What is that sitting truck costing you?
A stranded semi doesn’t pause its bills — payments, insurance, permits, and the load it was supposed to haul all keep running. Run your own numbers below and see what waiting costs, per day and so far.
Also piling up?
≈ $1,800
$600 more for every day it sits
If it sits 7 more days: ≈ $6,000
And the freight on board is sitting too — every day it waits is another day your customer waits on that load.
FMCSA’s analysis assumes about two days just to locate and dispatch a replacement driver. Semi Rescue is that dispatch — one call, and a driver is on the way.
Downtime range: FleetNet America estimates as cited by FMCSA, Docket No. FMCSA-2026-0826 (Aug 2026). Every figure on this page is editable — use your own numbers.
Driver abandoned your truck? Do these four things.
In order. The first three protect you; the fourth gets the truck earning again.
Secure the truck and cargo
Get someone to it as soon as you can. Confirm it’s locked, note exactly where it is, and find out whether the trailer and load are with it. A truck nobody is watching is a truck anybody can get into.
Cut off the money
Turn off the fuel card and any cash-advance access tied to that driver, and flag the unit with your fuel and toll providers. Until you do, that card can keep spending long after the driver is gone.
Document everything
Photos of the truck inside and out, the odometer, the fuel level, the condition, and any damage — taken before anyone moves it. That’s your record for the insurance claim, the cargo claim, and the conversation with the driver.
Dispatch a recovery driver
If the truck can be driven, it doesn’t need a wrecker. A recovery driver travels to it, gets it road-ready where possible, and drives it to your yard or wherever you need it. That’s what Semi Rescue does, 24/7, anywhere in the lower 48.
Downtime & Recovery FAQ
How much does a downed semi cost per day?
FleetNet America estimates put it at $448–$760 per truck per day, and FMCSA used $800 a day as its working figure in a 2026 rulemaking (Docket No. FMCSA-2026-0826). That covers the truck’s fixed costs, lost revenue, and the scramble to cover the load. Your number depends on your freight and your fixed costs — which is why every figure in the calculator is editable.
My driver abandoned the truck — do I need a tow truck?
Usually not. If the truck runs and is safe to drive, a recovery driver can travel to it and drive it to your yard, a shop, or your next driver — no wrecker needed. Towing is for trucks that can’t be driven: wrecked, seized up, or unsafe. Semi Rescue reviews every request and confirms the plan with you before dispatch.
How fast can a recovery driver get to it?
Dispatch runs 24/7 and we cover the entire lower 48 from a central Nebraska base. Timing depends on where the truck is and where it’s going — send the request or call dispatch and we’ll confirm the plan and timing with you before you pay anything.
What does the calculator not include?
Repairs, for one — whatever it takes to get the truck road-ready is separate, and depends on what’s wrong with it. It also doesn’t count cargo claims, customer chargebacks, or the load you couldn’t cover. Think of the number as the floor: what standing still costs before anything else goes wrong.
Got a Truck Stranded Right Now?
Dispatch is available 24/7. Send the details and we’ll get moving.