Product Overview

Summary: This Flatbed Towing Procedure SOP sets out clear, step-by-step instructions for safely loading, securing, transporting and unloading vehicles on a flatbed tow truck. Designed for Australian towing and roadside assistance operations, it helps control high‑risk tasks, protect workers and the public, and demonstrate compliance with WHS obligations and road transport laws.

Flatbed towing is one of the safest and most versatile methods of vehicle recovery, but it involves significant risks if not carried out in a controlled and consistent way. Operators work in dynamic roadside environments, often in poor weather, low visibility, or high‑traffic conditions, while handling heavy vehicles, winches, chains, straps and hydraulic systems. This Flatbed Towing Procedure SOP provides a structured, WHS‑aligned method for planning the job, securing the scene, loading and unloading vehicles, and managing emergencies so that workers, customers and the public remain safe.

Developed for Australian towing and roadside assistance businesses, the procedure helps you standardise how flatbed towing is performed across your fleet. It addresses real‑world challenges such as working on the roadside shoulder, managing interaction with customers and other responders, preventing vehicle movement during loading, and ensuring loads remain secure during transport. By implementing this SOP, businesses can reduce incident rates, improve operator training, support compliance with WHS legislation and road transport regulations, and provide clear evidence of due diligence in the event of an audit or incident investigation.

Key Benefits

• Reduce the risk of worker injury and public harm during flatbed towing and roadside recovery operations.
• Ensure consistent, defensible towing practices that align with Australian WHS and road transport requirements.
• Standardise operator training and competency assessment across your towing fleet.
• Minimise equipment damage, vehicle damage and associated insurance or downtime costs.
• Improve incident response efficiency and professionalism when operating in high‑traffic or emergency environments.

Who is this for?

• Tow Truck Operators
• Roadside Assistance Technicians
• Fleet Managers
• Workshop Managers
• WHS Managers
• Transport and Logistics Supervisors
• Roadside Incident Coordinators
• Compliance and Risk Managers
• Light and Heavy Vehicle Recovery Operators

Hazards Addressed

• Being struck by passing vehicles while working roadside or on the shoulder
• Slips, trips and falls when accessing the flatbed, ramps or winch area
• Crush injuries from vehicle movement during loading, securing or unloading
• Winch, cable or strap failure leading to sudden release of tension
• Musculoskeletal injuries from manual handling of wheel lifts, ramps, chocks and tie‑downs
• Hydraulic system failures or unintended movement of the tilt tray
• Working in poor visibility, night conditions or adverse weather
• Pinch points and entanglement around winches, cables, chains and moving parts
• Vehicle roll‑away due to inadequate chocking or failure to apply parking brakes
• Exposure to traffic, noise, dust and exhaust emissions during roadside operations

Included Sections

• 1.0 Purpose and Scope
• 2.0 Definitions and Terminology (Flatbed, Tilt Tray, Winch, Tie‑Down Points, etc.)
• 3.0 Roles, Responsibilities and Competency Requirements
• 4.0 Applicable Legislation, Standards and Codes of Practice
• 5.0 Required Plant, Tools and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
• 6.0 Pre‑Operation Checks and Vehicle Inspection
• 7.0 Job Planning, Risk Assessment and Traffic Management
• 8.0 Site Arrival, Scene Assessment and Communication with Clients and Other Responders
• 9.0 Roadside Safety Controls (Cones, Beacons, High‑Visibility Clothing and Vehicle Positioning)
• 10.0 Flatbed Setup, Tilt and Ramp Deployment
• 11.0 Safe Use of Winches, Cables, Chains and Straps
• 12.0 Vehicle Loading Procedure onto the Flatbed
• 13.0 Load Restraint and Securing Methods for Different Vehicle Types
• 14.0 Transporting the Load – En‑route Safety and Monitoring
• 15.0 Vehicle Unloading Procedure at Destination
• 16.0 Managing Non‑Standard or Damaged Vehicles (No Wheels, Locked Transmission, etc.)
• 17.0 Working in Adverse Weather, Low Light and High‑Traffic Environments
• 18.0 Hazard Identification and Control Measures (Risk Register)
• 19.0 Emergency Procedures (Equipment Failure, Traffic Incident, Injury)
• 20.0 Post‑Operation Tasks, De‑brief and Documentation
• 21.0 Maintenance, Inspection and Tag‑Out of Towing Equipment
• 22.0 Training, Induction and Competency Assessment Requirements
• 23.0 Recordkeeping, Audit and Continuous Improvement

Legislation & References

• Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (Cth) and harmonised state and territory WHS Acts
• Work Health and Safety Regulations 2011 (Cth) and equivalent state and territory regulations
• Safe Work Australia – General Guide for Workplace Traffic Management
• Safe Work Australia – Code of Practice: Managing Risks of Plant in the Workplace
• Safe Work Australia – Code of Practice: Hazardous Manual Tasks
• AS/NZS 4024 series – Safety of machinery (relevant to winches, hydraulic systems and controls)
• AS/NZS 4380: Cargo restraint systems – Transport webbing and ratchet assemblies
• AS/NZS 1576 & AS 1891 series – Fall protection (where working at height on flatbeds may apply)
• National Heavy Vehicle Law (NHVL) and associated Load Restraint Guide (National Transport Commission)
• State and territory Tow Truck and Vehicle Recovery regulations and licensing requirements