Truck Dispatcher TruckDisp On-the-Road Problem Resolution 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A driver is involved in an accident where the other party is clearly at fault. The other driver is pressuring your driver to not call police to avoid insurance. What should the dispatcher tell the driver?
- Agree if there is no major damage
- Always call law enforcement to document the accident officially regardless of fault determination (Correct answer)
- Let the driver decide on their own
- Only call police if the load is damaged
Correct answer: Always call law enforcement to document the accident officially regardless of fault determination
A police report is critical documentation that protects the carrier regardless of who is at fault.
Question 2: A driver reports a strong smell of fuel inside the cab while driving. What is the dispatcher's IMMEDIATE instruction?
- Open the windows and continue to the nearest fuel stop
- Pull over immediately, shut off the engine, exit the vehicle, move away from the truck, and call for emergency assistance (Correct answer)
- Check the fuel gauge and monitor the situation
- Reduce speed and continue to the delivery point
Correct answer: Pull over immediately, shut off the engine, exit the vehicle, move away from the truck, and call for emergency assistance
A fuel smell inside the cab indicates a potential leak or fire risk — the truck must be evacuated immediately.
Question 3: A driver who is team-driving calls to say their co-driver is sick and cannot drive. The load still has 1,400 miles to go. What should the dispatcher do?
- Tell the remaining driver to drive the full 1,400 miles solo
- Assess the remaining driver's available HOS, identify a swap point or replacement driver, and notify the customer of a possible delay (Correct answer)
- Cancel the load immediately
- Let the sick driver rest a few hours and try again
Correct answer: Assess the remaining driver's available HOS, identify a swap point or replacement driver, and notify the customer of a possible delay
Solo HOS rules limit how far one driver can go — a relay or replacement driver must be arranged to cover the deficit legally.
Question 4: A driver reports they are being tailgated by a suspicious vehicle for over 20 miles on a rural highway. What should the dispatcher advise?
- Have the driver pull over and confront the other vehicle
- Direct the driver to a well-lit public area like a truck stop, avoid isolated exits, and call 911 if the vehicle continues following (Correct answer)
- Tell the driver to speed up to lose the vehicle
- Advise the driver to ignore it
Correct answer: Direct the driver to a well-lit public area like a truck stop, avoid isolated exits, and call 911 if the vehicle continues following
Cargo theft often begins with a tail — directing the driver to a populated, well-lit location and involving law enforcement is the correct response.
Question 5: A driver is delayed 6 hours due to a dock appointment backlog at the shipper's facility. The driver's remaining HOS will not allow completion of the delivery. Who should the dispatcher contact FIRST?
- The driver, to tell them to falsify logs
- The shipper, to document the delay with timestamps, then notify the broker/customer and explore HOS exception or relay options (Correct answer)
- The receiver, without informing the shipper
- No one — absorb the delay silently
Correct answer: The shipper, to document the delay with timestamps, then notify the broker/customer and explore HOS exception or relay options
Documenting shipper-caused delays protects the carrier from detention fee disputes and is required before notifying downstream parties.
Question 6: A driver discovers at pickup that the freight is labeled HAZMAT but the carrier has not been HAZMAT certified for that class of material. What should the dispatcher do?
- Have the driver load it and deal with permits later
- Refuse the load, inform the shipper why, and document the refusal — the carrier cannot legally haul uncertified HAZMAT (Correct answer)
- Remove the HAZMAT placards and load normally
- Have the driver proceed but drive carefully
Correct answer: Refuse the load, inform the shipper why, and document the refusal — the carrier cannot legally haul uncertified HAZMAT
Hauling HAZMAT without proper certification, training, and placarding is a serious federal violation with severe penalties.
Question 7: A driver is parked at a rest area and reports that the landing gear on the trailer is damaged and will not raise fully. What is the dispatcher's next step?
- Tell the driver to use a jack and improvise
- Dispatch a mobile repair unit, keep the driver in place, and notify the customer of the delay with an estimated repair time (Correct answer)
- Swap the trailer immediately regardless of cargo transfer logistics
- Have the driver attempt to drive slowly with landing gear partially lowered
Correct answer: Dispatch a mobile repair unit, keep the driver in place, and notify the customer of the delay with an estimated repair time
Damaged landing gear must be repaired before the trailer can move safely — mobile repair is the fastest resolution.
Truck Dispatcher TruckDisp On-the-Road Problem Resolution 4
A driver is involved in an accident where the other party is clearly at fault.
The other driver is pressuring your driver to not call police to avoid insurance.
What should the dispatcher tell the driver?