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1. When are tow trucks inspected?
   

   How often should tow trucks be inspected? How does one know if a tow truck has been properly maintained and inspected?

   Tags: Las Vegas, NV, tow trucks, tow truck

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   Asked by flameridge from Salem, OR
   Answered 16 years ago.

6 Answers

1. 
   If a towing service is listed on the rotation* list for local or state law enforcement, especially State Highway Patrol, they are required to undergo a yearly inspection. This inspection is usually performed on the entire fleet, on the same day, by the officers themselves.
   Besides inspection of performance and safety equipment, like brakes, and on-board fire extinguishers (required for rotation list), local, state, and federal permits are inspected to make sure they are up to date, and insurance coverage is reviewed to make sure the minimum liability requirements are met. Drivers' MVR and medical records are inspected.
   Some insurance companies require yearly inspections too.
   All other inspections vary from state to state, according to local and regional requirements--such as smog emissions, etc.
   
   [*A rotation list is a list of towing companies which is kept on file at law enforcement offices. Towing companies must pass inspection to be included on the list. Besides being a list of safe and reputable towers, the list serves the purpose of keeping tow jobs fairly distributed amongst the towing companies. If you do not request a specific towing company to tow your vehicle (you do have the right to do that), or if it is towed while you are not present (ie: illegal parking), the officer requests the next tower on the list. If a vehicle owner requests a specific towing company, that company’s order on the list remains in place. If a towing company is unavailable for a “next in line” tow, they forfeit a turn.]
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   Answered by Gabriels 24 Hour Towing and Recovery 202 Hargrove Lake Rd., Crawford, GA, 30630, 706-340-1355 (Novice with 4 pts.)

   Answered 15 years ago.

2. 
   While each municipality may have thier own requirements, southwest FL does not require inspections for tow trucks that are not on police rotation. That said, any commercial vehicle can be inspected by the DOT officers at any time for safe mechanical condition.
   
   Tow trucks on police rotation lists are inspected annually, but not usually for anything mechanical! If they run with working lights and all the equipment, they will generally pass inspection.
   
   This is unfortnuate, but true.
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   Answered by 10-EIGHT Towing & Transport 9601 Cypress Lake Dr, Fort Myers, FL, 33919, 239-440-5656 (Novice with 123 pts.)

   Answered 16 years ago.

3. 
   Tow truck companies usually have contracts with city or county and with these contracts there are strict regulations. Unless you get a mom and pop towing shop. An average tow truck get's inspected by the driver on a daily basis. And a monthly maintenance to go over the mechanical and 3000 miles for engine and hydrolic tuneup. Having worked for a auto repo shop this was our routine.
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   Answered by charlesthomas (Novice with 1 pts.)

   Answered 16 years ago.

4. 
   Here in Duval County (Jacksonville) Florida, we have to have our truck inspected yearly by the city (even though we are not on rotation). Once inspection passed, we are provided with a sticker that is placed on our front windshield.
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   Answered by JBL Towing 12724 Gran Bay Parkway, Jacksonville, FL, 32258, 904-262-6911 (Novice with 5 pts.)

   Answered 14 years ago.

5. 
   In NY tow trucks are inspected yearly just like all other vehicles.
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   Answered by Dutchess Towing 11 Olympic Way, Poughkeepsie, NY, 12603, 845-454-8205 (Novice with 22 pts.)

   Answered 15 years ago.

6. 
   Once a year by the state..... every week by the owner....
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   Answered by Safari Towing & Road Service 2353 East University Dr, McKinney, TX, 75069, 972-548-9400 (Novice with 107 pts.)

   Answered 15 years ago.