WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congressman Dave Taylor (R‑Ohio) has introduced new legislation designed to give tow‑truck operators more flexibility when responding to crashes and breakdowns on busy highways, a move he says will reduce roadside dangers for workers and first responders.
The proposal, called the Towing Safety Act, would allow tow‑truck operators to temporarily exceed federal length limits when removing large disabled vehicles from interstate highways. Under current federal rules, combination vehicles are generally capped at 65 to 75 feet in length, depending on configuration. Because many semi‑trucks measure around 70 feet, tow operators often must disassemble them on the roadside to comply with the law.
Taylor said the bill is intended to eliminate that risky practice.
“As someone who ran my own company for decades, I would never want to put the lives of my workers or first responders at risk on the side of the road,” Taylor said in a statement. He added that crashes and breakdowns on highway shoulders create hazardous conditions for tow‑truck operators, police, and passing drivers. “My bill will save lives and ensure safety on our nation’s roads.”
The legislation would allow tow‑truck operators, at the direction of local officials, to move a wrecked or disabled vehicle to a nearby safe location without first breaking it down—provided the tow remains in‑state, the route is approved by the relevant transportation agency, and the transported vehicle complies with existing federal regulations.
The Towing and Recovery Association of America (TRAA) has endorsed the bill.
Safety advocates have long warned about the dangers tow operators face on the roadside. Between 2015 and 2021, 123 tow‑truck workers were killed by passing vehicles, according to data from the American Automobile Association.
Supporters of the bill say the change would reduce those risks by limiting the amount of time operators spend working in high‑speed traffic zones.
The full text of the Towing Safety Act is available through Taylor’s office.
