Managing a commercial fleet is about more than just maintenance. Even the most carefully maintained vehicles can suffer issues while on the road, which means preparing to deal with emergencies whenever they might arise. Keeping drivers and equipment safe requires fleet managers to have a plan of action that's ready to go for everything from severe accidents to minor breakdowns.

Part of any comprehensive plan involves working with one or more towing companies that will be ready to go when one of your vehicles can't make it home. Selecting the best company for your fleet requires care, and these three factors are critical when choosing a reliable and effective towing operation.

1. Capabilities

Your needs as a fleet manager will vary substantially depending on whether you're overseeing a fleet of passenger cars, light-duty trucks, heavy commercial vehicles, or something else entirely. Likewise, towing company capabilities can vary. While some companies focus primarily on roadside assistance for regular drivers, others focus mostly on commercial fleet operations.

It's usually best to choose a towing partner that can effectively transport any of the vehicles in your fleet. Working with a towing company with the right capabilities means you won't need to worry about their ability to transport one of your vehicles in an emergency. A good rule of thumb is to ensure your towing partner can even haul the heaviest, most challenging vehicle in your fleet.

2. Availability

Do you need to work with a 24/7 towing company? The answer will depend on your own operations. If you have drivers out late at night, you'll want to work with a company that can handle those situations. Remember that accidents and breakdowns don't just happen during your busiest business hours. Even if you only have a few drivers out at night, you need a towing company that can cover them.

3. Reliability and Experience

Reliability can be challenging to pin down, especially when you first start working with a new company. In general, you should look for towing partners with experience dealing with commercial fleets. Ensure that the companies you work with have experience not only in commercial operations but with fleets of similar size and composition to your own.

While towing might seem straightforward, there's plenty that can go wrong and potentially result in more damage to the towed vehicle. An experienced and reliable company with well-trained drivers helps ensure that your fleet vehicles can get home safely. Spending the time to find a company that meets these criteria will ensure that the occasional emergency is affordable. 

For more information, visit a site such as http://www.cctow.com/.