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If you need something large and heavy to be towed, such as a commercial truck, large boat, construction equipment or motorhome, you are going to need to go through a towing company that specializes in heavy duty towing. You will need to know if your vehicle classifies as medium or heavy duty. You will also need to be aware of all the different charges you may have to pay.  

Light vs Medium vs Heavy Duty Vehicles

Many towing companies charge different rates depending on if they rank your vehicle as either light duty, medium duty, or heavy duty.

Your typical passenger car or truck is usually considered a light duty vehicle. The distinction between medium duty and heavy duty vehicles generally depends on the overall weight of your vehicle. Many vehicles, depending on the make and model and the materials they are hauling, can be classified as either medium or heavy duty at different times depending on their overall weight.

Vehicles that are a Class 3-6 are generally considered medium-duty vehicles. The gross vehicle weight rating, or GWVR, for these vehicles ranges from between 10,000 pounds all the way up to 26,000 pounds. Medium-duty vehicles include vehicles such as delivery trucks, smaller buses, motor homes, flatbed trucks, and refrigerated trucks. 

Vehicles that are a Class 7 and 9 are considered heavy-duty vehicles. These vehicles have a GWVR of 26,001 pounds all the way up to 80,000 pounds. Heavy-duty vehicles include vehicles such as large buses, refuse trucks and tracker trailers. 

Some towing companies charge different rates for light, medium and heavy duty towing jobs. Other towing companies lump medium and heavy duty vehicles and rates together. 

Medium & Heavy Duty Towing Charges

Since medium and heavy duty vehicles tend to be larger than your typical passenger vehicle and are often carrying additional weight and require additional personnel in order to hook them up and tow them, there are different charges one needs to be aware of. Here are some of the most common charges you may face: 

• Towing Hookup: You will be charged for hooking up your vehicle. Sometime, the towing hookup with include a certain number of towing miles before you are charged a per-mile rate. 
• Roadway Cleanup: If your vehicle caused a mess on the road, such as a blown-out tire or broken glass, many towing companies will charge you a flat rate for cleaning up the roadway before getting your vehicle back on the road.
• Trailer Fees: If your vehicle has a trailer attached to it, you may be charged a set fee for each trailer attached to your vehicle. This charge may vary depending on whether your trailer is unloaded or loaded at the time it is towed. 
• Roll Over: If your vehicle is flipped over, you may be charged per pound of your vehicle's gross vehicle weight for getting your vehicle upright again. 
• Winching: If your vehicle has been winched, you will be charged a set rate for a set period of time, then you will generally be charged as set rate for each additional minute of winching that is required to tow your vehicle. 
• Additional Personnel: Sometimes, it requires more than one person to tow medium and heavy duty vehicles. If additional personnel are required to tow your vehicle, you may be charged either a set or hourly rate for their services. 

When you need a medium or heavy duty towing assistance, make sure that you ask about all the fees that you will incur for the job. The list above is just a basic list of fees associated with heavy duty towing jobs; the towing company that you call may have additional fees as well that they charge for particular services. For more information, visit Crouse Body Shop Inc.