Funky experience with tow trucks on our lovely freeways. My car stalled/died yesterday afternoon, Katy Frwy inbound at Post Oak. I was able to stop on the left shoulder with hazards blinking under the Post Oak bridge. Traffic in the mainlanes was unaffected. I called safeclear/911; they asked make/model and I waited for their tow truck (promised for 10min arrival). I then scaled over the center retaining wall to under the bridge supports; I was completely safe, separated from traffic. The tow truck never showed up. I called my mechanic (Tech Auto on Waugh) and his tow truck showed up in 15min (50mins after my first call to 911/safeclear).
But doesn't Harris County provide free tows off the freeway? Tech Auto's tow truck driver explained. Harris County pays $60/tow; the driver gets $30 and the towing company gets $30. I drive an old BMW. According to the driver, BMW and some other makes have a "feature" that the rear wheels lock if the car detects the driver's seat is empty but the wheels are spinning. That means they need to hoist the rear wheels onto a dolly, complicating the tow. He said no driver is willing to do that, in traffic, for only $30. Makes sense.
My mechanic's advice if you need a tow? Don't tell the dispatcher your car make/model. Just describe the basics (color, number doors) and claim you don't know the make/model. A tow truck is more likely to show up. Fuel pump gave out is the issue.
But doesn't Harris County provide free tows off the freeway? Tech Auto's tow truck driver explained. Harris County pays $60/tow; the driver gets $30 and the towing company gets $30. I drive an old BMW. According to the driver, BMW and some other makes have a "feature" that the rear wheels lock if the car detects the driver's seat is empty but the wheels are spinning. That means they need to hoist the rear wheels onto a dolly, complicating the tow. He said no driver is willing to do that, in traffic, for only $30. Makes sense.
My mechanic's advice if you need a tow? Don't tell the dispatcher your car make/model. Just describe the basics (color, number doors) and claim you don't know the make/model. A tow truck is more likely to show up. Fuel pump gave out is the issue.