A Little Towing History & Towing Facts

In 1915/1916, Ernest Holmes, an experienced mechanic from Chattanooga, got the help of six men to fashion together ropes and blocks to tow vehicles. He decided later on that they could tow cars easier by implementing  a truck that was flat on the cargo end, so he then came up with the early idea of a flatbed truck. Then he then invented a type of crane that could lift cars and trucks that had been in accidents onto his towing trucks. In his hometown of Chattanooga, There is a Museum dedicated to the history tow trucks even today! The International Towing and Recovery Hall of Fame and Museum displays restored antique trucks, wreckers, tools, even other equipment, as well as vivid pictorial histories of the industry Holmes created. They also keep most of us who serve in this line of business updated on current events in the industry, continued education opportunities and they help raise funds each year to promote awareness of highway dangers associated with towing to help prevent accidents and loss of life on the road. 

Many law enforcement officials credit tow truck owners and operators for keeping traffic moving along more efficiently. They keep the streets and busy roadways free of cars blocking major traffic areas.

Common names we use are:  tow trucks, boom trucks, wrecker, self-loader, recovery truck, snatcher truck, quick pick truck, slide truck, roll back truck, rotator towing truck, breakdown truck

Flatbed tow trucks are sensible, and the most commonly used in the United States. It is less likely the customers property will be damaged, and flatbeds are more efficient in most situations.

The average owner or operator of US owned towing trucks works at only an estimated 5% profit margin. That means that for every $20 in gross revenue our customers pay, our profit is only 1 dollar, the other 95% of that money is going towards the overall trucking expenses as a basic bottom line estimate. These include things like truck payment, maintenance of equipment, trip fuel, insurance for the truck and driver, permits, and hourly pay for the team.

The military actually deploys tow trucks and wreckers for recovery of their stranded vehicles. In the US Army, a type of the HEMTT truck is commonly used for those adventures, called the M984 wrecker. For recovery in combat situations during combat times, many armies with large vehicle fleets also deploy heavy duty armour wrecker or towing truck. These vehicles play a similar role, but are resistant to heavy fire to be expected in combat, and capable of handling rough terrain with their special made deep tracks, and can manage towing vehicles beyond the weight limits of wheeled wreckers, such as tanks as most are based on tank designs for this service specifically.

It is rare but some police departments own tow trucks, but in the US it is common to contract police tows to private companies. WE DO NOT IMPOUND OR TOW UNLESS THE OWNER OF THE CAR, TRUCK OR MOTORCYCLE IS PRESENT AND REQUESTS THE TOW. Businesses who operate a larger fleet of service vehicles, such as school bus companies or package delivery services, often own one or several tow trucks for the purposes of towing their own equipment or service vehicles, we can back up those companies in their time of need. Government departments with large fleets (such as the police departments, fire departments, transportation authorities and departments of public works of major cities) may also own towing truck(s). Your local police department in some cases, may have  tow trucks specifically to be used to impound other vehicles. Heavy tow trucks are often called to clear semi truck, or tractor trailer accidents and straighten out jack-knifed trucks. In rural or unorganized areas, companies which operate tow trucks can sometimes also offer more services appropriate to highway clearance where government-provided ones are unavailable, such as fire suppression. We can often times assist as needed in these types of situations.

If your vehicle has been impounded we suggest calling the owner of the property it was towed from to ask where it was towed to, or the county or city police. WE DO NOT IMPOUND OR HAVE STORAGE FOR CARS AVAILABLE ON THIS LINE.

Our Commitment and Safe Towing Tips

• We strive to always operate our towing business in accord with the highest standards of ethics and moral conduct.
• Treat every customer who asks for our help in  towing or roadside services and team member in a fair, open, and honest manner, and fully comply with all laws that prohibit discrimination, we are committed to treating one another in the way we would want to be treated.
• Strive to meet the tow needs of our customers in a knowledgeable and professional manner and answer your questions.
• Advertise our products and services in a positive, factual, and informative manner, and uphold our promotional discounts as they apply for tire changes, jump starts, towing or fuel delivery.
• Detail the charges charges to assist our customers in understanding the work we provide and provide written estimates of any service work the customer may request performed, upon request, or as required by law.
• If we cannot service your vehicle, we will service you by trying to refer you to someone who can provide help.
• Delivery your vehicle to the mechanic you direct us to within our service area and beyond as per your request,
• Resolve and address customer concerns promptly and courteously.

Safety Tips For Changing A Flat Tire

If you are feeling uneasy or not very secure, always keep in mind, safety first! Give us a call, we will be glad to help…. Otherwise…

• Get As Far Away The Road side As You Can
• Whether you’re on 2 lane blacktop or a superhighway, you need to get your car as far out of the way of traffic as possible. If you can put the flat tire on the side of the car facing away from traffic then you are already much safer than you were where you started.
• Clearly signal to Other Drivers That You Are Experiencing An Emergency, suck as a cone or affix clothing on your mirror
• Turn on your hazard lights! This will let other drivers know there’s something wrong, but that is just a start. Portable road cones or signs to help direct traffic into the lane away from your car are needed and road flares can help. This lets other drivers know to give you room to change your tire as safely as possible.
• Make Sure You Have Flat and solid Ground For Your Jack to be secure
• Before you can change your flat, you will need to jack the car up. The jack needs to be set against the frame of the vehicle to bear the most of the weight, and it also needs to be set on flat ground that’s sturdy and secure. If you jack your car up at a slight angle, the jack will likely slip and could cause severe injury! Or costly mistakes can cause your car could roll backward, or down a hill. These risks are bad enough even in normal circumstance, but on a bustling road they can get even worse, they can be deadly.
• Be Aware of Your Surroundings at all times
• It may seem like common sense, but if you’re changing a flat tireon a busy road you need to be aware of the traffic all around you. No matter how many careful you are or what signs you put out, there is always danger as long as there is any movement around you and your vehicle. If you have someone with you it’s a good idea to have that person keep a sharp lookout for other drivers.