Billings, MT – A Billings-based tow truck company has been suspended from the Montana Highway Patrol’s tow response list after being found guilty of overcharging a Bozeman hardware store following a crash. Anderson Towing, which was charged with billing thousands of dollars beyond reasonable rates, has been handed a rare six-month suspension for its actions.
The suspension stems from an incident that occurred on April 17, 2024, when Anderson Towing charged Kenyon Noble Lumber and Hardware a staggering $6,700 to tow a truck just four miles after a crash in Bozeman. The charge was more than two to three times the standard cost for a similar service.
The Bozeman hardware store filed a formal complaint, which was reviewed by the Tow Truck Resolution Complaint Committee (TTRCC). The committee determined that Anderson’s billing practices were egregious enough to warrant a suspension. Andrew Butler, supervising attorney for TTRCC, explained, “The billing in this case was determined by the board to be egregious enough to reach the level of a suspension.”
The fees in question included more than $2,500 for a hazmat response, even though only a small amount of fuel—less than 25 gallons—was spilled, the typical threshold for a hazmat response. Additionally, Anderson charged $900 for a wrecker and $450 for a driver, with industry averages for both typically totaling around $272. A further $500 was billed for traffic control signs, cones, and warning lights, while another $100 was charged as a lien processing fee despite no lien being necessary. Lastly, the four-mile tow itself was priced at $110.60, well above the standard rate for such a short distance.
Scott Wolff, president of the Montana Tow Truck Association, noted that this incident is an outlier, stating, “99% of towing businesses are good.” However, he emphasized that the suspension was a necessary step in holding the company accountable for what he referred to as “egregious billing.” Wolff added, “Once you get a towing company’s attention like that, I would hope that they would stay within the side boards of industry standards.”
While Anderson Towing has been suspended from the Montana Highway Patrol’s list, its services will still be available for other towing rotations, such as the Yellowstone County rotation. The suspension is set to be lifted on April 30, 2024.
In response to the suspension, Anderson Towing’s owner, Cameron Cochran, filed for a judicial review in Lewis & Clark County District Court, disputing the charges levied against his company. Although Cochran defended the hazmat fees in a brief to the committee, claiming that his employees provided proper cleanup, the committee was not swayed by his defense.
The case has drawn attention not only because of the significant overcharging but also because of the broader implications for the towing industry. As towing companies across the state and beyond watch closely, the outcome of this case could set a precedent for how similar billing disputes are handled moving forward.
Andrew Butler and Scott Wolff hope the suspension sends a clear message to other towing businesses that unfair pricing practices will not be tolerated. “It’s a big step in putting some of these bad players on notice that they’re going to be held accountable for their actions,” Wolff said.
