Important Laws and Regulations Your Towing Company Must Follow

23 January 2023

People would often utilise the help of towing companies whenever their vehicles break down in the middle of the road. Some may also call their respective towing companies to have their heavy machinery towed to their intended destinations.

One great thing about towing companies is they normally maximise the right tools and equipment in carrying out towing services. They even have various types of tow trucks to ensure that they can work with different vehicles and heavy equipment. Towing companies are also dependable as most of them work round-the-clock.

But not all towing companies strictly follow towing laws and regulations. Several of them end up violating these rules, leading to damaged vehicles or equipment. For a successful towing, your chosen towing company should be able to adhere to the following laws and regulations.

Vehicles and Trailers

Initially, your towing company should know the definition of vehicles and trailers. Light vehicles, for instance, are vehicles that weigh 4,500kg or less. As for trailers, they must include all towed trailers like boat trailers, caravans, and horse floats. Both vehicles and trailers should be registered, roadworthy, and in a safe condition. Trailers must then have a rear number plate and cannot be towed with people. Ultimately, the rear number plate must not be obscured by towbars, couplings, and other tools necessary for the towing activity.

Max Towing Weight

Another thing that your towing company should follow is to check the maximum towing weight of the vehicle. The manual of the vehicle often states the maximum weight it can safely tow. The towbar, however, may also have its own maximum towing weight. When picking the towing weight between the two, your company should opt for one with the lower number. If the vehicle, however, has an unknown maximum towing weight, its suggested maximum towing capacity would be 1.5 times its unloaded mass, which is applicable if the trailer has brakes. If the trailer does not have brakes, the suggested max towing capacity of the vehicle is 750kg.

Safety Considerations

Upon checking the max towing weight of the vehicle and the trailer, they must now consider the safety of these things. One of the things they must do is to allow the trailer to maximise extra length and width while driving. They must also ensure that the trailer can still cut in when cornering. To avoid swaying, they must change speed gradually. A longer stopping distance must likewise be present to prevent any accidents. Ultimately, the towing company should consider the effect of severe weather and passing traffic on their towing activity.

Towing Speed Limit

One more thing that your towing company should keep in mind is the towing speed limit. The towing process should be carried out carefully to avoid road accidents. It must also be done optimally to prevent damaging the vehicle and the trailer. Most of the time, the towing speed limit in Australia is often the signed limit, which can depend on the combined weight of the trailer and the towing vehicle. Manufacturers of towing vehicles likewise recommend lower speed for heavy towing weight and vice versa.

If you need towing services for your beloved car or heavy equipment, you must contact us at Advantage Towing.

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