CHOOSING A TRUCK DEALER Just as important as determining the most appropriate light or medium duty wrecker is selecting a truck dealership to deal with.

THINGS TO LOOK FOR IN A DEALERSHIP: • A good reputation and a lot of experience. The dealership’s website can provide information on how long it has been in business. Ask others in your business for referrals. • Check a dealership’s business doings through verifiable online reviews. Check with the Better Business Bureau to get general ratings about a dealer, look up reviews and find resolved and unresolved claims. • Pick a dealer that offers a range of post-sale services. Does the dealership offer 24/7 support? If not, what is its response time after hours? • Does the dealer have adequate service facilities? • Are the dealer’s technicians manufacturertrained and ASE (short for the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence) certified and do they receive regular training?

22 • June 2021 | Towman.com

as automatic transmissions, thus reducing wear and tear on the vehicle’s brakes. Automatic transmissions shift quicker and smoother. Moreover, they are easier to drive in stop-and-go traffic and hilly areas. Automatics also help reduce driver distraction by allowing drivers to focus on the road and driving and not having to worry about shifting. Automatics tend to be more expensive to purchase than manuals. Because automatics are more complex and have more moving parts than a manual transmission, there are greater repair costs.

NEW OR USED

The price of a wrecker is a chief consideration as well. That begs the question: should you buy a new wrecker or a used one? For some companies, purchase price is not only the foremost consideration, but it is often the only consideration. When making the new versus used decision, it is important to look at the initial price and the cost of operation. New wreckers come with manufacturers warranties that cover faulty parts or workmanship. This can provide peace of mind and save money on repairs. Used wreckers are less expensive but their condition is a key element to help determine the cost-effectiveness of a used purchase. Verify how well the wrecker has been maintained. Check to see if manufacturers warranties are transferable and whether they have expired.

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