Blue Collar Empire

Truck Drivers Center

Emergency Guides

Read these before you need them. When a warning light comes on or a tire lets go, the first thirty seconds decide how the day ends.

Read first

Safety

Call 911 for any injury, fire, or blocked roadway. Follow all safety requirements. Do not perform repairs beyond your training, tools, or ability. Safety-critical repairs should be completed or inspected by a qualified technician.

Emergency tech support hotline

Broke down, got a code on the dash, or need a second opinion on a shop quote? Text the shop directly and get a straight answer from a real technician.

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Hours: 5:00 PM – 5:00 AM MT, 7 days a week
Coming soon: 24-hour coverage

Call 911 first for any injury, fire, or blocked roadway. Texts outside hours are answered as soon as the hotline opens.

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All procedures

Breakdown safety

  1. 01Signal early and move fully off the roadway if the truck is still controllable.
  2. 02Set the parking brakes and turn on four-way hazard flashers.
  3. 03Place warning triangles or reflective devices as required by your situation.
  4. 04Wear a high-visibility vest before leaving the cab, and stay off the traffic side.
  5. 05Call dispatch or roadside assistance. Do not attempt roadside repairs in a traffic lane.

Accident response

  1. 01Stop, protect the scene, and turn on hazard flashers.
  2. 02Call emergency services if anyone may be injured or the roadway is blocked.
  3. 03Do not move injured people unless there is immediate danger.
  4. 04Notify your carrier and follow their reporting procedure.
  5. 05Document conditions, damage, and other units with photographs when it is safe.

Fire response

  1. 01Pull off the road away from buildings, other vehicles, and fuel sources.
  2. 02Shut the engine down and call emergency services immediately.
  3. 03Only use an extinguisher on a small, contained fire and only from a safe distance.
  4. 04Never open a hood or trailer door on a large or growing fire.
  5. 05Move upwind and keep bystanders far back.

Tire failure

  1. 01Hold the steering wheel firmly and stay off the brake pedal initially.
  2. 02Ease off the throttle and let the truck slow before braking gently.
  3. 03Signal and move to a safe, level shoulder well away from traffic.
  4. 04Inspect for damage to air lines, wiring, mud flaps, and adjacent tires.
  5. 05Call for tire service rather than changing a drive or steer tire roadside.

Overheating

  1. 01Reduce load on the engine and shut off the engine brake and cruise.
  2. 02Turn the heater to full hot and high fan to shed heat.
  3. 03Find a safe place to stop and idle down before shutting off.
  4. 04Never open a hot pressurized cooling system.
  5. 05Check for coolant leaks, belt condition, fan operation, and debris on the radiator.

Low oil pressure warning

  1. 01Treat this as an immediate stop condition.
  2. 02Signal, move safely off the roadway, and shut the engine down.
  3. 03Do not continue driving to the next exit or truck stop.
  4. 04Check oil level once the engine is safely shut down.
  5. 05Call for a qualified technician before restarting the engine.

Low air pressure warning

  1. 01Slow down immediately and plan a stop before the warning turns into a spring-brake application.
  2. 02Get fully off the roadway while you still have service brakes.
  3. 03Set the parking brakes and listen for audible air leaks.
  4. 04Inspect glad hands, air lines, and the air dryer for obvious failures.
  5. 05Do not move the truck with a known air-system defect.

Brake problem

  1. 01Reduce speed using engine braking and downshifting where safe.
  2. 02Look for an escape ramp or runaway lane on a grade.
  3. 03Stop as soon as you have a safe, level location off the roadway.
  4. 04Do not adjust, disable, or bypass any brake component.
  5. 05Brakes are safety-critical. Call a qualified technician.

Electrical fire or burning smell

  1. 01Stop safely and shut the engine down.
  2. 02Turn off the battery disconnect if it is safely reachable.
  3. 03Call emergency services for any visible flame or heavy smoke.
  4. 04Do not reset breakers or reconnect a circuit that failed.
  5. 05Have the circuit diagnosed before returning the truck to service.

Fuel leak

  1. 01Shut the engine down and eliminate all ignition sources.
  2. 02Do not smoke, use a phone flashlight near vapors, or operate switches near the leak.
  3. 03Contain the spill if you can do so safely and report it as required.
  4. 04High-pressure fuel systems are a serious hazard. Do not attempt repairs.
  5. 05Call a qualified technician and, if required, emergency services.

Coolant leak

  1. 01Watch the temperature gauge and shut down before overheating damage occurs.
  2. 02Stop in a safe location and let the system cool completely.
  3. 03Never remove a cap from a hot pressurized system.
  4. 04Locate the leak source: hoses, clamps, water pump, radiator, EGR cooler.
  5. 05Do not run the engine low on coolant to reach the next stop.

Roadside assistance checklist

  1. 01Know your exact location: highway, direction, mile marker, nearest exit.
  2. 02Have unit number, VIN, engine make, and mileage ready.
  3. 03Describe the symptom, warning lights, and any fault codes.
  4. 04Confirm your carrier's approved vendor and authorization process.
  5. 05Log time called, vendor name, and estimated arrival for your records.