James M. Jennings

James began his career in the rowing industry in 1972 while still attending Boca Raton High School in Boca Raton Florida. Jim’s Shell Service Station was the family business and in 1965 Jennings Towing and Recovery was formed with the purchase of the first tow truck. In 1968 we began towing for the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office, the Florida Highway Patrol and the City of Boca Raton. In later years Emerald Transportation Corporation was formed as the heavy towing and hauling division and since 1994 has been the corporate identity. In 2015 the Jennings family celebrated 50 years in the South Florida towing industry.

Since his early years in the industry James has been involved with the local Fire Rescue in support of extrication training receiving numerous awards and acknowledgements from the fire rescue services in Boca Raton, Deerfield Beach and Coral Springs.

In 2002 before Traffic Incident Management and SHARP 2 became the goals of the industry James was one of the few in the towing industry to grasp the importance of the concept by becoming a member of the CIRT Team for Heavy Rescue, attending the SW Florida Public Works Academy for Mott Training and purchasing a 50 Ton Grove Crane as one of the first true RISC type vehicles in Florida being recognized by the Florida Highway Patrol in 2003. James was also an instructor for Exteam Heavy Rescue Training which brought together fire rescue and towing professionals training together on hands on bus and heavy truck accidents for extrication.

Founder and board member of Towers with Heart, Inc Charities which reaches out at many public events throughout the year promoting the Move over Law. Annually we hold the Move over Law golf Tournament to promote the law and remember all of those that have been injured and struck down by distracted drivers, last year the event raised over $36,000 for our billboard advertising and outreach events. In 2013 and 2014 James was also recognized by FDOT District 4 for his work with the Move over Law with the FDOT Award for Public Partnering.

James has been a member of the TRAA and Professional Wrecker Operators of Florida since the beginning and is a founding member and current Vice President of the Sunshine State Towing Association.

James gives the credit for his success to his family including the Emerald family many of whom have been by his side for 20 years and without their dedication and support none of these achievements could have been possible.