Written by the FleetEasy Team
Offering emergency fleet towing throughout the Pacific Northwest
FleetEasy is a trusted partner for fleets throughout the Pacific Northwest. With locations in both eastern and western Washington, we can serve a large area and provide 24-hour emergency towing wherever a customer might need it.
From our FleetEasy Spokane location, we often get calls from disabled trucks in Idaho, Montana and even southern British Columbia, Canada. In a recent incident, we were called up to Rosslyn, BC, to assist with a heavy-duty gas tanker truck that needed a tow back to Washington State.
Case Study: Fleet Towing from BC to Washington State
Recently, our Spokane dispatch answered a call from Cox Fleet regarding a gas truck with a 53-foot tank trailer that was disabled north of the border. The vehicle was leaking coolant, and the driver was not sure where it was coming from. This truck needed a tow.
Pro-Tow operators arrived in Rosslyn, BC, and had to hook up the entire tow combination to get through town and up a hill to a safe spot to disconnect the truck from the trailer. Once they got to a weigh station, the operator pulled the truck's driveline so he could safely use a front-hook tow to get it to the customer's destination.
One of Pro-Tow’s heavy-duty tow trucks towed the tractor, while the other hauled the extremely heavy tanker trailer. They brought both units to Chewelah, Washington, as per the customer's request.
What is Needed for Cross-Border Towing?
Permits
If you’re towing a truck across the U.S.- Canada border, you need the proper documentation. Depending on what you’re towing, you may need operating permits, especially if the vehicle isn't registered under Washington's International Registration Plan (IRP).
Because FleetEasy does a lot of cross-border towing, we have International Fuel Tax Agreement (IFTA) credentials on our trucks. Otherwise, you’d have to get a temporary fuel tax permit. Depending on what you’re hauling, you might need an oversized/overweight permit or a specific permit for your tow truck.
Learn more about permit types and fees from the Washington State Department of Transportation.
Border Crossing Credentials
You need a few essential documents and credentials to tow a vehicle across the border. A Border Patrol officer could ask for any of the following:
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- Customs manifests (ACE/ACI) for the truck being towed
- Work order or tow authorization from the truck owner
- Carrier credentials and insurance
- State permits (trip, fuel or oversized permits as required)
- Passport, Enhanced Driver’s License and FAST card
- USDOT number
While the credentials required can vary, depending on the job, it's essential that anyone moving a vehicle from Canada to the U.S., or vice versa, does their research to ensure they have the compliant documentation.
For more information, you can check out these sources:
For Cross-Border Towing, You Need the Right Partner
A heavy-duty breakdown is complicated enough without adding an international border crossing to the mix. When a truck is disabled in British Columbia, Idaho, or Montana, getting it safely back to Washington requires an understanding of the permits, credentials, and border requirements involved in the move.
For fleets operating throughout the Pacific Northwest, having a towing partner that can handle these details can make a difficult situation much easier. FleetEasy has the equipment and experience to coordinate long-distance heavy-duty towing when a disabled vehicle needs to get home or reach a repair facility. For us, it’s just another day in the office.
When your truck is down far from your shop, having a towing partner who can manage the entire move can help get your equipment back where it needs to be.