How To Decide Between Towing Your Semi Truck Or Having It Repaired On The Roadside

Few things in life are worse than the feeling of your semi truck breaking down when you're almost to your destination and under a strict deadline. When faced with a breakdown, you can either call for towing to a nearby big truck mechanic or hire a repair technician to drop by and try to fix the problem on the side of the road. Choose carefully between towing and on-site repairs by considering your deadlines and how long the repair will take.

Quick and Easy

First, stick with on-site repairs for any easily identifiable issues like low fuel and fluid levels, broken safety devices like dirt shields, and other simple fixes. Repairs that definitely qualify for a quick fix on the side of the road include

  • Replacing burned out headlights
  • Blown tires and damaged rims
  • Sealing and reconnecting air lines that were damaged or disconnected
  • Snapped or squealing belts
  • Brake issues like locked air chambers.

Time Consuming

Keep in mind that the majority of issues big enough to force you to stop on route will require more than an hour or two to repair. For example, a badly blown turbo could take days or even weeks to repair, and most engine and transmission issues are just as complicated. Calling for a roadside repair could leave you also paying for a tow on top of the first fee if you're dealing with a serious fluid loss, a smoking engine, or shifting troubles that have left you stranded. Stick with a tow for the truck and use the time you save to find an alternative method for getting the trailer to your destination.

Rare Parts

Consider the age and manufacturer of your semi truck when deciding between repairs and towing as well. Even the most experienced and well-equipped roadside repair technicians can only bring along so much, thus limiting their abilities to make repairs with unusual parts or on models that are not widely seen in the United States. If you invested in a European manufacturer for the reliability, you'll need a tow to a specialty repair shop instead of being able to rely on a fast repair on the road.

Employer Decision

Finally, the decision between towing or repairing is likely in the hands of your driver manager instead of you, unless you're an independent owner-operator. Call your direct manager before calling for any other help, even if your employment contract names you as the one who is fully responsible for all repairs. Discussing your options with your manager can help you avoid bigger penalties due to the delay as you wait for either towing or roadside repairs.

To learn more, contact a towing service like Glen's Towing & Road Service

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