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Fate missed the memo apparently, about how good things are supposed to happen on 7-7-7, because on just the 3rd call of the night, things started to go awry.
We got a call about a dead Jeep Cherokee, so we went out to pick it up. Luckily, it wasn’t one of the AWD models, it had a neutral-selectable t-case, so we only needed the lift and straps for the rear wheels, no dollies. The owner doesn’t have a ride to pick him up, so he’s tagging along with us. 3 guys crammed into the cab of an F-450 does not comfort make but we do our best.
We’re soon driving along towards the dealership, shooting the breeze to pass the time. The owner correctly guesses between my lack of a uniform (haven’t been issued mine yet, using an expendable work shirt and jeans for now) and the other driver explaining everything to me that I’m the new guy. He asks how long I’ve been on the job, 4 days, and this is only my 3rd real tow, just got my DOT card the other day, so this is my first day behind the wheel “for real”. “Don’t let me rush you” he says. We joke a bit more, and the conversation somehow drifts to how rare it is for us to get a calm and easy customer, since we do a lot of property towing or towing for people who aren’t having the best of days. “People should just relax and take things in stride” the owner says. Then, as if on cue, there’s a loud POW! BAM! SCREEEEEEEECH! BAM! BAM!
For those of you playing at home, hat was the sound of the Jeep’s right rear tire blowing out, the tow strap flying off, the tow bar pulling out, dropping the good wheel and tire on the pavement at 45 mph and skidding to a halt as the guy driving slams on the brakes while screaming “What the f*** was that?” he’s out of the cab before I even know what’s happened and assesses the damage. We reinsert the wheel lifts and break out the dollies, since the flat means the whole thing now needs off the ground. To make matters worse, we notice in the dark that the Jeep is just covered, from roof to rocker panel with something wet and oily…. Turns out when the Jeep left the wheel lift, it cut the wheel lift’s hydraulic line, dousing the whole vehicle in a spray of hydraulic fluid.
We get the car secured and get back into the truck and relay the info to the owner. There’s no damage to his Jeep, but we owe him a new tire, and a car wash and apologizing up, down, sideways and at some angles that I don't even think are geometric possibilities. He just busts out laughing at the ridiculousness of the whole situation and says not to worry bout' it, it's just a car.
We offer to waive the dolly fee, since it wasn’t his fault he needed them now, he accepted us paying for the new tire, but insisted on paying for the dollies anyway. We drop him off at the dealership where his ride is waiting, then take the Jeep back to the garage, hose it down with degreaser and the whole night crew goes to work to scrub it down and dry it off. 1 hour later, we switch trucks and get it back to the dealership. We then have to spread quick dry all over the lot because our mortally wounded truck has been bleeding fluid like a stuck pig. The rest of the night is taken up by cleanup and filing the incident reports.
What an awful night, but what an awesome customer.
We got a call about a dead Jeep Cherokee, so we went out to pick it up. Luckily, it wasn’t one of the AWD models, it had a neutral-selectable t-case, so we only needed the lift and straps for the rear wheels, no dollies. The owner doesn’t have a ride to pick him up, so he’s tagging along with us. 3 guys crammed into the cab of an F-450 does not comfort make but we do our best.
We’re soon driving along towards the dealership, shooting the breeze to pass the time. The owner correctly guesses between my lack of a uniform (haven’t been issued mine yet, using an expendable work shirt and jeans for now) and the other driver explaining everything to me that I’m the new guy. He asks how long I’ve been on the job, 4 days, and this is only my 3rd real tow, just got my DOT card the other day, so this is my first day behind the wheel “for real”. “Don’t let me rush you” he says. We joke a bit more, and the conversation somehow drifts to how rare it is for us to get a calm and easy customer, since we do a lot of property towing or towing for people who aren’t having the best of days. “People should just relax and take things in stride” the owner says. Then, as if on cue, there’s a loud POW! BAM! SCREEEEEEEECH! BAM! BAM!
For those of you playing at home, hat was the sound of the Jeep’s right rear tire blowing out, the tow strap flying off, the tow bar pulling out, dropping the good wheel and tire on the pavement at 45 mph and skidding to a halt as the guy driving slams on the brakes while screaming “What the f*** was that?” he’s out of the cab before I even know what’s happened and assesses the damage. We reinsert the wheel lifts and break out the dollies, since the flat means the whole thing now needs off the ground. To make matters worse, we notice in the dark that the Jeep is just covered, from roof to rocker panel with something wet and oily…. Turns out when the Jeep left the wheel lift, it cut the wheel lift’s hydraulic line, dousing the whole vehicle in a spray of hydraulic fluid.
We get the car secured and get back into the truck and relay the info to the owner. There’s no damage to his Jeep, but we owe him a new tire, and a car wash and apologizing up, down, sideways and at some angles that I don't even think are geometric possibilities. He just busts out laughing at the ridiculousness of the whole situation and says not to worry bout' it, it's just a car.
We offer to waive the dolly fee, since it wasn’t his fault he needed them now, he accepted us paying for the new tire, but insisted on paying for the dollies anyway. We drop him off at the dealership where his ride is waiting, then take the Jeep back to the garage, hose it down with degreaser and the whole night crew goes to work to scrub it down and dry it off. 1 hour later, we switch trucks and get it back to the dealership. We then have to spread quick dry all over the lot because our mortally wounded truck has been bleeding fluid like a stuck pig. The rest of the night is taken up by cleanup and filing the incident reports.
What an awful night, but what an awesome customer.
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