05/21/2026
I’ve been struggling the past few days with some deep concerns for our industry and what is currently happening throughout the country.
For decades, the towing and recovery industry has been built on grit, sacrifice, long nights, missed holidays, dangerous roadside conditions, and a brotherhood that understood one thing — no one outside this industry truly understands what it takes to do this job.
This industry gave many of us our livelihoods, our businesses, our homes, and the ability to provide for our families. It built companies from the ground up through hard work, reputation, and relationships forged in some of the worst conditions imaginable. Yet lately, many operators are asking the same difficult question:
What has caused some towing company owners to turn against the very industry that built them?
Some have become so disconnected from the realities of the average towing company that they now side with insurance companies, motor clubs, third-party administrators, and corporate interests over their fellow towers. Instead of fighting for fair compensation, better laws, operator safety, and industry protections, they criticize the very people standing up for those things.
Some owners who once understood the value of proper recovery billing, storage protections, emergency response costs, and operator risk are now willing to undercut rates, accept unsustainable contracts, or publicly attack others in the industry simply to protect their own seat at the table.
The unfortunate reality is this:
When towing companies start competing against each other in a race to the bottom, the only people who win are the corporations looking to control and cheapen our industry.
Insurance companies are billion-dollar corporations. Motor clubs are corporations. Third-party dispatch systems are corporations. They are not losing sleep wondering if your operator gets struck roadside tonight. They are not worrying about your insurance premiums, workers compensation costs, equipment payments, environmental liability, or the fact that one bad accident can financially cripple a towing company overnight.
But your fellow towers do understand those realities.
That does not mean every disagreement within the industry is betrayal. Healthy debate is necessary. Different business models exist. But there is a major difference between having a different opinion and actively helping outside entities weaken the industry as a whole.
Some have forgotten where they came from.
Some became comfortable.
Some became financially dependent on corporate relationships.
Some fear losing contracts more than losing industry unity.
And some simply stopped remembering what it felt like to struggle.
The towing industry was never meant to survive by operators tearing each other apart publicly while outside industries profit from the division.
We should be focusing on:
• Fair compensation for emergency response and recovery work
• Stronger roadside safety protections
• Respect for professional towing operators
• Educating the public on the true cost of our services
• Protecting small and family-owned towing businesses
• Standing united when outside entities attempt to devalue our work
No matter the size of your company, we all share the same highways, the same risks, and the same responsibility to protect the future of this profession.
Because once an industry loses unity, it becomes much easier for others to control it.
Please feel free to share.
