How to Build a Roadside Assistance Network from Scratch

What is a roadside assistance network?

A roadside assistance network is a managed group of independent tow truck operators and roadside service providers who are organized under a central dispatch system. When a client needs a tow, jump start, lockout, or other roadside service, the network dispatcher routes the job to the nearest available operator.

Traditionally, building a network like this required the infrastructure of a motor club — call centers, phone systems, contract management, and billing departments. The companies that ran these networks (AAA, Agero, etc.) invested millions in technology and operations.

In 2026, a dispatch platform gives you that same infrastructure for $39/month. You create a network, set your rates, recruit operators, and start dispatching — all from a web dashboard and your phone. The technology barrier that once protected motor clubs from competition has essentially disappeared.

Define your coverage area and services

Before recruiting anyone, define the boundaries of your network. Start with a focused area — one metro region or a 30-50 mile radius around your base.

Starting too broad is the most common mistake. A network covering all of DFW (9,000+ square miles) needs 15-20 operators for reliable coverage. A network covering central Dallas (50 square miles) needs 3-5. Start small, prove the model, and expand.

Decide which services your network will offer. The six standard roadside services are towing, jump start, lockout, flat tire change, fuel delivery, and winch/recovery. Most networks start with towing and jump starts (highest demand) and add services as they recruit operators with the right capabilities.

Finally, set your rate card. Research what towing companies in your area charge retail customers, then set your operator payout at 65-75% of that rate. Your operators earn more than motor clubs pay, your clients pay market rates, and you keep the spread.

Recruit your founding operators

Your founding operators are the backbone of your network. You need 3-5 reliable companies to start — enough for coverage redundancy, few enough to maintain personal relationships.

The recruitment process is straightforward. Search Google Maps for towing companies in your coverage area. Make a list of 15-20 companies. Call each one and deliver a 60-second pitch:

"Hi, I'm [name], I'm building a roadside dispatch network in [area]. I'm signing up body shops and dealerships as clients. Jobs dispatch via text message at retail rates — $95-125 for a standard tow. No app download, no exclusive contract, no monthly fee for operators. We're looking for insured operators with reliable equipment. Interested?"

Of 15-20 calls, expect 5-8 to say yes immediately. People overthink this step. Tow operators are businesspeople who want more jobs that pay well. You're offering exactly that.

Screen for the basics: active insurance ($1M general liability, $1M auto liability), proper equipment (at minimum one wheel-lift truck), and professional communication. Then add their drivers to your platform with their cell numbers.

Acquire your first clients

With operators ready, you need businesses that dispatch tow jobs. Your ideal first clients are body shops and collision repair centers — they receive towed vehicles daily and most don't have a formal dispatch partner.

The client acquisition playbook is simple: walk in, ask for the owner or manager, and pitch reliability and documentation. Body shop owners care about three things: is the tow company insured and professional, will the vehicle arrive without additional damage, and can I get documentation for insurance claims.

Your network checks all three boxes: vetted operators with verified insurance, timestamped GPS-tagged photos at pickup and delivery, and complete job records accessible from a dashboard.

Offer the first job free or at a steep discount. This isn't discounting — it's a product demo. Once a body shop manager sees a real-time GPS tracking link and receives pickup/delivery photos with timestamps, they understand the value immediately.

Target 3-5 body shops in your first two weeks. Visit them in person — this is a relationship business, and a 5-minute face-to-face conversation converts better than any marketing campaign.

Operate and optimize the network

Once jobs are flowing, your daily operations are surprisingly light. The platform handles dispatch routing, driver notification, GPS tracking, photo collection, and payout calculation. Your job is monitoring and relationship management.

Monitor job acceptance rates. If operators are declining too many jobs, either your payout rates are too low or you don't have enough operators in certain areas. Both are fixable.

Monitor response times. Your target is under 30 minutes from dispatch to arrival. If response times are creeping up, you need more operators in that zone.

Maintain client relationships. A weekly check-in call or text to each client takes 30 minutes total and is the single most effective retention strategy. Ask: "How was service this week? Any issues? Anything we can improve?"

Maintain operator relationships. Operators who feel valued stay in your network and refer other operators. Pay on time, communicate clearly about rate changes, and acknowledge good performance.

Scale the network with compounding effects

Towing networks exhibit strong network effects — the same compounding dynamic that makes platforms like Uber and Airbnb hard to displace once established.

Every new operator you add improves your coverage area and reduces average response time. Better coverage makes your network more valuable to clients. More clients mean more job volume, which attracts more operators who want the work.

This flywheel starts slowly but accelerates. At 5 operators and 5 clients, you might dispatch 30 jobs per month. At 15 operators and 20 clients, you might dispatch 200 jobs per month. The per-job economics stay the same, but volume compounds.

Expansion follows a hub strategy. Once your first coverage zone is operating reliably (3-5 operators, 5+ active clients, 30+ jobs/month), clone the model into an adjacent zone. Recruit 3-5 operators there, sign up local body shops, and connect both zones to your single network.

Within 6-12 months, a well-executed network can cover an entire metro area with 15-25 operators serving 30-50 client businesses, dispatching 300-500+ jobs per month. At $25-35 net margin per job, that's $7,500-17,500 in monthly revenue.

Frequently Asked Questions