As of 4 p.m. Monday, AAA Roadside Assistance had already helped 400 stranded motorists in the Miami Valley. Meteorologists said 2 to 4 inches of snow fell in the region.
One of the first calls made by many motorists experiencing winter weather car trouble is to a towing company, and it can be risky if they don’t know who to call or what to watch for, said Hollis, who has been in business for 30 years in the Dayton area.
“When the snow is deep you get a lot of guys with four wheel drive trucks and plow trucks that aren’t recovery specialists, and if they don’t hook the vehicle up in the right spot they can do damage,” Shifflett said.
The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio requires tow truck operators to register their vehicles as an intrastate for-hire motor carrier. Motorists should look for the registration number on the outside of the tow truck.
Motorists should also check to see if the company is a member of the Towing and Recovery Association of America, according to Better Business Bureau Dayton and Miami Valley vice president of communications Sheri Sword.
The cost that sometimes surprises motorists is the mileage, said Shifflett, adding there is one question motorists need to ask any towing company.
“Some tow truck companies charge you to get to the vehicle in addition to the tow mileage, so you need to find out if it’s a running mile or just the miles towed,” Shifflett said.
A reasonable range for a wrecker or flatbed is anywhere between $60 to $100, but it depends on the circumstances, Shifflett said.
Grace Cunningham of Dayton she said she would have been fearful if she had been driving on Monday’s snowy roads.
“That’s why my husband drove, but if we slid and got stuck our first call would be to AAA,” Cunningham said.
About the Author