Wrecker Fees While Under Load

[Moot]

The following is an e-mail I received this morning and my reply concerning a towing bill while under load.

-------------- Original message ----------------------
From: "James Salvaggio" <[email protected]>
> Good Day, I am writing to you in matter of invoice that was
> received from American Towing Alliance. In reference invoice
> #127140 indicates services where needed on 02/22/2008 for
> truck 21030
>
> The amount of invoice is 980.50 and will be deducted from your
> next settlement. I just wanted to inform you of this deduction
> as it will not come as a surprise to you next week or the week after.
>
> Jimmy Salvaggio
> <<ole0.bmp>>
> EXPEDITED SERVICES
> 866-236-0870


Being that I had no say in the matter and that dispatch told me there was
another truck 100 miles away, yes I am surprised. Also the owner of the towing
company offered to use his pickup truck to transport me and the 250 pound pallet
to the consignee. According to the owner he charged $150/hr. instead of his
usual mileage rate because of previous dealings with Panther and the American Towing Alliance. Also this was the second half of a swap. The original
driving failed to fax all of the paperwork to the broker resulting in a 2 hour
delay clearing customs. Being that the wrecker was charging hourly that delay
was added to the bill. A bill I might add I have yet to see.

I am requesting that you re-examine this and hope we can reach some equitable
solution.

Thank you:
Greg Geronsin
21030

 

[charlee]

yeah Ijust got one also......they charged 348$ to tow 4 miles, left the truck at a TA and I had to call ANOTHER tow truck to tow it to the repair shop...4 more miles but that company only charged me 250$. I really think the cfompany panther is using for towing is WAY out of line...and noone seems to be addressing it.
-charlee

 

[x06col]

Yea, too bad your Panter buds didn't help ya out on this one. Now you can return the favor. Seems like a hoseing in progress to me. Jes get the ky out an say ooohhh, aahhhh, cause they'll probably practice the golden rule.

 

[davekc]

We had a truck towed last year but I told Panther I would arrange the towing. We got a reasonable rate and panther got their freight delivered. Same tow outfit then hauled us to the other end of town for the repair.
All we did is give the name of the tow service and Panther called them to confirm.
The only issue here is they want paid on the spot. Have a credit card number available or be able to write a comcheck.

Additionally, if the truck is under warrranty, call the closest dealer and see who they use. Then handle the billing yourself.
Why? Because if it gets ran through the dealer, they will pad the tow bill by 30 to 40 percent. Pretty much an industry practice. Warranty isn't going to cover that part of the tow bill that was the delivery portion. Only the point to the nearest dealer.

With regards to a truck 100 miles away is a seperate issue. Might have been the wrong size truck, out of hours, or just flat refused it.
Hard to tell on that one.

 

[charlee]

yeah dave......i usually handle tow arrangements myself......but this was a loaded tractor and Panther said they could "get it faster", which also was not true. My issue is NOT with Panther as much as it is with the vendor they are using for towing...I think it is the scenario of a vendor knowing they are gong to get the call so why bother having competetive rates?

-charlee

 

[davekc]

I haven't experienced that but maybe that should be addressed in one of these meetings. Calling at least more than one service vendor for a quote.
Maybe a council member will stumble acrossed this.
As far as one being faster than the other, that could only be based on milage.
I don't recall a tow service ever actually showing up on time.

 

[Tennesseahawk]

I have. I was told 45 min to an hour, and he was there in 30 min. Then I've had one take 4.5 hrs when he was 30 miles away. That was a hot day in Auburn, in two ways!

 

[Broompilot]

I have in my truck a National Directory of all of the Repair Facilities and also Towing Co.s

If you want the information please EO E mail and I will than post it if someone wants it. I believe it was $50.00. Has every city in the U.S. listed, it is also available for your computer online or not? I do not know.

 

[charlee]

I usually use ntts or truckdown......since it was a whole 4 miles I let Panther handle it......my mistake because they use ATA and they are ripping us off left and right.


-charlee

 

[Moot]

Panther belongs to the American Towing Alliance.

[SIZE=-1]www.amtowa.com

These people then find the nearest wrecker service. Kind of like AAA for big trucks and little vans.
[/SIZE]

 

[greg334]

Moot,
I am wondering about this, do you have a AAA membership?

When I had my van, I had two issues with my first carrier, one the idler pulley disentigrated and the other was a flat in very bad weather, I just called AAA and had the thing flat bedded to where ever to get fixed.

AAA has RV towing options, I still use it for my large vehicles and they have come out and jumped this truck a couple times when I would forget to shut the lights off. The towing companies don't care if it is a van or car, if it fits on the flat bed, then it will be hauled.

Oh of course I say it is my RV or personal van when I talk to AAA.

 

[jasonsprouse]

I'm in the towing business - What happened was the tow was fielded through a "broker" that added a substantial markup to the tow.

I get the same kind of calls sometimes "I'll pay you with a credit card, the driver (of disabled vehicle) is NOT to be given pricing or a copy of the paperwork".

Next time find your own tow. There are plenty of us out there just trying to make an honest living.

 

[x06col]

Lemme see here if I understand.
Freight revenue $1800
Moot gets $1000
Moot keeps $19.80 after tow bill

Panter freight broker revenue $800
Panter tow broker revenue $400 ???
Panter keeps $1200 ???
Have I got this thing right? Or am I missing something??