Truckers in Missouri are rallying behind new legislation aimed at protecting them from unfair towing practices.
What's happening: HB745 and SB516 were introduced to counter predatory towing targeting trucks.
- The bills want the Missouri Department of Transportation (MODOT) to set rules for nonconsensual towing of commercial trucks.
- They aim to stop high towing fees and allow truckers to choose their tow company, unless safety is at risk.
Why it matters: Many truckers face huge expenses when caught by dishonest towing companies. These new rules would give them a chance to fight back against inflated charges.
Lewie Pugh, Executive Vice President at Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association, said truckers "have a right to have someone to go to when we’ve been wronged."
The proposals also include penalties of up to $25,000 for companies breaking these rules, reported in a source.
The trucking community is hopeful that these changes will provide much-needed relief. The next steps involve further discussions with lawmakers to finalize the bills.