The moment your truck loses power on a motorway, you have about 90 seconds to get this right: hazards on, indicate, brake gently onto the hard shoulder, and get everyone out on the passenger side behind the barrier before you call anyone. Only after you and any passengers are safely away from the carriageway do you put on your hi-vis vest, place your warning triangle, and start dialing. Get the sequence wrong and you’re not just risking a fine — you’re risking your life. Roughly one in eight motorway fatalities in France involves someone standing on the hard shoulder or carriageway after a breakdown.
The First 90 Seconds: Safety Before Anything Else
If you feel the engine losing power, a tyre going, or smoke coming from the cab, don’t wait to find the “perfect” spot. Signal early, ease off the accelerator, and steer as far right as possible — onto the hard shoulder if there is one, or as close to the barrier as you can manage. Never brake hard; a sudden stop with 40 tonnes behind you is how jackknifing happens.
- Turn on your hazard lights the second you suspect trouble, not after you’ve stopped.
- Steer fully onto the hard shoulder, wheels turned slightly away from traffic if you’re on a slope, so the truck won’t roll into the lane if the handbrake fails.
- Exit through the passenger door and get behind the barrier — never on the traffic side, never standing at the rear of the trailer.
- Put on your hi-vis vest before you step out, not after.
- Place your warning triangle at least 100 metres behind the vehicle in France and Spain, 100 metres in Germany on motorways (50 metres on other roads), and 150 metres in Poland if you’re on a motorway or expressway.
In Germany, standing between the vehicle and oncoming traffic while setting up your triangle is exactly how drivers get hit — police report several deaths a year on the Autobahn from breakdown-related pedestrian collisions. Walk backwards facing traffic, triangle in hand, and get back behind the barrier immediately after placing it.
Who to Call: Emergency Numbers by Country
112 works everywhere in the EU for police, ambulance, or fire brigade, and it’s the number to use if anyone is injured or the truck is blocking a live lane. But for a straightforward mechanical breakdown with no injuries, you’ll usually get faster help calling the country’s dedicated roadside assistance line rather than tying up emergency services.
| Country | Emergency (112 alternative) | Motorway Roadside Assistance |
|---|---|---|
| Germany | 110 (police) / 112 | ADAC: 22 22 22 (from mobile) |
| France | 17 (police) / 112 | Call boxes every 2 km, or 112 to reach the nearest approved breakdown operator |
| Spain | 112 | DGT roadside via 112, or your fleet’s contracted assistance |
| Italy | 112 / 113 | ACI: 803 116 (Italian mobiles) or +39 02 6685 3131 |
| Poland | 112 | Assistance via 112 or GDDKiA regional number |
| Belgium | 112 | Touring Mobilis: 070 344 777 |
| Netherlands | 112 | ANWB: 088 269 28 88 |
In France, the orange emergency call boxes (bornes d’appel) placed every 2 kilometres along motorways connect you directly to the concessionaire’s control centre, who dispatch an approved breakdown truck. This is often faster than a phone call because they already know your exact location from the box number — use it if one is within safe walking distance behind the barrier.
What Happens After You Call: The Approved Operator System
On most European motorways, you can’t just call any garage or wait for a mate with a flatbed. France, Germany, Italy, and Spain all run “approved operator” systems where only licensed breakdown companies are allowed to work on the hard shoulder or in the emergency lane. When you call 112 or the motorway operator, they dispatch whichever approved contractor covers that stretch of road — you don’t get to choose.
This matters for cost. In France, a basic hard-shoulder callout (dépannage) is price-capped by the state — around €149 to €199 depending on vehicle weight class and time of day (night, weekend, and holiday callouts cost more), but towing beyond the immediate recovery is billed separately and isn’t capped. In Germany, ADAC callouts for members are free, but non-members can pay €200-400 for the same job. Always ask for a written quote or invoice before towing begins if you’re paying out of pocket and claiming it back from your fleet later — this ties directly into how you’ll later file expenses, similar to keeping proper documentation for per diem claims.
If the Breakdown Involves Dangerous Goods or Cargo
If you’re hauling ADR cargo and break down, the rules change immediately. You must keep the placards visible, avoid using open flames or smoking equipment near the vehicle (obvious, but it’s the first thing inspectors check), and inform the emergency services of the UN number and class when you call — this is exactly why your ADR documentation needs to be within reach, not buried in the glovebox. Review the specifics in our ADR dangerous goods guide before you’re standing on the hard shoulder trying to remember them.
For reefer loads, a breakdown that stops the unit running is a race against time. Note the exact time the unit stopped and the temperature reading, because this becomes evidence for any cargo claim later. If you’re regularly running refrigerated freight, it’s worth reading our reefer transport tips for what to document before the insurer or client starts asking questions.
If your load has shifted or straps have failed as part of the breakdown — a blown tyre sometimes does this — don’t attempt to re-secure anything yourself on the hard shoulder. Wait for the recovery team; working under a shifted load next to live traffic is how drivers get crushed.
Staying Safe While You Wait
Recovery can take 30 minutes on a quiet Tuesday morning or three hours on a Friday evening in August when half of Germany is heading to the Alps. While you wait:
- Stay behind the barrier, not in the cab, unless weather makes that genuinely dangerous (lightning, extreme cold).
- Keep your phone charged — this is where a working eSIM for European roaming actually pays for itself, since you may need to call your dispatcher, insurer, and the roadside operator across three different countries’ networks in a single afternoon.
- If it’s after dark or in fog, your triangle alone isn’t always enough — some drivers carry an additional battery-powered LED beacon, which is legal and recommended in Poland and the Czech Republic.
- Don’t try to fix anything yourself on the hard shoulder side of the vehicle. Inspect and wait on the barrier side only.
Fines for breakdown-related offenses are real and enforced. In France, failing to wear a hi-vis vest when exiting a broken-down vehicle on a motorway carries a fine of €135. In Germany, not placing a warning triangle correctly can cost €30-35, rising if it causes a hazard. In Spain, standing in a live lane without adequate signaling can bring fines of €200 or more under the DGT’s traffic code.
Documenting the Breakdown for Your Fleet
Once you’re safe and recovery is underway, take photos: the vehicle’s position, any visible damage, the triangle placement, and the time on your dashboard clock. This matters for two reasons. First, your tachograph will show the stop, and you want photographic evidence to explain any driving-time gap if it’s ever questioned — see our guide on tachograph rules for how breakdowns are treated under “other work” codes. Second, if the breakdown affects delivery timing, you’ll need this evidence for the consignee and for any CMR-related dispute — our CMR waybill guide covers what to note on the waybill when delays happen outside your control.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to call 112 for every breakdown, even a flat tyre?
No. Call 112 only if there’s injury, fire, fuel leak, or the vehicle is blocking a live traffic lane with no way to move it. For a straightforward mechanical fault with the truck safely on the hard shoulder, call the country’s dedicated motorway assistance number or use the roadside emergency phones on French and Italian motorways — it routes you faster to someone who can actually send a tow truck.
Can I use my own mechanic instead of the approved motorway operator?
On the motorway itself, generally no. France, Germany, Italy, and Spain restrict work on the hard shoulder to licensed operators for safety and insurance reasons. Once your truck has been towed off the motorway to a service area or garage, you’re free to call your own mechanic or fleet-approved workshop for the actual repair.
Who pays for the breakdown callout — me or my employer?
This depends entirely on your employment contract and fleet policy. Most companies cover breakdown costs directly through a fleet contract with providers like ADAC, RAC, or a pan-European assistance service, meaning you won’t pay out of pocket. If you do pay upfront, always get an itemized invoice and check your contract’s per diem or expense reimbursement terms before submitting the claim.
What if I break down in a country where I don’t speak the language?
112 operators across the EU generally handle English, and many motorway assistance lines in Germany, France, and Spain have English-speaking staff for exactly this reason. Keep a printed card in the cab with your vehicle registration, VIN, and fleet contact number in the local language if you regularly cross into Eastern Europe, where English support on regional numbers can be limited.
Staying reachable during a breakdown isn’t optional — it’s the difference between a 40-minute wait and a three-hour one spent guessing whether your call even went through. Check out Marco Polo Mobile eSIM for reliable data and calls across every country on your route.