TOWING companies are under the microscope after drivers complained to federal agencies about excessive fees.
One driver quoted a charge of $1,400 to go 30 miles, while other companies offered their services for $500 to $600.
two
Several federal agencies have heard the cries of heavy truck drivers citing bloated and exaggerated fees for non-consensual tows, with some saying they were charged thousands of dollars for a simple tow.
Towing heavy trucks means that heavy trucks are needed to move them, so the jobs are not known for being cheap.
Many charge up to $350 per hour for their services, claiming the fees cover the cost of fuel and the use of heavy equipment.
A public comment session organized by the Department of Transportation and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMSCA) was held this week, drawing towing company owners and drivers who say they were overcharged.
Leaders from the Towing and Recovery Association of America (TRAA) appeared to make their positions known, as well as representatives from the National Open Commerce and Safer Highways Coalition (NOCSHC) commented.
The session talked about situations like an anonymous driver who remembers being charged $1,400 to be towed 30 miles.
“Police called G/J Towing [of Revere, Massachusetts] to tow our trailer back to Lowell, Massachusetts, a total of less than 30 miles for $1,400,” read the written comment, quoted by Speeding.
“We had other towing companies tow our vehicles with similar mileage for $500 to $600. We had a towing company that would have gone to tow this vehicle, but G/J Towing got there first.”
The driver went on to say that the company would charge $350 per hour, with the rate starting as soon as the truck leaves the parking lot.
Afterwards, it took hours to reach the driver.
“There is no way this could have taken four hours in total, and the price is exorbitant,” they wrote.
“In our opinion, this company took advantage of the situation, as we needed to pay them or they would not release our vehicle.”
Representatives of federal agencies seeking to limit charging drivers “unwanted fees” want towing companies to provide detailed bills to drivers and eliminate unexplained fees such as “administrative fees” or “miscellaneous fees.”
This, they say, would help protect drivers who are towed from the scene of an accident – also known as “non-consensual” towing, as vehicles must be removed from the accident by law.
Truck drivers assume they have [adequate towing insurance] coverage and they don’t.
Ron Myers, NOCSCH Board Member
NOCSCH board member Ron Myers said regulating all towing companies “paints towing and recovery professionals with a broad brush” and does not take into account the high risk of harm when tow drivers respond to accidents.
He said it is an “extremely dangerous job,” with a tow driver dying every six days, and often towing companies are not paid for these jobs.
Additionally, truck driver insurance companies don’t always cover accident recovery, with many policies covering as little as $2,500.
“Truck drivers assume they have [adequate towing] coverage, and they don’t,” he said during the session.
Bill Johnson, owner of a towing company in New York, mentioned that “excessive fees” are “based on the fact that [they] will not be paid”, and that 40% of accident recovery work is unpaid.
What to do if your car is towed
Unfairly or not, recovering a towed vehicle can be a hassle.
If your vehicle is towed after parking in a “No Parking” zone or other legitimate reason, there are some steps you can take to get it back.
Steps to follow when your car is towed:
- Try to find out why your car was towed. Haven’t you seen a “No Parking” sign? Did you miss your car payment? Have you returned to a lot where there were unpaid citations? Finding the reason may narrow down the phone numbers to dial.
- Locate the vehicle. Most states, cities or counties require towing companies to leave some type of contact information via a posted or mailed sign.
- Recovery dates and times depend on the company that towed the vehicle, but these times will be posted on the website or may be provided by a representative.
- Pay the fees. Be careful to be as quick as possible, as some towing yards may charge per-day storage fees.
If you believe your vehicle was improperly towed, you can dispute the action by following these steps:
- Be quick – many states have a small window of time in which it is acceptable to file a claim against a company that improperly towed your vehicle.
- Gather supporting documents: photos, emails, receipts, police reports, and witness statements, if applicable. The more evidence, the better.
- Familiarize yourself with local laws, as laws for towing companies vary by state.
- Try talking to the towing company. Sometimes it may have been a simple oversight and the matter can be resolved quickly.
- Contact your local Justice of the Peace as they may have more information or resources to help. They are often used for towing cases.
- Speak to a lawyer. Many lawyers offer free consultations and, depending on the case, it may be worth calling on a lawyer.
Source: Oregon Department of Justice, National General, Rak law firm
Many towing professionals also told federal representatives that costs are difficult to assess without first arriving on site, and until then, the customer is expected to pay for the travel and use of the equipment.
Additionally, allowing people time to compare prices would put drivers in danger as they wait to see if their prices are within the customer’s reasonableness.
Several other professionals felt that the FMCSA and DOT should not be able to regulate the towing industry and have no current authority.
At the end of the session, talks began about assembling a working group that would help ensure that prices issued to customers were fair for consensus trailers.
Another session is scheduled for another date, although a second date has not yet been announced.
This story originally appeared on The-sun.com read the full story
