📜 Our Story: A Legacy of Service Since 1945
In 1945, C.T. “Smutt” Smith had a simple but bold idea: to provide reliable towing services to the underserved communities of Fountain City and Halls Crossroads. At the time, established companies like Terminal Garage and Mee’s Wrecker Service dominated the Knoxville area, but these growing neighborhoods lacked a dedicated provider.
With just one homemade tow truck and an ambitious vision, Fountain City Wrecker Service was born. The early years weren’t easy—competition was fierce, and Terminal Garage held the exclusive towing contract for the City of Knoxville. Still, Smutt persevered, earning the community’s trust one tow at a time.
A major turning point came in 1963, when the City of Knoxville annexed Fountain City—much to the dismay of local residents. But for Smutt, it opened new doors. He became the first and only other towing company to secure a contract with the City of Knoxville, breaking the monopoly and marking a significant milestone in the company’s growth. Shortly thereafter, Sutherland Avenue Wrecker Service (Moon’s) was also awarded a city contract.
🚑 More Than Just Towing
Back then, funeral homes provided ambulance services, and emergency response was primitive. Smutt developed close relationships with local funeral homes like Mynatt’s and Gentry’s, often receiving accident reports directly from them or from concerned citizens.
Ambulance crews had no formal training—no first aid, no trauma care. Injured individuals were often rushed to the hospital with little to no medical assistance. Tow truck drivers like Smutt were often first on the scene, not just towing wrecked vehicles, but helping to extract victims and support emergency efforts in life-or-death situations.
The phrase “ambulance chasers” may be familiar, often associated with attorneys, but in truth, tow truck drivers were (and still are) the original first responders on many accident scenes. Smutt and his team answered those calls with urgency, professionalism, and care.
🔧 The Legacy Lives On
Fast forward to today, and not much has changed in spirit—we still respond quickly, we still show up when it matters most, and we still put people first. The difference? Now we have a fleet of over 20 state-of-the-art trucks and 10+ professional drivers, continuing the legacy that Smutt started with one truck and one dream.
After nearly 60 years of leading the business, C.T. “Smutt” Smith passed away in November 2010 after a battle with pancreatic cancer. Though he is no longer with us, his values and vision live on through his sons, Joel and Steve, who now operate the business with the same dedication to service and integrity.
We believe in treating people the way we’d want to be treated—especially in times of stress, injury, or unexpected car trouble. Our team delivers fast, dependable, and affordable solutions when you need them most.
As the oldest family-owned towing service in Knoxville, we are proud of our roots and honored by the continued trust of our community. Thank you for the opportunity to serve you—we look forward to being your go-to provider whenever the road takes an unexpected turn.