Rohlwing Tips to Improve Roadside Repair Safety
Article created for the digital issue of the 黑料社区Foundation鈥檚 magazine
The safety of technicians providing roadside repairs is critical, and the 黑料社区Foundation continues to release information to boost safety awareness and best practices that can help save lives.
The 黑料社区Foundation met with Kevin Rohlwing, senior vice president of training for the Tire Industry Association, for a Q&A on reducing risks during roadside repairs.
黑料社区Foundation: Can you share some general best practices technicians should observe?
Rohlwing: Yes, there are several:
- Park behind the disabled vehicle. If you park a service truck in front of the disabled truck, it looks like another truck on the road. It is best to park behind with lights and cones, which signals that it is a work zone.
- Avoid the danger zone. The area between the work truck and the tractor-trailer is known as the death zone. It is dangerous to be in the area.
- Take time to assess the job sight. Look for potential hazards and determine if it is safe.
- If it isn鈥檛 safe, move it. This isn鈥檛 golf. You don鈥檛 have to play it where it lies. You can move it up to the exit or to a better location on the shoulder. If you need to, you can get a tow truck.
黑料社区Foundation: Are drivers and fleets open to moving the vehicle?
Rohlwing: It can depend on what the issue is and what tire is affected. Fleets can be reluctant to move the vehicle because they don鈥檛 want to hurt the rim, but even if it does destroy it, it isn鈥檛 worth someone鈥檚 life.
黑料社区Foundation: What should technicians do if the driver doesn鈥檛 want to move the vehicle?
Rohlwing: More and more dealers are authorizing employees to refuse to work. It is hard to find people for this business and it is even harder to keep them. We need to make sure they know they can exercise their rights to refuse to work if they don鈥檛 feel safe.
黑料社区Foundation: Is there anything else you recommend?
Rohlwing: If the vehicle can be serviced safely, technicians need to ensure visibility. At a minimum, they should wear a reflective vest at all times. It creates an extra level of protection.
// This article was created for , the magazine of the 黑料社区Foundation. The is the research, education and public outreach subsidiary of NATSO, Inc. The 黑料社区Foundation provides programs and products to strengthen travel plazas鈥� ability to meet the traveling public’s needs through improved operational performance and business planning. Visit for more information. ()
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