The Jamie Davis Towing Discussion Thread

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Got it now

 

Wife wants us to get one like this..... Ron Pratt's Rotator .... an 1150 , 389 Pete...

 

Now this is a sweet rotator. The latest in a great fleet owned by the Eaton family. Excellent folks I am proud to call friends. Jerr-Dan 60 ton rotator on a Pete chassis. This one will only set you back about $750,000 plus FET and rigging supplies.

 

I like his old red beast. The reason those trucks are around is because they were made with quality in mind.
Also I like watching all the idiots that can't speak English or use tire chains yet they are on a icy mountain pass.

 

The politically correct term is "New Canadian"

 

No it's not?

 

Disregard my comment I thought you were referring to the old red beast truck.
(The Red Green) show is still my favorite show from canada.

 

I know a lot of people think they are getting ripped off by the heavy wreckers when they have a failure on the highway but maybe understanding the prices of these specialty trucks will help them understand why the tow bill is what it is.
They should also remember this is just the price of the truck and does not account for the astronomical insurance rates and other expenses that are paid out.
And then throw in the mix that these rigs are not used every day but need to be ready with a driver 24/7 when the call comes in,
In the end its really amazing to me that these guys can actually make a living at it.

 

Tow companies do not Dead head for free only truckers do.

 

Exactly correct Dennis. The tow operator is the only responder to a highway incident that is not guaranteed payment or subsidized in some form by a governmental agency. The police, fire, ems and highway department workers all recieve funding in some way. In most states the fire, ems and DOT invoices get paid by the insurance regardless of coverage due to how insurance regulations are written, and these claims are prioritized over other claims oftentimes exhausting policy limits.

The tower must respond per their service agreement, spend time and money to clear the roadway then hope to collect on their invoice. They must be ready 24/7 with trained and licensed staff, pay out thousands of dollars to environmental cleanup subcontractors, waste haulers and such, again without guarantee of payment. Then the insurance companies will dispute charges, deny claims and ask for unwarranted discounts.

Lastly, groups like OOIDA sensationalize towing invoices, actually recovery and accident remediation invoices and work the truckers into an anti-tower frenzy making towers out to be rip-off artists. Yes there are some bad apples, every profession has some, but most are fair and honest. Funny how OOIDA fights for a free market in the freight world and opposes rate regulation but is calling for exactly that on towers. Calling a $20,000 invoice a "tow bill" is a disservice and downright scandalous. That invoice most likely reflects cargo cleanup, disposal, safekeeping and storage of the vehicle and even oil cleanup as well as site restoration.

You are also correct about insurance costs, staffing and so on being very expensive. A skilled heavy wrecker operator can make $75,000 or more per year, some over $100,000. Insurance for a 8-10 truck company can be over $100,000 per year. In addition to the driver you have mechanics, dispatchers, managers and other support staff as well as extra laborers ready to respond at a moments notice.