Breakdown survival

Broken Big rig industrial professional white semi truck with open hood and long haul semi trailer standing on the road shoulder trying to fix breakdown in place and waiting for road repair assistant
Broken Big rig industrial professional white semi truck with open hood and long haul semi trailer standing on the road shoulder trying to fix breakdown in place and waiting for road repair assistant

Breakdowns happen, and when they do, especially during the winter, your survival can depend on your being prepared, and doing the right things. First, get off the travel portion of the road if possible, activate your hazard flashers and place your triangles out.  Contact your company via the satellite to have the shop arrange a service call. Do not rely solely on your cell phone. Some areas have limited or no service at all, whereas the satellite can be tracked giving your position to your company, so they can direct the service personnel. Be sure to give them your exact location, and as much detail as possible regarding the breakdown.  If your truck is equipped with an APU, start it at once. If you don’t have an APU, and the engine is still running, leave it run, and bring the idle up to between 1,000 and 1,200 RPMs. If the issue is with the engine, and it won’t run, you will need to pack on some heavy winter clothing, so make certain you pack a few pairs of thermal underwear, tops and bottoms, wool socks, insulated boots, mittens (they work better than gloves to keep your hands warm) a wool hat (one with face coverings are best) and winter boots, because depending on where you broke down, it could be a long wait for help to arrive, possibly 24 hours or more.  Always carry a few days worth of food and water, and any medications you might be taking.

Above all, be patient and stay with the truck. Do NOT go walking to find help. Every year the news reports on people who got into trouble and went looking for help, only to succumb to the elements when they got lost in a snow storm, or just got themselves lost in an unfamiliar area. If visibility is 100 feet, you can be 110 feet from your truck, and not see it at all, so stay with the truck. That’s where the service personnel are coming to.

Be safe, and take every precaution to keep yourself safe and alive.