So, you’re pretty convinced that you want to go into towing. It seems like a cool job, and maybe you’re interested in working with cars and helping people at the same time. All of that is fine and good, but towing is a unique world and it takes a certain type of person. Here are a few questions to ask yourself if you’re considering venturing into the towing world.
8 questions to ask yourself before you go into the towing world.
1. Why do you want to go into towing?
The first question is one that everyone should ask themselves when they’re going into a new job: why? Consider why you want to go into towing in the first place. This isn’t so that you can justify the decision to anyone, but so that you have a handle on the reasons you’re drawn to the industry. Towing is hard work, so it’s important that it’s something you’re passionate about and really want to commit to. Why do you think towing is the right move for you?
2. Are you prepared for working long hours?
Towing isn’t a typical 9-5 type job. The hours can be long and, at times, unpredictable. You have to be prepared to both work hard and be flexible as far as the scheduling goes. That’s all part of the gig. (Of course, though the hours can be long and the work grueling, it’s also very rewarding!)
3. Are you okay with doing a lot of learning?
If you’re in the towing world, there’s a lot to learn. There’s a lot of training to be done, and you have to be okay with the fact that the learning never really stops. Safety and training are ongoing, and it’s important that you’re open to that. The thing is that safety is a crucial part of towing – hence why training is such a big deal. The bright side is that you’ll never be bored!
4. What kind of towing do you want to do?
You also have to think about what kind of towing you want to do. Do you want to be on rotation? Do you want to do roadside assistance? Do you want to work with a motor club? There are a lot of options. Give some thought to where in the towing world you want to be.
5. Can you do the customer-service aspect of the job?
The thing about towing is that there’s a lot of customer service involved. You need to be prepared for the customer-facing aspect of the job. And the reality is that a lot of the customers you might be helping could be extremely upset, angry, irritated, or all of the above – they’re broken down on the side of the road, after all. You’re going to be in a service industry, so you’ve got to be prepared for the angry customers. And if you’re on rotation and responding to accidents, you have to be prepared to be compassionate to people who are shaken up after being involved in a wreck.
6. Can you do maintenance and inspections?
You’ve also got to be willing to do the proper maintenance and inspections. Tow trucks need to be kept in good working order for safety purposes. That means you need to do lots of inspections of the vehicles, and that means that you need to keep up with maintenance. Yes, that takes some time and patience, but it’s really important safety-wise.
7. Do you want to get your CDL?
Another thing to consider about towing is whether or not you want to get your CDL. If you want to be in trucking, you may want to go ahead and get your CDL. That takes some studying, practicing, and work, but it could open up some opportunities. Getting a CDL is another question to ask yourself if you want to get into the towing world.
8. Are you prepared to respond to emergencies?
People often think of firefighters, police officers, and paramedics when the phrase “first-responders” comes up, but tow truck operators are some of the first people on the scene when wrecks happen. That means you could see some pretty severe wrecks. That can be really hard emotionally, as oftentimes you’re seeing the aftermath of bad car accidents. You’re right there alongside the medics and police, and it can be traumatic seeing these things. The emotional toll of being on these scenes can be heavy, so it’s important to be prepared.
Towing is a unique industry, and it takes a certain person to be in towing. If you’re considering getting into towing, it’s important to ask yourself some questions to make sure it will be a good fit for you. Towing is a very admirable profession and a very rewarding one.
Now, if you’ve decided that you want to be in towing and you need to get the proper towing insurance, we can help. Our team has worked with a lot of towing businesses to help them get the coverage they need at a great rate. You can get started with your quotes by filling out our online form, giving us a call, or messaging us. We’re happy to help with the insurance you need.
