What an ICC bumper is actually for
"ICC bumper" is trucker shorthand. The proper name is rear impact guard, or underride guard. A car is much lower than a trailer deck, so in a rear-end collision it can slide under the back of the trailer, and the first thing to hit the car is the windshield pillar instead of a bumper. The guard is a horizontal bar, held by vertical supports and mounts tied into the trailer's rear structure, that is placed to catch the car before it goes under.
That is why it is a safety part and not a cosmetic one. It also takes a beating that has nothing to do with collisions: loading docks, dock locks, backing into a wall or a post, and ice-packed yards. Most guards we see were bent by slow, ordinary hits, not crashes.
Bent, cracked or loose: what kind of damage do you have?
Not all damage is equal. Roughly, it falls into these groups:
- The horizontal bar pushed in or out. Common after a dock hit. If the supports and welds are fine, this is the best case for straightening.
- Bent or kinked vertical supports. The bar may look only slightly off, but the supports are what carry the load. A kink is a weak point.
- Cracked welds or cracked base metal. Look at the corners where bar meets support and where support meets mount. Cracks start at the weld toe.
- Loose, broken or missing bolts. On a bolt-on guard, a loose bolt can let the whole guard sag or shift inward. Sometimes new hardware is the whole fix.
- Torn or bent mounting brackets. The bracket that ties the guard to the trailer. If it is torn, the guard is only hanging on.
- Rust. Surface rust is cosmetic. Scaled, flaking or rusted-through tube and mounts are not.
Repair or replace: how we decide
Trade articles on this topic agree on a few points. The guard should be brought back to its as-built condition, designs differ by trailer maker, and a half-fixed guard can leave you worse off than a replaced one. Our rear ICC bumper repair service follows the same logic. We look at:
- Is the damage only to the bar? If the supports, mounts and welds are sound, straightening and re-welding can be a good repair.
- Is there a kink or a crack? Metal that has been bent sharply or cracked is not something to heat and hope. Replace the damaged part.
- Has it been repaired before? Several old repairs, cut-and-weld patches or mismatched pieces usually mean replacement is the smarter spend.
- What is the trailer structure doing? If the rear cross members or the sill the guard bolts to are bent or cracked, fixing the guard alone does not fix the problem. That is structural work, covered by our trailer welding and fabrication service, and see our guide to cracked trailer cross member repair.
When replacement is the answer, we fabricate or install a complete new rear bumper and weld new mounts to the trailer frame.
Bolt-on versus welded guards
This is a point most repair pages skip, and it changes the repair.
- Bolt-on guards attach with fasteners. Check the bolts first: loose, stretched or missing hardware is a frequent reason a guard has moved. Replacing bolts or a bent bracket can be quicker than working on the bar.
- Welded guards are fixed to the structure. Damage means cutting, straightening or replacing sections and re-welding to sound metal, with the welds checked for cracks around the toes.
Either way, the guard needs to end up solid, level, and in the same position the trailer maker intended. Our crew checks that the bumper sits at the right height and width for the trailer, not only that it looks straight.
Inspection: what to keep in mind
A damaged guard is the kind of thing that gets noticed at an MTO annual safety inspection or a CVSA roadside inspection. Cracked welds, loose or missing fasteners, obvious bends and a guard that has been hacked together are all the sort of finding an inspector can write up. We do our welds to pass both. That is a statement about how the work is done, not a guarantee for any specific guard, and it does not replace your own inspection.
A word on numbers. The exact dimensions and rules a guard has to meet are in the regulations and on the trailer maker's certification label. Most online articles on this quote United States federal rules, which are not the same document your Ontario inspector works from. We are not going to quote figures here that we cannot confirm for Ontario. If you want to know whether your guard is within spec, check the label and the trailer builder's information, and ask your inspection facility.
One more practical point: improper repairs can create liability if the trailer is later in a rear-end collision. That is a reason to repair a guard properly and to keep photos of the before and after.
Box trucks and straight trucks too
This is not only a trailer problem. Box trucks have rear guards too, and many have a step built into the rear bumper for climbing in. Backing hard into docks bends them quickly.
If you have a box truck with a damaged rear bumper, we repair or replace it the same way. If you are also looking at the front of the truck, see our deer guards and custom bumpers.
On-site repair
Most ICC bumper repairs are done where the unit is parked, with no tow. Our welding truck carries its own power and equipment, so the job works best on firm, flat ground, with room to get behind and under the trailer. Our mobile trailer welding page explains how a call-out works. We are based at 115 Orenda Rd in Brampton, which also gives us a shop for larger jobs.
To make the repair quicker, empty the rear of the trailer if you can, and keep the area behind the unit clear. Do not crawl under a unit that is not stable.
How to photograph an ICC bumper for a quote
Good photos tell us whether it is a quick straightening, a part swap or a full replacement. From a safe position, take:
- A shot from straight behind, far enough back to show both ends of the bar and the trailer's rear corners.
- A side view along the bar, which shows bends in or out that a rear view hides.
- A close-up of each end of the bar and each support, including any cracked weld.
- A view from underneath showing the mounts, bolts and where the guard meets the frame.
- The trailer's certification or data label, if you can find it.
- A photo of the rear cross member and sill if the trailer took a hard hit.
Send them to WhatsApp 437-985-7311 with the trailer type, how it was damaged and where it is parked. We do not guess prices from a description, so we quote from the photos before we start.
Where we work
We are based in Brampton and also work in Mississauga, Toronto, Vaughan, Milton, Oakville and Caledon. Hours are 7 AM to 7 PM, seven days a week. There is no overnight service and no highway-shoulder repair, so if the damage happens late, get the unit somewhere safe, send photos and plan on the first morning slot.
Call 437-985-7311 WhatsApp photos
Frequently asked questions
What is an ICC bumper?
ICC bumper is the trucking name for the rear impact guard, also called the underride guard, on the back of a trailer or box truck. It is a steel bar and supports that stop a car from sliding under the rear of the trailer in a rear-end collision. The name comes from the old Interstate Commerce Commission.
Can a bent ICC bumper be straightened?
Sometimes. A simple bend in the bar, with the vertical supports, mounts and welds undamaged, can often be corrected. Cracks, torn mounts, kinked supports or rusted-through tube usually mean replacement. We can usually tell from photos, and we will say so honestly if it is not worth repairing.
Do I need to fix a damaged ICC bumper before inspection?
A bent, loose, cracked or missing guard is the kind of defect that can be written up at an MTO annual safety inspection or a CVSA roadside inspection. Our welds are done to pass both. We say that about the work, not as a promise about any particular guard. Fix it before the trailer goes back into service.
Can you repair an ICC bumper at my yard in the GTA?
Most ICC bumper repairs are done on site in your yard. Our truck carries welding and cutting equipment and a generator. Hours are 7 AM to 7 PM, seven days a week. We do not do highway-shoulder repairs or overnight work.
How do I get a price for ICC bumper repair?
Send photos to WhatsApp 437-985-7311: one from straight behind, one from the side and one from underneath showing the mounts. We do not guess prices from a description, so we quote from the photos.
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