Prepared for the 2009 TIME Conference “Hats of Incident Management”

 Year 2000 (has remained unchanged to last census)  Population: 307,896  Population Percent change, 1990 to 2000: +7.8%  Land Area: 543 square miles  Racial & Ethnic Composition:  -White 76%  -African American: 20% -Other Groups 4%  Median Household Income $34,836 (U.S. Census 1997 model estimate)  Percentage of workers driving to work alone: 80% (1990 Census).

 Task Force sub committees were created:  Haz-Mat to deal with fuel spills  Towing & Recovery to draft changes to local wrecker ordinance  Towing &Recovery committee members included towing community & city attorney  Late 2000 a draft was ready & presented to the Task Force for approval  A Major recommendation was “Recovery Class” Highway Incident Task Force Convenes in Early 2000

To develop effective communication among local & state agencies that have responsibilities in responding to highway incidents. Committed to a coordinated and cooperative response to highway incidents in an efficient and effective manner, the Task Force will strive to maintain safety of the motorist and the accident responder & preserve the economic and environmental welfare of the community. The Task Force will contribute its resources through the support of state & local programs, which assist stranded motorist, relieve highway congestion, and reduce the time to clear the blockage of traffic flow due to incidents.

 Q-2 of 2001 the City Wrecker board meets to set limits for law enforcement on calls within city  Charges for such calls raised to accepted priceing  Task Force draft was presented & “Recovery Class” created with little to no opposition  A Class: passenger cars & pickup trucks  B Class: Medium sized trucks (Straight Bed).  C Class: Heavy Duty for towing Tractor Trailers  Recovery: Spilled loads, Overturns or Heavy structural damage

 Within 6 months of new ordinance  C: Class claimed they could do the job as well as Recovery  Claims that C: Class were blind sided by changes  18 month moratorium supplement was added  All C: Class & Recovery class placed on the same list.  C: Class given 18 months to purchase Recovery Equipment.

 Recovery requirements remained as/is  There continued to be sporadic discussion about the requirements & class  Claims of unfair business practices started to surface  Rumors of legal action loomed

 Mid year a Knoxville Attorney (Michael McGovern) was retained by four local towing companies  Meetings were held with city officials in which claims that 30 ton straight booms could do the job as well as a Rotator  TDOT’S input was only for 90 minute performance measure  City Officials ask for Input & Clarification of the Issues, Rotator vs Straight Boom

 TDOT contacted FHWA for assistance in bringing in someone to speak to City Officials  John O’Laughlin volunteered to help  Gaynell Rochester with American Towing Alliance also came in to assist  Michael McGovern spoke for C: Class  The general consciences was not so much Rotators, but the need to clear the lanes as quickly as possible with training & performance Measures

 90 Minutes to clear all lanes, from order to proceed  Citation to the wrecker board, consideration of future participation for failure to clear lanes  Recovery & C: Class on controlled access must meet the same performance standard  A report is filed with PD with names, agencies & reason for recovery class call out

 Major Structural damage, possible spillage of cargo.  Wreckage in an uncontained state at the site of an accident  Recovery of large trucks requiring multiple items of equipment, loaders, cranes or other such  Requested by Emergency Service Provider in charge, for Life Safety  As Determined by an appropriate Official of TDOT

 8 Hours of training or continuing education each 12 months.  Traffic Incident Management Work Shops  MUTCD traffic control flagger training  Advanced Towing & Recovery Practices  Shall be familiar with quick Clearance Practices  Practices outlined in the I-95 coalition guidelines in section FS-17 & 18  All must be approved by the wrecker board

 Funding Provided by FHWA & TDOT  NHI: Using the Incident Command System at Highway Incidents  All Recovery Class Towing Attended  Held at the Fire Training Facility  Possibility of more Training funds over the next three years from FHWA

 One licensed recovery class wrecker  GVWR 7: 54,000 pounds & tandem axle  300” wheelbase  50 ton rotating boom  Dual 50,000 lb. winches  80,000 lb. tow rating  1 additional Licensed C: Class or greater  Own or contract equipment required in section 8.0 of Georgia TRIPS Program.

 Expansion of requirements for clean-up (fuel)  Better outline of training requirements  Better avenues to obtain training  Possible training funds from private sources  Possible training split to address Supervisors and Equipment Operators  Third party participation or guidelines, clean- up contractors, cargo owners, insurance adjustors

 QUESTIONS ?