Truckers are raising fresh complaints against A1’s Towing and Hauling, a Memphis-based towing company, alleging illegal towing and booting practices that result in exorbitant fees for the release of their trucks. A recent incident involves a Little Rock trucking company, BigTrux Transportation, whose owner, Andrew Adams, claims that A1’s Towing is holding their truck hostage.
According to Adams, the truck was booted for not paying a parking fee upfront. Initially, A1’s demanded $256 to remove the boot, but they subsequently towed the truck. When Adams visited the towing company in Memphis, he faced confrontation, with an individual behaving aggressively, prompting him to call the police.
The situation escalated when A1’s Towing quoted a staggering $2,800 to release the truck from the tow yard. Adding complexity to the matter, the truck was transporting a pharmaceutical load worth approximately $70,000 that required refrigeration. Due to the towing incident, BigTrux Transportation now faces potential penalties from the customer, who threatens a $70,000 claim for delayed product delivery.
This isn’t an isolated incident, as the City of Memphis Permits Office has received nearly two dozen complaints over the past year from truckers nationwide, alleging illegal booting and towing by A1’s. A Memphis City Council committee is set to discuss these reported abuses of the city’s booting and towing ordinances by certain local companies.
A1’s Towing and Hauling has further complicated the situation by filing a lawsuit against the City of Memphis, Memphis Police Chief Cerelyn Davis, and multiple MPD officers, alleging discrimination against a minority-owned business.
Despite attempts to seek comments from A1’s Towing and Hauling, there has been no response so far. As truckers continue to face challenges with towing practices, the broader issue of potential abuses of city ordinances is gaining attention, with hopes for resolution and accountability.