III 

114TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. RES. 568 

Recognizing the invaluable contributions of the towing and recovery industry 

in the United States, the International Towing & Recovery Hall of 

Fame & Museum, towing associations around the world, and the members 

of those towing associations and designating the week of September 

9 through 15, 2016, as ‘‘National Towing Industry Awareness Week’’. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

SEPTEMBER 15, 2016 

Mr. CORKER (for himself, Mr. ALEXANDER, and Mr. COONS) submitted the 

following resolution; which was considered and agreed to 

RESOLUTION 

Recognizing the invaluable contributions of the towing and 

recovery industry in the United States, the International 

Towing & Recovery Hall of Fame & Museum, towing 

associations around the world, and the members of those 

towing associations and designating the week of September 9 through 15, 2016, as ‘‘National Towing Industry Awareness Week’’. 

Whereas, in 1916, Ernest Holmes built the first twin boom 

wrecker in Chattanooga, Tennessee, for use in his own 

garage and later agreed to build and sell the units to others; 

Whereas the first production wreckers were known as 

‘‘680’s’’ because they cost $680; 


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•SRES 568 ATS 

Whereas, in service to the United States, the Ernest Holmes 

Company supplied the W-45 military wrecker for use 

during World War II; 

Whereas, in 1959, the Ernest Holmes Company patented its 

first tow sling and car dolly; 

Whereas, in the early 1970’s, Gerald Holmes built the first 

hydraulic towing equipment, an advancement in the industry; 

Whereas, in 1995, the International Towing & Recovery Hall 

of Fame & Museum (referred to in this preamble as the 

‘‘Museum’’) was established in Chattanooga, Tennessee, 

the birthplace of the tow truck; 

Whereas, in 2003, the Museum, having outgrown its original 

home, moved to 3315 Broad Street in Chattanooga; 

Whereas, in 2006, the Museum officially dedicated the Wall 

of the Fallen, the first monument in the industry to 

honor towing operators killed in the line of service; 

Whereas, in the United States, there are more than 35,000 

tow companies and hundreds of thousands of individuals 

employed in the towing industry, including tow truck operators, dispatchers, safety advisors, and owners; 

Whereas more than 1 tow truck operator is killed every 6 

days assisting motorists on the roadways of the United 

States; 

Whereas tow truck operators respond to nearly 15,000,000 

accidents per year across the United States; 

Whereas tow truck operators are an indispensable part of 

keeping the United States moving by keeping the highways of the United States clear and open for travel; 


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•SRES 568 ATS 

Whereas most highway crashes require assistance from tow 

truck operators; and 

Whereas the people of the United States have a duty to drive 

safely and be courteous toward fellow motorists on the 

roadways as the people of the United States work together toward the common goal of reducing fatal accidents: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) recognizes the 100th anniversary of the tow 

3 truck; 

4 (2) designates the week of September 9 through 

5 15, 2016, as ‘‘National Towing Industry Awareness 

6 Week’’, to be held in conjunction with the Inter7 national Towing & Recovery Hall of Fame & Mu8 seum Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony and the 

9 Wall of the Fallen ceremony, each of which is held 

10 annually at the International Towing & Recovery 

11 Hall of Fame & Museum in Chattanooga, Tennessee; 

12 and 

13 (3) encourages the people of the United 

14 States— 

15 (A) to observe the move over and slow 

16 down laws in the United States; and 

17 (B) to join in the worthy observance of 

18 National Towing Industry Awareness Week. 

Æ 


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