Mechanical and Hydraulic Dock Levelers

Dock levelers bridge the height difference between truck beds and dock floors, allowing goods to be transferred safely and smoothly.

Embedded in the surface of your loading bay, they can be raised or lowered to create a flush pathway for forklifts and pallet jacks. Depending on the volume of shipments passing through your facility and the amount of external power available, business owners typically rely on one of two models.

Manual dock levelers, sometimes referred to as mechanical dock levelers, are activated with a pull chain. When triggered, the spring-loaded platform pops up and is walked down until its edge is resting level with the truck bed.

Hydraulic dock levelers are operated by a push button station. Switching on the hydraulic pump extends the cylinders until the platform rests even with the floor of the cargo trailer.

When well-maintained, mechanical and hydraulic dock levelers allow materials to be loaded and unloaded efficiently, with minimal risk of injury or accident. Vortex service teams work with warehouses and shipping centers ‒ inspecting, cleaning, and repairing dock levelers in order to ensure their reliability and resolve problems that could disrupt the movement of products and supplies. Our technicians are trained to handle all common issues affecting your levelers, including:

Fluid Leaks: Hydraulic levelers with fluid seeping out from their hoses, seals, and connections cannot function reliably. In some cases, leaky systems may be too weak to support shipments moving across the platform, endangering your staff and equipment.
Pump Malfunction: Faulty pumps prevent levelers from being raised or lowered to your desired height, resulting in a tilted or bumpy transition between truck and platform.
Warping or Bending: Heavy use and impact from forklifts can cause steel and aluminum platforms to bend, creating uneven surfaces that increase the likelihood of an accident or mishap.
Worn Springs: Repeated use can weaken the springs beneath manual dock levelers, making it difficult or impossible to raise the platform to its intended height.

Cylinder Problems: A leaky cylinder prevents hydraulic levelers from raising and lowering smoothly, while a misaligned cylinder keeps the platform from sitting flush with the cargo bed.
Electrical Malfunctions: Corrosion and weak connections can impair or disable the leveler’s electronic components. Loose wires can lead to short circuits, destroying control panels or push-button devices and leaving the unit entirely unresponsive.
Uneven Lip Extension: A lip extension protrudes beyond the edge of the dock leveler, providing a longer reach and better purchase on the truck bed. Impact can damage the pins connecting it to the rest of the platform, compromising loading and unloading operations.
Rust: Dock levelers installed in rainy and humid environments can become corroded, weakening their structural integrity and leading to unsafe working conditions.
Impaired Hinges: Wear and tear caused by frequent activation cycles can cause hinges to become loose or damaged, undermining the platform’s stability and function.

Vortex service teams identify and address problems that could jeopardize the safety and reliability of manual and hydraulic dock levelers. Careful inspection and routine maintenance clears away debris and corrects issues that could impact the unit’s performance and lead to slips, trips, falls, and crashes. For more information about dock leveler upkeep and repair, contact your local Vortex service center today.

Fully Certified & Accredited Commercial Door Experts

America's Top 100 Most Loved Workplaces 2025

What Our Customers Are Saying

Excellent

Brad A.

Nigel and Kevin helped us tremendously today. We had a couple issues with some doors in our space that were hindering our member experience, but not any more thanks to Nigel and Kevin. Whenever we see them on the schedule to be here, we know our problems will be solved. Thanks again fellas!

James F.

We were in urgent need of a dock lift repair and called several other companies that were unable to help. Daniel and Zack showed up same day, ordered a forklift and completed a complicated repair same day. Amazing service.

Sondra J.

Ray was awesome. His attention to detail and the thorough treatment he spent solving our problems was exceptional. I work at Pomona Storage

Kyle A.

It is above & beyond, that you get from this team! Kevin & Carlos really locked in & fixed a previous disaster that was left for them. They communicated there struggles but never gave up on it. We are so grateful for getting the right guys!

Germaine S.

Luis and Alex did a great job fixing our door to the entrance of the store. They also provided excellent customer service. We are so happy with the service that was provided.

Sonia A.

Aurelio and Ray were awesome, extremely professional and super helpful! They were very knowledgeable with a positive attitude and took their time with repairs. Vortex, give these guys a raise! They were nothing short of amazing.

Dave I.

Rayen, did an excellent job for us today, polite, knowledgeable (we talked about the issues for this job and I'm pleased with the results), thanks for sending him (Dave at Knight)

Glenn T.

If you’re looking for quality work on overhead doors and gate operators then look no further than Vortex!!! Vortex has serviced us at FedEx for 15 years and never let us down! Today was no exception when we called in an emergency work order as Ryan and Pablo were going home. The response time was first class. I also need to mention Rob and Breanna put it all together and made it happen. Great teamwork!!!! From all of us at FedEx we thank you!!!

Zoil L.

Anthony worked very carefully and patiently to fix our broken roll-up door. He also try to repair the old door as much as possible to avoid replacing a new door. The job was perfectly done.

Perfect service, incredibly fast.

Please call us at (800) 698-6783 for 24/7 customer support.

Search Vortex Doors