Life on the Axles is the working side of our story. It's the trucks, trailers, early mornings, long days, auction lots, unexpected problems, equipment we depend on, people we meet, and the thousands of miles in between.
After years of running Durrett Recovery and moving thousands of vehicles, we've learned a lot about towing, auto transport, small business—and figuring things out when the day doesn't go according to plan. This is where we share some of it.
Sometimes that's a lesson learned the hard way, a practical guide, a tool that's earned its place in the truck, or a system that helps keep the business moving. And sometimes it's simply Wayne on the side of the highway changing a flat tire so we can get back to work.
We're still learning too. We're just sharing what experience has taught us in case something we've learned helps someone else along the way.
🚚 Life on the Axles— Real stories, practical lessons, and everyday moments from towing and auto transport.
📘 Guides & Downloads — Resources built from what we've learned about getting started, finding work, running a business, and building something that can last.
🛠 Tow Equipment & Tools— Honest reviews of trucks, tools, equipment, and gear we actually use and depend on.
💻 Behind the Scenes — The software, systems, spreadsheets, checklists, business tools, and everyday processes that help us stay organized, understand the numbers, build Axles & Acres, and keep Durrett Recovery moving.
We don't want to recommend more things just because we can. We'd rather share the things that have actually earned their place.
Maybe we've depended on something for years. Maybe it solved a problem. Maybe we've tried the cheaper option and learned the difference. And when we can, we like supporting American companies and choosing products made in the USA.
Some links may be affiliate links, which means we may earn a small commission if you purchase through them at no additional cost to you. It's one of the ways this work can help support itself while we continue sharing things we genuinely think may help.
Not every lesson needs a guide or a long explanation. Sometimes it's better just to show you.
One Mile at a Time is where we share little pieces of the road as they actually happen—the work, the trucks, the scenery, the problems, the people, and the ordinary moments in between.
Some are useful. Some are interesting. Some are simply part of the day. Together, they're another piece of the story. Because Life on the Axles isn't only about building a better towing business. It's about the work that supports the life we're trying to build—and sharing what we've learned along the way.
One lesson. One load. One mile at a time.
Welcome to Life on the Axles.
🚚 Life on the Axles
Real work. Real roads. Lessons learned along the way.
🌾 Life on the Acres
Real life on a little piece of land... one ordinary day at a time.
☀️ A Place for Beacons
The little lights I'm noticing, learning, loving, and sharing along the way.
If you're thinking about starting a towing or auto transport business, it can be hard to know where to begin.
What kind of truck do you need?
What can you tow without a CDL?
What does it actually cost to get started?
How do you set up the business?
And once you're ready to go—where does the work come from?
We've asked a lot of those same questions ourselves.
Durrett Recovery has been in business since 2015, and today we move more than 4,000 vehicles a year. What we've learned didn't come from simply researching the towing industry.
It came from actually doing the work.
Loading vehicles. Working with auctions and dealers. Finding loads. Buying equipment. Making mistakes. Solving problems. Keeping trucks moving. Handling the office side. And figuring out how to build a small towing business that supports our life instead of taking all of it over.
That's why we've started turning some of what we've learned into practical resources for people who want to do this work too.
If you're still trying to understand what's involved, start here.
Our free checklists can help you get a clearer picture of some of the basics and start asking the right questions before investing in equipment, setting up a business, or trying to figure everything out at once.
Start With the Free Checklists →
If you're ready to go beyond the checklists, this guide walks through the practical pieces involved in getting started with a non-CDL towing and auto transport operation.
It's designed to help you better understand the equipment, numbers, requirements, business setup, and other basics you'll need to research and think through before you start hauling vehicles.
We built it from the perspective of people who actually do this work—not just people talking about it.
Getting set up is one thing.
Figuring out where the work actually comes from is another.
If you understand the basics and you're trying to figure out how to find legitimate work, understand loads and brokers, and move from being set up to actually hauling vehicles, this guide takes you into that next stage.
Eventually, getting started may not be the problem anymore.
The business is running—but it's starting to run you.
We know how easily that can happen, especially in a small operation where one person or a husband-and-wife team is responsible for nearly everything.
The truck. The customers. The phone. The paperwork. The bills. The scheduling. The problems.
There will always be something else you could be doing.
This guide is about deciding what deserves your time, what can be simplified, what “enough” looks like, and how to begin building a business that supports the life you're trying to create instead of continually consuming it.
It's not about giving up ambition or simply working less.
It's about building a business that works for you instead of spending your life working for it.
Explore the Business & Life Guide →
Start with the question that's actually in front of you.
Just exploring towing? Start with the free checklists.
Ready to get serious about setting up? Move into the Non-CDL Beginner Guide.
Already set up and wondering where the work comes from? From Setup to First Load is your next step.
Already doing the work and realizing the business is taking too much of your life? Start with We Didn't Build a Business Just to Work All the Time.
Learn the basics. Get set up. Find the work. Then learn how to build the business without letting it take over your life.
We've learned a lot of this one mile—and sometimes one mistake—at a time.
If something we've learned can make your road a little easier, that's exactly why we're sharing it.
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Real moments from the road, the acres, and the life we're building in between—shared one mile, one acre, and one ordinary day at a time.
Disclosures
Durrett Recovery LLC. Please see all our policies and disclosures below in the footer section.
Affiliate Disclosure: Pages and blog posts may contain affiliate links. If you choose to purchase through these links, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. We only share what we personally use and trust.
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