Tow truck drivers aren't taking Bill 15 lying down, as they've taken their protest to the streets, promising more traffic jams tomorrow.
Peel Regional Police are tweeting that downtown Brampton, Ont. is “basically shut down due to tow truck drivers' protest,” according to the Brampton Guardian, advising drivers to avoid Hurontario Street.
The tow truck drivers are protesting Bill 15, Fighting Fraud and Reducing Automobile Insurance Rates Act 2014, passed by the Ontario Legislature on Nov. 20.
Designed to reduce insurance rates and combat fraud, it is also designed to regulate the towing industry and protect Ontario consumers. Tow truck operators however say the restrictions on hours of work will reduce their competitiveness and ability to make money.
The protest is expected to move to Queen's Park tomorrow, with more than 1,500 tow trucks anticipated to turn out.
The new act is aimed at reducing car insurance premiums by an average of 15 per cent by August 2015, but it also puts tow trucks under the authority of Commercial Vehicle Operator’s Registration (CVOR) for the first time in the industry’s history.
The act allows people to pay for a tow truck by credit card. It will also require tow truck operators to provide itemized billing as well as information on rates, when requested. Operators will also need proper safety training.
Brampton-Caledon director of NAAAP-TD and manager of Motosport Towing & Recovery, Mark Terenzi, said under CVOR rules drivers will not be allowed to work more than 13 hours a day, to a maximum of 60 hours per week.
Tow operators feel this will limit their ability to make money, especially during winter when a single tow can take up to four hours, reducing the amount of time available for other jobs such as boosts, lock outs, and flat tires.
Companies fear they will have to raise prices if those profit margins shrink, says Terenzi, and won’t be able to offer discounts, reducing their competitiveness.
