Mr Bailey detailed what he described as "totally outrageous behaviour" revealed in some of the 277 phone calls and 177 official complaints against tow truck operators as he unveiled the inquiry he will take to State Cabinet on Monday.

"The one that really offended me most deeply, was a mother dropping back to her unit very briefly, parking at the commercial zone next to her unit with a baby in the car," Mr Bailey said this morning.

"She was gone a minute to get something upstairs and her baby was in the car being towed by one of the shark operators," he said.

"It is totally outrageous is going on."

The name of the judge will be released after State Cabinet on Monday, Mr Bailey said.

"But it is someone who is well respected right across Queensland with a formidable career behind him."

"That's the type of person we want to get into this investigation to drill down and work out what we need to do to get rid of the shark operators out of this industry."

Mr Bailey said the retired judge had accepted the role.

The inquiry will look at loopholes in existing Truck Act 1973 legislation which lets some tow truck companies charging exorbitant fees when vehicles are illegally parked on private property.

The RACQ on Sunday welcomed the inquiry but warned the judge would face a complex task because it was a "really difficult area" to modernise.

"You have private land owners who have a right to protect their land," the RACQ's executive general manager, Paul Turner said.

"And this is a really difficult area to deal with and why it hasn't been dealt with in the past 20 years," Mr Turner said.

Mr Turner said "excessive criminality" had been a feature of the tow truck industry in the past and welcomed plans for the inquiry to have open public hearings into tow truck operators.

"Motorists need protection from entrapment and extortion from this rogue operators."

Mr Turner said some tow operators - including the RACQ - operated within the law, while others - which he described as "the last rump" - did not.

"This is the last rump, the last real cowboys in the industry," Mr Turner said.

It is likely to recommend that "spotters" - employed by tow truck companies to identify cars that have parked on private property - will be banned.

The inquiry will consider:

- Capping towing fees to $250;

- Consistent warning signs;

- Banning spotters;

- Restricting how far a car can be towed by a towing companies; and

- dealing with intimidation and release of personal information;

- Targeting companies using parked cars as "bait" for other parkers.

Mr Turner said the RACQ agreed with the emphasis on controlling high fees and wanted signs on areas where cars park made clearer.

The inquiry follows a report in the Sunday Mail last week which showed that some tow companies were towing cars within minutes a vehicle was parked illegally.

Some companies charged a minimum of $450, but those fees were increased to $1000 when "after hour" fees were included.

A tow truck industry hotline that was opened by the Department of Transport and Main Roads last week had received 267 calls by 5pm on Friday.

They included complaints of intimidation, poor book-keeping and damaged vehicles.

Cars are repeatedly towed from blocks of land in Little Street in Fortitude Valley, McLachlan Street Fortitude Valley, Wickham Street in Fortitude Valley, Byres Street at Newstead, Cordelia Street at South Brisbane, Central Brunswick shopping centre in Fortitude Valley, shopping centre complex at Ascot, according to Queensland's Civil and Administrative Tribunal.

Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey detailed the plans at Logan on Sunday, but said public hearings could be included.

"Let me send a very clear message to these shark operators in the industry," Mr Bailey said.

"We're onto you and we're coming to get you," he said.

Further calls about Queensland's tow truck operators can be made to the Main Roads hotline on 1800 681 636.