Hello, my name is Brian and I live in Syndey, Australia with my wife and our four kids. I have a busy day job working in an office, so at the weekends, I like to get away from it all. Last year, I took my wife and kids out for a drive into the Outback. I am a pretty experienced driver, but I still managed to get the wheels of our car stuck in some deep mud. The sun was getting low in the sky and I started to panic. Thankfully, I managed to contact the local tow truck company who sent a man out to rescue us. He even towed my car to the nearest garage and gave me some top tips about how to tow vehicles. I hope you enjoy my blog.
A tow truck is a truck used to transport impounded or wrecked vehicles. If you are a tow truck driver, below are a few tips to ensure your safety and the safety of other motorists.
Tow truck maintenance.
Always observe the tow truck's service intervals to keep the engine in good condition. Driving a tow truck with worn out tires could lead to accidents as it could slip or skid while towing. The towing equipment, including booms, winches and wheel lift systems, should be regularly inspected and routinely serviced.
Driving the tow truck.
Driving a tow truck can be challenging. Since you have another vehicle attached to the truck, you have to be careful when overtaking other vehicles. You must observe caution when driving in bad weather. For instance, drive slow and keep the hazards on if you are driving in rainy conditions. Tow trucks operating 24 hours should have drivers working in shifts to prevent them from getting fatigued.
On-site safety.
A tow truck responding to an accident could pose a risk to other drivers. Below are a few safety measures to take when recovering vehicles.
Operating the tow truck machines.
You must have adequate training in operating tow truck booms and winches. Always observe the equipment's safety rating. For instance, if a boom is rated five tons, do not lift a vehicle heavier than five tons. When loading the car onto the truck, make sure it is centred on the tow truck's bed. Secure the tow truck with the parking brake to make sure it does not move when loading the car. The recovered vehicle should be safely secured on the tow truck.
Tow truck drivers must observe safety when driving, parking and operating tow trucks. Besides, the tow truck must be in excellent condition.
Share19 January 2019
