So what happens when the truck and/or the trailer breaks down? As a company driver, the first thing I have to do is contact the company via OTR Support (which used to be called "Breakdown"). This department determines what, if any, repairs need to be made and where to send the truck and/or trailer. If it's the trailer, chances are good they'll send the driver to the nearest TA, Bossellman, Petro or trailer repair shop. If the driver is close to a terminal that has a trailer shop, he might be sent there. It mostly depends on the hour and the day of the week. (If, for instance, it's a weekend at midnight, the terminal shops will be closed.) Trailers are an easy fix. Not a lot of moving parts, so mostly the driver is at the mercy of the shop's schedule. If he's lucky, the shop isn't busy and he's in and out, bippity boppity boop. The most often reported problems on a trailer are marker lights (mandatory that they all work while the trailer is in motion) and the air brakes. If there's a significant air leak, the trailer just won't move. If it's not significant, but audible, the driver could be placed out of service if tapped for a DOT inspection. (More about that later.) Obviously, everything has to be in good working condition if the trailer is going to be mobile.
If, however, there's a problem with the truck, OTR Support has to determine what kind of problem it is and which shop would be better equipped to handle the repair. Most of the time, the truck is sent to the nearest manufacturer's shop because all of our company trucks are so new they are still under warranty. Occasionally, the truck will be sent to the engine's manufacturer's shop. In my company's case, the engine is a Cummins, so all our trucks can be sent to Cummins. I drive an International, so when they deem it is a warranty issue, I am sent to an International dealer's repair shop. That is where my truck is today, and will be there until at least Monday (although the shop guy said the chances are good they'll have it fixed on Monday). Because I'm a company driver, the company gives me what is called "breakdown pay" for every day that I'm not rolling and my truck is in the shop. Because I worked on Friday (I delivered the last of my load on Friday morning), I may not get breakdown pay for Friday, even though the truck went into the shop that day. It's not a lot of money, but something is better than nothing. The company also pays for the hotel. They do not, however, pay for food or transportation. That's on me. Owner-Operators incur all these expenses on their own. After the free shuttle picked me up from the repair shop, we picked up another driver from the Cummins repair shop. Turns out, he's an Owner-Op. He told me he has to pay the $2400 shop fee for the repairs, and the $79.80/day hotel cost for the weekend. This is why I am not an Owner-Op. Also, he's not collecting breakdown pay. As I said, it's not a lot (probably $60/day) but it's better than nothing.
Usually, I have to play this game: sit at the shop all day until they tell me that there's no chance they are going to get the truck done tonight. Call the hotel for the shuttle, check in for one night. Check out the next day around 11am, and take the shuttle back to the shop. Repeat as many days as it takes the shop to fix the truck. This is what happened to me when I was broke down in York, PA. And I had my son with me and no free shuttle - I had to pay for the taxi ride to and from the hotel. We ended up spending three days in York, but the shop wouldn't tell me that's how long it was going to take at the beginning. This time, however, the shop was up-front with the truth. They told me the chances were good the truck wouldn't be ready before Monday. What's nice is I don't have to be tethered to the shop waiting for a verdict. On this trip, I get to explore and see some of Albany. I don't have the money to rent a car. I'll be walking and/or taking the bus, so I'll more than likely be sticking with the downtown area. But it's more than I usually get. Because I don't get to take side trips, while breaking down is not my idea of a fun time, it is, essentially, the only time I get to see something other than the Interstate and a truck stop. I will be taking advantage of that, at least.
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