stuck on railroad tracks in turlock, ca

and remember anywhere you have the cops call the wrecker it's gonna be more. they all use a rotation system and they charge a specific fee based on the contract they have with them.

 

If you go down to street level on google, you can turn around and look at the grade. There is a bit of a hump but still good clearance if you are not real heavy or in something similar to a lowboy. And yes, F street in about flat and the definitely the best crossing with little chance for error.

 

In California, the CHP has NO contracts or any other agreements with towing companies. It is a rotation basis.
The CHP has NO FEE Schedule for towing company charges. The CHP gets NO money from the tow companies.
If a towing company says they have to charge XXX Dollars because it was a CHP call. BOOLZSHEEETZ!. They are scamming YOU!
CHP has a list of all towing companies that serve an area, one is called and that company moves to the bottom of the list, and so forth.
If you are in the towing business, then you get put on the list.
The only way to get a company other than the next rotation list, is to request a specific company or call one your self.

 

Sometimes it's the opposite too. There's a place I go where we have to go over a hump. It's not a rail crossing but the idea is the same. As the truck is still coming down the hump the landing gear will catch but moving the fifth wheel all the way to the back keeps the front of the trailer higher up long enough for the landing gear to clear.

Each situation is different but if there's any doubt go inch by inch and you should be able to stop it in time to back out and find an alternative.

 

You scraped going in empty..that shoulda been your first clue.

 

When my former employers truck blew its transmission in Eloy, AZ, the towing bill had a DPS surcharge since it was dispatched by the Arizona highway patrol (no choice as my truck was blocking the offramp intersection by the Love's). That bill was $850 but that included travel to the Freightliner dealer in Chandler, AZ. $850 for what they did was a total ripoff.

 

Well from my understanding, each CHP district office controls the rates which are charged in a semi formal manner. You submit the rates and they check it against the averages of the other companies and if you are in line then its okayed...

Now as to charging the $850.00 for the job, well you do have to remember that a tow truck is a tow truck is not always a tow truck. I know that is confusing ,but some tow trucks are not "RECOVERY TRUCKS" which is what happened to you. You had to be "recovered - lifted" up so that you could clear the issues with ground clearance.
And typicially, you will find that the tow truck charges on an hourly rate, with 2 to 3 hour minimums...

You can send a tow truck driver to tow a truck, and he would not need as much experience as one to do recoveries. And then there are specialized trucks which can lift and rotate (think crane style) which tend to run between $450,000.00 to $700,000.00 compared to regular tow trucks which might run from $170,000 to 225,000 (New prices)..

Plus in California, towers who are contracted with CHP, also have to have special licenses and training, along with more regulations including equipment requirements and specs, and that does not count the background checks which are mandated by laws. (Do not forget that tow trucks are also subject to CARB regulations and most all of the tow companies out there had to go buy new trucks or retrofit all the old trucks that were legal to use)

Towing is a very expensive business to be in, and you might not move the truck everyday or all day long... That investment does cost even if it is sitting.

 

As someone that dragged a low boy trailer for a long time I can say this much, if you drag going in you are not getting out and it was your own fault for getting stuck.

Not being mean but it is the truth and yes I learned the hard way and payed for it out of my own pocket.