Broke down in a semi? Start with the guide, not a guess.

What to do first · What it should cost · Exactly what to tell dispatch

36 driver guides · Every cost figure sourced on its face · Published October 2026

What TruckRescueNow is

TruckRescueNow is a truck roadside network being built corridor by corridor — and this guide bank is its first public layer.

Corridor service pages open only when that corridor's local operator bench is verified. No coverage is claimed before the coverage is real.

The guides are published now because they help tonight: the first ten minutes after a failure, the honest cost of the job, and the exact information a dispatcher needs — written for the driver on the shoulder, not the office.

Tires

What do you do, step by step, when a semi tire blows out?Step by step when a semi tire blows out A steer tire blew out — what is different from a drive or trailer tire?Why a steer blowout is different — and more dangerous A drive or trailer tire is flat — can you drive on it, or do you have to call?Flat drive or trailer tire: drive on it, or call? One tire of a dual pair is flat — how far can you run on the other one?One dual flat: how far on the surviving tire? The service truck offers a used tire — should you take it?Offered a used tire on the shoulder? Read this first

Electrical & starting

Your semi will not start — what do you check, in what order?Won't start? The check order: no crank, slow crank, cranks-no-fire Dead batteries in a semi — jump start or replace?Dead batteries: jump them, or replace the bank? Alternator or battery — how do you tell which one is failing?Alternator or battery? The two-minute test What are the signs your starter is going out?Signs the starter is about to strand you Your truck keeps killing batteries overnight — what is draining them?Why the truck kills its batteries overnight Your truck will not start in cold weather — is it the fuel, the batteries, or the air?Cold no-start: gelled fuel, batteries, or frozen air?

Brakes & air

What are the warning signs your air brakes are failing?Warning signs your air brakes are failing Your truck will not build air pressure — what do you check?Won't build air pressure? The check order Your trailer brakes are not working — what do you check?Trailer brakes won't apply, won't release, or pull one side What does "brakes out of adjustment" mean — and can it be fixed on the roadside?What 'brakes out of adjustment' actually means Your brakes are smoking on a long downhill grade — what do you do?Brakes smoking on a long descent: what to do now

Engine, cooling & aftertreatment

Your truck is overheating — what do you do before it costs you the engine?Overheating: stop before a hose becomes an engine What are the signs your water pump is failing?Signs the water pump is failing Your truck derated and will not go over 5 mph — what is happening?Derated to 5 mph: what is happening to your truck The check engine light is on in your semi — can you keep driving?Check engine light: keep driving, or stop? You ran a diesel out of fuel — why can't you just add fuel and go?Ran a diesel dry? Why fuel alone won't restart it

DOT & inspections

What happens during a DOT roadside inspection?What actually happens in a DOT roadside inspection What are your rights during a roadside inspection?Your rights during a roadside inspection You were placed out of service at an inspection — what happens now?Placed out of service: what happens now

Cargo & load

Your reefer unit died with a loaded trailer — what do you do first?Reefer died loaded: protect the load clock Your load shifted — what do you do, and how do you prevent it?Load shifted: what to do, and how it happens Your truck is dead but the load still has to move — what is a load rescue?Truck dead, load must move: what a load rescue is What causes semi truck rollovers — and what actually prevents them?What causes rollovers — and what prevents them

Cost, dispatch & playbooks

What does semi truck roadside service actually cost, by breakdown type?What roadside service costs, by event — every figure sourced How does roadside dispatch ETA actually work?How dispatch ETAs and the cascade actually work What exact information does dispatch need when you call for roadside help?The exact checklist to tell dispatch (photo-first) A fleet truck broke down — what is the playbook?The fleet breakdown playbook: dispatch-owned decisions You are an owner-operator and you broke down — what is your playbook?The owner-operator playbook: driver, dispatcher, and bank in one

Safety & seasons

You broke down at night — how do you stay safe on the shoulder?Night shoulder safety protocol What belongs in a semi truck's winter breakdown kit?The winter breakdown kit: survival, warmth, truck ¿Qué hacer cuando su camión se descompone en la carretera?Avería en la carretera: qué hacer, qué decir, cuánto cuesta (en español)