TRAA Legislative Update: FTC Holds Informal Hearing on “Junk Fees” Rule

TRAA press release:

On Wednesday April 24, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) held an informal hearing on its proposed “Junk Fees” Rule. While many industries were explicitly named during the hearing, towing was not among them. This is a positive sign, but it does not mean our work is done. TRAA continues to engage both the Administration and Congress in our work to defeat this effort including following-up with members we met with during Hill Day about public and private engagement with the Federal Trade Commission.

As we’re already reported, TRAA is actively working with FMCSA to establish a task force to discuss towing fees as an alternative course of action. To establish such a task force, the FMCSA must take legal steps in compliance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA), including seeking approval of the charter from the Secretary and General Service Administration.

Recognizing the urgency of the issue, and the time it will likely take to formally seat the task force, TRAA has worked with the FMCSA to begin open and transparent dialogue with all interested parties and to gather information to help inform policy decisions. We expect the first of those steps to come in June and will provide more details to TRAA members as they become public.

Thank you to all the Hill Days participants who followed-up to thank the congressional staff who met with us last month. These emails are extremely helpful in building and maintaining strategic relationships in Washington. As a direct result of these meetings and emails, additional members of Congress have co-sponsored our House Move Over Law Resolution (H.Res.152).