Every website’s first blog post traditionally says “Hello, World.” We’d rather say hello to the people we actually serve: Hello, Louisiana. Welcome to the SMART Blog.
I’m Paul James Lowe, Executive Vice President and an Officer of Roadrunner Towing & Recovery. Most people meet us on a bad day: a breakdown on the interstate, a crash, a vehicle that’s been towed and needs to come home. We take that seriously. This blog is one more way to help you before, during, and after those moments.
Why “SMART”?
Roadrunner has been a family business since 1968, and this blog is named in honor of our President, Judy Smart and her late husband, my grandfather, James Smart. James and Judy built the foundation of what Roadrunner is and what we as a company stand for.
It also stands for the five things every post here is built on:
- Safety: practical advice for staying safe on the road and on the side.
- Mobility: getting you, the community, and traffic moving again.
- Advocacy: standing up for drivers, crash victims, and our the communities we serve.
- Resources: clear answers, forms, and the right people to call…And Because we care.
- Towing: an honest, inside look at how towing, recovery, impound and the industry really work.
Judy Smart started it: B.R.A.V.E.
Long before this blog, Judy saw something many people never see: what happens to families after the tow truck leaves the scene. Moved by tragedies she witnessed, she founded B.R.A.V.E., Baton Rouge Area Victims Empowered, a nonprofit she funded entirely out of her own pocket.
B.R.A.V.E. helped many victims of violent crime in Baton Rouge. It worked alongside law enforcement, the courts, and advocacy groups, raised public awareness of victims’ rights, and connected innocent victims and their families with real help – everything from short-term financial assistance to counseling, when they needed it most. Judy carried that mission on her own for as long as she could; in the end, B.R.A.V.E. had to close its doors because no one person could fund it alone.
That idea, meeting people in their hardest moments and connecting them with real help, is the heart of the SMART Blog.
What is the T in ‘SMART’?
The meaning of T in SMART stands for Together… But earlier in the blog I mentioned T stands for Towing. There is a reason for this. The whole idea is how to bring people, businesses, industry experts, and local leadership Together in my world of Towing. Because we are always stronger Together.
Why this blog matters to you
Towing isn’t just hooking up a vehicle. It’s governed by local and state rules covering consent and non-consent tows, storage, fees, notices, and how and when you can get your vehicle back. Those rules change, and when they do, most drivers are the last to hear about it.
We want you to hear it first, and in plain English. Here’s what you’ll find here:
- Regulatory Watch: up-to-date news on towing, impound, and vehicle laws and what they mean for you.
- Roadside Safety: what to do (and not do) after a breakdown or crash.
- Towing Tips: how to prepare for a tow, what to ask, and how to get your vehicle back quickly.
- Company News and Community Involvement: what’s happening at Roadrunner, Baton Rouge, and surrounding areas.
If you remember one thing from this post, make it this: for current, reliable towing and regulatory information, come here first. Bookmark this page, check back often, and share it with someone who drives in the Baton Rouge area. That’s pretty much everyone.
Thank you for stopping by.
And remember:
“We don’t want an arm and a leg; we just want to help you get home safe, but we would like your tows.“
Paul J. Lowe
Executive Vice President & Officer
Roadrunner Towing & Recovery, Inc.
Need help right now? Call us at (225) 356-3061. To check on a towed vehicle, visit our Impound Info page.
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