The short version
Wind and rain blowing through the loading bay at your Cumbria site every time a trailer backs on? A retractable or inflatable dock shelter seals the opening around the vehicle and keeps the weather outside where it belongs.
- Area
- Cumbria
- Nation
- England
- Main town
- Carlisle
- Survey
- Free for new installations
What to specify
- Inflatable seals. Air bags inflate around the parked trailer for a tight seal.
- Retractable frames. If a trailer reverses too far, the frame gives way and springs back instead of bending.
- Temperature control. Less heated or chilled air escapes around the trailer while the door is up.
- Sized to your fleet. We size curtains to the vans, rigids and trailers that actually use your bay.
- Foam seals. Foam pads that the trailer squeezes into, ideal where every vehicle is much the same.
Jobs we can carry out
- Fitting retractable dock shelters across a run of bays that serve a mixed fleet of vans and trailers.
- Fitting foam dock seals at a bay used only by a dedicated fleet of identical trailers.
- Adding rain gutters and guide lights to dock shelters so water stays out of trailers during loading.
Who is responsible for loading bay equipment at a site in Cumbria?
The employer or occupier is. PUWER 1998 requires work equipment to be maintained and inspected, and the Workplace Regulations 1992 cover vehicle and pedestrian routes around the dock. In practice that means planned servicing of levellers and doors, daily pre-use checks and a clear procedure to stop trailers moving during loading.
Keeping your site running during the work
Downtime matters on a working site, so the programme is set around your shifts. For a single door the opening is usually needed for a day; multi-door jobs are done one bay at a time so deliveries keep moving.
Budgeting for dock shelters and seals in Cumbria
| Item | Guide price (ex VAT) |
|---|---|
| Dock shelter (retractable) | £2,195 – £5,495 |
| Inflatable dock shelter | £6,495 – £11,995 |
Guide prices for supply and installation unless stated, excluding VAT, which is added at the current rate where it applies. Your fixed price is confirmed in writing after a survey, before any work starts.
Frequently asked questions
Can you replace the curtains on our dock shelters in Cumbria?
Yes. Replacement curtains are made to fit the existing frame on most retractable shelters, which is much cheaper than a new shelter. We measure and record the frame on the first visit.
How long does dock shelter installation take in Cumbria?
Typically half a day to a day per shelter, depending on size and fixings. We schedule work bay by bay so loading can continue at the others while each shelter is fitted.
Do you fit dock shelters for cold stores around the North West?
Yes. We fit inflatable and retractable shelters at cold stores and chilled sites across the North West, often alongside insulated doors and levellers, to help hold temperature and limit condensation at the dock while trailers are worked.
Towns in Cumbria we cover
We cover 5 towns in Cumbria for dock shelters and seals, including Carlisle, Barrow-in-Furness, Kendal, Whitehaven.
Other services in Cumbria
- Bollards and door protection
- Industrial door repairs
- Industrial door replacement
- Steel personnel and fire exit doors
- High-speed doors
- PVC strip curtains
- Sectional overhead doors
- Complete loading bays
More about Dock shelters and seals. Last updated 19 October 2026.