How Long Should Towing Take?
Towing a vehicle can be a relatively simple or an extremely complicated process depending on a few factors. How long it takes the tow truck to get to where you are, how long it'll take to prepare your car for the towing and fast the tow truck tows along the car will all make a difference.
Even if the tow truck gets to you in a relatively short time, there are other factors that may result in a very long towing process.
Time for Tow Truck to Get to You
One of the main reasons why towing a vehicle can take a long time has nothing to do with the actual towing. Many people in need of auto towing services have found themselves waiting for a very long time for the tow truck to get to them. There are several reasons why this is the case such as:
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The tow truck driver may be far or on another job
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The road conditions may be treacherous
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The tow truck driver may find it difficult to locate you etc.
Cars that use telematics systems were noted in a study to receive faster roadside assistance because these systems made it easier for them to be located. With telematics, drivers waited for just over 30 minutes on average. Without these systems, they waited for around 50 minutes.
Preparing the Car for Towing
There are certain factors that the tow truck driver has to take into account before they can tow your vehicle. This ensures that they don't risk causing more damage to the car or endangering themselves and other motorists while towing your car.
If your car has suffered severe damage, there may be a few things that will have to be done before it can be safely towed to the repair shop or wherever you'd like it taken. The time for this can vary greatly.
Towing the Car
How long it takes to actually tow the car or truck is also not a constant. The road conditions may not allow the tow truck driver to go above a certain speed, e.g., if the road is very busy or if it has been snowing heavily. There is also the issue of the degree of damage that the vehicle suffered. Towing a seriously damaged vehicle at a high speed may cause the car to shake itself apart which is both a loss to you and a danger to other people.
It's also important to remember that the experience of the tow truck driver will also be a factor. Be sure to look at the reviews of any car and truck towing company before you hire them to come to the scene. For more information, contact a company like River's Truck Center.