Big rigs excluded from $AFEclear program
KHOU-11 is reporting a rather large loophole in the $AFEclear program: 18-wheelers. The state regulates towing of big trucks and buses and only heavy duty tow trucks can tow a heavy duty vehicle:
Apple Towing of Houston is one of five local companies with a state contract for towing those larger loads that are too big for the lightweights.
"You need a Class A vehicle to tow a Class A vehicle, basically. And the light duty vehicles are not capable. They're not equipped and they are not legal to tow something larger than itself," says Mike Scully, president of Apple Towing.
[snip]
City officials also say that disabled 18-wheelers and trucks make up a tiny percentage of the traffic congestion on the roadways. So for now, Safe Clear program will focus on smaller vehicles.
The $AFEclear program suffers from an unbelievable lack of common sense and basic planning. If it is so darn crucial to get every vehicle off freeway shoulders, then why doesn't that include the big trucks and buses, too?
Of course, the mayor says they are working to get heavy towing equipment included in the $AFEclear program. And I would guess an 18-wheeler can't meet the six minute, flat tire requirement, so that could mean some nice dollars flowing into the city coffers. I'll bet the mayor is hustling to fix that big loophole.
I wonder how big trucking companies are going to take to a forced-towing program? I would love to see a $AFEclear heavy duty tow truck driver try to tell a big rig driver that his livelihood will be towed -- no ifs, ands, or buts. Oh, and cough up $1,500.
Posted by Anne Linehan @ 01/07/05 08:00 PM | Print | Comments (2)
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