Breaking down on a highway is one of the more stressful roadside scenarios, but the response sequence is straightforward and keeps you safe. Step one: activate your hazards the moment you sense a problem. Loss of power, overheating, transmission slip — hazards on before anything else.
Step two: if the vehicle is still moving, coast to the right shoulder. If you are on the left shoulder, stay there — do NOT attempt to cross multiple lanes of traffic in a disabled vehicle. The right shoulder is safer only if you can reach it without additional maneuvering.
Step three: once stopped, pull as far off the travel lane as possible. On interstates with wide shoulders, this can mean going well onto the grass. The farther from the white line, the safer.
Step four: do NOT stand beside the vehicle on the traffic side. Exit through the passenger door if possible and stand behind the guardrail or on the grass, not in the shoulder lane. Cars have drifted into parked vehicles with predictable and terrible results.
Step five: call a tow truck. Toll Trucks Near Me answers 24/7 with live dispatchers (no IVR) at (888) 831-3001. Give them your vehicle year/make/model, your location (or tap the GPS-assist link we text you), and the destination shop of your choice.
Step six: stay behind the barrier until your driver arrives. You will receive a text with the driver name, truck number, and live ETA. The driver will call you before approaching.
Bonus tip: Emergency Priority dispatch ($50 extra) guarantees 30-minute arrival with a $50 auto-credit backstop if we are late. On an active highway shoulder, that $50 is often worth it.