This put up is a part of a sequence sponsored by IAT Insurance Group.
Companies that interact in disreputable towing — typically known as predatory towing — practices are preying on vehicles in areas recognized to have an elevated frequency of crashes. They might even use nefarious means to contribute to chance of an accident. This is the most recent rip-off affecting lengthy haul and transferring and storage trucking.
Case in level: A driver lately incurred vital harm when making an attempt to drive their tractor trailer beneath a Chicago bridge, whose “low bridge” signal had been suspiciously eliminated. As quickly because the accident occurred, an unsolicited tow truck appeared. In the driving force’s misery and haste to rectify the scenario as rapidly as doable, the driving force accepted towing companies and not using a quote. Soon after, the transferring and storage firm acquired a invoice for the $75,000 towing, a service that ought to have price round $2,500.[1]
While predatory towing scams like this and others are occurring across the nation and elevating issues amongst fleets,[2] they’ve been notably distinguished in Chicago. So a lot in order that Chicago’s City Council’s Committee on License and Consumer Protection handed an ordinance calling on the town to determine a license for tow truck operators to corral rogue tow truck drivers who rush to accident scenes, snare broken automobiles and maintain them hostage till rattled truckers pay exorbitant charges.[3]
7 Best practices for fleet carriers
Fleets and truckers should defend themselves in opposition to tow truck corporations that run unlawful or unethical operations. The following greatest practices provide key steering to your fleet.
- Plan your routes. Don’t let your truckers wing it when they’re selecting up items or hauling a load. Proper route planning won’t solely guarantee security and enhance driving effectivity by avoiding each recognized and unknown hazards however can even incorporate breaks and assist decide the most effective route relying on what time of day a trucker is on the highway. Digital route planning instruments can be found to assist with this as properly.[4]
- Be suspicious. Towing corporations standing by on the scene when an incident happens shouldn’t be the norm. Train your drivers to be looking out for scamming tow vehicles ready within the wings. Prepare your drivers earlier than an accident takes place to alleviate pointless stress; inform them that they is probably not answerable for the underpass they simply clipped if the low bridge signal was illegally eliminated, for instance. That info ought to assist them assume extra clearly in these conditions.
- Call the police. Summon them to the scene and request an accident report. If this does occur to you or one among your drivers, ask native police on the scene for steering on choosing respected, native towing firm.
- Get it in writing. Make positive the price of a tow is in writing — not open-ended — with all fees clearly itemized. Avoid verbal agreements in any respect prices. Signed paperwork with clear price pricing is crucial to defending the fleet from being scammed. Ask for the towing firm’s enterprise license and, if doable, verify the data earlier than accepting any help.
- Have protocols in place for coping with accidents. This contains contacting managers and dispatchers straight away, calling the police and stopping drivers from signing or authorizing a tow with out administration approval. Providing drivers clear protocols beforehand considerably reduces the chance of constructing a mistake when a tow is required.
- Consider partnering with towing corporations. Establishing agreements with nationwide or native towing corporations the place your fleet frequents may also help your group sidestep dishonest tow vehicles. With such agreements already in place, truckers can instantly contact these corporations, avoiding the necessity to supply one on the spot.
- Report to native officers. If your driver or fleet falls prey to a shady towing incident, attain out to native officers for help. Reporting all of those incidents will assist native jurisdictions take regulatory motion to forestall this from occurring once more, as they did in Chicago.
Towing prices
Even with all these precautions in place, towing is pricey. Factors like the load and measurement of the truck and the space to be towed legitimately impression the value. Consequently, fleets must also not assume they’re coping with a nefarious towing firm if they’re taking a look at an costly quote.
Due to the rise in these situations, the American Transportation Research Institute is asking motor carriers and drivers to take part in information assortment on the impression of predatory towing. Find the hyperlink to the brief survey right here.
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By Chris Parker
[1] Costhack “How Much Does It Cost To Tow A Semi-Truck?”
[2] American Trucking Associations “The American Trucking Association, American Property Casualty Insurance Association, & the Coalition Against Insurance Fraud join forces to tackle towing fraud across America,” April 5, 2021.
[3] Chicago Sun-Times “Aldermen endorse effort to corral ‘Wild West’ of rogue tow truck drivers,” May 19, 2021.
[4] FreightWaves “Route planning tool helps drivers overcome daily frustrations,” April 27, 2022.
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