Commercial Vehicle Recovery: Uptime, Compliance & On-Scene Safety
Summary: Minimising Downtime for Commercial Fleets
- Rapid Response: A 24/7 Control Centre managing a nationwide network ensures immediate deployment for everything from vans to 44-tonne HGVs.
- Compliance Guaranteed: Fully accredited operations (IVR, ISO 9001, Sector 17) protect your Operator License and ensure adherence to roadside safety protocols.
- Diverse Fleet Capability: Specialist equipment, including Low Loaders and Heavy Recovery Units, handles complex logistics like static caravans and wide-load permits.
Keeping Britain’s Logistics Moving Since 1972
In the logistics and transport sector, a vehicle off the road is more than an inconvenience; it is a direct threat to profitability and reputation. Whether you operate a fleet of articulated lorries, a local bus service, or move specialist plant machinery, the priority remains the same: swift, safe, and compliant resolution.
At CMG, we understand that commercial vehicle recovery is not just about towing. It is about complex logistics, strict adherence to safety legislation, and the capability to handle assets of any size. Since 1972, we have acted as the calm authority in a chaotic industry, providing a reliable partner for traders, haulage firms, and insurers who require absolute certainty in a crisis.
Beyond the Tow: The Technical Logistics of HGV Recovery
Recovering a commercial vehicle requires far more technical planning than recovering a standard car. The recovery method must be matched precisely to the casualty vehicle's weight, load, and location.
Do You Need a Low-Loader or a Spec Lift?
Selecting the right recovery asset is critical to preventing secondary damage.
- Spectacle Lifts: Ideal for standard HGV recovery and coaches. These units lift the casualty vehicle by its wheels, ensuring the driveshaft is disconnected to prevent transmission damage during transit.
- Low Loaders: essential for plant machinery, severe accident units with compromised axles, or tracked vehicles. Our fleet includes specialist Low Loaders capable of transporting heavy plant equipment and industrial machinery that cannot be towed.
Handling Wide Loads and Permits
Moving abnormal loads, such as wide plant machinery or static caravans, triggers a different set of regulations. It is not simply a case of loading and driving.
- Route Planning: We conduct detailed route surveys to ensure bridge heights, road widths, and turning circles can accommodate the load.
- Permits & Escorts: CMG manages the bureaucracy of movement orders (VR1) and police notifications. Where necessary, we provide our own escort vehicles to ensure the safe passage of wide loads through public highways.
Compliance and Safety: Protecting Your Operator License
For a Transport Manager, the recovery provider you choose is an extension of your own compliance record. Using an unaccredited recovery service can expose your company to liability, particularly during roadside operations on the strategic road network.
Why Accreditation Matters
We do not just claim to be experts; we prove it. CMG is an accredited Institute of Vehicle Recovery (IVR) Training Centre. This means the technicians attending your vehicle are trained to the highest industry standards, ensuring that tachograph rules roadside are respected and that the recovery process adheres to PAS 43 standards (Safe Working of Vehicle Breakdown and Recovery Operations).
Sector 17 and Motorway Safety
Operating on a live motorway hard shoulder is one of the most dangerous environments in the UK. Our team is accredited under the Highways Scheme, Sector 17, which qualifies us to work safely in high-speed traffic management zones and contraflows. When we arrive at the scene, our priority is to ensure the safety of the driver, the public, and the asset, while minimising the risk of secondary incidents.
The Fleet: Comprehensive Capability for Every Scenario
A "one-size-fits-all" approach does not work in commercial recovery. You need a partner with the depth of fleet to handle specific challenges immediately.
Heavy Recovery Units
For fully laden 44-tonne articulated lorries, we deploy specialist Heavy Recovery Units. These vehicles are engineered with immense winching power and stability, capable of righting overturned vehicles or extracting HGVs from soft ground without first offloading the cargo.
Covered Transporters for High-Value Assets
Not every commercial movement is a breakdown. For auctioneers dealing in classic cars or manufacturers moving prototype vehicles, discretion and protection are paramount. Our covered transporters provide a secure, enclosed environment that shields high-value assets from the elements and prying eyes during transit.
Problem & Solution: Complex Recovery Scenarios
The Challenge - The Fully Laden Articulated Lorry: A 44-tonne HGV breaking down on a busy route creates immediate commercial pressure. The sheer weight and size require more than a standard tow to clear the hazard. The CMG Solution: We deploy a Heavy Recovery Unit specifically designed for maximum gross train weights. Our priority is to clear the carriageway safely and prevent further congestion, then determine whether a roadside repair is viable or a suspended tow to a workshop is required, ensuring your cargo remains secure throughout.
The Challenge - The Low-Clearance Coach: Modern coaches feature sophisticated air suspension, low ground clearance, and extended overhangs, making them susceptible to grounding and bodywork damage during a standard lift. The CMG Solution: Precision is paramount. We utilise specialist equipment with extended reach and low approach angles. Our operators use specific spectacle lifts that cradle the wheels without contacting the delicate bodywork, ensuring the vehicle is recovered safely to the depot without incurring secondary cosmetic or structural damage.
Trusted by Professionals Nationwide
Whether you need a van recovery in a city centre or a complex extraction of heavy plant machinery in a rural location, CMG delivers a service defined by competence and calm. Our International Operators License for 30 trucks and trailers demonstrates our standing not just as a recovery service, but as a serious logistics operator.
We are not just a service provider; we are your business continuity plan. With a 24/7 Control Centre and ISO 9001 certification, we ensure that when the worst happens, you have the best support available.
Need expert assistance? Contact our 24/7 Control Centre on 0800 282 449, email info@cmg-org.com, or get a quick quote online for your transport needs.