Behind the scenes with a Dublin-based towing company! We talk to TowTruck247.ie to find out more about this businessIn this interview we talk to Andrew from TowTruck247.ie, a Dublin towing company, to find out more about the car recovery business. Andrew tells us about what the company offers Irish motorists as well as his experience in specialised classic car transportation and what he likes most about helping people on the roads in need. Also, please read down for some professional advice on how to stay safe at the side of the road should you have a car breakdown!
1. Can you introduce yourself and what you do?
TowTruck247 is a car breakdown recovery and towing company based in Dublin. We offer quick, professional assistance for cars and light commercial vehicles. We also offer our customers roadside assistance, flat battery jump start, battery replacement on the spot, scrap car removal, nationwide towing service or nationwide car transportation. We are a fully insured and registered towing company, accepting all types of payment – cash, card payment, payment over the phone, payment by cheque and bank transfers. We can also provide a VAT invoice. We are proud of our fleet of trucks, which are well-maintained and ready for call-outs anywhere in Ireland.
2. How did you get started in the car towing and recovery business?
I decided to open my own business after a few years working as a driver in a towing and recovery company.
3. What areas are you available for call-outs and how quickly can your towing company respond?
We are available for all local jobs in the counties of Dublin, Kildare, Wicklow and Meath. In Dublin you can avail of our services across districts such as Crumlin, Tallaght, Dundrum, Rathgar, Rathmines, Terenure, Blackrock, Stillorgan, Ballsbridge and Donnybrook. We can dispatch our truck in as little as 35 minutes in response to call-outs. We can send our tow truck to any destination on the island of Ireland. We very often receive calls to tow a car for example from Cork to Dublin or from Dublin to Galway, or even from Belfast to Limerick.
You can request a quote online from TowTruck2474. What type of vehicles can you assist with?
We can do towing and recovery for all models of car, SUV, vans/light commercial vehicles. We also assist in the recovery of motorbikes and vintage cars because we have the knowledge and experience to deal safely with expensive and rare vehicles.
5. Can you describe a typical day at TowTruck247?
We operate a 24 hour service so our drivers work in shifts. When our drivers begin their shift, they carry out a number of routine checks on the truck, inside and outside. A typical day for us would be busy in the morning with call-outs, quiet during lunchtime, and after 2 or 3 pm it starts to get busy again with calls from drivers who have broken down and require assistance. Nights are usually quiet but we can get one or two calls per night. When the shift is finished, the driver clocks out and can go home to rest.
6. When you arrive at the scene of a call-out, what checks and routines do you go through before work can commence to secure the vehicle?
When we arrive the first thing we do is switch on all the hazard lights on the tow truck. After all lights are on and the truck is safely parked, we can get out and access if the driver needs any health help. We check the condition of the car before we do anything – is the car starting? Are the wheels rolling or stuck? We must also make sure all occupants have left the vehicle before we start. Once all checks have been made, we attach a special hook under the car to begin pulling it. Once in position on the trailer we secure all four wheels with special straps and we’re ready to go.
TowTruck247 offer a quality classic car transportation service around Ireland for your precious vintage car!7. Can you tell us about the most precious cars you have helped out with a tow?
From my experience the most precious car was a 2016 Bentley Continental GTS V8. Everything was fine with the car, it just needed transportation from Dublin to Donegal for one of our customers. Our most unusual jobs are when we deal with classic cars. All vintage cars need more care and maximum attention when loading, during transportation, and unloading. They might be very old or not in the best condition.
8. What’s the biggest challenge?
When you work in towing and recovery for more than 10 years you understand that the biggest challenge in this business is when you get a call to rescue cars from the scene of a car accident. This is because you never know what to expect when you arrive there. How bad was the car crashed? How long will it take to clear the road? Will you need to block the whole road? Will Garda assistance be needed? and much more…
9. What do you enjoy about your work?
Our job is hard and you need good skills. But as strange as it may sound, I like my job because I enjoy seeing people happy when I arrive to help them with their problems. And of course it’s nice to work around cars.
10. When choosing a towing company, what should our readers look out for?
These days it’s easy to find a towing company but it’s also easy to get unprofessional assistance from a company that is not registered or fully insured. My advice to drivers looking for towing and recovery service is to call a trusted company that is fully insured and qualified to do the work. Check the price of the service and the arrival time from the call-out. A cheap company might not be as professional as the one asking more. Also ask if you can pay by card with contact less payment to minimise risk in this time of Coronavirus. And always ask for a receipt.
Do you know what to do to stay safe if your car breaks down at the side of the road?11. How would you like to grow and develop your towing business over the next few years?
We always do our best for our customers. Because happy customers mean one more step to success.
In the future we would like to expand our fleet of tow trucks, and hire more friendly and professional drivers and operators. We also plan to open more branches in cities like Cork, Galway, Limerick…
We would also like to gain more opportunities with insurance companies.
12. What advice do you have for anyone who gets stuck at the side of the road?
The essential thing to bear in mind in this situation is to stay safe. If possible, the driver should position the car in a safe place as soon as possible. Put on the hazard and side lights. If you have a visibility vest, wear it. The driver and passengers should stay well away from the car, if possible. If the breakdown has happened on a national road or minor road, then the safest place to be is in the car. If the breakdown has happened on a motorway, do not place any warning device such as a triangle on the motorway as it may be too dangerous. Move your vehicle to the hard shoulder. Park as near to the left as you can. If you cannot do this, take steps to warn other drivers such as switching on your hazard warning lights. Do not walk on the motorway. Leave your vehicle through the left-hand door and make sure your passengers do the same. Leave animals in the vehicle or, in an emergency, keep them under control on the verge. Never try to do repairs yourself on the road. Contact a breakdown service provider right away!
It’s always handy to have the number of a breakdown and recovery service in your phone in case of emergency so make a note of TowTruck247 on 087-6003684 for a professional towing service.
