What to Do When Your Truck Breaks Down

Modern trucks are designed to last for hundreds of thousands of kilometres. However, even the best-maintained trucks will occasionally run into an issue which leads them to break down. When a truck breaks down it can cause costly delays for businesses. If your truck runs into this issue, there are several things you can do to keep yourself and other drivers safe, and to get up and running again as soon as possible.  

But first, what are some common reasons for a truck to break down? 

Why do trucks break down? 

There are a number of truck issues that can lead to a break down. The following include some of the most common truck problems that often result in a vehicle breaking down:  

• Wheel and tyre issues, such as a blown tyre.  
• Overloading. 
• Poor maintenance. 
• Electrical, battery, or braking issues.
• Engine problems, such as overheating.
• Oil leaks.  
• Transmission problems and defects of the diesel fuel system. 
• Part failure. 
• Warning lights on dash.  

 What should you do when your truck breaks down? 

1. Safely pull over. You will usually receive some warning that your truck is breaking down. This might be in the form of hearing a tyre burst or noticing that your engine has started losing power. The first thing to do when this happens is to safely get your vehicle off the road, preferably pulling over at least 3 metres from passing traffic. Your main priority at this stage is to protect your safety, as well as the safety of other drivers. Moving away from heavy traffic will mitigate the risk of accidents and injuries. Find a suitable place to park, being cautious of soft verges which could potentially give way.
    
2. Put your hazard warning lights on. This will alert other drivers of your situation.
    
3. Report any hazards. If your truck is in a dangerous position, has a fallen load, is carrying hazardous materials, or has left fluid on the road, contact police for assistance.
    
4. Chock your wheels. If you have had to stop on a hill, chock your wheels. Exit the vehicle safely, wearing a hi-vis vest, and place wheel chocks to prevent any accidental movement.
    
5. Alert other vehicles. Visibility equipment like safety triangles, cones, as well your hazard lights all alert other drivers to the situation. Take your warning triangles and place them at suitable distances around the vehicle (typically 50-150m from the front, rear, and side if possible). 
    
6. Contact a heavy equipment specialist. At SuperService™ we understand that your truck can break down at any time, and anywhere. Our mobile technician will either fix the issue on site or, if required, we can arrange suitable tow vehicles. 

Are you in need of urgent truck repairs? 

Have you broken down in the Brisbane and Greater Brisbane regions, and need urgent truck repairs? Look no further than SuperService™, your heavy equipment service specialists. We can send out one of our mobile truck mechanics directly to you, wherever you may be, and get your truck repaired so you can get back to work quickly. 

At SuperService™, we specialise in providing top-quality truck repair and maintenance for all major truck brands, including Mack, Kenworth, Freightliner, Isuzu, Volvo, Hino, Scania, and more. Whether you need Isuzu truck service, Volvo truck repairs, Mack truck service, or OEM parts replacements, our expert mechanics ensure that your heavy-duty vehicles are road ready.

Not sure if you need truck body repair for your fleet? Check out The Importance of Truck Body Repair For Your Business