Truck Roadside Emergency Tips
Trucks are powerful vehicles capable of hauling large amounts of equipment and supplies from one place to another. However, there's always a chance that your truck might unexpectedly encounter an issue and break down on the way. With the right kind of maintenance, most surprise issues should be mostly avoidable, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be prepared for the worst.
Knowing how to deal with roadside emergencies is an important part of owning and using a commercial truck. Below, we cover the best ways to handle an unexpected issue while on the road. If you want more maintenance advice or you are interested in checking out our selection of trucks for sale, get in touch with the experts at DeBary Truck Sales in Sanford, Florida!
Inspect Your Truck Ahead of Time
As important as an emergency plan is, it’s always best to avoid roadside problems before they happen. Regular maintenance will keep your truck running smoothly and reduce the risk of problems cropping up. Consult your owner's manual for specific tasks to handle, such as oil and fuel filter changes, brake pad replacement, and more. You'll also want to do pre-trip inspections. Look over your vehicle for red flags, such as corrosion on your battery or improperly inflated tires. It's much better to catch issues in the safety of your garage rather than on the highway.
Roadside Assistance
You might have some knowledge about maintenance, but the odds of knowing how to fix a truck are pretty low. Unless it’s a small fix, you’ll probably have to call someone for help if your truck breaks down on the road. If you’re employed by a company, then you should talk to the concerned team about roadside assistance numbers, repair companies, and what they expect you to do in the event of a breakdown.
When you’re the one in charge of a fleet or you’re self-employed with your own truck, it’s a good idea to have the number of a reliable roadside assistance program. You’ll need to know the type of truck you have and the type of tow vehicle it may require so you can find a suitable program that can assist you. Also, consider whether you want your truck towed to the nearest shop, to a mechanic of your choice, or back to your garage for repairs.
Find a Safe Place to Pull Over
The moment you start to notice that something is wrong with your truck, you’ll want to come up with an exit strategy. If you can do so safely, wait until the next exit to pull off and perform your inspection, as this can be the safest option. If that’s not possible, immediately turn on your hazard lights to indicate to other commuters that you’re in distress so they can get out of your way.
Assess the Damage
If you’re safe to get out of your truck and look it over, then you can try to figure out what’s going wrong. Sometimes, the issue is straightforward, like a flat tire due to a puncture from a nail. Or it could be something more complicated related to engine performance. If you have the tools and know-how, and the space to address the problem, you can attend to it yourself. Otherwise, you can contact your chosen assistance program and wait for a mechanic to arrive.
If you ever had to wait for a tow vehicle for your car, you know it can take a long time for them to show up. This isn’t any different for commercial trucks and it can even be worse. In such emergency situations, it’s useful to have some supplies on hand, like food, extra water, and an overnight bag.
It’s good to have a plan of action in place to cover roadside emergencies for trucks, but as we mentioned earlier, prevention is the best way to avoid these problems. If your truck needs a maintenance check or repair before you hit the road, contact the experienced technicians at DeBary Truck Sales in Sanford, FL. Our friendly staff will be happy to help you! We proudly serve all our patrons visiting us from Atlanta, GA.