Recognizing A Great Car

Being in need of emergency roadside assistance can be a stressful and terrifying experience.  It is never convenient or fun to be stranded with a vehicle that won't operate, no matter what the reason.  Luckily, drivers can opt to receive roadside assistance for a small fee through many sources, including car insurance, in-vehicle program options (available in certain vehicles), or even cell phone companies.  Due to the number of companies that offer roadside assistance, there are many jobs available in communities throughout the United States for customer service representatives in this industry.

Qualifications

Depending on the company, a customer service representative offering emergency roadside assistance may be called a number of different things.  Some popular terms to refer to these employees are "dispatchers," "specialists," "counselors," "receivers," or "representatives."  Qualifications for these positions tend to be as follows:

• High school education (or higher)
• Customer service experience
• Good verbal communication skills
• Fluent in English, though being bilingual is very helpful
• Ability to make and receive phone calls
• Ability to multi-task
• Basic automotive knowledge
• Computer skills, including data entry and mapping programs

Responsibilities

A customer service representative will have a number of responsibilities.  Each company will train their individual representatives to meet their needs.  Many companies offer paid training and on-going opportunities to learn more and improve their skills.  General responsibilities are as follows:

• Answer calls from customers who need assistance.  Depending on the company, these representatives might help customers in emergency situations and also customers with questions or payments.  Larger companies have separate departments that deal with complaints and billing.
• Display a calm and helpful demeanor when speaking with customers while providing exemplary service
• Collect information from motorist to determine their location
• Advise motorists on how to proceed in order to remain safe in their individual situation
• Dispatch appropriate help to stranded motorists
• Act as a liaison between motorist and emergency help.  This involves communicating effectively with not only the motorist, but also tow operators, locksmiths, and other providers.

Roadside emergencies don't always occur at convenient times.  An emergency can happen anytime a driver is on the road.  Customer service representatives work around the clock, and each company will likely have someone available to help a motorist in need 24 hours a day.  This means that there are shifts available to meet the needs of employees, regardless of any restrictions they might have. 

Working in customer service can be a thankless job.  Customers do not always understand what an important role a customer service representative plays.  Working as a customer service representative in emergency roadside assistance, at places such as Airport Towing, gives the opportunity to help distressed people in need and make a difference during a frightening experience.