Truck Topics

Big Road Breakdowns

Breakdowns.

They can be frustrating, costly and even dangerous.

Breakdowns seem to occur at the worst possible time in the worst possible location, leaving you helpless by the side of the road.

Whether it's a shattered windshield from a rock, a blown steer tire at speed, air pressure and brake loss, or a computer problem that shuts an engine down on a busy interstate, such equipment emergencies will test the nerves of anyone.

The driver who remains calm and composed during these  emergencies and who follows a short, simple procedure will minimize danger and likely walk away unhurt.

Of course, we have to consider the monetary cost of a breakdown for the customer.

Suppose a truck with a load of axles bound for a major automobile assembly plant breaks down and misses its delivery time. The cost of an unscheduled shutdown of the assembly line is (estimated) $400,000 an hour. If the plant was counting on that load to keep running, the breakdown reflects poorly on the driver and his carrier.
 
At the moment of the breakdown, it's essential to have plan.

First on the list
From the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations:
Whenever a commercial motor vehicle is stopped upon the highway or the shoulder for any cause other than necessary traffic stops, the driver has 10 minutes to put out warning devices such as reflective triangles.

This law is rooted in common sense.  Anything you can do to increase your visibility is well worth your effort, considering that the four-wheelers rolling along are changing CD's, talking on their cell phones and eating Big Macs.  You need to get their attention.

If you were unable to pull the truck onto the shoulder and it's sitting in a highway lane, deploy the warning triangles and then call law enforcement to take care of traffic control. 

If your truck is broken-down on the side of the road and it looks like help might be some time in arriving, don’t hesitate to call for a tow truck to come get you.  In some states you can be held liable if another vehicle strikes your truck while parked on the side of the road.
 
Safety should be your prime concern and it's more important than the cost of a tow. 

Or, you can call a breakdown service.

You can find them in directories or online. Sources include the truck manufacturers, engine makers, independent breakdown services and others.

To utilize a breakdown service is simplicity itself. You call the number or contact them online.  And, when you contact a representative, you will provide them with pertinent information including your location, the nature of the trouble and other details.

They will then contact the nearest breakdown service provider and get them on the way.

If the service can't fix the problem where you've broken down, they arrange for a tow to a qualified repair facility.  They will likely follow up on the service you receive.

Do you have a plan of action for the most common breakdowns?  A little forethought can save your life and the lives of other motorists. 

Typical reasons for breakdowns:

Tire failure (Steer tire)
-Stay off the brakes. 
-Instead, hit the throttle to take the weight off the front of the truck.
-Get the truck to the breakdown lane.

Tire failure (Drive tire/trailer tire)
-Get the truck off the road into a parking area.
-Check for rim damage.
Have the tire size and other info available when you talk to a tire technician.

Most tire manufacturers have a toll-free number to call so you can access their dealer network. Otherwise, you may need to locate another road service company to repair or replace the tire for you.

Coolant loss
-If a coolant hose fails, road service may be able to replace the hose and refill the coolant system at the breakdown site.

-If you discover a low coolant level but find no apparent leaks, it may be possible to just top off the coolant recovery tank and make it to a repair facility.

-If the radiator has failed,it may not hold coolant long enough to get you to a repair facility, so it probably means a tow truck is in your immediate future. 

Sudden loss of oil pressure
If your engine suddenly loses oil pressure, immediately push in the clutch, shut the engine off and get the truck on to the shoulder.

-Do not try to restart the engine. The idea here is to not inflict any more  damage to your truck’s engine than what may have already occurred.

- Check the engine oil level
- If oil level is down, check to see if the oil filters or drain plug may have worked loose.
- If the filter(s) just worked loose, road service can replace your oil filters or drain plug and top off your oil.
- If that isn’t the problem, then you will need a tow truck to get you to the engine dealer for repair.

Driveline failure
In the event of a universal joint failure, road service may be able to repair it at the scene.  When calling the technician, be prepared to provide info such as the location of the failure, the truck's VIN and other details.  Unfortunately, most driveline repairs cannot be done at the scene, so a tow will probably be necessary.

Engine problems: It’s advisable to have engine work done only at an engine dealer when possible. If you run OTR, this will make it easier to get warranty coverage on the repairs. That way, you can call another engine dealer in the network for warranty repairs instead of being stuck nowhere near the independent shop that did the initial repairs.

Non-engine-related problems: These can be repaired at a truck dealer or a reputable independent shop.