The proverbial locked Columbia

the easiest way to get in a columbia is what i was taught by an owner operator... Hide a coat hanger on the cat walk, put a small hook in it, on your driver side door there is a small hole on the bottom below the key hole, stick the hanger in there hook it and pull down the thing your hooking it on is only a couple inches up in there..

also drive a Volvo, or peterbuilt those don't lock while the door is open with out the key....

yeah i got real embrassed not only that it was my first and last time it ever happened. i locked the door as i got out to sign in at a shipper that was fun, i don't think i could feel any smaller lol

 

this is great news since i drive an 03 columbia i do carry my spare with me ALL the time but....never know when ill forget it

 

I have a spare key on a carabena attached to my pants all the time!

 

Trainer was telling me he had a student stay in the truck 2 days while trainer was at home nearby, Student locked the keys inside the columbia so instead of calling the company to call the trainer at home to bring down the spair keys, student just broke out that little side window on the door, that freightliner can only replace.

 

Or take a pair of vice grips and grab the little black button on the outside of the vent window. I am talking about the button that the inside lock lever attaches to.

Latch onto the button and turn it until the vent window latch moves enough to open the widow. The "button" is just plastic, and has flat spots that engage the window to keep it from turning when the vent locking handle is turned. There is enough slack in the fitting to move the vent lock very easy.

This takes about 15 seconds once you lock your vice grips on. After opening the window, just move the "button" back to where it was to insure proper operation of the inside latch.

You will leave a few small teeth marks on the button, but someone will have to be looking for them to see it.

This works on Sterlings also. I won't say how I know this, but I didn't stay out in the cold long.

I did hear of a JB driver who locked his keys in his truck one night. He finally had to break a window to get out.

 

Great advice Stranger. And BTW, ###### driver! That joke never gets old!

 

Thanks for sharing the info.
You really watched a guy for 45 minutes trying to get in his truck and knew how to do it in least then a minute? Don't get me wrong that was nice of you to help and share the info then and now on the board as you don't have to but dang. I could see teaching him a lesson with maybe waiting 5 minutes.
If true you waited 45 minutes to help this fellow driver is why society is going down the tubes. I hope you meant you noticed him first trying and then after what you were doing 45 minutes later he was still at it. But still bad unless what you were doing couldn't wait to help sooner. I would have helped as soon as I noticed his problem. Trying to get in your locked car or truck makes every minute a life time.
Maybe you were just making sure it was his truck by waiting to see if anyone came before helping you never know, but after helping to opening up the door you could have asked to see something with the drivers name on it both his license and something in the truck. After you helped me in I would be more then happy that it would not have bothered me one bit to show you it was my truck and would expect it.
I hope if someone sees that I locked my keys in the truck that you help right away. As I would have already kicked my ### way further then anyone could.

JMO and that is just me about helping.

 

It's well worn all right.
We used to tell that one all the time about Big R (Roadway) drivers back in the 70's.