Why Is It Called a Tow Truck?

Tow trucks are an integral part of any roadside assistance service. Whether a vehicle has broken down, become stuck in a ditch, or been involved in an accident, a tow truck is often needed to help get it back on the road. But why are these vehicles known as “tow trucks”?

The term “tow truck” is derived from the verb “to tow,” which means to pull or haul something behind you. The earliest tow trucks were actually horse-drawn carriages that were used to pull broken-down vehicles out of mud or snow. These carriages had metal poles that were attached to the front and rear axles of the vehicle being towed. The horses would then pull the carriage, and thus the vehicle, out of whatever predicament it was in.

By the mid-20th century, tow trucks had evolved into vehicles powered by gasoline engines with hydraulically operated winches which could lift and move heavy vehicles with ease.

These improved tow trucks made it much easier for towing crews to quickly remove disabled vehicles from roadsides and transport them to repair shops for repairs.

Today’s Tow Trucks

Modern tow trucks can come in many different shapes and sizes depending on their intended use. The most common type of tow truck is a flatbed truck which can be used for light duty towing such as when moving cars that have been involved in minor accidents or when relocating cars from one location to another. There are also specialized trucks such as wheel-lift trucks, which use a metal yoke to lift and secure vehicles for transport, as well as medium and heavy duty wreckers which are designed for more demanding hauling tasks such as recovering large commercial trucks or pulling out stuck vehicles from ditches or embankments.

No matter what type they may be, all tow trucks have one thing in common: they are designed to provide roadside assistance services by safely transporting disabled vehicles from place to place. And that’s why they’re called “tow trucks” – because they literally “tow” other vehicles!

Conclusion:

Tow Trucks have been around since the mid 20th century when gasoline engines replaced horses as their power source. They are now available in many different shapes and sizes depending on their intended use but all of them have one purpose: To provide roadside assistance services by safely transporting disabled vehicles from place to place – hence why they are called “tow trucks”.

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Susan Delgado