CallataGuidesBusiness phone system for motor vehicle towing companies in Pennsylvania
382 motor vehicle towing companies operated in Pennsylvania in 2023. Where they are, how big their teams are, and what phone service costs them.
- Establishments
- 382CBP 2023
- Employees
- 2,686mid-March 2023
- Per 100k residents
- 2.9U.S. 3.1
- State rank
- 6th of 51by count
How many motor vehicle towing companies operate in Pennsylvania
The Census Bureau counted 382 motor vehicle towing companies in Pennsylvania in its 2023 County Business Patterns (NAICS 488410). They employed 2,686 people in mid-March and reported $130.0 million in annual payroll. That is the 6th highest count among the 51 states and DC with published figures. Motor vehicle towing companies make up 0.12% of the 307,065 business establishments in the state.
Per 100,000 residents (2024 estimate) Pennsylvania has 2.9 motor vehicle towing companies, 6.0% below the national rate of 3.1. The average establishment has 7.0 employees against 6.9 nationally. Payroll per employee is $48,403, 6.3% below the U.S. figure of $51,644.
| Measure | Pennsylvania | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Establishments | 382 | 10,566 |
| Mid-March employees | 2,686 | 73,320 |
| Annual payroll | $130,011,000 | $3,786,569,000 |
| Employees per establishment | 7.0 | 6.9 |
| Payroll per employee | $48,403 | $51,644 |
| Establishments per 100,000 residents | 2.9 | 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.
Motor vehicle towing companies by metro area in Pennsylvania
Census published towing company counts for 21 metro or micropolitan areas that include part of Pennsylvania. 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 53% 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 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | 67 | 610 | 2.8 |
| Scranton, PA | 26 | 206 | 4.5 |
| Allentown, PA-NJ | 19 | 194 | 2.1 |
| Harrisburg, PA | 15 | 193 | 2.4 |
| Lancaster, PA | 15 | 118 | 2.7 |
| Reading, PA | 14 | — | 3.2 |
| York, PA | 10 | 42 | 2.1 |
| East Stroudsburg, PA | 8 | 36 | 4.8 |
| Pottsville, PA | 7 | 69 | 4.8 |
| Erie, PA | 6 | 26 | 2.2 |
| Altoona, PA | 6 | — | 5.0 |
| Hermitage, PA | 5 | 94 | 4.6 |
| DuBois, PA | 4 | — | 5.1 |
| State College, PA | 3 | 25 | 1.9 |
| Johnstown, PA | 3 | — | 2.3 |
| Williamsport, PA | 3 | 10 | 2.6 |
| Gettysburg, PA | 3 | — | 2.8 |
| Indiana, PA | 3 | — | 3.6 |
| Hemlock Farms, PA | 3 | — | 4.8 |
| Selinsgrove, PA | 3 | — | 7.6 |
Source: Census County Business Patterns 2023; population from Census Vintage 2024 estimates.
Team sizes at motor vehicle towing companies in Pennsylvania
57.0% of Pennsylvania's motor vehicle towing companies with employees had fewer than five people in March 2023, compared with 60.5% nationally. 80.6% 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 | 217 | 57.0% | 60.5% |
| 5–9 employees | 90 | 23.6% | 19.2% |
| 10–19 employees | 51 | 13.4% | 12.4% |
| 20–49 employees | 18 | 4.7% | 6.6% |
| 50 or more employees | 5 | 1.3% | 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.
Why the phone matters for motor vehicle towing companies in Pennsylvania
Towing is dispatched by phone at all hours, and the company that answers gets the tow. Dispatchers coordinate drivers, customers and repair shops.
Typical inbound and outbound calls for motor vehicle towing companies in Pennsylvania:
- The dispatcher calls a customer with an arrival time.
- A property manager calls about an illegally parked car.
- A repair shop calls about a vehicle drop-off.
Business texting for motor vehicle towing companies
Towing companies text driver arrival times and location requests.
Texting from a local number in Pennsylvania requires carrier registration (10DLC), a one-time $49 fee on Callata.
Callata vs. per-seat pricing for motor vehicle towing companies in Pennsylvania
Motor vehicle towing companies in Pennsylvania average 7.0 employees, so the comparison uses a 7-person team. Priced per seat, 7 users would run $210.00 a month on RingCentral RingEX Core and $174.65 on Ooma Office Pro (month-to-month list prices, checked September 28, 2026). Callata comes to $139.00 a month for 7 users ($99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user), below both.
Over a year, that is $852 less than RingCentral for a towing company in Pennsylvania 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 | $139.00 | $1,668.00 |
| Quo (Starter) | $19.00 per user | $133.00 | $1,596.00 |
| Nextiva (Core) | $23.00 per user | $161.00 | $1,932.00 |
| Ooma (Office Pro) | $24.95 per user | $174.65 | $2,095.80 |
| Dialpad (Standard) | $27.00 per user | $189.00 | $2,268.00 |
| RingCentral (RingEX Core) | $30.00 per user | $210.00 | $2,520.00 |
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 Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania has 15 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 267 | 786 | Eastern | 1999 | 215, 445 |
| 484 | 786 | Eastern | 1999 | 610, 835 |
| 717 | 784 | Eastern | 1947 | 223 |
| 814 | 784 | Eastern | 1947 | 582 |
| 215 | 783 | Eastern | 1947 | 267, 445 |
| 724 | 783 | Eastern | 1998 | 878 |
| 570 | 782 | Eastern | 1998 | 272 |
| 610 | 782 | Eastern | 1994 | 484, 835 |
| 412 | 762 | Eastern | 1947 | 878 |
| 272 | 336 | Eastern | 2013 | 570 |
| 223 | 252 | Eastern | 2017 | 717 |
| 878 | 190 | Eastern | 2001 | 412, 724 |
| 445 | 183 | Eastern | 2018 | 215, 267 |
| 582 | 154 | Eastern | 2021 | 814 |
| 835 | 109 | Eastern | 2022 | 484, 610 |
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 Pennsylvania
Callata Office costs $99 per month for up to 5 people, and each additional user is $20 a month. That covers up to 3 local numbers, calling from a browser or your cell, transcribed voicemail, recorded calls with AI summaries, after-hours routing and E911 on each number.
Porting a number you already use in Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania?
382 in 2023, according to Census County Business Patterns. They employed 2,686 people in mid-March.
Which Pennsylvania 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 7-person towing company?
$210.00 a month on RingCentral RingEX Core or $174.65 on Ooma Office Pro at month-to-month list prices (checked September 28, 2026); $139.00 on Callata ($99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user).
Do I need to register to text customers from a Pennsylvania 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.