TowNews

When encountering emergency vehicles or tow trucks stopped on the highway, two sections of the Highway Traffic Act dictate what is required by drivers North Bay OPP recently participated in a traffic initiative to bring awareness to the importance of moving over and slowing down for emergency vehicles stopped on the roadways. Between July 14 and 16, officers participated in Operation Slow Down on area roadways. As a result, numerous charges resulted; 19 Fail to move into another lane for an emergency vehicle or tow truck - if safe to do so one failing to slow down and proceed with caution for an emergency vehicle or tow truck 27 Speeding 1-49 kilometres per hour charges two other Highway Traffic Act charges When encountering emergency vehicles or tow trucks stopped on the highway, two sections of the Highway Traffic Act dictate what is required by drivers. Section 159(2) HTA Fail to slow down and proceed with caution for an emergency vehicle or tow truck - states that a driver upon approaching an emergency vehicle or tow truck with emergency lights activated and stopped on a highway, the driver of a vehicle travelling on the same side of the highway shall slow down and proceed with caution, having due regard for traffic and the conditions of the highway and the weather, to ensure that the driver does not collide with the emergency vehicle or tow truck or endanger any person outside of the emergency vehicle or tow truck. Section 159(3) HTA Fail to move into another lane for an emergency vehicle or tow truck -if safe to do so - states that a driver, upon approaching an emergency vehicle or tow truck stopped on a highway with emergency lights activated, is required to slow down and proceed with caution like in section (2) above …….as well as move into another lane if the movement can be made safely. https://www.baytoday.ca/local-news/19-drivers-caught-not-moving-over-for-emergency-vehicles-locally-7297778

Thief steals tow truck and 2 cars it was towing at RTD Park-n-Ride in Parker A thief in Parker stole a tow truck and the two vehicles it was towing and police are asking for the public's help in their investigation of the case. It happened on Wednesday morning at the Parker RTD Park-n-Ride at 10740 Longs Way. The tow truck was a 2018 Ford F-650 flatbed tow truck that belongs to RT Towing. Police say it had a 2001 Silver Honda Accord on the back and it was towing a 2020 Ford Transit cargo van. They say the cargo van has heavy front-end damage. The driver was outside the vehicle when it happened and spotted their tow truck being driven away but were not able to see the thief well enough to offer a description. After it was stolen, the tow truck and the cars it was towing pulled out of the Park-n-Ride and headed north on South Parker Road. That was the last time it was seen. Anyone with information about this crime that might help in the investigation is asked to contact the Parker Police Department at 303.841.9800. "Please help us recover a family's livelihood," Parker police wrote in a Facebook post. RESOURCE LINK

2 seriously injured in 3-vehicle Lorain County crash Highway patrol troopers said that alcohol or drugs do not appear to be a factor in the incident, but fatigue may have played a role. LORAIN COUNTY, Ohio — Two drivers were seriously injured in a three-vehicle crash in Penfield Township in Lorain County on Tuesday according to the Ohio State Highway Patrol. Troopers were called to the scene of a crash that happened on State Route (SR) 301 approximately a half mile south of SR 18. Upon arrival, troopers found two men injured from the crash, 48-year-old Scott Conaway and 19-year-old Antonio Perez both sustained injuries serious enough to be transported to Elyria University Hospitals. The third driver, 42-year-old George Slaughter, did not sustain any injuries. An investigation into the incident revealed that a truck driven by Slaughter and a flat bed tow truck driven by Conaway were traveling northbound on SR 301. A pickup truck driven by Perez was traveling southbound on SR 301 when witnesses say Perez traveled left of center, sideswiped Slaughter's truck and hit Conaway's vehicle head-on. All three vehicles were disabled due to the crash. Highway patrol troopers said that alcohol or drugs do not appear to be a factor in the incident, but fatigue may have played a role. No additional information was given on the health status of Conaway and Perez at this time. RESOURCE LINK

Man accused of robbing, illegally towing victim’s tractor-trailer MEMPHIS, Tenn. — A man is being charged with robbery after allegedly towing a driver’s tractor-trailer to a lot and taking over $200 from him. Michael Williams According to officials, on July 5 around 12:10 a.m., Memphis Police Department responded to a robbery/ individual call at a truck stop in the Airport area. The victim said two unknown males approached him, and started attaching the victim’s Kenworth Tractor Trailer to an A1 tow truck. MPD says the two suspects told the victim to pay a $272 parking fee through the S Line Truck Parking app posted on a pole. After the victim paid, the two males reportedly shoved, grabbed, and knocked his phone out of his hand before leaving with his tractor-trailer. Investigators say the victim met with them and showed a receipt of his payment to the S Line Truck Parking app. The victim also stated that he had to pay an additional $3,000 to the A1 tow yard in South Memphis, VCU investigators say. Video of the incident that was captured from the cameras attached to his trailer. He was able to positively identify Michael Williams and the other man who pushed and shoved him during the incident. Williams was charged with Robbery. Court records did not say whether another suspect was charged. RESOURCE LINK

A new law in Maryland addresses concerns about unfair towing in the state. Rule changes are touted to establish basic consumer protections for truck drivers and motor carriers involved in a nonconsensual tow in the state. Previously HB487, the new law establishes requirements and procedures for the “police-initiated towing” of certain commercial vehicles at the request of the Maryland State Police. “Per pound billing” is outlawed in the new rule. Per pound billing is defined as a method of calculating a fee for towing and recovery services using a formula that considers the weight of the vehicle, equipment, or cargo that is the subject of the towing and recovery and multiplies that weight by a monetary amount. The Department of State Police also must make publicly available, upon request, a tow list of qualifying tow companies for use by troopers in carrying out duties. A complaint process for resolving disputes is also required. Authorized tow companies must submit a rate sheet to the DSP for police-initiated towing. Companies are prohibited from charging more than the rates on the rate sheet. Companies can charge less than the approved rates. Another provision allows a vehicle owner or operator to request the use of a specific towing company. DSP must honor that request. The requirement does not apply in certain circumstances. An example of an exception is if the requested company cannot arrive “within a reasonable time period” or other circumstances exist that would delay arrival. One more provision establishes that “authorized tow companies” must provide reasonable access to vehicles subject to police-initiated towing. Requirements related to the release of vehicles and cargo is also outlined. The new rules take effect Oct. 1. Truckers welcome rule change The Maryland Motor Truck Association and the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association backed the legislation. OOIDA says the problem has not been with state police but instead with companies that price gouge. The truckers group includes about 1,700 Maryland members who are small-business motor carriers and professional truck drivers. “Our members regularly become victims of unscrupulous towing and recovery companies that continue to take advantage of the system, often times inflating their invoices by tens of thousands of dollars,” a previous OOIDA letter reads. The Association says the rule change removes a loophole that permitted bad actors to charge whatever they wanted. OOIDA submitted to lawmakers examples of excessive charges. One example showed a $77,100 charge for clearing an overturned tractor-trailer blocking a roadway. LL More Land Line coverage of news from Maryland. RESOURCE LINK

New Mexico is the latest state to adopt California’s Advanced Clean Trucks rule. Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham recently announced that New Mexico will adopt California’s Advanced Clean Trucks rule, which is the strongest emission rule in the nation. According to the Advanced Clean Trucks rule, manufacturers who certify Class 2b-8 chassis or complete vehicles with combustion engines would be required to sell zero-emission trucks as an increasing percentage of their annual sales from 2024 to 2035. By 2035, zero-emission truck/chassis sales would need to be 55% of Class 2b-3 truck sales, 75% of Class 4-8 straight truck sales, and 40% of truck tractor sales. “These rules will speed up much-needed investment in New Mexico’s electric vehicle and clean hydrogen fueling infrastructure, create new job opportunities and, most importantly, result in cleaner and healthier air for all New Mexicans to breathe,” Gov. Lujan Grisham said in a statement. The rules only apply to automakers, not auto dealers or consumers. The Advanced Clean Trucks rule does not prohibit the sale or ownership of new or used gasoline-powered trucks. California is the only state allowed to adopt emission requirements that are stricter than federal regulations. With an economy that would rank fourth in the world if it were its own country, regulations set by California may have a trickledown effect as manufacturers scramble to compete in the state. Several states have adopted California’s Advanced Clean Trucks rule, but those states have been waiting on the federal government to grant California’s waivers. Advanced Clean Trucks opposition Trucking industry stakeholders argue that California is moving too fast with its Advanced Clean Trucks rule. The Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association has long argued that truckers also want a cleaner environment but that the technology must be reliable and cost-effective. “This is another example of California approving onerous regulations that increase operating costs for truckers within the state,” said Jay Grimes, OOIDA director of federal affairs. “Whether it’s CARB emission requirements or misguided legislation like AB5, it’s no surprise we’re seeing small-business truckers and independent contractors looking for opportunities elsewhere. Vehicle reliability and affordability are top priorities for OOIDA members. We have yet to see proof that electric (commercial motor vehicles) are a realistic option for most trucking businesses considering the price tag and lack of charging infrastructure.” On June 5, 19 state attorneys general filed a petition for review in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit challenging California’s Advanced Clean Trucks regulation. According to an Iowa Office of the Attorney General news release, the Advanced Clean Trucks regulation will cost businesses and consumers as it will hike the prices of a new truck to the high six figures. Iowa led the lawsuit joined by Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Kansas, Kentucky, Indiana, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Ohio, South Carolina, Utah, West Virginia and Wyoming. LL RESOURCE LINK

BSO: Tow truck driver hit, killed while working in North Lauderdale NORTH LAUDERDALE, Fla. – A woman struck and killed a tow truck driver working in North Lauderdale on Saturday, according to the Broward Sheriff’s Office. The agency released information about the crash Tuesday. According to BSO, just before 9 p.m. on Saturday, Tawanda Hanberry was driving a 2012 Lincoln MKX SUV and lost control of her vehicle while driving along West McNab Road near State Road 7. Deputies said she began to slide and rotate clockwise moving towards the parked tow truck. The driver of the tow truck was wearing a safety vest, standing on the driver’s side of the truck, operating the flat bed, when Hanberry hit him. BSO deputies and fire rescue crews responded to the scene. After paramedics took the driver to a nearby hospital, he was pronounced dead. Authorities did not identify the tow truck driver, citing Marsy’s Law. Deputies said their investigation is ongoing. They said Hanberry remained at the scene and was cooperative. It’s unclear whether she’ll face any charges. RESOURCE LINK

The NEWS got the Headline Wrong: This is being shared because those who will see Tow Truck Driver and jump to the conclusion without reading the article. Tow truck driver killed by drunk driver, Forsyth County deputies say FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — Authorities are investigating a deadly crash in Forsyth County. Forsyth County Sheriff officials said on Wednesday at 6:45 p.m., deputies received reports of a head-on crash on Parks Road west of Burrus Mill Road. According to the investigation, a red Dodge Ram 2500 truck, driven by 24-year-old Yamilet Sanchez Pagan of Gainesville, was traveling west on Parks Road when her vehicle crossed the eastbound lane, hitting a gray F-150 head-on. Authorities said the F-150, driven by 48-year-old Salvador Cervantes Bernal of Cumming, was towing a landscaping trailer. Deputies confirmed that Bernal was pronounced dead at the scene. Pagan was taken to the hospital. Authorities determined that Pagan was under the influence of drugs during the crash. Pagan was charged with first-degree homicide by vehicle, driving under the influence of drugs, reckless driving, driving while license suspended, failure to maintain lane and failure to maintain insurance. Deputies said Pagan is in the hospital but will be taken into custody once she’s released. The crash remains under investigation. RESOURCE LINK

UPDATE: Maysville man dies day after Demorest wreck A tow truck driver involved in a rollover crash Tuesday on Cannon Bridge Road in Demorest has died. According to the Georgia State Patrol, Corey Dearing, 40, of Maysville, passed away as a result of his injuries. Habersham County Coroner Kasey McEntire says Dearing died Wednesday. Dearing was fatally injured when the construction tow truck he was driving ran down an embankment and overturned around 3:10 p.m. on June 20. State troopers say Dearing was driving the Kenworth rollback south on Cannon Bridge Road when he traveled into the northbound lane. The preliminary accident report states the driver “overcorrected [and] traveled off the west shoulder of Cannon Bridge” before traveling down the embankment. RESOURCE LINK

Trial begins in murder of DeKalb County tow truck business owner DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. - The trial for a man charged with killing a DeKalb County tow truck business operator begins Wednesday. Victor Richardson, 26, is due in court Wednesday morning facing charges of felony murder and aggravated assault. He's accused of being the gunman in a deadly shooting on May 17, 2022 at a Chevron gas station on Memorial Drive. Police say Richardson got into an argument with a man that Christopher Harrold was training, returned with a gun, and opened fire, killing the owner of Fast-Action Towing. At a vigil for Harrold at the gas station, his wife Maya Harrold said she was heartbroken. "It didn't matter whether you were homeless or the most prominent attorney in Atlanta. It didn't matter if you were an entertainer. Everybody loves Chris," she said. Harrold left behind a wife and five children. The trial is set to start at 9 a.m. at the DeKalb County Superior Court. RESOURCE LINK

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WASHINGTON, Mo. – Thousands of community members and first responders from around the state gathered to remember the life of Matthew Pauk. A motorcycle accident on June 4 claimed his life and left his wife fighting for hers. After countless acts of service, friends, and family said, remembering who he was and what he did, made Monday important. “Matt was definitely one of the guys that, no matter what the situation was with customers, he was always there, no questions asked,” said Eric Korte, Pauk’s long-time friend. More recently, Korte became aware of how driven Pauk was by his work after joining the team at Patriot Towing. It’s part of the reason tow truck drivers from around Missouri gathered to commemorate the heroic, humbling life of Pauk. On Monday morning, they started the remembrance with a line of first responders and Pauk’s tow trucks leading the ceremony. “Pretty crazy you can get people to show up at the drop of a hat like that,” Korte said. Pauk’s wife, Jen, is still in the hospital recovering from injuries. “She’s getting better day by day,” Korte said. The couple raised five children and moved to Washington, Missouri, a few years ago. Pauk started his towing company Patriot Towing, located on the corner of East Fifth Street in Washington a few years back. “You would think he had been doing this his whole entire life,” said Jeff Winbaugh, a long-time tow truck operator and employee at Patriot Towing. “From the time his feet hit the floor in the morning, till when he went to bed, even when he went to bed, he was wide open.” Winebaugh said Pauk was involved with the community by stepping in to help community members and first responders, oftentimes helping out free of charge. “Fire department, Marthasville, Washington, Union, Sullivan, I mean he was just a big supporter of them all, BackStoppers was his big thing,” he said. From lending a helping hand to being a big advocate and supporter of BackStoppers, an organization that supports families who have lost first responders, Winebaugh and others said it was about Pauk and all the impressions he has made. “Time goes on; he won’t be forgotten,” Korte said. Red, white, and blue flowers now fill the site of Pauk’s burial at St. Ann’s Catholic Church. Family and friends said that getting involved with BackStoppers or donating to help the family are ways we can continue to show support and remember Pauk. RESOURCE LINK

TxDOT subcontractor struck, killed while placing road work signs on interstate. EDINBURG, Texas (ValleyCentral) — A Texas Department of Transportation subcontractor was struck and killed while on the job Sunday, officials reported. The victim was identified by police as 43-year-old Andres Garza of Corpus Christi. According to the City of Edinburg, at 6:40 p.m. Sunday, the Edinburg Police Department responded to an auto-pedestrian accident on North I-69C south of FM 490. A subcontractor for TxDOT, who was escorted by a convoy, was setting up road work construction signs on the I-69C southbound lane when a driver who was towing a “just in tow” car veered onto the grassy median and struck the man. The man was pronounced dead at the scene. An investigation of the crash is ongoing. RESOURCE LINK

Some New Jersey lawmakers and AAA are looking to expand the state’s “Move Over” law to include disabled vehicles. The law currently only applies to emergency service vehicles. The state Senate Transportation Committee voted unanimously on legislation that would extend the law to stationary vehicles. “This year, we saw a father of two killed at the roadside in Rahway when he was changing his tire,” says AAA spokesperson Tracy Noble. If the bill passes, drivers would have to move into the next lane or slow down below the posted speed limit when driving by any vehicle stopped on the side of the road with its lights on. “Slow down, move over to the other lane. Pass if you can in a safe fashion and if you can’t, then obviously stop,” says state Sen. Patrick Diegnan. Violating the law could cost offenders a $100-$500 fine. Diegnan, who is sponsoring the bill, says he hopes the law will go into effect by the start of the summer. “I have four grandchildren. At this point, I fear when they get their driver’s license. The aggressive driving has to stop. We have to get a handle on it,” he says. AAA cautions drivers to be mindful as the summer season begins. “As we're coming into the summer driving season that there are going to be more cars on the road. So, when you see those emergency lights or somebody even with hazard lights, please slow down below the speed limit and move over one lane of travel if you can,” says Noble. The legislation will go to the state Assembly next and then to Gov. Phil Murphy’s desk if it advances. RESOURCE LINK

Tow Truck Driver Helps Police Find Vehicle Stolen During Armed Carjacking A tow truck driver in Milford helped police find a car that had been stolen at gunpoint in Bridgeport after a suspicious interaction with the man who handed over the keys to the vehicle. The tow truck driver contacted Milford police around 7:40 a.m. on Saturday and said a man had handed over the keys to a disabled vehicle, claimed it was his brother’s, and said he was “done putting money into it,” then walked away, police said. But the car had actually been stolen during an armed carjacking in Bridgeport, police said. He was found walking toward the Pilot Travel Center and the tow truck driver then identified him as the same person, according to police. The suspect was “fidgety” when officers patted him down and he told officers he had a gun at his right lower calf. Police said the gun was loaded and they also found a razor blade in his back pocket. RESOURCE LINK

Two injured when car goes airborne in Georgia May 31—VALDOSTA — Two people were injured when a car took a flying leap over a tow truck May 24 in Lowndes County, Georgia. At about 11:20 a.m., a rollback tow truck was parked in the left lane of U.S. 84 near the Brooks County line with its lights flashing, according to a Georgia State Patrol statement. The rollback was helping clear the scene of an earlier wreck and was surrounded by law enforcement vehicles. Suddenly, a car coming up in the lane behind the rollback struck the truck and went up its ramps, vaulting over the tow truck about 120 feet before hitting another car on its way down, the state patrol said. The driver of the airborne car — described as a 21-year-old Tallahassee, Florida woman — was seriously injured and taken to South Georgia Medical Center, while a passenger in her car — a 30-year-old Hahira man — received minor injuries, authorities said. A Lowndes County deputy was hit by flying debris but was not seriously hurt, Sheriff Ashley Paulk said. The accident was caught on a deputy's bodycam "and we've gotten calls from around the world asking for the video," Paulk said. Authorities told the media there was an empty car seat in the rear of the vehicle but initially there was a search of the area to make sure an infant had not been ejected before responders learned there was no child in the car at the time of the accident. A Georgia law, commonly known as the the "move over law," requires motorists to shift lanes when approaching emergency responders along the roadway. This is a developing story that will be updated. Terry Richards is the senior reporter for The Valdosta Daily Times. RESOURCE LINK

Tow Truck Driver Working On Turner Turnpike Hit By OSBI Employee; OHP Investigates KELLYVILLE, Okla. — On Thursday, a wrecker driver was hit by a car on Turner Turnpike while changing a tire on the side of the road. A 64-year-old wrecker driver is in the ICU after state troopers said an OSBI employee driving a marked work vehicle hit him on the side of the Turner Turnpike. The OHP is investigating and has not released the cause of the accident. The OSBI said it's cooperating fully with the OHP investigation, and the employee involved in the crash is on administrative leave. Doug Edinger works for Calvin's Wrecker Service and was changing a tire on the side of the road and now has several broken bones. been hit by a vehicle like this, but he said all Douglas Edinger is breathing on his own for the first time in days Calvin Halford said he's been in the business for 17 years and this is the first time one of his employees has actually been hit by a vehicle like this, but he said all of his drivers have had close calls. For the first time in days. Douglas Edinger is breathing on his own. "They said there's three things that you've got to pass to get off the ventilator," said Calvin Halford, Calvin's Wrecker Service. Calvin owns the Wrecker Service where Doug works. He's visited Doug in the hospital every day since the accident. "He's worked for me for seven years. Doug, Doug is just good people. He cares about people," said Calvin. "He's a tough guy. He's lucky to be alive." Doctors told Calvin that Doug needed to follow commands before he could be taken off the ventilator. "Before I left, I looked at Doug and I told him, I said 'Doug, open your eyes for me,' and he opened his eyes," said Calvin. "[...] I'll make sure he's taken care of on my end." Doug was helping a AAA customer with a flat tire on Thursday, along the Turner Turnpike about a mile north of Kellyville. That's when the customer told Calvin an OSBI truck swerved into Doug standing on the side of the road. "[H]e said the next thing I know he ran over Doug," said Calvin. Doug has a cracked skull and several broken bones. "I beat myself up trying to think about how I could keep this from happening again, but I honestly don't know other than not do the call," said Calvin. Calvin said Doug did everything by the book. He wore his safety vest, put his hazards on, and parked the service vehicle at least five feet from the white line. "All I know is they need to slow down. And pay attention. That's all we do is go out and try to help people," said Calvin. RESOURCE LINK OSBI confirmed that the driver of the car is one of their agents and is on administrative leave. RESOURCE LINK

Follow Lauren Fletcher with Work Truck Magazine as she Tracks Diesel Fuels Prices. For the third week in a row, national average diesel prices stayed below $4 per gallon on average, but the Rocky Mountains and West Coast are still above the $4 mark. Photo: Work Truck/EIA Heading into the fourth week of May 2023, national average retail diesel fuel prices dropped to $3.88 per gallon, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA). This average price dipped a smaller amount than in past weeks, just over 1 cent per gallon compared with the previous week and around $1.69 compared to last year. Still, only the U.S.'s Rocky Mountain and West Coast regions have average diesel prices above the $4 per gallon mark, but the Rocky Mountain region is creeping up on that sub $4 per gallon price range with its average one-cent-per-week dips. Lauren Fletcher Executive Editor - Fleet & Trucking Check out Work Truck's latest weekly price diesel price update covering dipping and sliding diesel prices: https://www.worktruckonline.com/10197889/may-2023-diesel-fuel-price-update About the Author: Lauren Fletcher Executive Editor - Fleet & Trucking

PATTERSON, Calif. — Love’s Travel Stops recently made a donation to the Patterson High School Truck Driving Program to help create a distracted/impaired driving course utilizing the program’s golf cart. In 2017, Patterson High School in Patterson, California, became one of the first high schools in the nation to offer commercial driver license (CDL) training as a career and technical education elective course, according to a news release. The one-year class meets Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s Entry Level Driver Training theory standards and prepares students for the commercial learner’s permit through an interactive, hands-on approach. The program utilizes two Advanced Training Systems simulators as well as a golf cart to teach backing skills. Dave Dein, program coordinator, said that the Love’s donation not only provided the resources needed to purchase the course infrastructure, but also allowed them to buy a pair of Fatal Vision goggles designed to replicate the effects of being under the influence of alcohol. “It is so important to give students an experience to emphasize the dangers of distracted/impaired driving rather than just telling them not to do it,” Dein said. At the conclusion of the driving course, the students read personal stories of people who were impacted by distracted or impaired driving in order to put faces behind the statistics. Dein said this made the lesson more meaningful to students. Dein is also co-founder of the nonprofit Next Generation in Trucking Association (NGTA), whose mission is to educate youth on the trucking industry and to help high schools — free-of-charge — in replicating his program. To date, NGTA has worked with more than 150 high schools across the nation interested in starting CDL programs, according to Dein. The amount of the Love’s donation wasn’t specified. To learn more, click here. RESOURCE LINK

Towing Hall of Fame Announces Honorees for 2023 News Provided By Tow Times magazine May 11, 2023, 15:07 GMT Ten towing and recovery industry leaders to be inducted during special ceremony in the fall CHATTANOOGA, TENNESSEE, UNITED STATES, May 11, 2023/EINPresswire.com/ -- The International Towing & Recovery Hall of Fame and Museum has announced it will induct 10 new members into its Hall of Fame this fall. The inductees, including two posthumous honorees, hail from the United States, Canada and Mexico. "This year’s incredible group of inductees reflects the diversity of leadership in today’s towing and recovery industry,” says Bill Gratzianna, president of the towing organization. “The class of 2023 includes innovators, forward-thinkers, authors, movers and shakers, and feet-on-the-ground operators, all of whom are well-deserving of our industry’s highest honor.” The 2023 honorees are, in alphabetical order: • Mary Leigh Barbusin, formerly executive director of the Garden State Towing Association, Little Silver, NJ (posthumous) • Albert Battelini of Battelini Wrecker Sales, a Vineland, NJ-based family-owned and -operated towing company since 1921 • Gerardo Cortez González, founder of Grúas Monterrey, a leader in towing services and equipment sales since 1971 based in Monterrey, Nuevo León, Mexico • Bruce Jackson, a pioneer in the towing industry based in Orleans, Ontario, Canada, who introduced Holmes wreckers to France and later the NRC sliding rotator to the U.K. and France • Ruth Cardwell Landau, manager of Fryers Towing Service, Daytona Beach, FL, and a longtime leader of the Women of the Towing and Recovery Association of America (WTRAA), which named Landau Tow Woman of the Year in 2011 and of which she currently is first vice president • Eric Luchini of Luchini's Towing and Recovery, a provider of heavy-duty towing services in Las Cruces and southwest New Mexico • Bud Morgan, formerly of Morgan Towing, a leading provider of towing services for over 50 years in Muskogee and southeastern, OK (posthumous) • Jon Redman of Redman Fleet Services Inc., serving the Northern Virginia area since 1977 • Rudy Smith, a third-generation owner of a 103-year-old towing company in New Orleans, LA • David Whealon, founder of Whealon Towing & Service Inc., a towing services provider in Fond du Lac, WI, since 1984 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. Hall of Fame candidates must have 20 years of experience running a towing business in an outstanding and exemplary manner, demonstrate leadership in a project with a dynamic and lasting effect on the towing industry, and/or create a product or service with a significant and lasting effect on towing professionals. The inductees will be officially recognized at a formal ceremony on Saturday, September 30, 2023, at the Westin Hotel Chattanooga during the organization's annual Museum Weekend scheduled for September 28 to October 1, 2023. Cathy Brumgard International Towing & Recovery Hall of Fame and Museum RESOURCE LINK

Bicyclist fatally struck by tow truck driver in southwest Houston neighborhood

Enhances National Leadership Position in Roadside Assistance and Mobility Services BDT Capital Partners to Maintain Majority Stake in Combined Platform BOCA RATON, Fla. and ST. JOHNS, Mich., May 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Nation Safe Drivers ("NSD") and Questx today announced that they have completed a strategic business combination to form one of the nation's largest and most innovative leaders in roadside assistance and mobility services. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Founded in 1962, NSD is ranked the #1 motor club by North American service providers, with a platform that services 1.5 million events a year on behalf of leading automotive OEMs, rental car fleets, tire distributors, insurance companies, and other affinity organizations. Founded in 1988, Questx, is a leading provider of best-in-class roadside assistance, first notice of loss, and glass administration solutions to insurance carriers and vehicle service contract providers. The combined company will draw on NSD and Questx's 90 years of collective experience and complementary strengths to deliver bespoke roadside assistance and mobility solutions to its customers. It will benefit from increased scale, broader scope of mobility services, a greater geographic footprint, and new capabilities, including Questx's innovative next generation technology platform, which will provide industry-leading transparency, reporting, and access to data. Taken together, this will position the combined company to offer customers an expanded portfolio of products and services, best-in-class service-level agreements, and leading on-time arrivals, backed by a national network of leading service providers. "We are thrilled to partner with Questx to help set a new standard for roadside solutions," said Jac Alvarez, Chief Revenue Officer, NSD. "Under its experienced leadership team, Questx has had immense success building a strong network of service providers, deep customer relationships, and a world-class tech stack. Importantly, our companies share a strong customer-first culture, which we will harness to quickly bring together our two talented teams and deliver a superior customer experience for drivers, fleets, insurance partners, and the broader automotive ecosystem." Pat Gilbert, Co-CEO and Co-Founder of Questx, said, "We are excited to partner with NSD and BDT Capital Partners who bring tremendous experience, expertise, and resources to enable us to execute on our goal for being the best-in-class mobility services partner for all of our clients and most importantly for the end customer." Funds managed by BDT Capital Partners, LLC ("BDTCP"), an affiliate of BDT & MSD Partners, acquired a majority interest in NSD in 2019 and will remain a significant majority owner in the combined platform, providing long-term partnership and financial stability to the company as it executes against its strategy. "We are excited to help bring together NSD and Questx to build on their respective strengths and leadership in the roadside assistance category," said Rob Verigan, Partner at BDT & MSD Partners. "We believe the combined company is well positioned to execute on its significant opportunities ahead, and we look forward to supporting it in this next phase of growth." Lincoln International LLC served as the exclusive financial advisor to Questx. ABOUT NATION SAFE DRIVERS For over 60 years, NSD has been a market-leading provider of roadside assistance and finance and insurance ("F&I") products to dealerships, automotive OEMs, rental car companies, tire distributors, and insurance companies across the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico. The company has leveraged in-house technology, call centers, and a proprietary vendor network of over 50,000 service providers to deliver a best-in-class customer experience. ABOUT QUESTX Questx is a premier provider of high-touch, high-tech roadside assistance, insurance claims and glass management solutions for over 30 years. The company is mission-built to deliver best-in-class outsourced solutions to insurance carriers and their policyholders. With connectivity to over 40,000 service providers, Questx continues to serve its customers as a trusted partner across its suite of custom and specialized services. ABOUT BDT CAPITAL PARTNERS BDT Capital Partners provides family- and founder-led businesses with long-term, differentiated capital through its investment funds. It is an affiliate of BDT & MSD Partners, a merchant bank with an advisory and investment platform built to serve the distinct needs of business owners and strategic, long-term investors. Since 2010, BDT & MSD Partners' affiliated funds have deployed more than $50 billion across their investment strategies. For more information, visit www.bdtmsd.com. RESOURCE LINK