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You help keep people safe when they're driving by towing away broken-down vehicles. By following these tips, you can be confident that you'll be safe too.

Keep your truck maintained.
Schedule regular professional tow truck inspections, and repair or replace parts when necessary (not when you have time to get around to it). Invest in keeping your tow truck going-and going safely.

Be familiar with your tow truck and its capacity.
Before you use your tow truck, inspect it. Make sure the tow truck is free of broken bolts, cracked seams and stress fractures, and check the chains to make sure they're free of cracks and rust. Also, be familiar with your tow capacity, and make sure to stick to it. Staying within your tow truck's limits will help you keep control.

Know how to safely hook up a vehicle.
When hooking up a vehicle, block its wheels before disengaging the driveshaft or the brakes.

If you have a remote control for the lift, boom or winch, lock and secure it inside your tow truck until you're ready to use it so you don't accidentally activate it if it's in your pocket or on the ground. And once you lift the vehicle, never work underneath it.

Keep a safe distance.
Remember that you're carrying extra weight when towing a vehicle, so drive defensively. Stick to the speed limit, and try to keep a two- to three-second distance between your tow truck and the car in front of you. This will give you enough room to come to a complete stop in case they slam on the brakes.

Be ready for the unexpected.
You'll need a safety net of your own while you are busy being everyone else's. Make sure your tow truck-and your business-is covered with commercial auto insurance.

Every tow business owner should have liability and physical damage insurance, which covers damages you could cause to your tow truck-or someone else's vehicle-in case of an accident.

Also, consider insurance that protects your customers' vehicles as well as your own. With additional coverages, you can be confident that you won't be responsible for damages that could happen to a car you have on-hook or in storage at your shop.

Get the right insurance for your trucks-and save money, too

Five things you should consider before your next renewal

Your vehicle insurance could be as much as 40 percent of your total operating budget. A Regular policy review is essential in making sure you have the right insurance for your truck-and your business. Plus, you could save big buck if you qualify for additional discounts.

To get started, ask yourself these five questions-then give your local agent a call.

1. Are all of my employees covered when they drive my trucks, even if they're not listed on my policy?

You should always list employees who regularly drive your vehicles. Ask your insurance company if it covers temporary drivers as long as they have your permission to operate the vehicle.

Some insurance companies will only cover drivers who are named on the policy. So, if you regularly employ temporary workers, you need to call your insurer and add them to the policy every time they drive to ensure they'll be covered in an accident.

Permissive use policies don't require you to add temporary workers.

2. Will my policy pay to repair my employees' personal vehicles if they get into an accident while running a business errand?

If you often send employees on business errands in their personal cars or trucks, or, if you use rental vehicles, consider adding optional coverages to your policy to protect those vehicles. In many cases, a standard commercial auto insurance policy won't cover damages in case of an accident. Your agent or insurance company can walk you through all of your options.

3. Should I maintain my policy during the off-season if I'm not using my truck?

When the season's over, consider switching to Comprehensive-only coverage instead of canceling your policy altogether. This coverage protects your vehicles against incidents like vandalism or hail that can happen when they're sitting for long periods during the off-season.

If you do decide to cancel your Liability insurance, check with the Department of Motor Vehicles first. There may be some additional steps you need to take to comply with the insurance laws in your state.

4. How quickly does my insurance company resolve claims?

Find out how long, on average, it takes your insurer to resolve claims. The faster they take care of your claim, the faster you can get back to work.

Also, ask if your insurance will cover a rental vehicle or provide downtime payments.
That way, if your truck's out of commission, your business will stay profitable.

5. What can I do to control my insurance expenses?

Discounts can make a big difference, especially with commercial insurance. Our carrier offers several, like an experienced business owner discount and a discount if you have a General Liability or Business Owner's Policy. Other ways that you can save include increasing your deductibles and paying your premium in full.