's like drinking the angel share and the owner expecting the bottle to be replaced.

"Waiter, this pizza tastes odd, but Sir you ate all but one piece, yes, but it tasted odd, so I want a new one"

For what it's worth.....

Can I get his contact info through a private message? I have an upcoming trial where the shipper is suing my client carrier for dock damage. Thanks

 

[loaders]

We have run into this situation before, as most of us have. As others have said, depending on the situation we have either participated in the repairs or told them no thanks. Am I wrong to assume that dock bumpers are, or at least should be designed to absorb a certain amount of abuse? Unless a trailer backs in at an extreme angle creating sideways pressure, they should be able to take some serious banging….no?

 

[Igor Galanter]

We have run into this situation before, as most of us have. As others have said, depending on the situation we have either participated in the repairs or told them no thanks. Am I wrong to assume that dock bumpers are, or at least should be designed to absorb a certain amount of abuse? Unless a trailer backs in at an extreme angle creating sideways pressure, they should be able to take some serious banging….no?

Yes, @loaders , you are right.. From my experience , there are only 3 exclusions..
1. Dock located on the grade in bottom, so trailer hits the dock with the top...
2. Dock located NOT perpendicular to the wall, so trailer hit's more often with the driver side first, and than, probably, adjusting..
3. Lot in front of the dock is not large enough to make smooth backing, so driver have to maneuver a few times before making it straight to the dock..

 

[Jim L]

We have run into this situation before, as most of us have. As others have said, depending on the situation we have either participated in the repairs or told them no thanks. Am I wrong to assume that dock bumpers are, or at least should be designed to absorb a certain amount of abuse? Unless a trailer backs in at an extreme angle creating sideways pressure, they should be able to take some serious banging….no?

The building should have dock bumpers long enough to keep the trailer from pushing hard against the building. The problem shown above usually comes from a down-grade dock; similar to the picture attached. This dock in the picture looks like it's about 4 feet down. The second picture is a quick, crude draw-up of what happens in this situation. If the dock bumpers are not extra large to keep the top of the trailer off the building you will get damage to both the trailer and the building. These dock bumpers on both the building and trailer get worn down over time and if they are not replaced there will be damage.

Based on my very quick calculations, my memory of Pythagoreans theorem and calculations of angles from a long time ago, the degree of slope is +/-5 degrees which would require a dock bumper of about 10-12 inches on the bottom to stop the top of the 13.5 foot trailer from hitting the building. My guess is that the dock bumpers are worn and/or replaced with smaller versions. Also, at 10-12 inches you better have a good dock plate that can span this distance.

Get your kids to come up with the proper math formula (or plug it into google) and you will have a rock solid math based evidence that shows it was the issue of the building, not the driver/carrier.