FAQ Page
What exactly is TRAA’s Legislative Action Workshop & Hill Day?
TRAA’s Legislative Action Workshop & Hill Day is the industry’s opportunity to come together and advocate on issues that impact all of us: large and small towing companies alike. The collective impact of towers from across the country coming together en masse cannot be beat or replicated by meeting in district.
What do I get out of it?
The owners and managers of towing and recovery businesses face a multitude of challenges every day ranging from local, to state, to federal. Each level of issue requires a different tactical approach. What we do during the Legislative Action Workshop & Hill Day is to collectively work towards solutions to nationwide problems from FMCSA regulations to insurance increases, to weights and measures. These universal issues that impact the entire industry.
Can I bring materials to handout to my members of Congress?
Yes, of course you can! We just ask that any materials you wish to distribute to members of Congress, staffers, or other attendees be reviewed and approved. This is to ensure that we don’t inadvertently share or distribute information that may be conflicting or controversial and hurt our collective efforts while in DC.
Can I take photographs or video to share my experience with friends, family, and colleagues back home on social media pages, text, email, etc.?
Of course, you can, and you should! Just be aware of two things. First, certain areas within the Capitol buildings will be restricted from the taking of photos or video. This is a safety issue that Capitol Hill police take seriously. Second, members of Congress and staffers actually live in DC. If we’re lucky enough to have members of Congress and/or staffers come to a dinner or social engagement with the group (which typically does happen at least once), please respect their right to privacy and just enjoy the experience as a quintessential DC one.
How do I book my room?
Simply return the completed registration form and your room at the host hotel will be booked for you. You’ll get a confirmation email directly from the hotel. The group rate is $355/night plus applicable taxes. Note, the nightly amenity fee is waived for our group.
What if I'm not staying at the host hotel?
Event attendees are welcome to stay at any Capitol Hill hotel.
What are this year’s legislative priorities (2023)?
One of our big issues again this year is amending federal weights and measures regulations (23 U.S.C. 127). While not the case in every state, many states have overall length restrictions on trucks and combination vehicles without an exemption for tow trucks removing these vehicles when they become wrecked or disabled on the interstate. This means that often combination vehicles must be dissembled, and each part towed by separate tow trucks. Many combination vehicles such as fuel tankers or automobile transporters are extremely difficult to split apart, creating safety hazards that put operators at risk and greatly slows response times to clear traffic incidents. While the House included a provision in its Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act to address this issue in 2021, it was ultimately not included in the final package that became law. We’ve got strong support from several key Members of Congress so we’re hopeful we’ll be able to get it passed into law during in this new Congress.
Another primary issue for us this year continues to be Move Over Laws. We were pleased to have the National Move Over Law Resolution (H.Res.1463) pass the U.S. House and become recognized in November 2022. The resolution was a huge step forward in that it expressed the federal government’s support for the promotion of and adherence to each state’s Move Over Law. While positive, we acknowledge that a resolution cannot address the outstanding issues such as the many discrepancies between state Move Over Laws and enforcement. We’ve been working with Members of Congress and the Government Accountability Office (GAO) for several years now to lay the potential groundwork for federal Move Over Law provisions that would address these issues.
With political control now divided, much of the focus on Capitol Hill in 2023 will be on regulation. Larry Minor, Associate Administrator for Policy at FMCSA, shared during a recent meeting that the agency has several significant rulemakings planned. One of particular interest to TRAA relates to the integration of automated or self-driving CMVs. Another is a proposal to require automatic emergency braking (AEB) systems on heavy trucks. Both FMCSA proposals will impact the towing industry as we’ll be the ones called to safely recover and transport these trucks.
What is the cancellation policy?
Per the registration form, the registration fee is non-refundable once submitted. Hotel room reservations are subject to Kimpton’s own terms, policies, and conditions. Please note that you will be billed by TRAA for the cost of any cancellation or modification to your hotel reservation made any time after January 31, 2024. By registering for this event, you accept these terms and conditions.
