From a locksmith call, pioneers of roadside assistance in Puerto Rico
- Edicion Nueva
- 20 hours ago
- 3 min read
SAN JUAN, PUERTO RICO – The story of AsistenciaEnLaCarretera.com didn't begin on a computer, a mobile app, or with a digital strategy. It began on the street, serving real people who needed help in emergency situations.
Long before smartphones, geolocation apps, or modern roadside assistance platforms existed, Locksmith 24 Hrs was already answering calls from citizens who had lost their keys, left them inside their vehicles, or were simply stranded on some road in Puerto Rico.
What initially was a natural extension of professional locksmith services gradually evolved into something bigger.
With each call, new needs arose.
It wasn't always a key.
Sometimes it was a dead battery.
Other times it's a flat tire.
Sometimes it was a family stopped in the middle of the road, not knowing who to call.
It was then that a roadside assistance operation began to develop, which would eventually become one of the pioneers in Puerto Rico.
The Early Pioneering Years of Roadside Assistance in Puerto Rico
During the 1980s and 1990s, when most coordination was done by telephone and radio communication, the company began to participate as a service provider for internationally recognized roadside assistance organizations, including programs of the United States Auto Club and General Motors of Canada .
Those experiences allowed the development of response protocols, customer service and emergency assistance that would later serve as the basis for the creation of their own platform geared towards the Puerto Rican market.
In those years, drivers depended on the experience, availability, and commitment of the people who answered the phone.
There were no apps to request help.
There were no real-time maps.
Artificial intelligence did not exist.
There was only one responsibility: to get to where a person needed help.
A New Step Towards the Future
With the arrival of the internet and the growth of e-commerce, the company recognized that consumer habits were changing, and today they are pioneers in roadside assistance.
People were starting to look for services through the web.
Computers were gradually replacing telephone directories.
Search engines were becoming a new way to connect businesses with customers.
Thus, in 2012 , and being the pioneers of roadside assistance in Puerto Rico, the organization made a strategic decision that would mark the beginning of a new stage: the acquisition of the domain AsistenciaEnLaCarretera.com .
The goal was simple but visionary.
Create a specialized platform that would allow citizens to locate help more quickly and efficiently when facing a vehicle emergency.
What previously relied exclusively on references, printed directories, or phone calls began to be available to anyone with internet access.
Greater Reach, More Service, More Citizens Served
The creation of AsistenciaEnLaCarretera.com allowed us to significantly expand the scope of the services offered.
Drivers from different municipalities began to find help more quickly.
The platform helped connect thousands of citizens with services from:
Vehicle unlocking.
Current flow.
Tire change.
Fuel supply.
Emergency roadside assistance.
Towing coordination.
Services related to keys and vehicle access systems.
What began as a complement to Locksmith 24 Hours evolved into its own brand with an independent identity and market recognition.
Adapting to the New Times
The automotive industry has changed radically in recent years.
Modern vehicles incorporate technologies that were unthinkable when this story began.
Today, technicians must face:
Smart keys.
Push Start Systems.
Hybrid vehicles.
Electric vehicles.
Electronic immobilization systems.
Computerized modules.
Advanced security technologies.
Despite these changes, the philosophy remains intact.
Help the driver when he needs it most.
A Legacy Built on Service
For José Colón , president of Locksmith 24 Hours and Roadside Assistance, the company's history represents much more than the evolution of a business.
It represents decades of commitment to the Puerto Rican community.
“Our story began by helping people. We didn’t start by thinking about websites or digital strategies. We started by answering calls and solving real problems. When we acquired AsistenciaEnLaCarretera.com in 2012, we simply found a new way to reach more people and continue doing what we’ve always done: helping those who need assistance.”
Looking Towards the Future
Today, RoadsideAssistance.com continues to evolve to meet the needs of a new generation of drivers.
However, its fundamental principles remain the same as those that gave rise to the company decades ago:
Service. Experience. Availability. Commitment.
Because even though technology changes, people will still need help when an emergency occurs on the road.
Featured phrase for publication
"Before apps, before smartphones, and before internet searches, we were already answering emergency calls on Puerto Rico's highways. In 2012, we acquired AsistenciaEnLaCarretera.com to bring that same experience into a new digital age."
About the company
Asistencia en la Carretera, LLC is a Puerto Rican company specializing in roadside assistance and vehicle emergencies. Founded as an extension of Locksmith 24 Hours' operations, the organization has decades of experience serving drivers in Puerto Rico and continues to offer services 365 days a year.
Contact: José Colón, President, Roadside Assistance
Tel. (787) 645-8080
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