Introduction to Towing
Operator Safety Foundation
Industry-Standard Safety Training for Individual Operators and Towing Companies.
FROM SHANE COLEMAN, ERSCA
Let Me Show You How ERSCA's Training Gives Operators the Confidence to Work Safely, and Gives Companies One Standard to Train Their Whole Team.
Whether you’re an individual operator starting your career or a business owner responsible for a crew, ERSCA delivers the same industry-standard training we’ve taught in person for over 35 years, now available on demand.
Sound On If You're Ready to Learn Something Most People Never Will
Introducing ERSCA Training
This comprehensive interactive training is built for the towing and recovery industry, whether you're one operator building your foundation or a company owner standardizing training across your entire team
With This Training, You’ll Learn
Four pillars, one confident, safety-ready operator.
How to build a safety-first mindset from day one
Learn the three core principles behind every safe call: efficiency over speed, knowledge over shortcuts, and confidence over uncertainty, so you know exactly when to act and when to call for help.
How to carry yourself as a professional on every call
From personal appearance to truck presentation to the five-step customer service cycle, learn how to earn a customer's trust from the moment you step out of the truck.
How to run every common service call correctly
Jump-starts, fuel delivery, tire changes, and lockouts are covered step by step, so you handle the calls that make up most of the job with confidence instead of guesswork.
How to operate and load equipment the right way
From rating plates and PTO controls to full wheel-lift and car carrier procedures, learn the equipment itself before you ever touch the controls in the field.
Every course builds toward one outcome: operators and teams who are ready for real, hands-on work, not guessing their way through it.
From Uncertain to Confident and Compliant
If you’re an individual operator, you know the gap between wanting this career and actually knowing what to do on a live scene. If you’re a business owner, you know the gap between hiring good people and knowing every one of them is trained to the same standard.
Both gaps come from the same place: training that’s inconsistent, incomplete, or missing entirely. Nobody hands new operators a manual, and nobody hands owners an easy way to make sure their whole crew is on the same page.
Here’s a key to understanding success:
The operators and companies who do well in this industry aren’t the ones who know everything going in. They’re the ones who build a real foundation first, and keep building on it.
— Shane Coleman
The Hard Truth?
This Industry Gets Trapped Too
Success rate on standard testing sits at 92 percent with the right training structure in place, and yet most operators and companies never get that structure before they’re expected to perform.
Thrown In Without a Foundation
New hires often get a truck and a radio assigned to them with little more than a ride-along to prepare them. Without structure, every call becomes a guessing game.
Inconsistent Training Across a Team
Business owners often can't say every operator on their roster was trained the same way. That inconsistency shows up in safety, in professionalism, and in liability.
No Way to Prove Readiness
Individual operators without a credential struggle to stand out. Companies without a standardized program struggle to prove their team is prepared.
Information That Doesn't Stick
New hires forget up to 60 percent of what they're told verbally within 48 hours. Without reinforcement and testing, the knowledge that matters most doesn't stay with you when you need it.
There's a Smarter Way to Train, Whether You're a Team of One or a Fleet
What if every operator, no matter how they entered the industry, learned the same proven fundamentals? What if every company, no matter how many trucks they run, could put their whole team through one consistent standard?
What if it all followed the same four-step method, understand the objectives, digest the content, reinforce it, then test it, so what’s learned actually sticks?
That’s not wishful thinking. That’s ERSCA training. And there’s a path for individual operators and for businesses of any size.
Safety Is a Mindset
ERSCA exists to facilitate and promote collaboration throughout the towing and recovery industry while advancing safety, professionalism, education, and advocacy.
Our training philosophy is built on a simple but critical principle: Operator Safety First.
By establishing a strong foundation in safe operating practices and continuously enhancing technical skills, we work to develop knowledgeable, confident, and highly skilled towing and recovery professionals.
We believe safety isn’t simply a procedure or a checklist, it’s a way of thinking that shapes every decision, every action, and every operation. A safety-first mindset protects operators, motorists, customers, equipment, and the communities we serve.
What I’ve seen confirms everything:
Operators and companies don’t fail because they lack effort. They fail because nobody gave them a structured way to build that mindset before they needed it in the field.
— Shane Coleman, Emergency Road Service Coalition of America (ERSCA)
ERSCA is a 501(c)(6) organization, governed by a volunteer Board of Directors and Management Committee made up entirely of towing industry business owners. Our training principles have been developed and refined for more than 40 years, continuously reviewed and updated by tow company owners, industry partners, and subject matter experts to stay aligned with current standards, technologies, and regulations.
Choose Your Path
Whether you’re training yourself or your whole team, there’s an option built for you.
Operator Safety Foundation Course
$75.00
Individual Operator (B2C)
FOR INDIVIDUAL OPERATORS
- A focused 2-hour Operator Safety Foundation Course covering the fundamentals every operator needs.
- Complete it on your own schedule, on any device.
- Certificate of completion.
- The right starting point whether you're brand new or building your credentials.
Operator Safety Foundation Seat-Based Team Licenses
AVAILABLE TIERS
Select Your Team Size:
FOR BUSINESS OWNERS
- Company-wide licensing sized to your team.
- All operators trained to one consistent standard.
- Progress tracking across your roster.
- Discounts available for qualifying CTTA members, ERSCA members, and AAA contractors.
Contact ERSCA for Large Fleet & Association Package Pricing
TALK TO US
Large Fleets & Associations (B2E)
FOR MULTI-LOCATION AND ASSOCIATION ACCOUNTS
- Built for large multi-location operators and industry associations.
- Scoped and priced individually based on account size and needs.
Discount Policy
Only one discount may be applied per purchase. Discounts cannot be combined or stacked.
Purchases of 51 or more licenses are not eligible for additional discounts, as Large Fleet/Enterprise pricing is already applied.
Three separate, unique discount codes will be established and will remain valid through December 31, 2027. Discount codes will be reviewed annually, with new codes established for 2028.
New to ERSCA? Start Here, Free
Not ready to enroll in either option yet? Get instant access to ERSCA’s free introductory content and see what ERSCA training is all about before you decide.
Train Anytime Anywhere. Your Way.
Work through every course on your own schedule, whether you’re an individual fitting it in between shifts or a company rolling it out across your team.
Join a Motivated Community.
Training alongside others in the industry keeps you accountable and connects you with people who understand the work.
Master Your Skills With Interactive Training.
Knowledge checks and scenario-based questions run throughout every chapter, so you apply what you just learned instead of just watching it.
Track Your Progress From Day One.
Individuals see their own progress. Companies see it across their whole roster.
Industry-Leading. Structured. Proven.
Everything inside ERSCA’s training is designed to create real, measurable readiness, step by step.
Operator Safety Foundation Course
A focused 2-hour course covering the essential safety fundamentals every operator needs, available individually or as part of a team license.
Interactive Knowledge Checks
Scenario-based questions built into every chapter test comprehension in real time, not just at the end of a course.
Free Introductory Content
Get a feel for ERSCA's training approach before committing to either offer, at no cost.
Federal Compliance Content
Safety chain standards, ANSI reflective classes, and DOT-related procedures are built directly into the relevant material.
Seat-Based Business Licensing
Company-wide training priced based on the number of students purchased.
A Standard That Scales
From one operator to a large fleet or association, the same training foundation applies at every level.
Real Results from Real Professionals
Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know before getting started.
The free introductory content gives you a feel for ERSCA’s training approach. The Operator Safety Foundation Course and business licenses provide access to the complete training.
If you’re training yourself, start with the individual Operator Safety Foundation Course. If you’re purchasing training for a team, select the appropriate seat-based tier. For 51 or more students, contact ERSCA directly.
Yes. CTTA members, ERSCA members, and AAA contractors are eligible for a 10% discount. Only one discount may be applied per purchase, and discounts cannot be combined or stacked. Purchases of 51 or more licenses are not eligible for additional discounts.
Every course follows the same four-step method: understand the objectives, digest the content, reinforce the learning, and validate knowledge with interactive checks.
Yes. The individual course and team licenses are available on-demand, so you can train whenever it fits your schedule.
Contact ERSCA directly for Large Fleet/Enterprise package pricing.
ERSCA does not currently offer a guarantee on this program.
Why ERSCA?
What You've Tried / Why It Falls Short
Learning on the job with no structure
Mistakes on a live scene are expensive, and some are dangerous. Structure prevents both.
Training some operators but not others
Inconsistent training creates inconsistent safety and inconsistent liability across your team.
Watching videos or asking around informally
Informal learning isn't tested or reinforced, so information doesn't stick when you need it most.
Sending crews to in-person classes only
Travel costs and scheduling gaps make it hard to train everyone the same way, on time.
Assuming all training is equal
Comprehensive, industry-standard training and shortened versions are not the same, even when marketed the same way.
ERSCA's training is built on more than 35 years in this industry, and the courses are yours to reference for as long as you need them.
Ready to build real readiness, for yourself or your whole team?