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By Elisabeth Altamirano-Smith | Community Columnist

Breaking down on the side of the road can be a stressful, traumatic experience. When a car stalls in the middle of the road or leaves a driver miles from a gas station, panic and a feeling of powerlessness sets in, especially in 100 degree heat. Lifelong Clanton resident Brandon Underwood is hoping to relieve that fear and anxiety with the help of his business, B’s All Around Roadside Services, LLC.

Underwood had the idea of opening a roadside assistance business in order to change the driver’s experience.

“The person needs help. They feel desperate and some service shops take advantage of that and try to sell them things they don’t need,” Underwood said. “I am trying to change that.”

Underwood learned the trade of unlocking cars and maintenance from prior work experience at a tow truck company, his uncles and reading books.

“Unlocking certain vehicles that have sensors, like a Mercedes, comes with practice,” Underwood said. “There is a certain sequence that has to be met quickly, otherwise the alarm will sound, and you have to wait a few minutes before you try again. It is also important on newer cars that the person who charges your car battery allows time for the battery to charge. Otherwise, you can fry your brainbox.”

The roadside assistance covers up to a 60-mile radius of Clanton and includes vehicle troubleshooting, unlocking vehicles, changing a bad tire, taking a bad tire to be repaired and installing it, delivering fuel with dispenser and jumping a dead battery. The services are offered on a wide range of vehicles from 18-wheelers to luxury automobiles. Underwood also works with a network of specialty shops around Chilton County, so that if the car needs to be repaired the vehicle can be towed to a garage.

Underwood said that he thinks of his family when a customer in need calls and how he would want to be treated if roles were reversed.

“If it was my mom or my sister, I would want someone to come fast to help them,” he said. “A mother called me recently upset because her toddler had locked himself in the car. It is hot, and she was afraid the baby was going to die from the heat inside of the car. She kept saying, ‘the baby is going to die, and I am going to go to jail!’ When I got there and unlocked the car within a few seconds, it made me feel good to know that I had helped her, gave her peace and saved the baby. I enjoy meeting amazing people like that. It is the customers that make the business.”

For more information, contact Brandon Underwood at 205-580-0983 or through Facebook “B’$ All Around Roadside Services.”