MOTORISTS are applauding a new measure to crack down on predatory towing and so-called ransom payments.
The American Trucking Association publicly thanked the House for voting in favor of a motion to address unfair towing.
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The committee, which is a section of the House of Representatives, regulates the financing of vital government activities.
According to of the committee website, he prioritizes good schools, robust job training, affordable higher education, quality healthcare, and better infrastructure.
In preparation for the fiscal year 2025 transportation funding bill, the House voted to support the American Trucking Association’s (ATA) call to crack down on predatory towing.
Predatory towing occurs when towing operators overcharge truck owners, illegally seize or damage property, or withhold the release of trucks without legitimate reason.
A study by the American Transportation Research Institute found that excessive fees suffered by 82% of carriers are the most common type of predatory towing.
81.8% of carriers also reported being subject to unjustified extra service fees.
Other carriers have faced other significant problems, such as delays in releasing or accessing trucks, delays in releasing cargo, impounding trucks without cause, and trailers erroneously declared consensual.
The House Appropriations Committee voted 31 to 26 to bring the bill to the House floor, the American Trucking Association reported.
The bill will become law if it receives a majority of votes in the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate.
“Charging truck owners thousands of dollars for every unwanted trailer and holding cargo hostage with excessive invoices are egregious practices that disrupt our supply chain,” said American Trucking Association President and CEO Chris Spear.
“ATA and our federation of state associations are fighting these predatory towers and ransom payments that target the truckers we depend on to deliver our nation’s goods.
“We welcome this important step forward to develop common-sense reforms that will inject more transparency and fairness into the system and hold unscrupulous companies accountable.”
The advancement of the ATA’s proposed bill restricting predatory towing is just one of several recent victories for the association.
Last month, the ATA managed to pass legislation that included $200 million to expand truck parking.
Other provisions in the legislation helped preserve the solution ATA secured earlier this year to strengthen the Safe Driver Apprenticeship Pilot Program.
A few years ago, those under the age of 20 could have a commercial driver’s license and drive heavy commercial vehicles for domestic commerce in 49 states.
However, federal legislation has restricted these drivers from participating in interstate commerce.
These restrictions were changed in 2021.
According to the ATA website, the apprenticeship program has helped create a path for younger drivers, ages 18 to 20, to operate vehicles in interstate commerce with rigorous safety guardrails and training.
“Attracting and retaining the next generation of talent is a top priority for the foodservice distribution industry,” said Mark S. Allen, President and CEO of the International Foodservice Distributors Association.
“We thank the House and Senate appropriators for their bipartisan work to restore the Safe Driver Apprenticeship Pilot program to its original intent and increase opportunities for qualified younger drivers to receive rigorous training and safely enter the distribution workforce of food services.”
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 daily 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
This story originally appeared on The-sun.com read the full story
