Issue link: http://digital.canadawide.com/i/118148
automotive Road Service Express CAA Saskatchewan's newest offering is just a call away by Kevin Lane CAA Saskatchewan's excellent emergency road service (ERS) just got a boost! In response to members' concerns about the occasional long telephone waits during extreme weather conditions, CAA Saskatchewan has introduced ERS Express – an automated system that receives and dispatches emergency road service when your call is placed from, as well as needed at, your home. "CAA members will realize a number of advantages with the implementation of the ERS Express service," explains Fred Titanich, president of CAA Saskatchewan. "In addition to reducing long telephone waits for members who live in the city, call centre staff will be able to respond to more complex calls involving stranded motorists, vehicles blocking traffic and other types of serious emergency situations." Teaming up with Smart Action, an automated telephone service, CAA's ERS Express service is just a phone call away. Here's how it works: 1. CAA members who are at home and need emergency road service can call the CAA ERS Express line – the same 1-800-222-4357 that members have come to rely on. 2. The call is answered, recorded and dispatched by an automated system as soon as it's received. 3. The system immediately sends the neces(top) Getty Images, iStock p37-39_Automotive.indd 39 sary information to the tow truck/facility nearest to your location. 4. The Emergency Road Service vehicle arrives at your home to provide the required service. During your call, you will be asked the following basic automated questions: 1. Are you safe at home, calling from your home address? 2. Please verify your phone number. 3. What is your membership number? 4. What is the make, model and colour of your vehicle? 5. What is your licence plate number? 6. What is your first name and last name? 7. What service do you require today? 8. Please confirm your home address. Under normal conditions, the tow truck should arrive in approximately 45 minutes. You will receive a call to update the time of arrival. Please remember to have your membership card and identification available. Not only will ERS Express make sure that calls are answered immediately, it will also cut valuable minutes off the delivery time for every call. If a problem in communication is experienced at any time during the call, you will automatically be transferred to the CAA call centre staff. ERS Express service is available in major centres: Regina, Saskatoon, Weyburn, North Battleford, Prince Albert, Moose Jaw, Yorkton, Saskatoon and Estevan. Calls from rural areas will continue to be processed as they are now. "We are proud that CAA Saskatchewan is the first CAA/AAA club in North America to implement the ERS Express system," says Titanich. "As with all new systems and technologies, there will be some growing pains." The ERS Express system evolves every week. The more it is used, the better. CAA Saskatchewan appreciates feedback from its members to help evaluate and enhance the service. Of course, with the help of dedicated CAA contractors throughout the province, CAA will continue to provide the best possible emergency service. Kevin Lane is vice-president of automotive services at CAA Saskatchewan. For Westworld's annual update on ERS services, please see pages 37 and 38. WESTWORLD >> W I N T E R 2 0 1 2 39 12-10-19 9:59 AM