As National Preparedness Month comes to a close, I’m sharing a few lessons towing has taught me about being ready before something goes wrong. For me, preparedness isn’t about fear — it’s about caring enough to think ahead for yourself, your passengers, your pets, and the people coming to help.
Posted: September 20, 2026 Stephanie L. Randall, Owner
Most people do not think about roadside emergencies until they are already in one.
A dead battery. A flat tire. An overheated engine. A vehicle that suddenly stops running. A truck or side-by-side stuck off-road.
In Arizona, those situations can become serious quickly because of heat, long distances, remote roads, and limited cell service.
That is why I look at preparedness a little differently.
For me, it is not about expecting something bad to happen. It is about thinking ahead for the people who may be affected if it does.
You do not need to carry half your garage with you, but a few simple things can make a big difference:
Extra water
Phone charger or battery pack
Flashlight
Basic first-aid supplies
Reflective triangles or safety light
Jumper cables or jump pack
Important medications
Pet water, leash, or carrier if animals travel with you
And one of the most important things: Know where you are - If you are off-road, on a rural road, or somewhere unfamiliar, be able to send a map pin, screenshot, GPS coordinates, or nearby landmark. That can save valuable time when help is on the way.
As a woman in towing, I tend to look beyond the vehicle. I am thinking about the driver and passengers.
Do the kids have water?
Is someone traveling alone?
Does anyone need medication?
Are there pets in the vehicle?
Does someone know where they are?
Do they have a safe ride home if the vehicle has to be towed?
Those details matter. Sometimes the biggest difference between a stressful situation and a dangerous one is whether someone thought ahead.
Arizona gives us some incredible places to explore, but once you leave pavement, preparation becomes even more important.
Before heading off-road:
Tell someone where you are going
Keep your phone charged
Carry more water than you think you will need
Know your vehicle’s limits
Do not wait until dark to ask for help
Be honest about how stuck or damaged the vehicle really is
Photos, GPS coordinates, and accurate information help us bring the right equipment the first time.
Preparedness also starts with communication.
When someone calls us, I want to know what happened, where they are, who is with them, and whether everyone is safe.
That information helps us determine the right truck, equipment, and response.
Communication should continue after the tow too.
Sometimes that means making sure someone got home safely. Sometimes it means following up after an accident because we still have not heard from the insurance company and I do not want anyone assuming someone else is handling it.
To me, keeping people informed is part of taking care of them.
National Preparedness Month may be ending, but the message should not.
Being prepared is not about fear. It is about caring enough to think ahead.
For yourself.
For your family.
For your passengers.
For your pets.
And for the people who may have to come help you.
That is one of the things I believe women bring to towing — the ability to look at the whole situation, not just the vehicle in front of us.
Because when something goes wrong on the road, preparation can make all the difference.
In Part 9 of my Behind the Wheel: A Woman in Towing series,
I share how Preparedness does not have to be complicated.
A little extra water, a charged phone, knowing your location, thinking about your passengers and pets, and having a plan for what happens next can make a stressful situation much easier to manage.
From my perspective as a woman in towing, being prepared is simply another form of care.
It means looking beyond the vehicle and thinking about the people involved.
That is something I carry with me on every call.
Stay prepared. Stay safe. And know who to call when you need help.
