Breakdowns Drivers

What to tell us when you call

A driver's checklist for a breakdown call. Have these details ready and we can send help sooner. Print it for the cab.

Updated

Australia 1800 349 698 · New Zealand 0800 001 040 · 24 hours, 7 days

First make sure you and the vehicle are as safe as you can be (see Staying safe at a breakdown). Then call us with as much of this as you can. If you don’t know something, tell us: we will work it out together.

1. Are you safe?

  • Is anyone hurt? If so, call 000 in Australia or 111 in New Zealand first.
  • Are you off the road, or stopped in a traffic lane, on a narrow shoulder, a bend or a crest?
  • Is there a fire, a fuel or load spill, or dangerous goods on board?

2. Where are you?

  • The road or highway, and the direction you are travelling (for example “northbound”).
  • The nearest exit, intersection, town, rest area or landmark, or the distance marker you can see.
  • Which side of the road you are on.
  • If you can, read the GPS location from your phone’s map app.

3. Which vehicle?

  • Registration of the truck and of any trailer involved.
  • Make and model, and the fleet or company name.
  • Whether it is the truck, the trailer or both that has the problem.

4. What has happened?

  • What you noticed: warning lights, noises, smoke, leaks, a flat or blown tyre, loss of air or power.
  • For a tyre: which wheel position and the tyre size (printed on the sidewall).
  • Whether the vehicle can be moved safely.

5. How do we reach you?

  • The mobile number you can be called back on. Keep your phone on and charged.
  • If you are calling for someone else, the driver’s name and number.

6. Anything else

  • Purchase or order number, if your company uses one.
  • Delivery deadlines or load requirements (refrigerated, livestock, dangerous goods).
  • Height, weight or access limits at the location.

Use the Print button above to print this checklist, or print the wallet-sized driver card to keep in the cab.