Semi truck towing and roadside repair: what we know, written down

Why we write these

Almost every article here started as a question someone asked on the phone at a bad moment — usually standing on a shoulder, usually with a load that is now late. The answers are the ones we would give on that call, written down so you can read them before you need them rather than during.

There are no prices in them. A heavy tow is quoted per job, because the access, the angle, the weight and the distance move the number far more than any list could, and a published figure would be wrong for most of the people reading it. What these articles do instead is explain what drives the cost, so you can tell whether the quote you are given is reasonable — including a quote from somebody other than us.

What they cover

Broadly three things. What to do in the first ten minutes — where to stand, what to put out, what to tell dispatch, and the decisions that are hard to undo later. Repair or tow — which faults can genuinely be fixed where the truck is standing and which ones cannot, because that single decision usually accounts for the largest difference in what a breakdown costs you. And how to choose — what certification and insurance actually mean, and which questions separate a company that can do the job from one that will find out on your vehicle.

If you are reading this because something has already gone wrong, stop reading and call (816) 888-8732. The articles will keep.