CallataGuidesBusiness phone system for motor vehicle towing companies in Maryland
205 motor vehicle towing companies operated in Maryland in 2023. Where they are, how big their teams are, and what phone service costs them.
- Establishments
- 205CBP 2023
- Employees
- 1,201mid-March 2023
- Per 100k residents
- 3.3U.S. 3.1
- State rank
- 18th of 51by count
How many motor vehicle towing companies operate in Maryland
The Census Bureau counted 205 motor vehicle towing companies in Maryland in its 2023 County Business Patterns (NAICS 488410). They employed 1,201 people in mid-March and reported $60.4 million in annual payroll. That is the 18th highest count among the 51 states and DC with published figures. Motor vehicle towing companies make up 0.14% of the 142,967 business establishments in the state.
Per 100,000 residents (2024 estimate) Maryland has 3.3 motor vehicle towing companies, 5.4% above the national rate of 3.1. The average establishment has 5.9 employees against 6.9 nationally. Payroll per employee is $50,277, 2.6% below the U.S. figure of $51,644.
| Measure | Maryland | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Establishments | 205 | 10,566 |
| Mid-March employees | 1,201 | 73,320 |
| Annual payroll | $60,383,000 | $3,786,569,000 |
| Employees per establishment | 5.9 | 6.9 |
| Payroll per employee | $50,277 | $51,644 |
| Establishments per 100,000 residents | 3.3 | 3.1 |
Census County Business Patterns 2023 (mid-March employment; annual payroll). Employees and payroll flagged high-noise are shown but not used in the text. Residents: Census Vintage 2024 estimates.
Where motor vehicle towing companies in Maryland are concentrated
Census published towing company counts for 7 metro or micropolitan areas that include part of Maryland. The largest is Philadelphia, PA-NJ-DE-MD, with 210 establishments (a multi-state area; its count covers every state it spans). Single-state metro and micropolitan areas account for 52% of the statewide total; the rest are outside any published area or in areas Census suppressed.
| Area | Establishments | Employees | Per 100k residents |
|---|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 210 | 1,130 | 3.3 |
| Washington, DC-VA-MD-WV | 199 | 1,496 | 3.1 |
| Baltimore, MD | 93 | 574 | 3.3 |
| Hagerstown, MD-WV | 10 | 81 | 3.2 |
| Lexington Park, MD | 7 | 47 | 3.3 |
| Salisbury, MD | 6 | 20 | 4.6 |
| Cumberland, MD-WV | 6 | — | 6.4 |
Source: Census County Business Patterns 2023; population from Census Vintage 2024 estimates.
Team sizes at motor vehicle towing companies in Maryland
57.1% of Maryland's motor vehicle towing companies with employees had fewer than five people in March 2023, compared with 60.5% nationally. 81.0% had fewer than ten. At that size the phone is shared, so routing (who rings, when, and what happens after hours) matters more than the number of desk phones.
| Employment size | Establishments | Share | U.S. share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1–4 employees | 117 | 57.1% | 60.5% |
| 5–9 employees | 49 | 23.9% | 19.2% |
| 10–19 employees | 29 | 14.1% | 12.4% |
| 20–49 employees | 10 | 4.9% | 6.6% |
| 50 or more employees | 0 | 0.0% | 1.2% |
Employment-size classes count establishments by mid-March 2023 employment. Establishments with no March employees are excluded from the size classes, so shares are of establishments with employees. Source: Census County Business Patterns 2023.
What motor vehicle towing companies in Maryland use the phone for
Towing is dispatched by phone at all hours, and the company that answers gets the tow. Dispatchers coordinate drivers, customers and repair shops.
Calls a towing company in Maryland might handle in a typical week include:
- The dispatcher calls a customer with an arrival time.
- A stranded driver calls for a tow.
- A property manager calls about an illegally parked car.
Texting drivers
Towing companies text driver arrival times and location requests.
Texting from a local number in Maryland requires carrier registration (10DLC), a one-time $49 fee on Callata.
Phone system pricing for a 6-person towing company
Motor vehicle towing companies in Maryland average 5.9 employees, so the comparison uses a 6-person team. Priced per seat, 6 users would run $180.00 a month on RingCentral RingEX Core and $149.70 on Ooma Office Pro (month-to-month list prices, checked September 28, 2026). Callata comes to $119.00 a month for 6 users ($99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user), below both.
Over a year, that is $732 less than RingCentral for a towing company in Maryland of that size. Annual contracts lower some competitors' prices, so compare the plan you would actually sign.
| Provider (plan) | Pricing basis | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Callata (Callata Office) | $99 incl. 5 users, $20 per extra user | $119.00 | $1,428.00 |
| Quo (Starter) | $19.00 per user | $114.00 | $1,368.00 |
| Nextiva (Core) | $23.00 per user | $138.00 | $1,656.00 |
| Ooma (Office Pro) | $24.95 per user | $149.70 | $1,796.40 |
| Dialpad (Standard) | $27.00 per user | $162.00 | $1,944.00 |
| RingCentral (RingEX Core) | $30.00 per user | $180.00 | $2,160.00 |
Competitor prices are each vendor's published month-to-month list price per user for its lowest plan that includes business calling and texting, checked September 28, 2026: Quo Starter $19, Nextiva Core $23, Ooma Office Pro $24.95 (Essentials excludes texting; one-time $29.95 activation not included), Dialpad Standard $27, RingCentral RingEX Core $30 ($20 billed annually). Prices exclude taxes and fees and may change; annual contracts lower some competitors' prices.
Area codes in Maryland
Maryland has 6 geographic area codes in service according to NANPA. Callata includes up to 3 local numbers, so a towing company can hold a number in more than one of them.
| Area code | Exchanges | Time zone | In service since | Overlay with |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 240 | 785 | Eastern | 1997 | 227, 301 |
| 443 | 785 | Eastern | 1997 | 410, 667 |
| 301 | 784 | Eastern | 1947 | 240, 227 |
| 410 | 783 | Eastern | 1991 | 443, 667 |
| 667 | 452 | Eastern | 2012 | 410, 443 |
| 227 | 141 | Eastern | 2023 | 240, 301 |
Exchanges are NANPA-assigned central office codes (NPA-NXX) in the rate centers matched to the area's named places. Source: NANPA utilized code and NPA reports.
How Callata works for motor vehicle towing companies in Maryland
For $99 a month, Callata puts a team of up to 5 on one plan ($20 for each person after that): up to 3 local numbers, unlimited inbound calls, a pooled allowance of 1,500 outbound US and Canada minutes per user, browser and cell calling, voicemail transcription with urgency triage, recorded calls with AI summaries and business-hours routing, with E911 on every number.
Porting a number you already use in Maryland is free, and business texting is available once the carrier registration (10DLC) is approved; the registration carries a one-time $49 fee. Which specific numbers are open in a given area code depends on carrier inventory at the time you sign up.
AI agents are optional: an AI receptionist or scheduler can pick up when the team is busy or closed, take a message, send a text or email, or transfer the call. They draw on prepaid AI minutes ($0.25/minute), disclose that they are AI, and outbound AI calls require prior consent and are limited to 8am–9pm.
Frequently asked questions
How many motor vehicle towing companies are in Maryland?
205 in 2023, according to Census County Business Patterns. They employed 1,201 people in mid-March.
Which Maryland metro area has the most motor vehicle towing companies?
Philadelphia, PA-NJ-DE-MD, with 210 establishments in 2023.
What does a phone system cost a 6-person towing company?
$180.00 a month on RingCentral RingEX Core or $149.70 on Ooma Office Pro at month-to-month list prices (checked September 28, 2026); $119.00 on Callata ($99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user).
Do I need to register to text customers from a Maryland number?
Yes. US carriers require business texting from local numbers to be registered (10DLC). On Callata the registration is a one-time $49 fee, and texting turns on once it is approved.