For businesses that rely on a fleet of lorries, regular maintenance is vital to prevent issues like tyre blowouts. However, despite the best efforts to maintain your vehicles, tyre bursts often occur unexpectedly. Ensuring your drivers are well-prepared for such an event is essential to ensure both your safety and the safety of other road users.

Here’s what you need to do if a lorry tyre bursts unexpectedly.

How Do You Know if a Tyre Has Burst?

When a tyre bursts on a lorry, you’re likely to notice it immediately. Lorries are large vehicles, and a burst tyre often leads to a loud bang, followed by a noticeable change in the vehicle’s handling. Whether it’s a front or rear tyre, you may experience a loss of control, with the vehicle pulling to one side. This can be dangerous, especially at high speeds, so it’s important to act swiftly and safely.

What Should You Do When a Tyre Bursts?

Here are the key steps to take if your tyre bursts while you’re travelling.

1. Maintain Control

The first priority when a tyre bursts is maintaining control of the vehicle. While it may be tempting to slam on the brakes or accelerate to regain control, this could make the situation worse. Instead, stay calm, avoid making sudden movements, and let the vehicle gradually slow down. Keeping a steady grip on the steering wheel and focusing on a straight line will help prevent further issues.

2. Pull into a Safe Place

Once you have managed to slow the lorry, the next step is to safely pull the vehicle off the road. If you are on a motorway or dual carriageway, aim for the hard shoulder. Ensure you are a safe distance from moving traffic. If the situation allows, you can exit the vehicle, but always stand behind safety barriers to protect yourself from passing traffic.

3. Call for Roadside Assistance

As soon as the vehicle is safely off the road, it’s time to call for roadside assistance. It’s important to provide drivers with emergency contact details so they can get help quickly. Roadside assistance teams are equipped to assess the situation, either repairing the tyre on-site or arranging to tow the lorry to a nearby repair centre. This can save valuable time and minimise the disruption to your operations.

4. Ensure Regular Lorry Safety Checks and Truck Servicing

Prevention is key when it comes to tyre blowouts. Regular truck servicing and comprehensive checks for all components of your lorries will help reduce the risk of unexpected issues. Regularly inspect tyres for signs of wear, check for correct pressure, and replace tyres when necessary. Keeping up with routine lorry safety checks and truck maintenance can help ensure your fleet remains reliable and safe.

Trust Transcare for Your Fleet Maintenance

At Transcare, we specialise in maintaining large fleets, offering comprehensive truck servicing and expert truck repairs. As a lorry services company based in Derbyshire, we provide essential accident repairs and ongoing fleet maintenance. With our help, you can ensure your lorries are always in top condition and ready for the road. Contact us at Transcare today to learn more about our services and how we can support your fleet’s safety and reliability.