Corner & Rail Repair in Austin, TX

The parts the dock takes out

Every box truck backs into docks, squeezes through alleys, and turns tight around posts. The parts that meet those first are the corners and the rails — and they are designed to. Keeping them in good shape is what stops a scrape from turning into a panel replacement.

Corners

• Corner caps — the finishing piece where the front or rear of the box meets the side. First to touch a dock or a wall.
• Corner radius — the curved corner section on bodies with rounded corners. Replaced with a matching section.
• Corner posts — the structural uprights at the corners, which also frame the rear doors.
• Corner castings — where fitted, the reinforced corner pieces at the top and bottom.

A bent corner post is not just cosmetic

Corner posts carry load and frame the rear door opening. When one is bent, the door frame goes out of square with it — so the rear doors stop sealing, stop locking cleanly, or bind in the track. If your door started misbehaving after a dock strike, the corner post is worth checking before the door.

Rails and angles

• Rub rails — the protective rails along the side of the box
• Scuff plates — protection along the lower edges
• Side rails and angles — the extrusions that frame the body and hold the panels

Rub rails and scuff plates are sacrificial: they are there to take the scrape so the panel does not. Once they are torn or gone, the panel behind them is taking the damage instead — and that is a far bigger job. Replacing the rail is the cheap repair; waiting is the expensive one.

Parts, and the truck underneath

We supply replacement corners, rails, and angles for bodies from every major truck body maker, and fit them. And because we service the chassis too, a truck in for a corner can have a door, a liftgate, or its service interval done the same day. See truck body repair for panels, floors, and the rear frame.

Two or more vehicles is a fleet. Call 512-717-2777.

Common questions

What is a corner cap, and why does it keep breaking?

The corner cap is the piece that finishes the corner of the box, where the front or rear meets the side. It sits exactly where a truck touches a loading dock, a wall, or a post, so it takes the knock first. Replacing it is routine, and keeping it intact protects the panels and the corner post behind it.

What is the corner radius?

The curved corner section on bodies that have rounded rather than square corners. Like a corner cap, it is the first part to meet a dock or a wall, and we replace it with a matching section.

Is a damaged corner post a problem, or just cosmetic?

It can be more than cosmetic. Corner posts are structural — they carry load and frame the rear doors. A bent corner post can throw the door out of alignment so it will not seal or lock, and it weakens the body. It is worth replacing rather than living with.

What do rub rails and scuff plates do?

They are sacrificial — there to take the scrapes so the panels do not. Rub rails run along the side of the box, scuff plates protect the lower edges. Once they are torn or missing, the panel behind them is taking the damage instead, which is a much bigger repair.

Can you do corners and rails on the same visit as other work?

Yes — that is the idea. We supply and fit the parts, and because we service the chassis as well, a truck in for a corner can have its service interval or a door looked at the same day.