How Much Does Heavy-Duty Towing Cost?
Heavy-duty towing — wreckers, landolls, rotators — is priced differently than a standard car tow. Expect serious money, especially for complex recoveries or long-distance moves.
RoadService.app lists providers. It does not set prices, quote jobs, or take payment for repair work — use these ranges as a reference and confirm the price directly with the shop you call.
Typical cost ranges
Ranges reflect 2026 US market rates. Actual costs vary by region, time of day, parts availability, and make/model.
| Repair / service | Low estimate | High estimate |
|---|---|---|
| Hook-up fee (light recovery) Getting the truck on the wrecker; local move of a disabled semi. | $250 | $600 |
| Heavy-duty wrecker (per mile) Per-mile rate after hook-up; long hauls billed at 75–100 cents per mile by some carriers. | $10 | $30 |
| Rotator / complex recovery Jackknife, rollover, or off-road recovery; highly variable by severity and time required. | $800 | $5,000+ |
| Storage fee (per day) If the truck sits at the tow yard; adds up fast after the first 24 hours. | $75 | $200 |
| Landoll / lowboy transport (long-haul) Per mile for equipment moves on a lowboy trailer; base charges apply. | $3 | $8 |
What affects the price?
The single biggest cost driver. A local tow is $300–$1,000; a 300-mile haul to a dealership can run $3,000–$8,000.
A simple breakdown tow is straightforward. A jackknifed truck, a rollover, or a truck in a ditch with a loaded trailer requires specialized equipment and multiple operators.
Loaded trailers change everything — you may need a licensed cargo handler to off-load before recovery. Load transfer is billed separately.
Night, weekend, and holiday calls run higher. Waiting time (when the wrecker operator sits while you arrange things) is often billed at $75–$150/hr.
FAQ — heavy duty towing cost semi truck
A local heavy-duty tow runs $500–$2,000. Long-distance hauls, complex recoveries, or loaded trailers can cost $3,000–$10,000 or more.
Motor truck cargo and commercial vehicle policies often cover towing. Check your policy limits — towing coverage caps are often low ($1,000–$2,500) and won't cover a full rotator recovery.
Search the directory by location and towing, then call an operator with your exact position, unit configuration, loaded weight, and any recovery complications. Confirm the hook fee, per-mile rate, and destination before the truck rolls.
Find providers in the directory
Cost estimates reflect 2026 US market averages and do not constitute a quote. Actual prices depend on your location, vehicle make/model, fault severity, time of day, and provider rates. Always get an itemized quote before work starts.