Truthfully, professional tow truck drivers need to be prepared for anything. That is why we have to keep tools to deal with whatever may come up with us in our trucks at all times. We, at Easy Towing, keep our trucks well maintained so they don’t breakdown, but still, you can never be too careful, you can never know when something might come up that you’ll need to deal with while you’re out there on the roads.
So, let’s take a look at some of the most crucial tools that I, as a tow truck driver, like to have with me at all times.
Tool Kit
Most drivers, not only professionals, will agree that keeping a small tool kit in any vehicle is of the utmost importance. You never know when you’ll need to use any of the tools, so just having them there gives me peace of mind. You never know when you may need a tape measure, sockets, pliers, screwdrivers and other tools.
The tool kit must be kept in an organized case so that everything fits in nicely and can be found easily when needed.
Flashlight
This is very important because you never know when something will go wrong at night, and a flashlight isn’t only used in emergency situations, if you drop something in the dark you will need a flashlight to find it, or it may be forgotten or lost forever. There are a few different types I like; a head flashlight is great when you need to go hands-free. And, a crank up flashlight is a good choice if you are worried that you might run out of power.
Don’t forget to keep spare batteries in the truck!
Drinking Water
I consider drinking water a tool because it is really important to keep me going. If you are in the truck for long hours you often forget to drink and keeping hydrated is really important during a long shift.
And, while I’m on the topic, another good tool is a cooler for food and drinks.
Multitool
A good pocketknife or multitool is handy to keep with you at all times, especially when you’re in a tow truck. These trusty tools are great for small repairs, you will find that you will use it, not just to open bottles or tins, so the more features it has, the better.
Toilet Paper And Wipes
Because you never know when and where you might need it. Baby wipes are useful for all kinds of spills and for cleaning the inside of the truck.
Rags
You can never have enough rags. Things tend to get dirty when you’re out on the roads and you need to be able to do a quick clean. For example, you need to be able to clean your truck’s headlights if they are covered in mud. Or, you can use them to clean up spills or even to keep your hands clean.
Emergency Kit
Most truck drivers that I know put together an emergency kit that they keep in their trucks all the time. These include all the things that are needed or will come in useful during an emergency, such as: spare batteries, a spare cell phone, external phone charger external battery (make sure they are charged), first aid kit, warm blankets, duct tape, extra medication (if needed), mechanic gloves, safety vests.
