Do You Own A Fleet Of Dump Trucks? 3 Strategies Your Operators Need To Know For Handling A Breakdown

Owning a fleet of dump trucks is a serious responsibility. While you may love being involved in the construction business, you also know that a vehicle breakdown on the road is costly and potentially dangerous. While keeping your fleet maintained should always be your first line of defense against needing to call for heavy-duty towing, your crew should also know what to do during a roadside emergency. Be sure to cover these strategies in your training sessions so that you can quickly get any truck in your fleet back into service.

Make Sure to Follow Safety Protocols

As a heavy-equipment owner, you have a duty to keep people safe and avoid creating potentially hazardous situations, such as a blocked roadway. Make sure that each member of your crew knows how to increase the visibility of a broken-down dump truck on the side of the road. They should also be aware of any laws in your state that require them to report a breakdown to the local police or transportation authorities. This way, the appropriate procedures are followed should the breakdown require additional care to be taken, such as lane closures on a busy highway.

Try to Identify What Went Wrong

Your operators are the best people to provide clues as to what might have caused the breakdown. In some cases, the issue might be able to be fixed on the side of the road by professionals who are experienced with heavy-equipment handling. For instance, it may be a matter of refueling or switching out the battery. However, a major breakdown is typically caused by a more serious issue that will require your crew to call for towing. Being able to explain what happened can help you decide where to have the vehicle towed to.

Know How to Properly Call for a Tow

Since time is of the essence for clearing the roadway and getting the dump truck back in operation, your crew should already know exactly who to call for roadside assistance services. When they make the call, have them provide the exact location of the vehicle and request heavy-duty services. They should also know where to have the dump truck towed to, such as your company's maintenance lot or a certified truck repair shop.

Dealing with occasional breakdowns is part of owning and operating a dump truck fleet. By training your crew on how to handle potential issues that they encounter on the road, you can ensure that no time is wasted with arranging for towing and repairs.