Mobile and Roadside Diesel Repair in the Rio Grande Valley
Some trucks can't make it to a shop. A semi that died on the expressway, a dump truck that won't start at a job site, a pickup with a trailer stuck on a ranch road. Call to reach a local diesel shop that can come to you in McAllen, Edinburg, Brownsville and nearby Valley towns.
If you're stopped on the road, get as far from traffic as you safely can and turn on your hazard lights. In an emergency, call 911 first.
Call a local diesel shop
Where a mobile mechanic can help
- On the side of the road, once the truck is somewhere safe to work.
- At your yard or shop, for a truck that won't start or a repair you'd rather not tow in for.
- At a job site, for equipment and work trucks.
- At home, for a diesel pickup that won't start in the driveway.
Trucks pass through the Valley all day. At the Pharr International Bridge alone, more than 54,000 trucks crossed northbound in a single month, according to the City of Pharr. When one of them breaks down nearby, a mobile mechanic can save a long tow.
What a mobile mechanic can usually do
What a mobile mechanic can do depends on the shop and its service truck. Jobs that are often handled on site:
- Batteries, starters and many electrical problems.
- Fuel filters and getting air out of the fuel system after running dry.
- Air leaks, hoses, belts and many brake adjustments.
- Lights and wiring, on the truck or the trailer.
- Reading codes and deciding whether the truck can be driven or needs a tow.
Bigger jobs, like an engine or transmission repair, usually need a shop. The mechanic can tell you once they see the truck.
What to have ready when you call
- Exactly where you are: highway and direction, the nearest exit or mile marker, or the address.
- What you drive: pickup, semi, work truck; year, make and engine if you know them.
- What happened: warning lights, sounds, smoke, leaks, and whether it will restart.
- Whether you're loaded, and what you're hauling, if it matters for the repair or the tow.
- A phone number where the mechanic can reach you.
Commercial drivers: warning devices
If you drive a commercial truck, federal rules (49 CFR 392.22) say to turn on your hazard flashers right away and put out your warning triangles within 10 minutes. See truck broke down on the highway for where to place them.
What mobile repair costs
Mobile service is priced job by job. Expect the shop to quote the trip to you plus the repair, and to tell you if the truck needs to go to the shop instead. Ask for the price before they start. More in diesel repair costs in the RGV.
Hours and response times
Hours and how fast someone can get to you depend on the shop and the time of day. Ask when you call. If nobody answers right away, leave your location and what's wrong, and you'll get a call back.
Mobile diesel repair across the Valley
Shops on this line serve:
- McAllen, Pharr and Mission
- Edinburg, San Juan and Weslaco
- Brownsville, Harlingen and San Benito
Mobile diesel repair FAQ
Is a mobile mechanic more expensive than a shop?
The repair itself is often priced the same way, but you may pay for the trip out. Compare that with the cost of a tow and the time the truck sits.
Can a mobile mechanic fix a semi on the shoulder?
Sometimes, if it's safe to work there. On a busy road, the mechanic may ask to move the truck or have it towed to a safer spot first.
Do you fix flat tires on semis?
Some mobile services handle truck tires and others don't. Ask when you call.
My pickup won't start in the driveway. Is that a mobile job?
Often, yes. Batteries, starters and fuel filters are common driveway jobs. See diesel won't start.
Stuck right now?
Get to a safe spot, then call with your location and what the truck is doing.