When your truck grinds to a halt on the side of the road, your first instinct might be to call a tow truck. But is that the smartest move? In the heat of a breakdown, the decision you make can have a major impact on your bottom line. Between traditional towing and mobile truck repair, one option often saves you significantly more time, money, and stress—especially when it’s not a major engine failure.
Towing Costs Add Up Fast
Let’s break down the numbers. A local tow for 30 miles? That’ll run you between $300 and $700—before your truck even sees a mechanic. Add in a $100–$150 diagnostic fee, shop labor rates of $125–$175 per hour, and you’re easily into four figures for even a moderate repair.
Mobile truck repair services eliminate many of those fees. There’s no tow, diagnosis is typically included, and labor rates are often 15–20% lower. Not to mention, most roadside issues—batteries, air leaks, coolant problems—can be resolved in a single visit without moving the vehicle. That means less downtime and more miles logged where they count: on the road.
Downtime Hurts More Than You Think
Every hour your truck is sidelined, it’s not earning. Missed deliveries, unhappy clients, wasted driver hours—it all stacks up. Mobile repairs usually get you rolling again in 1–3 hours, without the delays of shop queues or re-tow needs.
Compare that with traditional towing: wait for the tow, wait again at the shop, and then hope your truck gets prioritized. It’s not uncommon for a simple fix to stretch over two days in that scenario. Time is money, and mobile repair keeps you moving.
What Repairs Are Best Suited for Mobile?
Mobile repair isn’t for everything, but for about 70–80% of roadside issues, it’s your fastest and most cost-effective option.
Common mobile fixes include:
Battery and starter replacements
Fuel delivery issues
Air system and brake repairs
Electrical and lighting problems
Coolant and radiator leaks
However, major engine work or transmission swaps still require a shop. But if you’re dealing with a typical roadside malfunction? Calling mobile first is the smart play.
Fleet Managers: Rethink Your Game Plan
Fleet supervisors, this one’s for you. Defaulting to towing can drain your budget and disrupt your entire logistics chain. Services like Matthews Motors help fleets avoid over $10,000 a month in lost productivity. From pre-approved roadside limits to dispatch support and DOT-compliant logging, mobile-first strategies put you back in control.
As one satisfied client from Augusta Freight Group said, “Since using Matthews Motors, our tow bills dropped by 70%—and trucks return to service the same day.”
Call Mobile First—Then Roll On
Still unsure? Don’t guess—get expert help on-site. Matthews Motors covers Augusta, Evans, Grovetown, North Augusta, Aiken, and all major highways within a 75-mile radius. Our 24/7 mobile repair team will assess, repair, or guide you to the right shop if needed.
Request Mobile Repair Now (706) 722-3997 | Augusta, GA & Surrounding Counties
