Exact pickup
Share a map pin or complete address plus the city, direction of travel, nearest exit or intersection, shoulder or lane position, business or property name, and the entrance a truck can actually use.
Tommy'sRoad RescueCall live dispatch816-588-8888Faster job qualification
What Information Tow Dispatch Needs
Call live Kansas City dispatch at 816-588-8888 for current availability.
Start with a safe, accurate request
Clear information helps dispatch decide whether the request fits, what equipment may be needed, how access affects the move, and what price or estimate can be confirmed.
Step-by-step
Vehicle identity
Provide the year, make, model, color, body style, approximate size, drive type if known, and a reliable way to identify the correct vehicle at the scene.
Vehicle condition
Explain what happened and whether the vehicle starts, rolls, steers, brakes, shifts into neutral, has keys, has locked or damaged wheels, sits unusually low, or has collision damage or leaking fluid.
Access and hazards
Describe garage clearance, gate codes, narrow turns, ramps, soft ground, ditch position, traffic exposure, weather, loading docks, property rules, and anything blocking the truck from reaching the vehicle.
Destination
Give the complete destination, receiving contact, hours, after-hours procedure, gate or lot instructions, and whether the shop, dealer, residence, auction, or other facility will accept the vehicle.
Authority and contacts
Identify who owns or controls the vehicle, who may approve price or changes, who will meet the operator, and the best callback number if dispatch loses contact.
What to prepare
Minimum call details
Pickup, vehicle, problem, destination, name, callback number, and whether the scene is safely clear of active traffic.
Helpful extras
A safe map pin, photos taken from a safe place, tire or wheel position, posted clearance, spare-tire condition, fuel type, and receiving-facility instructions.
Commercial requests
Account name, authorized requester, unit number, purchase order if required, billing instructions, release procedure, and reporting needs—without sending sensitive financial data through ordinary email.
Changes after the call
New damage, a different location, police involvement, another provider, a closed destination, lost access, or a canceled request should be reported immediately.
Important limits
- Do not walk into a traffic lane or unsafe area merely to collect a VIN, photograph, sign, or exact wheel position.
- Dispatch may need more information before it can confirm equipment, price, or availability.
- A customer description helps qualification but does not replace the operator's on-scene safety and condition assessment.
- If the actual vehicle, condition, access, destination, or work differs materially, dispatch may need to revise the plan and estimate.
Questions drivers ask
Do I need the VIN to request a tow?
Not always. Year, make, model, color, location, and a reliable vehicle description may be enough for initial qualification. Never enter traffic or another unsafe area to obtain a VIN.
Why does dispatch ask whether the vehicle rolls and steers?
Wheel, steering, brake, transmission, key, and damage conditions can change the loading method, access plan, equipment decision, time, and price.
Should I call the repair shop before requesting the tow?
Yes when practical. Confirm that the destination will accept the vehicle, its hours, where after-hours vehicles go, and whether keys or paperwork must be left in a particular place.
Can dispatch quote the job without a destination?
Dispatch may be able to discuss the pickup, but a complete towing estimate usually depends on the destination, route, mileage, access, receiving procedure, and related conditions.
Related guides
Safety first.
If anyone is injured, in immediate danger, facing a fire or hazardous spill, or blocking an active traffic lane, call 911 first. Move only when you can do so without entering traffic or increasing the danger.
Need help now?
Call live dispatch. An online form or email does not dispatch a truck.