Who do you Call on for ROADSIDE/BREAKDOWN

SMOKENCHOKE · Sep 2, 2014

Hurst said: ↑

No,.. but I am limited to who ever is available in a certain area. What ever program or fleetcare they belong to, I dont know. But I'm not beyond calling as many places as I can to find who ever will come out for less.

Hurst
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I got you,so if its something out of your control to fix you shop around for the most dependable and affordable shop.

SMOKENCHOKE · Sep 2, 2014

VisionLogistics said: ↑

The first call is to my support team in my office. I pay my employees to not only be dispatching and load planning, but to expect those calls which are breakdowns, and teach them how to provide ground support to the unit. Naturally, no one wants to pay big bucks for a towing bill, especially if the trailer is involved since the price goes up generally. So you want to find local service, avoiding expensive mileage fees. My folks do two things: Call the nearest truckstop and ask them who the local heavy truck service place is that has a mobile truck, and / or can tow. This has proven to be almost 100% everytime. The truckstops know because, well, they're the nucleus for most things truck related, including having to help truckers who are broke down in their lot. The other option for my staff is to use the internet. I'm going to put a Rand McNally 720LM GPS in the dispatch office, which should help them tremendously because it has icons on the map indicating nearby repair / service shops.

We don't subscribe, or enroll with any of the roadside service plans. They are just brokers for the shops, and not asset based. Maybe it's convenient, but I'm not interested in paying annual fees for them to dial the phone and get a local tire shop to come help. I might be missing the point of those people, but I don't think so.

Reliable? Do great work? Nationwide?

The big shops are mostly predators in coveralls. They overwork the mechanics who abandon quality control in order to get all of the work orders done. Most of them are quite incompetent, and require a solution-tree and hotline to call the engine manufacturer. If you're lucky to not be sucked dry by the franchise shops, and eventually find a little independent guy that does decent work, hang on to him!! I tip my mechanics $10-$20 every single time I go in for work. They know it's because I want it done right, and not sloppy. The tip also seems to help them shorten their story a little bit when it comes time to formulate the invoice.

I'll probably get flamed for saying the franchise shops are predators, but it's true. Some of the stuff Cummins does these days should be considered crimina.
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Good interesting take on this subject this is turning into a nice thread I hope more people chime in and give their POV,so you are saying forget signing up for some premium plan to join a club paying extra,get the new GPS and use that as a tool to find the closest truck stop or repair shop in your area where u have the problem,and you let your staff do the research and report back to you their findings then you make a informed decision,sounds like a good move to me.

SMOKENCHOKE · Sep 2, 2014

RebelYeller5 said: ↑

Tip the Mechanic? Shorten their story? One hand washes the other? It's great that you have a good independent guy in your home city, but that's a different animal. On the side of the road, you shouldn't have to turn getting help into some kind of Jihad. That's where the brokers come in, they have a national footprint, the service providers are somewhat vetted and this isn't a leisurely purchase that you can "shop around". You need to get back on the road and its no time to trying to find a Groupon on the internet.
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Of course time is money,and your saying U GET YOU RIG BACK ROLLING ASAP NO MATTER WHAT ,that's why you have that MAINTENANCE ACCOUNT?

RebelYeller5 · Sep 2, 2014

I like the idea of shopping around, who doesn't like a bargain. But you're phoning someone you found on the Internet, even with a positive rating on Yelp or Angie's List, who knows what you're going to get. Join a program. Maybe I'm a fatalist, but you're screwed on the repair no matter what you do and it's about minimizing the potential damage. The program vendors are vetted, the program guarantees their money so they won't look at you skeptically....Can this Cowboy pay for the repairs? NATIONWIDE WARRANTY on that repair. You going to contact Klem's BigRig in Tulsa when you break down for the same thing in Providence?

Davidlee · Sep 2, 2014

Poor periodic maintenance is often the cause of roadside breakdowns. Contrary to what many believe, Parts just don't wear out and break off overnight. One can avoid breakdowns by initiating a strict maintenance practice.

SMOKENCHOKE · Sep 2, 2014

RebelYeller5 said: ↑

I like the idea of shopping around, who doesn't like a bargain. But you're phoning someone you found on the Internet, even with a positive rating on Yelp or Angie's List, who knows what you're going to get. Join a program. Maybe I'm a fatalist, but you're screwed on the repair no matter what you do and it's about minimizing the potential damage. The program vendors are vetted, the program guarantees their money so they won't look at you skeptically....Can this Cowboy pay for the repairs? NATIONWIDE WARRANTY on that repair. You going to contact Klem's BigRig in Tulsa when you break down for the same thing in Providence?
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I rather deal with a MAJOR OUTFIT,for 2 reasons 1 its their Parts,their Labor and they HAVE TO STAND BEHIND IT..2nd if I'm OTR the chances are they have many locations rather than that mom and pop, BUT AND THATS A BIG BUTT...IT ALSO DEPENDS ON THE WHAT THE PROBLEM IS THAT IM HAVING ALSO...

Like the OLD SAYING GO different strokes for DIFFERENT FOLKS,I keep a spare tire,spare parts I got a backup alternator,light bulbs,fuses,voltage meter,coolant,oil,belts tool box,duct tape,hoses clamps,wd 40,electrical, for the small things I can do on my own,BUT WHAT ABOUT TOWING IF A MAJOR BREAK DOWN

.how much would you pay for truck and trailer to get to shop $300?,$600,or more
and it depends on how far you are away from the shop you choose

If my mind serves me correctly some charge around $300-$500 just for them to come out and hook u up to their truck and additional bybmileage,but every company is different also

Give me some numbers on what you paid before to get your rig towed

I find this information very helpful to all those who are thinking about getting in this business
So they can add this in along with their Planning budget wise

Luckily I haven't had to pay for a tow,Thank god
One company I was thinking bout LEASING ON WITH you pay like 5 bucks extra or something like that and they cover the 1st 20 miles and you pay the rest,but then I talked to a insurance company that offers the same thing also.

comoes3 · Sep 4, 2014

I'm not affiliated in any way with this company but I have used them for 2 years now.

Roadside Masters. They charge $400/year. It shows 500 at their website but you call them and say you saw the ad for $399 and they will give it to you.
They tow both truck and trailer for free for up to 50 miles and also offer other services.
I have used them twice for the tractor only to get it towed and I didn't have to pay a penny.

ColoradoGreen · Sep 4, 2014

The company I pull for is who I would call. Benefits of running a lowboy locally. Get another lowboy out, load the busted rig up, and get it back to the yard.

SMOKENCHOKE · Sep 4, 2014

comoes3 said: ↑

I'm not affiliated in any way with this company but I have used them for 2 years now.

Roadside Masters. They charge $400/year. It shows 500 at their website but you call them and say you saw the ad for $399 and they will give it to you.
They tow both truck and trailer for free for up to 50 miles and also offer other services.
I have used them twice for the tractor only to get it towed and I didn't have to pay a penny.
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Ok thanks do they have reasonable rates for other things and how many times do they tow before charging, I mean u still paying for it, but thats the cheapest I heard

Cetane+ · Sep 4, 2014

comoes3 said: ↑

I'm not affiliated in any way with this company but I have used them for 2 years now.

Roadside Masters. They charge $400/year. It shows 500 at their website but you call them and say you saw the ad for $399 and they will give it to you.
They tow both truck and trailer for free for up to 50 miles and also offer other services.
I have used them twice for the tractor only to get it towed and I didn't have to pay a penny.
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SMOKENCHOKE said: ↑

Ok thanks do they have reasonable rates for other things and how many times do they tow before charging, I mean u still paying for it, but thats the cheapest I heard
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They told me that $400 is an annual fee that has unlimited tows. I questioned every part, and they dont have limits on the services they offer. I signed up, but have not had to use them. If you have a spare tire you will have a $0 bill to have a shop come out on a road call and swap your blown out tire.

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