Freightliner Keys

Yesterday I was sent to pick up a trailer from a truck stop. I was told the driver's truck had broken down and had been towed.

When I arrived the truck was still attached to the trailer. It hadn't been towed yet and the driver was off the truck.

I was given permission to see if my key would work to get into his truck in order to unhook his trailer.

It worked.

I'm sure most people know or have heard that Freightliner keys can open another Freightliner. This is the first time I actually saw it in practice.

Just a heads up to New drivers who think their truck is secure as long as it is locked. It's probably a good idea to use cuff locks if you need to leave your truck for an extended period of time.

I think most companies provide them to new drivers.

Are freightliner keys mostly universal? All of our locks for each brand use the same key. I can use the key from a 2016 Volvo to unlock a 2021, same as a 2020 international unlocking my 2023. just the way our company does the locks.

A couple years ago in Mount Pleasant IA I'd laid down to take a quick nap. When I awoke there were 2 cop cars in front of me. It turns out the driver in the freightliner next to me had locked his keys inside. Unfortunately for him the spare FL key I had didn't work on his rig.

The KW in our fleet aren't interchangeable I have a key to my old 21 t680 and it doesn't open my current 23

I was at a truck stop a couple years ago and saw a guy with a Freightliner who locked himself out. I offered to try my key and it worked.

All our trucks are keyed by brand, a key for a 2012 Freightliner will work a 23. A key for a 19 KW will work a 24.

Sounds like when a company plans it's orders for a specific brand of truck it states that the key numbers always is the same. It simplifies the process and allows for their control of their equipment.

On the dark side someone that purchases their used trucks would possibly have access to their new fleet of trucks.

It all depends on how the company ordered the trucks from the manufacturer. My current company has Freightliner trucks and they common key them by year made. Newer trucks use 1 key but the older use a different key. Previous company had trucks in a batch common keyed. One thing everyone needs to be aware of, the locks will only keep an honest person out. Need to be vigilant on where you park and how you secure your doors when inside the truck sleeping.

Special ordering trucks companies can do as they want. In general I only know about Peterbilts. They have 6 key codes. That’s it. My 2013 key has worked in several of different years and models.