By the Top Rides service team, ASE Master Certified diesel technicians at 9640 Sidney Hayes Rd, Orlando, FL. Reviewed September 15, 2026.
Short answer: Turn on your hazards right away. Get your three triangles out within 10 minutes, and on I-95 all three go behind the truck, at 10, 100 and 200 feet. Then pin down your exact spot using the nearest exit or mile marker and your direction. Call 911 if you’re blocking a lane or anyone is hurt, or dial *347 (*FHP) for Florida Highway Patrol and FDOT Road Rangers. After that, call your dispatcher and a heavy-duty mechanic. If you’re on the Brevard end of this stretch, you can reach us at (407) 591-6747.
The 60 miles of I-95 between Daytona Beach and Cocoa are a strange place to lose a truck. You’re close to two cities, but much of the road in between is empty, especially north of Titusville. It’s also the exact stretch where drivers heading to Orlando pick either I-4 or the Beachline, so a breakdown there usually wrecks a delivery window too.
Below is how we’d want a driver to spend the first half hour, in order.
Minutes 0 to 2: get off the travel lane and light it up
If the truck is still rolling, use that momentum. An exit ramp beats the shoulder when you can reach it. The shoulder beats a travel lane every time. Pull as far right as the shoulder allows, turn the wheels away from traffic, and set the brakes.
Federal rules (49 CFR 392.22) require you to switch on your hazard flashers immediately once a commercial vehicle stops on the road or shoulder. They stay on at least until your warning devices are out.
One caution for the Cocoa end of the corridor: an exit ramp is fine as a place to limp to, but it isn’t a parking spot. FDOT has “no parking any time” signs along the southbound on-ramp from SR 524 (Exit 202), and FHP commercial vehicle troopers have been asked to watch for trucks parked there. If you’re broken down, that’s a different situation from parking, but make it obvious. Keep the hazards on and get the triangles out.
Minutes 2 to 10: triangles out, placed the I-95 way
You have 10 minutes to place your warning devices. Most drivers learn the two-way road layout, with one triangle ahead of the truck. I-95 is a divided highway, so the rule changes. All three triangles go behind the truck, facing oncoming traffic:
- One on the traffic side, about 10 feet (4 paces) behind the truck
- One about 100 feet (40 paces) back, in the center of the lane or shoulder you’re in
- One about 200 feet back, also in the center of your lane or shoulder
If you stopped within 500 feet of a curve, a hill, or anything else that blocks the view, move the far triangle back so traffic sees it in time. The rule allows anywhere from 100 to 500 feet.
Walk back along the guardrail side, not the traffic side, and carry the triangles in front of you so drivers see them before they see you.
Florida’s Move Over law also covers you. Drivers have to move over a lane, or slow down if they can’t, for a disabled vehicle with hazards, flares or emergency signs showing. That’s one more reason to get the lights and triangles up fast. Don’t count on everyone obeying it.
Minutes 10 to 15: figure out exactly where you are
“I-95 near Titusville” can mean four different exits. A mechanic or trooper needs your direction (northbound or southbound) and a number. On Florida interstates the exit numbers follow the mile markers, so the green mile marker posts on the shoulder tell you roughly which exit you’re near.
Here are the interchanges on this stretch, south to north:
| Exit | Road | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 201 | SR 520 (King Street) | Cocoa, Cocoa Beach |
| 202 | SR 524 | Cocoa |
| 205 | SR 528 (Beachline Expressway) | Port Canaveral east, Orlando west |
| 208 | Port St. John Parkway | Port St. John |
| 212 | SR 407 (Challenger Memorial Parkway) | Titusville, Kennedy Space Center |
| 215 | SR 50 (Cheney Highway) | Titusville, Orlando |
| 220 | SR 406 (Garden Street) | Titusville |
| 223 | SR 46 | Mims, Sanford |
| 231 | CR 5A (Deering Parkway) | Scottsmoor, Oak Hill |
| 244 | SR 442 (Indian River Boulevard) | Edgewater |
| 249 | SR 44 | New Smyrna Beach, DeLand |
| 256 | SR 421 | Port Orange |
| 260A/B | I-4 west, SR 400 east | Orlando, South Daytona |
| 260C | US 92 | Daytona Beach |
Pay attention to the gap between Exit 231 and Exit 244. There’s no interchange for about 13 miles, and part of that runs through the Turnbull Hammock conservation area. If you break down in there, the mile marker is the only address you have. Take a photo of the nearest post so you don’t have to walk back to read it again.
There’s also a rest area at mile marker 227 in Mims, between SR 46 and Deering Parkway. FDOT has been rebuilding the southbound side to add a lot more truck parking. If your truck is still drivable and you’re close, check FL511 or cflroads.com to see whether it’s open before you aim for it.
Minutes 15 to 20: make the right calls, in the right order
911 comes first if any part of the truck or trailer is in a travel lane, if there’s smoke or fire, if there’s a fuel or load spill, or if anyone is hurt.
*347 (*FHP) is the call when you’re safely on the shoulder but exposed. It reaches Florida Highway Patrol dispatch, and in Central Florida it’s also how you ask for FDOT Road Rangers. Road Rangers have patrolled I-95 through Brevard and Volusia counties since 2019. They can help with traffic protection and minor fixes, but they aren’t heavy-duty diesel mechanics. Treat them as a way to make the scene safer while you wait.
Your dispatcher or fleet manager needs to know early, especially if you’re under a delivery appointment or running a reefer. They may also have a preferred vendor or a repair authorization process you need to follow before anyone turns a wrench.
A heavy-duty mechanic comes next. Our shop is at 9640 Sidney Hayes Rd in south Orlando, a few minutes off the Beachline, and the Beachline meets I-95 at Exit 205. Our 24/7 roadside service covers roughly 50 miles around Orlando. When you call, give us your exit or mile marker first. We’ll tell you right away whether our roadside truck can reach you, or whether a tow to our shop is the faster way to get you moving. The farther north you are toward New Smyrna Beach and Daytona, the more that answer depends on where exactly you’re sitting.
Minutes 20 to 30: give the mechanic what they need, then wait safely
Nearly every roadside call starts with the same handful of questions. Having the answers ready saves a trip back to the shop for the wrong part:
- Exit or mile marker, direction, and which shoulder you’re on
- Year, make and model of the truck, plus the engine (DD15, X15, D13, MX-13, and so on)
- What happened right before it quit: a noise, a smell, a derate, a warning light, loss of air
- Any codes on the dash, or a photo of the dash
- Whether you can still build air pressure
- What you’re pulling, whether it’s loaded, and whether a reefer unit needs to keep running
- Who is authorizing and paying for the repair
A photo of the dash and the engine bay, sent by text, often tells us more than a description does. If you have a reefer load, say so on the first call. Temperature changes the whole priority list, and we cover that in more detail in our reefer trailer repair guide.
While you wait, stay out of the space between the truck and traffic. If there’s a guardrail and it’s safe to get behind it, that’s usually a better place to stand than in or next to the cab. Central Florida heat is its own hazard, so keep water with you and don’t plan on idling for an hour if the problem is cooling or fuel related.
The engine question matters more than most drivers expect. Each manufacturer uses its own diagnostic software, and we carry Cummins INSITE, Detroit Diesel Diagnostic Link, PACCAR Davie4 and Volvo Tech Tool. Knowing the engine before we leave the shop means the tech brings the right laptop and cable instead of guessing. On the shoulder, the calls we get most often are no-starts, dead batteries and alternators, air leaks that won’t let the truck build pressure, trucks that ran out of fuel and need priming, DEF and SCR derates, blown coolant hoses, and sensor faults that drop the engine into limp mode. If your problem sounds like one of those, say so on the call. It helps us bring the right parts.
Before any work starts, we quote the job flat rate and in writing. If your carrier has to approve repairs, have them ready to sign off so the truck isn’t sitting after the tech arrives. We speak English and Russian, so drivers can explain the problem in whichever language is easier.
Will it get fixed on the shoulder or towed?
It depends on what failed. Dead batteries, air leaks, fuel priming, many sensor faults and a lot of DEF and SCR derates can be handled on the shoulder. Anything that needs the engine opened up usually can’t. We wrote a detailed breakdown in what a mobile mechanic can actually fix on the shoulder. It was written about the Beachline and Turnpike, but the same limits apply on I-95. There’s also a broader list in what repairs can be done during truck roadside assistance.
When a roadside fix isn’t realistic, we arrange heavy-duty towing back to the shop. There, the truck gets full computer diagnostics and whatever engine repair or brake service it needs. Tire problems are the other common reason trucks stop on this stretch, and our tire service covers both roadside and in-shop work.
A few things we’d do before your next run up or down this stretch
Check that all three triangles are actually in the truck and not cracked. Save (407) 591-6747 and your fleet’s breakdown number in your phone before you need them. If you run this corridor every week, a preventive maintenance schedule catches most of the failures that leave trucks on the shoulder, like worn belts, weak batteries, soft hoses and leaking air lines.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I place warning triangles on I-95?
I-95 is a divided highway, so all three triangles go behind the truck, facing oncoming traffic. Place them at about 10 feet, 100 feet and 200 feet, and get them out within 10 minutes of stopping. If you stopped near a curve or hill, move the far one back as far as 500 feet.
What number do I call if my semi breaks down on I-95 in Brevard or Volusia County?
Call 911 for anything blocking traffic, any fire, or any injury. For a disabled truck that’s safely on the shoulder, dial *347 (*FHP) to reach Florida Highway Patrol and request FDOT Road Rangers. Then call a heavy-duty mechanic. Top Rides in Orlando is at (407) 591-6747.
Is there a truck repair shop near I-95 in Cocoa or Titusville?
Top Rides is in south Orlando at 9640 Sidney Hayes Rd, Orlando, FL 32824, a few minutes off the Beachline (SR 528). The Beachline connects to I-95 at Exit 205, between Cocoa and Port St. John, so our roadside truck can reach the Cocoa and Titusville area directly. Trucks that can’t be fixed on the shoulder can be towed to our shop.
Can I park my broken-down truck on an I-95 ramp?
A ramp is a reasonable place to get a failing truck out of the travel lanes, but it isn’t legal parking. Some ramps in Brevard County, including the southbound on-ramp at SR 524, are posted no parking any time. If you’re disabled on a ramp, keep your hazards on, put out your triangles, and get help moving quickly.
How do I tell a mechanic where I am when there’s no exit nearby?
Use the green mile marker posts along the shoulder and give your direction of travel. On Florida interstates, exit numbers match mile markers, so “southbound near mile 238” tells us you’re between Exit 244 and Exit 231.
Stuck on I-95 right now?
Call Top Rides at (407) 591-6747. Give us your exit or mile marker, your direction, and what the truck did before it quit.
Top Rides 9640 Sidney Hayes Rd, Orlando, FL 32824 Phone: (407) 591-6747 Email: contact@topridesrepair.com Shop hours: Monday to Friday, 8 AM to 6 PM Roadside assistance: 24/7 Languages: English and Russian Get directions
Top Rides handles semi truck repair in Orlando for owner-operators and fleets running I-4, Florida’s Turnpike, the Beachline (SR 528), SR 417 and US 441.
About the authors: This guide was written by the service team at Top Rides, a heavy-duty diesel repair shop in Orlando. The shop was started by diesel mechanics who had spent years working on trucks in Florida heat, and the team brings more than 20 years of experience. Every technician on the floor holds an active ASE Master Truck certification and updates it every year to keep up with new emissions and electronics systems. The shop works only on trucks over 14,000 lbs, across all major makes including Volvo, Freightliner, Kenworth, Peterbilt, Mack, International and Western Star. More about our team.