Frank Dorey was honoured at the 2023 PTAO Tow & Trade Show for his impressive 50-year career in towing and recovery.
by Marcus Thompson, Currie Heavy Towing
Born January 31, 1957, in Bridgewater, Nova Scotia, Frank’s entry into the towing and recovery industry started while he was still in high school. At that time, he took on a part-time dispatcher role at Unique Towing. However, school didn’t hold his interest for long. In the middle of Grade 12, he decided to join Unique Towing full-time, working 12-hour shifts for $12 an hour.
When a broker named John Borg left Unique Towing and founded his own company, Borg Towing, Frank saw an opportunity and followed him to become their new dispatcher. Recognizing Frank’s potential, John co-signed for Frank’s first wrecker, a one-ton GMC equipped with a Holmes 440. This marked the beginning of Frank’s towing career.
During this time, Frank’s path also crossed with his future wife, Doreen, while towing into Plaza Pontiac when he was around 17 or 18 years old.
As he gained more work experience, Frank decided to leave behind the smaller jobs, and he transitioned to a brand new 1977 International S/A 2070 with a Holmes 750 wrecker, bought for him by John. With his new truck, Frank ventured all over the east coast, up north, and in a day cab wrecker to boot.
After John sold Borg Towing, the new owner gave Frank a long wheelbase Ford Louisville equipped with the first sleeper on a tow truck in the Toronto area, making his long journeys even more comfortable.
Originally published in
Tow Canada, November-December 2023
Frank eventually left Borg Towing and briefly worked for Bedford Towing, but after six months he was told that he was too young for their insurance. Undeterred, Frank moved to Dorchester Towing in Niagara Falls, Ontario, even relocating Doreen. However, Frank eventually returned to Borg Towing, where he reunited with the Ford Louisville with a bunk. He visited Doreen when time allowed.
Next, Frank left the industry for a short time when Borg sold to Unique Towing. He drove a float and belly dump for a summer in Northern Ontario, the same year that Terry Fox came through. He then returned to Unique Towing for the winter before joining Byers Towing. There, he operated an old Ford with Ashton Hydraulics until they built a Kenworth equipped with a Holmes 600, which he ran for 14 months.
Frank’s next chapter unfolded at A Towing, where he spent an impressive 35 years. Over this time, he operated four different heavy-duty wreckers, all from NRC, with his last two being brand new Western Stars featuring a 72” bunk. Again, he ran all over the map.
In 2018, Frank decided to leave A Towing and return to his hometown of Gravenhurst, a place he rarely had the chance to enjoy due to his demanding career.
Frank briefly operated a boom truck for Muskoka Stone until an encounter with Glenn Currie from Currie Heavy Towing in 2019 changed his path once again. Given the opportunity to have his own tractor and Landoll (and make his own schedule in Muskoka), Frank jumped at the opportunity. Doreen supported his decision, knowing that Frank was not going to be in a wrecker again.
Yet, this plan only lasted until an operator went on holidays, and Frank was given a brand-new Western Star with a V 70, “just to covering for an absent operator for two weeks.” Well, it has been a long two weeks. Four years later, Frank is still operating that truck! 🍁
