You’re miles from the nearest town, and your rig just decided it was a fine time to sputter to a stop. This situation can be stressful for new truck drivers, and you must prepare for it so you never get caught off guard. Here’s how to handle your truck breaking down in remote country.
Pull Off and Assess First
Get the truck completely off the road if you can, or at least partially. Next, set your triangles or flares, which should be stocked in the cab. Rural highways, despite being rural, can still sustain a lot of traffic, and many drivers aren’t expecting a stopped rig. Triangles and flares give everyone a heads-up that you’re parked.
Check the Obvious Culprits
Once you’re safe, do a quick walk-around of your vehicle. Before you assume the worst, check your air pressure, fuel levels, and any warning lights you might’ve dismissed earlier. Then, scan under the truck for anything visibly wrong, such as leaks, hanging lines, or blown tires. You should even inspect your trailer’s roof and floor to cover all your bases. Many breakdowns have a straightforward cause that you can either address on your own with an in-cab repair kit or have your fleet’s mechanic walk you through.
Get Your Exact Location
When you call for help, you ideally want to provide your exact GPS coordinates. But if you’ve got no signal, look for highway markers, cross streets, and other landmarks you can point to. Dispatch and roadside services need specifics to find you, so provide as much detail as possible.
Know Who To Call and in What Order
Call your fleet manager or dispatcher first if you’re on company time. They may have preferred vendors or coverage that affects what you do next. If you’re owner-operator, call your roadside assistance provider directly. After that, call the appropriate highway patrol or DOT line for your location so they know there’s a disabled commercial vehicle on the road.
Don’t Abandon the Vehicle
Unless you’re in immediate danger, stay with your truck. Leaving it unattended on a remote road opens you up to liabilities like theft. If weather or another safety factor makes staying impossible, lock the cab, document everything you can with photos, and get to safety. But in most situations, you’re better off waiting it out.
Stay Stocked for Situations Like This
Water, food, extra fuses, basic tools, and a battery-powered phone charger all belong in your cab. It’s much easier to handle your truck breaking down in remote country if you’ve got the supplies to wait safely and troubleshoot on your own. And in the end, the drivers who handle these situations best are the ones who stay prepared.