Bus Towing in Mobile, AL

Bus towing in Mobile, AL is different from truck towing. A motorcoach has a long overhang, a low front end, air suspension and a body that bends in the wrong lift. A school bus has a high roof and a lot of glass. Whatever the bus, passengers come first. Call (251) 355-4026, tell dispatch where the bus is, how many people are on board and what is wrong, and we will work out the safest tow.

Passengers first

If a bus breaks down on I-10 or I-65, the safest thing is to get riders off and behind the guardrail, away from traffic. Many operators send a replacement coach. Dispatch can coordinate timing so we are not blocking the replacement. Never keep passengers aboard during a lift.

Lifting the right way

Motorcoaches usually need a wheel-lift or underlift with care for the front bumper, air bags and the long body. Where that is risky, a flatbed or a lowboy carries the bus whole. Drive shafts may be pulled for a rear-drive tow. Air suspension is lowered or blocked. Tell dispatch the make, length, whether it is a coach or a school bus and whether it is a transit or shuttle.

Low clearances and route limits

Buses are tall. Wikipedia lists the George Wallace Tunnel clearance at 16 feet, and the Bankhead Tunnel at 12 feet with only cars and pickups allowed. Tow length changes the picture too, because a wrecker with a coach on the hook is longer and taller than the bus alone. We check before we route.

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Hurricane evacuation and group travel

I-65 has a contraflow plan that puts all lanes northbound from Mobile to Montgomery during a hurricane evacuation. Group trips and evacuation buses pile onto that road at the same moment. A bus that fails there must be cleared fast. Dispatch tells you honestly how long we need.

School and charter buses

School districts, churches, tour groups and charter companies all run buses through Mobile County, Baldwin County and the Mississippi coast. A tow for a school bus also involves the district and transportation office. We send the written invoice estimate to whoever is paying.

Information that speeds up the call

Tell dispatch the bus length, the make if you know it, the passenger count, whether anyone needs medical help, and where the replacement coach or the destination yard is. Tell us if the bus has a wheelchair lift, because a lift that is deployed or damaged changes how we hook up and where we carry the load. If the bus is leaking fluid or on fire, get everyone away from it and call 911 first.

Heat and engines

Summer heat on the Gulf Coast is hard on cooling systems and air conditioning. A coach that overheats on the Bayway can block a lane for a long time. If you smell coolant or see a gauge climbing, pull over, get riders out and call.