What to look for when hiring a heavy-duty towing service

Misfortune can happen while your trucks are on the road despite your best efforts. It could be an accident involving another motor vehicle or a mechanical issue that leaves you on the side of the highway. In these situations, you will need a heavy-duty towing service to get your truck moving again.

Anyone with Internet access can see the market is crowded with towing businesses, but you can’t just call any towing service in the event of an emergency. Not all towing companies are created equal and you need to know how to tell the best from the rest. 

Positive reviews and referrals

One of the easiest ways to get a real sense of how a towing company treats its clients is by checking out the reviews on their social media pages and website. A company's online reputation is a good indicator of how effective it is in delivering service.

While reviews give you a general idea of how a business is, always take them with a grain of salt. A tow truck firm may try to artificially inflate its positive reviews, so make sure you don't blindly trust them when making your decision. There are a lot of fake reviews out there, but if you have an eye for detail you can avoid them.

Equipment and expertise

Not all towing companies offer the same services. Some specialize in heavy-duty towing, while others are more adept in roadside assistance. As the customer, it’s your responsibility to understand the towing company’s line of service before hiring them. And, if possible, dig a little deeper and try to find out how diverse their fleet is and the qualifications of their technicians. 

It’s a big plus for any towing service company to have the requisite tools and modern equipment needed to provide safe and dependable heavy-duty towing and roadside assistance. There is immense peace of mind knowing that your truck will be safe from scratches, damage and other road hazards as it travels from point A to point B.

Safety and reliability

When you call a towing service for help because you’re stalled on the side of the road (or your truck broke down on the highway), you must be able to count on them to be there when they say they will. No delays. No excuses. If you’ve hired a towing company that failed to arrive on time, you’re better off looking for another service provider the next time.

Above all else, a tow truck company must provide the highest level of safety and security to their clients and the vehicles they’re transporting. There’s often a high level of risk involved when towing a vehicle. You need a towing service with a reputation for getting the job done without any mishaps.

Emergency support

Don’t take your chances with a company that only operates on standard business hours.

Heavy-duty towing services are frequently used in the event of an accident or some unfortunate road emergency, which means time is of the essence.

If you’re in need of a tow in the middle of the night or stranded on the road because of a tragic breakdown, you don’t want to wait. In such a perilous situation, any delays can have dire consequences. You need to make sure that your tow truck company is able to come to you when you need it most. A towing service that cannot respond to these kinds of circumstances quickly defeats its purpose for existing.

Competitive pricing

For the most part, people who call a towing service are in a pinch and don’t have time to shop around to compare rates. Some towing companies take advantage of the situation, but a good towing company will not. They recognize that not everyone can afford to pay their quoted price and are ready to offer alternative options, if possible.

To ensure that you get a fair price in case you need a tow, do a pricing comparison of towing companies during your spare time and see which offers the best value for your money. While the best towing companies out there aren’t going to come cheap, they shouldn’t be ridiculously expensive either.

Professionalism and good customer service

Nothing is more important than feeling at ease with the heavy-duty towing service to which you’re entrusting your vehicle. Checking the reviews online will give you an insight into the company and their services, but you should trust your gut as well.

One of the things you should pay attention to when hiring a truck service is how they treat you on the phone, as this often reflects how your experience with them is going to be. Stay away from those that sound uninterested while talking to you on the phone, and if you’re feeling taken advantage of that's because you probably are. Look for a towing service that shows you respect and  is eager to help you. The last thing you want is for someone to take advantage of you in your moment of need.

Jeremy Keller leads the Content Marketing team for Elite Towing, a locally-owned, family-run business in Casa Grande, Arizona, that provides services to both residential and commercial customers. He enjoys photography and doing drone videographies in his spare time.

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