We huffed, we puffed, and we pulled the truck down!
We had a great time participating in the 5th annual Manitoba Trucking Association Truck Pull for United Way last week. There was a great turnout and more importantly it raised $6000 for the community!
We were the returning champions, we didn’t win this year, but still “pulled it together”. Thanks to all the Dr. Hook team members that participated.
September is upon us and at Dr. Hook, that means it’s time for us to roll up our sleeves and be part of a couple community efforts by truckers in Manitoba.
The first event comes this afternoon as we will once again be part of the Annual Truck Pull for United Way. Presented by the Manitoba Trucking Association, the Truck Pull takes place at Polo Park Shopping Centre at 5:00pm and runs for roughly an hour.
This will be your unique opportunity to see our boys and girls do a different kind of haul job as we throw on the work gloves and pull the designated big rig in the spirit of friendly competition with fellow MTA members.
The Annual Truck Pull for United Way is a community event that Dr. Hook is proud to be part of. Come cheer us on this afternoon!
By now, you’re very familiar with Dr. Hook’s capacity to tow cars and trucks across Winnipeg.
But our tow capabilities go far and beyond the types of company vehicles you might see on the road normally – we’ve towed everything from buses to big rigs.
This is where some of our specialty divisions start to be dispatched.
Medium Duty
This is the starting point for some of the bigger vehicle tows.
Some of the past work for our medium duty trucks have included extraction of work vehicles from submersion on job sites or in problem areas such as deep snow, mud or ditches. We’ve also used our Medium Duty vehicles to assist in tows for disabled busses and vans.
Heavy Duty
From tractor and trailer towing to wreckmaster certified operators, our heavy duty division is able to winch vehicles up to 1 million tons. Likely, that’s more than we’ll ever have to do for your Winnipeg company, but we’re up to the challenge that you may throw at us.
Air Cushion Recovery
You may not believe this until you see it (but we hope you don’t have to).
This technology uses large air-filled cushions to lift turned vehicles – from cars to 5 ton trucks – getting them upright on the road. This unique process has even been used to lift sunken airplanes and even lift and level cottages!
To learn more about our commercial vehicle assistance capabilities, call Dr. Hook today at 204-956-4665 or fill out our contact form now.
When we think of roadside assistance, we often think first of issues we may encounter during our daily commuting or venturing out on Manitoba highways. What we don’t consider, however, is the time we’re in company vehicles.
Whether your business has designated vehicles – from pizza delivery cars to messenger vans to big rigs – the unfortunate reality is that somewhere along the line there may very well be trouble on Manitoba roads. It happens to the best – and biggest of us. We may marvel at seeing a bus being towed down a street or a food van lifted onto the back of a tow vehicle, but the reality is these vehicles really are like any other. Just as a sedan could get a flat tire, so too could a transporter (rubber is rubber after all).
Fortunately for these vehicles, Dr. Hook Towing’s Roadside Assistance Program is here to help. Not just for families, roadside assistance is available for every make, every model of every vehicle.
So while you’re protecting your family, protect your business investments as well. Register online today for the Dr. Hook Roadside Assistance Program.
A few months ago, a witty Winnipegger took advantage of the hype around a sinkhole in our city and created a Twitter account that at first was meant to entertain, but since has served a useful purpose.
The account is @Wpg_Sinkhole, and very quickly gained some traction. While it currently sits at 342 followers (certainly nothing to sneeze at), the account has become less about joking about the contents of a sinkhole in our fair city and moreso providing alerts.
Witness, for example, the following Vine that came from CBC reporter Jill Coubrough, that was later re-Tweeted by the Sinkhole:
Could this be the next @Wpg_Sinkhole ? https://t.co/u3wNt7SGIG Why one Winnipegger fears this patch of Corydon will be @ 11 #cbcmb #winnipeg
— Jill Coubrough (@coubroughCBC) June 24, 2014
There is reason why we talk about Twitter in this blog – part of staying safe on the road is being aware of issues you may face while driving. While the majority of potholes were filled earlier this year, there continue to be issues all across Winnipeg, some which you may not see until it’s too late.
The simplest way to prepare yourself for travels on Winnipeg streets and away from needing Roadside Assistance is, simply put, to stay informed. Consider adding social media accounts like the aforementioned Sinkhole Twitter profile to keep alert, and follow news and City of Winnipeg bulletins on any roadwork that has or soon will be commencing.
Stay safe Winnipeg!
Mother Nature has shown ruled the summer thus far with an iron fist. The weather forecasters are raising our hopes that we will actually get to enjoy a typical hot Manitoba summer. Fingers crossed.
After the most brutal winter in history and the wettest spring in memory, do you really want to spend your time dealing with roadside breakdowns? Which you you rather be doing?
Our roadside assistance program offers guaranteed help when the unexpected happens. Sign up today.
Winnipeggers, your time has come!
The open road this (long) weekend beckons families before moms and dads separate from sons and daughters. Cottage country and lake life has never looked so serene.
Getting to your destination, however, comes with its challenges. Having Suzie and Sam in the back seat is certainly a blessing when you consider just how few trips you get together, especially as they get older; but as amazing as these trips are, they can also be hazardous for your highway driving.
Consider statistics reported by Medical Today. a study by the Monash University Accident Research Center found that drivers were 12 times more distracted by their kids than by cell phones, and spent more than 3 minutes of a 16-minute trip looking at or talking to their offspring.
So when you’re driving, remember – when the fuss begins, it’s better to pull over than to threaten, less you end up in trouble and require roadside assistance.
Dr. Hook Towing has a proud history of engaging in our community causes and the spring of 2014 is no different.
This is the time of year when Winnipeg’s charitable causes really get put in the spotlight. Gala events, which populate a lot of the April-May calendar, continue to roll, while thousands upon thousands of proud supporters walk, run, bike or otherwise mobilize in support of their favourite charities.
It’s a heartwarming scene no matter what way you slice it – assembling that many people for one event that wholly benefits a cause gives you that feeling of just how interconnected Winnipeg is and how much we care about the health and wellness of those around us.
Recently, Dr. Hook was involved in two major community events that drew thousands of supporters for two important causes – The Children’s Hospital Foundation of Manitoba and the Canadian Cancer Society.
First up was the Foundation’s signature event, the Teddy Bear’s Picnic. Taking place once again at Assiboine Park, the Picnic saw hundreds of kids and parents, along with their stuffed-with-fluff friends, gather for one of the most unique events on Winnipeg’s calendar, where teddy bears and other plush toys were examined by Hospital staff while everyone enjoyed a memorable community meal. Dr. Hook was pleased to once again be a part of the Picnic and look forward to continuing our relationship with the Children’s Hospital Foundation.
Following the Picnic came the Canadian Cancer Society’s Relay for Life, for which Dr. Hook delivered gators. In 2013, this national non-competitive race generated an outstanding $46.5 million from over 16,000 teams, and we have no doubt that this number was exceeded in 2014. An amazing physical challenge, the Relay has quickly become one of the most anticipated events for Winnipeggers to part in while helping raise money for one of our country’s biggest charitable causes.
The fate of the Montreal Canadiens was sealed Thursday night when they were eliminated by the New York Rangers in the sixth game of the Eastern Conference Finals. Despite the loss, the progress the team made this year has helped renew faith in a franchise that has been without a Stanley Cup in 20 years.
But for the safety of the fabled championship trophy donated by Lord Stanley of Preston, a Habs drought may not be a bad thing.
The tales of damage and dings to the famed chalice are legendary, and the Canadiens, winners of 24 Stanley Cups in their history, are far from immune. In fact, there was one occasion where Les Habitants could have definitely benefited from roadside assistance, courtesy of Dr. Hook.
Back in 1924, the Canadiens were celebrating their latest Stanley Cup victory over the Calgary Tigers. A group of players – and the Stanley Cup – were en route to owner/general manager Leo Dandurand’s home for a a celebration when their vehicle got a flat tire.
This is where, perhaps, the team should have called for a fix, rather than working on their own. Instead, the players got out of the card and did the work themselves.
Amidst the drama over fixing their flat, however, the team quickly got back in their car and drove off to Dandurand’s, leaving the Cup on the side of the road.
One can only imagine the stories that hockey historians would share today had the Cup not been recovered soon after. While the trophy wasn’t in its recognizable form today, it still was an impressive silver presentation bowl at this time and easily could have been stolen.
The moral of the story?
First, when you have a flat, the last thing to do is take your valuables out of the car if you’re going to DIY getting back on the road.
And second, don’t take chances – if you encounter a flat, calling for roadside assistance when you’re at all unsure of what to do is your best course of action.
Victoria Day weekend is almost here, which means that the first trip up to the cottage is also just hours away. You can almost smell the open road as you sit at your desk, reading this blog before you pack up your ride and head out to your summer escape.
Before you go though, we do want to advise you to do some tire maintenance before you head out on the road, lest you need to call for some roadside assistance this weekend (and yes, we will be available 24 hours a day in case the worst does happen).
First, be sure that your tires are at proper pressure. Under inflated tires can affect your fuel efficiency and affect the wear on your rubber, while overinflation can put unneeded pressure on the centre of your tire.
Next, do a thorough check for any nails or other objects that may be embedded in your tires. This happened to an associate of ours – as they were prepping to leave North Dakota to get back to Winnipeg, they discovered a large nail in their tire. Sure enough, it had made the trip to the States successfully, but deflated overnight in the hotel parking lot.
Finally, be aware of your tire’s tread. At worst, your tire tread should be 1.6mm in depth, but twice that amount if you’re going to encounter wet and slick road surfaces.
Ultimately, if you’re concerned about your tires’ state, take it to an auto shop for inspection before you hit the road. Otherwise, do be mindful of the weekend riders and the wildlife you may encounter along the way.
Have a great long weekend Winnipeg!
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