"You never know what's going to happen. I mean sometimes it's a little bit slower, steady or swamped," said Debra Ortega, tow truck driver at Island Towing.

When the calls start coming, it's because a car broke down, popped a tire or ran out of gas.

"They go by their gas gauge when it says they have so many miles left, they don't. They need to get gas before the lights come on," said Ortega.

As for Thanksgiving travelers, once the worst case scenario happens, they never forget.

"When I was little, my mom had a really old car and it broke down. We ended up having to drive back to my grandparents, get it repaired and then drive home," said Kristin Sandstede.

GRAND ISLAND, Neb.-- Thanksgiving traffic can be a busy not only on the highways and interstates, but also for tow trucks.

"You never know what's going to happen. I mean sometimes it's a little bit slower, steady or swamped," said Debra Ortega, tow truck driver at Island Towing.

When the calls start coming, it's because a car broke down, popped a tire or ran out of gas.

"They go by their gas gauge when it says they have so many miles left, they don't. They need to get gas before the lights come on," said Ortega.

As for Thanksgiving travelers, once the worst case scenario happens, they never forget.

"When I was little, my mom had a really old car and it broke down. We ended up having to drive back to my grandparents, get it repaired and then drive home," said Kristin Sandstede.

Sandstede and her family are traveling from Omaha to Colorado for Thanksgiving. She said she makes sure her tires have enough tread, the oil is changed, and that her car is even washed before she hits the road.

"I don't know. My parents always said a clean car is always more visible on the road," said Sandstede.

If something bad does happen, Sandstede said she even knows who to call.

"I always have a list of contacts and a plan of who I would call, who's closest, kind of knowing where you're at and how far you are from your destination," said Sandstede.

In case all else fails and there aren't any mechanic shops open, tow truck driver Matthew Ortega said some drivers have even spent the extra money to have their car and them towed to where they need to be on thanksgiving.

"Most people don't have a lot of vacation time and when they finally have vacation and they break down, they want to get where they want to go," said Ortega.

With the winter weather beginning to set in, drivers should also have an emergency pack in their car at all times. Some items that are recommended are jumper cables, a flash light, as well as snacks and water.

Sandstede and her family are traveling from Omaha to Colorado for Thanksgiving. She said she makes sure her tires have enough tread, the oil is changed, and that her car is even washed before she hits the road.

"I don't know. My parents always said a clean car is always more visible on the road," said Sandstede.

If something bad does happen, Sandstede said she even knows who to call.

"I always have a list of contacts and a plan of who I would call, who's closest, kind of knowing where you're at and how far you are from your destination," said Sandstede.

In case all else fails and there aren't any mechanic shops open, tow truck driver Matthew Ortega said some drivers have even spent the extra money to have their car and them towed to where they need to be on thanksgiving.

"Most people don't have a lot of vacation time and when they finally have vacation and they break down, they want to get where they want to go," said Ortega.

With the winter weather beginning to set in, drivers should also have an emergency pack in their car at all times. Some items that are recommended are jumper cables, a flash light, as well as snacks and water.

Find original: http://www.nbcneb.com/content/news/Thanksgiving-travel-means-plenty-business-for-tow-trucks-402811696.html

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