Industry News

A Weston, Conn., man was sentenced Thursday, June 2, to four and a half years in prison for driving while intoxicated and hitting and killing a tow operator in 2020. Dean Robert, 48, was sentenced to to 10 years in prison, suspended after four and a half years, plus five years of probation and a…

The ninth annual Towers with a Heart Move Over Law Golf Tournament was held Saturday, April 30, at the Pompano Beach Municipal Golf Club in Pompano Beach, Fla. Funds raised from the tournament assists Towers with a Heart in promoting the Florida Move Over law to help protect the lives of first responders and tow…

On May 19, the Michigan Senate on Thursday unanimously approved Sen. Dale Zorn’s legislation to exempt tow trucks and wreckers from seasonal road weight restrictions while servicing a disabled vehicle. “Michigan is one of many states that have spring weight restrictions to help protect roadways during the annual thaw, but these restrictions should not come…

Source: AAA press release: AAA will be working to keep impaired drivers off the road for Memorial Day weekend. The Auto Club Group is reactivating its Tow to Go program for the holiday period, providing safe transportation for impaired drivers and their vehicles. Tow to Go is active from 6pm Friday, May 27th – 6am…

The Connecticut tow operator who was struck and killed on Saturday, May 21, has been identified as Christopher M. Russell, 38, of Ellington. At approximately 6:20 p.m., police say Russell was assisting a disabled vehicle in the right shoulder on I-91 North just before Exit 11 in North Haven when a  2015 Nissan Rogue driven…

AAA press release: Another round of AAA testing reveals more inconsistencies with the performance of driving assistance systems found in vehicles on the road today, resulting in crashes with a simulated car and bicyclist. AAA researchers conducted the tests using the following three vehicles: 2021 Subaru Forester with “EyeSight®” 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe with “Highway…

In a Land Line magazine podcast, Towing and Recovery Association of America (TRAA) lobbying representative Brian Riker discussed TRAA and the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association’s (OOIDA) mutual opposition of FMCSA’s proposed rulemaking on speed limiting devices [Docket No. FMCSA–2022–0004]. The proposal affects motor carriers operating commercial motor vehicles. TRAA is joining forces with other organizations…

Police have arrested a man who allegedly hit two tow operators in a hit-and-run incident in the early morning on May 16 on I-35 south of Lakeville, Minn. The State Patrol said operators Michael Sirek, 39, and Parker Swanson, 23, of Faribault, were working to remove a vehicle from the center median when they were…

The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) has announced this year’s International Roadcheck dates as May 17-19 with a focus on wheel ends. International Roadcheck is a 72-hour high-visibility, high-volume commercial motor vehicle inspection and enforcement initiative. Commercial motor vehicle inspectors in Canada, Mexico and the U.S. will conduct North American Standard Inspections of commercial motor…

Hackney, a brand of ST Engineering Hackney, and Worldwide Equipment Sales have announced an exclusive certified sales and service partnership of Hackney’s commercial product portfolio in the Midwest region. The partnership will deliver Hackney’s specialized side-load bodies and trailers, service bodies and aftermarket parts including shelving through Worldwide Equipment’s network in the Midwest region. Through…