Today, we pause to recognize, honor, and celebrate the brave men and women who have dedicated their past or present lives to serving our country. Your commitment to protecting our freedom deserves our deepest gratitude.
Veterans in the Towing Industry: A Snapshot
There is a an undeniable connection between the military and the towing industry. In it, you will find many registered Veteran-owned businesses (VOBs) nationwide. For example, when you search VOB directories, you can filter by towing industry and see significant representation in the results. And also, this only tells a partial story. There are thousands more who work within the industry, too.
🔦 Spotlight Story: Military Wreckers of the Red Ball Express
During World War II, after Allied forces landed on Normandy Beach, they faced a critical challenge. With most of the French rail system destroyed, the U.S. Army needed to transport massive quantities of supplies to troops advancing toward Germany. The solution? The Red Ball Express — a legendary convoy system that operated 24 hours, from August through November 1944.
In 83 days, the convoy delivered more than 412,000 tons of ammunition, gasoline, food, medical supplies, and other critical materials to front lines. Interestingly, African American soldiers made up 75% of Red Ball Express drivers. They drove day and night, often at high speeds on blacked-out roads, with the motto “tout de suite” (translation: immediately). In such dangerous conditions and under extreme time pressure, vehicles inevitably broke down. To keep the convoy moving, they had to be cleared right away. Military wreckers to the rescue.
The Diamond T 969-A equipped with Holmes W-45 twin boom winch systems — manufactured in Chattanooga, Tennessee where it rests today in the International Towing & Recovery Hall of Fame and Museum — served as the primary recovery vehicles for the Red Ball Express. This and other wreckers hauled disabled trucks off the road and kept the convoy moving, proving essential to the Allied victory in Europe.
Military Skills that Translate to Towing and Recovery
The towing and recovery industry values many traits taught and fine-tuned in the military. Two that stand out include:
- Discipline and Leadership: Military training instills a strong sense of discipline, collaboration, and the ability to remain calm and focused under pressure while guiding others to do the same. These are critical traits that towing professionals must also exhibit when responding to emergencies, navigating difficult recovery situations, and managing heavy-duty towing logistics.
- Decisiveness and Ability to Take Direction: Military service members learn to work effectively within structured hierarchies, follow protocols, make decisions, and take action. You’ll find these same qualities in the best tow operators, dispatch coordinators, and operations managers. They must use them to handle the 24/7 365 demands of towing and recovery.
Beyond specific, trainable capabilities, there is an underlying drive and passion for helping others that those in the military and in the towing industry frequently share.
3 Reasons Why the Towing Industry Is Strengthened by Veterans
With today’s more than 39,000 towing businesses and an IBISWorld-reported market size of $11+ BN in 2025, there’s constant demand for skilled, reliable operators. Smart towing and recovery businesses consider Veterans for several reasons, including:
- They often arrive with technical skills earned from working with equipment, vehicles, and complex machinery in the service.
- They’re accustomed to working in all weather conditions, at all hours, and in high-stress situations.
- Their problem-solving abilities help them excel in high-stakes situations, such as performing a tricky tow or managing a complex recovery operation.
Conclusion
This Veterans Day, we thank those who are serving or have served and encourage others to do the same.
At Autura, we’re honored to support towing professionals across all the industry: state and local government, towing and recovery businesses, and impound lot owners. Veterans lead or work for many of these organizations. Each and every one of them are a part of the essential ecosystem that keeps communities moving.
This nation will remain the land of the free only so long as it is the home of the brave.
–Elmer Davis
