St. Cloud’s Andy’s Towing Upgrades Part of Fleet with a Grant from Minnesota Pollution Control Agency

(KNSI) – A St. Cloud tow truck company is cleaning up its fleet with the help of a grant from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency.

Jake Judd/KNSI News

In 2023, Andy’s Towing received part of a $2 million grant given to 12 truck companies to replace 39 older diesel vehicles. Big rigs made before 2007 can’t pass today’s emissions standards because they don’t have a diesel exhaust fluid system that injects a solution into the exhaust to reduce pollution. Andy’s Towing owner, Joe Kampa, told KNSI News he was able to secure about $150,000, which helped him replace five vehicles. “We’ve been able to replace two of our flatbed trucks for hauling cars, two of our road tractors that haul trailers and one of our tandem axle heavy wreckers for towing semis.”

The money is designed to cover about 25% of each new vehicle. Kampa heard about the grants from another towing company and encouraged other wrecker truck operators to check it out. “The grant system has worked well for us. Considering it’s a government program, I think they’re using the funds wisely. I think the people running the grant program have been very helpful, and it’s far less difficult than what you would expect a government program to be.”

Andy’s Towing has a fleet of 30 vehicles and is again applying for more help through the heavy-duty on-road replacement grant program. The window to apply for $4.4 million recently opened. The program is funded by the money that Minnesota received in the Volkswagen diesel emissions cheating settlement.

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