Or neither cause you gotta stay moving. Buuuut, how would you play this. On side of. The highway waiting on a mechanic and belt to show up. To me. I should be trusted enough to have tools and spare belts. But to each their own. 2 hours into a 8 hour drive. Been down 2.5 hours so far. What would you do?
I think he is asking if he should replAce the belt himself or pay road service mechanic to replace it. I would have done it at home before going on a trip. Thorough (weekly) PTI would’ve revealed a worn belt or tensioner. They don’t detiorate suddenly. Now you might need a new tensioner (another trip for a mechanic) as well. And if you’re owner we still don’t know your books.
Sorry. I get like that sometimes. What I was trying to say. As a o/o, do you carry belts and tools previously purchased. Or wait on the highway and right it all off?( I know, no one does it on purpose) sorry drivers. My wife gets mad as he'll. When I try to say one thing and end up saying something else. I dont mean to do it.
To answer your question, as for myself, I carry as many tools & spare parts as I can. Over the years, I've fixed a lot myself out here on the boulevard, with enough road stories to catch up to @x1Heavy and then some, but I digress... I was taught at a young age to be prepared and to shoot for self-reliance as much as possible. Pop always said if you don't rely on someone else for something, you'll only be disappointed in yourself. Besides, with cheap freight rates, who can afford a service call....
Then you have a bad tensioner. Have the mechanic bring you a new tensioner (hopefully before Monday). Otherwise your belt might not last you till you get home. PS. Next time you replace a belt replace a tensioner as well or watch (listen) it closely during your PTIs after you replace a belt. Tensioners made to last you the lifetime of the belts these days.
Sounds like a great opportunity to crack open a favorite book your reading and a great opportunity to let someone else have some work and make some $$$ ... I don’t like taking people’s jobs away from them so let the OnRoad department handle it. Company driver = not a care in the world Owner operator = more opportunity Translation = good or bad is only in HOW YOU THINK about it.