THE LOCALER
On the Road With Tow Truck Operator Cody Fiveash
Find out what it’s like providing motorists with roadside assistance for CAA South Central Ontario.
By Sarah Laing | Original photography by Heather Lynch
Cody Fiveash was out for a drive with a friend when their car broke down. They called a tow truck, and when the driver arrived, Fiveash started chatting with him about the job.
That conversation led Fiveash to apply for a job as a tow truck driver himself. He got hired. Fast-forward six years and he’s still out on the road for Loveday’s Towing in St. Thomas, Ontario.
Fiveash, who has a background as an auto-body technician, usually works two 24-hour on-call shifts per week. “It doesn’t matter if it’s three in the morning or three in the afternoon,” he says. “I come out and help people.” On a slow day, he might perform 7 to 10 tows. On a particularly busy shift, he could perform upwards of 40 services, which can include everything from providing help when keys get locked in the car to winching a stranded vehicle out of a ditch.
The roadside is Fiveash’s workplace. It can be a dangerous and intense place to work, he points out, which is why it’s so important for drivers to observe the Slow Down, Move Over law.
Cody Fiveash of Loveday’s Towing in St. Thomas, Ont., can complete more than 40 services in a busy shift.
“It doesn’t matter if it’s three in the morning or three in the afternoon — I come out and help people.”
“That’s the biggest thing. [Slow Down, Move Over is] there so that we stay safe,” says Fiveash, adding that he does his part to ensure his roadside workplace remains as safe as he can make it. He always practises the proper safeguards — putting out pylons, performing services on the shoulder whenever possible and ensuring he is visible to vehicles on the road. “I’ve had close calls. If you slow down and give us room to work, nothing is going to happen,” he says. Drivers need to do their part too; Fiveash stresses the importance of staying off distracting devices such as cellphones while behind the wheel.
Here’s what to do if you find yourself needing roadside assistance. “If your car’s mobile, get off the highway,” he advises. But if your car is not driving well, pull over as far away from traffic as possible. “Stay in the vehicle with your seatbelt on. Put your four-ways on [and] keep your lights on.”
While providing emergency roadside assistance, Fiveash has seen it all. “I’ve gone out into the woods to get people unstuck. I’ve gotten cars out of underground parking, worked car accidents — pretty much anything you can think of.”
When a motorist needs a tow, he is committed to helping safely and professionally. After all, every call he gets is from someone having a bad day. Fiveash is there to make that day just a little bit better. CAA
As an approved contractor for CAA South Central Ontario, Loveday’s Towing helps motorists in a variety of roadside situations — from getting vehicles moving again to safely towing them away.
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Cody Fiveash of Loveday’s Towing in St. Thomas, Ont., can complete more than 40 services in a busy shift.
THE LOCALER
On the Road With Tow Truck Operator Cody Fiveash
Find out what it’s like providing motorists with roadside assistance for CAA South Central Ontario.
By Sarah Laing | Original photography by Heather Lynch
Cody Fiveash was out for a drive with a friend when their car broke down. They called a tow truck, and when the driver arrived, Fiveash started chatting with him about the job.
That conversation led Fiveash to apply for a job as a tow truck driver himself. He got hired. Fast-forward six years and he’s still out on the road for Loveday’s Towing in St. Thomas, Ontario.
Fiveash, who has a background as an auto-body technician, usually works two 24-hour on-call shifts per week. “It doesn’t matter if it’s three in the morning or three in the afternoon,” he says. “I come out and help people.” On a slow day, he might perform 7 to 10 tows. On a particularly busy shift, he could perform upwards of 40 services, which can include everything from providing help when keys get locked in the car to winching a stranded vehicle out of a ditch.
The roadside is Fiveash’s workplace. It can be a dangerous and intense place to work, he points out, which is why it’s so important for drivers to observe the Slow Down, Move Over law.
“That’s the biggest thing. [Slow Down, Move Over is] there so that we stay safe,” says Fiveash, adding that he does his part to ensure his roadside workplace remains as safe as he can make it. He always practises the proper safeguards — putting out pylons, performing services on the shoulder whenever possible and ensuring he is visible to vehicles on the road. “I’ve had close calls. If you slow down and give us room to work, nothing is going to happen,” he says. Drivers need to do their part too; Fiveash stresses the importance of staying off distracting devices such as cellphones while behind the wheel.
Here’s what to do if you find yourself needing roadside assistance. “If your car’s mobile, get off the highway,” he advises. But if your car is not driving well, pull over as far away from traffic as possible. “Stay in the vehicle with your seatbelt on. Put your four-ways on [and] keep your lights on.”
While providing emergency roadside assistance, Fiveash has seen it all. “I’ve gone out into the woods to get people unstuck. I’ve gotten cars out of underground parking, worked car accidents — pretty much anything you can think of.”
When a motorist needs a tow, he is committed to helping safely and professionally. After all, every call he gets is from someone having a bad day. Fiveash is there to make that day just a little bit better. CAA
As an approved contractor for CAA South Central Ontario, Loveday’s Towing helps motorists in a variety of roadside situations — from getting vehicles moving again to safely towing them away.