Choosing the Right Towing Service: Light, Medium, or Heavy-Duty?
When your vehicle breaks down or you’re involved in an accident, one of the first questions a towing company will ask is: What type of vehicle needs to be towed? The answer determines whether you need light-duty, medium-duty, or heavy-duty towing services.
At Dick’s Towing, we provide professional towing services for vehicles of all sizes. Understanding the differences between towing classifications helps you quickly determine the right service for your situation.
Below, we break down the three main towing categories, including weight ranges, vehicle types, and common scenarios for each.
Light-Duty Towing
Light-duty towing is the most common type of tow service and typically applies to everyday passenger vehicles.
Vehicles Included:
- Sedans
- Coupes
- SUVs
- Minivans
- Small pickup trucks
- Motorcycles
Typical Weight Range:
Up to approximately 10,000 pounds (GVWR)
Common Scenarios:
- Dead battery or roadside assistance calls
- Flat tires
- Engine failure
- Lockouts
- Minor accidents
- Illegally parked vehicles
Light-duty tow trucks often use flatbeds or wheel-lift systems, which allow safe transport without damaging the vehicle. If you drive a standard car or small SUV, you likely need light-duty towing services.
Because light-duty calls are the most frequent, this service is typically the fastest response option for breakdowns and emergency roadside assistance.
Medium-Duty Towing
Medium-duty towing bridges the gap between passenger vehicles and large commercial equipment. These vehicles require stronger tow trucks and specialized equipment.
Vehicles Included:
- Box trucks
- Delivery trucks
- Sprinter vans
- Utility trucks
- Small buses
- RVs and motorhomes (Class B and some Class C)
- Work trucks
Typical Weight Range:
Approximately 10,000–26,000 pounds (GVWR)
Common Scenarios:
- Commercial vehicle breakdowns
- Fleet service calls
- RV mechanical issues
- Construction or contractor truck towing
- Accident recovery for larger vehicles
Medium-duty towing requires more powerful trucks with reinforced frames, heavy-duty winches, and specialized wheel-lift systems. These calls are common for business owners, contractors, and delivery companies who rely on their vehicles daily.
If you operate a commercial vehicle that’s too large for a standard tow truck but not a full semi-truck, medium-duty towing is likely what you need.
Heavy-Duty Towing
Heavy-duty towing is designed for the largest and heaviest vehicles on the road. This service requires specialized equipment, highly trained operators, and powerful recovery vehicles.
Vehicles Included:
- Semi-trucks
- Tractor-trailers
- Dump trucks
- Garbage trucks
- Buses and motorcoaches
- Cement mixers
- Large RVs (Class A motorhomes)
- Heavy construction equipment
Typical Weight Range:
Over 26,000 pounds (GVWR)
Common Scenarios:
- Semi-truck breakdowns
- Tractor-trailer accident recovery
- Load shifts or rollovers
- Commercial fleet recovery
- Equipment transport
- Highway emergency towing
Heavy-duty tow trucks are equipped with multi-axle systems, heavy winches, air cushions, and advanced recovery tools. These jobs often require traffic control coordination and experienced recovery specialists.
If your vehicle requires a CDL to operate, you likely need heavy-duty towing services.
How to Know Which Towing Service You Need
If you’re unsure which classification applies to your vehicle, here are some simple guidelines:
- Passenger car or small SUV? → Light-duty towing
- Work truck, delivery van, or RV? → Medium-duty towing
- Semi-truck or commercial bus? → Heavy-duty towing
When you call Dick’s Towing, our dispatch team will ask for:
- Vehicle make and model
- Vehicle type (car, box truck, semi, etc.)
- Location
- Nature of the issue
From there, we send the properly equipped tow truck to handle your situation safely and efficiently.
Why Proper Towing Classification Matters
Choosing the correct towing service is critical for:
- Preventing vehicle damage
- Ensuring safe transport
- Protecting drivers and operators
- Avoiding unnecessary delays
Using a truck that’s too small for the job can cause equipment strain and safety risks. Professional towing companies match the right equipment to the vehicle to ensure secure recovery and transport.
At Dick’s Towing, we maintain a full fleet capable of handling light-duty, medium-duty, and heavy-duty towing services to meet the needs of drivers, businesses, and commercial fleets.
Contact Dick’s Towing Today
Whether you drive a compact car or manage a fleet of commercial trucks, Dick’s Towing has the equipment and experience to get you back on the road.
We provide:
- 24/7 emergency towing services
- Light-duty towing
- Medium-duty towing
- Heavy-duty towing
- Accident recovery
- Commercial and fleet towing
Call Dick’s Towing today for fast, professional towing services you can trust. When you need reliable towing services, we’re ready to respond.