Vehicle Damage and Downtime: How to Keep a Commercial Vehicle on the Road

Safety-critical damage comes first

Some damage means the vehicle should not be driven until it is dealt with. If a collision has affected the steering, brakes, tyres, suspension or the structure around them, stop. The same goes for lights and indicators that no longer work, mirrors that leave blind spots, and loose panels or fittings that could come off on the road.

A vehicle that pulls to one side, makes new noises, or has a door or bonnet that will not latch securely needs checking before it goes out again. It is not worth the risk, either to you or to anyone else on the road, and it may also be an offence to drive it in that state.

• Steering, brakes or suspension affected: do not drive
• Bonnet, doors or tailgate not latching securely: do not drive
• Lights, indicators or mirrors broken or missing: get them sorted first
• Sharp or loose edges that could fall off or injure someone

Temporary fixes versus a proper repair

There is a place for a short-term fix. A panel taped over to keep the rain out, a cracked bumper held with cable ties to get home, or a damaged door secured for a day or two can keep a business moving while a proper repair is arranged. The key word is temporary.

Problems begin when a temporary fix becomes permanent. Tape hides rust forming, cable ties fail, and a damaged structure carries on being stressed every time the vehicle is loaded. If you have to patch something, agree a date for the real repair, and do not treat the patch as the answer.

Planning repairs around the work

If you know the work calendar, you can plan the repair around it. Ring the garage early, describe the damage and say what the vehicle needs to be doing and by when. Some repairs can be scheduled for a quieter spell, and some should not wait.

It helps to know what the garage will need. Parts for commercial vehicles may take longer to arrive than for common cars, and hidden damage can add time once panels are removed. At Banks of the Tyne in Hebburn we handle van bodywork repairs, HGV and lorry bodywork repairs and commercial vehicle accident repairs, and we will give you an honest view of timing once we have seen the damage, not a promise made over the phone.

If the vehicle cannot be driven

After a serious collision, the vehicle may not be safe or legal to move under its own power. In that case, think about how it is going to reach the garage. Arranging suitable transport is better than driving something that might fail, especially on a busy road such as the A19 or through the Tyne Tunnel where there is little room to stop.

If you are unsure, say so when you call. We would rather you phoned and checked than took a chance with a damaged vehicle.

• Do not drive a vehicle with damaged steering, brakes or tyres
• Move it by suitable transport instead of risking a breakdown
• Photograph the damage and the scene before it is moved
• Have the registration, make and type of vehicle to hand

Reducing future downtime

A lot of downtime starts with small damage that was left. A cracked lamp turns into a failed inspection, a loose panel into a bigger repair, and a scrape into rust. Walk around the vehicle regularly and deal with minor damage while it is minor.

Keep a simple note of when and where damage happened. It makes future repairs easier to explain and helps spot patterns, such as a particular yard corner that keeps catching the same corner of your lorry.

Frequently asked questions