Handling Your First Break Down as a Commercial Truck Driver
Posted on: 13 July 2021
For someone who is new to driving a large commercial truck, breakdowns and other problems are typically common issues that these individuals will need to be prepared to encounter. Unfortunately, there are many new drivers who may not be fully prepared to know how they should safely handle these situations when they arise while they are driving.
Deploy Road Flares And Other Warning Devices For Other Drivers
If your truck is unable to operate and you need to pull over on the side of the road, it is important to make sure that you are alerting other drivers that there is a problem with your truck. Other drivers may not notice that your truck is stationary, and this can increase the risk of an accident occurring. Deploying road flares and warning cones are one of the most effective ways to easily alert other drivers that your truck is experiencing problems. While this can be critical at night when it's dark outside, it can also be useful during the day to further improve the visibility of the broken-down truck.
Contact The Shipping Service To Advise Them Of The Situation
Unfortunately, these problems may prevent you from being able to make your delivery on time. In these situations, you should immediately notify your contractor or employer of the issue. This will give them a chance to come and retrieve the trailer quickly so that the delivery can be finished by another driver. Additionally, you will need to prepare to detach the trailer from the truck so that it can be towed. Otherwise, a tow truck will be unable to transport your truck until this has been done.
Use A Wrecker Service That Specializes In 18-Wheeler Towing
A commercial truck can be an extremely heavy vehicle, and this will require a specialized tow truck to be able to handle this immense weight. For this reason, you should always keep the contact information of local 18-wheeler wrecker services as they will have the equipment to handle this weight, as well as drivers who have the experience needed to safely transport these vehicles. If you travel around the country as part of your hauls, you may want to invest in a national roadside assistance service specifically made for commercial drivers because these services can help you to find a tow service, regardless of where you are unfortunate enough to experience a problem. These policies can be an extremely affordable option to help minimize the costs towing services will require you to pay, along with the difficulties of finding a tow service that can handle your vehicle.
For more information, contact a local 18-wheeler wrecker towing company near you to learn more.
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