Driver guide
Tow driver status updates: four taps instead of a phone call
Last updated
The short answer
A tow driver status update is a tap that tells dispatch, and the customer, where the job stands: on my way, arrived, done, or customer not here. On the TowSitePros job page those are big buttons, so you never have to call the office just to say where you are.
What status updates does a tow driver need to send?
A tow driver needs to send four things: that you are on the way, that you have arrived, that the job is done, and, when it happens, that the customer is not there. Everything else dispatch needs to know can travel with those.
Each one used to be a phone call or a radio squawk. Each call costs dispatch a minute and costs you a minute, and both of you have better things to do.
What do the status buttons do?
The job page has a button for each moment, and the next logical one is highlighted so you do not have to think. Each tap stamps the job history with the time.
- Got it: tells dispatch the job text reached you.
- On my way: moves the job to en route. If the company has customer texts switched on, the customer is told you are coming.
- I have arrived: moves the job to on scene, which is also when the signature pad becomes available.
- Job done: closes the job. It asks for a second tap so a stray thumb cannot close it.
- Customer not here: records a gone on arrival. It also takes two taps, and photos of the scene make a good companion.
Why do Job done and Customer not here need two taps?
Those two buttons close the job, so the page asks you to confirm. The first tap arms the button and changes its label, and the second tap sends it.
If you tap by accident, there is a Never mind button that cancels it. A quick double tap is ignored on purpose, so a jostled phone does not end a job you are still working.
What happens when I have no signal?
If your phone cannot reach the office when you tap, the tap is saved on the phone and the page tells you so. It is sent as soon as you have signal, and it is sent once, so a slow connection does not move the job twice.
This matters on rural roads, in a parking structure, and at the bottom of a ravine on a winch-out. Tap when it is true and you are safely stopped, and let the phone catch up.
Does the customer see my updates?
Yes, in two ways. If texts are on for your company and the customer agreed to them, they get a message at each step, and their own tracking page shows the same progress.
While a job is active and the job page is open, the page can share the truck position so the customer sees the truck coming. A web page cannot report from the background, so the page has to stay open on the job. Mount the phone in a holder before you roll and never handle it while the truck is moving: pull over somewhere safe to tap a status or read the page. The company can turn that sharing off, and you can stop it yourself.
Frequently asked questions
Do I still need to call dispatch when I am on my way?
Not for a routine update. The On my way button tells the office and stamps the time. Call dispatch when something is different from the plan, like a blocked road, a wrong address or a customer who wants to change the drop-off.
What if I forgot to tap On my way before I arrived?
Just tap I have arrived. The buttons are not locked into a strict order, because real jobs are not tidy. The history shows what you tapped and when.
What does Got it do?
It tells dispatch you have seen the job. The office board then shows that the text landed and when, which cuts down on check-in calls.
Can the customer message me back?
Yes. Messages a customer sends from their tracking page appear on your job page, and you can call or text the customer from there too. Your internal notes stay private.
Does the page track me all day?
No. Position sharing runs only while a job is active and the job page is open, and only if the company has it switched on. It stops when the job ends.
Working for a tow company?
If your company is looking at a way to send jobs without an app, show your owner how TowSitePros works. The job link reaches the driver by text or email, depending on how texting is set up, and there is nothing to install.