What to Do if You Have an Extensive Issue While on the Road
If you are an owner operator of a transport then you know unless your truck is on the road and hauling a load you’re losing money. Trucks are a big investment and in order for that investment to pay off you need a working truck that is making you money. But do you know what to do if you have an extensive issue while on the road? Here are some tips to help you get through a breakdown while you are on the road.
Contact Dispatch
If you are driving a company truck then you need to let dispatch know that you are broken down and that you won’t arrive on time. Dispatch is usually who contacts a repair or roadside service while you are broken down while you drive a company truck. If you are an independant driver then the onus is on you to contact whomever you need to that you’re behind schedule and to arrange for your truck to be repaired.
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Does Your Warranty Cover the Repair?
The first thing you want to know when you breakdown is who is going to pay for the repair? If you have a fairly new truck then you might want to check with your warranty to see if the breakdown is covered and what kind of warranty coverage you have. Some warranties will cover roadside assistance while others will only cover the repair itself. Do you have to take your truck to an authorized dealer or can you take it anywhere. If you are broken down on the side of the road then this can make a huge difference, especially if the nearest authorized dealer is on the other side of the country.
Recurring Issues
There is nothing more frustrating than dealing with the same mechanical breakdown over and over again. Not only is it frustrating it can get expensive, both in delays and the cost of repairs. If you keep showing up late it can start costing you clients, they start to see your service as unreliable. If you have recurring issues then you might want to check out some forums and see if others have had the same problem and how it got solved.
If you are driving an older model of truck and breakdowns are happening more often, then it may be time to look at investing in a new truck. Yes, it is a big investment but your business depends on having a reliable truck that is always on the road.