Are Tow Truck Operators First Responders?

August 20, 2024
Written by
the HAAS Alert Team
Brynne Piehowski

Tow truck operators are absolutely first responders, given the dangerous work they undertake to assist stranded motorists daily. Spending hours on the road exposes them to constant risks. Here are some of the hazards they encounter:

• Navigating loaded tow trucks through heavy traffic: Loaded tow trucks are challenging to maneuver. Tow truck drivers need the motoring public to give them the right of way, wider free space, and to stay out of their blind spots. But unfortunately, they cannot always count on this cooperation.
• Adverse weather conditions: Rain, snow, and ice causes difficult conditions for any driver. But when a civilian driver skids or loses control of their car, that creates a significant risk for tow truck operators.
• Acts of violence: Some tow truck drivers have to tow vehicles being repossessed. Those vehicle owners are understandably angry. However, sometimes they unfortunately take it out on the tow truck driver.
• Drivers are distracted: Every state requires drivers to slow down, and move over for emergency vehicles. But with cell phones on hand and more soundproof cars, drivers are operating their vehicles distracted and putting tow truck operators at risk.
• Risk of struck-by collisions: Tow truck operators must stand next to and work on a stranded vehicle while traffic whizzes by. With a rise in distracted driving, this puts tow truck professionals in constant risk of being hit on the side of the road.

It’s an incredibly important, yet undeniably dangerous job. The key to keeping tow truck operators safer is improving Move Over law compliance.

Are Tow Truck Operators First Responders?

While the motoring public may be unclear and certain regulations are vague, the answer is a resounding yes. Tow operators are first responders, too. The definition of a first responder is a person that is trained to assist with and respond to an emergency situation.

Tow truck operators are called in to assist when a motorist is stranded. Drivers often find themselves stranded due to emergency situations. It could be caused by a person popping their tire or a medical emergency causing the driver to lose control of their vehicle. Tow truck drivers are often the first responders on scene, ensuring those drivers get to safety.

Tow truck drivers frequently put their lives on the line to assist stranded drivers. AAA reports that roadside assistance providers are struck and killed nearly four times more than reported — that includes tow truck drivers. A 2016 study also calls tow truck driving the fourth most dangerous job in the U.S.

Just as tow truck operators are first responders, their trucks can be considered emergency vehicles. At its most basic definition, emergency vehicles respond to emergency situations. Tow trucks respond to auto-related emergencies.

When a Tow Truck is Considered to be an Emergency Vehicle

To be formally considered an emergency vehicle, state patrol must approve that designation in writing. Similar to other first responders, a tow truck operator’s vehicle must follow specific legislation. Generally speaking, those regulations are laid out by The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), and The Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS). These regulations tend to vary from state to state.

For example, as TCS Uplifting notes, some states permit tow trucks to flash white and amber or red and blue lights when they are on scene in an emergency situation. But other states only consider wreckers to be “authorized service vehicles” and only allow them to use flashing, oscillating, or rotating yellow lights when they’re actively performing an emergency recovery or load operation.

But just because a tow truck can be an emergency vehicle, it doesn’t mean it has the same protections as a police car or fire truck. For example, truck operators cannot violate traffic laws while they’re en route to an emergency scene.

Every state, except Washington, D.C., includes tow truck operators in Move Over law protections. However, the motoring public is trained to move over for orange cones and red and blue lights. Their instinct might not be to move over for the amber lights of a tow truck. This may be why an average of one tow truck driver in the U.S. is killed on the road every week.

Tow truck operators perform emergency operations that keep the community safer on the road. Move Over laws and the ability to categorize a truck as an emergency vehicle are a great start to better roadway safety. However, inconsistent legislation and lack of civilian driver awareness mean that tow truck operators should continue to take additional precautions to protect themselves on the road.

Keeping Tow Truck Drivers Safer on the Road

While they may be included in Slow Down, Move Over laws, these regulations alone are not enough to keep tow truck professionals safe on the road. The motoring public is driving distracted and traffic deaths are on the rise. Tow truck operators are first responders who deserve protections and drivers' attention, but that's not always a guarantee. Here are some other tips tow truck drivers should follow for better protection on the job:

• Provide training for all drivers— OSHA requires specific training for all tow truck drivers. That way, they’ll be able to handle their vehicles and themselves in a number of different scenarios they may encounter on the road.
• Drive defensively — Tow truck operators should decrease their chances of getting in an accident by driving within the speed limit and keeping safe distances from other vehicles on the road. Account for blind spots by ensuring all mirrors on the truck and visual aids are securely set in place and working properly.
• Take control of the scene — When responding on the side of the road, take control of the scene immediately. Turn on safety lights, mark the area with cones, flares, and markers. If someone is injured, move them out of harm’s way. Visually confirm objects and onlookers are clear of your equipment before loading vehicles onto your truck.
• Leverage personal protective equipment — The motoring public is not always used to giving responding tow truck operators clearance on the road. In response to that, the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) provides safety regulations for the challenges that you face as a trucker. Wear brightly-colored clothes to ensure you're seen, along with long pants, closed-toe shoes, work gloves, and safety glasses as an extra safety precaution.

Preventative Vehicle Maintenance is Key to Tow Truck Driver Safety

While human lives are far more valuable than other assets, one of the best ways a tow truck driver can stay safe on the road is through preventative tow truck maintenance. Here are some ways to keep trucks in top-condition so tow truck drivers can be better protected on the road.

• Load and secure vehicles properly— When a vehicle is loaded onto your truck improperly, it can cause significant damage. Always use the appropriate straps, chains and double check connections before driving away with a loaded truck.
• Regular inspections — Regularly schedule checks of critical truck components such as the engine, fluids, transmission, brakes, suspension.
• Tire care— Keep an eye on tire pressure, tread depth, and overall condition to ensure they can handle heavy loads.
• Towing equipment inspections— Your vehicle needs to carry heavy loads. Make sure the equipment that allows it to do so is in good shape. Regularly keep an eye on winches, hooks, and all other towing apparatus to avoid accidents and damage.
• Keep an eye on electrical and lighting systems— Regularly check your truck's electrical and lighting systems, including headlights, taillights, brake lights, and turn signals to avoid accidents and regulatory violations.

Another great way to protect tow truck operators and their vehicles on the road is to ensure the motoring public is notified of their presence. This can be achieved with digital alert systems.

Digital Alerting Systems are Effective Preventative Safety Measures for Tow Truck Operators

A digital alerting system is an electronic notification sent directly to a driver. HAAS Alert leverages this technology, which is a form of vehicle-to-everything communication, to power its flagship platform Safety Cloud®. It’s a solution that sends digital alerts up to 30 seconds in advance from equipped trucks or emergency vehicles directly to the motoring public.

These extra moments allow drivers more time to take appropriate action while protecting first responders like tow truck drivers on the road. Digital alerting from HAAS Alert's Safety Cloud offers hands-free safety to tow truck drivers that is easy to install. You can activate it through platforms that you already use, such as Samsara and AAA.

What Do Real Tow Agencies Have to Say About Digital Alerting?

Tow truck drivers responding to emergencies on the road have seen results from digital alerting for themselves. Towing expert Ron Pratt of Midwest Truck Sales & Service, Inc says that a standard tow is incredibly dangerous, as drivers are on their own and the motoring public simply doesn't pay attention. He sees Safety Cloud as a huge asset to emergency workers like himself, as alerts are sent directly to navigation apps and integrated systems within vehicles. The visual and audible component of Safety Cloud helps to ensure that when a driver is coming up on an active tow scene, drivers will be more likely to slow down, and move over.

Leaders in the towing industry around the country have explained why they trust Safety Cloud to keep them safe on the road. For example, James Jennings of Emerald Transportation Corporation says that he has not found a better option on the market than Safety Cloud, calling it the best product out there to protect his drivers on the highway. As of January 2023, his fleet was sending over 100,000 alerts to trucks each month after just seven months with Safety Cloud.

"The more connected vehicles that are out on the highways is going to be a benefit to all of us," said James.

AAA Hoosier Motor Club on the Impact of Safety Cloud® Digital Alerts

Justin Moore, Fleet Operations Manager with AAA Hoosier Motor Club, reiterated the dangers that tow truck drivers face on the road. AAA technicians respond to a variety of emergency situations, from vehicle breakdowns to flat tires and motorists who have run out of fuel — and they're often in physically compromising positions when they do so. Justin says that when a driver is primarily focusing on their phone, there's not much his technicians can do to get their attention. That's why he loves Safety Cloud digital alerting.

Andy Hughes, Senior Vice President of AAA Hoosier Motor Club agreed, praising the fact that Safety Cloud is a passive service. Once it's wired into a technician's vehicle, it automatically starts broadcasting alerts. He says it allows the public to recognize that this is not just an AAA employee — it's a person who deserves to go home safely.

The Canadian Automobile Association Club Group (CCG) services a large area that includes Highway 401 — a stretch of road so dangerous that it has its own reality show. In 2022, the group launched an organization-wide innovation program Endeavour to innovate on ways to better protect technicians and the greater community.

They eventually came across and implemented Safety Cloud digital alerting. Tanya Weigelt, AVP - Automotive at CCG, was thrilled with the results. She has known colleagues that have lost technicians due to struck-by collisions. But now people are noticing the alerts and slowing down for their tow truck operators and stranded motorists on the road. In fact, CCG conducted a study through DIG Insights and saw that 97 percent of drivers who received an alert slowed down and moved over.

Digital Alerting Protects All First Responders

Tow truck operators do so much more than transporting vehicles from one location to another. They are often the first responders on-scene and play a crucial role in getting stranded motorists to safety in emergency situations.

First responders like tow operators deserve better protection on the road — digital alerting is the answer. With a service like Safety Cloud, motorists are alerted directly inside their vehicles up to half a mile away. This significantly reduces the risk for operators.

Download your copy of the Safety Cloud for Towing Guide to learn more about what digital alerting can do for your fleet!