Road-transportation safety: How proper locks secure your equipment in transit
When drivers are out on the road, their equipment and essential tools are often just as valuable to them as the cargo they’re carrying. Their storage boxes often house gear such as power tools, spare parts, safety equipment, and other mission-critical accessories drivers rely on during road transport. If those belongings went missing when you need them, it could mean downtime, missed deliveries, safety risks, and the costs to replace items. We’ve put together this guide to help you make the right choice for securing your storage boxes. We’ll cover:
Why you need to choose the right lock for road transport
Which locks are best suited for your needs?
Applications
Lock types
Why you need to choose the right lock for road transport
The right lock for your storage boxes acts as the first line of defense against unauthorised access, helping to maintain security during stops. But security is just the beginning. A reliable locking system also helps minimise disruptions, keeping operations running smoothly. With transportation security facing challenges, such as cargo tampering and unauthorised entry, investing in the right lock is a crucial step in protecting shipments and maintaining supply chain integrity.
Which locks are best suited for your needs?
That depends on your security needs, access frequency, and environmental conditions.
For high-security applications, a heavy-duty lock and lock cylinders offer strong protection against tampering. If ease of access is a priority, consider handle locks. A quarter-turn lock and paddle latch also provide reliable locking while allowing quick entry when needed.
A cylindrical lock will help maintain cargo stability. A compression lock keeps doors tightly sealed. You can add durability to your storage container with a torque hinge or leaf hinge. For extra convenience, a push-to-close lock allows for secure closure without extra effort.
Sealing products, such as sealing profiles, work alongside locks to prevent unauthorised access and environmental damage. Choosing the right locking system can give you both security and peace of mind throughout the journey.
View our range of heavy-duty locks & latches
Applications
Specialised vehicles typically hold storage compartments and boxes. These might include:
Freight & delivery vehicles
Paddle locks, quarter-turn locks, and compression locks provide a secure closure, preventing theft and reducing the risk of storage compartments opening unexpectedly due to road vibrations or sudden stops.
Commercial & industrial storage
Many businesses use mobile storage units, transport enclosures, and cabinet panels to move valuable goods and equipment. T handles and compression latches offer both security and ease of access, making them ideal for protecting assets while allowing quick entry when needed.
Emergency & utility vehicles
The storage boxes and compartments in service vehicles such as ambulances, fire trucks, and utility vans require locks that balance security with quick accessibility. Push-to-close locks and quarter-turn slam-shut latches allow personnel to secure compartments swiftly while ensuring doors remain shut during travel.
Lock types
Different locks offer varying levels of security, accessibility, and durability to meet specific road-transport needs.
Our experts explain more in The complete guide to locks and latches.
Locking paddle latch
Heavy-duty paddle locks provide a secure and convenient locking solution for cargo in road transport security. Their push-to-close or slam-shut actuation ensures that doors and panels close quickly and securely, reducing the risk of accidental openings during transit.
This is especially useful when frequent access is needed to storage boxes while maintaining security. For added protection, the keyed-alike versions include a stainless steel shutter, shielding the paddle lock from dirt, dust, and moisture—essential for withstanding tough road conditions. With an IP54 rating, these latches offer moderate protection against water and dust, making them reliable for outdoor transport use. Durable zinc alloy in either silver or with a black powder-coated finish to resist corrosion and wear, ensuring long-term performance.
Paddle latch catches
The cam striking plate helps ensure road transportation safety for your tools and equipment by ensuring that locking paddle latches function properly. Our cam striking plate works alongside our slam-shut operated paddle latch, providing a reliable and secure locking mechanism for storage compartments. Constructed from steel with a zinc-plated finish, the paddle latch catch is made for durability, protecting it from rust and making it suitable for storage boxes frequently exposed to rain, humidity, and fluctuating temperatures.
By reinforcing the slam-shut operation of the paddle latch, this striking plate ensures a tight, secure seal, preventing accidental openings during transit.
Compression latches – adjustable
Features a wide grip range with an adjustable screw, allowing for a customised fit. They provide strong compression to reduce noise and enhance vibration isolation. Ideal for applications where environmental factors such as temperature fluctuations, or gasket wear, can impact sealing effectiveness. Includes quarter-turn cam operation models. Die-cast zinc alloy and stainless steel.
View our range of compression latches
Our experts explain more in our helpful Guide to compression latches & locks.
Fixed compression cam latches
Rated P65 for protection against dust and water ingress. The latch operates with a key turn: at 90 degrees, the cam moves into the locking position; at 180 degrees, it transitions to the fixing position. This dual-action mechanism ensures both reliable compression and effective noise isolation. Available in zinc alloy with black-powder coating and chrome plated. Also available in stainless steel.
Furniture locks – heavy-duty cabinet lock
Originally developed for fire hose cabinets, these locks are now widely used to secure metal drawers inside road-transport vehicles. Designed to sit flush with the application’s surface, they provide a smooth, seamless appearance that maintains aesthetic integrity.
Durable and secure, these flush-mount locks are ideal for protecting valuable items while preventing the lock from protruding or catching on surfaces. Easy to install and adaptable to existing drawers and cabinets.
Compression latches – wing knob
Designed for applications such as storage boxes for road transport where enhanced sealing is needed, particularly when exposed to vibration. This fixed-design latch range is rated IP65 and available in both locking and non-locking versions. Locking models come supplied with two keys. Each latch provides 6mm of pre-set compression to improve noise isolation and ensure a secure seal. Die cast zine alloy with rubber gasket.
Flush compression lever latches
Ideal for cabinet locks inside vans, these latches offer an offset trigger design. Provides good gasket compression, and is easy to use. Supplied with two keys per lock, and keyed to differ. Also available as keyed alike or with no lock.
Adjustable draw latch – with keeper
Versatile latch, also known as a toggle latch, is ideal for securing containers in specialist vehicles.Their design features a screwed catch, allowing for an adjustable grip range to accommodate varying application needs.
Available in a range of materials to suit different environments, these latches are offered in both padlockable and non-padlockable versions.
View our range of adjustable draw latches with keepers
Learn more from our experts in our Guide to toggle latches
Rotary latches
Reliable and effective, rotary latches combine security with convenience for opening compartments in specialist vehicles. Push to close keeps your valuables stored away. Zinc-plated steel, with or without cylinder.
Adjustable T Handle – flush mount
Excellent locking solution for securing items in road transport. Our T handles also offer easy operation, allowing for quick and simple locking and unlocking, even in challenging environments. This efficiency is crucial for road transport operations, where quick access to tools and equipment is often needed, but without sacrificing security. The design ensures that doors remain tightly sealed, protecting the contents from shifting or accidental opening during transit.
With an IP65 rating, these locks are specifically designed to withstand dust and water exposure, making them ideal for road transportation where weather conditions and environmental elements can pose a challenge. The rating ensures that the lock remains functional, even in wet or dirty conditions, preventing the intrusion of debris and moisture that could compromise security. Made of stainless steel.
Download free CADs
Free CADs are available for most solutions, which you can download. If you’re not quite sure which latch will work best for your application, our experts are always happy to advise you. Whatever your requirements, you can depend on fast dispatch.
You’ll also find it helpful to read our guide, How to choose and size cam locks and latches.
Questions?
Email us at sales@essentracomponents.co.uk or speak to one of our experts for further information on the ideal solution for your application 0345 528 0474.