MileCheckHighway tips for new tow truck drivers
Towing means working at the roadside — often on a live highway shoulder in traffic — which is one of the most dangerous places to do a job. Here's what matters most for new tow operators (your company's training and local move-over laws come first).
Get the location right, fast
Half the job is getting to the right spot. Dispatch gives you a location in route, direction, and mile marker — "I-5 southbound, mile 142" — and you relay your own position the same way. Being fluent in mile markers gets you there faster and keeps everyone coordinated. MileCheck shows your exact mile marker in real time plus the nearest DOT camera, so you can read the scene before you arrive. More on mile markers →
The shoulder is the danger zone
Most tow-operator injuries happen at the roadside, struck by passing traffic. Wear your high-visibility gear, position the truck to shield your work area with its lights and mass, set out cones or flares where allowed, and stay aware of traffic the entire time. Work from the side away from live lanes whenever you can, and never turn your back on moving traffic.
Move-over laws and approaching a scene
Every US state has a move-over law requiring drivers to slow down and move over for stopped emergency and service vehicles with their lights on — but not everyone obeys it, so protect yourself as if they won't. Approach a disabled vehicle slowly, park to protect the scene, and size up the situation before you get out: traffic, footing, and where the driver and passengers are standing.
The load and the long haul
Secure every hookup and check your rigging before you pull — a shifting load at highway speed is a disaster. Know your truck's height, weight, and stopping distance; a tow truck with a vehicle in tow stops much slower than you'd expect. And on long recoveries far from town, your mile marker is what pins the exact spot for dispatch, the customer, and law enforcement.
Know exactly where you are — live
MileCheck shows your nearest mile marker in real time as you drive, plus live DOT alerts and the nearest camera on your route. Free to start, works offline, runs on CarPlay and Android Auto.
Questions, answered
What is the most dangerous part of being a tow truck driver?
Working at the roadside. Most tow-operator injuries come from being struck by passing traffic on the shoulder, so high-visibility gear, protective truck positioning, and constant traffic awareness matter more than anything.
What is a move-over law?
A law requiring drivers to slow down and change lanes away from stopped emergency and service vehicles, including tow trucks, that have their lights on. Every US state has one, though the specifics and enforcement vary — so tow operators protect themselves as if drivers won't comply.
How do tow operators find a stranded vehicle?
By route, direction, and mile marker — the location dispatch provides and the driver reports. Knowing mile markers, and using tools that show them live, gets the operator to the exact spot faster.
How should a tow truck approach a disabled vehicle on the highway?
Slowly and deliberately — park to shield the work area with the truck's lights and mass, size up the traffic and footing before getting out, and stay clear of live lanes. Never turn your back on moving traffic.