Tow truck driver safety on the road leaves a lot to be desired. There’s a good reason that a recent study also calls tow truck driving the fourth most dangerous job in the U.S. 

Plenty of tow operators have to navigate large and cumbersome vehicles through busy roads. They need the motoring public to give them the right of way, wider free space, and to stay out of their blind spots in order to keep them safe. But they cannot always count on that. Operating those trucks during rain, snow, and ice only adds to these difficult conditions. 

But one of the biggest risks to tow truck drivers on the road is other drivers. Thanks to cell phones, eating/drinking while driving, and modern cars, the motoring public is driving more distracted than ever. When a tow truck driver is assisting a stranded motorist on the side of the road, they're working in compromising situations. When drivers are negligent and/or distracting and speed past them, tow operators often can't react in time. This puts them in constant risk of near misses and struck-by collisions.

Drivers are used to pulling over for orange traffic cones and red and blue police lights. They're not always used to taking action when they see the amber lights of a tow truck. Towing professionals are protected under Slow Down, Move Over laws in every state except for Washington, D.C. However, members of the community are continuing to speak up about the need for improved tow truck driver safety across the U.S. 

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What do tow truck drivers say about dangers on the road?

Tow truck drivers experience real dangers on the road every day. Sometimes, these scenarios are due to unavoidable situations, like natural disasters. Florida is prone to hurricanes and dangerous levels of rain. In June 2024, the North Miami area experienced so much rain that the National Weather Service issued a very rare flash flood emergency.

WSVN 7 News reported that heavy precipitation and standing water led to a difficult and dangerous commute for drivers. Some motorists were left stranded and needed to call first responders like tow operators to get their vehicles to higher ground.

Tow operators told WSVN 7 News that they were working in knee-high water long after the sun went down. One operator estimated that he would end helping more than 100 drivers that day. Those tow operators had to navigate the dangerous waters themselves to get home to their families. 

Oftentimes, the dangers for tow truck operators come from other drivers. In July 2024, Greenwich Time reported that a crew of tow truck operators in Greenwich, Connecticut experienced a terrifying near-miss while responding to an accident. A large truck slammed into the apparatus, which crew member Fulvio Tamburro refers to as a nearly devastating situation. 

"We were there working the accident scene, and the next thing we knew, we heard screeching tires — deep and loud — like a loud howl, then a bang and crash," he said. "Then we saw smoke and steam, the [on-scene] fire truck shoved over, glass flying, people yelling. Such a surprise."

Tamburro went on noting that it was such a close call that they needed to run for cover. Three on-scene firefighters were injured in the incident. 

The state of distracted driving 

Distracted driving is more than someone's eyes wandering to their cell phones while they're on the road. In fact, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has identified three kinds of distracted driving. There are visual distractions that take your eyes off the road, such as using a GPS or rubbernecking an accident. There are manual distractions that cause you to remove your hands from the wheel, along with cognitive distractions  that take your mind off driving

These distractions lead to dangerous consequences. Approximately 3,000 people lose their lives every year to car accidents resulting from distracted drivers. This accounts for about 8% and 9% of all fatal collisions in the U.S. But not all of these collisions are fatal. In 2020, 324,652 were injured in car accidents caused by distracted driving. 

First responders like tow truck drivers are among the ranks of people injured and/or killed by distracted driving every year in the United States. Move Over laws serve as serious consequences for drivers who hit or nearly miss responders working along the road. These laws were designed to prevent collisions. They require drivers to slow down and move over to allow safe clearance to emergency personnel and roadside workers. There are harsh fines and penalties for those who break these laws. 

These regulations mark a significant stride in roadway safety in every state, but challenges still persist. For example, in Delaware, drivers encountering an active emergency vehicle are required to move a lane not adjacent to the vehicle and reduce speed. Drivers in the same scenario in South Dakota are simply asked to reduce their speed.

These discrepancies and distracted driving create a chaotic environment for emergency responders. While Move Over laws are a crucial safety measure, they're not always enough to protect first responders like tow truck drivers. That's why tow operators need to follow additional safety measures on the road to stay safe. 

Tow truck operator road safety tips 

Tow truck drivers deserve the same protection as every other first responder. When tow truck drivers are safer on the road, they’ll be able to help more stranded motorists and get home safely to their families every day. But with lack of awareness about Move Over laws, tow truck drivers often need to take additional steps to make sure they’re safe on the road. Here are some tips to keep tow operators safe:

• Adapt to changing conditions — Always anticipate hazards on the road. Weather conditions, road work, and traffic flow can all affect how we should drive — especially when operating a loaded trow. Adapt your speed and driving style to match these conditions. 
• Take control of the scene — Take control of the incident scene as soon as you arrive. 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.
• Wear protective clothing — 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. All drivers should also wear long pants, closed-toe shoes, work gloves, and safety glasses as an extra safety precaution.
• Be mindful of blind spots — A blind spot can cause a major issue for a tow operator driving a loaded truck. Ensure all mirrors on the truck and visual aids are securely set in place and working properly so you can be aware of cars in your blind spot. 
• Ensure all drivers are properly trained — OSHA requires specific training for all tow truck drivers. Every towing company needs to have established training procedures. As Prudential Overall Supply says, "Workers must be properly trained to ensure they’re knowledgeable in operational and safety procedures and able to handle a wide range of situations. All training courses must be accredited."
• Always do comprehensive pre-trip and post-trip inspections — Pre-trip and post-trip inspections are required by the DOT for all tow trucks. Make sure they’re always thorough and accurately documented to ensure driver safety. This is a crucial part of tow truck maintenance.

Emerging technology can improve tow truck driver safety, too. In fact, tools like digital alerting systems have been proven to be a viable option to provide an additional layer of safety on the road. 

How digital alerting systems keep tow truck drivers safe 

A digital alert system is an electronic notification sent directly to a driver. Any alerting vehicle or asset can be equipped with digital alerting technology. These messages inform drivers that there is a nearby or upcoming roadway hazard and they need to slow down and move over. Drivers receive these alerts through leading navigation apps like Waze and directly in the infotainment centers of compatible cars.

Digital alerting services, like Safety Cloud® by HAAS Alert, are a passive technology for first responders. As soon as a vehicle is equipped with the technology, it automatically begins to broadcast alerts once a responder activates their emergency lights. When a first responder, like a tow operator, turns off their vehicle, it will stop broadcasting alerts. HAAS Alert's tool in particular is a lifesaving, set-it-and-forget-it service that is a valued partner of AAA.  

Tow agencies share their experiences with dangers on the road

Real tow truck drivers have seen real safety results from digital alerting for themselves. Towing expert Ron Pratt of Midwest Truck Sales & Service, Inc says that a standard tow is incredibly dangerous. Tow operators are on their own and the motoring public simply doesn't pay attention. Ron’s wife LaDonna says the fact that her husband and son are tow operators is often grueling.

But Ron considers Safety Cloud an evolution in automotive safety technology that can keep him, his son Ethan, and the rest of his team safe on the road. He appreciates the visual and audible component of Safety Cloud. It ensures that when a driver is coming up on an active tow scene, they will be more likely to spot tow operators like him and will 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. Leaders in the towing industry around the country have explained why they trust Safety Cloud to keep them safe on the road. Tom Tedford is Chief Operating Officer of Guardian Fleet Services — the largest towing company in the nation. 

He felt the need to implement Safety Cloud because it allowed his organization to protect their most important asset — operators working on the side of the road. He went on to say that in just the first month of implementation with 20 percent of vehicles equipped with Safety Cloud service, the system sent out over 130,000 alerts out to approaching motorists.

"That's important to us," he said. "It helps us make sure they come home safely on a daily basis.” 

AAA Hoosier Motor Club technician Pat Hurley reiterated the dangers that tow truck drivers face on the road. His truck has actually been hit before. Once, he was loading a vehicle onto his truck and a driver sideswiped his truck. The impact tore off the mirror on her vehicle — yet she just kept driving like nothing had ever happened.

Andy Hughes, Senior Vice President of AAA Hoosier Motor Club, loves 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 dangers of operating a tow truck are not unique to the United States — technicians deal with it in other countries as well. For example, the Canadian Automobile Association Club Group (CCG) services a large area that includes Highway 401. It’s a stretch of road so dangerous that it has its own reality show. In 2022, the group launched a program Endeavour to find better ways to  protect technicians while they’re on the road.

The CCG team 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. 

It's more than clear that the road is a dangerous place for tow truck drivers. But digital alerting systems like Safety Cloud can add a crucial layer of protection to ensure all roadway users get home safely.

Download your copy of Safety Cloud for Towing to learn more about the features, benefits, and why digital alerting is the key to better tow truck driver safety.