Towing Best Practices Module 4

Automotive Towing
Best Practices
Module Four

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a. Avoid rapid starts or fast accelerations.

Module Four: Transporting a Vehicle with a Wrecker or Carrier Truck

Safe Driving Guidelines

b. Check the mirrors of the tow truck to make sure you have an unobstructed view and that the disabled vehicle is tracking properly.

c. On long tows, check to make sure that the position of the tow device has not lost its position due to any leaks in the hydraulic system.

d. Check wheel-securing straps to make sure the vehicle has not shifted position.

e. When driving on uneven ground, take extra precaution that you do not dislodge the disabled vehicle or damage its under parts.

The most important part of being a professional driver is having the right attitude. The mark of a professional driver is having self-control and never letting emotions control his/her actions.

Module Four: Transporting a Vehicle with a Wrecker or Carrier Truck

Safe Driving Guidelines

a. Yield right-of-way to prevent accidents.

b. Be careful at intersections.

c. Practice extending your field of vision.

d. Maintain a margin of safety.

e. When towing a vehicle allow additional room for braking.

You must always adjust your driving habits to road, weather, and traffic conditions.

Module Four: Transporting a Vehicle with a Wrecker or Carrier Truck

Safe Driving Guidelines

1. Recognize the hazard.

2. Know the defense.

3. Apply the correct response.

The Standard Accident Prevention Formula, developed by the National Safety Council, will greatly reduce the chances of an accident occurring:

When driving a tow truck with a vehicle in tow, it is important to increase the distance between you and the vehicle ahead of you in order to compensate for the additional time it will take to slow to a complete stop.

Module Four: Transporting a Vehicle with a Wrecker or Carrier Truck

Braking

To stop a vehicle, you need to “See-Think-Do”. Total stopping distance is the distance your vehicle will travel from the moment you:

See – a hazard.

Think – decide to stop.

Do – place your foot on the brake until you stop.

a. Always use rear/side-view mirrors when reversing with a vehicle in tow.

Module Four: Transporting a Vehicle with a Wrecker or Carrier Truck

Steering

b. When driving, rear/side-view mirrors will show you the vehicles behind and beside you, but they may not show you all the vehicles you need to be aware of. Always check your blind spots. Take a quick glance over your shoulder to make sure the lane is clear before crossing. travel from the moment you:

c. Always use extension lights
(even in daytime).

Side-view mirrors on each side of the truck will show traffic adjacent to each side of the tow truck. However, these mirrors have blind spots.

Module Four: Transporting a Vehicle with a Wrecker or Carrier Truck

Steering

Check your mirrors first, but then look over your shoulder as a final check before making a lane change.

With a vehicle in tow, you must also account for the extra length needed between you and the adjacent vehicle you are passing.

As an extra precaution you should always change lanes slowly.

Do not tow any vehicle that reduces the weight of the front axle of your tow truck to less than ½ of its unloaded weight.

Module Four: Transporting a Vehicle with a Wrecker or Carrier Truck

Calculating the Load for Safe Steering

Turning:

When making turns while towing a vehicle you must allow for the extra length.

Module Four: Transporting a Vehicle with a Wrecker or Carrier Truck

Turning and Reversing While Towing a Vehicle

You must begin the turn a little earlier than normal to ensure that both the truck and the vehicle will clear the corner or any parked cars.

Reversing a Tow Truck With a Vehicle

Reversing a towed vehicle can be tricky and takes practice.

Module Four: Transporting a Vehicle with a Wrecker or Carrier Truck

Turning and Reversing While Towing a Vehicle

The rear of a towed vehicle moves in the opposite direction from the rear of the truck.

To help you make this process easier to manage, employ the following technique:

1. Place your hands on the steering wheel at 10 and 2 with thumbs facing upward.

2. To move the towed vehicle to the right move your left thumb towards the center; to turn the towed vehicle to the left move your right thumb towards the centre.

Reversing a Tow Truck With a Vehicle

Practicing this technique will help you to get the feel of the opposite movement between the truck and the towed vehicle.

Module Four: Transporting a Vehicle with a Wrecker or Carrier Truck

Turning and Reversing While Towing a Vehicle

You will probably discover that backing the vehicle toward the driver’s side of the truck is easier than backing the vehicle to the passenger side of the truck.

Practice this technique by using only the side and rear-view mirrors to guide you.

You must always use axillary lights when towing a vehicle behind a wrecker or carrier.

Module Four: Transporting a Vehicle with a Wrecker or Carrier Truck

Auxiliary (Drag or Extension) Lights

After you have completed the hook-up and the vehicle is secure, you will begin to re-enter onto the road and oncoming traffic.

Module Four: Transporting a Vehicle with a Wrecker or Carrier Truck

Re-entering or Merging Into Traffic After a Hook-up

This would typically be done from the shoulder of the road (depending on the scene) and you will need to turn on your hazard or beacon lights until you are fully merged with traffic.

Towing at night requires even more caution than during the day due to restricted vision caused by darkness. Streetlights and the headlights from oncoming traffic can also cause restricted vision.

Module Four: Transporting a Vehicle with a Wrecker or Carrier Truck

Towing at Night

See ARA OHS Responsibilities and Industry Supported Safe Work Practices for the Towing and Recovery Industry, Transport, page 47.

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Automotive Towing
Best Practices
Module Four

Thank You. This concludes Module Four

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