How long does it take for an OTR driver to get service?

I looked at the tires when I left the yard and all looked good. I got to my delivery plant roughly 65-70 miles from the farm and noticed I had a very soft tire. I called the shop, he said unload and bring it back to the yard for a tire.... well I still had 3 more farms to get on the way back, so I called my boss and he had the service truck sent out with a tire. We probably have 25 tractors and have some decent resources. 2 full time mechanics with a service truck and service van. The service truck as an F350 with utility box, liftgate, and gasoline powered air compressor. I left the plant and the mechanic left the shop. He changed my tire shortly after he got off the expressway on the roadside. I was on my way in 10 minutes. It was a closed call with the DOT too, lol. The truckerpath app said monitoring, I get up there and lights are flashing. There was only 1 DOT van present and he was already doing and inspection, so I just followed the other trucks around the back. At this time I was unaware of the tire, I believe I picked up a nail between the yard and the plant. The weight station was only a mile or two from my exit. I reported the tire to my boss and mechanic, and it was quickly addressed before reloading. The DOT probably would have made my life a pain in the rump putting me out of service with a load to deliver.

It is nice working for a local company that is big enough to have proper resources for the driver. I've had a few issues on the road over my 4+ years and the shop with service truck is only a phone call away, so is my boss (who is also a driver). I cant complain.

How long does it take a driver who doesn't have these resources within the relatively short distance?

 

Since the service truck has a compressor they can use air tools on the side of the road

 

Luckily ive only had a few occasions one was like 2am on a Friday night. The guy was on it about a hour after calling dispatch i was rolling. He came from about 20 miles away too. Then ive also had 2 occasions sitting on the side of the road for 3+ hours. Some centers have bought repair trucks to do close by repairs. So hopefully it'll cut out some of the long waits.

 

I consider myself pretty lucky and well supported, on an issue on sunday because the mechanics are on call but not at the shop..... so service is available 24x7x356 but just takes them longer

 

Well I needed an alternator and batteries yesterday, took them about 5.5 hours to show up 25 miles from the Loves shop. I don't imagine tires get a much quicker reaction time.

 

Every time I have been on the side of the road needing a tire it's always the same thing. 30 minutes to get thru the finer points with tire services, then a call back from them in another 30 minutes to say so and so will be out to replace tire, eta 90 minutes. 2-3 hours later they show up.

I just plan on 5 hours for a flat and if it's sooner I'm ahead of the game.

 

I've had 30 minutes for OTR and 5 hours for a 1,000 truck local company. It really just depends on when it happens.

 

I'd say my employer is pretty well organized then

 

For a random flat tire found anywhere except at the company yard with a company shop,, I calculated an immediate 3 hour delay anytime I had a tire fail or noticed a flat. ALWAYS do a post-trip inspection so the repair can be started before you go to bed and not discovered just before you start driving in the moring.

 

Carry an air hose!