Towing and recovery questions, answered.
Coverage, equipment, payment, and how to get Kramer's to your scene. Don't see your question? Call dispatch at (308) 384-1116.
General
Are you open 24/7?
Yes. Dispatch answers every hour of every day, holidays included. Call dispatch at (308) 384-1116.
Where are you located?
Our yard is at 3405 N US Hwy 281 in Grand Island, Nebraska. US-281 runs straight south to I-80 Exit 312, the Grand Island interchange.
What areas do you cover?
I-80 from Kearney (Exit 272) to York (Exit 353), US-281 north and south of Grand Island (including toward Hastings and Red Cloud), Nebraska Highway 2, and Grand Island and Hall County. We go farther when a job needs our equipment, so if you're not sure, call dispatch and ask.
How long have you been in business?
Since 1963. LeRoy and Arlene Kramer started the company, and their daughter and son-in-law, Lisa and Tim Bartz, have run it since 2001.
Are you licensed and insured?
Yes. We hold USDOT 655169 and MC-322473 interstate for-hire authority, carry full insurance, and use certified tow operators.
What forms of payment do you accept?
Fleet accounts: EFS, Comchek, T-Chek, and company checks. Everyone else: major credit cards (3% processing fee), cash, Zelle, and Venmo.
How much does a tow cost?
It depends on the vehicle, the equipment the job needs, time on scene, and distance. Call dispatch at (308) 384-1116. Fleet accounts can have billing set up ahead of time.
Do you buy scrap or sell used parts?
That's our sister company, Kramer's Auto Parts & Iron Co., at kramersautoparts.com.
Heavy-duty towing and recovery
Can a trucking company request Kramer's after a wreck?
Yes. Have your driver or dispatcher ask for Kramer's by name and call us directly at (308) 384-1116. Officers on scene make the final call on who responds, so ask early. A fleet account set up ahead of time makes it faster.
Do you tow loaded tractor-trailers?
Yes. Our heavy-duty wreckers and rotators handle tractors and loaded trailers, including reefer units and dry vans, plus trailer decking and un-decking.
Can you handle a rollover with a loaded trailer?
Yes. We bring rotators, a complete air cushion setup, and load transfer equipment, plus our own semi tractors and trailers to move the freight. We can hold dry loads in secure storage while your team decides next steps.
Do you do load shifts and load transfers?
Yes. We correct shifted loads and transfer freight to another trailer so it keeps moving.
Rotator service
What is a rotator?
A rotator is a heavy wrecker with a boom that swings a full 360 degrees and lifts like a crane. It can pick up and set loaded units from where the truck can safely stand, instead of dragging them.
How many rotators do you have?
Two, along with three heavy-duty wreckers.
When do you need a rotator instead of a wrecker?
Rollovers, tight scenes, lifts over ditches or obstacles, and jobs where lifting protects the unit or the cargo. Describe the scene to dispatch and we'll send the right equipment.
Do you do heavy lifts that aren't wrecks?
Yes. We offer forklift and crane service and lift equipment and loads that need to be picked, not pulled.
Off-road recovery
Can you pull a semi out of a field or ditch?
Yes. We handle winch outs and off-road recoveries from ditches, fields, pastures, and mud, using heavy wreckers, rotators, and rigging.
Do you recover farm or construction equipment?
Yes. We recover and haul equipment, from forklifts to excavators, with our equipment hauling trailers and heavy-duty flatbed.
Do you work in winter conditions?
Yes. We run in snow and ice, including winter recoveries off the road.
Light-duty towing
Do you tow cars and pickups?
Yes. We have flatbeds and light-duty wreckers for cars, pickups, and SUVs, day or night.
Can you unlock my car?
Yes. We handle lockouts for a wide variety of vehicles.
Do you do jump starts and tire changes?
Yes, along with winch outs and other roadside help.
Do you handle private property towing?
Yes. We tow from private property and remove abandoned vehicles. Property managers can call dispatch to set that up.
I-80 coverage
What stretch of I-80 do you cover?
Our regular range runs from Kearney (Exit 272) to York (Exit 353), both directions, dispatched from our yard near Exit 312 in Grand Island. We go farther when a job needs our equipment.
Will you come outside that range?
Yes, when the job needs it. Call dispatch at (308) 384-1116 with your location and what happened, and we'll tell you what to expect.
What should I tell dispatch about my location?
The mile marker or nearest exit, your direction of travel (eastbound or westbound), what happened, and whether the unit is loaded.
Fleet accounts
Why set up a fleet account before we need it?
Your billing details and contacts are on file, so when a driver goes down the only thing left is the phone call. Your drivers can carry our number on their cards.
What information do you need?
Company name, a contact, phone, email, fleet size, and the lanes you run through Nebraska. We'll follow up for any billing documents your office needs.
Who can set up an account?
Motor carriers, freight brokers, insurance and claims teams, equipment dealers and rental companies, and local businesses.