Towing Cattle Trucks: What Livestock Truck Drivers Need To Know

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It is difficult enough to haul trailers of goods all over the country and then have to face a breakdown resulting in a tow. However, when it is your job to haul livestock, either from farm or ranch to another farm or ranch, or to a slaughter house, and your truck breaks down, you have bigger problems. As you prepare to call a towing service, here are some other things you will need to know and do before the towing truck arrives. 

Call for Backup

The animals in the cattle trailer you are hauling cannot sit all day in the trailer. They need to be watered, fed, and delivered on time, even if it is to a slaughter house. As such, you need backup.

Call the company you work for and talk to your boss, or, if you are a freelance driver, call the ranch/farm from which you picked up the animals, as well as the delivery destination. Everyone needs to know that your truck broke down and you need assistance. If you work for a company, your boss can track down a rental truck to help you complete your delivery. If you work on your own, you will either have to negotiate a rental, or see if the delivery destination can send out trucks to pick up the animals.

Call the Police

State highway patrol officers should be involved in this situation. You are hauling live animals, which may become agitated and afraid on a noisy stretch of road. Worse still, other drivers may accidentally hit the trailer, causing injuries to the animals or enough damage to the truck to release the animals onto the road. The police can set up a barrier around the trailer of animals so that everyone else goes around and the animals are safe. 

Stay with the Animals, Even after the Tow Truck Has Taken Your Truck

As a hauler of live cargo, you have to remain with the animals and ensure their well-being. Abandoning them is  a  crime in most states under animal cruelty laws, even if they are headed for slaughter. If it is going to be a few hours before your replacement truck arrives, try to keep the animals watered and safe. If the towing company can and does offer a truck rental service, take advantage of that so that you can make your delivery. Then, when you return the rental truck to the towing company, you can find out where your truck went for repairs and they will take you there.

Contact a service, like Darryll's Towing, for more help.

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7 August 2018

Tips For Towing: Understanding How Your Car Affects It

The first time I had to have a vehicle towed, I was confused by why they asked me if the car was two or four-wheel drive. When the tow truck driver showed up, I asked him. He explained the difference in how the two types of vehicles were towed, then started telling me about some of the general best practices for safe towing. That's when I started to research the fundamentals and the tips for successful towing. I built this blog as an opportunity to chronicle everything that I learned, hoping that it will help others understand what type of tow truck they'll need for their vehicle.