Chattanooga’s Tow Show, Explained

Ever wonder what it really takes to build an industry event that gives more than it takes? We sat down on the floor of the Tennessee Tow Show in Chattanooga with Brenda from Tow Times and Anthony from the Tennessee Tow Truck Association to unpack the moving parts, the purpose, and the payoffs you can’t see from a flyer. From an opening national anthem that shook the hall to a year-long planning cycle that starts the minute the lights go down, this is the story of a show built to lift towers, not just fill a hall.We talk through the show’s “give back” DNA, why October dates matter for travel and weather, and how a true team effort—booth sales, banners, social, and on-site coordination—creates space for real training and real connections. Anthony shares the behind-the-scenes work of the association: funding a lobbyist, fighting for practical rules, and securing 13 amendments and nearly 19 revisions to a state motion act so towing companies can operate safely and profitably. That policy work ties directly to what happens on the floor: vendors demonstrating tech and tools, owners swapping pricing models and hiring tactics, and crews sharpening skills in light-duty, heavy-duty, rotator recovery and EV procedures.We also dig into growth beyond the floor: the Towing and Recovery Management Summit, designed to help owners run their business instead of being run by it. Think leadership, finance, valuations, M&A timing, and smart tech like AI that can streamline billing, dispatch and communications. Along the way, you’ll hear personal paths—Brenda’s route from electroplating and barbering to event leadership, and Anthony’s journey from operations to association advocacy and music—that show how diverse skills make this industry stronger. If you want smarter training, better networking and a voice in the rules that shape your margins, this conversation is your map.Want more like this? Follow the show, share it with your team, and leave a quick review so other towers can find us. Then mark your calendar for Chattanooga and the Denver Summit—see you there.