A towing company in Memphis, Tennessee, has been accused of engaging in predatory practices, including illegally towing and booting semi-trucks and charging exorbitant fees to have the vehicles returned.
Multiple out-of-state truck drivers have filed complaints alleging that A1’s Towing & Hauling, located out of Memphis, Tennessee, has been employing aggressive tactics and demanding inflated fees for towing and booting their vehicles. The complaints prompted an investigation by the Tennessee Highway Patrol and the Memphis Police Department.
Fenn Church, the owner of Church Transportation, recounted an incident where his driver’s truck was booted while he was still inside the vehicle. Church’s driver was forced to pay a $300 fee to have the boot removed, but when he attempted to pay with a credit card, the A1’s driver reportedly refused and towed the truck. Church’s driver was then charged over $4,500 to have the truck returned.
Another trucker from Florida, Jaleel Shaw, described a similar incident where he was pressured to pay $400 to have a boot removed from his truck. Shaw claims that armed men arrived on the scene and his truck was towed away after he initially refused to pay. He was charged $2,700 to have the truck returned.
Following the complaints, the Memphis City Council revoked the company’s permits for 60 days in November and an additional 30 days in March. However, a judge quickly reversed the suspension, allowing the company to resume operations.
In response to the allegations, A1’s attorney stated that the company operates under state law, which supersedes city law. However, City Councilman Ford Canale disputes this claim, stating that the city and state laws regarding towing are largely aligned.
The owner of A1 Towing & Hauling, Colten Cathey, has defended his practices, but Transportation Commissioner Kevin Kane expressed concerns about the recurring complaints, stating, “There is something wrong here.”
In an effort to hold A1 accountable, Church Transportation has filed a $5 million civil lawsuit against the towing company, accusing it of violating federal anti-racketeering laws. The lawsuit alleges that Cathey engages in predatory practices through multiple companies and unlawfully charges exorbitant fees to drivers.
The Memphis City Council and A1 Towing & Hauling have not yet provided updates on the situation.
