towing
Break Down the Breakdowns: Controlling on-road maintenance
TORONTO, Ont. -- Mike Gomes, the vice-president of maintenance for Bison Transport, summarizes his fleet’s on-road repair process in six simple words: “Truck broke. Fix truck. Send money.” It’s a joke, of course, but there’s still a ring of truth to it. Each step in the process – especially as it relates to controlling costs – makes a roadside breakdown much more difficult to manage than work in your own shop.
Sticker Shock: Let’s set a balanced price for towing
Some of my earliest work experience came at the benches of a shop that repaired small appliances and vacuum cleaners. And a fond experience it was. Even when off the clock, I loved hanging around the area behind the counter. It’s where the owner’s aging friends would gather to chew the fat over some chewable coffee, and I was welcomed as one of them.
Highway Robbery: The push is on to tackle clearance practices, excessive tow fees
TORONTO, Ont. -- Guy Broderick couldn’t believe the towing invoice that appeared in front of him. The task seemed so simple. An APPS Transport truck only had to be towed a single exit down Highway 401. The clean-up involved nothing more than a bit of coolant that had spilled through a failing lower rad hose. The tow alone cost $2,531 – and that’s after Broderick negotiated a $1,000 discount. The coolant cleanup was billed at another $2,260, which included a $2,000 flat-rated “environmental” fee.
Tow operators pulled into CVOR
Ontario expands its Commercial Vehicle Operator's Registration system to include tow trucks in 2017, although an "education" period will help to ease the rules into place. In the meantime, tow operators are still exempted from Hours of Service regulations and the need to pull into roadside scales.
Hellish Ontario highway gets TV show
TORONTO, ON -- Highway Thru Hell offered many television viewers their first glimpse of heavy rescue operations, and now the producers are focusing cameras on one of the most hellish routes Canada has to offer -- Ontario's 400 Series highways. Heavy Rescue: 401 debuts on the Discovery Channel this January 3, showcasing the efforts needed to keep traffic moving between Sarnia, Toronto and Barrie.