Towing is one of the few service industries where a mistake on the job can injure or kill someone. A truck positioned incorrectly on a highway shoulder, a vehicle strapped down without the right rigging, a driver who cuts corners under pressure, all of these create risks that go far beyond a poor customer experience. Ontario Towing has operated in Ottawa since 1999 and safety is the operational foundation the company is built on, not a value listed on a website.
TSSEA Certification and What It Requires
Ontario introduced the Towing and Storage Safety and Enforcement Act to set binding safety and conduct standards for the industry. TSSEA certification is not self-reported. It requires physical inspection of equipment, documentation of insurance, and verification of driver qualifications. Ontario Towing is TSSEA certified.
Every tow truck in the Ontario Towing fleet meets the equipment standards required for provincial certification. This includes proper lighting, load-rated hooks and chains, functioning wheel chocks, and condition-appropriate rigging for every vehicle type the company transports. Equipment is inspected on a regular schedule, not just when a problem is obvious.
Highway Safety Protocols on Every Live Road Call
When an Ontario Towing driver arrives at a breakdown on Highway 417, the 416, or any other live road in the Ottawa area, the first action is positioning the tow truck to shield the work zone from oncoming traffic. This is not optional. A driver does not begin attaching the vehicle until the scene is protected.
High-visibility vests, traffic cones, and warning lights are standard equipment on every truck. Drivers are trained to assess traffic patterns and road conditions before stepping out of the cab. On high-speed highways, this assessment takes 30 seconds and it matters. The risk of being struck while working a roadside scene is real and Ontario Towing treats it accordingly.
Proper Rigging and Vehicle-Specific Equipment
A vehicle attached incorrectly to a tow truck is a hazard to every driver on the road. Improperly secured loads shift on corners, cause trailer sway, and in the worst cases detach entirely. Ontario Towing dispatches the right equipment for the vehicle type on every call.
All-wheel drive vehicles, sports cars with low clearance, and vehicles with drivetrain damage are transported on flatbeds. Standard passenger vehicles go on wheel-lift units. Motorcycles are transported using a front wheel chock and rated tie-down straps, secured to the frame. The driver confirms the attachment before pulling away from the scene on every single call.
Driver Training and Conduct Standards
Ontario Towing drivers operate under clear conduct standards that cover how they communicate with customers, how they handle vehicles, and how they document each call. A vehicle in distress is often also a person in distress. The training reflects that. Drivers are expected to be professional, clear, and honest about what the situation is and what the service will cost.
New drivers at Ontario Towing work alongside experienced drivers before handling calls independently. The company has been operating in Ottawa long enough to know that a single incident involving driver misconduct or a damaged vehicle does more harm to the business than any amount of advertising can fix. That knowledge shapes how the team is trained and held to account.
25 Years in Ottawa and the Safety Record That Comes With It
Ontario Towing has been on Ottawa roads since 1999. The company carries a BBB A+ rating and holds a 4.9-star Google rating across more than 700 reviews. That record does not happen by accident. It reflects a consistent standard of safe, professional service across tens of thousands of calls over more than two decades.
The National Capital Region includes high-speed provincial highways, dense urban streets, rural township roads, and everything in between. Operating safely across all of those environments requires consistent training, well-maintained equipment, and a culture that treats safety as non-negotiable. Ontario Towing has built that culture over 25 years of daily operation in Ottawa.
What Customers Can Expect on Every Call
When you call Ontario Towing at (613) 619-4545, the dispatcher asks for your exact location, the make and model of your vehicle, and a description of the problem. This information determines which truck and which equipment are dispatched. The driver arrives with the right tools for the job, positions the vehicle safely, and confirms the destination before completing the hook-up.
