Winter Preparedness for Motorists

Winter is working it's way through the United States, and it will soon be cold in most places. With the cold weather, comes a change in precipitation - often leaving roads icy, snowy, and dangerous. Without a doubt, we recommend that people stay home if they can. Keep your fridge stocked, your pantry full, and make sure you have toilet paper. The essentials, you know?

If you know that once the weather turns sour, you will be forced out into the cold, make sure you have a few essentials in your car. We recommend a first aid kit, so that if you find yourself in an accident, you can quickly patch up any wounds you have incurred while you wait for help.

We also recommend that you stick a blanket in your car, to wrap yourself in. If your car stalls, or you are involved in an accident, and stranded for some time, cold temperatures can be your enemy. Stay inside your car if it is safe to do so, and wrap up in your blanket. Hopefully you left home in good shoes, a coat, and with a hat. Staying warm is important.
Also, stash half a dozen bottles of water in your car, so you'll have something to drink. A box of granola bars, or other shelf stable snack can be good to keep on hand, too. Hopefully you don't ever have to wait long for rescue, but even a couple of hours can seem much worse without water and a snack.

The level of your preparations should account for the travel you will be doing. If you'll be in areas with low cell reception, and a high probability of having to walk for help, you'll want matches, hand warmers, and possibly a signal device. If you're going to be in good cell reception, and only having to call for assistance, then you won't need as many things to keep you safe and ready for the worst.

Make sure you charge your cell phone before you leave, so you can call for help if you need it.

If you're stranded in the Oklahoma City area and need a tow truck to come rescue you and your car, remember to call Walker's Roadside Service at 405-626-0910. When you need a tow, call a pro!

Calling For a Tow Truck - Are They Licensed?

In our industry, towing and roadside assistance, we see many fly-by-the-night providers pop up. People offer towing on flatbed trailers, with bumper pull tow dollies, and sometimes with just a chain or strap. They offer these services at a cheaper rate than calling a tow truck costs.

But what is the cost of choosing this type of provider? First and foremost, should anything happen to your car, this fly-by-the-night operation will not take any responsibility for repairs. They are not licensed by the state, so no one is there to enforce their liability, and they are often not insured for commercial use of their vehicle/trailer/bumper pull set up. This lack of insurance will leave you footing the bill for a potentially costly repair.

Since these fly-by-the-night operators pop up with little regard for the regulations the tow industry is under, they are also not seeking licenses to, in fact, operate a business. So they are not a licensed tow provider, they are not a licensed business, and they really start giving the towing industry a bad name. The owners and operators that I know pride themselves on following the licensing requirements, carry proper insure, and also seek regular training to stay up to date on the best procedures for towing the latest model cars.

When you find yourself in need of a wrecker, make sure you call someone with the proper licensing, equipment, and training. You want to get your car home or to the shop in one piece. Facing a costly repair because some fly-by yanked it around is going to put you out even more than the original reason you needed a tow.

Remember, if you're in Oklahoma City and you need a tow, call a pro! Call Walker's Roadside Service and we'll help get you going as quick as possible. You can reach us at 405-626-0910

Selecting a Tow Company

If you find yourself in need of a tow, it's important to pick a company with the knowledge to tow your car correctly. While the cost of the tow will likely play a large part in your decision, you might want to ask a few more questions of the company you call. Below are a few things to talk to the dispatcher when calling a company to come tow your car.

1. Is your state license to tow current? I don't know about all states, but in Oklahoma, tow companies have to have a license through the Department of Public Safety. This license has to be renewed annually, and to get and hold a DPS Wrecker license, companies have to maintain insurance coverage.

2. Describe, in detail, the reason for the tow. It helps the company, and essentially the driver they send out to help you, to know in advance what's wrong with your car. If it's something simple such as the car won't start, the tow driver won't need as much equipment to load your car as he would if it's a broken ball joint, or collision tow.

3. Communicate clearly with dispatch about whether or not you are with the car. Tow companies understand that you don't want to wait with your car for an extended period of time. Most of their drivers are on a time crunch and also cannot wait with your vehicle for you to get there. By communicating your intentions clearly, the dispatcher can instruct their driver on when you will be available for the tow.

Tow providers are an important part of the community, clearing roadways and parking lots of broken down, damaged vehicles. They take a lot of pride in helping the communities they serve, and they are always looking to get stranded motorists moving again.

Poppa, Here to Help

Our latest introduction goes to Poppa Bill. He is an indispensable help around the shop, running errands, getting parts, and entertaining Baby Girl. He's been a huge blessing to me over the last year as we've gotten busier.

Three things you should know about Poppa:

1. He likes to garden, says it gives him something to do and he likes the way the earth smells.

2. He's a sucker for mexican food, tends to be his favorite.

3. He likes to visit the casino from time to time and see how his luck is.

Do you have any questions for Poppa? Ask away, or find us on Facebook and join the conversation there!

Mr. Walker Himself

Happy Valentine's Day to the brawn behind this operation. (He's part of the brain here, too - when mine's non-functional, for sure.)

A few things that every one needs to know about Jimmy:

1. Don't touch the gummy bears. They are his, and the only time he wants to share is with his baby girl. (But unfortunately she's allergic to the apple in them, so he has to hide them.)

2. He orders the same thing every time at the handful of places he likes to eat. He is not an adventurous eater, but he is definitely predictable. (Comes in handy for me! I never have to worry whether or not he'll be in the mood for what I order for him.)

3. He really enjoys watching sports. His favorite Nascar driver is #48, Jimmie Johnson, he roots for the OKC Thunder, Dallas Cowboys, and the Sooners. He is a loyal Cubs fan, too.

Want to know more? Comment with your questions here or find us on Facebook and ask there!

Mr. Blackburn, At Your Service

For the month of February, I'll be introducing our people on Saturdays. That way you get to know us a little bit better, and see what we're all about.

Jeff is a hard workin' driver, and we are glad to have him on board.

A few things about Jeff:

1. He love Mexican food. (9 times out of 10, when I ask what's for lunch...yep, you guessed it!)

2. He likes sports bikes. (And as such, I make sure he gets to haul as many of them as possible.)

3. He likes to travel.

If you want to know more about Jeff - like what his favorite mexican dish is, or where he's been/wants to go, then find us on Facebook and ask away. You can even ask here on the blog and we'll get you an answer.

Picture Puzzle Clue #4

Can you believe it? This week is nearly over. It's already Thursday and I have another clue for you.

Make sure you follow the link to our Facebook page so you can find the picture and try to win the prize!

Clue #4:

Picture Puzzle Clue #3

Happy Hump Day!

Have you found us on Facebook yet and found which picture these clips have been taken from?

Clue #3:

Picture Puzzle Clue #2

If you haven't joined us yet, come over to our Facebook page and play along with our picture puzzle.

Here's your second clue:

Picture Puzzle Clue #1

It's Monday and it's time for another game!

I have picked a photo and I will reveal a little more of it each day. Your goal is to figure out which photo it is! (I selected this from our Facebook photos.)

First person to find & post the correct photo on our Facebook page will win one $10 Starbucks gift card! (Running theme here, can you tell that I just love to give away coffee?)

Have fun playing our picture puzzle game‬ and if you enjoy our games, invite your friends to come play, too!


Here's your first clue:

Name that Place #2

Are you ready for today's Name that Place?

Can you tell me where this truck is?

Comment here, or join us on Facebook or Twitter and play there.

Where's that Truck? Jan 19-25, 2015

Are you ready for another fun game?

This week (Jan. 19-25, 2015)
we will be playing "Where's that Truck?"

How to play:

I will post a picture 1-3 times a day, of one of our trucks sitting somewhere. Your job is to correctly identify where that truck is sitting.

Our main service area is from Edmond to Norman along the I-35 corridor, but keep in mind, we travel far and wide at times!!

We've had a blast promoting our #findatruck game, and are very thankful to everyone who played along. We'll play that one again in a few weeks. Our goal is to start a new game every Monday. If you have any ideas, feel free to share them with us.

You can find us and follow our games on Facebook or Twitter, plus we will play here, too!

"That" Call

I'm a wrecker operator/owner's wife. I spend just as many hours as my husband working toward the success and growth of our towing company, but until recently, I rarely dealt with the phones.

Accounting related calls got sent to me, but the regular, day-to-day, dispatch calls weren't one of the things I handled. But we are in another transition and I'm taking more of the phone calls, including the day-to-day dispatch calls.

When asked where their car is broken down, people often answer "home," which amuses me, especially when it takes asking several times to get an address. (Sorry, our crystal ball hasn't come in yet, I don't know exactly where you call home. Forgive me.)

The other afternoon/evening, I took one of those calls that made me glad I know my man is an upstanding guy, and a faithful husband. A lady called, asked for him by name, and when I asked what her call was regarding and whether or not I could help her, she stumbled all over herself.

Mr. Wonderful was only temporarily unavailable, so he took over the call before I sorted out exactly what the lady wanted, but I had to tease him with a, "If I didn't know better..."

I know the guys that work for me work hard, long hours - as do all guys/gals in this industry. It's demanding on the driver/operator, and their family. In fact, I believe it takes a special breed of folks to handle the busy times, the down times, the middle of the night calls, and "those" phone calls where someone knows our spouse's name, but are too flustered by their car trouble to communicate clearly why they are calling.