I had a blow out this morning on the Sam going into work. I pull over and attempt to change the tire but the stupid key for the locking lug won't work. A Harris County Toll Road guy comes up (great free service by the way!) and he tries to no avail. So he calls a tow truck driver and the guy comes to take me and the car to Discount Tire company. (Time to buy new tires anyway... ) So I mention to the tow truck driver that I had read (I think on this board) that tow truck drivers were going to be zoned pretty soon. He explained that tow truck drivers already are zoned (1 is downtown, 2 is from Hardy to 290 or something, etc). What is going to change is the city is going to start auctioning the freeways to tow truck companies. Opening bid $50K. He said what will happen is that Apple and AAA and other huge towing companies that can afford to spend $50K will get those freeways and the independent drivers will be run out of business. The city suggested that smaller companies group together to buy a highway but that isn't going to happen. He said that also means that you may have to wait a long time for a tow truck driver, unlike now. I asked when this goes into effect and he said January of 2005. That totally sucks that these guys know that they are going out of business due to the city drawing up a plan that only works for large businesses. We all know someone that has gotten screwed by a gouging tow truck driver at the worst time, but this really sucks for these independent guys.
I feel bad for the small guys... but you have to realize how much chaos the deregulated tow truck industry was causing. Honestly, for any given accident, 4 or 5 tow trucks would show up on the scene, with all their flashy lights, and would essentially cause more traffic and commotion on the freeways than neccessary. While you can't avoid traffic accidents, and sometimes you can't avoid people slowing down to look at them, you CAN avoid the number of emergency response vehicles to the scene, especially tow trucks.
Yeah, we're talking about tow truck drivers here. Classic example of your average tow truck driver story: My buddy took his jeep offroading and got stuck in the mud. He called a tow truck driver to bail him out. That guy hooked my buddy's jeep to his tow truck, but said he couldn't do the job without a wench. So he calls HIS buddy. This 2nd tow truck driver attaches his wench to the first tow truck. So after the jeep is out of the mud, my buddy has to pay BOTH of them for getting him out of the mud. And you know tow truck drivers don't come cheap. Imagine paying 2 of 'em off. And it's not like he could complain, 'cause they're both standing over him with their hand out. Screw 'em.
i agree they most times are a merciless lot Last Accident. . a lady backed into me in a parking lot My girlfriend at the time. . . overheard one of the drivers telling ole girl how to Lie to the Cops to avoid paying for my car I hate most is when the block up 2~3 lanes on the freeway . .. it isn't a 10 car pile up so why is there 20 Tow trucks around blocking the freeway Rocket River Rats with Wheels
There are a few out there that are very very nice. rare though but I hate tow truck drivers too but the last one I actually tipped him 20 bucks. He was a joy to talk to and his son was nice and had great manners. It's going to suck for these guys but for most of them who drive like maniacs and run lights and cut you off like they're cops or something I hope they get the worst of it!! But even still, is it possible for these independent trucks to show up since ultimately it is up to the person who is getting their car towed to decide which tow truck they want to use right?
About three years ago I had a flat on 1960. Right after it happened a tow truck pulled up and the driver gets out, asked me if had spare. I told him yes. Then as a cop drives up he tells me if I give him 100 dollars he'll make sure I don't go to jail. I said go to jail for what and he told me for drinking and driving. I just said Bull......He then walked over to the cop for a couple of seconds and left. The cop never got out of car. He drove by and asked if everything was okay.
I read quite a bit about this in the Chron not long ago. One of the major problems was that there were VERY few regulations on tow truck drivers, which caused all sorts of problems when 20 would show up at a wreck and block traffic. It was also very difficult to get licenses revoked even with multiple moving violations and/or accidents, both of which are quite common for drivers.
Alot of tow truck drivers are good, honest people. The problem is, a few bad apples spoil the bunch. Tow truck drivers are subject to ridiculously high insurance rates that make it quite unaffordable to operate. It got so bad, that they were trying to make their profit off the storage lot fees. HPD cracked down on that about a year ago and now, tow drivers and storage lots are very restricted on what they can and can not charge, regardless of whether its an owner consent tow or not. Apple Towing usually is preferred by HPD because they can handle heavy equipment and cleanup, which most wreckers can't. BTW ..$50 is VERY cheap for a tow. There are some tow guys that charge $200-$400 to tow a vehicle from an intersection to a storage lot/shop 1 block away.
As long as you aren't holding up traffic waiting for a preferred wrecker, then yes, you can shose the tow truck or work out a deal with one that is already there. Otherwise, they go by a lottery to see who tows your car. Thats why so many show up.
That's just insane. I hate tow truck drivers just as much as everyone else, but I at least like the concept of being able to tell them to **** off if they're too expensive... Now even that is being taken away....
Only if you subscribe to their service in some way or another.... I have it through my insurance company.... I think.
I have it and the last time I tried to use it, it took forever for a tow truck to get to me. It was free, but I guess most trucks were busy that day.
I've never heard of this. I believe you have to sign up with Triple A as either an individual or a company. I signed up with Triple A once my car's warranty expired...the warranty provided free roadside service, and so does Triple A.
Yeah, another one of my pet peeves. There's a car harmlessly pulled to the shoulder so that they don't block any traffic. But 8-10 tow trucks right behind it are blocking 2 lanes. WTF? Get out of the way, dumbf*cks!
I once had my car towed by "independent" tow truckers once after being arrested (for ****ing FIREWORKS... in my TRUNK!!!), and the pieces of **** that took my car were the most abhorrent hillbillies I've ever encountered. When my friend drove me to their "shop" to get my car, I realize it was just a junkyard. I walk into their filthy office and it's two dudes inside that look just like Uncle Jesse from "The Dukes of Hazzard," sitting in there with their feet propped up on desks, doing absolutely nothing. When I walked in, they looked at each other in a silent game of "Which one of us is gonna have to get up and mess with this guy." Younger Uncle Jesse lost and the piece of **** acted like it was the biggest pain in the ass in Earth's history for him to have to take my money. I had to pay to get a form notarized because I don't happen to carry my car note with me in my wallet and the whole pleasant towing experience ended up costing me around $200. **** all tow truck drivers. **** every single one of them. I use Triple A and would never do otherwise. I don't care how long I have to wait for a wrecker.
