Vehicles, equipment and tools in roadside assistance
Crane truck, flatbed lorry, winch, lashing equipment and technical equipment
Your equipment is your workplace. Knowing it, maintaining it and using it correctly is a core competence – equipment used incorrectly or in poor condition is dangerous for both you and those around you. Here are the most important vehicles and tools.
§Recovery vehicles
The heart of the profession is the recovery vehicle. The flatbed truck (also called a low-loader) has a flat bed that tips or slides out so the car can be pulled up and transported completely on the bed – gently and suitable for many modern cars. The crane truck can lift and pull with a crane and is used for recovery and moving vehicles that cannot roll. The choice depends on the task and the car type.
§Waste
To pull and lift, winches and cranes are used, often hydraulically driven. A winch with a cable can pull a car out of a ditch, and the crane can lift it. It is powerful equipment, and a cable under tension can kill if it breaks or hits someone. Therefore, you must never stand in line with a cable under pull, and you keep people away from the work area.
§Strapping and Securing Equipment
When a vehicle is loaded it must be properly secured so it can't move during transport. This uses securing straps chains and straps fastened at the vehicle and load secure points. A poorly secured vehicle can come loose and become a life-threatening projectile in traffic. Correct securing is a discipline you must master.
| Equipment. | Used for |
|---|---|
| Flatbed truck (flatbed trailer) | Transport of car completely on load |
| Crane truck | PLACEHOLDER_19 |
| Winches, cranes, and hydraulics can exert enormous forces. A wire under tension that breaks, or a load that swings, can kill. That's why you keep people away from the work area, never stand in line with a wire under load, and only use equipment that is in good condition. Respect for the equipment's forces is what keeps you and others safe. | Pull cars out of ditches or stuck positions. |
| Strapping Gear | Securing the vehicle so it does not move during transport. |
§Technical equipment for troubleshooting
At the scene, you use technical tools: starting aid equipment (booster) for a dead battery, compressor and tire repair kit, an error code reader (OBD) to read electronic errors, and ordinary hand tools for minor repairs. The better you understand the car's systems, the more tasks you can solve on the spot so the customer avoids transportation.
- 01First aid equipment for discharged batteries.
- 02Compressor, jack and wheel tools for tyre change.
- 03Error code reader (OBD) for electronic errors.
- 04Hand tools for small repairs on site.
§Marking and personal equipment
The safety equipment is just as important as the rescue gear. Warning lights warning triangle cones and visible reflective work clothes make you visible and protect you in traffic. Personal protective equipment like gloves and safety shoes are included. Without marking and visibility all the other equipment is irrelevant — then you become the one who gets hurt.
§Maintenance of equipment
Equipment that fails in the middle of a task is both dangerous and expensive. Therefore wires chains straps and hydraulics are regularly checked for wear and damage and defective gear is discarded. A cracked lashing strap or a frayed wire is not something you take a chance with. Maintenance is a part of the skill not something you do when you get time.