We are pleased to announce a new and valuable membership benefit designed to save members on expensive credit card processing fees.
CardConnect serves as Southwest Tow Operators credit card processing partner. Members are encouraged to take advantage of the following valuable benefits:
Wholesale credit card processing rates: STO members should expect to save 10% - 40% off their existing credit card processing fees.
Personalized customer support: STO members will now have VIP merchant support with an assigned Relationship Manager for all of your credit card processing needs.
Rate Education/Advocacy: STO members will receive education from the representatives at CardConnect on how to always achieve the lowest processing rates.
Complimentary Processing Gateway: STO members will have access to CardConnect secure processing technology designed to increase overall efficiency and further ensure the lowest rates are achieved on every transaction.
Mobile App: STO members will also have access to the CardConnect Mobile app which is available for Android/IOS devices.
This is the text of a September 23, 2015, news release from the North Texas Tollway Authority, Plano, TX.
Toll Perk$
Drive. Earn. Win. Repeat.
TollTag customers, your rewards have arrived! NTTA has launched TollPerks, the much-anticipated loyalty program that awards you for the miles you drive on NTTA toll roads.
Your commute, weekend trips to the mall, and time spent taking the kids to and from sports and entertainment are all fuel for TollPerks points.
How TollPerks Works
The TollPerks program is simple: Drive. Earn. Win. Repeat.
Every dollar spent on NTTA toll roads is worth 100 TollPerks points. Points can be redeemed online and in-store for exclusive deals at local businesses.
Rewards include specials from merchants like Dunkin'™ Donuts, Uber, Kessler Baking Studio, Dallas Children's™ Theater, 1800flowers.com and Carmel Car Wash.
TollPerks members also enjoy other benefits:
Spin-to-Win: TollPerks includes an instant spin-to-win game to earn special prizes. A member receives a token for a chance to spin the virtual instant-win prize wheel at TollPerks.com. You will receive one token when your enroll and one additional token each month that your TollTag account remains in good standing.
Quarterly Sweepstakes: TollPerks members with TollTag accounts in good standing will be entered automatically into a quarterly drawing for valuable prizes.
Discounts and Offers: TollPerks includes special offers from area businesses that are available to all members without having to redeem any points. Offers will change periodically.
Sign Up for TollPerks Today!
Visit TollPerks.com to begin the registration process. The sooner you enroll in TollPerks, the sooner you begin earning points and rewards. TollTag customers are not automatically enrolled in the TollPerks program.
You will need your TollTag account number to start your TollPerks membership. Your account number can be found on a TollTag monthly statement or through the online customer service center. (Don’t have access to your TollTag account online? Sign up now.)
Questions about TollPerks? See the FAQs for more information.
CHATTANOOGA, TN/ DECEMBER 7, 2015 – Towing companies with heavy-duty tow trucks now have some federal protection as they handle heavy-duty tows and recoveries on interstate highways, thanks to Miller Industries and U.S. Reps. Chuck Fleischmann (R-TN) and Robert Brady (D-PA).
The Fair Tow provision of the federal Highway Bill, which was signed into law Friday December 4, exempts heavy-duty tow trucks from weight limitations while recovering and transporting disabled trucks on federal highways. The provision will enable tow truck operators to clear federal interstates as quickly as possible and tow disabled heavy-duty vehicles to the nearest appropriate repair facility without the fear of weight fines.
“Some of our customers were being unfairly fined while providing a very necessary service for the trucking industry and motoring public,” said Miller Industries’ Co-CEO and President Will Miller II.
“Miller Industries brought this to the attention of our local U.S. Rep. Chuck Fleischmann, and together we worked to right this wrong and help all heavy-duty tow operators within the 48 contiguous states perform their jobs more easily,” Miller added.
Miller Industries’ aim was to remove a financial challenge and safety concern about potential weight issues and scaling impacting towing operators who work roadside.
"Miller Industries’ wants towing operators to return home safely at the end of every day,” Will Miller II said.
We thank co-sponsors Reps. Fleischmann and Brady for their efforts on this important legislation to our industry.
For more information, contact Jeff Badgley 423-238-4171
Call ALL Congressmen and Senators Today!
HR 22 Section 1439 is NOW HR 22 Section 5514!
HR 22 Sec 5514 to regulate all non-consent towing will likely be voted on by the House this Friday! A story on the proposed Act was featured by a Washington DC news outlet last week (http://wjla.com/features/7-on-your-side/7-on-your-side-cracking-down-on-predatory-towing). Everyone needs to contact their congressman and senators immediately to ask that HR 22 Sec 5514 be tweaked to reflect the Act's original intent- Private Property Impound. Vital information for contacting your congressman and senators is on our website (http://traaonline.com/legislative-update-regulation-of-motor-carriers-of-property/).
TRAA's proposed amendment to simply add "or a law enforcement official." to the end of the section would clarify the true intent of this legislation.
Below are links for contacting your congressman and senators.
Action Item #1
Section 5514 (formerly Section 1439) on H.R. 22 - 2015 Highway Funding Bill
SEC. 1439. REGULATION OF MOTOR CARRIERS OF PROPERTY
Section 14501 (c)(2)(C) of title 49, United States Code, is amended by striking "the price of' and all that follows through "transportation is" and inserting "the regulation of tow truck operations".
The Conference Committee met on 11/18/15. There has been an extension to 12/4/2015 to finalize the conference agreement. It is imperative that everyone contact their Representatives and Senators on the Committee IMMEDIATELY to change Section 1439.
Conference Committee Contact List
Action Item #2
SA 2846 to H.R. 2577
SA 2846. Mr. CARDIN submitted an amendment intended to be proposed to amendment SA 2812 proposed by Ms. Collins (for herself and Mr. Reed) to the bill H.R. 2577, making appropriations for the Departments of Transportation, and Housing and Urban Development, and related agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2016, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:
On page 46, between lines 9 and 10, insert the following:
Sec. 138. Section 14501(c)(2)(C) of title 49, United States Code, is amended by striking "the price of for-hire motor vehicle transportation by a tow truck, if such transportation is'' and inserting "the regulation of tow truck operations''.
It is imperative that everyone contacts their Senator today regarding SA 2846! Below is a link to the full Senate contact list.
http://www.senate.gov/senators/states.htm
We need everyone's voice to stop this amendment as written or risk the regulation of the entire towing industry. This will impact towers in every state and county across the United States.
The TRAA Press Release and TRAA Official Response documents linked below provide background on the proposed Towing Law. We recommend using the talking points in the TRAA Call to Action document below. The time to act is now!
The above links can also be found on www.traaonline.com.
TRAA has been the "The Voice of America's Towing Industry" for over 35 years. Our mission is to serve the needs of the towing and recovery industry through legislation, education and communication. Working diligently with state associations and members we strive for professionalism and a fair and profitable industry. Our National Driver Certification Program (NDCP) developed through a grant from the Federal Department of Transportation is recognized as the national standards for tow truck operators. TRAA is proud to have contributed to the safety of our industry through the certification of over 16,000 tow operators across the country.
If you would like more information about this topic, please contact Joanne Blyton, Legislative Chair
at 888.392.9300 or email at contact@traaonline.com.
There are two separate action items that need everyone's immediate attention. The details are outlined below.
Action Item #1
Section 1439 on H.R. 22 - 2015 Highway Funding Bill
SEC. 1439. REGULATION OF MOTOR CARRIERS OF PROPERTY
Section 14501 (c)(2)(C) of title 49, United States Code, is amended by striking "the price of' and all that follows through "transportation is" and inserting "the regulation of tow truck operations".
The Conference Committee met on 11/18/15. There has been an extension to 12/4/2015 to finalize the conference agreement. It is imperative that everyone contact their Representatives and Senators on the Committee IMMEDIATELY to change Section 1439.
Conference Committee Contact List
Action Item #2
SA 2846 to H.R. 2577
SA 2846. Mr. CARDIN submitted an amendment intended to be proposed to amendment SA 2812 proposed by Ms. Collins (for herself and Mr. Reed) to the bill H.R. 2577, making appropriations for the Departments of Transportation, and Housing and Urban Development, and related agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2016, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:
On page 46, between lines 9 and 10, insert the following:
Sec. 138. Section 14501(c)(2)(C) of title 49, United States Code, is amended by striking "the price of for-hire motor vehicle transportation by a tow truck, if such transportation is'' and inserting "the regulation of tow truck operations''.
It is imperative that everyone contacts their Senator today regarding SA 2846! Below is a link to the full Senate contact list.
http://www.senate.gov/senators/states.htm
We need everyone's voice to stop this amendment as written or risk the regulation of the entire towing industry. This will impact towers in every state and county across the United States.
The TRAA Press Release and TRAA Official Response documents linked below provide background on the proposed Towing Law. We recommend using the talking points in the TRAA Call to Action document below. The time to act is now!
The above links can also be found on www.traaonline.com.
TRAA has been the "The Voice of America's Towing Industry" for over 35 years. Our mission is to serve the needs of the towing and recovery industry through legislation, education and communication. Working diligently with state associations and members we strive for professionalism and a fair and profitable industry. Our National Driver Certification Program (NDCP) developed through a grant from the Federal Department of Transportation is recognized as the national standards for tow truck operators. TRAA is proud to have contributed to the safety of our industry through the certification of over 16,000 tow operators across the country.
If you would like more information about this topic, please contact Joanne Blyton, Legislative Chair
at 888.392.9300 or email at contact@traaonline.com.
Urgent Call to Action
The Conference Committee considering Amendment No. 42 on H.R. 3763 will close next Friday (11/20/2015). This is our only opportunity to petition state Representative and Senators on the Committee to change the amendment. We need everyone's voice to stop this amendment as written or risk the regulation of the entire towing industry. This will impact towers in every state and county across the United States.
The TRAA Press Release and TRAA Official Response documents linked below provide background on the Amendment. The contact information for state Representatives on the Committee is below, we recommend using the talking points in the TRAA Call to Actiondocument below. The deadline is Friday, November 20th, the time to act is now!
TRAA has been the "The Voice of America's Towing Industry" for over 35 years. Our mission is to serve the needs of the towing and recovery industry through legislation, education and communication. Working diligently with state associations and members we strive for professionalism and a fair and profitable industry. Our National Driver Certification Program (NDCP) developed through a grant from the Federal Department of Transportation is recognized as the national standards for tow truck operators. TRAA is proud to have contributed to the safety of our industry through the certification of over 16,000 tow operators across the country.
If you would like more information about this topic, please contact Joanne Blyton, Legislative Chair
TRAA Call to Action
Washington, DC, November 5, 2015 - The Towing and Recovery Association of America, Inc. ® (TRAA) has been closely monitoring H.R.2563 - State and Local Predatory Towing Enforcement Act since its introduction by representatives from Maryland and Virginia on May 21, 2015. The proposed new law would permit broader regulation of the towing industry by state and local governments. On Tuesday, that proposed new towing law was attached to the 2015 federal highway funding bill which is rocketing through Congress. Earlier today, the funding bill, with the towing amendment attached, was referred to a joint conference committee for final consideration.
The proposed new towing law would amend Title 49, Section 14501 of the U.S. Code to read as follows: [The 1994 federal deregulation law] does not apply to the authority of a State or a political subdivision of a State to enact or enforce a law, regulation, or other provision relating to the price of for-hire motor vehicle transportation by a tow truck, if such transportation is the regulation of tow operations performed without the prior consent or authorization of the owner or operator of the motor vehicle."
The law expands local regulatory authority over non-consensual towing beyond the current authority to regulate only price, safety and prior written authorization. While the amendment proposed in the Bill may seem simple please do not underestimate its intent, TRAA is concerned that it would allow for the regulation of all non-consent "tow truck operations," not just private property impounding (PPI).
Predatory towing is not an activity engaged in by most towers. Of the towers that do perform PPI, many use aggressive towing practices. While the instances of PPI towing problems are limited, they have become much publicized and a concern for the general motoring public. With that in mind, some in Congress believe that all towing industry practices need to be regulated. In essence the philosophy is to regulate the whole in order to eliminate the problematic minority.
We must continue to conduct ourselves as professionals in our work and in our charges. Those that engage in aggressive PPI towing practices need to develop more professional techniques. Once regulation starts, more will come. This is the time for the towing industry to stand united for the good of everyone large and small.
TRAA will lobby the members of the Conference Committee against the further passage of the towing amendment in its current form and at minimum press for an amendment to stipulate the regulation of private property tow operations rather than the regulation of all non-consent tow operations. This amendment would better represent the legislature's true intent.
TRAA will be submitting a position paper outlining the deficiencies with this bill, highlighting the fact that no public hearings were held to allow for input from the towing industry. This we believe was a gross oversight and should be corrected.
This is a call to action to the industry as a whole! Please contact the TRAA office via email at contact@traaonline.com for a copy of the legislative action bulletin providing a summary of TRAA objections, and then call or e-mail your congress members offices to express your concerns about this last minute amendment to the highway funding bill. We still have a chance to make a difference. Don't delay...call and email today!
TRAA has been the "The Voice of America's Towing Industry" for over 35 years. Our mission is to serve the needs of the towing and recovery industry through legislation, education and communication. Working diligently with state associations and members we strive for professionalism and a fair and profitable industry. Our National Driver Certification Program (NDCP) developed through a grant from the Federal Department of Transportation is recognized as the national standards for tow truck operators. TRAA is proud to have contributed to the safety of our industry through the certification of over 16,000 tow operators across the country.
If you would like more information about this topic, please contact Joanne Blyton, Legislative Chair
at 888.392.9300 or email at contact@traaonline.com.