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WASHINGTON D.C. -- Dozens of D.C. towing companies have banded together to form an official association that would give them clout with city officials.

"People have looked at the towing industry in this city as a bunch of bandits and crooks for too long, and it's just not true," says Beverly Ingraham, president of the newly formed Metropolitan Washington Towing Association (MWTA).

Miss Ingraham, employed with a towing company in Southeast, said more than 30 operations had joined the organization since The Washington Times reported last month that the District was the only municipality in the United States without any such official association.

The goal is to "to streamline the industry and create one voice that will be respected by government officials who are trying to put restrictions on us, but not on the police," she said.

MWTA was incorporated three weeks ago. It is recognized officially by the Arlington-based Towing and Recovery Association of America, a national towing lobby that receives Department of Transportation funding for its driver-safety program.

Miss Ingraham said MWTA last week submitted four pages of recommended changes to towing regulations announced last month by D.C. Mayor Anthony A. Williams.

Mr. Williams, a Democrat, vowed to draft the regulations — the first effort to regulate the towing industry in more than 35 years — in August after a report issued by the D.C. inspector general's office uncovered illegal schemes involving police officers.

Erik S. Gaull, a city administrator who co-chaired the mayoral task force that drafted the new regulations, welcomed the formation of an official association of towing companies.

"Before this group started, it was pandemonium," Mr. Gaull said. "The new association gives us a single point of contact, which is much more willing to discuss things in a manner that's conducive to having their concerns taken seriously."

Mr. Williams admits he has little regard for towing companies that criticize his efforts to "clean up" their industry. He told reporters at his news briefing this week that "if the towing industry wants to organize, I welcome their organization. But I've not met with the towing association yet."

Miss Ingraham said MWTA's biggest problem with the mayor's new regulations is that they do not indicate clearly which city agency is responsible for notifying the owner of a vehicle that has been towed.

Currently the D.C. Police are responsible for notifying vehicle owners when their car is impounded.

Vehicle owners who are not notified of the towing often accuse tow companies of delinquency, she said, adding that the regulations need to make it clear that towing companies are not responsible for notification.

"The police should be responsible," Miss Ingraham said. "How can a tow company be expected to get information about where an owner lives or what their phone number is? Only the police can find that out."

She said towing operators are tired of taking the blame when D.C. police officers request that vehicles be towed and leave as soon as the trucks arrive. (Thanks Kevin)

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NEW YORK --United Road Services, Inc. announced today financial results for the quarter and year ended December 31, 2001.

For the quarter ended December 31, 2001, the Company reported revenues of $53.9 million and a net loss of $3.3 million, or $1.55 per diluted share. For the year ended December 31, 2001, revenues were $226.5 million, and the net loss was $13.7 million, or $6.52 per diluted share. Weighted average shares outstanding were 2,096,045 and 2,096,284 for the quarter ended and year ended December 31, 2001, respectively. For the quarter ended December 31, 2000, the Company reported revenue of $57.0 million and a net loss of $8.2 million or $3.90 per diluted share. For the year ended December 31, 2000, revenues were $246.6 million, and the net loss was $158.9 million, or $81.95 per diluted share. Weighted average shares outstanding were 2,091,652 and 1,939,337 for the quarter and year ended December 31, 2000, respectively.

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WISCONSIN -- A probe by the Wisconsin justice department has concluded there was no "criminal intent'' behind towing practices in Superior last year that some have alleged are illegal.

Douglas County District Attorney Dan Blank this week reiterated his original opinion that he will not file any criminal charges in the controversial issue.

"I wouldn't say I'm disappointed,'' said Superior Mayor Sharon Kotter, who made the findings of the Wisconsin Division of Criminal Investigation public Thursday afternoon. "I probably anticipated a different result.''

"I guess we'll just have to live with it. At least I know that the citizens wanted this done. And now everybody understands the new towing ordinance.''

After Blank first decided against criminal charges last May, city officials were bombarded by public pressure. In response, Kotter and the City Council had asked for an independent review from Attorney General James Doyle to clear up the matter.

In early 2001, Superior police investigated the improper towing of vehicles parked in private lots. Although parked illegally, the vehicles hadn't first been ticketed, as state law requires.

After reviewing a 2-month Superior police investigation, Blank and the city attorney's office decided that incidents before Jan. 22 wouldn't be prosecuted. That's when police put tow truck operators on notice that towing without citations is against the law. The towing then subsided.

A second part of the probe was into the alleged harassment of patrons at JT's Bar & Grill, 1506 N. Third St.

Operators of the popular bar frequented by many in the gay community said customers were having their vehicles towed at the request of the man who manages the adjacent property. Those vehicles also hadn't been ticketed first by police.

Tow truck operators had claimed police officers told them no citations were needed. Some officers admitted they weren't aware of the need for citations.

Superior Police Chief J. Mark Diamond eventually supported the attorney general's inquiry, saying the police were innocent of any malfeasance.

"That's not surprising to me,'' he said of the justice department conclusion. "I really questioned the reason for the request for additional investigation in the first place. But there were some serious allegations made that I felt made it necessary to have a review of the case to establish public trust.''

The reason the state's investigation took 10 months was because of Sept. 11, Kotter said.

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FLORIDA -- It won't be an April Fool's prank Monday when you see exit numbers change on Interstate 4.

It's part of a statewide project to make exit numbers on the green and blue signs coincide with mile markers.

Transportation officials say the new numbers will make it easier for drivers to figure out distances and for tow trucks to find people stranded near mile marker signs.

They say it will also reduce numbering confusion when new exits are added between existing ones.

Monday morning, crews will start changing over signs at DeLand exits, starting with what is now Exit 56, or State Road 44. It will become 118 -- the number of miles from where I-4 ends in Tampa.

The I-4 work should take two months.

Construction crews will head from east to west, working their way toward Tampa. But they will jump around somewhat.

For example, changing overhead signs like the ones in Daytona Beach will have to be done at night, when they'll need to close some lanes to get the work done, said Jackie Miller, a state Department of Transportation engineer.

Interstate 75's numbers will also start changing Monday. Interstate 10 has already received new numbers, and Interstate 95 will get them in May.

Transportation officials say so far they've received few complaints.

"We got one or two phone calls saying, 'I'm used to this exit number,' " Miller said.

"We just tell them, you know, you can get used to the other one."

The old exit numbers will remain alongside the new ones for two years.

Kevin Bakewell, a spokesman for the AAA, says that appears to be making things easier for drivers. (Sandra Pedicini - Sentinel Staff)

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TEXAS -- A Pleasant Grove woman was killed Friday morning after she apparently threw herself under the tires of her car as it was being towed for illegal parking.

Dallas police said Barbara Elix, 40, confronted the tow-truck driver as her car was being towed from a Dallas apartment complex for parking in a spot reserved for tenants. Witnesses said she jumped onto the tow truck, and the car as they were moving. As her appeals went unheeded, she apparently tried to physically prevent the tow and threw herself under the car's tires, police said.

Elix was visiting her mother, who lives in the complex in the southeast Dallas section of Pleasant Grove.

Police have not released the name of the tow-truck driver, who was taken to a Dallas hospital complaining of chest pains.

Police say the matter will be referred to a Dallas County grand jury.

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WEST VIRGINIA -- The Monongalia County Sheriff's Department arrested three men Monday on charges of third-degree arson at a towing yard, said Detective D. Smith.

James Luzader and Jeremiah Luzader, both of Granville, and Danny Robertson, of Pursglove, were arrested in the early hours of Monday morning after being seen by Lt. Mark Ralston leaving the lot of Black's Towing on W.Va. 7, where a vehicle was burning.

Ralston stopped the three men and arrested them in connection with the car fire at 1:42 a.m., Smith said.

All three men have been arraigned in Magistrate Court and were being held in the North Central Regional Jail in Doddridge County on Monday.

Smith said the case is still under investigation, but that he believes the three men knew whose car it was.

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WISCONSIN -- One of two Manitowoc County men who took a stolen tow truck on a joy ride and caused extensive property damage will spend 14 months in prison.

Caleb Rusch, 18, told police the ride reminded him of a video game, "Driver," in which the player steals a vehicle, has numerous accidents and is chased by police.

Rusch and the other man, who is scheduled for a jury trial June 19, left a party Oct. 28 after drinking heavily, broke into The Tune Up Shop, 612 N. Water St., and took the keys to the tow truck.

They drove the tow truck through a fence at the Manitowoc Yacht Club, damaged property at Comcast Cable and Maritime Metro Transit and sideswiped several vehicles parked on north side streets.

After being cut by glass from numerous collisions, the two men went to Holy Family Memorial Medical Center, where they told officials they had been attacked by Asian gang members. But police later found the other man's wallet and identification in the abandoned truck at South 18th and Hamilton streets. The truck's blue paint matched paint found on vehicles that were struck.

Rusch will be on extended supervisor for 58 months after the prison sentence. He was also ordered to pay $9,711 restitution to property owners and an insurance company.

A charge of being a party to burglary and 10 counts of party to crime of criminal damage to property against Rusch were dismissed. (Thanks Kelly)

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WASHINGTON -- A new "junk car" ordinance will help rid unincorporated King County of junk vehicles, but may be a nightmare for towing companies forced to remove them.

The County Council voted unanimously Monday to give sheriff's deputies power to impound any vehicle that meets three or more of the following criteria: being parked on private land without the property owner's permission, being parked on a street or other public property for more than 24 hours, being extensively damaged, being inoperable, having a "fair market value of $500 or less," and lacking valid registration or licensing.

While the new ordinance will empower deputies, it fails to address the redemption problem with most junk vehicles. A very low percentage of these so-called "junk cars" are ever picked-up by their owners, which leaves the towing company paying the bill for recovery, storage, processing, and ultimately disposal.

Many years ago, a towing company could sell vehicles for the scrap metal value; not any more. These days, the price of scrap metal has plummeted, and it costs more to prepare and transport the vehicle to the scrap yard then the $15 to $20 you would get for it.

Pierce County, a county notorious for "junk cars", started a telephone hot line last month to handle complaints about junked and abandoned vehicles in its jurisdiction. 

Most counties, including Pierce, are very aware of the redemption problem with "junk cars", and the plight of towing companies which are forced to tow them. Pierce County actually has a clause in their towing contract that promises to boot any company from rotation that turns down a "junk car" tow.

ITOW also attended a Thurston County Commissioners meeting Tuesday in Olympia. Thurston County is also seeking to change the County's legal definition of a "junk car". The proposed new definition was so broad and undefined that it would give the county the right to tow away any disabled car, whether on public or private property, as a "junk car".

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A study conducted by United Kingdom-based Transport Research Laboratory found that driving behavior is impaired more by using a cell phone than by being above legal alcohol limits.

Cell phones and other wireless technologies have become a popular way for tow truck drivers to stay in contact with dispatchers and customers while on the road.

Using simulators, the group that drivers' reaction times were 30% slower when using a hand-held phone compared with being drunk. Specifically, drivers had trouble maintaining a constant speed and keeping a safe distance from the car in front while using the phone.

However, according to recent studies conducted all over the U.S., drivers are much more likely to be distracted by eating or talking to other passengers than a cell phone. 

Direct Line, the insurance company that commissioned the study, said in a release on Friday that even when a hands-free cell phone was used, it still was a major distraction for drivers, who tended to miss more road signs while talking. The study also concluded hand-free cell phone use was also more dangerous than drunken driving.

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The average price of a gallon of diesel climbed three cents to $1.281, up nearly 13 cents over the past month. The price, reported by the Department of Energy for the week ending March 25, is the highest national average for diesel since Nov. 5.

Prices for all petroleum products have been spiraling upward as demand increases and supply dwindles. Supplies are drawing taut because the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries has kept intact production cuts that it made in December. Non-OPEC oil producers like Russia and the Netherlands are also showing resolve by maintaining pledged production cuts.

Even though retail diesel prices have risen dramatically, they are well off the rate of increase set by gasoline, according to the DOE. Retail gasoline prices have risen more than 17 cents in the past three weeks. The government said diesel prices remain lower because of greater supply and lower seasonal demand. Diesel has risen only 9.7 cents over the same period.

Tow operators on the West Coast and in California paid the highest prices for diesel. To check prices in your area, go to www.itow.org/fuel.htm.

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MICHIGAN -- That car on the side of the road may look harmless, but state lawmakers want to give motorists less time to get it off the side of the freeway because the cars are deemed safety hazards.

State Sen. Bill Bullard Jr., R-Highland, has sponsored a bill that enables law enforcement agencies to impound registered vehicles abandoned for 18 hours.

Police policy now is to wait 24 hours.

"Studies consistently show that the longer abandoned vehicles stay on roadsides, the greater the rate of accidents," Rep. Bullard said.

The bill passed in the state Senate and is in the state House of Representatives.

According to statistics by the Southeastern Michigan Council of Governments, 12 fatalities on state roads in 1999 were the result of abandoned vehicles.

Local law enforcement agencies said abandoned cars aren't a big problem on I-75 and US-23, but could become one with more traffic.

Sgt. Al Cardenas of the Monroe post of the state police said when he worked at the Metro South Post in Taylor, abandoned vehicles were a concern.

"People would go to the airport and leave their car on the freeway," Sgt. Cardenas said. "Then they expect it's going to be there when they come back."

The crowded freeways of Wayne County made abandoned vehicles more dangerous, he said.

"It causes a lot of havoc in Detroit. When there's three lanes of traffic, with everyone going 70 mph, if there's quick braking required, the natural reaction is to go to the right or left."

The sergeant said that though they enforce the 24-hour rule, if a motorist calls and informs them that their car is on the side of the freeway, some leeway is given.

If a car is parked too close to traffic or if it's not registered, it's hauled away as soon as police see the vehicle. Motorists also can get tickets for abandoning their vehicles too close to the roadway.

Sgt. David Kottke of the Monroe County Sheriff's Department said deputies tag and have vehicles towed after 24 hours but make exceptions when weather conditions make the abandoned cars more dangerous.

"If the weather is bad and it's snowing, we'll remove vehicles if it hasn't been tagged. We don't want the snow plow drivers having to worry about them," he said.

Sheriff's department officials said abandoned cars on freeways haven't caused many injury accidents recently.

"I don't think it's a problem, certainly no worse than Wayne County," Sgt. Kottke said, "But people have to understand they can't just leave their cars on the side of the road. It does pose a threat." (Thanks Don)

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MICHIGAN -- Fire took the life of, tow truck driver, James Scheffler's 2-year-old son Jacob two weeks ago, but the boy's sister, Julionna, continues to recover in an Ann Arbor hospital.

Julionna, just 10 days old when she and her brother were trapped in a van that caught fire in Maybee, has been upgraded to fair condition and reportedly has been taken off a respirator at C.S. Mott Children's Hospital in Ann Arbor.

Investigators pinned the cause of the fire to an electrical problem on the passenger side of the engine. Monroe County sheriff's deputies said Friday no criminal charges will be sought in connection with the March 9 fire, although the fire report, like all other reports, will be forwarded to the Monroe County Prosecutors Office.

James and Clara Scheffler of Maybee have been at the side of their infant at the hospital since their van caught on fire in front of an auto parts store on Ostrander Rd.

Mrs. Scheffler had driven the family's Ford Aerostar minivan from their home on Ostrander Rd. to Owen Auto Parts, 12815 Ostrander Rd., where Mr. Scheffler works as a tow truck driver. She got out to tell her husband that their home had lost power and left the children strapped up in child seats in the van.

While she talked to her husband inside the store, a passerby saw white smoke coming from the van. He entered the building and told the family. Everyone rushed outside when they learned the children were in the van. The passerby slid open the door, got the children out of the van and then attempted to resuscitate the kids as the van erupted into flames.

While Julionna started breathing again, Jacob did not.

Julionna, initially listed in critical condition, was upgraded to serious, then fair condition by hospital staff. Born March 1, she's now 22 days old.

Detective Tom Redmond of the sheriff's department said Ford Motor Co. officials said there had been no recall for electrical problems in that part of the engine.

The fire started in the engine compartment, he said, and burned its way through the dashboard panel of the van, below the glove box in the front seat area.

"That's the first fire like that I've ever seen," he said Friday.

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NEW YORK -- Many Capital Region tow truck companies were busy dealing with fender-benders and other accidents during a steady snowfall March 18. But with less than 35 inches of snow this winter, the area would need two more feet of snow to catch up to the seasonal average, according to the National Weather Service in Albany.

A dry, warm winter means cars don't slide on icy roads, batteries don't die, and towing companies and collision repair shops don't service as many customers.

"The towing business is terrible" right now, said Dave Brun of Dave's Towing Specialists in Clifton Park. Towing is only about 10 percent of the company's business, he said. The company also offers specialized trucking services.

Brun said it's not just the weather that is slowing down business. Manufacturers are improving the quality of cars and trucks, and designing them to better deal with the demands of winter driving, he said.

Still, from December 2000 to February 2001 AAA Northway, headquartered in Schenectady, responded to 19,034 emergency road service calls, said Ian Pinkerton, the group's marketing manager. Calls are down 11 percent for the same period this year.

Most winters, very cold weather causes more problems than snow and ice. When the area has a sustained cold snap, a lot of people wake up to cars that won't start, he said.

There is not much that tow company operators can do except wait it out, said Mike Jones, manager of Robert's Towing & Recovery in Delmar. "You go into your war chest and try to pay the bills," he said.

For Robert's Towing, which specializes in heavy equipment towing, the summer months during the construction season are typically busier than the winter.

Fewer tows also mean fewer customers for automotive repair shops. Richard Bowman, president and CEO of Collision Experts Auto Collision Centers Inc., which has locations in Albany, Schenectady and Clifton Park, said sales are down 20 percent from last winter on a same-store basis. But because the company has doubled the size of its Clifton Park shop, overall sales will likely be just about even with last year, he said.

Collision Experts services about 2,000 cars a year, with a average of $2,000 in damage per car, Bowman said. In the winter the company tends to see more accidents with relatively little damage, he said. In the summer, on dry roads, there are fewer accidents but the ones that do happen cause more damage, Bowman said.

Business is also down this winter at Art Taylor's Garage in Albany, said Art Taylor. Battery sales are down 60 percent for the season, he said.

In addition to the unseasonable weather, his business has been feeling the effects of the national recession, Taylor said. People have been reluctant to take on the expense of repair work with the economy still uncertain.

But in the past couple of weeks, consumer confidence appears to be rebounding, Taylor said. Customers are now waiting for income tax refunds, and starting to come in for spring tune-ups.

"It's starting to get crazy again," Taylor said. "I hope." (Robin Wood - The Business Review)

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CALIFORNIA -- A 10-year-old boy suffered a serious head injury yesterday when a tow truck hit him as he rode a bicycle in Southcrest, San Diego police said.

The boy was taken to Children's Hospital. His name was not released.

The boy was pedaling across National Avenue near 37th Street about 5:35 p.m. when he was struck. Police said he came out from behind a school bus that was stopped, and that the tow truck's driver didn't see the boy in time.

Investigators said the tow truck driver was not at fault.

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The torque wars have begun, with the Big 3 vying to offer the most potent powerplants. Each has its "best in class" boasts. Now Ford has upped its ante to counter Chevrolet's 6.6-liter Duramax and 5.9-liter High Output Cummins Turbo Diesel announced for the Dodge Ram Heavy Duty.

Ford has pumped more muscle into the 7.3-liter Power Stroke diesel V-8, which now delivers 525 lb-ft of torque at 1600 rpm on models equipped with an automatic transmission. The engine produces 250 horsepower at 2600 rpm. This is an increase of 20 lb.-ft of torque over last year's Power Stroke engine.

More torque allows a diesel engine to tow heavier loads, while enhancing the vehicle's performance feel. High torque ratings allow drivers to maintain speed without frequent transmission shifting and enable drivers to easily launch heavily loaded trucks from rest. In addition, torque also enables drivers to maintain speed while negotiating steep grades.

In addition to F-Series Super Duty models, the Power Stroke diesel also is available on the Ford Excursion and E-Series van, wagon, cutaway, and stripped chassis models. The engine is built for Ford by International Engine Group, a division of Navistar International Corporation. Ford and International are currently developing the next generation Power Stroke diesel engine. Details will be announced later this year.

Looking beyond the volleying claims, how does the PowerStroke stack up? The Isuzu-sourced Duramax 6600 diesel V-8 used in GM trucks puts out 300 hp at 3100 rpm and 520 lb-ft, leaving the Ford leading the current twist contest. However, the Ram's imminent diesel boasts 305 horsepower at 2900 rpm and 555 lb.-ft. of torque at 1400 rpm.

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Ford Motor Co., whose reputation has been bloodied by the Firestone tire crisis, recalls, launch problems and falling quality rankings, has been hit again.

The automaker Thursday acknowledged it recently was forced to stop shipment of some of its best-selling pickup trucks and sport-utility vehicles because of a defective part in their four-wheel-drive systems.

The vehicles affected are the 2002 models of the Explorer, Expedition, Lincoln Navigator, Ranger and most versions of the F-series pickup, said Ford spokeswoman Della DiPietro.

The latest problem involved a defect in the electric motor connected to the transfer case on four-wheel-drive versions of the vehicles. The transfer case directs engine power to the front and rear axles.

"We think we caught most, if not all, of the problem vehicles before they left the plant," said DiPietro. An unspecified number of vehicles are sitting in plants waiting to be repaired, but DiPietro said Ford had corrected the defect on vehicles in production Thursday, so they can be shipped out to dealers.

DiPietro would not say when the problem started or how long it had gone on.

Production at the eight plants that make those vehicles -- such as the Michigan truck plant in Wayne -- was never halted. Ford continued to make the vehicles, but kept them on site while hourly workers made repairs. The Michigan truck plant builds the Expedition and Navigator.

DiPietro would not say what supplier made the part or where it was made. She also wouldn't say how many vehicles were held back.

An auto enthusiasts Web site, BlueOvalNews, first reported on the problem Wednesday morning. The site said about 4,000 four-wheel-drive vehicles were held back, a number DiPetro would not verify. The vehicles are expected to be repaired by the end of March.

Four-wheel drive is by far the most popular version of Ford's sport-utility vehicles and pickup trucks.

Ford's reputation for quality has been under fire since the Firestone tire crisis surfaced in 2000. The automaker's image was further tarnished by launch problems for the Escape, Focus and Explorer and then a last-place ranking in J.D. Power's & Associates initial quality survey in 2001.

Ford also failed to respond to ITOW's repeated requests in November 2001 for information concerning new F-550 trucks which were being delivered to local towing companies missing critical brake parts.

"Ford is under a microscope right now. The bad rap they are getting will go away as soon as these quality problems do," said Jeff Schuster, J.D. Power director of North American forecasting. "It sounds like they handled this one well by correcting the problem before it got out to dealers and to drivers."

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KENTUCKY-- International Truck and Engine Corp. unveiled two new truck models at the 2002 Mid America Trucking Show, a regional Class 8 tractor and Class 7 heavy-duty construction chassis.

International truck group president Steve Keate said the company's 7600 severe service chassis, aimed at waste, construction, and towing fleets, will go into production in August, followed by its 8600 regional day cab tractor in September. Both will be built at Internationals truck plant in Garland, TX.

Keate also unveiled new interior packages for International's 9000I and 5000I Class 8 sleeper tractors. The interior re-design of those two models doubles internal storage capacity, offers wood-grain dash and door panels, and also boost interior lighting fixtures.

Keate added that there are no plans to introduce a sleeper version of Internationals new 8600, as the 9000I remains the company's primary Class 8 sleeper product. He did note that International is aiming to unveil a completely new Class 8 sleeper tractor sometime in 2005.

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Wrecker Fees Anger Trucking Company
Mar 22, 2002

TENNESSEE -- The president of a local trucking company said the $6,669 bill he received from Yates Wrecker Service to remove the scattered wreckage of an 18-wheeler from the site of a multivehicle crash last week on Interstate 75 in Catoosa County, Ga., was excessive.

But Guy Yates, owner of the towing company with offices in Ringgold, Ga., and Chattanooga, said the amount his company charged Brent Bass of B&H Freight Services was fair, and that there is more involved in removing a severely damaged transfer truck from the interstate than backing up a tow truck to it and driving off.

Mr. Bass said he was upset because he had to write a check to Mr. Yates before his damaged vehicle and its cargo were returned.

"In 11 years of business nothing like this ever happened to us before," he said. "When I went to get it, I was told I had to pay to get the trailer."

Mr. Yates said he has charged more for recovering wrecked 18-wheelers. The most expensive recovery was more than that ($6,669)," he said. "It was a loaded propane tanker with more than 9,000 gallons of propane. When it's a hazard, you get more."

Officials said 25 tractor trailers were involved in the Interstate 75 pileup just north of Ringgold on March 14. The northbound lane of the interstate, where 21 of the rigs crashed, was closed to traffic from about 8 a.m. until 1 a.m. the next day, Sheriff Summers said.

Mr. Yates said the expense in recovering a truck is related to the manpower and equipment used, not the distance the truck is towed. The damaged B&H truck was towed less than a mile to the Yates facility just north of Ringgold, he said.

The whole front end of the B&H truck was torn off, and the front axle and springs were all over," he said.

Mr. Yates said he had to bring in another wrecker, called a rollback, to carry away pieces of the truck. He said he is unsure how many trucks his company towed from the site of the largest traffic accident in Georgia history or what it charged other trucking companies for recovery.

Mr. Yates said costs were high at the I-75 recovery site in part because he had 15 employees at the scene for hours doing nothing but waiting, and a dozen wreckers, one with a purchase price of $450,000, that were idle.

"To me, the insurance adjuster who deals with this stuff every day is the authority," Mr. Yates said. "They were more than happy with the charges."

Yates Wrecker wasn't the only towing company used in the recovery. A total of 18 wrecker companies took on the task of hauling away the wrecked vehicles, Sheriff Summers said.

Jim Shuler, a spokesman for the Georgia State Patrol, said there is no price cap in Georgia for towing and recovery. The charge for towing a truck in Atlanta will differ from one towed in Ringgold, he said.

Mr. Shuler said his office has received one complaint from a Chattanooga woman who paid $250 to have her wrecked car removed from the pile-up and towed 15 miles. He said there also was a complaint Monday from a trucker.

"We're encouraging anyone involved in the accident who believes they've been treated unfairly to put it in writing and send it to state patrol headquarters," Mr. Shuler said. "We can't get them their money back, but we can suspend a wrecker service from the rotation."

Rep. Ron Forster, R-Ringgold, said he has received no complaints from truckers or other motorists involved in the accident.

"Government involvement in business, to me, never seems to come out good," Rep. Forster said. "Mostly it should be between the person providing the service and the consumer." (Thanks Brian)

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The GT-300 Geo-Telephone from CSI Wireless combines location-sensing and GPS positioning capability with wireless communication (dual-band TDMA/AMPS) technology.

This allows the delivery of location-specific information, and gives callers the option to be "seen" as well as heard anywhere in North America.

The GT300, available this summer, is aimed at fleet operators and other companies serving mobile personnel. With the GT300, drivers can know and relay location information at any time. When GT300 users activate the phone's real-time tracking feature, dispatchers can monitor and direct mobile assets. And individuals can stay in touch with home or office from almost anywhere.

For more information, visit www.csi-wireless.com.

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WASHINGTON D.C. -- The D.C. inspector general yesterday recommended that Mayor Anthony A. Williams' proposed towing regulations be revised to make towing companies responsible for notifying owners that their vehicles have been towed.

In a six-page letter to the mayor, Inspector General Charles C. Maddox said the new regulations do not indicate who should notify owners of towed vehicles — the towing company, the police officers who request the tow, or the Department of Public Works employees who monitor vehicles after they are towed.

"It is our opinion that since tow companies financially benefit from tows, they should be responsible for notification [of vehicle owners]," Mr. Maddox said in the letter, a copy of which was obtained by The Washington Times.

The mayor's new towing regulations were published Feb. 15 in the D.C. Register and remained open for public comment until yesterday. Officials in the mayor's office yesterday said they had not yet reviewed Mr. Maddox's recommendations.

Mr. Maddox recommended the regulations be changed to state: "A tow company shall send a notice by certified mail, within five working days after a vehicle was taken into custody, to the last known address of the owners of record ... giving the name and location of the tow company ...

"A tow company shall within 10 days of towing a vehicle publish notice in a newspaper of general circulation in the District once a week for two consecutive weeks [of the car´s whereabouts]."

"In the event that a vehicle owner claims that they were not notified of a tow and subsequently refuses to pay the storage charge, the tow company will have a record of notification," the inspector general said.

Officials with the mayor's office last month said they purposely created the regulations without indicating whose responsibility it would be to notify the owners of towed cars.

The plan was to have that responsibility assigned administratively after the regulations have been approved by the D.C. Council, Mr. Gaull said.

The mayor's office intends to hire a company to develop a computer bank that will automatically contact the owner of a car within hours after it is towed, officials have said. The system would operate out of the Department of Public Works and "ideally" would generate a certified letter to the car owner.

It also would make an automatic e-mail notification to the insurance company that is linked to the car's license plate number and would use a computerized calling system to contact the car owner's home telephone.

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COLORADO -- David Foster, 20, of Alamosa, died at 9:48 a.m., Monday at Memorial Hospital as the result of injuries suffered in an accident March 14.

According to the Colorado State Patrol in Colorado Springs, the accident occurred at 3:15 p.m., when Foster was eastbound on an El Paso County road east of Colorado Springs.

The road passes through rolling hills, and as Foster near the crest of one such hill in his 2002 Toyota Corolla, a westbound tow truck was turning left at a T intersection ahead.

Foster attempted to avoid the accident, braking and skidding for more than 150 feet before impacting between the tow truck and the vehicle it was towing.

Foster was taken to Memorial Hospital, where he was initially reported in critical condition and requiring the aid of a respirator.

The driver of the tow truck, Gary Grafft, Peyton, was initially cited for careless driving resulting in injury. The CSP said that citation will be changed to careless driving resulting in death.

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Speaking to a conference for female entrepreneurs, President Bush said Tuesday that he is seeking billions of dollars in new tax breaks to spur small businesses, the Associated Press reported.

Bush has revived a proposal to allow small businesses to increase the cost of equipment and machinery that can be deducted in one year to $40,000 from $25,000. This tax relief can help many smaller towing companies save money.

He also wants to remove regulatory barriers that could slow growth, encourage greater competition by small businesses seeking government contracts and make the government a greater advocate for small businesses.

In addition, Bush is encouraging small businesses to band together to obtain health care for employees, a move he said would lower business costs, AP said.

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Kenworth Truck Co. is looking to boost sales of its Class 6 and 7 model T-300 trucks because it believes medium-duty demand will grow in 2002.

"For example, we're finding construction companies wanting to move down to a Class 7 vehicle for work in residential areas," he said. "We're also seeing many delivery companies moving to Class 6 and 7 trucks." (Thanks Frank)

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The average price of diesel fuel jumped by more than 3 cents in the past week, to $1.25 per gallon, according to a U.S. Department of Energy report.

The biggest increase for the week ending March 18 occurred in the Rocky Mountain region, where prices increased by 4 cents per gallon. Nearly every other region in the country reported diesel price hikes of 3 cents per gallon or more.

The national average diesel price has increased by more than 11 cents per gallon since its two-year low in January. Falling petroleum inventories are putting pressure on prices, DOE reported. Commercial inventories have now fallen for six straight weeks.

DOE reports that the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries’ December 2001 production cuts are now impacting crude oil imports, and imports could remain low through May. Last week OPEC ministers said they would keep oil production cuts intact, forcing the price of crude oil to stay in the range of $22 to $28 per barrel; it is now around $24 per barrel.

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IOWA -- A new state law requires motorists to drive slower and change lanes when encountering emergency, towing, recovery and highway maintenance vehicles with flashing lights.

Gov. Tom Vilsack on Thursday signed into law House File 2112, which gives tow truck drivers "lane of safety." Motorists violating the requirement would be guilty of a simple misdemeanor, punishable by a fine of $35.

The legislation stems from crashes that peace officers and emergency workers have had over the years.

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WYOMING -- An Elk Mountain towing company owned by the town's fire chief, Steve Bonner, was heavily damaged by fire.

Damage was estimated at $120,000, including $17,000 in inventory and $35,000 to the building at Elk Mountain Towing. The business is 44 miles east of Rawlins off Interstate 80.

A newer building was undamaged. "We weren't quite ready to move into the new one," Bonner said, but it will enable the business to stay open.

Bonner suspects soldering done on water pipes Saturday started the fire and the fire smoldered unnoticed for four days.

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FLORIDA -- The Stern's tow truck lifted the mangled Mazda, onto the bed of the truck -- the same truck that the Mazda ran into just an hour earlier.

According to witnesses, the Mazda was traveling east on State Road 776 in Englewood when it attempted to cross oncoming traffic and pull into Walgreen's Pharmacy parking lot on the corner of S.R. 776 and East Dearborn Street.

The Mazda crossed two lanes of traffic before running into the Stern's tow truck that was traveling west on the shoulder of S.R. 776.

The Mazda was spun around by the large truck, hitting a brown Cadillac, driven by Don Bartlet, whose wife Diane was in the passenger seat.

The bumper fell off the Mazda and flew into a male pedestrian on a bicycle. He was knocked off his bicycle, but suffered only minor scratches to his arm.

"The two on-coming lanes of traffic stopped and let her go," Don said. "But the truck never saw her coming and she didn't see him."

The driver of the Mazda, a 36-year-old woman, was transferred to Englewood Community Hospital, where she was treated for serious but not life threatening injuries. Her name was not released Friday pending notification of next of kin.

The Bartlets refused transportation to the hospital, although Don said he planned to see his own doctor later in the day for back pain.

"I am just so thankful we are all alive," Diane said, standing next to her car, which received moderate front-end damage. "I only broke a fingernail -- thank God."

Florida Highway Patrol Trooper George Yock said charges may be pending following a complete investigation.

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MICHIGAN -- After over an hour of hearing opposition on the way the wrecker service rotation in Oceana County works for non-preference calls, Mason-Oceana 911 Dispatch Director Tom Altland, two law enforcement heads and the county's seven wrecker services agreed to change the current policy.

Altland, who said the dispatch center gets an average of only three to four non-preference calls a month, made it clear that it was up to the wrecker companies to decide what was the best rotation. But, he also made it clear that the dispatch center wanted to see a change.

"We're not the wrecker service's supervisor, we don't have any authority on this at all. If someone asks for non-preference, and the wrecker turns it down they go on to the next wrecker," Altland said. "The biggest problem we've had is deciding who is going where for non-preference, and that's why we went with the whole county. I'm only here as the referee, and whatever you agree on is fine. But, there won't be a solution that fits everybody."

The seven wrecker services worked on one county-wide rotation, no matter how far the wrecker had to drive to do a job.

Both sides agreed that the system was causing unnecessary delays, tying up officers' time, and was bad business among each wrecker service.

"We don't want a county-wide system. By the time we get to the south end of the county, somebody's already there doing the job. I don't know how many times this has happened, when there's been more than one wrecker at a scene," Jay Wilicki of A-1 said. "Your time is lost because of the distance you have to travel to get to that call."

Both Michigan State Police Lt. Dave Roesler and Oceana County Sheriff Ken Prince said their officers didn't like the county-wide system, but both added that it was not the officer's job to recommend a wrecker on non-preference calls.

"One of the problems we have with a county-wide system is if A-1 (near Pentwater) has to go to Hesperia, that's a long time for an officer to wait," Roesler said.

Some of the wrecker employees claimed that officers were showing favoritism toward one service over another.

"If it's a non-preference call, an officer is not supposed to call a wrecker, or recommend one," Prince said. "I think what's happened with the county-wide rotation is a wrecker sometimes gets called from clear across the county, and the officer ends up waiting a long time. I understand you don't like driving clear across the county, but you won't turn the call down, because it's business. I don't think it's working with the county-wide rotation."

Altland said there may be times when an officer has to make a recommendation or call the closest wrecker to a scene.

"For dispatch purposes, calling the closest wrecker won't work because a lot of them are so close to each other," Altland said. "But, there are a couple incidences where an officer can call for the closest wrecker. One, if there is a danger, and two, if there is an investigation going on."

Under the new policy, the dispatch center will work two separate rotations for non-preference calls, dividing the county in two parts, at Baseline Road.

Joe McGhan of McGhan's Towing was indifferent, and would go with any system.

"Personally, I don't see anything wrong with the way it is. I don't like running clear across the county, but there aren't many times when I have too," McGhan said. "I don't see where this is such a bad deal. My feeling is, if you cut the county in half, that's also fine with me."

Towing companies in the northern portion of the county are A-1 Auto, Oceana Auto, Paul's Auto and Tire, and McGhan's Towing. South of Baseline Road are Eagle Towing and Recovery, Strait's 24 Hour Towing, and Neal's Auto.

The splitting of rotations might eliminate sending more than one wrecker to a job.

"If you split the county, you make it more on rotation and you'll have to figure out two more rotations. That seems like a lot of work," Joe Rosse of Paul's Towing said. "I think the rotation we have now works the best, but it's not worth it to me to spend my fuel if I get to a job, and someone's already there. I would like to see a change be made."

Both Chuck and Jim Leonard of Oceana Auto were happy to see a rotation change.

"I think splitting the county at Baseline Road is a fair cut," Chuck Leonard said. "That's a good dividing line. We'll still get as many calls."

"Let's start over right now at this meeting," Jim Leonard said.

In three months, Altland will again meet with the wrecker representatives to review the change. (John Szegda - Herald-Journal)

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TEXAS -- Wrecker drivers around Galveston county expressed concern Monday that the City of La Marque's amended wrecker ordinance might hurt their business.

City officials said the change was an effort to protect the city, residents and the wrecker companies.

The ordinance approved Monday changed the city’s previous guidelines governing wrecker trucks by deleting a portion that mandated wrecker companies have a storage yard inside the city in order to be put on the city’s rotating non-consent tow list.

City Attorney Ellis Ortego said that federal law preempted the city from enforcing that guideline. He said that storage of vehicles fell under federal transportation laws that superceded the city’s ordinance.

“The federal government has a broad definition of transportation,” he said.

The new ordinance does not require wrecker companies to keep storage facilities in the city. That deletion has caused some local companies to worry wrecker services in Houston could now get on the city’s rotation list thereby taking away business from the local community.

“We have to stay competitive,” said James Morris, owner of MCH Auto and Truck Repair.

Morris and Robert McDonald spoke to city council members Monday about the wrecker ordinance and its implications, especially the pricing.

McDonald owns A&E Wrecker Service and said that the city’s guidelines on pricing were a cause of concern. McDonald had been charging $115 for the past two years for a tow until the city made him drop to $60, he said.

He said he was told he would be dropped off of the city’s rotation list if his prices were not lowered.

Morris said that the need to expand fleets and rising insurance costs made it difficult for the wrecker companies to make a profit.
“We’re not out here just raking in the money,” he said.

The city’s ordinance does not set a price for towing. That recommendation would come from a committee appointed by the city council. The city council will have the final say as to how much towing prices would be in the city.

City Manager Carol McLemore said that the city was trying to find a palatable solution to the concerns. She said as a service to residents it would be unfair for them to have their cars towed and have to drive to Houston to pick them up.

She said that the city is going to research a way to contract for non-consent tows with a stipulation that they companies have a storage yard in La Marque. (Alicia Gooden - The Daily News)

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ILLINOIS -- Since 1920, AAA Chicago has been offering Emergency Roadside Service to its members. Now, the signature service is available to members on the Internet at www.aaa.com .

Members who require a tow, extricating/winching, fuel delivery or lockout service can log onto www.aaa.com and fill out a service request form. A service truck will then be dispatched electronically.

As call volumes have increased over the years, AAA has had to utilize cutting edge technology to assure efficient and reliable service. AAA Chicago averages nearly 400,000 ERS calls in a year and nearly 30 million ERS calls are made a year throughout the United States and Canada.

"The service will be especially useful to members who have car problems while at home or at work, and at times when call volumes are extremely high," said Dave Bufka, AAA Chicago's senior vice president of member and automotive services. "Many people don't realize that more than 60 percent of the ERS calls, especially during winter storms, come from members who are in the need of assistance at home or work."

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FLORIDA -- An employee of a Palm Beach County towing company was arrested over the weekend after an unruly customer alleged their family was kept inside the company's fenced impound lot against its will.

Kaitlyn D'Alessandro, 20, was jailed, and her company is threatening to sue the sheriff's office for what seems to be an unwarranted arrest.

According to D'Alessandro, the incident began when a furious customer blamed her company, Kings Wrecker, for slashing his tire.

"There was a picture of the tire flat before we towed it," D'Alessandro said.

D'Alessandro, who is seven months pregnant, said the man acted surprised to see the picture which proved his tire was already flat and later accused her driver of stealing tools from the van.

"He was saying we're thieves and crooks," D'Alessandro said. "The customer threatened to call police, and I said, 'That's fine, you're more than welcome to do that.'"

Several minutes passed before two Palm Beach County sheriff's deputies arrived, but instead of asking D'Alessandro about the tire or tools, she said the driver had made other accusations.

"They asked me if I'm the gatekeeper, and I said, 'I'm the only supervisor here who ran the gate,'" D'Alessandro said.

The customer's wife reportedly told the sheriff's office that her family was not being allowed out of the lot in their car. Authorities then arrested D'Alessandro.

"I finished with the customer," D'Alessandro said. "(The deputy) asked me to come around the corner to where he was, and he said, 'You're under arrest for false imprisonment.'"

No one disputes that the gate was closed, but Kings Wrecker's owner, Jerry Lopez, said no one forced the customer or his family to stay.

"She had plenty of time to leave on two occasions," Lopez said. "The reason why these people never left was to make a theft report. Period. End of story."

Lopez said he is outraged that no deputy took the time to recognize D'Alessandro's condition.

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MICHIGAN -- Monroe police are investigating a van fire that killed a tow truck driver's 2-year-old boy and left his 11-day-old sister clinging to life.

James Scheffler works as a tow truck driver at an auto parts store. His wife, Claira buckled children Jacob and Julionna into a minivan Saturday night after losing power at home, police said. They said that she drove to the auto parts store where her husband worked. 

While she was inside calling the power company, the van caught fire.

Bystanders saw the vehicle on fire and alerted the parents. A witness pulled the children from the van and began performing CPR.

The boy died. His sister was taken to an Ann Arbor hospital where she remains in critical condition.

Fire officials said that the fire appears to have started in the engine of the van, described as an older model. Authorities said that the fire spread quickly.

Witnesses told police that the woman was only in the store for a brief period of time. Investigators said that they believe the fire was accidental.

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MINNESOTA -- State legislature has approved a bill mandating that diesel fuel sold in the state contain a mixture of 2 percent biodiesel. The bill now must be signed by Gov. Jesse Ventura to become law.

Biodiesel is a fuel made from vegetable oils or animal fats. Under the legislation, Minnesota’s diesel fuel would have to meet the 2 percent biodiesel requirement by June 2005; or as soon as the state can produce 8 million gallons of biodiesel annually and a federal tax adjustment somehow lowers the price of the Minnesota biodiesel by 2 cents per gallon.

The Minnesota Trucking Association and a group of business, transportation and consumer interests called the Biodiesel By Choice Coalition have come out against the measure, saying it will have a negative economic impact with little, if any, corresponding environmental benefit.

The 2 percent biodiesel is expected to be 3 cents per gallon more expensive than standard diesel, and would cost Minnesota truckers alone an additional $16.3 million per year, according to a study published on the coalition’s Web site.

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WASHINGTON D.C. -- Police investigated a double shooting that left one person dead at a towing company lot in Northwest D.C.

It happened at the corner of Otis Place, Northwest, a couple of blocks south of the Metro station. That's where police say shortly before 3:30 p.m., the victims were in front of a towing company lot when two suspects came up and opened fire.

One man died at Washington Hospital Center from a bullet to the head. The other man is at Howard University Hospital after being shot in the chest.

There are no immediate details on what led to the shooting, or whether a suspect is in custody. We will bring you more when the details are released.

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According to a new study by J. D. Power and Associates, 30% of consumers in the market to buy a new vehicle indicate that they would definitely consider purchasing hybrid electric vehicle, with another 30% indicating a strong consideration. The study surveyed 5,200 people, the firm noted.

J. D. Power's Hybrid Vehicle Consumer Acceptance Study found the number one reason consumers said they would consider buying a hybrid vehicle is concern over high fuel prices. Other concerns include the high level of U.S. dependency on foreign fuel supplies, a federal tax incentive and concern for the environment.

Though price and costs play a critical role in the acceptance of hybrid vehicle technology, the study shows there is a greater willingness to pay for hybrid vehicles than previously believed. Consumers also expect to pay more for a hybrid than they would for a traditional gasoline-engine vehicle, J. D. Power said.

Consumers also indicate that their appetite for hybrids would increase if the federal government helped offset some of the additional costs. Consumers not only see a federal tax credit as important to their decision to purchase a hybrid, they also expect the credit to be nearly equal to the additional cost for the hybrid option over that of the gasoline-engine version, the study said.

Based on its own forecasts and market data, Agoura Hills, CA-based J.D. Power expects the hybrid market to reach 500,000 vehicles per year shortly 2005.

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FLORIDA -- "Be good little tow operators and you'll get a gold star", That's Palm Beach County's kindergarten-like plan to reign in what they call price-gouging towing companies.

The new gold-star decals will adorn tow trucks from companies who agree to ethical practices, and criminal background checks, and then lay down a cold, hard $500 cash.

The county says it's designed to give consumers confidence in towing operators and an industry troubled by price-gouging and other problems, but  the Gold Star program essentially takes the place of the county's illegal licensing fees, which were eliminated last year after the county was sued for violation of federal law.

Palm Beach County commissioners approved the Gold Star Standard program Tuesday, two weeks after slashing county towing rates claiming they were too high. The rules take effect around April 1.

While tow operators are getting less money, more fees, and a shiny new sticker, Dennis Moore, the county's consumer affairs director says "The consumer's are getting a real break here". He also admits that companies that sign-up for the program will be subject to citations, $500 fines, and even jail time for non compliance. 

The new Gold Star Standard program will recognize towing companies if they pay a fee and meet certain criteria, including conducting criminal background checks on their employees, abiding by ethical business practices and agreeing to mediation in billing disputes.

The county did not elaborate on the billing  mediation, but with such clear billing guidelines having been laid out by the county, it's unclear why mediation would ever be needed. Perhaps, when a consumer, who parked illegally and got their car impounded, complains about the amount they paid to get their car out of impound, the county will order towing companies to lower the bill even further to make the consumer happy.

James Jennings, president of Emerald Towing in Boca Raton, said he supports the Gold Star program because it will help separate the good guys from the bad guys. But Rich Gerweck, owner of East Coast Towing of Boca Raton, said the Gold Star fees are akin to paying for a county contract.

Commissioner Burt Aaronson said, "It's no different than the Good Housekeeping seal of approval." Except, it costs $500, and if you don't sign-up with the program, the county has promised to list your towing company on it's website as a rip-off company.

The county's Moore said an incentive program is the closest thing the county can get to regulating the towing industry.

In 1995, Congress, realizing that tow companies were being overly burdened with regulation, passed a law restricting a county's ability to regulate towing, making it "interstate commerce," just like trucking.

Subsequently, two operators sued Palm Beach, Broward and Miami-Dade counties. Palm Beach County settled in 2001, agreeing to regulate only the maximum fees companies can charge for the so-called "nonconsent tows," such as when police call for a tow truck after a collision.

Two weeks ago, commissioners lowered those fees, claiming that they were among the highest in the country. Tuesday, they knocked them down further.

They cut the flat rate for nonconsent tows from $120 to $80. But they allowed towers to charge a storage fee of $20 after six hours rather than after 24 hours.

All together, many citizens will pay about $100 for a tow of a standard size automobile parked illegally on private property and recovered at least six hours later. That compares with $140 for such a tow a month ago.

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NEW YORK -- Niagara Falls Tow truck operators reached an very uneasy, tentative agreement with city officials Monday over a proposed new towing ordinance, which would raise the charges they collect but also impose a new license fee.

In a meeting with city administration representatives, City Council Chairwoman Frances M. Iusi and Councilman Vince V. Anello, the tow truck operators agreed to a license fee of $300 every two years, half of the original proposal, and got a $10 surcharge dropped.

The city administration wanted the towing operators to collect the surcharge on every call and pass it back to the city. The operators said that they didn't want to be the city's collection agency and that handling the surcharge would be too cumbersome for them. Iusi and City Administrator Albert T. Joseph agreed Monday they couldn't find a way to make that work either.

George Satarian of Satarian Towing said the new fee structure is all right, but the operators are less happy about the license fee. "We have no choice. We have to be happy," he said.

Iusi claimed the fees were based on what the operators said were fair. There are 13 operators on the city's preferred towing list.

In 2000' The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, in the case of Tocher vs. Santa Ana, found that additional licensing fees like the $300 that Niagara Falls is attempting to charge are prohibited by federal law. 

Joseph withdrew the ordinance from the Council agenda in January after the operators complained. They said they had negotiated the new charges but had never been consulted about the license fee. Iusi said the tentative agreement would likely go back to the Council for approval Monday. <