A towing company is a business that operates on a two-pronged revenue model. Part of the company will do towing to various vehicles, and the other will be a garage that services vehicles and other businesses by providing garage space and storage. A successful business should have at least two to three towing cars, as well as a couple of service vehicles. However, there is more to running this type of company than you might think. From insurance to staff training, there are many more things to consider than increasing revenue.
Your Tow Truck Business Needs The Right Insurance
Getting the right tow truck insurance is critical for owners of tow truck businesses. Having the right insurance coverage can make a massive difference if your drivers are involved in an accident. There are many tow truck insurances, from auto liability to garage keeper coverage to physical damage insurance. Selecting the right policy and limits is essential to protect your business entirely. You will especially want to get insurance for brand new tow trucks to protect your investment as they can get easily damaged in the day-to-day running of the business. However, there are several types of insurance you should carefully consider obtaining if you want to play it safe and cover every eventuality:
- Liability: Liability insurance compensates a policyholder for losses incurred when the policyholder is sued. A policyholder is legally liable for the payment. This insurance is not an option required by law if you want to have a fleet of trucks on the public road.
- Medical Payment: Tow truck drivers will often give a lift to the drivers of the broken vehicle. It will cover the cost of medical bills in the event of an accident in which your driver, your customer, is injured. While you don’t strictly need this option, medical bills can mount up fast, and if a customer sues you for injuries, you might be liable to pay some serious money.
- Comprehensive: Comprehensive insurance is any kind of insurance that covers everything. It is an umbrella term that encompasses a wide range of coverages. It is especially useful if you have new trucks and are worried about writing them off in an accident.
- Garage Service: If your company offers towing services and roadside assistance, and even in-house repair centers, it is necessary to get garage service insurance. In this coverage, you will protect your business against damages incurred during the service of a vehicle.
- Uninsured Motorist: Uninsured motorist coverage is a type of insurance designed to cover your car if another driver without insurance hits you. It is widely available, inexpensive, and can provide peace of mind on the road.
On-Hook: This business requires you to transport other people’s vehicles. This means that if you get into an accident, you could be liable for damages during transportation. On-hook insurance can cover this and is worth considering for peace of mind.
Always Put Safety First
Drivers can quickly become complacent when it isn’t their own trucks on the line. However, they tend to forget that this complacency can also be dangerous for their health. As the company owner, it is your responsibility to keep your staff updated on the latest safety protocols and what they must do in emergencies. Some things you can do to keep everyone on track include:
- Meet regularly to discuss safety: Regular meetings should be held to go over company procedures. This could be daily, weekly, bi-weekly or monthly. Daily might be overkill and dilute the message. Nevertheless, it would be best if you came up with something that works for everyone.
- Training is critical: Keep your staff trained and updated with the latest tech, laws, and types of jobs they are likely to encounter.
- Make sure your vehicle is inspected before each trip: Prevention is the best cure, and your drivers must thoroughly check every truck before each trip.
- Ensure that your business does not allow distracted driving: You can be as draconian or as mild as you wish, but your driver’s attention must be on the road at all times. You could install hands-free sets in your trucks, but your staff should know how to use them.
- Safety policies should be established at the workplace: Every member of staff should know these policies. From the secretary to the drivers, everyone must know what to do or who to contact in an emergency.
Develop An Employee Safety Handbook
Safety is an essential factor in any company, especially in companies that use heavy machinery that is potentially lethal to the worker. This is why in most companies, an employee safety handbook is issued to all employees to ensure that they are following the proper procedures for keeping themselves safe. However, it is not sufficient to hand out these guides and call it a day. You must ensure they have all read it and know what to do. While it can seem condescending to some of your drivers, you should emphasize that it is for their safety, the safety of the business’s customers, and the company’s longevity as a whole.
Driver Training Is Essential
By implementing a thorough training program, you can provide your drivers with what they need to stay safe. The training can make new drivers aware of the hazards of towing and the steps they can take to minimize those hazards. Safety is a subject you should always be learning about, even for experienced drivers.
Foster A Team Rapport
Not all teams are created equal. Some work out well due to the chemistry of certain members. Others, based on the types of people you have working with you, will struggle. Drivers will be talking to operators, and garage staff will be speaking to both, so a well-nurtured team spirit is vital for the unit’s cohesiveness.
A towing business can be a profitable and fulfilling business to operate. Nevertheless, there are essential aspects that you must cover. This includes insurance to staff safety and must all be considered from a professional point of view.
The post Do You Own A Towing Company? Here Are Some Tips To Help You Out first appeared on Make It Missoula.