Tow Trucks Could See Changes Under New Safety Ratings

Commercial vehicles, including many tow trucks, are set to face new safety scrutiny as the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) begins rating work trucks for crash avoidance and occupant protection.

The move could directly impact vehicles commonly used in the towing industry, such as the Ford F-Series chassis cab, as well as Ram and Chevrolet 3500-5500 chassis cab models that are routinely upfitted into wreckers and carriers. These trucks fall into the Class 3–5 category now being evaluated by IIHS. 

Safety gaps remain a concern. Many of these platforms are not required to include advanced systems like automatic emergency braking, blind spot monitoring, or even full airbag coverage. Yet they operate in high-risk environments, particularly roadside recovery where secondary collisions are a leading danger.

IIHS says 6,535 people were killed in crashes involving work vehicles in 2023, with most victims being other motorists. 

Some manufacturers, including Ford, already offer advanced safety features on chassis cab trucks, showing broader adoption is possible. 

While improved safety could better protect tow operators and the public, industry experts warn it may also raise equipment costs and increase repair complexity. Source: https://www.thedrive.comhttps://motorweek.org