Roadside Incident Checklist

Key Takeaways

• A breakdown, tire failure, cargo issue, or weather stop requires the same basic scene safety steps as a crash — even when no other vehicle is involved.
• Emergency warning device placement matters. Distance and position both affect whether approaching drivers have adequate time to react.
• Document the situation before calling for help if it is safe to do so. Once a tow truck arrives and work begins, the scene changes.

Immediate scene safety

Turn on hazard lights, assess whether the truck's position creates a hazard for other traffic, and determine whether you can safely exit the vehicle. If you can exit, deploy warning devices — triangles, flares, or electronic devices depending on what you carry and what applies to your situation.

Place devices far enough back to give approaching drivers time to react at road speed. On a high-speed highway, the required distance is substantially greater than on a lower-speed road. The device that matters most is the one farthest behind the truck — it's the first thing an approaching driver sees.

Documenting the situation

Once the scene is secured, document the truck's position and condition before calling for assistance. Photograph the truck from behind — showing warning devices and the approach view — from both sides, and from the front. Note the exact location: mile marker, nearest exit, direction of travel.

Note the time of the stop, the reason for the stop as you understand it, and weather and road conditions. If a mechanical failure is the cause, photograph visible evidence: a blown tire, a broken air line, fluid on the ground. This documentation supports both the maintenance record and any subsequent claim.

Contacting dispatch and getting assistance

Call dispatch with your exact location, reason for the stop, whether you or cargo are in immediate danger, and whether emergency services are needed. A clear location description — GPS coordinates if your phone shows them, or mile marker and nearest landmark — speeds response.

If the stop involves a cargo issue — shifted load, temperature deviation, spilled freight — notify the appropriate freight contact according to your company's procedure. The carrier and broker should know about cargo status separately from the maintenance situation.

After the incident is resolved

Complete an incident report for the roadside event, even if it didn't involve another vehicle. A breakdown that required a tow, resulted in an out-of-service condition, or involved a cargo issue should have a written record.

If mechanical failure was the cause, the maintenance record for the unit should reflect what was found and what was repaired. A breakdown fixed without documentation creates a gap if the same component fails again later.