Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Towing Rotation topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Local tow operators push board to ask City Council to combine Class C and Recovery rotations
Summary
Board heard complaints that the current two-class heavy-tow rotation gives a disproportionate share of calls to certain operators and voted to recommend City Council combine Class C and Recovery into a single heavy-duty rotation.
Owners and operators in Chattanooga—s towing industry urged the Passenger Vehicle Record Board on Nov. 6 to ask City Council to change the city ordinance that separates heavy tow duties into two rotations: Class C and Recovery.
Jenny Parker, owner of Mosteller—s Towing, told the board she had supplied documents and asked that the city return to the prior rotation practice that she said had been in effect for decades. "I feel that we should go back to the way it was for 60 years," Parker said, arguing the current system allows one operator and related businesses to take a majority of calls through multiple DBAs.
Board staff explained the current structure: Class C covers heavy trucks that can be handled by standard heavy wreckers; Recovery covers heavy vehicles requiring rotators and a different equipment profile. Each class is placed on a weekly rotation so the operator on call for that week answers related calls. Staff and industry witnesses said some companies use DBAs or family-owned entities that appear on the rotation under separate names.
Mark Shackleford, who identified himself as a tow-industry participant, told the board the two-class structure creates operational inequities and noted that neighboring states use a single heavy-duty call list rather than separate rotator and heavy-truck lists. "You—ve got recovery class and recovery trucks, which are up to a million dollars," Shackleford said, and argued that the ordinance language and the rotation practice should be reviewed.
After discussion, the board voted to forward a recommendation to City Council that Class C and Recovery be combined into a single heavy-duty class and that Council consider an ordinance change to implement a single rotation. Board members clarified that the board itself can only recommend the change; the ordinance must be updated by City Council before a new rotation can be enforced.
Parker also raised concerns about her status as a minority-owned business and asked the board to include that concern in any recommendation to City Council. Board staff and members said the board could not adjudicate minority-business certification but would include the point for Council consideration.
Why it matters: Combining the classes would change which companies get on-call assignments in any given week and could materially affect revenue for heavy-tow operators. The change would require an ordinance amendment and scheduling changes by the regulatory unit.
Next steps: The board will forward the recommendation to City Council and requested that city staff (Chris Anderson/mayor—s office) provide the board with more detail on any proposed ordinance language before final action by Council.
