Cost of Towing a Loaded Truck & Trailer?

Discussion in 'Ask An Owner Operator' started by PE_T, Feb 22, 2019.

  1. PE_T

    PE_T Road Train Member

    My plans were to drop my trailer at the Freightliner dealer, but they were going to be closed on Sunday. I needed to roll on Sunday to deliver on Monday. I decided to drop my trailer at a FJ, place all my three locks (door, kingpin, and gladhand) and a GPS tracker, just in case.

    It turns out I wasn’t able to get my Penske rental on Sunday because my insurance policy needed some changes, and my insurance (broker) company was closed. So, my trailer had to sit for 24 hrs extra, and I had to reschedule my delivery appointment for Tuesday. I also ended up getting a rental car to check on my reefer for Sunday.

    Typically what you want to do is drop your trailer at the dealer. If they will be closed the day you will need to roll, you can drop your trailer at a secure location (if available), or perhaps at a different truck dealer that will be open when you need it. The last option is the truck stop, but not one that has security driving around as they usually do not want dropped trailers on their lot. Dropping trailers at a truck stop obviously isn’t secure, so just put on all your locks, a GPS tracker, and check on it a few times.

    I asked my broker about repowering the load, but he said they would prefer to keep the repower option as the last. I think each brokerage company will have different policies on this.
     
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  3. Tombstone69

    Tombstone69 Road Train Member

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    Usually if you talk to management at the truck stop, they will let you keep your trailer there and even keep an eye on it. If you don't let them know, it's at their discretion to have it towed and all you're locks won't stop them, it depends on their policy.
     
  4. x1Heavy

    x1Heavy Road Train Member

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    Our Autos bricked twice in 2001 because we never shut off being a team truck. FFE had it towed back to Lancaster both times. It's fortunate that the auto would quit before we got too far out into Texas. It did destroy the JIT appt time that was rather important.

    Cost? Eh, I'll wait for the Veep to stop yelling before I try to find out. The last tow was not on a good day for him.

    I would make a mention that fella who did the towing managed pretty good at our weight and length. He had one of those triaxles that easily carried the whole thing.
     
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  5. bloodklok

    bloodklok Bobtail Member

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    #### those tow truck guys make decent money on those little jobs that only take a couple hours, I have to agree I'm also on the wrong business as well, time to sell the truck and trailer for a tow truck rig lol
     
  6. LDLWells

    LDLWells Heavy Load Member

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    I've paid $100 a foot to get yanked out of the mud
     
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  7. starmac

    starmac Road Train Member

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    In a lot of states, the tow truck can only tow the truck and trailer noth to the first safe location to unhook the trailer legally. It is generally cheaper any way to tow them seperate, pick the tractor up from the back ens and have no driveshaft or axle removal fees.
     
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  8. Ezrider_48501

    Ezrider_48501 Road Train Member

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    i have only needed to be towed one time and i was able to drop my trailer where i pulled off the road when i broke down so they only needed to tow the bobtail. figures may not be exact as it was a while ago and going off memory but i think the tow was about 140 miles and cost right at $1000
     
  9. Crazytrucker77

    Crazytrucker77 Heavy Load Member

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    I had to have two tows of less than 50 miles each and it was $1,000 for one and 1100 for the other at a rate of $215 an hour
     
  10. ZVar

    ZVar Road Train Member

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    60 miles south of OK City. From there to the Swift yard in OK City was $1,200
     
  11. skellr

    skellr Road Train Member

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    Sounds right. I remember a 26k bill for mega carrier to get pulled out of the median during the winter..it was still upright and not on it's side...
     
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