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We Are In The Business of Helping People

carDr. Hook Towing is always ready to help, no matter what the circumstance may be. Here are a few recent testimonials from our customers:

I wanted to write to tell you how much I appreciated one of your drivers, Karl, on a recent vehicle tow. On Sunday, my vehicle seized and wouldn’t start. Upon arrival (which was very quick by the way), Karl noticed that I was with my 5 year old daughter who was holding a present – we were on-route to a birthday party at Skyzone at the time. He asked if we had a ride, I said I was just going to call a cab from Ikea, and he then offered us a ride to the party! My daughter was thrilled that she got there in time and didn’t miss anything (as well as got a ride in a huge truck). Since Karl was heading to the PointeWest Auto Park to drop off my vehicle, and I’m in St. James, he also dropped me off since I was on his way. I’m sure that providing rides to customers isn’t a regular thing, but I have to tell you that it really meant the world to my daughter that she was able to get to her party and going that extra mile was greatly appreciated by me. Please pass on my thanks again to Karl and please forward this note to his supervisor.

D’Arcy L.

I wanted to tell you about exceptional service that we received from Shane on Tuesday. My husband’s jeep was being loaded into a moving semi-trailer and the ramps shifted, dropping the rear wheels to the ground, leaving the front wheels inside the semi-trailer. Shane was called to get the jeep safely into the semi-trailer. When he arrived we were very upset about the events but he explained every step he was doing and provided us with the reassurance we needed. He expertly got the jeep into the semi without causing any further damage. I know that this was not an easy task and we wanted to let you know that we appreciated his expertise and professionalism.

Thank you,
Myrna and Dean S.

I just want to drop you a line about one of your drivers. Last Wednesday I locked the keys in my truck at a Tim Hortons parking lot. One of your drivers took time out of his day to give me a hand. Literally within a minute he unlocked the door for me. I offered to buy him a coffee, which he politely declined. With a hand shake and a smile he was gone. Going forward I will call Dr. Hook for all my towing and road emergency services. And recommend your organization any opportunity I have because of that individual. His truck was 467.

Regards,
Ed G.

To view more testimonials, click here. For roadside assistance, tow truck service or vehicle recovery in the U.S. and Canada, call 1-800-561-4665 or Dr. Hook Towing online.

How To Get Your Cargo In Motion

tilt deckWe’ve been in business for over 35 years and we respond to over 100,000 service requests each year. Dr. Hook has the best team of over 100 of the most qualified individuals to respond to these requests. Our fleet is large, and in-charge, and consists of more than 11 Heavy Duty Trucks, numerous Medium and Light Duty trucks, over 20 Tilt Deck Trucks, a Trailer Division, and an Air Cushion Recovery Division.

Tilt deck truck towing is one of the many services we are always proud to provide to our customers. We operate 17 standard units for loads up to 10,000 lbs (21 foot deck), 1 heavy-duty unit for loads up to 30,000 lbs (26 foot deck) and 2 units capable of 15,000 lbs. Ground and dock loading is available. We are able to haul campers, boat trailers, quads, motorcycles, golf carts, utility sheds and more.

If you need your Sea or Shipping container moved to be loaded on to a boat or for rail, trust Dr. Hook for safe and efficient delivery. Before loading your shipping container on to our tilt truck, we make sure that the container doors will be in the correct position. We also load and unload from semi-trailers, docks or warehouses.

We carefully load your shipping container onto our tilt truck. All of our operators are certified and insured, which guarantees that the shipping container and the cargo it contains safely reaches its destination. Upon delivery, we make sure the ground is level and there is enough clearance for the tilt truck to remove the container.

Dr. Hook Towing provides regional and long-haul delivery throughout Canada and the U.S. To receive a quote for tilt truck towing, call us 24 hours a day Toll Free 1-800-561-4665.

Hazardous Material Spills

Emergency Spill ResponseDr. Hook recently responded on scene where our Emergency Spill Response Services were needed. The incident involved a 4 vehicle collision on Hwy #59 and Bray Road in East St. Paul, Manitoba. The vehicles were severely damaged. The fuel spills from the vehicles covered a significant area as a result of the high speed impact. We arrived promptly with 4 tow units and 1 spill response unit. The cleanup process involved seven Dr. Hook crew members and took a total of 4.5 hours.

Emergency Spill Response

When fuel starts spilling from a vehicle, it causes a dangerous situation. Since fuel oil is combustible, immediate action is required because a fire could spread to the vehicles involved in the spill, surrounding traffic and buildings or structures nearby. Another danger is that the spill can make the roads slippery creating unsafe road conditions. Not to mention the health hazards that can result from spills.

Emergency Spill Response

The first course of action is to stop the spill as soon as possible. Next, spills need to be contained, cleaned and disposed. The Dr. Hook Spill Response Team has the ability to manage your spilled fluids safely, correctly and cost efficiently. Our service includes your hazardous material spill of diesel fuel, jet fuel, hydraulic oils, antifreeze, hydrocarbons and battery acid.

Spills are the number one fear of truck drivers. Owner operators, make Dr. Hook Towing part of your spill contingency plan. For spills on the road or at your facility, regardless of size, contact us at 1-800-561-4665 or (204) 956-4665. Our Emergency Spill Response Unit is available 24 hours a day and will be promptly dispatched to your spill incident scene.

Colouring Books for Kids

colouring_booksThe whole team at Dr. Hook Towing does our best to support the community whenever we can. Earlier this summer, we recently visited the Munroe Early Childhood Education Centre. The children got to climb into one of our 35 ton heavy tow units and sit in the driver’s seat. We also provided our very own Tommy The Tow Truck colouring books and crayons for the kids. Munroe Early Childhood Education Centre is in the process of rebuilding their play structure from scratch. When they contacted us regarding a donation to the rebuild their play structure, we were more than happy to help. We will be donating a tire to support their backyard play area.
We look forward to seeing the final structure!

Want a free colouring book?

If you would be interested in receiving free Tommy The Tow Truck colouring books, please contact Dr. Hook Towing

Or visit our office at:
Dr. Hook Towing Services Ltd.
75 Lowson Crescent
Winnipeg, Manitoba
R3P 0T3
Ph: 1-204-956-4665 (HOOK)

National Trucking Week 2015

2014 Truck Convoy

2014 Truck Convoy

National Trucking Week is on from September 6, 2015 – September 12, 2015. This week is dedicated to honor the hard work and dedication of truck drivers across the nation.

To celebrate National Trucking Week, Dr. Hook Towing will be participating in the 6th Annual Truck Pull for The United Way and in the World’s Largest Truck Convoy for Special Olympics.

The United Way of Winnipeg is a non-profit organization that aims to improve our community by raising funds and supporting programs for a better Winnipeg. We are excited to take part in this event with the United Way. Cheer on the Dr. Hook Towing team as we manually pull a tractor at the 6th Annual Truck Pull for United Way!

6th Annual Truck Pull for United Way
Friday, Sept. 11, 2015
5:00 – 6:00 pm
25 Bunting Street
Winnipeg, Manitoba
Visit the Manitoba Trucking Association Events Page

Join us as the nation’s law enforcement community escorts the World’s Largest Truck Convoy for Special Olympics! The Law Enforcement Torch Run, Manitoba Trucking Association and the trucking industry have teamed up to raise awareness for Special Olympics athletes and towards people with intellectual disabilities.

The World’s Largest Truck Convoy for Special Olympics
Saturday, Sept. 12, 2015
11:00 am
Oak Bluff Recreation Centre
Oak Bluff, MB
Visit the Manitoba Trucking Association Events Page

Alberta will also hosting a Truck Convoy. Please visit the Alberta Motor Association Events Page for details.

 

Ontario fines for worst traffic offenses

A_narrow_bikelane“A narrow bikelane” by Hallgrimsson – Own work. Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons.

The province of Ontario has unanimously passed new legislation that makes the penalties for some of the most serious traffic offenses considerably stiffer than they were.  In an attempt to provide a more effective deterrent against, among other things, distracted driving, driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs, and failing to properly share the roadway with cyclists, fines have been increased.

A single text message could cost Ontario drivers more than a new smartphone.  Distracted driving will now cost $1000 and three demerit points.

Driving under the influence of marijuana will now carry the same penalties as driving while drunk, which is common to most Canadian provinces.  There will be steep fines, escalated license suspensions, and mandated addictions counselling for repeat offenders.

Cyclists must be given more space – one meter in all directions, which can make it tight on some city streets.  “Dooring” a rider by opening the car door without looking, and hitting a cyclist, which has long been a hazard in urban areas will carry a penalty up to $1000.

Cyclists will get more responsibility, too.  They’ll face fines up to $500 if they’re not using required reflectors or lights.

For our Ontario counterparts in the towing industry, tow trucks will be given the same level of respect that other emergency vehicles receive.  When passing a truck with the lights flashing, drivers are now required to slow down and give a full lane for the emergency operation whenever possible.  This move alone will make Ontario’s roads a safer place for all who use them.

At Dr. Hook Towing, we often see the consequences of unsafe behavior on city streets and highways.  We see Ontario’s stiffening of traffic laws as a necessary update of legislation that’s meant to make the roads safe for everyone.

Get in touch with us! For 24 hour tow truck service, call us Toll Free at 1-800-561-4665. Learn more about our Towing and Recovery Services. You can also sign up online for our Guaranteed Roadside Assistance program, membership is free and you know we’ll be there if you need us.

Street Racing and Car Surfing in Quebec

driving-in-quebecPhoto by Kristina Servant / CC BY 2.0

Because towing services is the nature of our business, we are often called to the scene of an emergency to help with vehicle removal. As a result, our drivers see a lot of things that the general population doesn’t. Often, accidents are just that – accidents. They’re caused by poor weather conditions, momentary lapses in concentration, or poor judgment.

Every once in a while, one of our drivers sees the results of an accident caused by an episode of gross negligence. That’s why we are happy to see public education campaigns and stiff penalties for the most flagrant violations of road safety rules.

Quebec has identified two of the most dangerous on-road behaviours and taken steps to end them. Calling street racing and car surfing “dangerous and unacceptable”, they’ve enacted steep penalties for infractions, including immediate suspension of the drivers license of the perpetrator, on-the-spot vehicle impoundment, $1000 fine, and levying 12 demerit points. Repeat offenders (people convicted of the same offence within 10 years) will face even stiffer punishments.

What is “car surfing?”

Riding on a moving vehicle, in the box or cargo space of a truck, holding onto or being pulled by a vehicle, or riding on any object being pulled by a moving vehicle. The driver of the vehicle will face the above punishments, and anyone actually car surfing will have their license (or the right to obtain one) immediately suspended, be fined $1000, and get the same 12 demerit points entered onto their record that the vehicle’s driver does.

Not only are these offences incredibly dangerous, they’re criminal. The Criminal Code of Canada includes penalties as harsh as imprisonment for life for a person who drives a vehicle in a manner that’s dangerous to the public.

At Dr. Hook Towing, we’re happy to see Quebec (and other Canadian Provinces) take such a firm stand against the most dangerous behaviours on the road.

Get in touch with us! For emergency roadside service or tow truck service, contact Dr. Hook Towing.

Dr. Hook’s Tilt Truck Division – Big or Small, We Move ‘Em All

tilt-truckAs part of our ongoing efforts to become the towing company of choice, we’ve equipped our fleet with 19 tilt trucks. A Tilt truck has a bed that can be extended and lowered, so that the load can be pulled up with a winch and secured.

When you tow a vehicle conventionally, two of it’s wheels are on the ground, or at best supported by a small dolly. This can cause wear and tear to the vehicle being towed, and leave it vulnerable to damage caused by road hazards.

Not every vehicle is capable of being towed conventionally. Modern all-wheel drive vehicles are particularly susceptible to damage from “wheels down” towing methods. When one end of a vehicle is raised, the angle at which the other wheels contact the roadway is not always optimal for the car, and damage may result.

A tilt truck is a flatbed vehicle that will tow your car with all of its wheels off the ground, secured to a platform on the back of the truck. As a result, your car “floats” on the truck, several feet above the road.

Tilt trucks are perfect for long-distance towing, moving of derelict vehicles, cars under restoration, and vehicles that are just too valuable to make the journey under their own power. And our trucks aren’t limited to automotive cargo, either. We can carry motorcycles, ATVs, and even things without wheels – if it fits on the platform, it can be moved – think about a completely assembled garden shed, swing set, or other large object that’s impractical to move any other way.

To get the services of one of our tilt trucks or for towing & recovery needs, call us 24 hours a day Toll Free 1-800-561-4665. We have 18 units capable of handling loads up to 21 feet long and 10,000 pounds, and one heavy-duty unit that can carry 25,000-pound loads up to 26 feet in length.