Trailer Repair
Structural repairs, liftgates, doors, lighting and full trailer electrical overhauls on dry vans, reefers and flatbeds.
Learn moreIn shop, mobile for light work
Welding and Fabrication
Frame and structural work has rules, and doing it wrong is both dangerous and a compliance problem. We work to the correct procedure for the material and tell you when a repair is not the legal option.
Welding and Fabrication in Baltimore, MD
Welding on a commercial vehicle is not general fabrication. Frame rails are heat treated steel where an uncontrolled repair can leave the rail weaker than the crack it replaced, and manufacturers publish specific rules about where and how a frame may be repaired. We handle structural repair, crossmembers, brackets, bumpers, mounts and custom fabrication, and we are straightforward about the jobs where the correct answer is a replacement rail rather than a weld.
Equipment and capability
We run MIG, TIG and stick capability for steel, aluminium and stainless, along with cutting and forming equipment for fabrication work. Structural repairs are done in the shop where the vehicle can be supported correctly. Our mobile units carry welding capability for repairs that can be completed safely on site, such as brackets, steps and securement points.
In shop, mobile for light work
Covering Baltimore City and 29 surrounding communities, out to roughly 30 miles from the shop on Ponca Street.
See the areas we coverWhat welding and fabrication covers
The full scope of the work, so there is no ambiguity about what is and is not included when you approve a job.
- Frame rail crack repair using the manufacturer approved procedure and reinforcement
- Crossmember replacement and gusseting
- Trailer structural repair including rails, posts and crossmembers
- Bumper, step, deck plate and mounting bracket repair and fabrication
- Fifth wheel plate and mounting repair
- Custom brackets and mounts for tanks, toolboxes, inverters and auxiliary equipment
- Headache rack, rub rail and stake pocket repair
- Exhaust and aftertreatment mount repair
- Aluminium welding for fuel tanks, steps and trailer components
- Stainless work on tanker and food grade applications where appropriate
- Suspension hanger and spring bracket repair
- Mobile welding at your yard or the roadside where the repair can be done safely
When you need this service
If you recognise any of these, it is worth a call before it becomes a roadside call.
Visible crack in a frame rail, crossmember or bracket
Damage after a dock impact, curb strike or collision
Fifth wheel plate is loose or the mounting is cracked
Suspension hanger or spring bracket is torn or elongated
Bumper, step or rack has been torn loose
Equipment needs a mount that does not exist off the shelf
Aluminium fuel tank or step needs repair
Trailer rail or post has been pushed in and needs sectioning
How we approach it
The sequence matters as much as the repair. Working through it in this order is what stops you paying for parts the fault never pointed at.
- 1
Assess the damage properly
We clean the area, determine the full extent of the crack, and identify the material. A crack that is visible is usually longer than it looks.
- 2
Check what the manufacturer allows
Frame repair rules vary by chassis. Some areas may be welded with reinforcement, some may not be welded at all. We work to those rules rather than around them.
- 3
Prepare and control heat
Correct preparation, drilling crack ends where required, and controlled heat input, because the wrong heat cycle is what turns a repair into a weak point.
- 4
Weld and reinforce
The correct process and filler for the material, with reinforcement plates where the procedure calls for them, fastened as specified rather than simply welded on.
- 5
Finish and protect
The repair is dressed, coated and protected against corrosion, and documented for your maintenance file.
Related services
Faults rarely sit in one system. These are the ones that most often come up alongside this work.
Towing and Recovery
Heavy duty towing and recovery for semis and trailers, plus flatbed, fuel delivery, lockout and jump start support.
Learn moreSteering and Suspension
Steering gear, tie rods, air bags, shocks and alignment work that stops irregular tire wear before it costs you casings.
Learn moreFurther reading on welding and fabrication
When Frame Welding Is Allowed on a Truck, and When It Absolutely Is Not
Frame rails are heat treated steel with published repair rules. A weld in the wrong place leaves the rail weaker than the crack it replaced.
Read the articleMaintenance and Compliance
When Frame Welding Is Allowed on a Truck, and When It Absolutely Is Not
Frame rails are heat treated steel with published repair rules. A weld in the wrong place leaves the rail weaker than the crack it replaced.
4 min read
Book welding and fabrication
Send the unit details and the symptom and dispatch will come back to you. If the truck is off the road right now, call instead.
Faster by phone
A form is fine for scheduling. For a truck that is stopped, a call gets a unit moving while you are still describing the problem.
(443) 630-6669- Call out fee and labour rate quoted before we roll
- Work stops and you get a call if the job grows
- Itemised invoice with parts, labour and measurements
Welding and Fabrication questions
Drawn from the questions we get asked most about this specific service.
Sometimes, and it depends entirely on where the crack is and what the manufacturer permits for that chassis. Some locations can be welded with reinforcement, others must not be welded at all. We check the specification before we strike an arc, and we will tell you if the honest answer is a replacement rail.
Yes, for repairs that can be completed safely on site such as brackets, steps, racks and securement points. Structural frame work comes into the shop where the vehicle can be properly supported.
Yes. Aluminium work is routine for us. Fuel tank repair requires proper purging and preparation, which is not a job to attempt in a yard with a spare welder.
Yes. Toolboxes, tanks, inverters, beacons and auxiliary equipment mounts are regular work. Bring the equipment and the truck and we will build to fit.
A straightforward crack repair with reinforcement is usually one to two days. Anything involving removal of components to access the rail, or a section replacement, takes longer and we will give you a realistic estimate after inspection.
A properly executed repair to the manufacturer procedure will. A poorly done weld on a frame rail is an out of service item, which is exactly why the procedure matters.