03/27/2026
With the cost of fuel continuing to rise, we have requested an increase to our Boise City police rotation rates. Unfortunately, we continue to receive no response.
We have sent multiple emails to the Boise City Mayor and City Council members. In January, we were finally heard at a council meeting, where it was agreed that higher rates are necessary. The council chose to postpone the discussion until February—only to postpone it again. Since then… silence.
Meanwhile, we are still out here every day removing accident vehicles, clearing abandoned cars, and keeping our roadways safe. These rates have not been increased since 2008, and the cost of doing business has skyrocketed since then.
Everyone has seen the price of fuel go up, and we understand that it impacts everything. But we are stuck in limbo when it comes to police rotation rates—while still being expected to show up and do the job for the city.
Yes, we could remove ourselves from rotation. But what good would that do for our community?
We need your help getting this information out there. I have sent emails to the Mayor, City Council members, local news stations, and the towing companies on rotation. I spent weeks gathering data to support a rate increase and worked alongside the majority of companies involved—but it has gotten us nowhere.
So here we are.
I’ve shared the email sent to the Mayor’s office and the news stations below. Tow companies deserve to be heard—and to be paid fairly for the work they do.
Dear Mayor and Members of the Boise City Council,
Good morning,
I sent an email last Thursday and recently realized that some of the email addresses may have been incorrect. I am resending this follow-up to ensure it reaches all intended recipients, as I have not received a response.
My original email requested an emergency rate increase due to rising diesel costs. Since sending that email, diesel has increased by approximately $0.38 from my last email and continues to climb.
I am writing to formally request the immediate implementation of an emergency towing rate increase for providers operating under the City of Boise rotation.
The current City-approved light-duty rate structure—$125 hook and $4 per mile, $25 per day for storage (with the first 24 hours free), $25 for special equipment, $75 per hour for labor (with the first hour free), and $25 for cleanup—is significantly outdated and no longer sustainable under current operating conditions.
Diesel fuel is now exceeding $5.57 per gallon in Boise and has increased by at least $0.38 since my email was sent last week, with prices continuing to rise. At the same time, insurance, labor, equipment, and compliance costs continue to increase. Not to mention our day to day necessities i.e food prices, clothing and more. Everything is rising with the cost of diesel, and we have to be able to pay our drivers enough at the bare minimum, feed their families.
At these rates, many towing companies are operating at—or below—cost when responding to City calls.
This request follows the rate adjustment discussion that began at the January 13th City Council meeting and was rescheduled for February 10th before being postponed. Since that time, there has been no communication or update provided to towing providers regarding next steps.
This process marked the first time since 2008 that towing providers have been formally heard regarding the need for a rate increase. In good faith, and within the timeline provided by the City, towing companies worked collaboratively to review and submit proposed rates.
Out of an estimated 29 companies currently on rotation, approximately 20 companies came to agreement on proposed light-duty rate increases, demonstrating strong industry alignment. This information was sent via a previous email, but we have yet to hear anything. Three companies out of the 5 that are on heavy duty rotation, also agreed to the heavy duty rates that were sent over. All of the other companies I have not counted for a yes, did not get back to me in time to submit the rates back to the City.
Since that effort put forth by our towing industry, communication has gone silent on this topic, except from the towers.
It is also important to clarify that these rate adjustments do not come from the City’s budget and are not paid with tax payer dollars. They simply allow towing providers to recover a portion of the real costs associated with responding to rotation calls and keeping Boise’s streets clear.
This is not just an industry issue—it is a public safety concern.
Towing providers are responsible for clearing accidents, removing hazards, and ensuring traffic flow remains safe and efficient. Without immediate action, the City risks:
Reduced participation from towing providers
Increased response times
Decreased service availability during critical incidents
We are respectfully requesting:
Immediate implementation of an emergency interim rate increase
A confirmed date to resume formal rate discussions
Clear communication on next steps moving forward
Towing providers showed up, collaborated, and followed the process outlined by the City. We are now asking for timely action in return.
We remain committed to serving the City of Boise. However, the continued delay—while costs rise daily—is placing significant strain on an essential public safety service.
For transparency, this message has been shared with local towing providers and media outlets.
We appreciate your attention and look forward to your prompt response.
Thank you,
Jessca Reeves
Owner of Act Towing & Off-Road Recovery
Dispatch (208) 375-3121
[email protected]
www.boisetowtruck.com
