Truck breakdown on the road: what the driver should do

Trips on Brazilian highways are full of risks: traffic can be heavy, roads dangerous, and even weather conditions can harm freight transport. That is why a truck breakdown is a problem that can happen to anyone at any time.

Indeed, no vehicle is immune, since problems may originate at the factory or result from incidents beyond the driver's control on the highways. But one thing you do not need is to fall short on maintenance — a basic and essential task in the fleet routine.

This shortcoming is one cause of mechanical failures and freight transport problems in your operation. If a breakdown happens, you need to know:

What should you do when a truck breaks down during a trip?

Before thinking about repairs, the priority is to reduce risk at the scene. If the vehicle can still be driven safely, instruct the driver to leave the traffic lane, stop in a safe place and switch off the vehicle.

Some drivers may try to identify the problem themselves, and unless we are talking about a specialist or someone with extensive truck maintenance experience, it is best not to risk working on the vehicle during a failure.

Remember to warn the driver that, with a truck broken down on the road, there are two safe options for resuming the trip:

1. find a reliable repair shop or

2. request help through a vehicle maintenance system.

In the first option, the mechanic must be a trusted specialist. Ideally, the driver should have some emergency contacts with the route plan, carrying a list of good repair shops near the planned route.

The second option uses logistics technology.

If the operation uses an organized process for maintenance requests on the road, the driver can notify the manager or person responsible for the fleet, record what happened and receive guidance on next steps without improvising alone on the road.

The checklist is another technological alternative that identifies vehicle problems, checking what does and does not work during inspections performed by a person. Although its main role is to anticipate and prevent a diagnosis, a platform such as Prolog's also offers the “roadside assistance” feature.

What is roadside assistance?

This is a feature through which the driver requests assistance on the road from the operations manager.

Assistance requests can range from a flat tire to bigger problems. The most interesting (and very advantageous) aspect of using the electronic checklist is that the manager can consult that vehicle's inspection history and investigate possible causes of the problem using records made by the team.

This entire process is supported by a mobile app that works even without internet, where the driver can send photos of the problem — in this case, a visible failure.

In general, the chances of a truck developing problems decrease when the fleet adopts appropriate measures and care. That is why the fleet inspection schedule must always be carried out to avoid a truck breakdown on the road.

What are the most common truck problems?

1. Loss of engine power

It happens naturally as the vehicle is used over time. You can notice this problem when the truck starts having difficulty climbing steep hills, whether heavily or lightly loaded.

Fuel consumption can be another indicator, since the engine is the component responsible for burning it. So when consumption increases for no apparent reason, it is worth examining the engine more closely.

2. Lack of vehicle stability

When the truck's suspension has a problem, a loss of stability can occur. You notice the vehicle “pulling” more to one side, especially on curves, increasing accident risks.

3. Stiff and imprecise gear shifting

Imprecise shifting is identified when the driver tries to change gears and finds them stiff.

This problem normally arises when the clutch is worn or the synchronizer is faulty.

4. “Colored” smoke

In general, truck smoke is colorless or slightly whitish. So when it shows any color, you need to take care.

Smoke color should not be treated as a definitive diagnosis. It is a warning sign to record the symptom, assess whether other signs accompany the failure and refer the vehicle for maintenance. To guide initial triage:

• Dark smoke in diesel engines is usually associated with particulate matter containing components derived from fuel and lubricating oil;
• Light gray also needs attention and comparison with other symptoms noticed by the driver or during inspection;
• A bluish color is another warning for maintenance assessment, especially if it appears repeatedly.

5. Metal shavings in the oil

“Metal shavings” refers to metallic residue found in the oil. This happens when there is excessive friction between engine components, causing small pieces to end up in the oil storage compartment.

In fact, metal shavings can only be noticed during an engine oil change, when draining the used fluid. If found, you can start investigating, because there is certainly something wrong with the truck.

6. Uneven tire wear

Tire wear can be checked through tread depth control and is quite common in Brazilian fleets, largely because of highway conditions in Brazil. But what does this have to do with a truck breakdown?

Good question.

Uneven wear can be caused by a lack of vehicle care, such as failing to balance and align the wheels. When left unaddressed, these issues harm vehicle operation and can lead to unpleasant situations during a trip.

7. Noisy brakes

Brakes should not make sounds when used. Any noise means there are problems in the braking system.

Here, there is an urgent need to consult a mechanic for maintenance. There may be pad wear, cracks or breaks in the drum, or even play in the brake arms.

How can you identify problems early and be prepared?

The best solution is to keep truck servicing up to date. In the fleet routine, it is essential for every vehicle to undergo preventive maintenance whenever it departs on and returns from a trip, leaving it ready for new deliveries safely.

And how does preventive maintenance work?

This is an indispensable process involving daily vehicle inspection following a basic list, or a schedule for more thorough checks — normally before long-distance trips.

Both departure and arrival inspections check the same items, those most likely to break or fail. The full checklist, meanwhile, is exactly that: complete. The inspector analyzes every vehicle component, looking for broken, worn or missing parts that may harm truck operation during a trip.

You can create your own checklist or use ready-made checklist templates if you prefer. In general, the difference is that creating your own lets you customize inspection items further. On the other hand, printing ready-made lists saves a lot of time.

However, the volume of paper and information is enormous, and you still need to file those papers for quite a while. Imagine maintaining this kind of control in a large logistics company. This means the best solution for these cases today is fleet management apps.

More specifically, the electronic checklist, which provides customized checks of all truck components on screen.

And there are many types of checklist: safety, driver, cargo control and, of course, truck maintenance. The best part? You can create them separately according to fleet needs.

The app also automates the generation of reports that help with future planning. This way, management sees the main problems recorded by drivers and inspections and can anticipate more efficient and faster solutions.

Imagine the time (and money) you can save by acquiring technology like this!

Talk to one of our specialists and discover Prolog's checklist solution firsthand.