10 Tips to Tow Like a Pro

Meet with a customer and load his/her vehicle safely and within a respectable time...

That's all you have to do if you're a tow truck driver, right? Actually, that's one of several things you need to do, before actually driving away with it and taking it across town, or across the Valley.

If you're reading this as the owner of another towing company across the United States, this post is for you.

Here are what we consider to be our top 10 tips to tow like a pro:

1. Ooze friendliness and care. Most people are more than happy to pay you for your services-- as long as they genuinely like you. Here's a hint... They'll definitely like you if you smile, look sharp, and show that you truly care about their situation.
2. Be mindful of the fact that they are probably rushed. Try to be quick, but engage them with you-- get their attention. Don't be overly rushed, but let your over the phone communication show the customer that you're aware that they don't want to spend all day chatting it up with you. Chances are they are late to be somewhere, as a result of the breakdown. Try to quote them a price quickly, while also making one, quick, memorable connection where you laugh together. This will help if they are the type of person that likes to call every company in the area. They'll remember you for the laugh, and come back to you for your business.
3. Be there when you say you will. Nothing is worse than waiting on someone who isn't there when they said they would be. In the world of towing, the importance of this is magnified. If something holds you up, always give a courtesy call to the customer and let them know.
4. Assess the area for safe conditions upon arrival, and proceed. Safety is always the first priority. When you arrive, make sure all work can be completed without the danger of being struck by passing traffic. Ensure the customer is as far from traffic as possible and that they remain in a protected area during the loading of the vehicle.
5. Greet them with a friendly attitude and demeanor. Explain the process quickly. Again, smile. When you arrive and meet face to face, greet them with a big, fat smile. Let your natural presence and personality express itself. We believe that to truly succeed in the towing industry, you have to always show that you care.
6. Hook-up the vehicle using standard safety procedures. Always use proper methods to load the vehicle onto the flatbed, and secure it accordingly. If you aren't already, get in the habit of double and triple checking your work. It's best to be extra cautious when hauling an automobile.
7. Travel to destination, providing transportation for customer, if necessary. Occasionally, the customer will need to ride with you in the tow truck from pick up to drop off. Some drivers keep cool beverages or snacks on their rig for this sort of situation. Be as accommodating as possible for your passengers.
8. Unload safely and efficiently. When dropping the vehicle, be extremely thorough and careful as you complete the job you're being paid for. Nothing is worse than spending all that time and effort, only to damage a vehicle during the unloading process.
9. Compliment the customer on something - nice car, great attitude, admirable patience. Simply one of life's best lessons... people love to think and talk about themselves. Find something you genuinely admire in them, and let them know. Even something as simple as, "I really like your shoes" can go a long way in leaving the customer with a positive compliment.
10. Thank them for their business and encourage them to leave a good review online. Let them know how thankful you are for their business and that you'd love it if they would let others know. In today's game, reviews are huge. The can make or break you. For this reason, it's important to try and earn as many as possible so that if you do get a bad review one day, it swims in a sea of many more good ones.

Here at San Tan Towing Pros, we try to live by those 10 tips. Our goal is to treat each and every customer like family, and continue to provide the best towing service in San Tan Valley. We guarantee you'll be blown away by our excellent customer service and awareness of what you need in your time of need.