WASHINGTON — The American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI) has issued a call for motor carriers and drivers to participate in a new ATRI data collection on the impact of predatory towing in the trucking industry.
Predatory towing is defined as any incident in which a tow truck operator “egregiously overcharges, illegally seizes, damages by use of improper equipment or withholds release of a truck and/or cargo,” according to an ATRI news release.
“Recognizing its persistent negative impact on the industry, ATRI’s Research Advisory Committee identified the need to better understand this problem as a top research priority earlier this year,” the news release stated.
The short survey asks fleets to share which types of predatory towing they deal with most frequently, what fees or delays they consider predatory, and in which states they have encountered predatory tows. It also seeks participants for a second round of more detailed data collection that will allow ATRI to quantify the frequency and operational impact of each type of predatory event. All data collected will be kept completely confidential.
“We all know that predatory towing is an issue, yet until now there has been no robust analysis on how, when, and where it happens or the impact of legislation designed to regulate these predatory practices,” said Shawn R. Brown, Cargo Transporters vice president of safety. “By participating in ATRI’s data-driven research, carriers will be helping to answer these questions and outline solutions.”
To participate in the survey, click here.
The Trucker News Staff produces engaging content for not only TheTrucker.com, but also The Trucker Newspaper, which has been serving the trucking industry for more than 30 years. With a focus on drivers, the Trucker News Staff aims to provide relevant, objective content pertaining to the trucking segment of the transportation industry. The Trucker News Staff is based in Little Rock, Arkansas.
In the words of fringe George Carlin:” They don t give a F(lying pig) about you”… here is probably some one trying to make money from the survey.