Transportation Licensing Commission dismisses STR’s complaint over Dad’s Towing–Guardian deal

The Metropolitan Transportation Licensing Commission on Dec. 11 dismissed a complaint by STR Towing that Dad’s Towing Service and West Nashville Wrecker improperly transferred their towing licenses, permits and emergency-service zones to Guardian Fleet Services when the businesses restructured earlier this year.

STR had argued that documents in the parties’ transaction—an equity purchase agreement, charter amendments and press releases calling the deal an “acquisition,” plus payroll checks listing Guardian—showed an effective sale or “otherwise transfer” of control that should have required commission review. Counsel for STR said the documents in the record and sworn employee testimony demonstrated that Guardian now pays employees and holds the economic benefits of the businesses, and that key corporate agreements (shareholder and operating agreements) were not produced to the commission in full.

Representatives…