The Dangers Of Heavy Duty Towing

Breakdowns of heavy vehicles or transportation of heavy equipment can pose big issues to a company or an organization as these tasks cannot be dealt with by normal towing companies. You need to hire a professional heavy-duty towing company to carry the tasks without causing any damages.

Driving a heavy vehicle such as a truck takes a lot of skills and technique. Not to mention the level required when driving a tow truck with a heavy-duty vehicle towed on it. Logically, towing heavy vehicles requires more skills and experience than any other driver.

Towing other heavy-duty vehicles like cargo or trailers need extra consciousness and care about safety. When it comes to towing vehicles like buses, semis, and other vehicles, the safety concerns increase manifolds. Such towing activities are not only dangerous for the vehicle itself but also for other vehicles and motorists using the same road.

The article explains some of the dangers involved in heavy-duty towing.

Weight, Size, And Length

The size of the vehicles like trailers, semis, 18-wheelers, and buses poses a serious threat to the road and its users. An accident between big vehicles or with other vehicles will lead to damaging results, especially to the smaller automobiles.

Heavy vehicles are named so because they weigh more than regular vehicles. A vehicle above 32,000 lbs is considered heavy and any accident with a tow truck carrying such a vehicle can be disastrous. Just like they are distinct in their appearance, an accident involving them can cause damages with distinctions.

Long vehicles like 18-wheelers and semis, can be especially difficult to tow and even simply drive. When passing by a long vehicle you should be especially vigilant. As the driver when towing or driving semis can make a mistake in judging the distance no matter how experienced they are. Therefore, when passing by a semi or vehicle towing semis on highways, be sure to maintain a distance of the long vehicle and surrounding vehicles. It is not a wise choice to try and overtake towing vehicles or simply heavy-duty vehicles unless there is clear visibility of the road and you see no other incoming traffic.

Blind Spot

It is a recognizable fact that larger vehicles have blind spots. These spots are in all dimensions, for instance, blind spots are present on both sides, the rearview, front side of the vehicle. These spots contribute the most when it comes to accidents involving larger vehicles, causing serious injuries and fatalities.

One of the preventive measures to overcome this hazard is to leave more space and maintain a safe distance when passing by heavy-duty vehicles or them being towed. Another is to turn the blinker on when changing lanes, so the truck driver can notice you. It is never advisable to make sudden turns around such vehicles.

The Physical Condition Of The Tow Truck Drivers And Road

A tow truck and truck driver usually spend long hours driving their vehicles. They are physically and mentally tired, often not able to pay the required attention when driving vehicles. The case is not appreciated to be true but it can be. So, it is better to stay safe than sorry. To avoid any potential accidents involving such big towing vehicles carrying other heavy-duty equipment or vehicles, try to maintain more than a safe distance from them.

The accidents involving these vehicles can be induced by the local vehicle drivers as well. Some drivers are distracted by mobile phones or other devices when driving and do not pay attention to what is ahead of them. These distracted drivers crash themselves in the front vehicles and if it is a towing truck, it surely causes more damage, even fatalities. Often tow truck drivers are hit by rash drivers when preparing for towing at the shoulder of the road.