Companies that engage in disreputable towing — sometimes referred to as predatory towing — practices are preying on trucks in areas known to have an elevated frequency of crashes. They may even use nefarious means to contribute to likelihood of an accident. This is the latest scam affecting long haul and moving and storage trucking.
Case in point: A driver recently incurred significant damage when attempting to drive their tractor trailer under a Chicago bridge, whose “low bridge” sign had been suspiciously removed. As soon as the accident happened, an unsolicited tow truck appeared. In the driver’s distress and haste to rectify the situation as quickly as possible, the driver accepted towing services without a quote. Soon after, the moving and storage company received a bill for the $75,000 towing, a service that should have cost around $2,500.[1]
While predatory towing scams like this and others are occurring around the country and raising concerns amongst fleets,[2] they have been particularly prominent in Chicago. So much so that Chicago’s City Council’s Committee on License and Consumer Protection passed an ordinance calling on the city to establish a license for tow truck operators to corral rogue tow truck drivers who rush to accident scenes, snare damaged vehicles and hold them hostage until rattled truckers pay exorbitant fees.[3]
7 Best practices for fleet carriers
Fleets and truckers must protect themselves against tow truck companies that run illegal or unethical operations. The following best practices offer key guidance for your fleet.
-Plan your routes. Don’t let your truckers wing it when they are picking up goods or hauling a load. Proper route planning will not only ensure safety and increase driving efficiency by avoiding both known and unknown hazards but will also incorporate breaks and help determine the best route depending on what time of day a trucker is on the road. Digital route planning tools are available to help with this as well.[4]
-Be suspicious. Towing companies standing by on the scene when an incident occurs is not the norm. Train your drivers to be on the lookout for scamming tow trucks waiting in the wings. Prepare your drivers before an accident takes place to alleviate unnecessary stress; inform them that they may not be responsible for the underpass they just clipped if the low bridge sign was illegally removed, for example. That information should help them think more clearly in these situations.
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