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How to track your tow truck

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The short answer

Many tow companies text you a tracking link. It opens a page with the truck on a map, the driver, an estimated arrival time and updates as the job moves. If you did not get one, call the company and ask for an arrival time. First be sure you are somewhere safe.

What is a tow truck tracking link?

A tow truck tracking link is a private web page that shows you how your job is going. It is usually sent by text after you call. You tap it and see the truck on a map, the driver and an estimated arrival time.

Not every tow company offers one, and a phone call with an honest arrival time is just as good. Some tow companies send a page like this from towing software such as TowSitePros. The point is that you should be told a time and told if it changes.

What does the tracking page show?

A good tracking page shows the truck moving toward you and how long it should take. It also shows the driver, and it updates when the driver says they are on the way or have arrived.

The time on the page is an estimate. It can be off if there is traffic, a road is closed or the driver is finishing another job. If the page says the last position is a few minutes old, the driver phone may have lost signal.

  • The truck on a map.
  • An estimated arrival time.
  • The driver and the company.
  • Updates such as on the way and arrived.
  • A way to reach the company if you need to.

What if the tow truck is taking too long?

If the truck has not come by the time you were given, call the company and ask for an update. Be polite and clear. Give your name and location again.

If you feel unsafe, say so. Ask them to hurry. If you are in danger, call emergency services. If you have a roadside assistance plan, you can also call it and ask them to check on the job.

What if I did not get a tracking link?

If you did not get a link, just ask for the basics: the arrival time, the driver name and the truck description. Ask them to text or call you when the truck is near.

Check that you gave the right phone number. A text can also fail if your phone blocks unknown numbers or you opted out of messages. The company can tell you what happened.

Step by step

  1. Get to a safe place to wait

    Hazard lights on, away from traffic. Do not stare at your phone while standing near a road.

  2. Look for a text or email from the tow company

    Check your messages a few minutes after you call. A tracking link often arrives by text. Check your email and your spam folder too.

  3. Tap the link

    It opens in your phone browser. You do not need to download an app or make an account.

  4. Read the map and the arrival time

    The page can show the truck on a map, the driver and an estimated arrival time. Treat that time as an estimate. Traffic and other calls can change it.

  5. Send a message if the page has one

    Some pages let you message the driver, for example to say what your car looks like or where you are standing. Keep it short.

  6. If you did not get a link, call the company

    Ask for an arrival time and the driver name. Ask them to call or text you if that time changes.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need to install an app to track my tow truck?

No. A tracking link opens in your phone browser. There is no app to install and no account to make.

Is my tracking link private?

It should be. The link is meant only for you, so do not post it online. Share it only with someone who needs to meet the truck, like a family member.

Why does the arrival time keep changing?

The time is an estimate. It shifts with traffic, weather and how long the driver's current job takes. A changing time is normal. A missing update is worth a phone call.

Can I cancel from the tracking page?

Some companies let you cancel from the page before the truck arrives. If yours does not, call them right away. If you got help from someone else, tell the company so they do not send a truck for nothing.

Stuck right now?

If anyone is hurt, or you are stopped in traffic, call emergency services first. Then get to a safe spot away from moving traffic.

Once you are safe, call your local tow company or your roadside assistance plan. This page is general information and cannot send help.

Run a towing company? See how TowSitePros keeps your customers informed

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