At Egertons, our mission is to ensure that no vehicle is left stranded, regardless of the situation. But whilst we’re all about serious business when it comes to rescue and recovery, we’ve got a few quirky surprises up our sleeve too.
Join us on a journey through our world of specialist recovery vehicles, large fleet services, roadside repairs and more, sprinkled with some fascinating fun facts along the way too.
Yes – we’ve got a full run-down of our service offerings which proves we really are capable of it all, and some casual ‘did you knows’ thrown in there too. So let’s kick off with…
We have access to: specialist recovery vehicles
Our extensive fleet of over 300 cutting-edge recovery vehicles are equipped to handle a wide range of scenarios. These vehicles are at the very heart of our service offering, and they include:
- 4×4 recovery vehicles: perfect for rescuing smaller vehicles trapped in challenging terrains like mud or snow. Fun fact: the first 4×4 vehicle, the Jeep Willys MB, was originally designed for military use in World War II.
- Service vans: the backbone of our roadside repair services, equipped with all necessary tools for quick repairs on cars and vans. These are the staples in our fleet, and have been around for some time – in fact, the concept of mobile repair vans dates back to the early 20th century, though they gained popularity during the post-war era when automotive services expanded.
- Commercial service vans: tailored for commercial vehicle repairs with a long wheelbase which are stocked with specialised equipment. Fun fact: the idea of the service van as a mobile workshop actually originated in the 1950s as a response to the growing demand for roadside repairs.
- Heavy underlift vehicles: ideal for heavy commercial vehicle recovery as these vehicles feature cranes that lift from beneath the casualty vehicle. Did you know that the first commercial tow trucks appeared in the early 1900s, powered by steam engines?
- Low loaders: primarily used for moving and recovering trailers or heavy commercial vehicles that can’t be towed by an underlift, low loaders are essential for scenarios where a unit and trailer have rolled over. Fun fact: the world’s largest low loader was unveiled in 2014 in Germany, and was capable of transporting payloads up to 1,000 tons – the equivalent of up to 5 blue whales or 33 elephants!
- Slidebeds: versatile in handling both cars and vans, equipped with spec lifts to tow two vehicles simultaneously. Did you know that the first car carrier trucks, predecessors to modern slidebeds, were introduced in the 1920s?
- 7.5 tonne slidebeds: similar to larger slidebeds but designed for weights under 12 tonnes. Fun fact: the 7.5-tonne weight limit for trucks originated in the UK as part of road safety regulations.
- Rotators: equipped with both an underlift and a crane, these are used for complex recoveries involving heavy commercial vehicles that have rolled over. But did you know that the concept behind rotating cranes dates back to ancient civilisations such as the Greeks and Romans, who used them for various construction tasks?
- And our Hiab Accident Units: featuring cranes instead of winches, these are deployed for severe accidents requiring heavy lifting. Fun fact: the term “Hiab” comes from the company name Hydrauliska Industri AB, which originated in Sweden and pioneered hydraulic crane technology in the 1940s.
We specialise in: large fleet services
Managing a large fleet can be overwhelming, but our team at Egertons are on hand to simplify the process with our bespoke incident management service where we offer a personalised experience through dedicated resources and handlers to enhance efficiency and reduce costs.
For large fleets, our services include:
- A dedicated account manager and contact number
- Online booking facilities
- Two-way messaging with our operations control room
- Access to digital invoices and records
- Fixed nationwide rates and volume discounts
- An online invoice viewer
- And a user-friendly portal which allows customers to monitor the progress of live jobs in real-time, ensuring transparency and efficiency in fleet management.
We always aim for: roadside recovery
At Egertons, getting you back on the road swiftly and safely is our top priority, and our success rate speaks for itself, with 87% of vehicle breakdowns resolved at the roadside. But how do we achieve this exactly?
- We’ve built a fast and efficient triage process: whereby we ask critical questions to determine the exact issue and deploy the most appropriate emergency response vehicle.
- We fully equip our service vans: our fleet rescue vans are loaded with industry-leading diagnostic equipment and tools to handle a wide range of repairs on the spot.
- And our expert Technicians really know their stuff: all Egertons technicians are highly skilled and equipped to carry out repairs to the highest industry standards.
But did you also know that sometimes, roadside recovery operations involve more than just vehicles? Wildlife rescue teams often work alongside recovery crews to safely extract animals that have become trapped or injured near roadways, adding an extra layer of complexity to the rescue process.
We tailor: breakdown assistance
When a roadside repair isn’t possible, we’ll initiate our comprehensive breakdown recovery service, and we’re proud to say that we’re equipped to handle any size of vehicle or load, from any location in the UK.
What’s more, our rapid response vehicles are fitted with Rapid Deployment Trailers (RDTs), which allow us to ensure that your vehicle and load are transported safely and efficiently to the intended destination, in the fastest time possible.
We customise: First Notification of Loss (FNOL) services
Egertons supports your FNOL needs with our 24/7/365 call center and nationwide fleet. Our services include:
- Immediate response: where we will deploy a response vehicle from our extensive fleet to any UK location.
- A fully white labelled service: meaning that your customers will only ever recognise your brand, your expertise and your service, and whilst Egertons will act completely as an extension of your business, we’ll simply handle anything you’d like us to on your behalf with your customers only ever recognising your brand name.
- And a safe recovery, always: which will take place whether the vehicle is roadworthy or not, as we’ll ensure a safe recovery to a location of your choice or one of our secure sites.
Did you know that the concept of FNOL has actually been around for decades, but gained significant traction in the 20th century where early insurance companies initially used basic methods like telephone and postal mail to handle initial loss notifications.
We provide: specialist assistance and expertise
With many commercial fleets, it’s not uncommon for accidents or breakdowns to require specialised attention. Here at Egertons, however, we excel in handling complex recoveries, particularly those involving HGVs.
Our process includes:
- Thorough triage: where we assess the full extent of the incident to determine the best recovery approach.
- Risk assessment: where we evaluate the danger level, especially when hazardous materials are involved, to ensure the safety of all parties.
- Highly skilled technicians: where we will deploy the right expert Technician for the job, who’s extensively trained and equipped with the latest tools and diagnostic equipment to handle the recovery situation efficiently.
Fun fact: for many technicians, vehicles and cars is also a huge passion as it is a job, leading to many choosing it a lifelong career and hobby all in one. In fact, Peter Warner from the UK, was recognised in 2019 for still working as a mechanic at the grand age of 91, after beginning his career during World War II.
We ensure: fast response times
All recoveries are different, however, one thing that can always be expected is that we make sure we get your load moving again as soon as possible.
Rest assured, our highly successful triage system ensures that we’re able to deploy the correct vehicle the first time, and once we’ve received the details of the incident, the vehicle and the load, we will ensure the recovery or repair vehicle is by your side in 45 minutes or less – negating any need for another send out.
We’re there when you need us, no matter what
Egertons are one of the UK’s leading vehicle rescue and recovery operators, with services stretching from breakdown recovery to specialist assistance, available 24/7/365 service across the country.
In fact, regardless of the incident or circumstances, our team can deal with any request. All we need is the information gathered during the first call to work from, after which our skilled team will deploy the most suitable recovery vehicle and expert Technician to the scene.
In other words, whether it’s roadside repair, recovery of a vehicle to a secure location or specialist assistance of a vehicle which has left the road; our team can take care of everything.