Many tow operators in the region say new provincial regulations will hinder the way they do business.
Derek Didone is a manager at County Towing and also sits on the board of directors for the Provincial Towing Association of Ontario.
He says the major issue is mandating a driving device, known as a CVOR. It would limit how many hours a tow operator can drive in a shift -- similar to truckers. "Right now most towing companies employ drivers that work steady nine to ten hour shifts and then they go on-call the rest of the night," says Didone. "CVOR (Commercial Vehicle Operator's Registration) rules wouldn't allow this. It would force employers to hire more drivers, however there wouldn't be enough work to sustain a reasonable pay cheque for everyone."
Bill 15, known as the Fighting Fraud and Reducing Automobile Insurance Rates Act, would require written consent from drivers before a tow can be made. "It sounds good from the outside, but being on the inside of the industry all too often there's no one present to accomplish what we want to do to get the written authorization," says Didone. "If they're gone in an ambulance, injured, not in the right frame of mind."
The bill has already received royal assent last month, which means it will come into effect once a committee finalizes the changes. The new legislation will also require tow operators to give an estimate before the job starts, which Didone says can be difficult during things like transport rollovers and water recoveries.