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{"text":"It’s just as important to properly handle a truck breakdown safely roadside, as it is to be behind the wheel on the road.\r\n\r\nAll professional drivers need to know what to do in the event of a big rig breakdown. If you’re a career truck driver, you’ll undoubtedly experience a mechanical failure or a breakdown, sooner or later.\r\n\r\nALWAYS BE PREPARED\r\n\r\nBreakdowns are usually unpredictable and always guaranteed to be annoying. However, they are a fact of life for a truck driver.\r\n\r\nThere are several things to keep in mind to handle an equipment failure ‘like a pro’.\r\n\r\nHave a resource to help you locate a repair facility.\r\nIf you are an owner operator and responsible for your truck, you’ll want to ensure you have a resource to help you find the locations of repair facilities and safe stopping spots on your route, in case of mechanical failure.\r\n\r\nDispatcher instruction.\r\nIf you are a company driver, your dispatcher/driver manager will most likely give you instructions as to how to handle the breakdown.\r\n\r\nREDUCING THE ODDS OF A BREAKDOWN\r\n\r\nAlthough this may sound simple enough, preventative maintenance is THE best way to reduce the odds of breaking down. I cannot stress enough the need for very through pre-checks, post-trip checks and on route checks of the vehicle.\r\n\r\nThis is where your efforts will most certainly pay off! It’s always preferable to do these checks in daylight whenever possible. Night time visuals with flashlights often miss indicators of potential trouble.\r\n\r\nIF BROKEN DOWN, KEEP CALM\r\n\r\nIf your truck does fail mechanically, there’s no need for panic. Breakdowns can happen in unsavory places, be it in bad weather or in bad neighborhoods. Making smart decisions can save your life. If you are calm, you can make better decisions as to what to do next. A panic-stricken individual can make bad decisions and can place themselves in danger as well as others.\r\n\r\nSTAYING SAFE WHEN BROKEN DOWN\r\nBeing broken down on the shoulder can be very dangerous. You are exposed to speeding traffic in very close proximity. It only takes one inattentive driver to plow into you on the shoulder. As we all know, these days there are lots of inattentive drivers using their cell phones, rather than paying attention to their driving. If you’re broken down on the shoulder, stay alert. Be aware of the danger of the traffic nearby and stay in your vehicle as much as possible.\r\n\r\nIf you are driving and feel the truck starting to fail, even though not an ideal place to get off the road, pulling over on an off-ramp is safer than the shoulder of the highway.\r\n\r\nYour safety is of paramount importance. Don’t make sudden moves when roadside or step near the moving traffic.\r\nEverything will work out best if you keep your head on straight.\r\nBreakdowns as with everything else in professional driving, require the driver to make good safety conscious decisions.\r\n\r\nAlways keep safety in mind, even during a big rig break down.\r\n","pics":"[{\"description\":\"\",\"height\":640.0,\"name\":\"980/android_1550670908224.jpg\",\"url\":\" \",\"width\":960.0}]","canComment":true} |
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