Blogs

Home / Blogs

Various Types of Tow Trucks

Various-Types-of-Tow-Trucks

A tow truck is a special vehicle often used to transport impounded, disabled, improperly parked, and scrapped motor vehicles from one point to another. This may involve transporting a broken down vehicle to a repair shop, recovering a vehicle damaged in a road accident, or returning one to drivable surface in harsh weather. We can classify tow trucks in the following categories based on their size, capacity, power, and function:

Boom

Boom tow trucks use an adjustable boom to recover motor vehicles over an embankment or from a ditch. Some trucks have a fixed boom, others feature hydraulic-powered tubes. The heaviest types of boom trucks function more like a crane as they have the boom which can effectively rotate. It is mostly used to recover heavy vehicles. A traditional boom truck uses a hook and chain system to lift the object.

Wheel-lift

The traditional wheel-lift trucks use hook and chain technology to draw the front end of the vehicle clear of the ground so it can be moved. Wheel-lift trucks pick up the drive wheels of the vehicle making it convenient to tow rear wheel drive. We can further categorize wheel-lift trucks based on the wheel-lift technology.

Flatbed

A flatbed truck has its back fitted with a flat surface or a bed that can be inclined or slid back to the ground level using hydraulic technology. Flatbed tow trucks are mostly used to transport completely damaged vehicles. People prefer flatbed towing service when the safety of a vehicle is a prime concern. It is more like carrying an object rather than towing it. We also call them rollback trucks.

Integrated

When boom and wheel-lift technologies are integrated together, we get integrated tow trucks or self loaders. The integrated system is often used to move illegally parked vehicles. Operators are not required to hook up the vehicle, apparatus inside the truck makes a quick pickup possible. Heavy duty trucks also use integrated lift system to move objects.

We can also categorize tow trucks in terms size and weight. The lightest models are ideal for carrying out car towing operations. Flatbeds are medium and heavy duty trucks featuring enough power to carry entire vehicles.

A highly professional towing company uses different types of tow trucks depending on the requirements and nature of a project. In Edmonton City, we have Action Towing, a towing and roadside assistance company equipped with a complete range of powerful and modern tow trucks. If you are in Edmonton and need to tow or recover a vehicle, call us for an emergency response.

RECENT BLOGS

A place to come for news and updates about our services, our equipment, careers,
what we’ve been up to lately.

July 10, 2025

Ever had one of those days where nothing goes as planned? Imagine being a truck driver hauling tons of cargo when your rig suddenly breaks down on a busy highway. The pressure to get moving again is immense, and that’s where heavy-duty towing in Edmonton plays a crucial role. Towing large commercial vehicles, construction equipment,… Continue reading Top Challenges In Heavy-Duty Towing And How Edmonton Experts Solve Them

July 3, 2025

Imagine your heavy-duty truck breaks down in the middle of a busy highway. What’s your next move? Reliable towing services are essential, but without full insurance coverage, you risk unexpected repair costs and liability issues. Heavy-duty vehicles, including semi-trucks and construction equipment, require expert handling. A small mistake during towing can lead to costly damage.… Continue reading Why Fully Insured Towing Services Matter For Heavy-Duty Vehicles?

June 30, 2025

In Edmonton, the weather doesn’t just “change”, it throws fits. One moment you’re sipping coffee in the sunshine. Blink, and your car’s buried under a foot of snow. For towing companies, this isn’t just an inconvenience. It’s life. It’s what makes or breaks their ability to show up when you’re stranded, stuck, or downright stranded… Continue reading How Edmonton Weather Affects Towing Services Year-Round

GIVE US A CALL FOR QUICK VEHICLE
RECOVERY AND ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE