08/11/2026
"Predatory Towing."
It's a phrase we hear all the time from trucking companies after a heavy recovery invoice lands on their desk.
But here's the question...
If heavy towing is so profitable, why are so many towing companies forced to chase payment for months, or even years?
The reality is that heavy recovery rates reflect the enormous financial risk towing companies assume every day.
• Multi-million-dollar rotators and specialized equipment
• Highly trained operators available 24/7
• Significant insurance, training, and compliance costs
• Dangerous roadside work protecting the motoring public
And one more reality that often gets overlooked:
A surprising number of commercial vehicles involved in recoveries are underinsured, uninsured, or have insurance that doesn't fully cover the recovery.
When that happens, the towing company is expected to perform the work immediately, often without knowing whether they'll ever be paid.
That's not "predatory."
That's assuming substantial financial risk while providing an essential public safety service.
The next time someone calls a heavy recovery invoice "predatory," ask them this:
Would you send a million-dollar rotator, a trained crew, and expose your employees to highway traffic with no guarantee of getting paid?
Heavy towing isn't about taking advantage of trucking companies.
It's about being there when no one else can.
If your company is carrying aging heavy recovery receivables, Tucker Albin & Associates helps recover those balances professionally while preserving customer relationships.
Ray Gambrill, CBA
Credit Consultant
Tucker Albin & Associates