First I want to say hello because I have not been online in a long time. I have this problem with the phone service I have. After 9pm we turn on the phone service and at 5am we turn it off. For you that don't know what I am talking about, it's service that takes the calls and only calls us if it's a tow. We do this because we don't want people calling in the middle of the night unless it's a tow. Anyway the problem is that they only have a couple people working for them and customers have been saying that they are being put on hold and some times they don't even answer the phone. I can't have this happen. We have talked to them and that dont help. What do you all use for after hours.
Thanks
Hello Fredtowman!
I'm lucky enough to employ a day and night dispatcher, but other companies in my area do many different things.
Some companies here will forward their company phone to a drivers house after hours. I imagine that they compensate the driver somehow, or perhaps they just rotate the nighttime phone duty as part of their drivers jobs.
Other companies that have an owner or manager that does not drive, will have an employee forward the phone to their house after they are home.
Others will forward their phone to their own cell phone after hours.
In our state, if your wish to tow for the State Patrol, you cannot use an answering service. They are not allowed. 
Thanks Bill
We might try the call forwarding to the night time phone. We are not a big company so we can't have a night time dispatcher.
Hey Fred
We are a small company (2-trucks/1-guy), at 5pm the Office forwards the main phone to our cell phone and at 8:30am switch it back sometimes, we handle it that way, some times a pain, but for the most part it works for us.
Biggest problem, our area is going through growing pains with cell companies merging and sharing towers, and AT&T was the only one we got service in 90% of the area we serve, none of the others were as good.
But now the Cingular/AT&T merge has happened is not that great-frustration happens with all cell companies. Wish there was a perfect solution for us that are out of the populas areas. Lots of rolling hills and canyons for us.
JHOOK 
Bill,
I disagree with the State Patrol prohibition from answering services. I can not count on 4 hands the number of companies in Snohomish and King Counties that use a service.
WAC 308-61-125:
Whenever an operator is not open for business and does not have personnel present at the licensed location, the operator must post a phone number at that location for purposes of public contact for release of vehicles and/or personal property. An operator must maintain personnel who can be contacted 24 hours a day to release impounded vehicles within a 60 minute period of time.
I'm with you on that one!! 
It certainly doesn't make it easy for the little guys. (which are the majority in our state)
Right Here is the appropriate WAC (204-91A-120). That WAC is more geared toward being available for state inspection.
As the WAC clearly states, the only answering service clause is prohibiting forwarded calls during normal business hours (except lunch hour) There is nothing stating tow companies can not use a service after hours for dispatch. (which ours is extremely effective, and very affordable) Having an answering service with personnel that have been in the industry (getting their hands dirty shall we say), makes a huge difference from the service that answers for a plumbing company, a doctor or (7). Knowing that when I get a page at 3 a.m. that has all of the pertinent information IE: 94 Jeep Cherokee stuck in ditch, cust Joe Smith with vehicle, pay with credit card (425) 555-1212 and an address...what is wrong with that? There is nothing in the law prohibiting afterhours use of an answering service.
I agree with that,i've used answering services in prescott arizona,and never had a problem until my boss screwed up and gave wrong numbers to the police,d.p.s.,sherriff's.we lost out on about 30 calls until everything was corrected,but i agree theres nothing wrong with answering services. 
Just curious but, is WAC thinking your normal business hours 24-7-365? If thats the case sounds like lunch is your only time to forward.
WAC states the normal business hours are monday thru friday, 8 am till 5 pm, excluding holidays.
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