03/04/2020
WELL, COLLINS BROTHERS TOWING, this is the second time our equipment has been damaged or carelessly towed by you guys- ask me about the first if you want to go there, we will take the high road and not mention our first disaster with you guys and your location in cushing, MN. Here's the REAL STORY, TELL US WHAT YOU THINK?!
So the other day Our trailer was taken out of the median or HWY 371 near fort ripley, after only a few hours of it sitting in the ditch, the drive shaft on the truck broke and it veered to the left as the drive shaft basically stopped the left rear wheel and the driver hit the ditch, after the truck was repaired (roughly 4 hours) we went back with a couple trucks and the trailer was nowhere to be found, as you can see in the picture it wasn't impeding traffic at all, wasnt near any signs or near a turn lane, MN STATE LAW says that the trooper and/or tow company is supposed to make a reasonable effort to contact owner of said vehicle and give them the option to move it before they have it towed, which they did not
And (which usually does not happen for 24-48 hours or after it is cited). REASONABLE effort was not made at all, as we called the local police departments and sheriffs offices and highway patrol nobody knew anything about it, we recieved a call back about 1030pm from the highway patrol saying they had checked into it and found out it was towed and was taken to collins brothers towing in little falls, we tried reaching out to them right away and finally got a hold of dispatch who confirmed it was there, we drove to the location right away to inspect the trailer to see if there was any damage on trailer/load, when we arrived at Collins Bros Towing- little falls we found the back gate open all the way and our container hanging off the side of the trailer about a foot, AND THE STRAPS LOOSE FROM IT SHIFTING (NOT SAFE TO TRANSPORT OR TOW LIKE THAT)AN EXPERIENCED TOW TRUCK DRIVER WOULD HAVE re-CENTERED THE LOAD and re-secured it before running it down the highway- TO AVOID DAMAGE TO OUR trailer(risk of bending the frame with the container being loaded off center or risk of damage to tires or blowing tires with load not centered evenly on the trailer) we also found they had cut the lock on the container and went inside without permission, (mind you this is 12 hours after it had been towed and we still hadnt been contacted and had to track it down as it took all evening) the TOW TRUCK DRIVER DECIDED NOT TO USE THE LANDING GEAR FOR TRAILER, was not secured correctly for transport anywhere and the Tow truck driver SET THE TRAILER BACK ON THE GROUND and must have left right away, WE TOOK THE NEXT TWO HOURS WITH A COME ALONG AND CHAINS
TO RE-CENTER THE LOAD, RE STRAP THE LOAD AND WE USED A FLOOR JACK AND 4X4S OVER AND OVER TO RAISE THE TRAILER ENOUGH TO USE THE LANDING GEAR which all should have already been down, we were disgusted with the way our equipment had been treated so we hooked up to our trailer, and left, This act was first abd foremost was DANGEROUS, CARELESS, very un necessary, un-PROFFESSIONAL and just about everything done by the TOW truck driver was INCORRECT, and they were for sure trying to hang onto the trailer overnight to rack up some more charges why else had we NOT YET been contacted? THE STATE LAW WAS BROKEN BY COLLINS BROTHERS TOWING BY NOT CONTACTING US AND THE LOAD WAS TRANSPORTED CARELESSLY, CROOKED, and for sure NOT SAFELY SECURED! It was 10k lbs of steel 8' high and 40' long and that is a wind sail when towed down the road, Very Dangerous and risky for not only the tow truck driver but also passing motorists, they are very lucky that nothing happened, when these shipping containers get that crooked on a trailer and weight is not evenly distributed and it is leaning to one side, a gust of wind could damn near knock them over or possibly all the way off the trailer, NOT SAFE- PROPER SAFETY PRECAUTIONS AND STEPS were NOT taken in this situation. WE WERE TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF AND OUR EQUIPMENT/LOAD ON OUR TRAILER WAS NOT HANDLED WITH CARE WHATSOEVER and safety measures AND PROPER PROCEDURE WerAS OBVIOUSLY NOT TAKEN BY COLLINS BROTHERS Towing before hooking up to it and running down the highway, ESPECIALLY IF THEY DO ALL THE STATE PATROL CALLS, IF They tow for 20+ state/city/county law enforcement outfits! Makes ya wonder if this happens all the time!?!? And than they bad mouth us to
JUSTIFY THE UN SAFE WAY THIS WAS TRANSPORTED IN THIS DANGEROUS SITUATION. THANKFUL NOTHING MORE SERIOUS HAPPENED,Thats just sad THE WAY THEY CONDUCT BUSINESS, ANS SCARY SINCE THEY HAVE A MONOPOLY ON TOWING IN MINNESOTA.
