Southern Door Company is a family-owned overhead door and dock equipment company in Dothan, Alabama. We have served the Wiregrass region since 1992, and we install and service dock seals and shelters from the full Rotary Products dock equipment line. If your loading dock needs new seals or shelters, or your current ones are worn and letting air through, call us at (334) 792-0962 or contact us online for a free consultation.
Dock Seals and Truck Shelters for Wiregrass Loading Docks
A compression dock seal uses foam pads that press against the back of the trailer when it docks, creating a tight seal between the building and the truck. This keeps outside elements, dust, pests, and vermin out of the dock area while protecting cargo and conditioned air inside.
A dock shelter seals a different way: its side curtains wrap the outside of the truck or trailer, so the whole trailer opening stays clear for forklifts and wide loads. According to Rotary Products’ dock seal guidance, properly sealing your loading dock helps conserve money and energy. Both types close the gaps around your dock door that let in rain, wind, and unconditioned air.
Rotary Products manufactures both dock seals and truck shelters. Southern Door Company carries and installs the full line for commercial and industrial facilities throughout the Wiregrass region.
Rotary Compression Dock Seal Options
Rotary Products has been building compression dock seals for about 35 years. Their seals are “designed to provide an efficient air seal between the truck trailer and the indoor warehouse area.” Each unit has ventilation holes and vent pockets so the compression foam compresses fast when a trailer backs into the dock and recovers quickly when it pulls away. All seals come with yellow safety guide stripes to help drivers line up with the dock opening.
Rotary offers four seal configurations:
- C Series (Compression Seal): header pad projections from 8 to 21 inches in 1-inch steps, built to fit your dock door and trailer fleet
- Z Series (Super Wedge): designed for 9-foot or 10-foot oversized door widths
- MC (Top Curtain Header): seals extra-high door openings
- AC (Adjustable Top Curtain Header): for applications that need access to the top of trucks
Seal materials include 22 oz. vinyl, 40 oz. vinyl, 40 oz. High Tear Duroprene, and 40 oz. Hypalon. These are heavy-duty fabrics built to withstand daily trailer contact. Available options include belting guards, bumper seals, wear shields, snow hoods, fire retardant material, custom logos, and weather stripping. Rotary also builds tapered seals for sloped drives and recommends a snow or rain hood over every dock seal.
Rotary Truck Shelter Options
Rotary truck shelters give you full access to docked trailers for loading and unloading operations. Where a compression seal can take up some space on the sides because its pads overlap the trailer opening, a shelter wraps around the outside, keeping the full door opening clear for forklifts and cargo.
Rotary builds two shelter types:
- Rigid frame shelters: built with six support trusses on each side, compared to the industry standard of four. The extra trusses add structure, and Rotary builds these shelters for lasting strength and durability.
- Soft sided shelters: high-density foam covered with durable vinyl. If a driver mis-spots a trailer, the flexible sides return to position with no damage.
The traditional SH402 shelter fits a 4-foot dock height and accommodates carriers 12 feet to 13 feet 6 inches high. The SH403 has the same outside dimensions with a larger face opening for trucks with larger openings. For its rigid shelters, Rotary recommends a minimum projection of 14 inches beyond the bumpers.
Seal or Shelter? Choosing the Right Fit
The choice comes down to your door size, trailer fleet, and how you use the opening. Rotary Products states that the ideal opening size for a loading dock door and seal is 7 feet 6 inches or less. When you need full access to the truck opening, a shelter is the right option because it seals against the outsides of the truck instead of the back.
For the full comparison, including fit, wear patterns, and trailer compatibility, read our dock seals vs. shelters guide.
Dock Bumpers and Related Loading Dock Equipment
Dock bumpers decide where a trailer stops, and that stop decides how far a dock seal compresses. In Rotary’s words, “Maximum compression by docked vehicles is controlled by dock bumpers.” The right bumper projection keeps the seal tight without over-compressing the foam pads.
Southern Door Company also carries Rotary strip doors and curtain walls for the dock area. Strip doors create protective barriers between work zones, helping with climate control, noise reduction, and preventing the entry of dust, pests, and outside air. Curtain walls partition larger spaces wherever you need control over an area.
For truck restraints and dock locks, see our dedicated page. We carry the full Rotary Products dock equipment line, including edge of dock levelers, pit levelers, and dock bumpers for any commercial loading dock.
How We Help You Choose the Right Setup
When you call, we will walk through your dock layout, fleet mix, and workflow to recommend the right setup. Sizing depends on several measurements: dock height (Rotary’s recommendations are based on 46 to 50 inches), door width and height, bumper projection (Rotary’s rule is bumper projection plus 4 to 5 inches for seal depth), and the trailers your facility runs.
Rotary custom builds its dock seals and shelters, so each one can be sized to your dock. Whether you run a warehouse, a distribution center, a manufacturing plant, or a food processing facility, the seal or shelter needs to match your traffic and your material handling workflow. Getting the fit right from the start improves dock safety, minimizes gaps, and protects productivity.
Serving the Wiregrass Region Since 1992
Southern Door Company works out of 1209 Montgomery Hwy, Dothan, AL 36303. We serve commercial and industrial facilities across southeast Alabama, southwest Georgia, and Florida’s panhandle. As a Rotary Products dealer in Dothan, we supply loading dock seals and shelters, truck restraints, dock levelers, bumpers, strip doors, and curtain walls.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is the Difference Between a Dock Seal and a Dock Shelter?
A dock seal compresses against the back of a truck when it docks, creating a seal around the sides and top of the trailer opening. A dock shelter seals against the outside of the truck, which gives full access to the trailer for loading and unloading. For a detailed comparison, read our dock seals vs. shelters guide.
What Dock Seal and Shelter Services Are Available Near Me?
Southern Door Company supplies and installs Rotary Products dock seals and truck shelters for facilities in the Wiregrass region, including Dothan and the surrounding areas of southeast Alabama, southwest Georgia, and Florida’s panhandle. Call (334) 792-0962 to discuss your dock.
Can Dock Seals and Shelters Be Installed on Any Dock Door?
Sizing depends on your door dimensions, dock height, and bumper projection. Rotary recommends a door and seal opening of 7 feet 6 inches or less for standard compression seals. Rotary’s Z Series seal is built for 9-foot or 10-foot oversized door widths, and docks that need full trailer access call for a shelter. We will measure your dock and recommend the right product for your setup.
Do Dock Seals and Shelters Improve Energy Efficiency?
Yes. Loading dock seals and shelters close the gaps around a docked trailer that let conditioned air escape and outside air in, and Rotary Products says on its dock seals page that properly sealing a loading dock conserves money and energy. For more on this topic, read our post on how loading dock seals cut energy loss.
What Types of Dock Seals and Shelters Does Southern Door Company Carry?
We carry the full Rotary Products line: C Series, Z Series (Super Wedge), MC (Top Curtain Header), and AC (Adjustable Top Curtain Header) compression dock seals, plus rigid frame and soft sided truck shelters. Rotary custom builds every unit.
Get a Quote for Dock Seals and Shelters
Southern Door Company has served the Wiregrass region since 1992, and we install and service dock seals and shelters. We offer Rotary compression seals plus rigid frame and soft sided truck shelters, each custom built by Rotary. Call us at (334) 792-0962 or contact us online to schedule a dock assessment and get a quote.