According to AAA, vehicles that are 10 years and older are twice as likely to end up stranded on the side of the road. If you operate a semi or other large diesel vehicle, this can put you in a precarious situation and require roadside service. Here are a few tips to help you stay safe during a roadside emergency.

Move Off of the Road

The first one is the most obvious: get off the road. If there is a rest stop or emergency breakdown lane, aim to get your truck there. Oftentimes, though, a shoulder may be the only place you can get to safety. Pullover to get out of traffic and consider your next steps.

Make the Truck Visible

Use hazard lights, cones, warning triangles, flares, and anything else to safely warn other drivers of your truck on the side of the road. Opening your hood is an especially useful indicator to passing motorists. Getting out of the vehicle to lay down warning markers can be dangerous, so pay attention and keep your head up as much as possible.

Call a Roadside Service

Find a nearby roadside service to help you with parts and fuel if you know what the issue is. If you don't, the roadside technician will be more than capable of helping you sort it out. After you make the call, stay in your vehicle or on the opposite side of a barricade away from the road until the technician comes.

Call dispatch, too. You want to keep your employer informed so that they can plan for the delay that the breakdown will inevitably cause. They can also maintain communication with you to make sure you stay safe until the roadside tech comes. If you are in below-freezing temperatures, call 911, especially if you cannot turn on your vehicle, at all.

Roadside breakdowns can happen, but there are plenty of preventative measures you can take to ensure you stay humming right along. Get proper maintenance on your truck and drive responsibly to maintain the tires and engine.

If you get stranded near Montrose, CO, call the professionals at Double Bar LJ. We offer general repairs, light welding, fuel deliveries, parts delivery, and more. For roadside service and a reputable truck repair company, contact Double LJ, today.