A loaded tractor-trailer stopped on a Florida highway is a safety problem first and a money problem right after. What you do in the first half hour decides how fast the unit gets moving again — and how much the delay ends up costing.
1. Get safe and visible
Move as far onto the shoulder as you safely can. Turn on your hazard lights and put out your warning devices as federal rules require for stopped commercial vehicles. If anyone is hurt, or the truck is blocking a travel lane, call 911 before anything else.
2. Figure out exactly where you are
Dispatchers need a precise location to send the right truck to the right place. Note the highway, direction of travel, nearest mile marker or exit, and any landmarks. On I-4 through Orlando or the Turnpike, the mile marker and direction save a lot of back-and-forth.
3. Know what you're hauling
Whether the trailer is loaded matters a lot for heavy towing. Have the approximate weight, the type of freight and any hazmat information ready. A loaded trailer may need different equipment than a bobtail tractor.
4. Call a heavy-duty tow company — not a light-duty one
Standard tow trucks are not built for Class 8 trucks. Calling a heavy towing company directly avoids the delay of a light-duty truck showing up and having to call someone else. When you call, tell the dispatcher:
- Location, direction and mile marker
- Truck and trailer type, and whether it's loaded
- What happened — mechanical failure, tire, accident, stuck
- Where the unit needs to go (your shop, a dealer, your terminal)
- Fleet, insurance or purchase order information
5. Loop in your fleet manager and customer
If freight is going to be late, the sooner the receiver knows, the better. Fleet managers should log the tow details, the destination shop and the expected timeline so the next decisions — repair, swap tractor, or transfer the load — happen quickly.
Set your fleet up before it happens
Companies running regular freight in Florida save time by setting up an account with a heavy towing provider ahead of time. Dispatch already has your billing, preferred shops and contact list on file, so the call is shorter and the truck rolls faster.
R&J Transport Service Inc has been towing heavy vehicles out of Orlando since 2004. Our dispatch line, (407) 595-9726, is answered 24 hours a day.