Tag Archives: Roadside Assistance Winnipeg

Roadside Assistance for All Sizes

By now, you’re very familiar with Dr. Hook’s capacity to tow cars and trucks across Winnipeg.

Medium Duty trucks ready for dispatch from Dr. Hook TowingBut our tow capabilities go far and beyond the types of company vehicles you might see on the road normally – we’ve towed everything from buses to big rigs.

This is where some of our specialty divisions start to be dispatched.

Medium Duty

This is the starting point for some of the bigger vehicle tows.

Some of the past work for our medium duty trucks have included extraction of work vehicles from submersion on job sites or in problem areas such as deep snow, mud or ditches. We’ve also used our Medium Duty vehicles to assist in tows for disabled busses and vans.

Heavy Duty

From tractor and trailer towing to wreckmaster certified operators, our heavy duty division is able to winch vehicles up to 1 million tons. Likely, that’s more than we’ll ever have to do for your Winnipeg company, but we’re up to the challenge that you may throw at us.

Air Cushion Recovery

You may not believe this until you see it (but we hope you don’t have to).

This technology uses large air-filled cushions to lift turned vehicles – from cars to 5 ton trucks – getting them upright on the road. This unique process has even been used to lift sunken airplanes and even lift and level cottages!

To learn more about our commercial vehicle assistance capabilities, call Dr. Hook today at 204-956-4665 or fill out our contact form now.

Roadside Assistance Not Just for Families

When we think of roadside assistance, we often think first of issues we may encounter during our daily commuting or venturing out on Manitoba highways. What we don’t consider, however, is the time we’re in company vehicles.

Whether your business has designated vehicles – from pizza delivery cars to messenger vans to big rigs – the unfortunate reality is that somewhere along the line there may very well be trouble on Manitoba roads. It happens to the best – and biggest of us. We may marvel at seeing a bus being towed down a street or a food van lifted onto the back of a tow vehicle, but the reality is these vehicles really are like any other. Just as a sedan could get a flat tire, so too could a transporter (rubber is rubber after all).

Fortunately for these vehicles, Dr. Hook Towing’s Roadside Assistance Program is here to help. Not just for families, roadside assistance is available for every make, every model of every vehicle.

So while you’re protecting your family, protect your business investments as well. Register online today for the Dr. Hook Roadside Assistance Program.

Safe Travels for a Festive Canada Day Weekend

Winnipeggers, your time has come!

The open road this (long) weekend beckons families before moms and dads separate from sons and daughters. Cottage country and lake life has never looked so serene.

Getting to your destination, however, comes with its challenges. Having Suzie and Sam in the back seat is certainly a blessing when you consider just how few trips you get together, especially as they get older; but as amazing as these trips are, they can also be hazardous for your highway driving.

Consider statistics reported by Medical Today. a study by the Monash University Accident Research Center found that drivers were 12 times more distracted by their kids than by cell phones, and spent more than 3 minutes of a 16-minute trip looking at or talking to their offspring.

So when you’re driving, remember – when the fuss begins, it’s better to pull over than to threaten, less you end up in trouble and require roadside assistance.

A History of Driving Disaster in Canadiens Stanley Cup Lore

The fate of the Montreal Canadiens was sealed Thursday night when they were eliminated by the New York Rangers in the sixth game of the Eastern Conference Finals. Despite the loss, the progress the team made this year has helped renew faith in a franchise that has been without a Stanley Cup in 20 years.

But for the safety of the fabled championship trophy donated by Lord Stanley of Preston, a Habs drought may not be a bad thing.

The tales of damage and dings to the famed chalice are legendary, and the Canadiens, winners of 24 Stanley Cups in their history, are far from immune. In fact, there was one occasion where Les Habitants could have definitely benefited from roadside assistance, courtesy of Dr. Hook.

Back in 1924, the Canadiens were celebrating their latest Stanley Cup victory over the Calgary Tigers. A group of players – and the Stanley Cup – were en route to owner/general manager Leo Dandurand’s home for a a celebration when their vehicle got a flat tire.

This is where, perhaps, the team should have called for a fix, rather than working on their own. Instead, the players got out of the card and did the work themselves.

Amidst the drama over fixing their flat, however, the team quickly got back in their car and drove off to Dandurand’s, leaving the Cup on the side of the road.

One can only imagine the stories that hockey historians would share today had the Cup not been recovered soon after. While the trophy wasn’t in its recognizable form today, it still was an impressive silver presentation bowl at this time and easily could have been stolen.

The moral of the story?

First, when you have a flat, the last thing to do is take your valuables out of the car if you’re going to DIY getting back on the road.

And second, don’t take chances – if you encounter a flat, calling for roadside assistance when you’re at all unsure of what to do is your best course of action.

Our Trucks Are Ready For You All Easter Weekend

Winnipeg, congratulations – you’ve reached the hallmark moment of the winter/spring turnover – Easter Weekend.

Over the past number of years, we’ve received such a variance in conditions outdoors that we can’t label any single day as the ‘unofficial’ start of the warm season; yet even in this, the coldest winter since the late 1800s, we’re looking great for this weekend with warmer temperatures and almost a full dissipation of snow.

Having said all this, there is a cautionary note – Winnipeg streets have fallen victim to the freeze/thaw/repeat cycle that we’ve had over the last couple weeks, continued problems are surfacing on Winnipeg roads. The result is that driving over the next few weeks will still involve some bobbing and weaving to avoid.

If you do hit one of Winnipeg’s potholes this weekend though, don’t fret – help is on the way and will indeed be here for you throughout the Easter weekend. That’s right. Our trucks will be in service throughout Good Friday, Easter Sunday and Easter Monday, just as we are each and every day of the year, regardless of holidays.

Our mission is to help Manitobans in need when automotive issues arise. Whether you’ve been in an accident, run out of gas or simply locked yourself out of your car, we’re available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for your roadside assistance needs.

Have a safe holiday weekend Winnipeg. Stay alert when driving!

Pothole Season has Started! Beware!

Good news Winnipeg, the overnight parking ban has been lifted!

Bad news Winnipeg, pothole season has officially begun.

After a pre-season that already proved hazardous thanks to a couple days in and around 0, the Winnipeg road landscape now looks to be fully picked apart by the remnants of a soon-to-be-departed winter (once the snow stops falling of course, but more on this in a moment).

Potholes are unfortunately unavoidable as a phenomenon, and can be downright treacherous for drivers. Depending on the size of a pothole, the speed of the driver and the condition of tires, damage can occur with nary a moment’s notice and be as severe as busting tires, cracking bumpers and throwing off wheel alignment.

What makes potholes worse, now, is that with the snowfall we experienced over the last couple days, they’ve been unfortunately hidden from plain sight, and with slush developing from the melt we’ll have with above-0 temperatures on Sunday and Monday, pools will start to form in these spots, making them hard to differentiate from a paved road.

We strongly advise all drivers to stay calm on the streets and keep your speed levels down. While you may have the temptation to plow through streets at higher speeds after cutting your km/hr by 10 or 15 during the slippery snow-coated conditions of the past few months, we’re not in a safe zone yet.

Drive Safe Manitoba!

Dr. Hook Gift Cards for All Seasons… and No Reasons

At long last, the gift-giving season is over.

Christmas and Valentine’s Day, unquestionably, are the two biggest present times of the year. Leaving aside birthdays and anniversaries, you’re more likely to spend money on someone else in late December and early February than any other time of the year.

Just because these seasons are finished, however, doesn’t mean that kindness stops; in fact, the best way to show someone you care is to give them a gift during one of the ‘off seasons’ when a gift is least expected.

One of those times is now, when you’re clear of the holidays and into a dreary time between Valentine’s Day and Easter, where the snowy weather is giving one last inclimate push before the mess of melt happens.

This is going to be a problematic driving time ahead for Winnipeggers, as slush and melt turn frozen overnight on a regular basis and leave an air of unpredictability when you head out in the morning or leave an event in the evening.

Arm your loved one in case a roadside emergency occurs with a Dr. Hook gift card. These refillable cards can be ordered in a variety of denominations and help you make sure those close to you have a safety net should an accident occur.

For more on Dr. Hook gift cards, click here or call 204 956 HOOK today.

Stay safe Winnipeg!

Pay Dr. Hook Online!

Dr. Hook Towing is committed to making your customer experience as easy and as smooth as possible.

As part of this pledge, we’re pleased to announce that you can now pay online for your service from Dr. Hook. Simply follow this link to head over to our online payment system, securely powered by TD Canada Trust, and you’re done.

The great part about using Dr. Hook Towing’s online payment is that you can pay not only for your own services, but for others as well! That’s right parents, if your teen has an unfortunate incident on a Manitoba highway and requires our roadside assistance, you can pay their bill right away. All you need is the payment amount and the call number.

So if you or a loved one has had an incident that needed Dr. Hook’s attention, click here now to pay online.

Colder Temperatures Return – Adjust Your Driving Winnipeg!

Chances are you awoke this morning to a bit of a chill – that’s because Winter has come back to Winnipeg.

While the last week has had more moderate temperatures, which even allowed for some slush and melt to develop, this week we are back to freeze-over temperatures.

Unfortunately, this means that slick roads can develop again, right after a snowfall like we saw last night and can cause some havoc on Winnipeg roads.

Perhaps more importantly, it also means that drivers need to adjust back to ‘winter driving’ habits. For a period we were able to zip down streets at higher speeds, not worrying as much about fishtailing. At least for the next week, that can’t happen, lest you end up needing roadside assistance.

Remember Winnipeg – driving alert to the conditions and the vehicles around you is the number one way to ensure your travels are safe and sound.

Stay warm Winnipeg!

Dr. Hook Will Be Out in Winnipeg Tonight for New Years Service

While tonight’s festivities roll on, we do want to remind Winnipeg that New Year’s Eve comes with its challenges on the road, especially for 2013.

Most Winnipeggers, by now, know that there is an inherent caution that comes with travel on NYE 2013 – people for whatever reason will err in their judgement and unfortunately pull-overs by Winnipeg Police do occur due to intoxication.

We say this every year but it certainly bears repeating – if you have any, and we mean any trepidation of getting behind the wheel tonight, then we strongly encourage cabbing, using Operation Red Nose or finding a designated driver who has not consumed a single ounce of alcohol.

But the greater concern this year is the unseasonably cold temperatures. The unfortunate reality is that heading out to a party could mean not being able to plug in your car and coming out, at say 1:30am, to a car that won’t start.

If this situation does happen to you, don’t hesitate to contact Dr. Hook Towing in Winnipeg. We will be on call for you tonight should you run into any problems and require our roadside assistance.

Have a Happy and Safe New Year celebration!