What Kind of Truck is Right for Your Towing Business?

Looking for a new business adventure and want to know how to start a towing business in Georgia? Or maybe you’ve been in business for a while and want to make sure that your business is up to snuff by knowing what truck is right for your towing business. If so, the team at Jim Ellis Commercial Division is here to help you. We can help you learn what kind of license you need to drive a tow truck in Georgia and answer the question, “what do you need to start a towing company in Georgia?” Continue reading this guide to find out what truck is right for your towing business today, and then reach out to our finance department to make upgrading your fleet a reality. 

How To Start a Towing Business in Georgia

There are a number of Georgia state regulations and laws that you need to understand when it comes to towing in the state of Georgia, especially if you’re going to be working in the Atlanta and Marietta areas. Before you can even begin to tow, you need to decide what kind of towing your business is going to be offering. In Georgia, there are four recognized types of towing: 

• Consensual towing: The owner agrees to have the vehicle towed
• Non-Consensual towing: Private property has a trespassed vehicle that needs to be towed
• Government towing: Towing that occurs on government property with or without the owner’s consent. 
• Repossession towing: A debtor has breached repayment or a loan contract, and the creditor has reclaimed ownership of a vehicle

You also need to decide if you’re going to be towing regular-sized passenger vehicles, such as cars and trucks, or commercial vehicles, such as semis, dump trucks, and heavy-duty vehicles. It’s also important to know that there are consumer protection laws in place that put a cap on how much a towing company can charge for its services. If you plan on taking part in non-consensual towing, you will need a valid Non-Consensual Towing Permit from the Georgia Motor Carrier and Consumer Advisory.

What Else Do You Need to do to Start a Towing Company

Commercial drivers who have breakdowns or wrecks also require that the towing company has a valid Commercial Wrecker Emergency Tow permit. Whether your business specializes in a commercial business or not, not having this permit could mean having to turn down potential business. So better safe than sorry. 

The final step in how to start a towing business in Georgia is to register with the Georgia Intrastate Motor Carrier Registration program or the Unified Carrier Registration program. These are required to get Non-Consensual Towing Permits. The UCR program is federal and is only required if you might cross state lines. Most Snellville businesses don’t have to worry about this. Once that is done, you have to register your business with the Georgia Department of Revenues’s Tax Center and make sure you have vehicle and accident coverage, as well as liability insurance for the vehicles you tow. 

What Kind of License do you need to Drive a Tow Truck in Georgia?

Now that you’ve got your business started, your next step is making sure that you can legally drive them. But what kind of license do you need to drive a tow truck in Georgia? There are a few requirements. First and foremost, a driver of a tow truck must have a Commercial Driver’s License. This includes being tested on pre-trip inspections, basic controls, road tests, and more. If you are not crossing state lines and you won’t be transporting hazardous material, an 18-year-old can receive a CDL; however, in most states, the requirement is being 21 years of age and having an existing valid Georgia driver’s license. 

After you get your CDL, however, you also have to pass a physical and drug screening exam by the Georgia Department of Transportation. This physical includes an eye exam, physical reaction time, and must pass a criminal as well as traffic-related violations background check before you can operate a tow truck legally in Georgia.

What Type of Truck is Right For Your Business?

Now that your business is off the ground, the next step is making sure your fleet is equally prepared. There are four traditional types of tow trucks for you to select from, with each one having strengths and weaknesses, so it depends on your business needs. Our team is here to help make heads-or-tails of what you’re looking for, but the quick and easy of these four types are: 

• Flatbed (Rollback): Flatbeds have a flat, empty bed on the rear that is designed to carry vehicles on top of them. If the vehicle being towed is operational, you can easily drive the vehicle onto the back or use chains and a winch to haul it. Flatbeds are easy to operate and are most often used for the pickup and transporting of vehicles. They are also the safest way to transport a vehicle. 
• Hook and Chain: The classic tow truck from movies.If a vehicle has been completely junked, then a heavy-duty hook and chain attached to the rear are used to transport them. These types of tow trucks lift the vehicle up onto two wheels and drag it behind the truck. The downside is that unless the cargo doesn’t need to be handled gently, these trucks can easily cause damage to a vehicle. If the vehicle being towed has four-wheel or all-wheel drive, hook-and-chain trucks can cause serious damage to the drivetrain.
• Integrated: If you’re tackling heavy-duty work vehicles like semis or dump trucks, or want to move a bus or rig, then you’re going to want an integrated tow truck. They’re also used for repossession or illegal parking towing due to the speed at which they can set up a vehicle. They offer extra stability and incredible strength. The driver also never has to leave the cab, as the controls can be accessed from inside the vehicle.
• Wheel Lift: Wheel lifts are considered the upgrade to the Hook and Chain. If a vehicle is disabled, a wheel lift truck can do the job, thanks to a metal yoke that is attached behind the vehicle’s front or back wheels, and then pneumatics or hydraulics hoist it up. They put less strain on vehicles, remove the risk of damage, and give added stability, making them ideal for vehicles that are headed for the repair shop and not the junkyard. 

Get Your Business Off the Ground With Jim Ellis Commercial Division

Whether you’re just starting out as a small business or you’ve been in the game for a while, the team at Jim Ellis Commercial Division is here to help you make sure that your vehicles are always up to the challenge. Come into Jim Ellis Commercial Division today to find the latest commercial vehicles, maximize your business’ potential, and let our service center take care of all of the maintenance needs of your fleet.