TRAA Meets with FMCSA Leadership
Towing and Recovery Association of America (TRAA) press release:
[On Tuesday, February 27] in [Washington] D.C., TRAA met with Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s Chief Legal Counsel Brian Stansbury and other senior leaders to discuss the anti-towing comment Acting Deputy Administrator Sue Lawless submitted to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) regarding the agency’s Notice of Proposed Rulemaking creating 16 CFR Part 464: Unfair or Deceptive Fees Trade Regulation (88 FR 77420).
During the 45-minute meeting, the TRAA team, including lobbyist and legal representatives, reviewed the many policy and legal issues with the content of FMCSA’s letter and their request that the FTC include the nation’s towing industry in their “Junk Fees” Rule. After much educating and reminding them of roadside safety policy the administration already has in place, we were able to discuss alternative mechanisms for addressing FMCSA’s concerns regarding “predatory” towing practices. One option is to create a towing taskforce within FMCSA in which towers would have a seat at the table to review bills and discuss potential policy.
We expect to hear from FMCSA shortly on potential next steps. In the meantime, TRAA members will be discussing this critical issue with 100+ members of Congress and their staffers next week during TRAA’s annual Legislative Action Workshop & Hill Day.
A big thank you to all three representatives for TRAA at today’s meeting: Bill Johnson, TRAA’s Legislative Chair, Liesl Sheehan, Partner at Tremont Strategist Group, and Katherine Funk, attorney with Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz, PC.
In closing, this assault on our industry is being responded to by the TRAA. Now is the time for all to get involved with TRAA and your state association. The trucking associations and insurance industry are powerful adversaries. As the adage goes, divide and conquer. United we will prevail!
Want to support TRAA as we defend the industry? If so, donations to our Lobbyist Support Fund are greatly appreciated. To donate click here.