Toad of towed haul

The Automobile Association has dumped towing contractors across Auckland, despite their years of loyal service. Lauren Mentjox reports.
Roy Hoverd doesn't want to give up on his business. But since his towing contract with the Automobile Association ended last week, he may be left with little choice.
The South Auckland mechanic and tow-truck operator, who has worked for - and with -the association for 25 years, is the latest in a string of contractors to be dumped without warning.
For the past 18 months, the AA has quietly cancelled agreements with some of its longest-serving roadside recovery contractors while centralising its towing work to one company, Onehunga Towing Service.
"They gave me one month's notice and there wasn't a thing I could have done about it," says Mr Hoverd.
"I'm just really annoyed at the way they went about it. There was no consultation with
contractors. There was no loyalty.''
About 17 contractors across the region have lost a significant chunk of their livelihoods
because of the AA's decision.
Pakuranga Auto Transport owner Ross Ardern says his business hasn't recovered since he lost his contract last year after 30 years of service.
"We're only a small business. There were three of us, two drivers and me, but I've had to lay one off because of this. I'm just a small fish. What could I do?''
On the North Shore Russell Baldwin, from North Harbour Towing, believes his axing by the AA was "bloody unethical''.
"One minute we got a letter from them saying we were doing a good job and the next thing, the new contract company was asking if we wanted to subcontract to them.
"All of a sudden our jobs went from five or six a day to one or two a week.''
AA road service national manager John Healy says he can understand some contractors are upset because they have lost income. But, overall, he says the decision is working well.
He says having all towing recovery work done through Onehunga Towing has improved
response times, kept pricing down and boosted the AA's image through increased branding. 
Anecdotally, response times seem far from improved.
Emma, a towing company representative who gave only her first name, says the new system is leaving a trail of annoyed customers. She says one AA member waited on Ormiston Rd for four hours after a recent breakdown.
Another spent one-and-a-half hours waiting for a tow truck to get from Onehunga to Highland Park.
"At the end of the day someone is out there in their car and they don't want to be,''  she says. "There is no follow-up. People are just left to wait.
"It's all good and well having the contract, but they have to be able to service it.''
Mr Baldwin from North Harbour agrees.
He is still asked to do heavy jobs on the Shore because Onehunga Towing doesn't have the equipment. But he refuses.
Chris Peard, of Causeway Towing in Takapuna, says breakdown workers routinely tell him they are struggling to get help to members.
In the meantime, Roy Hoverd may be able to subcontract to Onehunga Towing, but his
experience has left him disillusioned about his future in the business.
"I'll get out of it as soon as I can, but it's not the way I planned.
"I would have liked to have sold a business rather than walk away from one.''