Port of Santos Gets 24/7 Tow Truck: Vehicle Prevents Traffic and Operational Disruptions

The Santos Port Authority (APS) has taken a major step to enhance safety and operational efficiency by leasing a high-performance tow truck, available 24/7 to respond to incidents within the Organized Port area.

The recovery truck was integrated into the Port Guard’s fleet at the end of March and is already in operation. It marks a significant improvement in the ability to respond to incidents that affect traffic and port activities. The vehicle operates across the entire perimeter of the Organized Port, including quay areas, perimeter roads on both margins and critical access routes.

“A blocked road within the port perimeter directly impacts cargo flow and municipal traffic, as our detours rely on city roads. With this tow truck, we’ll see a substantial improvement in the speed and safety of incident responses,” explains Felipy Nunes de Barros, Traffic Coordinator and Senior Assistant at the Port Guard.

The truck can tow over 120 tons—it is classified as a super—heavy cargo vehicle—and is equipped with two 30-ton winches, a telescopic boom with a 16-ton lifting capacity, emergency response equipment, and an integrated tracking system.

Autonomy and Agility

In 2024 alone, the Port Guard recorded 526 vehicles with mechanical issues, 8 rollovers, and 36 road blockages within the port complex. Previously, responses to such incidents relied on third parties—cargo companies, insurers, or other authorities—often delaying clearance operations.

“Everything is handled internally, with on-call teams dispatched via radio or app. A truck rollover that could previously halt traffic for hours will now be cleared in minutes,” says João Paulo Machado Oliveira, Junior Assistant at the Port Guard.

The 36-month contract includes preventive and corrective maintenance, as well as insurance covering moral, material, and personal damages. The APS also strengthened sustainability requirements in the bidding process, mandating proper disposal of waste—such as tires and lubricating oil—and the use of certified parts approved by Inmetro.

APS estimates that the tow truck can handle up to 940 incidents annually, as outlined in the contract’s Terms of Reference—helping to avoid economic losses and minimizing disruptions to urban traffic.

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