Broke down on Barlow Trail in NE Calgary? What to tell dispatch, safety steps and when you need a tow vs. roadside help. Call 403-272-3944, 24/7.
Barlow Trail is one of the busiest working roads in NE Calgary. It runs north and south through industrial yards, warehouses, car dealerships and business parks, and it links drivers to Memorial Drive, 16 Avenue, McKnight Boulevard and the airport area. Thousands of commuters, delivery vans, contractors and airport travellers use it every day. A breakdown here can feel stressful: traffic moves quickly, there are trucks pulling in and out of yards, and some stretches have little room to stop.
Dave's Towing Services has been towing in Calgary since 1992, and we answer the phone 24/7. This guide explains what to do if your car, SUV, pickup or work van stops on Barlow Trail, what information helps a tow truck find you quickly, and when a roadside fix might get you moving without a tow.
If the vehicle still rolls, signal and move onto the shoulder, into a business lot or onto a side street. Turn on your hazard lights right away. At night or in a snowstorm, leave your parking lights on as well so other drivers can see you from a distance.
If you are stopped in a live lane or on a narrow shoulder, the safest place is usually off the road and away from traffic, behind a barrier or on the far side of the ditch, if you can get there safely. If you have to stay in the vehicle, keep your seatbelt on. Never stand between your vehicle and moving traffic. If anyone is hurt or the vehicle is blocking traffic in a dangerous spot, call 911 first.
Barlow Trail is long, and "on Barlow" is not enough for a driver to find you quickly. Give the nearest cross street (for example, north of Memorial Drive or just south of McKnight Boulevard), which direction you were travelling, and any landmark such as a dealership, gas station or business sign. The location-sharing feature on your phone helps too.
When you call 403-272-3944, have these details ready so we can send the right truck the first time:
Not every Barlow Trail breakdown needs a tow. Our roadside assistance team can often handle:
Some situations do need a tow. If the vehicle won't start after a boost, has collision damage, is leaking fluids, or has a mechanical failure, we will tow it. Flatbed towing is the safest option for all-wheel-drive vehicles, lowered cars and anything with wheel or suspension damage. If a vehicle has slid off the road during winter, it may need winching and ditch recovery before it can be loaded.
Barlow Trail serves a lot of commercial traffic, so many of our calls here are for work trucks, cargo vans and service pickups. We handle light- and medium-duty work vehicles, including vans with shelving and pickups with tool boxes. If you are calling about a company vehicle, tell us who is authorized to release it and where it should go. Many businesses have a preferred repair shop. If a trailer is hitched, let dispatch know whether it needs to come along as well.
Barlow Trail runs past several NE communities and business areas, including Franklin, Mayland Heights, Vista Heights and the Deerfoot Business Centre. For the wider area, see our NE Calgary towing page, or browse our latest jobs to see the kinds of vehicles we move every week.
Calgary winters bring sudden snow, icy intersections and wind chill that drains batteries overnight. Before the cold sets in, check your battery, top up your washer fluid, and carry a blanket, gloves, a phone charger and a small shovel. If you slide into a snowbank, don't keep spinning your wheels. That can damage the transmission and dig the vehicle in deeper. Call us for a winch-out instead.
Yes. Dave's Towing Services runs 24/7, including nights, weekends and holidays.
Yes. Tell us the destination when you call, and we can take your vehicle to any shop, dealership or home address in Calgary and nearby communities.
Yes. We tow light- and medium-duty vehicles, including work vans, pickups and service trucks.
Tell us the last cross street you passed and your direction of travel, or share your location from your phone. Our dispatcher will help you work it out.
If you're stuck on Barlow Trail or anywhere in NE Calgary, call Dave's Towing Services at 403-272-3944. We answer 24/7, and we've been helping Calgary drivers since 1992.
