The California Highway Patrol developed the Rotation Tow Program to:

• Facilitate the safe, efficient and rapid removal of disabled vehicles or vehicles involved in collisions from highways served by the CHP.

• Tow vehicles in a manner that is convenient and user-friendly to the motoring public.

• Ensure the safety of the motoring public, the officers of the CHP and tow truck operators. 

The Department coordinates the public's and the Department's tow services, and integrates the ability of the tow community to provide service through the Tow Service Agreement (TSA). The standards established by the TSA are met by maintaining an open line of communication with the tow industry, and by recognizing the officers' obligations in the performance of their duties relative to vehicle towing. This allows the Rotation Tow Program to respond to changes to maintain the high safety and service levels of the program. The CHP's long-term goal is to maintain efficient and responsive tow service.

Tow Service Agreement

California Vehicle Code Section 2424 allows the Commissioner of the CHP to enter into agreements with providers of towing, emergency road, and storage services. These agreements are drafted with the assistance and cooperation of members of the Department, the towing industry, and the general public. The CHP's TSA allows members of the towing industry to participate in a rotational tow list to equitably distribute service calls from the public through CHP officers. The purpose of the TSA is to meet the needs of the public, the towing industry, and the Department.

The objective is to ensure the public receives ethical and fair business practices on the part of private towing companies utilized by the CHP.

The TSA provides tow operators with clear and concise requirements for acceptance and continued service to the Department. The agreement ensures statewide consistency in the interpretation and enforcement of its terms and conditions. The TSA also ensures that tow operators used by the Department are competent to respond to calls with minimal time delays.

Frequently Asked Questions