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issue. So, how do fleets ensure that their drivers
can get off the road and hasten repairs by reaching
service centers when they run into problems?
And how can they stay as safe and comfortable as
possible when they cannot?
The Department of Transportation regulates
this to an extent, but " beyond that, there's a lot of
things that drivers should carry, " Bray advised.
And while an extended breakdown affects the
driver the most, the whole operation is impacted,
so the entire team should take some accountability
in ensuring cabs are equipped with the right
tools to handle potential hazards.
To discern what those right tools are, we reached
out to several sources to find what an emergency
tool kit should have and why it can really be a
lifesaver, or at the very least, an uptime saver.
Tools required by law
" The most important thing drivers
should have on hand is proper safety
equipment, " said Eric Daniels,
VP of truck care, Love's Travel Stops.
" Triangles, [a] fire extinguisher, and [a]
high-visibility vest should be standard. "
Indeed, Title 49 of the Code of
Fed eral Regulations states that all
trucks and tractors must have fire extinguishers,
with hazmat haulers having stricter stipulations.
Extinguishers may last a long time, with
an average lifespan of more than 10 years, but
fleets should institute a regular inspection to
verify they will work when needed.
Additionally, all vehicles must have spare fuses,
warning devices (such as triangles), six flares,
three liquid-burning flares, and red flags.
Basic tool set
Whether in rain or shine, drivers
sometimes find themselves the
victim of small issues that, while
not critically damaging to their vehicle,
are enough to present them with an
inspection violation.
" Drivers should have a basic tool set
for fixes such as a loose mudflap or light
change, " Daniels continued.
These tools can be fairly basic but may be the
difference between driving freely or receiving
an out-of-service violation from the Commercial
Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA).
" You don't need a whole [set of] craftsman
tools-just some basic tools, " said Bob Seidl,
driver training and development for Schneider,
in a company-produced video on emergency tool
kits. " We're not asking you to be mechanics, but
sometimes if all [you've] got to do is turn a wrench
a little bit and [you'll get] going again, well, [you
should] turn that wrench. "
Seidl said a couple of crescent wrenches, open
box wrenches, screwdrivers, and a vice grip are
good to have on hand. Meanwhile, Norita Taylor,
director of public relations for the Owner-Operator
Independent Drivers Association, also suggested
drivers fill out their tool kit with pliers, electrical
tape, duct tape, and bungee cords.
" The mechanical ability of the driver would
determine if more tools would be justified [as
well], " Taylor said.
Otherwise, combination tools and adjustable
wrenches will allow a driver to switch out light
bulbs, adjust trailer pins, and even tighten loose
dashboards, door panels, and deck plates.
Tire and lighting
violation protection
During 2022's CVSA International
Roadcheck, over 12,000 commercial
vehicles were placed out of
service. Of these violations, 19.4%
were for tire problems, while
12.5% were for lights, placing both in the top five
vehicle out-of-service violations. But an inspector
violation isn't the only way a vehicle might end
up roadside.
" Tire breakdowns make up over 50% of all
roadside breakdowns for our organization, " said
Daniel Mustafa, director of technical services for
TravelCenters of America. " And I think that's going
to reflect the industry as a whole. "
To avoid issues such as these, Bray recommended
drivers have a few other tools to patch
up lighting and tire issues. First and foremost,
a tire gauge is a good friend to every driver and
far more reliable than a tire bat. But if a driver
is far from home and finds their tire pressure is
lacking, what then? One option is for drivers to
keep an air compressor in their vehicle. Heavyduty
units can be purchased both as parts of tire
repair kits or on their own. But there's another
option as well.
" I, and a lot of my drivers, would carry air hoses
called a trigger gladhand for the tractor-trailer
driver, " Bray said. " You connect it into your trailer
gladhand and use that to fill tires as needed
around the truck. "
Meanwhile, if a driver knows the different
kind of bulbs used in their warning lights, headlights,
and signals, they can also save themselves
an out-of-service violation by carrying spare
bulbs on board.
Protective apparel
While a basic tool set can
help get the job done and
get a driver back on the
road, making sure they
are dressed to address issues safely, especially
in bad weather or at night, is also critical.
" Start the list of things that drivers should
have, and a lot of company policies [require
that] you will have, with reflective, high-visibility
clothing, whether it's a vest or a jacket, " Bray
recommended. " So, if [the driver does] have to
get out of the vehicle on the road, whether it's
because of an accident or breakdown or whatever,
they're fully visible to everybody. "
Additionally, even drivers who don't normally
have eyewear may benefit from a pair of safety
glasses to protect their eyes when making small
adjustments under their vehicle. Neither of these
items cost that much either, making them easy
investments for drivers.
» " Triangles, [a] fire extinguisher, and [a] highvisibility
vest should be standard, " said Eric
Daniels, VP of truck care, Love's Travel Stops.
Penske Truck Leasing
Basic survival
Another must-have for drivers is a
good stock of non-perishable food,
a case of water, and a first aid kit.
" If you're planning on being
stuck for any period of time, it
wouldn't be bad to have a little water and some
food, " said Rick Clasby, executive director of the
Utah Trucking Association.
All of these items should be able to last for long
periods, both in the heat and the cold, depending
on a driver's regional routes. Bray personally
recommended small sausages as well as spaghetti
and meatballs, but canned soup, granola bars,
and beef jerky are also cost-effective options.
With food safety taken care of, it's also essential
that drivers be prepared to handle physical
ailments as well.
" When I was a driver or as a safety person, I
didn't hurt myself so much, " Bray said. " But I came
across a lot of hurt people over time. "
Whether a fellow driver slices a finger in a
winch or a motorist is involved in an accident on
the road, a first-aid kit is critical for themselves
and others. Luckily, a basic kit with dressing pads,
disinfectant, Band -Aids, tape, and scissors are all
easy purchases.
" On top of that, I would also add [that] it's
important to have something to charge your cell
phone, " said John Hahn, captain of the Colorado
State Patrol and commander of the Motor Carrier
Safety section. " We've become so reliant on those
over the years for a lot of reasons, but most importantly,
if you need to reach out and call for help,
[you need to make] sure that you have a phone
that is charged. "
For drivers, that means making sure they have
a spare charger cord and adapter for their vehicle
as well as an external battery pack if something
goes wrong with the truck's powertrain.
December 2022 | FleetMaintenance.com
27
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