Jrop expands roadside assistance services to cover the entire country
The on-demand roadside assistance platform Jrop has recently announced that it is expanding its services to cover the entire United States. From now on, whether you’re in Ohio, Arizona, or South Dakota, you can count on quick, reliable roadside help, booked in seconds.
All customers need to do is download Jrop’s mobile app or head over to the platform’s official website. From there, it’s possible to book one of a series of popular roadside assistance services, including jump-starting a car battery, changing a flat tire, or solving a lockout issue. If all else fails, a tow service is also an option.
Despite enabling emergency car repairs, Jrop is not strictly a vehicle servicing business. It’s a SaaS company – connecting customers looking for roadside assistance with providers of relevant services. Jrop’s founders spotted a niche in the market and a widespread problem that required a solution: “Aside from AAA, the roadside assistance industry is heavily fragmented,” says Carl Redding, Jrop’s CEO. “Our goal is to simplify and streamline the process for both the customer and the towing provider.”
Until now, the company operated mostly in the Northwest. Jrop’s recent growth is largely due to a network of strategic partnerships spanning the entire country. “We were able to expand so quickly because we partner with local roadside assistance providers in each area,” explains Mr Redding. “We negotiate the rates, handle customer service inquiries, and collect payment.”
In order to partner with Jrop, roadside assistance providers have to pass the company’s thorough on-boarding process, which includes the verification of insurance and all federal and state licenses. Once added to the database, assistance providers are continually evaluated through Jrop’s internal rating system to ensure they continue to meet the company’s high standards of quality and responsiveness.
Jrop guarantees a thirty-minute response time, which is significantly shorter than that offered by most manufacturer-sponsored emergency roadside assistance programs. Asked how the company is able to provide such a speedy service, Mr Redding explains: “The rates for most standard insurance assistance are so low that most roadside providers either won't take the calls or they're in no rush to service them. The result is the customer waiting upwards of an hour or more on the side of the road for help. Our rates are both fair for the customer and the roadside provider - which is why we're able to guarantee a response time of 30 minutes or less. Roadside providers who can't meet that requirement risk being removed from the platform.”
This business model is beneficial to every party involved – customers can expect a fast, reliable service, roadside assistance providers have a steady stream of bookings with good rates, and Jrop earns a commission for its role as the intermediary between the two.
Another aspect differentiating Jrop from standard insurance assistance is the lack of ongoing fees or subscriptions. Instead, all services carry a flat fee, payable via PayPal or credit card in the app or on the website. Alternatively, customers can pay the repair professional in cash upon arrival. When it comes to pricing, the company is exceedingly transparent: fees for each service are listed on the website and in the app. The cost of most forms of assistance offered by Jrop start at $65, with additional per-mile charges for towing.
Although registration is not necessary to take advantage of Jrop’s services, returning customers have the option of setting up a recurring services account, further streamlining the booking process.
While expanding its services to cover the entire country was a big leap for Jrop, the company’s growth is not about to slow down. Jrop already has plans for extending its service offering to suit commercial vehicles, including providing heavy-duty towing and other specialized assistance.
According to Carl Redding, “This portion of the industry hasn't been modernized in decades. It’s an often forgotten but extremely important part of the industry. Commercial trucks travel in unfamiliar areas and the only reliable source they have are the Yellow Pages and Google.”
Jrop aims to change this by providing commercial vehicle drivers with the same convenient, fast, easy-to-use service it already delivers to its non-commercial customers.