Skip to content LKW Help 24 is your professional truck towing and recovery service, specializing in commercial vehicles, articulated trucks, buses and vans on German autobahns and federal roads. When your vehicle is stranded, every minute counts — that’s why we offer fast, competent assistance around the clock, 365 days a year, with dispatchers and technicians ready to respond wherever you break down.
This article is intended for truck drivers, dispatchers, transport company managers and fleet managers who need a reliable towing service nearby in an emergency. Foreign drivers passing through Germany in transit will also find all the important information about truck roadside assistance in Germany here. In the following sections you’ll learn exactly how we help in typical emergency situations such as breakdowns, accidents, tyre damage, and battery or engine problems, and why our nationwide network of branches and partner workshops guarantees you fast, reliable support anywhere in the country.
Emergency help and contacts: 3 steps to truck roadside assistance
If you’re dealing with a serious breakdown right now, read this section first — here you’ll learn how to get professional help within minutes.
Step one is securing your location: switch on your hazard warning lights, pull onto the shoulder or a parking area if possible, and set up your warning triangle. Note: in poor visibility, in the dark, or when carrying hazardous goods, the risk increases — secure the scene especially carefully and move yourself to a safe place. Step two: prepare all the information our dispatchers will need — your licence plate, the vehicle type, cargo details (especially whether hazardous goods are on board), and your exact location with the autobahn number, direction of travel, kilometre marker, and the nearest parking area or exit. Step three, the decisive one: call our emergency hotline immediately: 0800 24 24 112.
Our dispatchers answer frequently asked questions directly over the phone and provide fast answers to all questions related to roadside assistance. Don’t wait for the situation to get worse. Call now instead of continuing to search online. To get our help, you don’t need membership in an automobile club, an insurance policy (Schutzbrief), or an existing contract. We help immediately — regardless of whether you’re an owner-operator, a subcontractor, or part of a large fleet. If it’s more convenient, you can also reach us through our app or report a breakdown if our app is installed on your Android or iOS device.
Services of our truck towing and recovery service
LKW Help 24 offers a full range of services for commercial vehicles: from fast towing and mobile on-site assistance to professional recovery and cargo securing after accidents. Our service covers every situation in which your vehicle can no longer keep moving. Our scope of services includes not only towing, but also recovery from ditches, cargo securing, and comprehensive roadside assistance.
Our core services include towing after engine failure, axle or gearbox damage, fire, accidents, or electronics failure. We safely transport 40-tonne articulated trucks, semi-trailers, refrigerated units, buses and special equipment (such as construction machinery) to the nearest workshop. Our coverage areas include all major autobahns such as A1, A2, A3, A4, A5, A7 and A9, as well as major logistics hubs such as the Ruhr area, Rhine-Main, Hamburg, Hanover, Nuremberg, Munich, Leipzig and Dresden.
The cost of towing varies depending on the complexity of the operation, the distance, and the equipment required. Different services carry different rates, tailored individually to specific needs. On long routes or cross-border trips, additional transport costs may apply, and these are always communicated transparently in advance, so there are no unpleasant surprises on the invoice. For companies, besides classic automobile clubs, there are alternatives such as specialized providers (for example, LKW Help 24) that are purpose-built around the requirements of commercial transport. The priority on every call-out is clear: quickly restoring the ability to drive, or safely delivering the vehicle to a suitable specialist workshop nearby.
On-site truck roadside assistance
LKW Help 24 doesn’t just tow — wherever possible, we repair your vehicle right on the spot to save you time and money. The scope of our mobile roadside assistance covers a wide range of work, which lets us resolve many problems on site.
Typical emergency repairs our specialists can carry out include: replacing defective hoses, fixing minor air pressure problems, resolving electrical faults, replacing broken cables and fuses, and fixing minor cooling system issues. Our mobile service vehicles are equipped with everything needed: special connectors, diagnostic systems for popular truck brands, and consumables such as hoses, clamps, fuses, oil and antifreeze.
On site, our technicians quickly decide whether a repair is possible within 30–60 minutes or whether towing is required. This solution-oriented approach minimizes downtime and lets transport companies keep control of their costs.
Towing of trucks, articulated trucks and buses
In the case of serious damage and accidents, an on-site repair isn’t enough — that’s where our professional towing service comes in.
We use heavy-duty tow trucks, recovery vehicles with cranes, and partial-loading (piggyback) equipment for the careful towing of loaded articulated trucks. Both loaded and empty vehicles are professionally transported, including oversized and heavyweight cargo by individual arrangement. We always agree the destination with the customer — whether that’s an authorized fleet workshop, the nearest truck service centre, or a guarded parking area. The route to the destination is determined individually; the distance directly affects the towing cost and the choice of workshop.
In the event of a mandatory tow ordered by the authorities following an accident or an incident involving hazardous goods, we of course coordinate with police and fire services to ensure a smooth process.
Recovery and cargo securing after an accident
A truck in a ditch, an overturned semi-trailer, or a vehicle blocking several lanes — these scenarios call for professional recovery work.
Our recovery services include righting overturned vehicles, winching them out of barriers, and separately recovering tractor units and trailers. Cargo securing — whether pallets, containers or bulk goods — is carried out in close cooperation with the transport company and, if necessary, with specialized cargo-securing firms.
Our staff are trained to clear the roadway quickly in order to minimize road closures and traffic jams. Safety and professional coordination always come first, to limit the damage for everyone involved. Recovery and cargo securing are always carried out professionally and safely, to avoid further damage to the vehicle or the cargo.
Typical emergencies: when to call a tow truck
In all the cases listed below, LKW Help 24 can quickly reach the scene and provide professional assistance. A breakdown of commercial vehicles can have especially severe consequences for the supply chain, which is why the speed of help in these situations is critical.
Key situations where it’s worth contacting us:
- Engine and gearbox damage.
- Accidents of any kind.
- Complete electronics failure.
- Locked brakes and air suspension problems.
Even if you’re not sure exactly what’s broken, our dispatchers are trained to select the right roadside assistance vehicle based on your description of the symptoms. Just describe what you’re noticing: unusual noises, warning lights, loss of power, or smoke. When in doubt, the rule is simple: better to call early and avoid consequential damage than to wait too long and turn a minor breakdown into an expensive, time-consuming problem.
Tyre punctures and wheel damage
A blown trailer tyre on the A2 near Hanover, or a nail in a drive wheel just before the Nuremberg interchange — tyre damage is one of the most common causes of breakdowns.
The typical process: first, we secure the breakdown site. Note: on autobahns the risk is especially high due to passing traffic — watch your own safety and leave the danger zone as quickly as possible. After that, our team checks whether mobile tyre service, a wheel change, or fitting a spare on site is possible. If the tyre can’t be repaired and no suitable replacement is available, we’ll tow your vehicle to the nearest truck tyre service station or workshop.
Special attention is paid to multi-axle units, twin tyres, and semi-trailers — here safety and cargo integrity come first. Our goal is getting you moving again quickly, especially for just-in-time deliveries.
Battery, electrical and starting problems
Long periods of standing in winter or at truck stops often lead to a flat battery — a problem that’s especially common on older vehicles.
We offer professional jump-start assistance for 24-volt systems using professional-grade jump-start equipment. If starting problems keep recurring, we recommend electrical diagnostics on site or at a workshop to identify causes such as a faulty alternator or grounding issues.
An improperly performed jump start can cause costly damage to sensitive onboard electronics — so when in doubt, use professional help instead of improvising. If your truck won’t start or important electrical systems have failed completely, call our number. Our dispatchers will give you fast answers to all questions related to starting and electrical issues.
Technical faults and engine failures
Loss of power going uphill, heavy smoke, a sudden drop in oil pressure, or a locked-up gearbox — these symptoms usually call for a tow truck.
Continuing to drive with these warning signs can lead to severe secondary damage to the engine or transmission. Our dispatchers will give you an initial assessment over the phone as to whether it’s safe and acceptable to continue driving. LKW Help 24 will handle transport to a suitable workshop equipped to service your specific brand — whether that’s MAN, Mercedes-Benz, Scania, DAF, Volvo or Iveco.
It’s advisable to act professionally at the first signs of engine trouble rather than continuing to drive on your own. A timely tow saves money in the long run, as it prevents an expensive engine overhaul.
24/7 tow truck nearby — throughout Germany on autobahns and federal roads
LKW Help 24 is available across the whole country — not just in major cities, but in rural regions as well, and along all key transit routes throughout Germany. All information about our service and the services we offer is kept current and updated regularly, so you can always rely on it when planning a route or reacting to an emergency.
Thanks to our network of branches and partner companies, a tow truck nearby is available almost everywhere. We cover key autobahn stretches including the A3 from Cologne via Frankfurt and Nuremberg to Passau, the A7 from Flensburg via Hamburg, Hanover and Würzburg to Füssen, and the A9 from Berlin via Leipzig and Nuremberg to Munich.
Fast response times and precise location finding
Every minute counts during a breakdown. To pinpoint your location accurately, tell us the autobahn number, direction of travel, kilometre marker, and the nearest exit or rest area. Alternatively, you can read out the GPS coordinates from your smartphone. Where possible, sharing your location is easiest through our Android or iOS app. Our dispatchers ask proven questions to quickly pin down the breakdown location, even in the face of a possible language barrier. If your position is unclear, we’ll pick you up at a parking area or rest stop if needed.
Working in cities, ports and logistics hubs
Breakdowns don’t only happen on the highway — vehicles also need help in industrial estates, ports, and city centres. We operate at key locations such as the Port of Hamburg, Duisburg, Bremen, as well as at container terminals around Frankfurt, Munich and Berlin. In narrow alleys, on tight warehouse access roads and at busy factory sites, we apply specialized knowledge and the right equipment for the job.
Multilingual support: helping foreign drivers
LKW Help 24 regularly works with international drivers — from Poland, the Czech Republic, Romania, Bulgaria, Turkey, Spain, Italy and many other countries.
Besides German, our dispatchers speak English, and depending on the shift, staff with knowledge of other languages, such as Polish or Romanian, are available. When needed, we use simple communication with basic vocabulary, and technical terms can be described or shared via photo. We recommend that transport company dispatchers connect the driver directly with the LKW Help 24 hotline in an emergency, to avoid misunderstandings. On request, we also work via messaging apps, accepting photos of the damage or screenshots of the location.
Clear communication despite the language barrier
In stressful situations, simple and clear language is the key to fast help. Our staff use standardized questionnaires. Useful basic terms for the conversation: Motor (engine), Brake (brake), Tire (tyre), Fire (fire), Oil (oil), Accident (accident). No driver needs to be afraid to call, even if they barely speak German — our staff are trained for exactly these situations.
Costs, process and benefits for companies
Transparency of costs and processes is essential for every business decision — that’s why we openly inform you about every point before any work begins.
Unlike classic automobile clubs, LKW Help 24 requires no fees or membership. There are no premium packages or family rates — instead, we offer transparent one-off services for everyone. During the call, you’ll receive an initial cost estimate, which depends on the location, time of day, type of breakdown, and equipment required.
Payment methods: invoice to the company (Rechnung), payment by corporate card, or, in exceptional cases, cash by prior arrangement. Keep in mind: getting your vehicle back on the road quickly is usually cheaper than prolonged downtime, delivery delay penalties, and missed deadlines.
| Who pays | Typical cases |
| Owner / Company | Self-ordered roadside assistance, engine failure |
| Insurance | Accident assistance (depending on policy) |
| Police / Authorities | Mandatory tow ordered by the authorities |
Why LKW Help 24 beats a standard towing service
We’re a specialized provider dedicated exclusively to commercial vehicles — not a general-purpose service that also handles cars and motorcycles on the side.
- Specialization in trucks of every weight class.
- 24/7 availability throughout Germany.
- Fast response times thanks to our branch network.
- Practical solutions for everyday transport operations.
- No club membership or mobility guarantee required.
- Experience with premium brands: MAN, Mercedes, Scania, DAF, Volvo, Iveco.
Checklist: what a driver should do after a breakdown in Germany
- Safety: switch on your hazard lights, pull onto the shoulder/parking area.
- Vest: put on a reflective safety vest before leaving the cab.
- Exit: exit on the side away from traffic. Move behind the crash barrier.
- Warning triangle: set up your warning triangle (on the autobahn — at least 150–200 metres back).
- Emergency services: if there’s danger (fire, cargo leak), call 110 or 112 first.
- Call us: contact LKW Help 24 at 0800 24 24 112.
Summary and call to action
LKW Help 24 is your reliable partner for professional towing and fast roadside assistance throughout Germany. We focus exclusively on commercial vehicles — from minor roadside repairs to complex post-accident recovery — so you always get a team that understands the specific needs of trucks, articulated vehicles and buses.
Act immediately in case of a breakdown or accident:
Call our hotline now: 0800 24 24 112, or save this number in case of an emergency.
Tip for dispatchers: add the LKW Help 24 number to your logbook, driver handbook, and every driver’s phone contacts in advance. That way you won’t waste time searching in a critical moment.
Tow truck and roadside assistance nearby – frequently asked questions
When a driver searches for a “tow truck near me” or “roadside assistance nearby“, a fast response is what matters. We’re a truck towing service operating throughout Germany, available around the clock, and we reach the highway within minutes, wherever in Germany you are.
How much does towing a truck cost?
The cost of towing a truck depends on the distance, weight, and complexity of the recovery. We give you a transparent price up front, including for assistance abroad, so you always know what to expect before we set off.
