Yuku free message boards

Best of luck Ron (P.). It is my contention that as long as the TRAA is dependent on motor club associate member annual dues, there won't be any serious movement. What is the single largest problem in the industry affecting quality of life for towers? Motor clubs, this has been true for years. Who has been persistently silent on the issue? TRAA. What the clubs do or don't do regarding fuel prices is their business decision/problem, but the fact that the leadership of our national association doesn't see the clubs' continuing encroachment/monopolization of retail towing as an actionable problem, is just shameful.

By the way, as long as Miller and Jerr-Dan continue to operate on business models that include increasing the number of tow trucks on the roads yearly, there isn't going to be much relief in sight. I talked to an auto lift salesman the other day. He told me that partially for liability reasons, most salesmen won't re-sell used auto lifts, THEY CUT THEM UP INSTEAD! Saves on liability but it also helps by not screwing the garage you just sold a new lift to by not putting someone else in business to compete against them! Good idea, eh?

Ron (S.), I don't think they can/do have an action plan. For the most part they will continue to operate as they have for years. Cover what they can and tough luck on the rest. Their business model doesn't allow anything else. After all a motor club doesn't add any real value to the towing service. If people just called a local tower every time they needed a hook, the m/c's could dry up and blow away, and surprise, surprise, surprise, the cars would still get towed! Probably a whole lot faster and with friendlier (more contented) drivers in consistently well maintained tow trucks! I think all the club talk about increasing efficiency is just B.S. cover for their meddling in our relationship with our customers. Customer calls me on the phone with a request for service, because I "know the territory", I can get in my truck and go to the customer immediately and help them. It doesn't get much more efficient than that. How does some call taker in India entering (mis)information for a digital dispatch make for a more efficient system?

Sorry for the rant. Maybe I should start a "What do motor clubs really add to the industry that actually makes them a plus rather than a negative for towers?" thread and see if I can upgrade my attitude.... Did I mention it was unseasonably warm here today?