It’s raining during Friday afternoon rush hour and your car breaks down on I-20. Traffic is whizzing past. You call a towing service. They arrive and proceed to hook up your car and mount it on their massive tow truck. They can feel the wind from passing cars and 18-wheelers.
Working in the elements coupled with distracted drivers could be a disastrous combination, especially when your “office” is on the side of the road. Justin Watkins, the owner of Watkins Towing Service in Augusta, knows the dangers, but it’s part of his job.
“I’ve gotten tapped on the shoulder a few times, that’s what we call it when you get brushed by a side mirror from a passing car,” Watkins related.
Sound too close for comfort? It could be worse. Every six days, a tow truck driver is hit and killed. According to the American Automobile Association (AAA), towing fatalities are near the top of the danger list followed by firefighters, police officers, and EMTs.
“We promote the Slow Down and Move Over law, which requires drivers to slow down and move over a full lane if they can do so safely when they see an emergency vehicle with flashing lights on a freeway shoulder, but some drivers aren’t going to follow those rules for a tow truck,” Watkins said.
Although dangerous work, Watkins comes by his dedication to helping stranded motorists naturally. Both his grandfather and his dad were in the business. Justin has 15 years of experience working for various towing companies in Augusta. Next month, he and his wife Katie, who also works with Watkins Towing, will be celebrating the sixth anniversary of owning their own company.
They consider state-of-the-art equipment, certifications, and training the keys to providing quality service. Just this week, they attended the Georgia Task Force for Traffic Incident Management Enhancement (TIME) meeting. The discussion centered around the dangers for tow truck drivers and other responders with the biggest risk factor being secondary accidents.
“The rewards are worth the risks,” Watkins said. “I know this job isn’t for everybody, but you’ve got to love what you do, and I love helping people.”
Most of their calls are what you would expect, including assisting with flat tires, running out of gas, accidents, and car breakdowns on the side of the road, but they also offer light and medium equipment towing. Additionally, Watkins Towing works with Richmond and Columbia county sheriff’s departments and the Georgia State Patrol to assist stranded motorists or those involved in accidents.
Their business is helping people and that extends beyond the job. Watkins Towing sponsors toy drives, youth programs, and the local Police Benevolent Association.
For more information, visit their Facebook page.
