What to Do When Your Big Rig Breaks Down

There are few things more frustrating or frightening for semi truck drivers than experiencing a breakdown while out on the open road. After all, most truckers have a tight schedule to keep to, and breakdowns could be costing valuable time and money. Additionally, because many truckers drive through vast, isolated areas, it may be quite a while before help is able to arrive.

The best way to handle a big rig breakdown is to try your best to avoid one in the first place. Meeting all of your recommended maintenance deadlines, and working with a trusted truck service in Wytheville, VA, can drastically reduce the likelihood that you’ll find yourself stranded on the road.

The reality, however, is that even the most well-maintained machines are still susceptible to failure. Regardless of the amount of care that you’ve shown your truck, there’s still a chance that it could leave you high and dry when you need it the most. It’s important that you know exactly what to do in the event of a big rig breakdown, because there’s a high likelihood that you’ll experience one at some point if you’re a long-haul trucker.

Here are a few rules of thumb to keep in mind if you start experiencing mechanical problems out on the open road:

• Keep calm: If your truck is starting to break down, do your best to keep calm. While this sounds like a no-brainer, many truckers become frustrated and agitated while experiencing a breakdown, which can lead to carelessness.
• Try to get to safety: If your truck is still in motion, do your best to pull to safety. Parking on the shoulder of the road is unadvisable, unless absolutely necessary. If you can maneuver your truck, try to get to the nearest exit and stop there.
• Call for help: You should have an idea of a truck service in Wytheville, VA that you can count on—this will save you the time needed to find and identify a trusted repair service provider. Explain your emergency to the roadside assistance dispatcher, and they’ll send someone out to assist you right away.
• Set up flares and triangles: Turn on your truck’s flashers and set up triangles or flares all around your big rig while you wait for help. This will help other vehicles see that you’re stranded, and may alert any law enforcement officers who are passing by to your predicament.
• Tilt open the hood: While you’re waiting for help, tilt open the hood of your truck. This will provide the service professional with easier access to your truck’s interior, and signal that you’re experiencing a mechanical breakdown to other drivers.

Since 1983, Complete Truck Service Inc. has been a trusted provider of truck service in Wytheville, VA. We’re proud to provide quality emergency services and roadside assistance to big rig truckers throughout the region. If you find yourself in need of emergency assistance, don’t hesitate to reach out to one of our friendly, knowledgeable dispatch professionals. We’ll send a qualified repair expert as soon as possible, and help provide you with valuable real-time advice as you wait.

Categorised in: Truck Service

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