Truck Drivers Call for Clear and Fair Towing Rates
The Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA) has raised serious concerns with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) regarding the urgent need for clarity and fairness in third-party towing costs. In a formal letter submitted on August 1, OOIDA spotlighted the alarming trend of exploitative towing practices that are affecting truck operators within the industry.
“If they need a tow, our members and all drivers just want to be treated fairly and respectfully,” OOIDA stated. “However, there’s a major problem when a tow bill that should not exceed a thousand dollars turns into an invoice for tens of thousands.”
Issues Arising from Nonconsensual Towing
Nonconsensual towing happens when law enforcement calls a local towing business to remove a tractor-trailer after an accident, stripping drivers of their ability to select the towing service or negotiate associated charges. This often leaves motor carriers stuck with the costs set by the next company in line on law enforcement’s rotation.
OOIDA’s Executive Vice President, Lewie Pugh, shared a troubling account with a House subcommittee about a member who was assessed a staggering $60,000 towing fee, which included an outrageous $9,000 charge for heat and humidity.
“During a nonconsensual tow, there is usually no opportunity for motor carriers to negotiate services or compare prices among multiple towing operators,” OOIDA noted. “Unfortunately, truck drivers are routinely held responsible for towing bills that are blatantly inflated by tens of thousands of dollars, and there is hardly ever any effective or efficient recourse. This financial impact on small-business truckers can be devastating.”
FMCSA Initiates Dialogue on Towing Fees
In an effort to tackle these challenges, FMCSA convened a meeting earlier this year to explore ways to enhance the transparency surrounding towing charges for motor carriers. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg recognized the issue, stating that certain towing businesses take advantage of unfortunate circumstances by levying “exorbitant fees.”
In November, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced a proposed rulemaking aimed at curbing unfair or misleading practices concerning service fees.
“FMCSA believes FTC’s proposed regulation may significantly benefit the agency’s regulated community, specifically as it relates to the predatory towing practices that have a substantial financial impact on CMV owners and operators,” the agency stated in a recent notice.
Source: Land line
