Question for Experienced O/O and small fleet owners

Hi all,

I would like to ask experienced O/O and small fleet owners whether you have come upon incident below.

This past Saturday, one of my trucks broke down on the I-40 interstate in Arizona. He blocked one of the lanes and he was not able to get it off to the side. So the Highway Patrol showed up and they called the towing company to get this truck off to the side. Meanwhile, my driver was trying to get the truck started and get it off. It was probably 10-15 mins before the tow truck showed up, he managed to get it started (with the help of my owner through the phone).

He moved the truck to the side and he got a ticket from the highway patrol plus needs to pay $770 to the towing company even though we didn't needed their service to move the truck. They wouldn't let me truck leave and in the end I had to pay them so that the truck can be released.

I want to know your opinions if this is legal for them to do that. At that time, this feels like "highway robbery" but I have no other choice than to pay the said amount.

Thanks.

 

I see. Thanks.

 

This is a new driver. We believe that he has the transmission stucked on high gear and couldn't get it down to low gear. After instructions were given by my owner, he managed to get it working.

My insurance doesn't cover the towing plus I have a $1000 deductible for the insurance. I guess it is an expensive lesson to be learned.

 

Well, according to the driver the truck just shuts down by itself in the outer lane on I-40 heading east. Engine won't start up after that. Traffic definitely backed up, it was last Saturday in the morning time. I have drivers from other companies calling me up asking what's the problem with my truck.

It was definitely not a pleasant weekend for me.

And now after getting it towed to the shop in Seligman, AZ to get it fixed, they tell me its the fuel filter problem. Thank god, at first we thought it would be either the transmission or the turbo.

 

Yeah, this towing company was not going to let my truck go. Stating that my truck can be held for refusing to pay for the services and that will be hit with a bigger fine, etc. At that moment, I think its bs but I don't have the time to debate with these guys, I had to get my truck moving again. Its totally a rip off by these guys as I called another tow truck a day later and it only costs me $400.