OSHA Requirements for Tow Truck Drivers

osha requirements for truck drivers

If you think being a tow truck driver is easy, think again. According to the National Institute for Occupational Safety, towing is considered one of the most dangerous industries in the world. Statistics state that once every six days a tow truck driver is killed while on duty.

The reason this occupation is so dangerous is because tow truck drivers spend the majority of their time on the side of busy roads. Unfortunately, many drivers don’t follow the Move Over Laws which state you must slow down and/or move over when you see an emergency vehicle on the side of the road. Not only this but there’s also an increased chance of a collision to and from a job or an injury from an improperly loaded vehicle.

To keep tow truck drivers safe while on duty, OSHA has some requirements in place. In this article, we’ll discuss those requirements as well as some crucial safety tips. Let’s begin.

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How to Retain Tow Truck Drivers

how to retain tow truck drivers

Hiring new tow truck drivers is not an easy task and comes with a huge price. The recruiting process can be very lengthy and tedious resulting in lots of time and energy on your part. For example, you have to screen all your applicants for driving violations and criminal records. Once they pass the screening you hold interviews and the ones who are hired go onto training.

As you can see, constantly hiring new drivers isn’t very cost-effective for your towing business. So, if you want to cut costs and reduce your efforts, you should focus on driver retention.

Therefore, here are a few ways you can retain your tow truck drivers.

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Tow Truck Driver Training and Requirements – What to Know

tow truck driver training

Being a tow truck driver isn’t an easy job, in fact, it requires extensive training and knowledge. The job entails hauling broken down, totaled, or illegally-parked vehicles at all times of the day. Not to mention, these duties are crucial and you’re responsible for following safe practices on the road.

Therefore, not just anyone can be a tow truck operator. Firstly, you’ll have to complete several licensing programs and tests before you’re legally allowed to operate a tow truck. So, if you plan on starting a career in the towing industry then you may have some questions.

In this article, we’ll discuss who’s eligible to operate a tow truck and what the training requirements are.

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Tow Truck Maintenance Checklist

tow truck maintenance

If your tow trucks are running then so is your business.

It’s safe to say if your tow trucks are well-maintained then you’ll be able to spend more time on the road making money. So, it’s in your best interests to keep your trucks in working condition.

We understand how difficult it can be to maintain a tow truck. As I’m sure you’re aware, they aren’t like regular cars…they are complex heavy-duty vehicles. Taking care of a tow truck requires extensive knowledge and effort.

However, even though it’s difficult you should never neglect tow truck maintenance. Failing to do so can result in halts in your business operations and cost you more money in the long run. 

In this article, we’ll discuss several ways to maintain your tow truck so you can keep more money in your pocket and keep your business running. Let’s begin.

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When to Tip a Tow Truck Driver

tip a tow truck driver

Tipping waiters is standard protocol in the US, and almost everyone does it. However, waiters aren’t the only workers you should show gratitude and support to.  In fact, tow truck drivers are also worthy of tips.

Since getting a tow isn’t as common as going out to eat, many people don’t know whether or not they should tip tow truck drivers and if so, how much.

Although customers aren’t obligated to tip tow truck drivers, it’s still a good gesture.

With that being said, customers need to know when to tip their tow truck driver. In this article, we’ll give multiple examples of when you may want to consider tipping them. Let’s begin.

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5 Everyday Challenges for Tow Truck Drivers

challenges for tow truck drivers

According to statistics, around 69 million cars break down every year in the US. These breakdowns can happen virtually anywhere and at anytime. You may think it’s an easy process for tow truck drivers to come and haul your vehicle away, but that’s not the case. In fact, dealing with a roadside breakdown can be quite challenging.

There are many hazards and risks involved with being a tow truck driver since they operate such large vehicles. In this article, we’ll discuss the five challenges that tow truck drivers face every day while on the job.

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How Much Does On-Hook Insurance Cost?

As a tow truck driver, you have to understand that the role comes with a lot of risks. Not only is it your job to safely transport the client’s vehicle, but you’re also responsible for protecting your towing business. In other words, you need insurance to protect your business from any unforeseen expenses due to an accident or other mishap.

Investing in on-hook insurance is one way to protect your business financially. You may be wondering what on-hook insurance is and how much it costs.

In this article, we’ll discuss on-hook insurance and how to find affordable coverage for your towing business.

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How the Drivers You Hire Affect Your Towing Insurance

drivers you hire affect your towing insurance

Operating a tow truck comes with more risk and exposure than driving a regular vehicle. Since the towing industry is such a high-risk sector, you’ll likely be paying more for your insurance. However, other factors can impact your insurance premiums.

For instance, the drivers you hire can dramatically affect your insurance costs in the long run. This is because their experience, driving history, and age are used by the insurance company to determine your business’s level of risk. As you know, insurance companies don’t particularly like risk.

Therefore, to avoid high insurance premiums, you need to know what red flags to look for when hiring drivers.

In this article, we’re going to discuss how the drivers you hire affect your towing insurance and what red flags to look out for.

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Roadside Safety for Tow Truck Operators

roadside safety

Roadside safety is essential because it impacts the tow truck operator, the customer, and the other cars on the road. It can be quite hectic assisting someone with a broken-down vehicle on the side of the road. Especially since the majority of the time, you have other cars flying by you. As you can imagine, tow truck operators have to put themselves in risky situations all the time.

Unfortunately, a majority of passing vehicles ignore Move Over Laws; therefore, putting the life of the tow truck operator and their customer at risk. Therefore, if you tow vehicles for a living, you need to be aware of some roadside safety tips.

In this article, we are discussing these tips in great detail, let’s begin.

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Night Towing Safety Tips

night towing

When it gets dark outside, driving becomes more dangerous. Visibility is reduced at night and the light from other cars’ headlights can play tricks on your eyes. Driving a tow truck can be dangerous at all times of the day, but even more so at night. Your drivers will be having to pull over and assist broken-down vehicles in the middle of the night, which can be risky. Therefore, your drivers must be confident and able to mitigate the risks involved. Night towing requires more focus since there’s an increased chance of injury and collision at night.

Oftentimes tow truck drivers find themselves working the night shift and cars just love to break down when it’s three in the morning and very dark outside. Therefore, we’ve provided some safety tips to keep your tow truck operators safe while on the job.

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