Lockouts happen at the worst times.
Stepping out to check a container seal in a gate queue, climbing down to look at a chassis tire, doing a walk-around with the engine idling — then the door closes. In a terminal queue that is worse than inconvenient: you are holding up the lane, you cannot move the truck, and your phone, your paperwork, and your TWIC are all on the other side of the glass.
Breaking a window on a modern truck is expensive, the glass can take days to get, and a truck with a broken window can’t be secured with a load on it. Our lockout service sends a technician with entry tools made for commercial vehicles to open the door without breaking glass.
What our Lockout Service covers
- Opening cab doors on tractors and straight trucks
- Lockouts with the engine running
- Sleeper compartment and side box access where possible
- Checking door lock actuators and linkages if the lock failed on its own
- Power lock problems that locked the driver out
- Door handle and latch repairs after the lockout if something is broken
- Keys locked in a service body or toolbox on work trucks
- A quick battery check if the truck sat with accessories on while you were locked out
What lockout service doesn’t cover
- Cutting new keys or programming chip keys and fobs — that usually takes a dealer or an automotive locksmith
- Opening a trailer or container that is sealed or locked for customs or a shipper — never break a seal without authorization
- Opening a vehicle when the person calling can’t show they’re authorized to be in it
Expect to show ID and confirm you’re the driver, or that you have the owner’s or carrier’s permission, before the cab is opened.
Fix it on site or tow it?
A lockout should never need a tow. The only time it becomes a repair is when a door lock, latch, or power lock actuator failed and caused the lockout in the first place. Those parts can usually be repaired or replaced on site once the cab is open.
If a child or pet is in the cab, or the truck is rolling or stopped in a dangerous spot, call 911 first.
What to tell dispatch when you call
The more dispatch knows up front, the better the odds the mechanic shows up with the right parts and tools on the first trip.
- Whether the engine is running
- Truck year, make, and model
- Which doors are locked and whether any window is cracked open
- Your location and a phone number where you can be reached (borrow one if yours is in the cab)
- Whether anyone is inside — if a person or animal is in danger, call 911 first
Truck makes & engines we work on
- Freightliner
- Peterbilt
- Kenworth
- Volvo
- Mack
- International
- Western Star
Class 6 through Class 8 trucks, including engines from Cummins, Detroit Diesel, PACCAR, Volvo, Mack, Navistar, and Caterpillar.
Lockout Service around the harbor & the South Bay
Most lockouts happen at customer docks, container yards, and terminal gate queues — anywhere a driver climbs out “for just a minute.” We handle them anywhere in the harbor area and across the South Bay.
Freeways
Service areas
Lockout Service FAQ
Will you break my window to get in?
The goal is always to open the door without breaking glass, using entry tools made for commercial vehicles.
Can you make me a new key?
Lockout service opens the truck. If the key is lost or broken, you’ll typically need a dealer or locksmith who can cut and program keys for your truck.
Do I need to prove the truck is mine?
Yes. Expect to show ID and confirm you’re the assigned driver or have the owner’s or carrier’s permission.
My phone is locked in the truck. How do I call?
Borrow a phone from another driver or the truck stop counter and call (562) 261-8946. Give dispatch a number where the technician can reach you when they arrive.
I locked my keys in a running truck at a fuel island. What now?
Tell the fuel desk so they can manage the lane, stay near the truck, and call dispatch with the truck stop name and fuel lane number.
Can you open a sleeper door or a side toolbox?
Often, yes. Tell dispatch exactly what’s locked so the technician brings the right tools.