10-4 Magazine - For Today's Trucker

MAY 2004 WHAT EVER HAPPENED TO...

Less Than a Handful of Wreckers

Story and Photo by Truck Historian/Author Stan Holtzman

(Click on image for larger photo)

Today it is a common sight to see heavy duty wreckers and tow trucks that are dipped in chrome and adorned with fancy paint. However, there was a time, not so long ago, when there were less than a handful of heavy duty wreckers for all of Southern California. There was Hub Garage in Pomona, Bob’s Garage in Orange, Blackard’s Garage in West Covina, A-1 Towing in downtown Los Angeles, and then there was Hagerty’s Towing in East L.A. Seen here, in a 1966 photo, is the Sterling-White that Hagerty’s had back then. This truck, along with a three-axle Autocar, was their heavy duty fleet. The rest of the Hagerty’s rigs were smaller tow trucks. Though they are no longer towing big rigs, the Hagerty rigs can still be seen operating in the East L.A./Commerce area of Los Angeles. As an OPG (Official Police Garage), Hagerty’s Towing responds to calls from both the East L.A./Commerce Sheriff facilities, as well as the CHP for those areas. Colors of the Hagerty rigs are white with green and black lettering. For more neat stuff about old trucks or to purchase one of my books, be sure to visit my website at www.linerigs.com. Thanks!