This is my first letter to Progressive:

Progressive Insurance is currently running a T.V. commercial that is very offensive to those in the towing industry. It portrays a tow truck driver as an uneducated, unclean, scam artist. I cant help but wonder why an insurance company would run a commercial that belittles an industry participant that is so important to them.

As the webmaster for a prominent towing website, and board member of my state towing association, I am constantly bombarded with questions about "the Progressive Insurance commercial". It is, after all, quite offensive.

You should visit some of the national online towing forums (http://209.164.107.203/talk.htm) and see what towers are saying about Progressive. It's not pretty.

I can remember several times when I have opened my doors for your eager claims adjuster that wanted to view a car after hours (Those guys are on the ball). By law, I could of charged Progressive ๅ for this, but I didn't. Unfortunately, according to what I'm hearing and reading, that kind of professional courtesy will be very hard for you come by in the future.

Remember that 90% of tow operators are members of a towing association, and someone in that association will see the commercial and soon you have offended an entire industry, an industry that you should be working hand-in-hand with for the benefit of both parties.

I personally wouldn't want the one person that thinks very poorly of Progressive to be the first person to talk each of my customers after an accident.

This was their response:

Dear Mr. Trull,

Thanks for the feedback about one of our recent commercials. The latest advertising campaign takes real-life situations and presents them in a way that's so far from reality that, to most, it's humorous. For example, in one commercial, we depict zoo animals outside of the zoo, eating dinner at someone's home. This is clearly not based in reality and is intended to capture the audience's attention by using humor.  In the desert spot, Progressive depicts two people who are obviously caricatures of tow truck operators. This is an effort to once again capture the audience's attention.

No offense is intended to any group or individual represented in any of Progressive's advertising. We truly value the work done by tow operators like yourself - and feel fairly confident that consumers understand the ad is light-hearted and not intended as a realistic portrayal of anyone.

We value your opinion and appreciate the assistance you, and the members of our state towing association provide to Progressive customers.

Moira G. Lardakis
Chief Communications Officer
Progressive Insurance
webmaster@progressive.com

This is my second letter to Progressive:

Dear Ms. Lardakis,

I appreciate the fast response. I'm sure the zoo animals are not offended, however the towing industry is. If your commercial is, as you put it, a caricature of tow truck drivers then by definition you must believe that tow truck drivers are unclean, uneducated, slovenly, and dishonest, because these are the qualities you have emphasized in your commercial.

You see, according to Webster's Dictionary, the definition of car·i·ca·ture is: A representation, especially pictorial or literary, in which the subject's distinctive features or peculiarities are deliberately exaggerated to produce a comic or grotesque effect. A grotesque imitation or misrepresentation.

But this is only funny when those distinctive features are big noses, or funny hair styles.

If you, as a company, look at our industry as a bunch of dirty, dishonest, bums, that's your opinion, But when you portray that image to America, that's unacceptable.

In your response you state that these scenarios are "so far from reality that, to most, it's humorous". Well, there was a time, many years ago, when the auto mechanic was also the tow truck driver. He was uneducated, dirty from working on cars, and the only one in town with a tow truck, albeit homemade. Our industry has been working for over 80 years to shake the image of the backyard towing company. So you see, your commercial is not nearly far enough away from the truth.

You may of read in the news about Radio Shack's cell phone ad that read "You're on a wireless, when suddenly an 18-wheeler is in your lane, cutting you off!". As you can imagine the American Trucking Association as well as truck drivers everywhere were quite upset. Radio Shack responded January 29th with an apology to the trucking industry. They didn't mean to offend anyone either, but you won't see a truck driver in a Radio Shack store for years.

So, on behalf of my association, the tow operators that I represent, and the thousands of tow operators that will read this on our website, I respectfully request that you pull this offensive commercial off the air.

No matter how good, or unknowing your intentions, you must know from all the letters and emails that you have offended an entire industry. Whether you wish to make us enemies is up to you.

Bill Trull
Independent Towers of Washington

The letter above was sent on January 30th, and Progressive Insurance will not respond to it. They refuse to acknowledge that they are offending people. They simply do not care.

I will tell every Progressive customer I meet about the offensive and disrespectful practices of their insurance company. I will not accept anything less then cash-up-front when Progressive is paying my bill. I will never again open my doors after hours for the progressive adjuster, and I will never give them a discount of any kind when they are unfortunate enough to have a car in one of my impound yards.

To my knowledge,they are not yet authorized to write vehicle insurance in Jersey == thus,no commercials to critique.

But,we have towed some people in from out of state,with their insurance.

They,plus ALL insurance companies,would be better off projecting us,the professional tower,as a friendly & compassionate person,who wants to HELP their insured in a time of need.

YES, I fully agree with towing associations,certification,clean & proper,safe equipment.
All of this, DEMANDS A PRICE == We are professionals.
Act professional, look professional, be professional & charge professionally.

If your wife was in your truck,with a white dress or slack outfit,she should be just as clean,when she got out,as when she got in it.
THAT IS THE ATTITUDE EVERYONE SHOULD HAVE IN THIS INDUSTRY.

No greasy gloves on the seat,no dirty rags on the floor,no coffee cups or food wrappers on the passenger side floor.

As professionals,the motoring public should "FEEL WELCOME" when we assist them into our vehicle,for any reason.

But, I deplore & despise the comments from Progressive Insurance Company +++ JUST TO GET THE VIEWERS ATTENTION.

It would be better,if they displayed a newer unit,with a clean-cut,professional driver safely performing some of our job functions === i.e. === reverse roll or california roll, or same lane recovery, or flat-bed twist.
HOW MANY T.V. VIEWERS HAVE SEEN THOSE???
That should "tweak" their interest === to want to watch that commercial.

And,YES, you can use my comments,in your next letter to PROGRESSIVE INSURANCE CO.

C'ya in the ditch------------HEFFY

P.S. == YES,myself and ALL of my employees have the right to a good standard of living, sufficient benefits, and a healthy work environment.

The State Farm agent (My friend) stopped by this afternoon to tell me about it.

I hope Oppressive, I mean Progressive is pleased, I sure am.