Ways to help prevent common roadside emergencies

Ways to help prevent common roadside emergencies

No one likes being stuck on the side of the road. If you're a fleet driver with a tight schedule, waiting for roadside assistance is something you can't afford to do. For fleet owners and operators, a stranded driver can mean unexpected expenses, missed stops and frustrated customers.

Here are two common roadside emergencies fleets may encounter:

Common roadside emergency #1: Flat tires

Seemingly minor issues can lead to major problems on the road. In fact, 80% of all tire blowouts are caused by deterioration of the tread or casing, which can be due to the heat caused by the sidewall flexing of an underinflated tire.¹ To help extend the life of tires and prevent a dangerous roadside situation, it’s critical for fleets to make sure all vehicle tires are always properly inflated.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), properly inflated tires can extend the average life of a new tire by 4,700 miles. The standard recommendation from tire manufacturers is to check pressure on a weekly basis. Optimal tire inflation can vary between manufacturer, type and load weight of the vehicle, so be sure to consult published load and inflation tables. For example, for steel tires, a 12,000-pound steer axle load (6,000 pounds per tire) with a 22.5-inch low-profile load-range G tire should be inflated to at least 110 psi.²

Common roadside emergency #2: Mechanical failure

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, a heavy-duty vehicle can drive more than one million miles, and the average commercial truck is about 14 years old. Fleet managers and service supervisors walk a tightrope of thoroughly maintaining resources while maximizing utilization throughout a vehicle’s life. A recent study showed that the average fleet operated 34,629 miles between unscheduled roadside repairs between July and September 2020 — that’s a lot of potential repairs in a vehicle’s lifecycle.³

Fleet tracking software can help make managing maintenance a whole lot easier. The right solution can provide engine diagnostics and send alerts when there are mechanical issues with any of a fleet’s vehicles. This enables managers to stay proactive when it comes to maintenance and help prevent breakdowns before they happen, giving them more time back in their day and less stress keeping up with tire rotations and oil changes.

What to do in case of a roadside emergency

Make sure your drivers are prepared. In case of a roadside emergency, it is critical to always have the necessary tools in the vehicle. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) requires all commercial motor vehicles to have fire extinguishers, spare fuses and warning devices for a stopped vehicle on hand. Other vital tools for drivers include a first aid kit, cell phone and charger, and jumper cables.

Download the report to find out more about how organizations of all sizes in various industries are cutting costs, improving  productivity and getting a positive ROI with fleet management software.

Staying on top of maintenance to help reduce roadside breakdowns

Preventive fleet maintenance can help you reduce the risk of the most common roadside emergencies. The right solution can help streamline maintenance with:

• Proactive reminders for regular maintenance
• Instant access to the maintenance and repair history
• GPS tracking to give you data on speed, location and engine performance

Fleet management solutions help you keep maintenance schedules on track, better predict maintenance costs and make smart decisions about when to replace aging vehicles.

Emergency roadside assistance service from Verizon Connect

Even the best preventive maintenance program won't prevent every roadside breakdown. Roadside Assistance for Reveal provides services for many common roadside emergencies.

• Tow truck assistance: First 25 miles of towing included for free to the nearest service provider or driver-specific location
• Winching: Pull light-duty vehicles stuck in mud, snow or ice up to 30 feet off a public roadway during safe conditions
• Fuel delivery: Deliver up to three gallons of fuel to a vehicle that runs out of gas or diesel
• Tire service: Replace one flat or blown-out tire with the vehicle’s spare tire
• Battery service: Jump-start dead battery and/or make minor mechanical adjustments to get the vehicle going again
• Locksmith service: Help locked-out drivers gain access to vehicles

Find out more about how Verizon Connect Roadside Assistance for Reveal offers quick, cost-effective coverage to get disabled vehicles back on the road.

https://www.truckinginfo.com/312339/tire-blowouts-dont-have-to-be-deadly

²https://www.truckinginfo.com/153054/the-magic-number

³https://www.truckinginfo.com/10143404/4-ways-to-improve-fleet-uptime