North Lakes and Districts Tow Truck Drivers are some of the most experienced in the country. But do you know we have our own unique culture and traditions? Take a look!
Have you ever wondered what the world looked like from the driver’s seat of a tow truck? It’s almost hard to imagine what that would be like for many car owners. For the most part, the only interaction these car owners would have with their local tow truck companies would be whenever their vehicles get stuck on the road and they require specialised assistance to move them off the highway.
Whenever a tow truck pulls up to help you out, there’s usually more to it beyond the tow truck driver just hooking up your car and towing it away to safety. Many tow truck drivers are faced with a lot of challenges while trying to carry out their duties. Asides from the general misconceptions that many folks have about tow truck drivers, many people do not also know enough of the towing industry, which if they did would make their lives that much easier!
This is why in today’s article, we would be taking a look at 5 things your local tow truck service provider wished you knew about the tow truck services industry. Let’s begin.
1. Tow Trucks Are Classified As Emergency Vehicles
Many people don’t know this but tow trucks belong to the same category as ambulances and fire trucks – emergency vehicles. This is one fact that tow truck drivers wish more folks knew about. And it makes a lot of sense for them to be classified as such. After all, tow trucks are some of the first responders to an accident scene, and it really isn’t possible to remove car wrecks from the road without one.
Sadly, while on the road, many road users do not give tow truck drivers the right of way, even though they may do so for ambulances, fire trucks, and police cars.
2. Sometimes, The Weather Makes Working A Hassle
If you think driving in bad weather is uncomfortable, tow truck drivers have it thrice as bad. While you can decide to wait it out, and be on your way when the weather clears up, a tow truck operator would not have such luxury – especially if it’s an emergency situation. Not only will they have to struggle with poor visibility and make sure they don’t cause (or have) any accidents on the road but they also have to deal with the hassle of hooking up a car in unfriendly weather conditions, such as a heavy rainstorm or snowfall.
If you add the fact that sometimes the vehicle they need to tow is stuck in a puddle or snowbank and they need to find a way to get to it before towing it, while keeping an eye out for other road users driving on the dangerously slick road, then you have a pretty good idea why tow truck drivers wish people appreciated their efforts more.
3. Giving Accurate Directions Is Extremely Important
Technology has gone a long way in simplifying the entire process of navigation so much so that with just a click on the GPS on their mobile phones, they can tell exactly where they are anywhere in the world.
One would think that with such ease afforded by technology, giving directions would be a breeze. Nothing could be further from the truth. Somehow, despite the fact that they urgently need the services of a tow truck, many drivers are unable to provide accurate directions to their location. Some do not even have a clue where they are on the highway and can only provide generic information about their location. The tow truck driver would then have to spend time and resources searching for them before they even start thinking of towing the vehicle to where it needs to go.
4. Cash Payments Are Preferred, Although Not Compulsory.
The world has gone digital when it comes to processing payments for services rendered, and the tow truck service industry is not an exception. Many tow truck companies have readily embraced wireless payment technologies, and have no reservations accepting checks, as well as debit and credit cards payments for services rendered.
Nevertheless, if given a choice, most towing companies will rather accept payments in cash, even though they don’t mind wireless payments. And the reason for such a preference is not farfetched. Aside from the occasional request for emergency assistance in road accidents, the majority of the clients most towing companies have are folks who need to pay off some fines, or obligations before their cars can be released to them. It is perfectly logical for a tow truck driver to prefer payment in cash to avoid cases of bounced checks and bad credit. Cash keeps things relatively simple, although some clients may take an exception to it. Nevertheless, it’s better to be safe than sorry.
5. Tow Truck Drivers Go To School
There’s more to towing a vehicle than just hooking it up to a tow truck and driving. Contrary to what many people think, tow truck drivers undergo specialised training in a school before they get behind the wheels of a tow truck. That’s where they learn how to handle various kinds of tow trucks as well as get familiar with the different cars they might be required to tow someday as an operator in the field. They’re also introduced to several scenarios they may face while carrying out their duties so they can be better prepared to handle them when they occur.
Many tow truck companies decide to shave off some time from the learning curve by pairing new tow truck drivers with older, more seasoned hands so the newbies can get practical experience as they learn “on-the-job”.
There you have it. 5 things your North Lakes & District Towing tow truck driver wants you to know about the world of towing. Leave a comment below if there are more things you feel should be added to the list.
