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Business & Tech

Orinda Towing On the Hook; Company Feels the Pinch

A venerable local towing company may not be able to survive a AAA decision forcing it to renegotiate its contract.

Orinda Towing, in business for 29 years, is one of several Northern California towing companies facing an inglorious end after a AAA Northern California decision to cancel their longstanding contract.

In an effort to streamline operations and save money, AAA required its contracted tow companies to have a certain amount of trucks on-call. Because many companies cannot afford to purchase more trucks, the re-contracting effectively removes smaller, privately-owned towing businesses from competition.

“To get a contract you have to be able to run x-amount of calls," said Orinda Towing owner Larry Lindsey, admittedly one of the "smaller" local towing firms. "This is really putting me in a bind.”

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In cancelling the contracts, AAA forces Orinda Towing and dozens of other tow companies across the state to re-bid in hope of renewing their contracts. Smaller companies like his, those without large fleets, have been particularly hard hit.

“They (AAA) want fewer and bigger companies,” Lindsey said.

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Firms in Lafayette, Hayward, Berkeley, Walnut Creek, and elsewhere in the Bay Area face similar hardships.

Lindsey says he knew the move was coming five months ago, but other than some feeble protests, he felt that there was little that could be done.

Although this may save AAA some money in the near term, Lindsey believes that the effect on AAA members will be drastic. With fewer  towing companies available for service calls, motorists with flat tires, dead batteries, or dead engines will have to wait longer for AAA service.

Along with Bay Area companies, Sacramento towing businesses are facing the same issue.

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