Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/740514
Understanding Vehicle Repair Laws LEGAL LANE By Jim Klepper 18 November 2016 BestDriverJOBS www.bestdriverjobs.com P rofessional truck drivers need to know the laws regarding vehicle repairs. I bet you can't name one truck driver that has never had to have his truck repaired while on a trip. Breakdowns are just a part of the job, but if you own your own truck, you need to know about repairs. Where you go for repairs is often determined by when and where you break down. If your truck is under war- ranty, your best place to seek repairs is the dealership or a shop authorized to do warranty work on your vehicle. If you use the dealership, you can expect the manufacturer to have an interest in getting your vehicle repaired quickly and correctly, but they are not necessar- ily the least expensive place for repairs. Understand they want you to buy the same brand again, so they usually go out of their way to get you back on the road as soon as possible. Mechanics at a dealership usually will have been educated on repairing your particular make and model. They are also able to perform any recall repairs the manufacturer has issued, which in- cludes computer program updates. They are also more likely to have the parts needed for any repairs, which is always a big issue in trucking, because down- time is loss of income to the vehicle owner/driver. What if it is not a warranty or overly complicated issue — maybe a preventa- tive matter like a tune-up or oil change? This is where truck stops come in handy because they are where you are and they have a place to eat, shower and