Towing and Recovery Incentive Payment (TRIP) Program

The Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) Towing and Recovery Incentive Payment (TRIP) Program is an Indefinite Delivery Vehicle (IDV) designed to provide emergency towing services for large commercial vehicles involved in highway incidents. The contract enables pre-qualified towing providers to respond to transportation emergencies across designated zones in Ohio, with specific requirements including possession of specialized equipment such as 35-ton hydraulic wreckers, skid loaders, fuel transfer systems, and support trucks. Vendors must meet stringent operational standards, including response time requirements of 45 minutes during peak hours and 60 minutes during non-peak hours, with a mandatory 90-minute vehicle removal timeframe.

The contract is awarded to Tugs Auto Works Towing Inc, based in Milford, Ohio, through a competitive selection process. The IDV will be in effect from July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2027, covering the entire state of Ohio. As a multiple award contract, ODOT may select several towing service providers to ensure comprehensive coverage. The contract structure includes incentive payments of $2,499 for successful TRIP events, $600 for cancelled events prior to scene work, and includes mandatory compliance with Ohio Traffic Incident Management (OTIM) training, commercial driver's licensing, and specific insurance requirements. The contract is competitively bid and does not guarantee a specific volume of work, with ODOT reserving the right to distribute calls equitably among awarded vendors.