The harbor runs on equipment nobody owns.
Container chassis come out of a pool, get hooked by a different driver every day, and go back into the stack. They are swapped between carriers, dropped in yards along Harry Bridges and Anaheim, and left sitting until the next move. Almost none of them are owned by the carrier pulling them, and they get far less attention than a tractor does — until a light goes out at the gate, the landing gear won’t crank, or a brake won’t release. Dry vans and flatbeds working the Carson transload yards have the same problem for the same reason.
Our mobile trailer repair fixes the problems that stop trailers from moving or put them out of service, right where the trailer is parked. That’s especially useful for drop yards and cross-docks, where taking a trailer to a shop means finding a tractor and a driver just to move it.
What our Trailer Repair covers
- Trailer brake repairs — chambers, slack adjusters, and shoes and drums where access allows
- Trailer ABS faults and ABS warning lamp problems
- Lighting repair — marker, tail, brake, and turn signal lights and wiring harnesses
- Seven-way sockets, nose boxes, and junction boxes
- Gladhands, air lines, and relay emergency valves
- Landing gear repair and replacement, including gear boxes and crank handles
- Swing door hinges, lock rods, and cam keepers; roll-up door springs, rollers, and cables
- Air ride suspension — air springs, leveling valves, and shocks
- Slider pins and release mechanisms
- Mud flaps, brackets, and reflective conspicuity tape
- Rear impact guard (underride guard) repairs
- Welding repairs to crossmembers, brackets, and landing gear mounts (see mobile welding)
What can't be done on the roadside
- Floor replacement in dry vans and reefers
- Roof and side panel replacement after significant damage
- Main beam straightening or major structural repair
- Axle replacement or alignment
- Major collision repair
Refrigeration units on reefer trailers are covered under reefer unit repair.
Fix it on site or tow it?
Most trailer repairs are ideal for mobile service. The trailer is usually parked in a yard or at a dock, and moving it to a shop takes a tractor, a driver, and time. Lights, brakes, air lines, landing gear, and doors can typically be fixed right where it sits.
Structural damage is the main exception. Cracked main beams, damaged axles, or major collision damage need a shop with a lift and fabrication equipment, and a trailer with serious structural damage shouldn’t be pulled loaded.
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.
- Trailer type: dry van, reefer, flatbed, container chassis, or tanker
- Trailer make and year, if you know them
- What’s wrong: brakes, lights, landing gear, doors, suspension, or damage
- Where the trailer is parked and whether a tractor is hooked to it
- Whether it’s loaded, and whether there’s a customs or shipper seal on the doors
Truck makes & engines we work on
- Freightliner
- Peterbilt
- Kenworth
- Volvo
- Mack
- International
- Western Star
Trailers from Great Dane, Utility, Wabash, Hyundai Translead, Stoughton, Vanguard, and other manufacturers, plus container chassis and flatbeds.
Trailer Repair around the harbor & the South Bay
Chassis and trailer calls come mostly from the drop yards and cross-docks along Harry Bridges, Anaheim, and Alameda, and from the terminal gate queues where a pre-trip defect turns up at the worst moment. We also handle trailer breakdowns on the 710, the 110, and the 405 when a light, brake, or tire problem stops a load mid-run.
Freeways
Service areas
Trailer Repair FAQ
Can you repair a trailer without a tractor hooked to it?
For many repairs, yes. Some jobs — like testing lights or air brakes — need power and air supplied to the trailer, so tell dispatch whether a tractor is available.
Do you work on container chassis?
Constantly — pool chassis are a large share of everything we do. They have the same brakes, lights, tires, air lines, and landing gear as any other trailer, and because nobody owns them they get the least maintenance and cause the most roadside calls in the harbor.
Can you fix trailer lights that keep going out?
Yes. Recurring trailer light problems are almost always corrosion or damaged wiring in the nose box, harness, or light sockets. Fixing the connection fixes the problem.
Can you work on a loaded or sealed trailer?
Many repairs can be done on a loaded trailer. A mechanic shouldn’t open doors or break a seal — if the repair requires getting inside, the seal has to be handled by someone authorized to do it.
My landing gear won’t crank. Can you help?
Yes. Stuck landing gear is often a failed gear box, a bent leg, or a lack of lubrication, and it can usually be repaired or replaced on site.
Do you repair trailer doors?
Yes — hinges, lock rods, cam keepers, and handles on swing doors, plus springs, rollers, and cables on roll-up doors.