Get safely out of danger
Do not stand in a live lane, cross traffic, climb a barrier, or walk along an unsafe shoulder to improve a pin. Call 911 first for immediate danger, injury, fire, hazardous material, or a vehicle blocking traffic.
Tommy'sRoad RescueCall live dispatch816-588-8888A precise pickup without guesswork
How to Share Your Location With Tow Dispatch
Call live Kansas City dispatch at 816-588-8888 for current availability.
Start with a safe, accurate request
A map pin is useful only when it identifies the vehicle's actual pickup point and the route a tow truck can use. Pair the pin with road direction, nearby signs, access instructions, and a callback number.
Step-by-step
Confirm the blue location marker
Open your map app and compare the marker with the road, building, lot, exit, or nearby landmarks. GPS can be imprecise, especially in garages, dense buildings, remote areas, or weak-signal locations.
Send a static pin
A one-time pin is usually enough for pickup qualification and shares less information than continuous location tracking. Send it only through the communication method confirmed by dispatch.
Describe the approach
Add the direction of travel, shoulder or side of street, nearest exit or cross street, garage level, gate, lot entrance, building name, mile marker, or rural-road landmark.
Verify that dispatch received it
A sent pin does not assign a truck. Confirm by voice that dispatch can open the location, understands the pickup, and has completed any required estimate and assignment steps.
What to prepare
iPhone: Apple Maps
Open Maps, touch and hold the vehicle's location until a pin appears, open the pin card, choose Share, and select the communication method confirmed by dispatch. Apple also allows a one-time pinned location from Messages.
Android: Google Maps
Open Google Maps, search for the place or touch and hold the vehicle's location to drop a pin, tap the place name or address at the bottom, tap Share, and choose the confirmed communication method.
Highway or interstate
Include the highway number, direction of travel, nearest exit or mile marker, which shoulder, and the most recent sign or landmark. Do not rely on a pin alone when divided roads have separate carriageways.
Garage, lot, or private property
Include the property name, street entrance, level, row or space, posted clearance, gate or access process, and whether property staff must provide entry.
Rural or weak-signal area
Share the road name, nearest numbered highway or intersection, surface type, driveway or gate description, nearby mailbox or landmark, and any closure, flooding, mud, or minimum-maintenance condition.
Important limits
- Tommy's current website does not request device geolocation or continuously track a customer.
- Map and GPS information can be incomplete or inaccurate; compare it with posted road signs and visible surroundings.
- A pin sent by email may not be seen immediately. Call live dispatch for receipt and assignment confirmation.
- Avoid sharing continuous live location when a one-time pickup pin is sufficient, and stop any live sharing when it is no longer needed.
Questions drivers ask
Is a street address enough for tow dispatch?
Sometimes, but highways, large lots, garages, apartment properties, campuses, industrial sites, and rural roads often require a pin plus an entrance, level, direction, exit, cross street, or landmark.
Should I send my live location or a pin?
A one-time static pin is usually sufficient and reveals less ongoing location information. Use live sharing only when you choose to and when dispatch explains why it is needed.
What if my phone shows the wrong side of the highway?
Tell dispatch the highway and direction of travel, nearest exit or mile marker, which shoulder, and a visible sign or landmark. Divided highways can place a pin near the wrong carriageway.
Does sharing a pin dispatch a truck?
No. Dispatch must confirm it received and understood the location, then separately confirm the job, estimate or price, authorization, availability, and assignment.
Official and primary resources
Apple: Share your location with iPhone
Apple's current instructions for sharing a one-time pinned location and understanding ongoing location sharing.
Apple: Mark and share a pin in Maps
Official iPhone instructions for dropping, refining, and sharing a map pin.
Google Maps: Share a map or location on Android
Official Android steps for searching for a place or dropping and sharing a pin.
Google Maps: Find and share a Plus Code
An official alternative for describing a precise location, including some places without a conventional address.
External resources are provided for convenience. Tommy's is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or acting on behalf of those organizations.
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.