Semi Truck Breakdowns
What’s the point of truck road service? Anything and everything happens on the road, and you need to know who to call when things go wrong. The number one cause of accidents are tires. The Technology and Maintenance Council says that 53.5% of roadside breakdowns are caused by tires. Problems with the breaks, electrical systems, and refrigeration units are also frequent. It’s important to know the ways every part can cause a breakdown, and who to call for fast, professional, and reliable truck road service.
Four Reasons for Truck Road Service
While roadside failures aren’t predictable, you can be aware of the big four. In this article, we’ll go over what the big four are and how they can cause problems. While this info can help, it is always a good idea to have a plan for truck road service.
Tires
Tires are the point of contact between the road and the rig. As such, they are a super important part of the semi truck. Because they are so important, they are also the number one cause of problems. As previously mentioned, tires are responsible for more than 50% of truck road service calls. The biggest causes are:
Under inflation
Low tread depth
Misaligned axles
Brakes
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) says brake-related issues cause up to 29% of truck accidents and truck road service calls. Semi-truck’s drum and disc brakes are exposed to constant pressure, friction, and heat. Due to this, they can wear down quickly without proper maintenance. Brake issues are caused by:
Air leaks
External corrosion and wear
Internal water contamination
Electrical System
The electrical system is another huge factor in truck breakdowns. This system is comprised of a starter motor, alternator, and a battery. All of these pieces are vital, and if one fails your truck can’t function. Indicators of an electric malfunction are: corroded battery connections; dead batteries; dim or flickering lights; strong, unusual odors; and clicking sounds when starting the engines. These issues can be risky or even dangerous to fix if you aren’t a professional, so it’s always better to call a truck road service.
Refrigerated trailers
Refrigerated trailers are critical when transporting temperature-controlled freight. When a trailer malfunctions it needs to be fixed as soon as possible to prevent freight from being damaged. Because of this, it is vital to watch the trailer during transport, paying attention to any in-cab signals that might let you know something is going wrong.
Preventative Measures
Set up a regular preventive maintenance program
Inspect your vehicle pre-trip, en-route, and post-trip
Have a plan for truck road service
Analyze maintenance data to guide future fleet maintenance decisions
Need an emergency road service in Sacramento? Call Capital Diesel.
Need truck road service? Capital Diesel handles countless breakdowns yearly in the Sacramento area. When your vehicle experiences roadside failure or needs mobile truck repair, trust our emergency truck road service to get you running as fast as possible. We treat every customer as our top priority by:
Ensuring the driver is safe from harm before anything else
Taking care of each breakdown with the urgency and efficiency it deserves
Getting the appropriate vendor to your location
Keeping in contact with the truck driver until the road service is complete
For more information on how Capital Diesel can help, contact us at 916-912-7912.