Towing and Recovery Professionals of Maryland

What Towing and Recovery Professionals of Maryland does

Towing and Recovery Professionals of Maryland (TRPM) is a Maryland-incorporated non-profit trade association founded in 1979 that serves the state's towing and recovery industry. Its core function is to represent, advocate for, and develop the professional standing of towing operators, including light- and heavy-duty conventional tow trucks, wheel lifts, and flatbeds, as well as allied service providers such as body shops, equipment suppliers, and insurance vendors. TRPM operates a member-driven governance model through an elected board of officers and regional directors covering Maryland's Northern, Southern, Eastern, and Western regions, and it partners with state agencies (MDOT, MVA, MSP, SHA, CVED) and national associations (TRAA, COSTA, VATRO) to shape regulatory outcomes and deliver training.

TRPM generates revenue primarily through annual membership dues, billed at $350 for both Regular Members (voting companies actively engaged in towing for hire) and Associate Members (non-voting suppliers and vendors). Supplementary revenue comes from event registrations, with examples such as $100 per ticket for regional general meetings, plus sponsorship from featured vendors (e.g., R&A Insurance, East Coast Truck & Trailer Sales, Jerrdan, eImpound, West End Service). Member benefits include legislative advocacy, free TIM (Traffic Incident Management) training via SHA, technical and small business seminars, scholarship programs, participation in the TRAA National Certification Program, and access to annual events such as the Roadeo, Trade Show, and Bull Roast. The association's underlying technology is minimal: a Wix-hosted marketing site, an Xpress-Pay dues payment portal, and email/newsletter communications, with no proprietary software product or platform.

The association's go-to-market is community-led: recruitment happens through regional meetings, an online or mail-in application flow, referrals from existing members, and visibility of new members on the website homepage. Its operating geography is restricted to Maryland, and its member base is composed entirely of small and mid-sized towing operators and vendors across the state.

Name

Towing and Recovery Professionals of Maryland

Legal name

Towing & Recovery Professional of Maryland, Inc.

Website

https://trpm-assn.net

Company type

Private

Founded year

1979

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Maryland non-profit trade association founded in 1979 that represents towing and recovery professionals through $350 annual memberships, delivering legislative advocacy, TIM training, regional meetings, and annual Roadeo and Trade Show events.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Trade Association Services

NAICS

Motor Vehicle Towing (48841), Support Activities for Transportation (488)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Transportation Services (4700)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYHSAKAFAI

Inoperable / Non-Running Vehicle Transport

Home & Personal Services/Moving, Storage & Relocation Services/Vehicle Transport & Auto Shipping Services

Keywords

• Towing industry association
• Trade association membership
• Towing professional training
• Industry legislative advocacy
• Recovery industry networking

Headquarters

HQ city

Middletown

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: TRPM generates revenue through annual membership dues. Regular Member dues are billed at $350 annually with voting privileges for companies actively engaged in towing for hire. Associate Member dues are billed at the same rate for non-towers, suppliers, and vendors without voting privileges.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

TRPM is a non-profit trade association that delivers membership services to Maryland's towing and recovery industry. It sells annual memberships ($350/year) to Regular Members (towing companies with voting privileges) and Associate Members (suppliers and vendors without voting privileges), and bundles them with TIM training, regional and annual events, scholarship programs, and legislative advocacy on behalf of the towing profession.

Product overview

Towing and Recovery Professionals of Maryland (TRPM) is a non-profit industry association for towing professionals in Maryland. The organization does not offer commercial software products or technology platforms. TRPM provides membership services including training and education programs, legislative advocacy, networking events, and scholarship opportunities for members engaged in towing for hire. Membership is available at two levels: Regular Members (voting privileges, active in towing) and Associate Members (non-towers, suppliers, vendors, no voting privileges). Annual dues are billed at $350.00. Services include training seminars, TIM (Traffic Incident Management) training, certification support, and annual events such as Roadeos and regional meetings.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Regular Membership Annual voting membership for companies actively engaged in towing for hire in Maryland, billed at $350 per year. Includes legislative advocacy, TIM training access, regional and annual event participation, and TRAA National Certification Program support.
• Associate Membership Annual non-voting membership for non-tower suppliers, equipment vendors, insurance providers, and service companies serving the Maryland towing industry, billed at $350 per year. Includes networking, marketing exposure, and access to TRPM events.
• TIM (Traffic Incident Management) Training Program Free Traffic Incident Management training delivered to TRPM members in coordination with the Maryland State Highway Administration (SHA), supporting first-responder competency for towers responding to roadway incidents.
• Annual Roadeo and Trade Show Annual skills competition and supplier trade show for the Maryland towing industry, serving both as a member engagement event and a feeder to the TRAA National Roadeo, where several TRPM winners have become Grand National Champions.
• Regional Meetings Program Recurring in-person regional meetings held across Maryland (Northern, Southern, Eastern, and Western regions) that provide members with networking, training updates, and association business; example pricing of $100 per ticket for the Eastern Regional General meeting.
• Jeff Hurley, Sr. Scholarship Program

Quantifiable outcome

• Defeated licensure for all towing companies in Maryland (2008)
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Towing and Recovery Association of America (TRAA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTRPM has been an affiliate member of TRAA since its inception. TRAA President Henery Heath hosted the first TRPM meeting in January 1980. TRPM Roadeo winners have competed at the TRAA National Roadeo. TRPM is a co-sponsor of the American Towman Expo in Baltimore.
• Maryland Motor Truck Association (MMTA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTRPM has forged relationships with MMTA over the years as part of its industry ecosystem partnerships.
• Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTRPM has established working relationships with MDOT as part of its legislative and regulatory advocacy efforts.
• Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTRPM has established relationships with MVA for industry coordination and regulatory matters.
• Maryland State Police (MSP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTRPM entered into agreement with MSP in 2015 recognizing towers as first responders in national Traffic Incident Management (TIM). Ongoing collaboration on rotational issues for heavy equipment calls.
• State Highway Administration (SHA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTRPM entered into agreement with SHA in 2015 recognizing towers as first responders in national TIM. SHA makes TIM Training available to all TRPM members at no cost.
• Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Division (CVED)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTRPM maintains working relationships with CVED for industry coordination and regulatory matters.
• Council of State's Towing Association (COSTA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTRPM's Betty Cornwell served as President of COSTA, strengthening inter-state towing association collaboration.
• Virginia Association of Towing and Recovery Operators (VATRO)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVATRO President Henery Heath co-hosted the first TRPM meeting in 1980, establishing early cross-state collaboration.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Direct peers

• Texas Towing & Recovery Association: Texas state towing association offering analogous membership, training, and legislative representation services. A larger-scale analog demonstrating the potential ceiling for state-level towing associations.
• California Tow Truck Association (CTTA): Statewide towing trade association in California. Functions as a direct peer in member services, legislative advocacy, and training, though at significantly larger scale due to California's towing market size.
• Council of State Towing Associations (COSTA): Umbrella body for state towing associations. TRPM's Executive Director Betty Cornwell served as COSTA President, indicating deep operational and governance overlap with TRPM's mission of coordinating state-level towing advocacy.
• Florida Towing & Recovery Association: Florida state towing industry association. Comparable state-level scope, dues-based membership model, and regulatory advocacy focus serving towing operators in a single state.
• Virginia Association of Towing and Recovery Operators (VATRO): State-level towing and recovery trade association serving Virginia. VATRO President Henery Heath co-hosted TRPM's first meeting in 1980, making this a structurally analogous peer in an adjacent state with overlapping member profiles.

Others

• American Towman Exposition: Industry expo and media brand co-sponsored by TRPM in Baltimore. Provides a peer comparison point for industry event programming, training, and supplier engagement across the towing ecosystem.
• Maryland Motor Truck Association (MMTA): Maryland-based trucking industry trade association with which TRPM maintains a partnership. Operates a broader commercial vehicle focus but shares overlapping government liaison and regulatory advocacy functions in Maryland.

Emerging players

• Automotive Service Association (ASA): National association serving automotive service businesses including collision, mechanical, and towing-adjacent operators. Provides an indirect peer for member services, training, and advocacy in the broader vehicle services industry.

Broad incumbents

• Towing and Recovery Association of America (TRAA): National trade association for the towing and recovery industry. Direct parent-affiliate of TRPM since 1980 and primary body for national certification programs, legislative advocacy, and the National Roadeo that TRPM winners compete in.

Regional players

• Pennsylvania Towing Association: State towing association in Pennsylvania, a Mid-Atlantic peer geography close to Maryland. Offers similar membership services and legislative advocacy for Pennsylvania towing operators.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/TRPMASSN
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/towing-and-recovery-professionals-of-maryland-inc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles16 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Towing and Recovery Professionals of Maryland