Truck Roll Up Door Repair in Seattle, WA
A box truck door that won't stay up, a cable hanging off its drum, a delivery van door jammed halfway with a route to run. Roll-up doors on trucks, vans and trailers use the same spring, cable and track system as a garage door, scaled down and shaken on the road all day. Here is what fails, what a technician does at your yard, and what Seattle-area shops publish for prices. Independent companies serving Seattle, Washington reply with free quotes.
Get a Free Quote Call (425) 738-3868
Signs a truck roll-up door needs repair
A truck door should balance when lifted halfway, neither rising nor falling on its own. When it stops doing that, something in the counterbalance or track has let go.
- The door drifts down, flies up or feels much heavier than it used to
- One side sits higher than the other, or the curtain hangs crooked in the opening
- A lift cable looks frayed, sits slack or has jumped a groove on its drum
- The door catches at the same height every cycle
- Rollers grind, squeal or pop out of the track
- The latch won't engage the keeper, so the door can't be secured for the road
- A kinked slat or hinge that has pulled away from its panel
A door with a broken spring will fall if opened, so leave it where it is and keep people clear.
The Garage Door Repair Seattle is a free quote-matching service, not a repair company. You describe the door once, independent local companies that work on truck and trailer doors reply with quotes, and the company you choose does the work.
What breaks on a box truck roll-up door
Whiting, Todco, Transglobal, Warren and other brands all build the door the same way: hinged steel or aluminum panels on rollers, a counterbalance spring on a shaft in the header, a cable on each side, and a bottom bar with the latch and seal.
Counterbalance spring
The torsion spring inside the header carries most of the door's weight. Manufacturers warn that dirt and moisture make springs brittle, and a spring that cracks leaves the full weight on the cables and the driver's arm. Manufacturer manuals (Todco, Transglobal) say only trained technicians should adjust or replace it.
Cables and drums
One cable per side runs from the bottom bar to a drum on the spring shaft. Cables fray at the bottom, where road spray collects, and a cable that skips a drum groove racks the door sideways. Shops typically replace both cables together.
Rollers and hinges
Rollers (about 1 inch on many Todco doors, 2 inches on many Whiting doors) ride in the side tracks. Mud and lost lubrication seize them; a hinge that pulls out of a panel lets the door wander. Side play should be only about 1/4 to 3/8 inch.
Tracks
A forklift bump or a strap tightened over the track leaves a dent the rollers catch on every cycle. Dents are straightened or the section is replaced.
Slats and curtain
Cargo shifting into the door or a backing accident kinks panels so the curtain no longer rolls tight. One or two panels can be swapped; a badly damaged door gets a full replacement curtain, the costliest routine job.
Latch, keeper, seals and pull strap
A latch that won't engage, a torn bottom seal letting water into the box, or a frayed pull strap. Small parts, but a door that can't be secured can't legally go out under federal cargo rules (49 CFR 392.9).
What a technician typically does on a truck door call
Methods vary by company. Shops that advertise this work describe a visit that usually runs like this.
1. Secure the door
The door is clamped in the tracks so it can't drop, and the latch and pull strap are checked.
2. Find the cause
Spring balance, both cables and drums, rollers, hinges, side play, track condition and seals are all checked. Ask them to show you the failed part.
3. Price it in writing
Washington's Automotive Repair Act (RCW 46.71) gives you the right to a written estimate before parts or labor are supplied. Parts, labor and any mobile fee are listed separately.
4. Repair on site where possible
Springs, cables, rollers, hinges and track work are usually done at your yard in one to two hours from a mobile truck carrying common parts. A full curtain replacement or box damage may need the vehicle at the shop.
5. Balance and road check
The door is run through full cycles, checked for balance at half height, and the latch tested so the driver can secure it before the next run.
Rain, road spray and a lot of trucks
Washington DOL recorded roughly 94,000 to 97,000 commercial-class and about 180,000 truck-class registrations in King County in each of fiscal 2024 and 2025 (registrations, not unique vehicles). Most of the box trucks among them work out of the Duwamish industrial corridor, which a 2013 City of Seattle study put at about 4,900 acres from SoDo through Georgetown and South Park, with the corridor running south to the Kent Valley. Companies that service truck doors tend to be based along that same stretch, and in Kent, WA and Tukwila near the warehouses.
Sea-Tac averages 39.34 inches of rain a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). Door manufacturers tie rust to the places where moisture and road salt collect, which on a truck means the bottom bar, the lower cable ends and the rollers that sit in the spray line. Transglobal's maintenance guide says doors run where road salt is used need lock lubrication at closer intervals, and springs should be lubricated along their full length to slow rust. Pressure washing the box pushes water into the header and does more harm than good; a parts supplier advises against it.
The same wet-climate issues show up on building doors; see the rust guide and the tune-up page for the shop or warehouse door.
What truck roll-up door repair costs
Residential cost guides don't cover truck doors, so these ranges come from shops that publish their truck door pricing. Use them to sanity-check written estimates, not as a price any company has offered you.
| Item | Typical range | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Typical roll-up door repair | $200–$600 | Puget Sound fleet door shop, 2026 |
| Counterbalance spring replacement | $200–$400 · $650–$950 | Puget Sound shop, 2026 · Portland, OR shop, 2026 |
| Track repair | $150–$350 | Puget Sound shop, 2026 |
| Rollers, hinges and other parts | $190–$275+ per part · $245–$349 (rollers) | Puget Sound shop, 2026 · Portland shop, 2026 |
| Full curtain (slat set) replacement | $800–$2,000 | Puget Sound shop, 2026 |
| New roll-up door installed | Up to $4,000 | Portland, OR shop, 2026 |
| Mobile service fee | About $129, or quoted separately | Portland, OR shop, 2026 |
Published shop pricing, not quotes (two regional shops' price pages, 2026). Seattle-area quotes vary by door brand, size, insulated or reefer spec, and whether the work is on site. Repair labor and parts are subject to Washington retail sales tax.
What moves the number: a spring plus both cables at once, a dented track on top of the rollers, how many slats are kinked, an insulated reefer door, after-hours timing, and the mobile fee. If the truck has several doors due for work, ask about fleet pricing; some shops offer maintenance agreements with priority scheduling.
Don't touch the spring
Counterbalance springs on truck doors are wound under high tension. Manufacturers say only trained technicians should adjust or replace them. Transglobal's maintenance manual warns the spring can cause severe injury or death; Todco's owner's manual tells owners not to adjust or repair the spring or counterbalance assembly at all. The procedure needs matched steel winding bars, clamps to lock the door, and the spring unwound a quarter turn at a time.
- Don't open a door with a broken spring; it will fall
- Don't hang from the pull strap or use it to climb into the box
- Don't pry a kinked slat or push a roller back into the track by hand
- Don't send the truck out with a latch that won't secure; federal rules (49 CFR 392.9) require doors to be secured before and during a trip
Mobile repair versus a shop visit
A truck with a dead door is a truck off the route. Industry estimates put the cost of a sidelined commercial vehicle at several hundred dollars a day, so most fleet owners want the technician to come to the yard. Shops that publish truck door services say most jobs are finished on site in one to two hours, and mobile trucks carry springs, cables and rollers for common Whiting and Todco style doors. Work that usually goes to the shop: a full curtain replacement, a bent header, or damage to the box itself, which can run days at a body shop. Say on your request where the truck is, whether it can be driven, how many doors need work, and the door brand or serial plate if you can read it; the spring is matched to the door.
If the door is stuck open with cargo inside, treat it as urgent and call (425) 738-3868.
Questions to ask before approving truck door repair
- Is the estimate in writing, with parts, labor, sales tax and the mobile fee listed separately?
- What failed, and can you show me the spring, cable or roller?
- Are both cables replaced together, and is the spring matched to this door's serial number?
- Can the work be done at my yard, and how long will the truck be down?
- Do you offer fleet pricing or a maintenance agreement if I have several trucks?
- What are the warranty terms on parts and labor, in writing?
Truck door technicians are vehicle repairers, not construction contractors, so Washington's L&I contractor registration (RCW 18.27) generally does not apply to them the way it does to companies working on the garage door at your shop. Vehicle repair is covered by the Automotive Repair Act (RCW 46.71): you are entitled to a written estimate, and the shop may not charge more than 110% of it, before sales tax, without your authorization. Carriers subject to federal rules must also keep parts and accessories in safe operating condition (49 CFR 396.3), so keep the invoice with the vehicle's maintenance records.
Truck roll-up door repair FAQ
How much does truck roll-up door repair cost in Seattle, WA?
A Puget Sound fleet door shop (2026) publishes typical repairs at $200–$600, spring replacement at $200–$400, track repair at $150–$350 and a full curtain (slat set) replacement at $800–$2,000, with mobile service extra. A Portland, OR shop lists a $129 mobile fee, rollers at $245–$349 and springs at $650–$950. These are published shop ranges, not quotes; door brand, size and whether the work happens at your yard all move the number.
Can I replace the spring on my box truck door myself?
Manufacturers say no. Todco's owner's manual tells owners not to adjust or repair the spring or counterbalance assembly, and Transglobal warns the counterbalance spring is wound under high tension and can cause severe injury or death. A door with a broken spring will fall if opened, so don't open it. Request quotes and have a trained technician handle it.
Do you repair truck doors at my location or do I bring the truck in?
The Garage Door Repair Seattle doesn't repair anything; we pass your request to independent companies and you pick one. Shops that advertise truck door work say most spring, cable, roller and track repairs are done on site in one to two hours from a mobile truck that carries common parts, while a full curtain replacement or damage to the box itself may need the vehicle at their facility. Say where the truck is parked and whether it can move.
My roll-up door drifts down or won't stay open. What's wrong?
A door that creeps down, flies up, feels heavy or hangs crooked usually has a weak or broken counterbalance spring or a cable that has frayed or jumped its drum. A door that catches at the same height every time points to a dented track or a bent slat. Don't keep forcing it; a technician can confirm the cause in minutes.
Does Washington's L&I contractor registration apply to truck door companies?
Generally no. Washington's contractor registration law (RCW 18.27) covers work on buildings and other structures attached to real estate, so it applies to the garage door on your shop but not to a technician working on a vehicle. Vehicle repair is covered instead by the Automotive Repair Act (RCW 46.71), which gives you the right to a written estimate and limits charges to 110% of it without your authorization.
Get truck roll-up door repair quotes in Seattle, WA
Say what kind of vehicle it is (box truck, step van, trailer), what the door does (drifts, stuck, crooked, won't latch), the door brand if you know it, where the truck is parked and whether it can move. Independent companies serving Seattle and the Kent Valley reply with no-obligation quotes.
The Garage Door Repair Seattle is a free quote-matching service, not a repair company. Participating companies are independent and may pay to receive requests. You choose who, if anyone, does the work.
Garage door stuck, loud or off track? Get free quotes.
Describe the problem once and independent garage door companies serving Seattle and the Eastside can reply with no-obligation quotes.