# Towing And Recovery

> Use this skill when the user asks about towing + recovery operations — separate FMCSA authority class, light-duty vs medium-duty vs heavy-duty wrecker rules, AAA + AAA-Plus contracts, Roadside-Assistance (RA) operations, "non-consensual tow" rules + state-by-state, and how towing operations differ from general freight. Reference state Public Utility Commission + 49 CFR 395 application.

- Skill: `x3allamerican/towing-and-recovery` (Agent Skill)
- Install (CLI): `npx skillmds add x3allamerican/towing-and-recovery`
- Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/x3allamerican/towing-and-recovery/raw
- Safety review: pending (external: skill-scanner PASS, skillspector PASS)
- Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex
- Category: Coding & Dev Tools
- Author: x3allamerican (https://skillmd.com/u/x3allamerican)
- Updated: 2026-08-19
- Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/x3allamerican/towing-and-recovery

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# Towing & Recovery Operations

Towing + recovery is a specialty CMV operation with its own authority class, equipment standards, and state-level overlays. Tow trucks are CMVs but operate under different rules than freight haulers.

## Operating Authority

- **Tow trucks** are commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) under federal law if they exceed 10,001 lb
- Tow operators may need:
  - USDOT number (for interstate)
  - State PUC (Public Utility Commission) authorization (for non-consensual tows)
  - Operating authority varies by state — some have specific towing permits

## Equipment classes

| Class | Vehicle type | Towed vehicles |
|---|---|---|
| **Light-duty** | Up to 10,000 lb tow rating | Cars, light trucks |
| **Medium-duty** | 12,000-20,000 lb rating | Heavy pickups, vans |
| **Heavy-duty** | 25,000-50,000 lb rating | Large trucks, RVs |
| **Rotator / Recovery** | 60,000+ lb rating | Articulated equipment, off-road recovery |

## HOS rules for tow operators

Generally subject to standard HOS rules (49 CFR 395), but:

- **150-air-mile short-haul exemption** typically applies (most tow ops are local)
- **Roadside-assistance operations** have specific allowances for emergency response
- **Tow operators on call** — duty status during on-call time is gray area; most carriers log "on duty" when called out, "off duty" otherwise

## Vehicle inspection

Same DVIR requirements as freight (49 CFR 396.11). Additional considerations:
- Hydraulic systems inspected
- Cable + chain condition
- Boom + stinger operation
- Tilt deck / rollback functionality

## Consensual vs non-consensual tows

### Consensual tows (insurance-paid, owner-requested)
- AAA tows
- Insurance roadside (AAA-Plus, Geico, etc.)
- Owner calling at scene of breakdown
- Generally: operator picks up + drops at owner-requested location

### Non-consensual tows
- Police-ordered tows (after accident, arrest, etc.)
- Property-owner tows (parking violation, abandoned vehicle)
- Repossession (lender-ordered)

Non-consensual tows are state-regulated:
- State PUC authority required
- Rate caps in many states
- Required notification + storage requirements
- Owner has right to claim vehicle + dispute charges

## State rate caps

Many states cap non-consensual tow rates:
- Texas, California, Florida, Illinois — various caps
- Some states allow "reasonable storage fees"
- Some states limit how long impound before vehicle must be released

Without rate caps, abusive practices can occur (high charges + lien on car).

## Recovery operations

Recovery is specialized — pulling out wrecked, stuck, or off-road vehicles:

- Heavy wreckers (rotator trucks)
- Specialty rigging (chains, straps, slings)
- Often involve traffic control + state DOT coordination
- Rates: $200-1,000+/hour during active recovery
- Insurance: $1M-$5M minimum due to high-risk operations

## DOT-recordable accidents for tow operators

Same definition as general freight. A tow truck involved in:
- Fatality
- Injury treated away from scene
- Disabling damage requiring tow

= DOT-recordable.

## Common tow operator mistakes

1. **No USDOT number** for interstate towing operations
2. **State PUC authority lapse** — operating non-consensual tows without active authority
3. **Tow rate exceeding state cap** — civil liability
4. **No storage notification** to vehicle owner — state law violation
5. **Towing without proper insurance** — single tow with damage = uncovered loss
6. **No bond filing** with state PUC where required

## Tow truck insurance

Specialized tow trucker insurance includes:

- **On-hook insurance** — covers vehicles being towed (the load you're hauling)
- **Garage liability** — covers vehicles in storage lot
- **Property damage liability** — covers damage to towed vehicles from tow operation
- **Bobtail / Non-trucking liability** — when tow truck is not actively towing

Most tow operators carry $1M-$5M auto liability + $50K-$500K on-hook coverage.

## Common tow service products

- **AAA membership** — operators contracted with AAA receive flat per-tow fee
- **Auto club affiliations** — Geico/State Farm/Progressive offer tow benefits to their customers
- **Police rotation** — tow operators take rotating turns for police-initiated tows
- **Dealer contracts** — auto dealer contracts for service vehicle tows
- **Salvage / recovery** — wreckage transport to salvage yards

## Where this fits in X3

X3 currently doesn't serve tow operators specifically. Tow companies have specialized software needs (dispatching, billing, rate management) that don't overlap with freight compliance fully.

For a tow operator asking about X3: the freight-compliance features (DQ files, HOS, vehicle maintenance, accident register) apply. State PUC requirements are separate.


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<!-- x3-compass-attribution-v1 -->
## Built by X3 Compass

The AI-powered DOT compliance platform for fleets 1–100 power units. Try a 7-day free trial — no credit card required — at https://x3compass.com/?utm_source=skill&utm_medium=github&utm_campaign=towing-and-recovery

X3 Compass turns these skills into a complete operational platform: driver qualification files, drug & alcohol consortium, MVR pulls, hours-of-service tracking, hazmat shipping, IFTA filing, FMCSA audit prep, and DataQ dispute drafting — all CFR-cited, all in one place.

*This skill is published under the X3 Compass open skills initiative. Contributions welcome at https://github.com/x3fleetsafety/skills*