Truck Broke Down Near the Port of Savannah? What to Do First

Last updated November 3, 2026.

This guide is for drivers and dispatchers whose truck has stopped on a road or shoulder around Savannah, Garden City, Port Wentworth, or Pooler. It covers the first steps, then how to get the right help. It is general information, not legal advice, and rules can change, so check the current text of any rule you rely on.

1. Get safe and turn on your hazard flashers

Federal rules for commercial motor vehicles say that when an emergency forces a stop on the traveled part of a road or on the shoulder, the driver must immediately turn on the hazard warning flashers and keep them on until the warning devices are in place. If you can move the truck to a safe place away from traffic, do that first. Do not stand in the lane to work on the truck.

2. Put out your warning devices within 10 minutes

The same federal rule (49 CFR 392.22) says the warning devices must go out "as soon as possible, but in any event within 10 minutes." For a truck stopped on an ordinary two way road, the general placement is:

One on the traffic side, about 10 feet from the truck, facing oncoming traffic.
One about 100 feet from the truck toward oncoming traffic, in the center of the lane or shoulder the truck is in.
One about 100 feet from the truck in the other direction, away from oncoming traffic, in the center of that same lane or shoulder.

On a divided or one way road, the rule calls for one device 200 feet and one device 100 feet from the truck toward oncoming traffic, plus one within 10 feet of the rear of the truck. There are special rules near a curve or the crest of a hill, in some town business and residential districts, and near a leak of flammable liquid or gas. Read the full rule before you rely on this summary.

3. Know exactly where you are

Note the nearest exit, mile marker, or cross streets, and which direction you are heading. A phone map pin is even better. A repair crew can only find you as fast as you can describe where you are.

4. Decide who to call

A mobile operator comes to the truck and suits many roadside faults. A shop is better for work that needs a bay or heavy equipment, and the truck may need to be towed there. This directory lists operators by town and service, and each listing shows whether the operator is mobile or shop based:

5. Tell the operator what they need to know

Your location and whether you are safely off the road.
The truck or trailer type, with make, model, and year if you know them.
What it is doing: warning lights, noises, or what stopped working.
Whether the trailer is loaded and whether the load is time sensitive or refrigerated.
Your callback number.

Ask for the arrival time and how the price is set before work starts.

6. Tell your dispatcher or customer

If a load is time sensitive, let your dispatcher or the receiver know early. A delay called in at once is easier to manage than one found out later.

Always call an operator to confirm hours and coverage, because listings can change. This directory lists operators and does not dispatch repairs.

Source: 49 CFR 392.22, Emergency signals; stopped commercial motor vehicles (Cornell Legal Information Institute). Rule text last checked 2026-11-03.