Other Considerations: Upside-Down Recoveries

I was absorbed by a Tow411 topic regarding loading vehicles upside-down when requested by officers on scene. Comments were many, for and against the technique, and I felt it a great debate relating to companies being willing or unwilling to do the task.

We recognize prudent reasons for not loading upside-down. Commenters cited battery cables weren’t consistently cut by fire departments or the dangers of loose batteries after flipping the vehicle. Many cited fuel leaks and fluid spills, fire, explosion and the smashing of A-posts loosening the vehicle in transport. Others stated their insurance companies told them “No.”While we know these are constants … do we not have a job to do to satisfy requirements of clearing an incident as fast as possible? We can debate this all day long; however, maybe there’s a bigger issue?What does your state law say about upside-down transport? Is it allowed by law recognizing the letter of the law vs. spirit of the law? Much comes down to your company’s policy and procedures whether dragging vehicles upside-down atop your carrier’s deck is allowable? I have no knowledge of towers being cited for loading upside-down, especially when returning from an agency request.Let’s approach this narrative from an officer’s perspective. Many law enforcement contracts state carriers aren’t recovery trucks, yet companies continue dispatching carriers. Because some towers aren’t competent in conducting rollovers with a carrier, officers witnessed inability and ultimately learned that when operators can’t do the roll in a timely manner, the fastest way to clear the roadway is loading it upside-down.When you tell the officer, “we don’t do upside-down recoveries,” the officer simply sends you away and requests the next rotation company and he’s likely miffed you aren’t following his instructions. Your competition gets there, loads it upside-down, and takes it away.Fast forward to the next day where 15 cops on the same squad are seated in the line-up room talking about yesterday’s police work. One officer—the one from your scene—shares with 14 other officers and his sergeant the fact that your towing company couldn’t or wouldn’t load upside-down.For whatever your intentions were (liability, lack of training, insurance, etc.), that one officer’s comment gave your company a huge black eye to his fellow officers. He’s planted the seed of your company’s incompetency or unwillingness to serve.This may not be fair, but it’s reality. The next time your company’s up for rotation or contract renewal, what’s to say your company isn’t simply passed by?The bottom line here is two parts: 1. If sending a carrier to rollover scenes, your operators had better be thoroughly trained in rollover recoveries. 2. If your contract says carriers aren’t recovery trucks … don’t send ’em.