He was cursing out tow trucks right in front of me, not knowing I'm in the business
I remember going to get my crane license a few years ago, originally just to upgrade my skills in roadside assistance. But funnily enough, the thing that left the biggest impression on me during that time at the training yard wasn't the operating techniques, but a piece of "tow truck gossip."
One day during a break, a few trainees were sitting in the shade chatting, when one of the guys suddenly started talking about his personal experience:
I was driving on the highway one time, and halfway through, I suddenly noticed my engine started smoking, so I quickly pulled over to the shoulder. Before I could even open the door, a tow truck pulled up right behind me!
Everyone looked surprised when they heard this, and he then added:
I asked the driver, how did you know my car broke down? He unexpectedly said— 'I've been following you for a good while.'
Everyone burst out laughing, and I couldn't stop laughing either.
But seriously, laughter aside, as someone who has been in the roadside assistance business for several years, I understood immediately—this wasn't nonsense, this was a real-life demonstration of experience and intuition.
A lot of people's impression of tow trucks might be that they tow randomly, tow stealthily, or issue tickets. But in reality, those of us drivers who work on the front lines of rescue, a lot of the time, we notice you're about to get into trouble before you even have a chance to call for help.
On the highway, experienced tow truck drivers pay special attention to: whether there's anything abnormal about the traffic flow, which car is skidding, losing speed, smoking, or drifting from its lane. They can even tell from the details of the driver's operation. This sharpness is like an old Chinese doctor taking a pulse; one look is enough to know, "there's something wrong with this car."
Although the guy was complaining about being startled, honestly, he really had his life saved. If he hadn't pulled over immediately and had kept pushing on, the engine could have caught fire.
✅ In conclusion: The tow truck you thought it was, might be your "following guardian angel"
Yes, there are some towing messes out there, and we know about the illicit activities in this industry. But please don't let a few bad apples spoil the value of the entire rescue industry.
We drivers who work hard on the road, really just want to safely take you and your car away when you need us most.
So next time you see a tow truck on the side of the road, don't be so quick to roll your eyes. Maybe, just maybe... he's been following you for a good while. 😏😏😏 (laughs)