Fleet and Commercial Body
E-Track, D-Ring and Cargo Tie-Down Installation
Typical range
$250 to $2,500
Shop hours
1 to 10
Labor rate
$210/hr
The short answer
E-track and tie-down installation adds horizontal and vertical E-track, D-rings, and anchor points to van and truck cargo areas with proper backing and load-rated attachment. Work runs $250 to $2,500, or 1 to 10 hours at $210 per hour plus hardware. In shop install only.
01
What this work actually involves
A tie-down point is only worth its weakest attachment. A D-ring rated at five thousand pounds bolted through unreinforced van sheet metal will tear out at a fraction of that rating, and the failure happens exactly when the load is doing what it needs to hold. Everything about this job comes down to what is behind the fastener. We locate structure, fabricate backing where structure is not where the customer wanted the anchor, and land the hardware so the rated capacity means something. On a wood or composite trailer floor, that means through-bolting into a crossmember rather than lagging into decking.
Layout is the part fleets get wrong most often. Horizontal E-track at a single height works for palletized freight but leaves nothing to secure tall or irregular loads against, so a service van hauling ladders, conduit, and job boxes typically needs vertical track at the wall stations plus horizontal runs at two heights. On a box body running mixed LTL freight out of the Ontario and Fontana distribution corridors, track spacing needs to match the pallet pattern, because a run that lands two inches off the load pattern gets used wrong or not at all.
Installation method depends on the substrate. On steel and aluminum bodies we weld or through-bolt into posts and rails. On composite panel bodies, drilling into a bonded panel without backing compromises the panel, so backing plates are fabricated to spread the load and every penetration is sealed against water entry. On insulated bodies, penetrating the panel creates a thermal bridge and a moisture path, and that requires a sealed installation done deliberately. In shop body, paint, structural, and equipment install only. Engine, drivetrain, and DOT inspection work are not performed.
Location: All work is performed at our Yorba Linda facility. We do not offer mobile, roadside, or fleet route service.
02
What the job includes
- Horizontal and vertical E-track installation in vans, box bodies, and trailers
- Recessed and surface mount D-ring and tie-down anchor installation
- Backing plate fabrication where the anchor location has no structure behind it
- Through-bolted installation into crossmembers on wood and composite floors
- Welded track and anchor attachment on steel and aluminum body structure
- Load-rated floor anchor installation for equipment and vehicle transport
- Layout design matched to pallet pattern, cargo type, and loading method
- Sealed penetrations on composite and insulated bodies to prevent water and thermal bridging
- Corrosion coating of all welds, cut edges, and fabricated backing
- Repair and replacement of pulled, bent, or torn-out existing anchors
03
When you need this service
- A tie-down anchor that has pulled, deformed, or torn its mounting hole
- Cargo shifting in transit despite being strapped
- Straps run around body structure or shelving because there are no anchor points
- E-track at one height only on a body that hauls tall or irregular loads
- Track spacing that does not line up with how the vehicle is actually loaded
- Rust or water staining at an existing anchor penetration on a box body
- A new van or body with no securement points installed at all
04
How we do it, step by step
- 01
Cargo and loading review
What gets hauled, how it is loaded, and from which door. Layout follows the actual loading pattern, because track that does not match the load gets ignored by drivers.
- 02
Structure survey
Posts, rails, crossmembers, and floor structure located behind and beneath every intended anchor position, along with any wiring, brake, or fuel lines in the path.
- 03
Layout and marking
Track runs and anchor positions marked at working heights that match the cargo, then checked against door swings, shelving, wheel wells, and lift gate travel.
- 04
Backing fabrication
Backing plates and spreader stock fabricated wherever the anchor lands away from structure, so the rated capacity of the hardware is actually supported by the vehicle.
- 05
Installation
Track and anchors welded or through-bolted to the correct method for the substrate, with fasteners sized to the load rather than to the hole that came in the box.
- 06
Sealing and coating
Every penetration sealed, especially on composite and insulated bodies where an open hole becomes a moisture path and a thermal bridge, then all welds coated.
- 07
Load check and handoff
Anchors checked under load rather than by hand, the completed layout photographed and dimensioned, and the build standard filed so the rest of the fleet can be outfitted identically.
05
Pricing and posted rates
| Item | Rate or range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Typical job range | $250 to $2,500 | Varies with extent of damage and parts availability |
| Shop hours | 1 to 10 | Quoted after teardown, not before |
| Body and paint labor | $210 per hour | 2026 posted rate |
| Paint supplies | $55 per paint hour | Calculated automatically on every estimate |
| Body supplies | $5 per body hour | Calculated automatically on every estimate |
| Parts | 100% markup under $100, 35% over | Special order parts require a non refundable deposit at order |
| Deposit | 50% at authorization over $2,000 | Additional 25% when parts arrive on jobs over $10,000 |
| Sales tax | 7.75% on parts and materials | Labor is not taxed |
Insurance billed jobs may be billed at carrier negotiated labor rates that differ from the posted retail rates above. See all posted rates.
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Vehicles we do this work on
Vehicle
Cargo Vans
Cargo vans on Transit, ProMaster, Express, and Sprinter platforms carry trade tools, parts inventory, and route freight. Rear door
Vehicle
Box Trucks
Box trucks put a separately built cargo body on a cab chassis, and the joint between them is where most failures start. Rear frame
Vehicle
Flatbed Trucks
Flatbed trucks carry unprotected loads on an open deck, so the deck, headboard, rub rails, and stake pockets take the damage rathe
Vehicle
High-Cube Vans
High-cube vans trade a tall roof and maximum interior volume for a large flat sail area and a roofline that clears almost nothing.
Vehicle
Sprinter Vans
Mercedes Sprinter vans run last-mile routes, trade service, and camper conversions across Southern California. Sliding door tracks
Vehicle
Curtain Side Trucks
Curtain side trucks trade fixed walls for a sliding tensioned curtain so a forklift can load from either side. The curtain, the to
Vehicle
Mobile Workshops
Mobile workshops carry benches, vises, compressors, welders, and dense tool inventory, which makes weight and mounting the definin
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Questions about e-track, d-ring and tie-down installation
Frequently asked questions
What does E-track installation cost?
Work runs $250 to $2,500, or 1 to 10 hours at $210 per hour plus hardware. Two horizontal runs of E-track in a cargo van sits at the low end. A full layout in a 26-foot body with vertical stations, multiple horizontal heights, recessed floor D-rings, and fabricated backing throughout sits at the high end. Hardware over $100 carries 35 percent markup.
How quickly can this be done?
Most van E-track layouts are a same-day job of three to six hours. A full box body layout with vertical stations and floor anchors is one to two working days. If backing plates have to be fabricated for a composite body, add half a day. Send us the body dimensions and the cargo type ahead of time and we will have hardware on the shelf when the unit arrives.
Can you add anchors to a composite or insulated body?
Yes, and it has to be done deliberately. Drilling a bonded composite panel without backing compromises the panel, and on an insulated body every penetration is a thermal bridge and a potential moisture path into the foam core. We fabricate backing to spread the load and seal each penetration properly. Done casually, this job is how a reefer box starts taking on water.
How do I know what load rating I actually need?
Start from the heaviest single item the vehicle carries and how it is restrained, then work backward to the number of anchor points and their individual rating. The rating stamped on a D-ring assumes it is mounted to structure capable of carrying it. That is the part we control, through backing fabrication and correct fastener sizing rather than using whatever hardware shipped in the box.
Do you do securement inspections or DOT compliance checks?
No. We fabricate and install securement hardware and document the installation. DOT inspection work is not performed at this facility, and neither is engine or drivetrain work. In shop body, paint, structural, and equipment install only. All work happens at our Yorba Linda facility and we do not run route service.
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Ready to move on e-track, d-ring and tie-down installation? Bring it to Yorba Linda.