Whatever Your Industry, Encore Protects Your Entire Fleet

No matter what kind of trucks your company uses, our 24-hour commercial truck roadside assistance programs cover your employees while they’re on the road, whether your drivers are going across the country or just across town. Our affordable pay-per-vehicle plans allow you to provide complete truck roadside assistance protection for each of your commercial vehicles, no matter which employee may be driving.

Whatever your company’s industry or wherever your trucking routes take you, our commercial vehicle roadside assistance services are designed to get your drivers back on the road as quickly as we can – providing excellent coverage for your employees and your bottom line!

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Commercial Semi-Truck Roadside Service Anywhere, Any Time

No matter where or when your drivers may need roadside assistance, we’ll take care of them. Our roadside assistance services for truckers are available 24 hours per day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year across the United States, and Canada. Plus, our mobile app adds additional convenience to our commercial roadside assistance plans, giving your drivers the option to use mobile technology and enabling us to use our fast-acting GPS technology solution to pinpoint breakdown locations in seconds.

Whether your commercial fleet vehicles need roadside assistance in a busy city intersection or on a rural scenic road, we have service packages that will keep them covered, with more towing miles than most other roadside assistance companies. Our packages include 25, 50, or even 100 towing miles, so we can get your drivers to a trusted service station no matter where they break down.

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Our Commercial Truck Roadside Assistance Services

Our roadside assistance plans for semi trucks and other large commercial vehicles provide coverage for a variety of roadside issues, including:

Extrication & Winching

Battery Jump / Delivery

Tire Delivery / Changes

Lockout Assistance

Fuel / Fluid Delivery

Towing

Mobile Mechanic*

*Subject to certain geographic limitations.

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Protect My Vehicles

Improving Your Truck Drivers’ Safety with Proper Fleet Maintenance

One way that fleet companies can promote commercial vehicle safety is through established maintenance programs. There are three primary types of commercial vehicle maintenance to be aware of and consider for your fleet.

Preventive Maintenance for Truck Fleets

This type of maintenance is focused on maintaining the overall “health” and efficiency of a fleet vehicle. This usually can be done through regularly required inspections by a trained fleet driver. Examples of preventive maintenance include daily tests and inspection of brakes, tires (including treads and pressure), horns, mirrors, etc.

Routine Maintenance for Truck Fleets

Similar to preventive maintenance, this type of maintenance is dedicated to service and replacement of various parts of a fleet vehicle. By conducting regular mileage-based and vehicle age-based maintenance checks and services, you can prevent many vehicle safety issues or catch them before they become more severe and costly. Examples of routine maintenance include oil changes, tire rotations/replacements, parts replacements, engine cleanings, etc.

Emergency Maintenance for Truck Fleets

Even with the most conscientious maintenance program and commercial driver inspections, unexpected things can still happen: fleet vehicles can still break down or be involved in a traffic incident. That’s why it’s important to have an emergency maintenance program in place. This program should cover all aspects of potential emergency situations, from what to do if a fleet driver is involved in an accident to who to call for emergency roadside assistance in the case of unexpected engine troubles.

Common Safety Questions for Fleet Vehicles

How to avoid Rollover?

Rollovers happen every day across America’s highways. There is a myth that rollovers are caused only by poor driving conditions and risky maneuvers on the part of drivers. The truth is that rollovers can be avoided in many cases. Here’s how.

  • Slow your speed: Stick to the marked speed limits on the stretch of road and slow down if weather or road conditions call for it.
  • Stay focused: Distracted driving is one of the biggest causes of accidents in any vehicle. Put down your cell phone, make sure you have gotten enough sleep and make sure that you are staying awake and alert behind the wheel.
  • Inspect your rig: Take the time to inspect your vehicle before every trip. If road conditions worsen or you are driving over ice or snow, inspect it each time you stop. Poor mechanical conditions can lead to rollovers.
  • Know your truck: You should have a good idea of how your truck handles, even if it isn’t your own. You won’t always be in the same type of vehicle so speak up if you aren’t comfortable driving a specific one or feel that you need more training.
  • Secure your loads: Make sure that your loads aren’t in danger of shifting.

There are many factors that come into play during a rollover and many are under your control. Your deadline is important, but your safety and the safety of others comes first.

How to avoid jackknifing?

When your trailer skids and pushing your whole rig before it turns, you are said to have jackknifed. In some instances, the trailer will strike the cab, but not always. You can take steps to prevent jackknifing much of the time.

  • Light loads: Be very careful of towing loads that are too light. Your brakes are designed for heavy loads and may be too powerful for your truck if the load isn’t adequate. When you are carrying a partial load or one that is very light, your brakes could cause your wheels to lock up and skid.
  • Brake progressively: Do your best to never slam on your brakes. Your brakes should be applied progressively over the longest distance possible.
  • Avoid braking and swerving: Do not brake and swerve at the same time if you need to avoid something in the road. You will have to make a quick decision, but you should really do one or the other.
  • Avoid skidding: Before your jackknife, your truck will skid. Avoid skidding to begin with by taking your foot off the brake and correct the skid just as you would a car, by turning your wheel the direction that you want your tires to go.
  • Maintain your rig: Worn tires, loosening or worn brakes and a faulty suspension may cause you to lose control of your truck. Inspect and maintain your vehicle regularly.

A jackknifing truck can cause a serious accident. Use the tips above to avoid jackknifing your truck.

Do APUs come in all freight and semi-trucks?

Auxiliary power units are a form of engine with its own cooling system, heating system, generator or alternator system with or without inverter, and air conditioning compressor, housed in an enclosure and mounted to one of the frame rails of a semi-truck. The most common APU for a commercial truck is a small diesel engine.APUs are a very common technology. In addition to keeping your cab heater running on cold nights without having to idle the engine, these systems also play a role in military, municipal, aerospace, and other applications. Your truck probably doesn’t need a military-grade APU – but the fact that you can customize yours based on the shape and size of your rig makes getting one much easier.

The main benefit to installing an APU is fuel economy – cutting back on idle time means you spend less money on fuel. It’s been estimated that rigs without APUs waste about one percent of their fuel for every ten percent of the time they spend sitting idly.

Types of APUs include:

  • Fully Electric
    o Electric APUs are the latest alternative to diesel and propane. Powered by batteries that recharge when the engine’s running, these devices are usually easier to maintain and less hefty than fuel-driven alternatives, and they are also less noisy.
  • Fuel and Fuel hybrids
    o These APUs are commonly installed in vehicles that continuously need to make long runs, but they have some disadvantages. Regular maintenance is extremely important for them to function properly.
What’s an ELD, and what is the ELD mandate?

An electronic logging device — or ELD — is used to electronically record a driver’s Record of Duty Status (RODS), which replaces the paper logbook use to record Hours of Service (HOS).

In 2012, the United States Congress enacted the “Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century” bill, or, more commonly referred to as MAP-21. That bill included a requirement that the FMCSA to develop a rule mandating the use of electronic logging devices (ELDs).

Fleets that were already equipped with electronic logging technology (AOBRDs) before December 2017 have until December 2019 to ensure compliance with the published specifications.

ELDs are important as they can:

  • Save driver time by reducing paperworkdiesel and propane. Powered by batteries that recharge when the engine’s running, these devices are usually easier to maintain and less hefty than fuel-driven alternatives, and they are also less noisy.
  • Keep a dispatcher up-to-date on a driver’s status, letting them plan for loads better in light of HOS compliance needs
  • Reduce the hassle of keeping a paper log – something that e-log converts never want to return to

ELDs have a place in the trucking industry. They predominantly keep drivers and fleetmanagers safer on the road. Having the right commercial roadside assistance can do the same!

How to pass the DOT physical for Truck Drivers?

The FMCSA requires medical examiners to follow a very specific protocol and fill out a federal form for all trucking physicals. Getting familiar with this form can help you figure out where you need to make improvements prior to your physical exams.

To start, you must divulge your health history. This includes information on any surgeries you’ve had, medications you are currently using, specific diagnoses, substance issues, and symptoms – the doctor will test your pulse, blood pressure, vision in both eyes, and hearing. You must also pass a urinalysis test. This is used for drug testing and detection of blood, sugar, or protein in the urine.

See below for Tips to Help Pass your Physical:

  • In the week before your physical, eat and drink as healthfully as possible. This means cutting back or cutting out caffeine, salt, sugar, and junk food. This can help your blood pressure.
  • Take all medications as scheduled, since taking your medication irregularly may cause inaccurate readings during the physical exam.
  • Do not run out of your prescribed medications as you lead up to your physical exam. Suddenly withdrawing from a medication can significantly impact your test.
  • If you use contact lenses or glasses to see, make sure your prescription is up to date and bring your corrective lenses with you to the physical.

It is important to be as healthy as possible when you walk into your physical appointment. This appointment will be pivotal in your trucking career, and not passing this test may cause a delay in your career.