Posts by Editorial Staff
Canadian Tow Operators Honor Colleague Struck and Killed by Snowplow
On Thursday, Jan. 20, approximately, 100 tow operators took part in a procession in Ottawa, Canada, to honor Phillip Smith, 33, who was struck and killed by a snowplow Monday, Jan. 17. The incident occurred during a winter snowstorm. Smith was assisting a driver with a stuck vehicle on Highway 417 when he was struck…
Read MorePilot Program Will Train Persons Ages 18-20 to Operate CMVs in Interstate Commerce
According to the Federal Register, on September 10, 2020, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) proposed a pilot program to allow persons ages 18, 19, and 20 to operate commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) in interstate commerce. That pilot was never implemented. However, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), which was signed into law…
Read MoreUrgently Secures Up to $75 Million in New Financing from Highbridge, Onex Credit and Whitebox Advisors
Urgently, a provider of digital roadside and mobility assistance services, announced on December 22, 2021, it has secured up to $75 million in debt financing from certain funds managed by Highbridge Capital Management, LLC (“Highbridge”), Onex Credit and Whitebox Advisors. to help the company advance its mission in the roadside assistance market and to develop…
Read MoreOpti-Luxx Launches New Amber Products Line
Opti-Luxx, Inc. has announced a new line of amber warning light products for snow plows, utility vehicles, delivery fleets, agricultural equipment and all work truck applications. The new line includes beacons, light bars and warning lights and products have begun shipping to customers. “The new amber products lineup provides outstanding visibility and multiple lighting configurations…
Read MoreHappy Birthday Ernest Holmes, Sr.
Ernest Holmes, Sr., was born on January 17, 1883, and the reason to celebrate his birthday is because he was the inventor of the first tow truck. In 1916, his friend John Wiley needed help recovering his Ford Model T, which was off the road and upside down in a creek bed. Holmes eventually got…
Read MoreCaptive Insurance, Winches, Fraudulent Damage Claims, Getting Paid, Ice Recovery and More
The Tow Times January issue features topics that include captive towing insurance programs, winches and winch options, ways to reduce fraudulent damage claims, how to boost your chances of getting paid for heavy-duty recovery jobs, and the floating ice recovery machine for recovering vehicles that break through ice on frozen lakes. Find all this and…
Read MoreNew San Francisco Program Texts Drivers When Vehicle is About to be Towed
Local drivers in San Francisco can now receive text messages warning them if their car is about to impounded for parking violations. In the “Text Before Tow” program, drivers who opt in to the service receive text messages if their vehicle may be towed for 72-hour parking, blocking driveways or parking in construction zones or…
Read MoreWhen Distress Turns Into Stress
I can always hear the exasperation in a customer’s voice when they call needing a truck towed. While having your personal truck down can ruin your day, if a truck used for business is down, that is distress that turns into stress. Not only are you looking at the downtime and the cost of towing…
Read MoreATA Freight Forecast Shows Freight Recovering from Pandemic-Induced Dip
Source: American Trucking Associations press release On December 20, 2021, the American Trucking Associations released its annual look at the future of the freight economy – U.S. Freight Transportation Forecast 2021 to 2032 – showing a strong rebound and continued growth for freight demand this year and into the future. “With a focus on the…
Read MoreTow Companies Assisting Motorists Amid Winter Storms and Frigid Weather
A succession of winter storms across the central Midwest, Northeast and some areas of the south has kept towing companies busy. Calls for slide-offs and winch outs from snow and ice are keeping tow operators running 24/7 to rescue vehicles and motorists in frigid conditions. As local news stations profile towing companies at work, tow…
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