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International Towing & Recovery Hall of Fame and Museum press release: The International Towing & Recovery Hall of Fame and Museum has announced it will induct nine new members into its Hall of Fame this fall. The inductees, including one posthumous honoree, hail from the United States, France and Australia. The 2024 honorees are, in alphabetical order: • William Clayton of Nambour, Queensland, Australia, who has over 50 years of experience in the towing industry and is director of Clayton’s Towing Service, which is the largest towing company in Australia, employing over 170 workers in 16 locations. “Bill Clayton has not only elevated the towing industry to new heights, but also has become a beloved figure,” according to his nomination. • Francis D. Coady of Seabrook, NH, is founder and president of Coady’s Garage and Towing Service, of Lawrence, MA, and was one of the first towing operators in the nation to pass the National Driver Certification Test of the Towing and Recovery Association of America (TRAA). “For over 50 years Frank Coady has been an innovator, proven his exemplary dedication to the towing industry, exuded leadership to everyone, and has certainly had a lasting effect on the towing Industry and thousands of professionals with whom he has crossed paths.” • Jean Georges, Menil-aux-Bois, France, is founder of Jige, the most recognized brand of towing and recovery equipment in Europe. Georges grew the company to be the largest manufacturer in Europe, and has invented ground-breaking technology including the Simple, Solematic, Beaver-Tail, Mid-City Eurotow and Mega. “Georges has spent his life dedicated to the towing and recovery industry, creating products that were more reliable and more safe to operate.” • Jeffrey Godwin of Longview, TX, serves on the board of directors of the International Towing & Recovery Hall of Fame and Museum, dedicating time and money to the organization. Most important, Godwin is co-chair of the towing museum’s Survivor Fund, which helps the families of towing operators who have died in the line of service to the motoring public. “Jeffrey’s foresight and vision are a gift to any organization he participates in. His single most important contribution is his commitment to, and growth of, the Survivor Fund.” • Kevin Goodyear, Enterprise, AL, took over the family business at age 19, and built the largest towing company in the Wiregrass area with multiple locations in Alabama and Florida. He has worked with the Alabama legislature to improve the state’s lien and Move Over laws. “We need towing operators who are striving to make a difference day in and day out. Kevin is just such a man, a leader who has and continues to positively impact this industry.” • Joseph R. Haines, Jr., of Columbus, NJ, is a second-generation towing operator who was a founding member of the Garden State Towing Association, holding several vice-president positions over the years. “He has given every part of himself to serve this industry, his community and his business, and in doing so has created a legacy for his family.” • Walter R. Mayer, Brookhaven, GA, has played a pivotal role in shaping and elevating the towing industry and profession in Atlanta and beyond. He successfully sued the city of Atlanta, alleging the city’s impound process hindered federal trade commerce. The legal victory set a precedent for fair practices in the towing industry. In addition, Mayer has been involved in many civic and community projects. “Ronnie Mayer’s remarkable career, marked by expertise, leadership and commitment to service, makes him an asset to the towing and recovery community.” • William G. Miller II, Ooltewah, TN, leads Miller Industries as CEO, helping to modernize and expand its production facilities. He played an integral part in creating the Wall of the Fallen, which honors towing operators who have lost their lives in the line of service. Miller has supported state and federal lobbying efforts in favor of the towing and recovery industry. As president of the Miller Family Foundation, he has been a major fundraiser for St. Jude Children’s Research. “He has guided not only Miller Industries, but also the industry to be more professionally recognized.” • Jack Wendell Richards (posthumous), Alberta, Canada, drove his first tow truck in 1949 at age 14, and was passionate about the betterment of the towing industry in Alberta and Canada for 70-plus years. “His razor-sharp focus on service and professionalism at every level was the backbone of the company he built, and it stood as an inspiration to others.” The Towing & Recovery Hall of Fame was launched in 1986 to recognize individuals who have made substantial contributions to the towing and recovery industry. “The industry realized it was time to display the roots of the profession,” according to the museum. Over 300 towing professionals have entered the Hall of Fame to date. The inductees will be officially recognized at a formal ceremony on Saturday, September 28, 2024, at the Westin Hotel Chattanooga during the organization’s annual Museum Weekend scheduled for September 27 – 29, 2024. View the full article and more on TowTimes.com

The 2024 Survivor Fund Golf Classic was held Thursday, April 18, at the Celebration Golf Club in Celebration, Fla. The day offered plenty of sunshine and clear skies as approximately 140 golfers participated in the event which included team photos, a driving range, lunch and a putting contest. At the end of play were happy hour festivities, an awards ceremony and raffle drawings. All proceeds from the event go to the International Towing and Recovery Hall of Fame and Museum’s Survivor Fund which provides immediate financial support to families of towing operators who lose their lives in the line of service. Look for full coverage of the Classic in an upcoming issue of Tow Times magazine. View the full article and more on TowTimes.com

TRAA press release: Following a successful Hill Day where TRAA members conducted meetings with over 100 Members of Congress and their staff, TRAA has continued to lead Congressional efforts to oppose FMCSA’s baseless suggestion that the FTC include “predatory towing fees” as part of the rulemaking on Unfair and Deceptive Trade Practices. During our meetings, TRAA articulated why regulation of the towing industry and/or fees are outside the FTC’s jurisdiction. These reasons included: Congress has already delegated regulation of towing practices and pricing – and it is not to the FTC. Under PL 113-159, Congress set all non-consent towing regulation to state and localities, and consensual towing [the vast majority of Commercial Motor Vehicle (CMV) towing] to the FMCSA. The FTC’s junk fee rule is aimed at protecting consumers, not the commercial trucking industry, and the FTC does not have the authority to regulate transportation policy. An FTC rulemaking under 15 U.S.C. § 57 that includes fees for towing, consensual or non-consensual, would subvert the will of Congress, which has already delegated to the states and FMCSA. Most importantly, TRAA communicated that FMCSA’s suggestion to include all fees upfront is unrealistic given how a tow works. Requiring multiple towing operators to respond to the scene and provide competing quotes goes directly against Quick Clearance by significantly increasing the amount of time and number of responders on-scene. The unintended consequence would be a significant risk to public safety and to the lives of the responders required to stand on the side of the road while quotes are negotiated. Congressional offices were very much in agreement with these points and agreed that direct dialogue between the towing industry and FMCSA is the best approach to addressing the concerns of FMCSA over transparency in towing fees. Accordingly, TRAA has asked Congress to include the below language in the FY25 appropriations bill, which the House and Senate will begin drafting later this month. The Committee is aware of the Federal Trade Commission’s Proposed Rule on Unfair and Deceptive Fees. The Committee is also aware of recent efforts to include certain towing fees for commercial motor vehicles in this rule. Given the lack of evidence obtained by the Agency prior to publishing its draft Rule and the focus of the Rule on the individual consumer rather than commercial consumers, the Committee is concerned that the inclusion of towing fees in the Rule on Unfair and Deceptive Fees would be outside the scope of the Rule as submitted to Congress for review. The Committee instead supports the creation of a Department of Transportation-led task force to address transparency in towing fees as the agency with legislatively mandated authority to address the issue and industry expertise. In addition, we are actively working with FMCSA on the proposed Tow Services Transparency Task Force and anticipate further updates on this effort in the not-too-distant future. View the full article and more on TowTimes.com

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Special thanks To Miller Industry and Tow Times for putting on an Awesome Show. Lots of Demos and Classes!!

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Tow truck driver injured in SH 121 crash dies from his injuries, police say The driver who hit the tow truck told officers that "he had fallen asleep, and did not wake up until he felt the impact of the crash." GRAPEVINE, Texas — A tow truck driver hospitalized after a crash on State Highway 121 has died from his injuries, according to the Grapevine Police Department. Officers responded just before Noon April 16 to the 2000 block of North SH-121 after reports of a multi-vehicle crash in the southbound lanes. When they arrived they found a man on the roadway with major injuries and his tow truck with rear damage about 30 feet behind him. The driver of a work truck who admitted to hitting the tow truck stayed at the scene. He was not injured. He told officers that "he had fallen asleep, and did not wake up until he felt the impact of the crash." The department said in a news release that the victim was responsive and was taken to the hospital and expected to survive. The next day, hospital staff notified Grapevine police that the victim died "from internal injuries." The victim was identified as 27-year-old Mohammad Ahmed Abdelraheem. The department has launched a death investigation but said no arrests have been made. "Extreme fatigue and drowsiness can be just as dangerous for drivers as intoxication. If you or a loved one are too tired to drive, please pull over or seek another ride," the department said in a news release. This is a developing story please check back for updates. RESOURCE LINK

Tow truck driver critically injured when truck he was unloading rolled onto him, Pct. 4 constable says The driver was unloading the truck for an auction at the time of the incident. He was rushed to an area hospital in critical condition. HARRIS COUNTY, Texas — A tow truck driver was critically injured Thursday afternoon when the truck he was unloading rolled on top of him, according to Harris County Pct. 4 Constable Mark Herman. This happened near Beltway 8 and Bencrest Drive. The constable first posted about the incident on X, formerly Twitter, at 12:32 p.m. The driver was unloading the truck for an auction at the time of the incident. He was rushed to a hospital in critical condition. RESOURCE LINK Tow truck driver critically hurt when vehicle rolls onto him in N. Harris County, authorities say HARRIS COUNTY, Texas (KTRK) -- A tow truck driver was rushed to the hospital after authorities said a truck rolled onto him in north Harris County. Thursday's scene began unfolding at about 12:24 p.m. in the 4500 block of North Sam Houston Parkway West, near Bencrest Drive. According to the Harris County Constable Precinct 4's Office, a caller stated that a truck had fallen on a man. Upon further investigation at the scene, authorities learned the tow truck driver was unloading a truck for an auction when it rolled onto him. The man was taken to a nearby hospital and is said to be critically injured. RESOURCE LINK

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Got a call for a TriAxle dump that broke the rear suspension. It was loaded heavy and they were afraid that the front drive axle would roll under the truck. I informed them that they had to unload it...I knew I could lift it but nobody was going down the road with it backwards... Pretty simple rear pick at the frame rails w/ tall forks... The driver unloaded it in the back of this lot where they can go back to get it with a skid steer & dump tomorrow.

Started to get some camper moves this week... Sometimes they can be a "PITA" but as long as you're getting paid enough for the aggravation....

@Florida Tow Guy No, this year we did not setup a booth, but I will be touring the area and networking. Email me if you'd like to meet. nelson.algarin@telefocus.net

Bagged Twin Turbo Lamborghini Jump Start #towvibes #youtube #creator

@Telefocus.net I did not find your company on the exhibitors list. Do you have a booth number?