Guarding truck drivers from excessive towing fees is crucial, stated U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg during a public session on June 21.
Buttigieg commented at the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s (FMCSA) forum. “This department has been clear in our support of protections against predatory towing junk fees. Truckers often have to travel far from home to deliver the goods that everyone depends on,” Buttigieg said. “In the event that their truck gets towed, they may not have any relationship or familiarity with the towing company that moves their vehicle. Until they get that vehicle back, their job and really their livelihood is put on hold. Tow truck drivers also play an essential role in keeping our roads safe by removing disabled vehicles. But in some cases, some players in the towing space recognize and exploit the vulnerability of these situations. Of course, there are necessary and fair costs associated with the towing of a commercial vehicle. But some companies have seen an opportunity to charge exorbitant fees.”
The Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA) has been at the forefront of this issue for a long time. Truckers who experience nonconsensual towing by third-party services have minimal control over the selection of the towing company or the negotiation of fees, often left at the mercy of the company assigned by local authorities. Instances reported by OOIDA show that towing and recovery costs for semi-trucks have sometimes surpassed $100,000.
“Let’s not just check a box and say we had another meeting,” Morris said. “Let’s do something about it.” he insisted. Morris also pointed out that while there are many reliable towing companies, the goal is to eradicate the unscrupulous ones.
Bill Johnson, president of the Towing and Recovery Association of America, pointed out the challenges faced by towing professionals, noting that workers are on call 24/7, 365 days a year.
Last November, the Federal Trade Commission proposed new regulations to ban unfair or misleading fee practices for goods and services. “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 mentioned.
For those who couldn’t attend the meeting, written feedback can be submitted at Regulations.gov using Docket No. FMCSA-2024-0124.
Source: Land Line
