POLICE TOWERS GATHER IN VEGAS FOR TOW INDUSTRY WEEK; REGISTER ON PAGE 46
Slippery
Pileup Semis Wreck after
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Poster pg 35
On the cover: Interstate Towing in Chicopee, Massachusetts, responded to a multiple-vehicle fatal accident involving two big rigs recently.
Departments The Walkaround . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6 News Share . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8
FEATURE CONTENTS
Road Tools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10 Tow Boss . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22 Tow Engineer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30 Ad Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .34 Tow Manager . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .40 Beacons On! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .48 Repo Run . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .54
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Piled Up in Massachusetts With tons of shampoo strewn about the road, Interstate Towing was tasked with recovering two semis and preserving evidence for inspectors. by Jim “Buck” Sorrenti
Towman’s Market . . . . . . . . . . . .62 My Baby. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .64
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Low Down . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .66
Pulling Together
Adventures of A.T. . . . . . . . . . . . .73
Dreaming about the future of the towing industry: Excitement, money, respect, safety. by Justin Cruse
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In the Swamp Testing out a recently rebuilt wrecker when a late call comes into the shop. by Will Cain
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4 • March 2018 - TOWMAN.COM
Training to Move Forward First On The Scene!
by Dennie Ortiz
I received an email from a county fire chief whose special operation crews had been featured training with local towers on the cover of our February issue. He thought it was very cool and requested a copy that he could showcase and share with others on his team.
job at hand, as well as help inspire new employees to take pride and stay on in the industry. In our featured recovery (p. 14), a team of trained operators manage the clearance of a major accident work alongside police and fire departments. American Towman has always stressed the importance of education; not only in the pages of our magazine, but at our trade shows where both classroom and hand-on training
Dennie Ortiz Steve Calitri Brendan Dooley Charles Duke Randall Resch Terry Abejuela Jim “Buck” Sorrenti David Kolman Bill Simmons Emily Oz Mark Lacek
Publisher Editor-In-Chief Editor Senior Editor Operations Editor Field Editor, West Field Editor, Northeast Chassis Editor Safety Editor On Screen Editor Repo Run Editor
Editorial Board Tommy Anderson Roy Carlson Debbie Collins Belinda Harris Bill Johnson Ron Mislan Kurt Wilson
Dallas, Texas Saint Paul, Minn. Las Vegas, Nev. Greensboro, N.C. South Hadley, Mass. Warren, N.J. Creve Coeur, Ill.
American Towman Staff Ann Marie Nitti Dennie Ortiz Ellen Rosengart Norma Calitri Jimmy Santos Miriam Ortiz Henri Calitri Toni Vanderhorst William Burwell Peggy Calabrese Ryan Oser Helen Gutfreund Emily Oz Steve Calitri
American Towman has always stressed the importance of education; in our magazine as well as at seminars and trainings during the Expos.
Of course we complied and it made me realize how far the towing profession has advanced in the eyes of other first responders in terms of respect and professionalism. Cross-training, with all the relevant parties that work on scene, has helped in understanding the capabilities and expertise of the different responders and has been integral in the success of quick clearance and the saving of lives. Training and education are integral in furthering the growth of towers as professionals … not just in the eyes of others, but for themselves. The confidence it instills can aid the
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are available. We understand that towing is a livelihood and not for the faint of heart either as an operator or business owner; in this industry many times those roles are one in the same. An opinion in our Tow Boss department (p. 22) of one tow business owner reflects on the state of affairs in the industry and what’s to come.There are many challenges facing our industry—some that we’ve seen before and others that will endure into the future. American Towman will continue to inform and assist in keeping this industry moving forward.
Page Layout Artist Advertising Sales Mgr. Senior Account Exec. VP of Accounts General Manager Subscription Manager Customer Service Publisher’s Assistant TIW Media Director Regional Advertising Sales iMarketing Manager Communications Mgr. ATTV Producer President
American Towman Media Headquarters 7 West Street, Warwick, NY 10990 800-732-3869 or 845-986-4546 E-mail: Publisher: dortiz@towman.com Editor-In-Chief: scalitri@towman.com Editor: bdooley@towman.com AT’S Digital Edition: itowman.com AT’S Website: americantowman.com AT’S Weekly: towindustryweek.com ATTV: americantowmantv.com Copyright ©2018 American Towman Magazine is published 12 times a year by American Towman Media, Inc. Subscription: $50–1 yr; $95–2 yrs • US $65 and $105 • International All material published through American Towman Media (AT), to include American Towman Magazine, iTowman.com and TowIndustryWeek.com, including advertisements, editorials, articles and all other content is published in good faith. However, AT accepts no liability for any errors or omissions, and does not endorse any companies, products or services that appear. AT does not test or review products submitted for inclusion in its publications. AT does not accept responsibility for the accuracy of content, warranties or claims made or implied by its advertisers. The views expressed are the authors’ alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of AT. The act of mailing or delivering a letter, email or article to AT shall constitute permission to publish that letter or article or any portion thereof. AT reserves the right to edit any and all material submitted. No part of the magazine or websites may be reproduced without prior written consent of AT.
Crackdown Nets 70 Violators Seventy motorists were cited and 16 warnings given under a Bell County, Texas, law enforcement effort that emphasized the Move Over law in February. The Texas Department of Public Safety organized the enforcement effort in response to recent county deaths, including Trooper Thomas Nipper, who was killed during a traffic stop in November. The Temple Police Department issued 22 of those citations, a spokeswoman said. Five citations and two warnings were given out by the Belton Police Department, city of Belton spokesman Paul Romer said. Source: tdtnews.com.
Interstate Towing Honored by Chamber
The Chicopee (Massachusetts) Chamber of Commerce recently named Interstate Towing as its Business of the Year. The Business of the Year is one that shows growth, staying power, innovation and community service, Chamber President Jessica Roncarati-Howe said. Owner Jeremy Procon said he does his best to be a good employer, making sure his workers have adequate health insurance and have a chance to attend trainings so they can move up in the company. Procon’s company (which has a recovery featured in this issue, p. 14) also supports softball and Parks and Recreation teams, the March of Dimes and Toys for Tots and has done a lot of work informally such as helping to move a veteran’s statue and moving things for the Great New England Air Show at Westover Air Reserve Base. Source: masslive.com.
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Alabama to Expand ‘Move Over’ Lawmakers in Montgomery, Alabama, are looking to expand Alabama’s Move Over law with one significant change: it now protects everyone with flashing lights, including hazard blinkers. The new bill specifically mentions tow trucks, utility vehicles and garbage and recycling collectors. “We have people that are running into fire trucks, running into ambulances, hitting our first responders,” said Wes Passmore, owner of Classic Towing and Recovery in Hueytown. Legislation sponsor Rep. Chris Sells said he’s driven a tow truck and worked as a firefighter. He said he has first-hand experience. “I got reminded about a month ago changing a tire one night about 10:30. It is very eye-opening to be
Alabama state Rep. Chris Sells is sponsoring a new Move Over bill in the state; he said he’s driven a tow truck and worked as a firefighter. wiat.com image.
on the side of the interstate, cars coming by you feet away from you and they have plenty of room to move over. They just don’t do it,” said Sells. Source: wiat.com.
Towman Killed
on I-76 in Pennsylvania A Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, man has been arrested after a towman was struck and killed on the Schuylkill Expressway on Jan. 28. According to investigators, K&S Towing operator Michael House, 35, was assisting at the scene of a disabled vehicle in the eastbound lanes in Lower Merion Township when he was hit by Emanuel Doxy ‘s Ford F-150. Police say Doxy, 32, failed to stop and continued eastbound on the highway. A witness called police and was able to give investigators a detailed description of the vehicle, which led troopers to Doxy’s home. There they allegedly found a truck with damage “consistent with the crash,” police said. Doxy was taken into custody without incident.
Michael House and his wife, Jamie. 6abc.com image.
House’s friends and family were devastated by the loss of a person they referred to as a happy, fun-loving devoted father and husband. “He was always happy and his laugh was one of a kind,” said his wife, Jaime, in a statement. Source: 6abc.com.
. . . but they understand the danger . . . N.J. Amends Towing Act In one of his last acts, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie signed S-3459/A5329 into law, amending the Predatory Towing Prevention Act as it applies to law enforcement tows. The amendment, which went into effect Jan. 15, exempts law enforcement officers and towing companies from certain provisions of the Act. The New Jersey Department of Consumer Affairs determined that the Act, passed in 2009, prohibited towers from charging certain fees permitted by municipal and/or state code when requested by law enforcement. As a result, several towers were punished and fined. “The changes in the law re-establish the authority to regulate towing ordinances and operating procedures in the hands of municipal and state police,” said GSTA President and Legislative Chair John Glass. Source: gsta.org.
Councilman Pleads Guilty to Bribery
A former northwest Indiana town councilman has pleaded guilty to bribery for his role in an influence-buying scheme for towing contracts. News reports said 51-year-old Thomas Goralczyk entered the plea in federal court on Jan. 31. He admitted in a plea agreement that he accepted two vehicles from a witness cooperating with the FBI on the promise he would use his influence as a Merrillville councilman to steer a towing contract to the informant’s towing company. His sentencing is set for May 16. He faces a possible maximum sentence of 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release. Source: therepublic.com.
Work the non-traffic side–Stay Safe!
Spirit Ride Ready in April The Spirit Ride picks up again in April in the southeast United States with more than 150 tow companies signed up to relay the casket and host ceremonies and processions across the country to California. The new schedule of the Ride will be posted at The Spirit Ride generated lots of media coverage in ATSpiritRide.com. 2017; the 2018 legs are getting ready to roll. ATSpiritRide.com image. The Spirit Ride generated much media coverage in 2017 as the ceremonial casket called “Spirit” relayed through 140 cities in 25 states. The 2018 route will pass through 20 more states. A sampling of TV news coverage can be found at ATSpiritRide.com. The Ride includes a support team on the road and a media outreach campaign and is funded by industry towers and suppliers. Donate online at ATSpiritRide.com.
More Than 80 Towers Honor Taylor Towman Jonathan Taylor, who was hit and killed by a semitrailer in January, was laid to rest in Bixby, Oklahoma. Taylor worked for Allied Towing as a heavy wrecker operator. More than 80 towers met up before his funeral to drive there together. ‘Brotherhood’ of towers convoy for fallen “It’s a brotherhood,” said towman in Oklahoma. kjrh.com image. Nick Ragsdale, owner of Ragsdales Towing and Recovery in Spencer. “We all are a really close knit type family, so when there is a loss like this, even though we are 100 miles up the road, it’s still close to him. It affects all of us.” Drivers came from all over Oklahoma and surrounding states. Not all of the towmen knew Taylor, but they understand the danger that comes with having your office be the side of a busy road day after day. “It’s scary honestly,” Ragsdale said. “It really is. You never know. You spend just as much time with your head on a swivel as you do during the work you’re doing.” Source: kjrh.com.
AMERICANTOWMAN.COM -March 2018 • 9
Check Out What’s NEW and HOT! Muncie TG, 82 Series PTOs Add Compatibility Muncie Power Products now offers modified TG and 82 Series power take-off options compatible with the Eaton Endurant and Paccar Transmission with the E80 input gear. Instead of a paper gasket, the modified TG and 82 Series feature a seal-plate gasket able to withstand the specialty
oil used by the transmission and allows the installer to mount the PTO without checking backlash. The seal-plate gasket is part of a cooperative design effort between Eaton and Muncie Power Products. Muncie Power’s modified TG and 82 Series are available in air shift only.
munciepower.com
Tuff Truck Bags for Waterproof Storage Tuff Truck Bags are a collapsible, waterproof and dustproof cargo bag that fits medium- and full-size pickup beds to store and protect tools, cargo, equipment and more. Whether traveling through tough terrain or inclement weather, the company said its product will protect goods from outdoor elements. Features include: • 40"x50"x22" to fit in pickup beds. • Up to 30 cubic feet of storage • Weighs 9 lbs. • Commercial-grade triple-fold zipper for weather protection.
tufftruckbag.com
Talbert Releases Versatile 60-Ton Spread-Axle Trailer Talbert Manufacturing recently introduced its 60/65SA trailer designed to accommodate both tri-axle and tandem-axle jeeps. It features 2+2, 3+1 and 4-axle close-coupled configurations to give customers flexibility to carry a variety of load options. The trailer offers a 60-ton capacity rating with its 13’ 6” two-point rigid load base as a 2+2 or 3+1 configuration. A 65-ton capacity is possible with four close-coupled axles and no gooseneck extension. The 60/65SA features an optional 70”, flip-up gooseneck extension to achieve a 190” swing radius, while its removable kingpin stations allow for 120” and 108” swing radiuses.
talbertmfg.com
10 • March 2018 - TOWMAN.COM
Dynamic 701 Adds Negative Tilt
D
ynamic Towing Equipment & Manufacturing recently added a negative-tilt feature to its 701 units that debuted at the 2017 American Towman Exposition in Baltimore, Maryland. The wheel lift is rated to 5,000 lbs. fully extended with 25 degrees of negative and power tilt; it has 79” reach. The company said the unit is based on the original 701 design, but with the benefits of the negative tilt that makes it easier to recover a vehicle down a driveway.
Work the non-traffic side–Stay Safe!
“It’s good for all types of towing,” said Anthony Gentile, Dynamic president. “The negative tilt is available on all 701 models, from just a wheel lift or wheel lift with a drag winch to twin-line recovery boom with a 5,000pound wheel lift.” The unit has a 7,500-lbs. tow rating and comes with a three-year warranty. Options include an 8,000-lbs. Ramsey winch, 10-ton recovery boom and poly fenders.
dynamicmfg.com AMERICANTOWMAN.COM -March 2018 • 11
Massachusetts Piled Up in
Four cars and two tractor-trailers were involved in a fatal six-vehicle wreck.
by Jim “Buck” Sorrenti
O
n Jan. 20, 2018, one person was killed and three others injured in a six-car pileup on I-91 northbound in Longmeadow, Massachusetts. A 2014 Peterbilt semitrailer struck the rear of a 2017 Freightliner tractor-trailer, which had slowed due to construction. The Peterbilt continued northbound hitting several other vehicles including a 2010 Honda CRV, a 2011 Nissan Rogue, a 2017 Toyota Corolla and a 2015 Honda Pilot. The Peterbilt then crashed through a guardrail before stopping in the median. Boxes of shampoo were strewn across the highway when the trailer split open in the crash, covering about 300 yards of the highway with debris.
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Trucks On Scene • 2016 Kenworth T880/Jerr-Dan HDR1000 JFB 60-ton rotator • 2012 Kenworth T800/Jerr-Dan HDR1000 60-ton rotator • 2017 International 4300/Jerr-Dan XLP 8.5-ton flatbed with WL-50 Wacker Loader and 2012 Neuson Wheel Loader • 2018 Peterbilt 337/Jerr-Dan XLP 6-ton flatbed • 2018 Peterbilt 337/Jerr-Dan XLP 6-ton flatbed • 2017 Kenworth T300/Jerr-Dan XLP 6-ton flatbed • 2018 Peterbilt 337/Jerr-Dan XLP 6-ton flatbed • 2015 Kenworth T800/Landoll 50-ton trailer • 2014 Peterbilt 388/2005 Transcraft 53’ Dryvan • 2016 Freightliner Coronado tractor • 2001 Ford E-450 Hazwoper clean-up truck • 2017 GMC Yukon service truck • 2016 Ford Transit service truck
Work the non-traffic side–Stay Safe!
AMERICANTOWMAN.COM -March 2018 • 15
... continued from p. 14 The northbound side of I-91 was closed for hours and at least one lane southbound was closed. The crash caused gridlock on side roads as well. Most of the six vehicles were badly damaged in the wreck. Interstate Towing in Chicopee was called to clear the mess from the scene and to respond immediately with a rotator for possible entrapment involving multiple tractor-trailer units and several passenger vehicles. “Our first call came in to respond at 7:47 a.m.,” said Interstate owner Jeremy Procon. “The Massachusetts State Police requested our immediate response with a possible entrapment.” He said they responded with myriad vehicles, but the primary recovery units were a pair of JerrDan HDR1000 60-ton rotators. First on scene was operator Dan Heroux. Procon said Heroux “quickassessed the scene and stated that we needed to ‘step it up’ since one of the tractor-trailer units was on a 20-
Continued on p. 18...
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Interstate used its K12 cut saw to help secure loose parts before they recovered the first semitrailer.
... continued from p. 16
The 40,000 lbs. of shampoo bottles that spilled made for a slippery roadway. Mass DOT sent out a sand truck to help the situation (above). The team crash-wrapped the [casualty] for transport to the yard (left). The original plan to move the trailer unit on its side onto a Landoll would have been quicker for recovery, but more difficult for final transport (below).
Continued on p. 20...
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Interstate utilized its headsets for communication and spotters at every angle as they dragged the second tractor-trailer unit back to the highway.
... continued from p. 18 degree angle and fire rescue was concerned about stability.” Procon was second to reach the scene in one of his service trucks, and was able to assist operator Brian McNally, who arrived just seconds behind him in one of the rotators. “Massachusetts State Police and Springfield Fire Department were on scene. We were quick to learn that this was subsequently a fatality and the operator of the tractor-trailer unit in the ditch had passed,” Procon said. “We immediately secured the area of any potential dangers along with Longmeadow Fire for further investigation by the Massachusetts State Police Collision Analysis Reconstruction Section Unit as well as the Commercial Vehicle Enforcement unit.” Interstate dispatched its traffic unit to help direct traffic in the southbound lanes while troopers shut down all northbound lanes for the investigation. Once the area was mapped by all agencies, they were approved to start the recovery and cleanup. CJ’s Towing Unlimited of Springfield supplied a street sweeper to assist in the cleanup as well. Jeremy Procon, Jeffrey Procon, McNally and Purinton began to focus on the recovery aspect, while they deployed their front-end loader along with a multitude of operators for cleanup. (The Interstate crew on scene included Brian McNally, Jeremy Proulx, Michael Swentinckus, Craig Borghesani, Adam Babiec, Katelyn Lacey, Jeffrey Labonte, Randy Purinton, Daniel Mason, Shawn Pierce, Jeffrey Procon and Heroux.) They initially removed all the pas20 • March 2018 - TOWMAN.COM
senger vehicles from the highway and had them transported to Yard 1, Interstate’s Westover Road location in Chicopee, for inside storage for further investigation. They then turned to the tractortrailer unit that was struck from behind and rigged the rear doors with a Jerr-Dan 60-ton rotator while they used their K12 cut saw to help secure loose parts. They towed that back to Yard 1 for further inspection and investigation. “Once we secured those vehicles, we then focused on the severely damaged tractor-trailer unit loaded with approximately 40,000 pounds of shampoo bottles. We were faced with shampoo all over the highway making it very slippery,” Procon said. “Mass DOT was able to dispatch a sander to spread a heavy layer of sand on the highway so we didn’t sustain any worker injuries. Once the medical examiner was finished removing the deceased, we began to rig the entire unit for recovery. “We initially removed the guardrail at the direction of Mass DOT to help make the process easier and safer,” Procon said. “Our original plan was to pull the entire unit over onto its side and onto our Landoll. This would make for a speedy recovery, however this would make transport more difficult and the products had the potential to tip through the roof of the unit.” They decided to pull the tractortrailer out as a whole unit with one rotator while the other rotator steadied the casualty against tipping over. Interstate secured as much product as was prudent on a 53’ trailer and all
debris that was unsalvageable was placed into a roll-off dumpster and dump trailer for disposal. Interstate’s Pierce removed shampoo bottles and other debris from a storm drain. During the crash, a manhole cover flew off and debris had to be removed before it could flow into the Connecticut River. “Once secured, we used our JerrDan headsets to communicate the recovery. We have 16 headsets, so handing them out to Fire/Rescue is always part of our plan,” Procon said. “These headsets make for a calm, quiet recovery and we are able to focus on the job rather than trying to yell commands. … “We had spotters at every angle while we slowly pulled the entire unit back onto the highway. We then secured and crash-wrapped the [casualty] for transport to Yard 1 for further inspection and investigation. “Our recovery team remained on scene doing additional clean up and street sweeping. All units returned and we restocked all support vehicles for the next recovery.”
Interstate Towing Jeremy Procon started Interstate Towing in 1999 with just one truck, and has since become one of the foremost towing and recovery providers in the region. They have four locations with headquarters in Chicopee and are a primary service provider for AAA in western Massachusetts and northern Connecticut and also operate as the primary towing service for several area police departments and the Massachusetts State Police. Today, Interstate boasts a GPStracked state-of-the-art fleet of more than 20 vehicles including rotators, wreckers, flatbeds, lowboy Landoll trailers, tractors, service trucks, air cushion recovery, support vehicles; run with a dedicated staff of 46 professionally trained, licensed, certified and uniformed personnel. For more on Interstate Towing and Procon, check out the cover feature from the August 2012 issue of American Towman Magazine (available online at itowman.com.)
Work the non-traffic side–Stay Safe!
AMERICANTOWMAN.COM -March 2018 • 21
The State of Today’s Towing Industry by Sam Johnson
I
n today’s highly competitive world of towing, we are faced with a multitude of challenges that attack our profitability and even threaten our very existence. From rising labor costs to skyrocketing insurance rates, this industry in not for the timid. We are in a dogfight every day as we forge ahead in hopes of a brighter tomorrow. The current costs and regulatory demands required to operate towing businesses are at an all-time high, while the contractual rates with most large motor clubs remain at 2008 levels. This is not an industry that attracts venture capitalists, angel investors or big businesses looking to make it rich quick. This is a workingman’s industry—grown one truck and one employee at a time. Building towing businesses takes decades, sometimes lifetimes, before finally reaching siz-
Towing by App As technology and towing evolve step by step, a few companies have taken the lead in offering tow companies expansion options similar to what Uber and Lyft have done in the “rideshare” marketplace of getting around town. The three frontrunners right now are Honk, TowZing and Urgent.ly. According to their own websites: • Honk (joinhonk.com): Honk was founded on the idea that helping drivers should be easy, and it should be fair. Our mission is to reinvent the towing and roadside assistance industry with a model that rewards the tow men and women doing the work while setting reasonable rates for customers in need of help. … As a tech company, we work every day to remove the overhead and bloat that traditionally drives customer prices
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able portions. After overcoming all those challenges and adversity, you still are in a fight with constant competitors over who gets the next call. Those of us that have been in the business long enough to see trends come and go and history repeat itself will step back and ask, “What’s around the bend?” Since the invention of the automobile, there has been a demand for towing and roadside service. The businesses grew based on reputation and your ability to provide excellent service. Consolidation, technology and call volume are sidetracking some from those two fundamental requirements. More and more, contracts are based on low cost and volume over providing good service on every call or keeping with the business’ reputa-
tion in the community. Some companies today wouldn’t survive if not for a large volume of force-fed calls by contract; they would disappear if based only the individual consumer’s opinion on their service. I believe this industry is primed for a long overdue, and much-needed, disruption. Like we have seen with so many other industries, new technologies are flipping the norm and showing new ways of doing business. The towing industry is not that different; emerging technology might show us that the day of reckoning we need is right around the corner. If you take a the view from 30,000 feet, you might even think the collapse already happened. The prepaid road service model expects members to continue to pay
up and contractor payouts down. … We work hand-in-hand with our [towers] to create the most fair and competitive pricing for each area. • TowZing (towzing.com): By bringing together three owners of towing companies with three experienced technology and business executives, TowZing came together with the drive to change the industry. We are eliminating unnecessary costs and poor business practices which will result in putting more money in the pocket of people who are risking their lives on our roads every day, you. As a team and with our revolutionary technology, towing experts can access realtime dashboards, provide ongoing educational training, all while improving the overall customer experience. Beyond technology, we recognize the importance of the power of towing
professionals coming together. • Urgent.ly (geturgently.com): Designed for the on-demand economy and the connected car revolution, Urgent.ly is providing the fastest, safest and most innovative roadside assistance experience—all without a subscription or membership fee. We offer transparent service with clear, flat-rate pricing, cashless payment, and reliable help for motorists in need of a tow, tire change, fuel delivery, jump start or lock-out service. Urgent.ly is also the only roadside assistance service in America with accident alert detection technology and FamilyView, a unique feature that provides families and caregivers peace of mind by allowing them to track the roadside service of a loved one from start to finish.
Continued on p. 24 ...
... continued from p. 22 up annually, whether or not they may use those services, under limited policies. These same companies also limit their providers in pay and stipulations on how they run their businesses. The relationship can be uncertain at best. The providers are seeing costs rise at a rate unlike any other in history, yet they often are unable to negotiate price increases or risk being dropped and losing the call volume they believe they need. Finally, circle back to the customer who purchased the service membership and ask them how they feel about their lack of choice in the transaction or service options available to them. Think outside the industry for a minute. Have you used Uber or Lyft? • Was the price reasonable? • Did you receive good service? • Were you able to immediately rate the experience—good, bad or indifferent? • Was the service flexible for the consumer and the provider?
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As technology continually progresses seemingly, why would consumers continue to use the older taxi model when they could maximize their choices by using a rideshare service? The answer for most is that they won’t.
This is a workingman’s industry—grown one truck and one employee at a time. Let’s apply those same questions to our own industry. What do you come up with? Sure, some late adapters who appreciate nostalgia will continue prepaying for an undetermined amount of limited services “like grandpa did,” but for how long? More importantly, how long will the service providers continue to restrict themselves as more
flexible opportunities become available using new technology that connects with newer customers? Consider the whole as applied to the towing industry: the main players are the consumer, the tower and the auto manufacturer. None of these three groups is going away. Changing and evolving yes, but surely, they will be here for decades to come. The truth is the manufacturer would rather have better connectivity to the consumer and the service provider to protect their brand. With the introduction of autonomous vehicles, why wouldn’t that high-tech car come standard with a technologysupported roadside service component? If you ask me it seems silly to think it’s not going in this direction. Just look at what has already changed around you. About the author Sam Johnson is the owner of Capitol City Automotive and B&J Towing, and a TowZing brand ambassador.
Work the non-traffic side–Stay Safe!
AMERICANTOWMAN.COM -March 2018 • 25
Agero Acquires Swoop In January, Agero (info.agero.com) acquired Swoop, a towing dispatch management platform based out of San Francisco (joinswoop.com). According to a joint statement from Dom Galdo, Agero VP of Network, and Tim Chung, Swoop VP of Operations: “Swoop was founded on the belief that towing operators deserved a technology solution to help them build and grow profitable businesses, connect digitally with their motor club and local accounts, and deliver exceptional, transparent customer service. … Agero’s roadside expertise coupled with
Swoop’s innovative dispatch software makes for a powerful combination. … “Agero’s nationwide network can now leverage Swoop’s dispatch platform to receive digital dispatches and manage their overall business from one place. Agero continues to support over a dozen third-party towing management platforms, enabling local service providers to choose the solution that works best for them. “We want to take this opportunity to thank our dedicated Service Provider communities for the trust and loyalty you’ve always exhibited. The towing community has been the heart and soul of Agero for 45 years and for Swoop
since their launch. … We look forward to the exciting challenges ahead and continuing to fight for the good of the industry in 2018 and beyond.”
McKinney Joins Fitzgerald Towing & Recovery Equipment Fitzgerald Towing & Recovery Equipment recently added Gene McKinney to its leadership team as general manager. McKinney joins from JerrDan Corp., where he led as Southeast Regional Manager. “I saw a great opportunity here,” McKinney said. “I really appreciate the aggressive growth of the [Fitzgerald] company. They believe in having enough inventories on hand to meet customer needs in all aspects of the business. “My goal is to make Fitzgerald Towing & Recovery Equipment the No. 1 Jerr-Dan distributor in the country. Fitzgerald’s expertise on glider kits goes hand-in-hand with wrecker sales. I believe this will allow us to get that No. 1 spot.” McKinney has 40-plus years of experience in the industry and 21 years of experience as regional manager at Jerr-Dan. McKinney will help Fitzgerald plan for nationwide growth by working with both the manufacturer and customers (fitzgeraldwreckersales.com) .
Weego Partners with B/A Weego, a manufacturer of portable power products (myweego.com), recently announced a new partnership with B/A Products Co. (baprod.com) to market and distribute Weego jump starters to OEM and aftermarket distributors across North America, focusing initially on towing and recovery and auto transport. “We are extremely excited to enter this national partnership with B/A Products,” said Gerry Toscani, CEO of Weego. “B/A Products is intimately aware of the demands of the towing and recovery professional that’s on the front line every day.” 26 • March 2018 - TOWMAN.COM
Weego’s all-in-one battery packs are designed and engineered in the USA for any vehicle with up to 10L gas engines (or up to 5L diesel). “We’ve been watching the portable power category for some time now and have seen a number of players target these markets. We never really felt those products were ready to meet the needs of our heavy users until testing Weego’s product lineup,” said Ken Jenks, VP of sales at B/A.
Urgent.ly, Towbook Hook Up Urgent.ly, a digital roadside assistance platform (geturgently.com), recently announced an upcoming integration with Towbook’s cloud-based towing software (towbook.com). Roadside assistance and towing professionals will be able to accept and manage Urgent.ly jobs on the Towbook platform. “Many of our customers work for Urgent.ly today, and we expect our integration to have an immediate impact on their operations,” said Dan Smith, Towbook’s CEO/founder. A release said the integration will improve job management, administrative savings and communications for service providers, as well as ETAs and ATAs for Urgent.ly customers. The collaboration is expected to provide more efficient, transparent and seamless service for industry partners, towing professionals and end customers. “Partnering and integrating with Towbook …will result in more high quality business for their customers and, ultimately, faster, better service for motorists in need of help,” said Urgent.ly CEO/co-founder Chris Spanos.
Omadi Donates $8k to Survivor Fund The International Towing and Recovery Hall of Fame and Museum (towingmuseum.com) recently announced that Omadi (omadi.com) presented a donation of $8,178.47 to the International Towing and Recovery Hall of Fame and Museum’s Survivor Fund during the 2017 American Work the non-traffic side–Stay Safe!
Towman Exhibition in Baltimore. Last year, Omadi committed to donating a portion of every tow completed in their towing management platform to the Survivor Fund. Omadi felt that because tow operators put their lives on the line every time they step out on the roadside, that they should reciprocate in kind. The funds will provide financial support to families of those lost in the line of service. “As we’ve worked with tow operators across the country, we’ve gotten to know these wonderful individuals not simply as clients but as friends. It pains us anytime we hear that one of these dedicated professionals loses their life while in the line of duty and we hope that our donation helps to relieve some of their family’s financial burdens,” said Charles Lukens, Omadi CEO. Omadi plans to continue to help financially as well as bring more exposure to the Survivor Fund and the issues that cause towing operator deaths.
Omadi CEO Charles Lukens (second from left) presents a donation to the International Towing and Recovery Hall of Fame and Museum's Survivor Fund during the 2017 American Towman Expo in Baltimore, Maryland. ITRHFM members on hand included (from left) Randy Olson, Tom Tedford, Lee Roberts, Jeffrey Godwin, Kevin Fox, Patrick Nahoum and Jim Jennings.
“Support from the Omadi organization is a welcome addition to our efforts to support the families of the men and women lost in our industry,” said Jeffrey Godwin, ITRHFM First VP/Survivor Fund Committee coChairman.
Miller Gives Back to Komen Miller Industries Towing Equipment Inc. (millerind.com) recently donated proceeds totaling more than
Front row, from left: Gwen Varnell, Anita Stewart, Madeline Burgess. Back row: Sheila Martin, Kipp Felice, Todd Harless, Joseph Keene.
$10,000 to the Central Tennessee Affiliate of Susan G. Komen foundation. This donation comes at the close of the 2017 WeTow campaign (wetow.org) hosted by Miller. The WeTow campaign aimed to raise awareness of the towing community’s support for the many charities across our nation, as well as the good deeds towers provide within the comminutes they serve. Through the sale of custom tow hook bracelets, Miller Industries chose to promote awareness of six national organizations: Susan G. Komen, DAVDisabled American Veterans, Miracle League, Shriners Children’s Hospital, International Towing and Recovery Hall of Fame and Museum, and the Wall of the Fallen Survivor Fund.
Website for ECCO, Contest ECCO, a manufacturer of commercials vehicle safety solutions (eccoesg.com), recently unveiled a new website with a focus on customer experience. The goal was to create an easy-to-navigate site that showcased ECCO’s expansive line of safety solutions for the varied industries and customers they serve. New features include industryspecific product selection, optimized searches, simple navigation, news and resource updates and more. To help celebrate the new site, ECCO launched its Ultimate Upfit Contest, where one lucky winner will win a fully customized upfit valued at approximately $5,000. Visit eccoesg.com/contest for more information.
AMERICANTOWMAN.COM -March 2018 • 27
Pulling Together One big idea to attract the next generation of towing operators
by Justin Cruse
M
y dream for the future of the towing industry takes place in a high school gym. I envision myself putting on the hat of towing industry and heading off to the school for “Career Day.” While the collegebound kids are all milling around the healthcare career tables, I am representing the towing and recovery industry and we are looking for the next “Highway Heroes.” This day is the defining point where the kids who’ve had it with the traditional classroom who want to jump into a well-paying, exciting, respected, skilled trade are about to decide which path they choose. Picture for a moment a large audience with a podium upfront. The principle announces my name and I get my opportunity to spend a few minutes talking about the towing and recovery industry. “Who’s interested?” I ask in closing. Well, as you can imagine the audience has a few questions. “So, what’s the pay like?” “Well, it is usually a mix of hourly and commission-based compensation, so it really depends on how hard you want to work.” His eyes darted to his left as he glanced toward his fellow classmate. “What are the hours like?” “The work schedule isn’t always the same because sometimes you will be on call or you will be required to work evenings and weekends.” The blank look on her face had me worried, but then someone calls out from the back and asks. “Is it dangerous?” My heart sinks as I am compelled to answer. “Unfortunately, yes; we lose approximately 60 operators every
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There is a responsibility to provide access to quality education and training that is required for towing and recovery to be recognized as a skilled trade. WreckMaster training above.
year while working roadside.” I could hear the hush of silence from the section of the crowd where most of the parents were seated. This is not what I had hoped for and at that moment I decided that until we as an industry start providing better answers to those three questions, we will continue to have a difficult time building a skilled workforce. Workplace safety is a very important topic across all industries, but the towing and recovery community has a significant challenge because not all the critical dangers associated with our workplace safety are under our control. From WreckMaster’s perspective, the practical safety problem for the towing operator relates to his/her limited control of the actual workplace environment. While the towing operator is in full control of the use, condition, and maintenance of their equipment, they are not in control of
the driving habits of the motoring public. Additionally, towing professionals that work at roadside require additional protection; right now, there are no concrete barriers, flashing digital lane merger signs, flagmen or lane blockers. There are serious concerns raised by towing operators, law enforcement and many other stakeholders regarding the low level of driver compliance with the recently amended Move Over laws. This workplace environment must change. My dream future concludes with the ability for our industry to provide its own physical barrier between the oncoming traffic and the workplace. Finally, we must charge a fair and profitable rate to protect our workforce. The towing and recovery community in North America is having a difficult time attracting quality operators
and we, as an industry, must consider the root of the problem so that we can pull together to develop a proactive solution. This prompted me to consider how I can contribute. Traditionally, the most common form of accessible education is instructor led hands-on training courses. This creates a problem because many of our industry’s new applicants must display a level of commitment to this industry before owners will consider investing in professional hands-on training. This has left a training gap. New operators have limited access to quality training resources until they jump in a truck, experience the towing operator lifestyle and decide if this industry is for them. The gap exists between the operator’s first day and when an employer determines they are ready to invest in the operator for advanced training. We have a responsibility to provide access to the quality education that is required to be recognized as a skilled trade, which will arm new operators with the tools and resources they need to be successful and safe while performing service in this industry. The answer is online through web-based training resources. The public has more confidence in a profession that requires a higher level of education. This is why WreckMaster exists: to increase confidence in the towing profession through education. Down the road, we believe this confidence will translate into preferred insurance rates for companies whose operators have achieved a certain level of training. It will also mean preferred consideration for large towing contracts and even rates that increase based on the level of training a company and its operators has. Increased confidence in the towing industry will also mean operators receive a level of respect like that given to other highway heroes, such as paramedics, firefighters and law enforcement. When a towing company pays less for insurance and earns more from each call, it can afford to pay its operators more. It can also afford to send a second truck to a dangerous situation to increase safety in the workplace. When the industry is viewed with more respect, individual operators will find it easier and more rewarding to work on scene, and the profession will be listened to on matters of universal importance and will make a career as a towing operator more attractive. We’ve got a good foundation to build on. WreckMaster’s hands-on courses—attended by more than 40,000 operators from across North America and around the globe—have set a standard for towing education. We teach operators how to do it right the first time, every time. In the process we’ve built a strong community devoted to a discipline worthy of any skilled trade. But the reality is that not many tow companies can afford to send every new employee to a hands-on course. Fixing this gap in education is the first item we’re checking off on our way to helping create the towing careers of tomorrow. Work the non-traffic side–Stay Safe!
If you own a towing company and want access to an ever-growing list of standardized, online training resources for your team, simply sign up to be a WreckMaster partner on our website. We’ll help you build a company culture that will attract the best candidates and keep them working for you well into the future. Excitement. Money. Respect. Safety. These are the four things the high school students in my dream are looking for. The towing life is already exciting—just ask anyone who’s worked with emergency crews to recover a fully loaded tractor-trailer as part of a multi-vehicle pileup during a blizzard. But we need an education worthy of a skilled trade to get the respect of a skilled trade. With that respect comes increased compensation and the power to create a safe workplace. If you share my dream, let’s work together to make it come true. The first step is to sign up as a WreckMaster partner because soon the future of the towing and recovery industry will be crowded around a single table at career day. They won’t want to be carpenters, plumbers, electricians or mechanics. They will want to be a towing and recovery professional.
Justin Cruse is the president of WreckMaster, the world’s largest organization dedicated to the professional development of tow company owners and operators. You can reach him at jcruse@wreckmaster.com or 800-267-2266.
AMERICANTOWMAN.COM -March 2018 • 29
Proper Use of Tow Dollies by Terry Abejuela
A
utomobile manufacturers are making more allwheel-drive, four-wheel-drive, electric and hybrid vehicles, so the need to move vehicles with all wheels off of the road will also increase. Many tow companies will dispatch a car carrier to vehicles they know must be moved with all wheels off the road surface. However, the towing dolly is a useful piece of equipment that allows the conventional tow sling and wheel lift truck to tow vehicles even when none of the wheels of the casualty will roll safely on the road surface. Some tow operators will call for a car carrier rather than pulling tow dollies off of the truck. In some situations, though, a car carrier may not be available, practical or even the best solution. Low-clearance garages and tight parking lots limit the ability to use a car carrier effectively. In situations like these, a wheel lift with tow dollies will be more effective and efficient. Most tow trucks today carry some type of self-loading tow dolly. Whichever brand or type of self-loading tow dolly you have, you must be familiar with the manufacturer’s recommendations for inspection, maintenance and proper use. If you don’t have a copy of the manufacturers recommendations, give them a call or go to their website for more information.
Storage There are many storage options available for the selfloading tow dollies. Depending on the tow truck, some options may work better than others. An ideal storage option will be easily and safely accessible to the tow operator and will provide security and protection from the weather. One of the things to consider is the operator’s ability to remove the tow dolly from the truck with minimal potential for injury. A complete tow dolly frame may weigh in at more than 50 lbs. per side. The steel axle tubes may weigh in at close to 50 lbs. each. Storing heavy dolly parts close to the edge of the truck and in a lower position will allow the tow operator to remove the heavy parts without having to lean in over the edge of the truck and lift heavy parts above waist level, increasing potential injuries. Some tow operators may be tempted to climb on the truck to remove these heavy parts creating a slip and fall hazard. Some self-loading tow dolly manufacturers offer parts made of aluminum to reduce weight. Aluminum dolly axle tubes are half the weight of the steel axles. Even with the use of aluminum, the weight is still significant so storage options should still be more ergonomic for use by the operator. Dolly bunkers mounted under the bed of the tow truck, shock-assisted or mechanical-assisted brackets, and low-mount drop-down storage boxes should all be considered.
In Use
Make sure to keep your body away from the arc path of the pry bar and keep all others away from the immediate area. 30 • March 2018 - TOWMAN.COM
Use good lifting posture to remove heavy parts from the tow truck. Avoid reaching over the edge of the truck and lifting heavy parts above waist level whenever possible. Avoid climbing on the truck to remove heavy parts. Avoid carrying heavy parts to the disabled vehicle. Whenever possible roll the dolly frame instead of carrying it. Place a dolly frame on each side of the vehicle axle to be placed on the dolly with the dolly wheels in the unloaded position. Attach the towing device to one side of the disabled vehicle before loading the opposite side on the tow dolly. Leave the vehicle lowered to avoid transferring weight to the opposite side requiring you to lift the transferred weight to load the tow dolly. When adjusting the length of the dolly axle use a screwdriver or similar object to depress the spring loaded locking pin. Adjust the dolly axle to the appropriate length for the vehicle so the edge of the dolly axle will extend just past the outside edge of the tire on each side. Place one dolly axle in front of the disabled vehicle’s wheel and one behind the wheel with the wheel tabs facing the wheel. Place the tab on the edge of the dolly axle into one of
the adjustment pockets on the dolly frame. Place the opposite side of the same dolly axle in the matching pocket on the opposite side of the vehicle. This will be easier if you tilt the top of the dolly frame away from the vehicle. Once one dolly axle is installed in the dolly frame pockets, slide the dolly frame so the dolly axle is against the tire. Repeat this procedure with the second dolly axle on the other side of the tire. When choosing the dolly frame pocket to place the tab, choose one that is close to the tire but not too close. If the dolly axles are adjusted too wide, the tire will not be lifted off of the road surface sufficiently to dolly the vehicle safely. If the dolly axle is adjusted too close, it will make it more difficult to adjust the dolly axles in the same dolly frame pocket on the opposite side of the vehicle. If the dolly is equipped with one, engage the safety mechanism before attempting to pry the dolly into the loaded position. Insert the pry bar into the pry pocket. You should hear a
Work the non-traffic side–Stay Safe!
The towing dolly is a useful piece of equipment that allows the conventional tow sling and wheel lift truck to tow vehicles even when none of the wheels of the casualty will roll safely.
clicking noise as the dolly pry bar is levered into the loaded position. When using the pry bar to lift the vehicle to the loaded position, keep your body clear of the arc path of the pry bar. Proper use of the safety ratchet will reduce the potential for injuries but may not eliminate them. Make sure the immediate area is clear and keep both hands firmly on the pry bar until the spindle is in the fully loaded position. Engage the safety lock over the
release handle. Repeat this procedure for the other three dolly wheels. Leave the safety ratchets engaged during the dolly tow. The disabled vehicle must be secured to the tow dolly. A nylon strap with a ratchet will accomplish this. Make sure the wheel of the disabled vehicle is secured to the dolly frame before towing.
Continued on p. 32 ...
AMERICANTOWMAN.COM -March 2018 • 31
Adjust the dolly axle to the appropriate length for the vehicle.
Storing heavy dolly parts close to the edge of the truck and in a lower position is preferred.
Some self-loading tow dollies have parts made of aluminum to reduce weight.
... continued from p. 31 To unload the disabled vehicle from the towing dolly lower the towed end of the vehicle to the ground but leave the towing device attached. Disengage the safety ratchet system and safety locks on the release handle. Insert the pry bar into the pry bar pocket. Place one hand firmly on the pry bar and apply enough downward pressure so you can use your other hand to pull on the release handle. Control the slow upward movement of the pry bar with one hand until the spindle clears the heel of the spindle trip assembly. At this point you can let go of the release handle and place both hands firmly on the pry bar to lower the dolly wheel to the unloaded position. Make sure to keep your body away from the arc path of the pry bar and keep all others away from the immediate area during the unloading process. Use good lifting posture to load heavy dolly parts back onto the truck and make sure all parts are safely secured to the truck.
Field Editor Terry Abejuela has 30-plus years of light-duty towing-and-recovery experience. He is also a light-duty Level 1 instructor for the California Tow Truck Association.
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Work the non-traffic side–Stay Safe!
AMERICANTOWMAN.COM -March 2018 • 33
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Swamp In the
Nighttime recovery work from over the rail
by Will Cain
T
his was a police call for a car that went over the guardrail and landed in a wetland swamp. The call came in as we were at the shop prepping to head home for the night. We considered taking our heavy or a crane out, but had just finished the rebuild on our 2002 Ford F550/Jerr-Dan 8-ton and wanted to try it out. It was paired with a 1996 Chevy 3500HD/No-Mar 8-ton. I responded with operators Steven Thomas and Nick Citro, both WreckMaster 4/5s; Scott Haley took photos. We chose to run a K-strap through the wheels because it was a muddy mess and we didn’t want to have to clean straps afterwards.
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Trucks On Scene • 2002 Ford F-550/Jerr-Dan 8-ton wrecker • 1996 Chevy 3500HD/NoMar 8-ton wrecker
It was a late, muddy night for Chesapeake Service Center when a car went over a guardrail late one evening.
Continued on p. 38 ...
... continued from p. 36 Each wrecker was used to side winch the car to the railing before we stopped the road traffic to do the lift up and over the railing to the road.
It was a muddy mess and we didn’t want to have to clean straps afterwards. Once it was parallel with the railing, the K straps were rigged to all four wheels. The booms were extended and over the top for both units, front and rear. Lines were tightened to get the vehicle level, and then the booms raised to clear the casualty over the railing. Once clear, the two trucks were driven forward to lower the unit to the roadway. A waiting carrier grabbed the load so we could clear the roadway quickly. About the author Will Cain of Chesapeake Service Centers is a certified WreckMaster 6/7 and Master Tech.
38 • March 2018 - TOWMAN.COM
The Chesapeake crew chose to send two light-duty wreckers in place of one heavy (above). A carrier made quick work of hauling the casualty after it was back on the road (right).
Stock the Right Equipment by Erin Di Joseph
I
n this business, time is money. Unfortunately for tow professionals, towing procedures are becoming increasingly complex, which means each job can take longer than it did just a few years ago. Over time, this can affect your productivity, meaning lost income. To solve this dilemma, industry expert Paul Stephens said providers can save time and increase their productivity by having the right equipment on the truck. Stephens has more than 30 years of experience in the towing industry as a company owner and consultant. Over the years, he has provided his towing expertise to vehicle manufacturers and motor clubs including Allstate Roadside Services.
Going over the wheel puts direct downward pressure on the wheels and suspension so the vehicle suspension absorbs shocks while in transport.
Stephens said an added benefit of stocking the right equipment is that it will increase your overall professionalism in the eyes of the customer. Towing was once a fairly straightforward procedure, but times have changed. Today more vehicle manufacturers are requiring operators to follow complex tow procedures, such as the eight-point tie-down, rather than going through the wheel or latching hooks and chains to the vehicle frame. Why this change in procedure? It turns out that the old method of securing the vehicle through the rim or by the frame creates an uneven pull on the vehicle in four (yes, four) different directions, causing risk of damage to the wheel, alignment, suspension or frame. In addition, securing a vehicle through the rim opens up the possibility of scratching the rim. This is a costly repair because the replacement rim might not match the existing set, which means you may have to purchase four new rims so that the colors match. In contrast, going over the wheel puts direct downward pressure on the wheels and suspension. This securement method aligns with the design of the vehicle to absorb all shock while in transport. While the eight-point tie-down method is good news for the vehicle, it’s not so great for tow professionals who will spend more time per job. Over time, this can affect your productivity. It can also affect customer satisfaction because the customer might not understand why the tow is “taking so long.” It’s no secret that having the right equipment can save a lot of time. However, some operators opt to skimp on certain products due to the initial cost. Following are six recommendations from Stephens that offer a strong return on investment.
Skates If you operate a flatbed, then it is essential that you have skates. Skates are one of the best products introduced in the last 20 years to the industry. Simply put, without skates you and your truck are not operating at full capacity. To maximize their value, you’ll need to know how to safely skate vehicles on and off your carrier deck without violently shaking your bed.
Ramps, Cribbing Without skates, you are not operating your flatbed at full capacity.
40 • March 2018 - TOWMAN.COM
You never truly know what clearance you may need to load the vehicle until you arrive on the scene. This is why having ample ramps or cribbing on your truck is impera-
Continued on p. 42 ...
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Work the non-traffic side–Stay Safe!
AMERICANTOWMAN.COM -March 2018 • 41
Straps
Utilizing lead straps and catch straps may significantly reduce damage claims.
... continued from p. 40 tive. With them, you can easily load any low-clearance vehicle without damage.
V-bridle When your attachment point is the control arms, a luxury V-bridle strap is key. Because it is longer than an average bridle strap, it will provide damage-free attachment. It prevents damage to the bumper as it leads out to your winch.
To protect yourself and your company, use a lead strap and a catch strap. These straps will help mitigate damage when it comes to loading a vehicle with a tow pin. The lead strap prevents the hook from making contact with the grille or bumper. The catch strap connects to both the winch hook and a strong area under the vehicle, and it will catch the vehicle in the event of a tow pin failure. Utilizing these two pieces of equipment may significantly reduce damage claims.
Snatch Block A snatch block has many uses and is especially valuable when loading a vehicle by the tow pin. Lead your cable out of your winch box to a snatch block at the connection point of the vehicle. Next, run the cable up to the top corner of your bed. You will create a straight line-pull on the pin, which reduces pin deflection and also helps the vehicle to load straight with skates.
A snatch block is especially valuable when loading a vehicle by the tow pin.
Cleaning, Maintenance Towels, cleaning agents, seat covers, shop gloves and trash bags may not fall in your equipment category. However, they all help you provide a premier customer service experience that will solidify your company’s name as a leader in the industry. About the author Erin di Joseph, Communications, works at Allstate Roadside Services. To learn more about the Allstate Roadside Services Provider Network, contact ARSeducate@allstate.com.
42 • March 2018 - TOWMAN.COM
Work the non-traffic side–Stay Safe!
AMERICANTOWMAN.COM -March 2018 • 47
High-End Skills for High-End Cars by Randall C. Resch
T
aking total care of someone’s exotic or collectible vehicle is a huge responsibility. Tow operators should employ best practice techniques and treat customer vehicles with expertise and carriers should be outfitted with modern accessories and towing equipment. In transport operations, towmen should always strive for damage-free towing. Before carriers were available to towers, towing a long-nose 1963 Jaguar XKE without a wheel lift or sling—literally just by two cables dangling from the boom—made for a nail-biting experience. The industry has progressed, but damage-free towing still is possible only when towers employ best practices by using high-quality transport equipment. When carrier operators are tasked with transporting classic, vintage, collectible or high-end vehicles, a greater level of care and technique is required for true damage-free transportation. Serving the high-end vehicle market demands that a modern carrier be used and equipped with tools and accessories that prevent driver-related damages. It makes sense that tow owners would outfit their carriers with modern accessories and equipment to pamper their customer ’s dream car.
Best Practices Niche towers have their own techniques in loading vintage and highend vehicles. Loading fancy cars onto a carrier’s deck takes time and finesse. Attachment equipment like soft-loop round-sling straps, threaded eye-loops and axle straps are preferred loading items vs. using J-hooks, chains or Vbridles into a vehicle’s forward frame or understructure. For about $1,000, carriers can be outfitted to handle the most delicate jobs. While there are many techniques 48 • March 2018 - TOWMAN.COM
conducive to high-end vehicles, I train on about a dozen processes for those operators who want to make varsity for the carrier team.
Meet & Greet First, understand that high-end owners are a different personality and mentality than most customers. While some are simply the nicest people in town, others park their spaceships in their backyards and have no sense-ofhumor when it comes to their “baby.” Owners have stories and like to brag about their specialty cars. Be sure to listen to their stories. This group is oftentimes difficult to deal with, but—if you can make a positive impression with your skills— chances are that you’ll plant the seed for a long-term repeat customer. Some are overbearing and critical to what you’re doing—stalking your every move. Somehow, using your polite voice, direct them away from danger zones. Remember, you’re the professional and in charge of their safety. But if there is something distinctive to the loading characteristics of their vehicle, listen to what they have to say and react accordingly.
Inspection When transporting collectible vehicles, a thorough walk-around inspection is mandatory prior to loading. If the owner is present, point out pre-existing damages and have them sign your invoice. I once drove 120 miles to a shipping company in Long Beach, California, to get a 1935 MG PA Airline Coupe to bring back south to the owner’s residence. (The car was one of 28.) When it was delivered from the loading dock to me, it was lifted from the side by a rickety, old forklift. The forklift’s tines bent the driveshaft and inflicted some heavy underside gouges in what looked to be an other-
wise near-perfect vehicle. I immediately notified the owner. “No sweat,” he said. He had insured his coupe for way over its value. Nonetheless, I made a huge and accurate inventory report, including pictures of damages. (The dock’s agent refused to sign my damage inventory before I loaded the vehicle.)
Prepping High-end vehicles are typically associated with fancy homes and properties. Whenever possible, don’t drive your carrier onto a customer’s custom-colored, stamped concrete driveway without their permission. Don’t drive on, or to, locations unsuited for bearing a carrier’s weight or size. If your carrier even drips oil, that might spur a complaint. Once your carrier is parked in line with the vehicle being loaded, avoid side pulls or “skootching” movements that leave skid marks in the customer’s driveway. (When skid marks appear, you’ve also opened the door to damaged transmission claims, stretched suspensions and flat spots on the customer’s tires.)
Protect Pavement When setting the carrier’s deck, protect areas where the tailboard contacts the pavement. Especially critical for stamped concrete or pavers, place padding under the carrier’s tailboard to prevent scratching and drag marks common to carrier decks moving forward and rearward. When transporting high-end vehicles on a regular basis, carry 4’x4’ carpet sections that help prevent scraping. One company was sued for (and lost) $5,000 for scrape damages left in their customer’s driveway; scrape damages are preventable.
Continued on p. 50...
... continued from p. 48 Work Clean Tow operators tend to have dirty hands and uniforms based on any day’s activities. When that high-end vehicle request hits dispatch, your clean and professional appearance is important. I tend not to sit in high-end vehicles; I’ll still lay a clean blanket across the driver’s seat to shift to neutral, or if I do drive it to the carrier’s location (not all vehicles to be towed are broken). Tip: Purchase 12, laundered, white, tuxedo gloves; wear a clean pair of white gloves and use a clean towel every time you work a high-end vehicle; it’s all about the customer’s perception. Never touch the vehicle’s body. When entering the driver’s area, open doors using the door handle’s underside with a gloved finger carefully situated in the corner of the vehicle’s driver’s (door) window; wipe as you go. When moving around the customer’s car, move slowly and calculated to instill that psychological “wow” factor as your customer watches you go through the paces.
No Scrapes On loading approach, address potential low front- or rear-end body contact (scraping) by using ramps, skates or 4x4 blocking added to the underside of the carrier’s tailboard. Don’t forget to watch both ends by walking around to ensure opposite ends don’t scrape; especially lowhanging tailpipes. At all costs, don’t let your customer see their Ferrari F40 scraping its nose on the carrier’s deck. Insert padding and ramping where necessary and slow the winchon process as the vehicle approaches the deck; stop/adjust/change where necessary. Never drive an exotic onto the deck.
Attachments Chains, J-hooks, and metal attachment devices shouldn’t be used on high-end vehicles. Soft loading loops or specialty straps are appropriate for loading processes. (When judges score 50 • March 2018 - TOWMAN.COM
a high-end, concours-quality classic, nicks in a vehicle’s suspension result in lower scores; that’s something to lose a customer over.) I use soft straps of high-ratings; looped-over and around lower suspension arms bringing loop ends beyond a vehicle’s bumper. Doing so situates the straps or loops (visually and physically) outside bumper ends where the cable’s hook end doesn’t rub underside oil pans, dust shields or components.
No Runaways If free-spool was used to pull cable to the awaiting vehicle, ensure that free-spool re-engages so there’s no incident of a runaway vehicle. There’s nothing wrong with engaging the vehicle’s E-brake halfway to create runaway resistance. A rubber chock block is a necessary tool to employ as the vehicle is winched on. You’ll regret the day your customer’s McLaren 570GT takes off on its own. Be smart and develop a catch system. Never trust screw-in eyelets to hold.
Creative Tie-Downs While there are numerous ways to secure high-end vehicles, more is always better in my book. I once hauled an original, big-block 1965 Shelby Cobra Daytona driven by Bob Bondurant (valued at $7 million) to a Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance; you can bet I was over-protective with tie-downs. I prefer an eight-point tie-down system. Properly attached and wrapping each tire, at 10 o’clock and two o’clock, provides solid tie-down while allowing the vehicle to ride on its own suspension. For concours-quality vehicles, I don’t thread though expensive or irreplaceable rims, as straps tend to leave light rub marks or accidental nicks or marks in aluminum surfaces if O-rings or ratchet hooks make contact. Regardless as to what techniques you employ, the purpose of solid transport means the transported vehicle stays in place and doesn’t inch back and forth. A four-point tie-down doesn’t include the winch-cable, but I leave it attached and backed off slightly.
There’s nothing wrong with applying four additional (lower) ratchet straps to all corners for an additional level of safety.
Safe Transport Drive defensively and leave plenty of room for sudden stops. Avoid herky-jerky starts and stops to ensure a smooth and consistent ride. A slower drive lets that high-end vehicle act as on-board advertising for others to see as you make your way to the customer’s destination.
Off-Load The same care and finesse in offloading is the reverse process of loading. I make it a big deal to set clean and shiny cones around the loading/off-load area (another psychologically impressive technique for the owner). Be sure to determine where the customer or shop wants the vehicle off-loaded so as not to move it again. Make it your policy not to relocate the customer’s vehicle once off-loaded. Once it’s on the pavement, remember to have it in gear, E-brake on and tires chocked. Have the customer or shop representative sign your invoice when off-load is completed.
Specialty Niche I remember transporting a 1960 Aston Martin DB4 GTZ, worth $2.5 million. While atop my carrier, I made sure I drove parade-like while being 110-percent focused on its delivery. When the job was completed, I made sure to take additional photos for my company’s scrapbook. The high-end transport market is a great niche to serve, but the stakes are exponentially higher as one incident can be extremely costly. Be sure you have increased insurance coverages for high-end operations and dedicate your company’s best varsity player to represent you.
Operations Editor Randall C. Resch is a retired California police officer and veteran tow business owner, manager, consultant and trainer. He writes for TowIndustryWeek.com and American Towman, is a member of the International Towing & Recovery Hall of Fame and recipient of the Dave Jones Leadership Award. Email Randy at rreschran@gmail.com.
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AMERICANTOWMAN.COM -March 2018 • 51
Middlemen Run Amok by Mark Lacek
The only way to profit in the repossession business is to have a direct relationship with the lender. Paraphrasing a letter to the lenders I work with might go something like this: Dear Client, There is a problem on the horizon, and it’s traveling at a high rate of speed, aimed directly at the lending community. This problem is a big one. You (Mr. Lender) will not have the ability to repossess your delinquent collateral unless you have a court order AKA, “Replevin Action.” The idea of the self-help repossession process will be a thing of the past. There are two reasons for this: one, there will not be any professional repo companies left to perform the service; two, if you can find a professional repossession agency, you will not want to pay the price we will ultimately demand for our services. Years ago, a repossessor and the lender had direct contact. The lender—be it a bank, credit union or even a buy-here/pay-here lot—would contact the office of the repossessor with the intention of sending a repossession assignment. When the repossessor recovered and delivered the collateral, the lender would receive an invoice and then send the repossessor payment for services rendered. Sounds simple, right? It was. Now, the middleman has made his way into the fold, the “forwarders.” These entities have found a way to position themselves smackdab in the middle of the money. Similar to a stop sign at a major intersection, the money stops at the forwarder’s office long enough for them to take about a 50-percent bite. For this tasty morsel, all the forwarder has to do is manage the information. With a network of repossession agencies who have signed up to receive assignments, the forwarder sends the 54 • March 2018 - TOWMAN.COM
assignment to the agency that covers the zip code of the delinquent customer. Not necessarily the most professional agency and, probably, the cheapest. Now, the repossessor who was making $500 for repossessing an automobile will only receive $250. It doesn’t take an economics degree to figure out the repossessor will need to make adjustments to make this reduction in revenue work. The adjustment many professional recovery agencies made was quite drastic … they just quit being in the repo business. That’s quite an adjustment. The forwarder will argue that the increase in assignment volume to those who are left will amount to higher profits. This doesn’t add up, however. There are more and more repossession companies going out of business every day. The membership rolls in the major trade associations bears that out where memberships are down 50 percent. The forwarding companies will tell you there are more repo companies willing to accept the assignments than before. Who are these repossession companies? Are these companies properly insured, licensed or certified? No, almost without exception they
are not. These “Cheapo Repo” companies will do the cheaper assignments until their 20-year-old repo trucks with bald tires completely break down. The forwarding company will then move on to the next Cheapo Repo waiting in line, and so on and so on. During this time, however, the lawsuits add up. A couple of questions for the lender: • Have your recovery percentages gone down since the introduction of the forwarders? •Have you been subject to increased lawsuits since the introduction of the forwarders? My guess is your answers are yes to both. Every lender will tell you the faster the collateral is recovered the better. In fact, the magic number of days is 14. From the moment the lender assigns the repo until the time the collateral is recovered should be no more than 14 days. At 15 days, the assignment is referred to as a second placement account and is usually sent to a secondary repossession agency. From this point on, different lenders follow their
Continued on p. 56...
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AMERICANTOWMAN.COM -March 2018 • 55
... continued from p. 54 own set of rules. Some lenders will send the account to a skip-trace company, while some will call the 30-plusday delinquent account a third placement account and send the assignment to a third agency. Many accounts reach 90 days delinquent and will be placed into charge-off status. After 90 days delinquent, or “off the grid” as we call it, the collateral is most often trashed or held hostage at some tow yard. The cost of returning 90-plus-day delinquent assets to the client’s control is often staggering after paying out on these repair and storage charges. There are few reasons why most recovery assignments cannot be recovered within 30 days of the assignment. The No. 1 reason is simple: the repossessor does not get paid enough to dig his heels into the recovery. There is just not enough “meat on the bone” to check more than one address. Not only does the agency that is working the assignment lack the financial motivation to work the assignment thoroughly, the necessary information to successfully complete the recovery was never shared with the repossessor. It’s kind of like going out on a tow call … but never getting the address where the car is. (Imagine doing this about 50 times a week.) When the client had the ability to work directly with the recovery agency, boots-on-the-ground agents communicated with collection staff and asset managers. Assets were recovered faster with higher resale values while charge-offs were few and far between. When a lender has a direct relationship with the repossession agent, recovery percentages are remarkably higher. So let me be clear to you lenders reading this: your collateral is not lost, the assignment simply is not being worked properly. If the assignment is not a voluntary surrender, or if the collateral has any degree of difficulty, the assignment paperwork is more than likely sitting in a stack because your “national service provider” is not paying the local affiliate enough 56 • March 2018 - TOWMAN.COM
to properly work an assignment. That is to say, nobody is looking for the car. I see it all the time. A former 20year client who switched to a national service provider finally calls and asks me for help. He explains that cars and trucks are more difficult than ever to locate and repossess. “What is going on?” the client asks. My explanation is a surprise to his ears. I explain why his collateral is still “off the grid.” First, the national service provider (forwarder) promises too much, for too little. A fancy web page and colorfully printed materials look nice, but have nothing to do with how repossession assignments are worked and recovered. Some repossession assignments are not too difficult. Voluntarily surrendered collateral are mostly standard procedure recoveries. There are some assignments that can be recovered from a public parking area, or turned over to the recovery agent after a peaceful door knock. These assignments are the low hanging fruit. Once these assignments are recovered, the remaining assignments proving more difficult to recover are seldom given the attention deserved, unless the payment for the job is profitable. Then it’s game on. Here is a clear example: A local recovery agent conducts a drive-by of the debtor’s residence with no sign of the collateral, then reports the assignment to the client as “not showing.” Because of low fees, the local recovery agency is not getting paid enough to do anything more than a single driveby of one address. The forwarder seldom conducts a comprehensive analysis of the delinquent customer before sending the repossession agency the assignment. The repossessor is given old addresses or just bad information that leads to … no repo. The solution would be for the national provider to verify information from the lender and study the customer through new and updated data. Providing quality, verified information to the local agent in the field with enough pay would prioritize the assignment. This will not happen as long as there is a middleman waiting to take a big bite out of the pie.
Back in the day, a 95-percent recovery percentage was the norm. Agents left no stone un-turned to locate and recover the collateral. We checked corporate records, talked to ex-partners and ex-wives, we looked at county permitting offices for work locations and we checked property records. We covered all of the bases to locate and recover the collateral. The collateral was located and recovered because there was profit involved. Back in the day, when established pros worked the assignments, there was no question as to whether or not the assignment would be properly worked. The agent worked the assignment until the collateral was located, recovered and brought to the yard. I can tell you that the low recovery percentages are not because debtors are smarter. They don’t hide assets better or work below the radar, as some forwarding companies will lead you to believe. No, the reason is very simple. Agents are not being paid enough to put in the extra time on an assignment. Back in the day, there was no middleman dipping into the recovery fee for managing the assignment. There weren’t untrained phone reps calling the debtor trying to turn every assignment into a voluntary surrender. If the debtor does not want to surrender the asset, he now knows the repossessor is coming. I have said this time and time again, but many lenders just cannot figure out why so many recovery assignments are not getting picked up. The people working your assignment don’t know what they are doing. I know at least one forwarder out there is going to send a letter claiming to be different. Not all forwarders are useless. There are a few (maybe one?) that actually offer a reasonably good service to the client while paying a fair recovery fee to the agent. Maybe. I think. Be safe.
Repo Editor Mark Lacek authored the Certified Commercial Recovery Agent certification program and has more than 30 years of recovery experience. He is the former editor of “Professional Repossessor” magazine. Email him at Mark@commercialassetsolutions.com.
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AMERICANTOWMAN.COM -March 2018 • 57
Dynamic Donates to RABF for 10th Year For the 10th consecutive year, Dynamic Towing Equipment & Manufacturing will support the Recovery Agents Benefit Fund with a donation of a Dynamic Slide-In Unit for the fund’s annual raffle. Valued at more than $10,000, the donated unit raises thousands of dollars annually that contribute to the RABF, which provides financial help to families affected by the dangers of the repossession industry. In addition, Dynamic will donate NASCAR suite tickets for each repossession show to benefit the RABF. The tickets donated by Dynamic, often valued at more than $3,000, are provided by Speedway Motorsports Inc. to Dynamic as the official recovery vehicle of Charlotte Motor Speedway, Atlanta Motor Speedway, Bristol Motor Speedway and Kentucky Speedway. By donating the NASCAR tickets to the RABF auction events, Dynamic
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President Anthony Gentile said he hopes it will inspire others to give as well and contribute to the cause. Those interested in purchasing raffle tickets or wanting further information can do so at recoveryagentsbenefitfund.org/raffle.asp.
Fed Drops Hammer on Wells Fargo The Federal Reserve recently handed down an unprecedented punishment to Wells Fargo for what it called "widespread consumer abuses," including its notorious creation of millions of fake customer accounts. The bank agreed to remove three people from the board of directors by April and a fourth by the end of the year. Wells Fargo won't be allowed to get any bigger than it was at the end of last year—$2 trillion in assets— until the Fed is satisfied that it has cleaned up its act. It is the first time the Federal Reserve has imposed a cap on the entire assets of a financial institution, according to an official.
Last July, the company admitted it forced auto insurance on as many as 570,000 borrowers who didn't need it. About 20,000 of those customers had their cars wrongfully repossessed in part due to these unwanted insurance charges. Among other offenses, the Justice Department also fined the company in November for illegally repossessing cars from more than 860 service members. Federal law requires banks to get a court order before repossessing a car from members of the military. Source: clickondetroit.com.
California Motorists Can’t Cover License Plates Under pressure from police lobbyists, California state senators have killed a bill that would have made it harder for data-aggregators-onwheels to automatically snap photos of parked cars’ license plates. Senate bill 712 would have tweaked a law that says motorists can’t cover their car’s license plate. In California, it’s currently legal for motorists to cover their entire vehicle when it’s parked, including the license plate, to protect the car from the weather, as long as the cover is easy enough to pull up to get a look at the license plate. However, it’s illegal to cover just the license plate when it’s parked, which makes it easier for automated license plate readers to scan. The ALPR companies also sell information to law enforcement, including to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. The DHS, in fact, recently released its updated policy for using this commercial ALPR data for immigration enforcement. DHS’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement arm officially gained agency-wide access to a nationwide license plate recognition database late January. The vote in California’s senate rejected SB-712 18 to 12. Source: nakedsecurity.sophos.com.
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AMERICANTOWMAN.COM -March 2018 • 63
Ogre-rific Green Heavy Wrecker by Jim “Buck” Sorrenti
L
eRoy and Arlene Kramer started Kramer’s Wrecker Service in 1963. Their daughter and her husband, Tim and Lisa Bartz, purchased the business in 2001. This family business in Grand Island, Nebraska, was founded on hard work and integrity, values that they still hold dear today. “Shrek,” the newest unit in Kramer’s fleet, was built by Lynch Truck Center in Waterford, Wisconsin. This ogre of a wrecker is a 2018 Century 9055 mounted on a 2018 Peterbilt 389.
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Tech Highlights Nickname: Shrek. Wrecker 2018 Century 9055. Chassis: 2018 Peterbilt 389. Engine: Cummins X-15. Trans: Eaton 18-speed, two-speed rear axles. Winches: Dual DP 50,000-lbs. Builder: Lynch Truck Center. Wrap: After Hours Grafix.
The 9055 is a large-capacity integrated towing and recovery unit with a 50-ton, three-stage recovery boom, and dual 50,000-lbs. DP winches. Shrek is ideal for heavy recovery work along with the ability to tow a wide variety of vehicles from mixers to packers and buses with its 136” of reach. It is also equipped with the Miller Murphy Greer Omnex loadsensing system that provides critical data about the boom extension, load capacity and more.
The graphics were inspired by Tim teaching our son Joe how to run the heavy trucks. Shrek is powered by a 605-hp Cummins X-15 mated to an Eaton 18-speed trans with two-speed rear axles. “We purchased this unit because it keeps us up to date on equipment and adds another heavy to our fleet,” Tim said. Extras include custom toolboxes and an imposing Herd Super Road Train Grille Guard. “We bought the grille guard then had it powdercoated at J&B Powder Coating in Aurora, Nebraska,” Tim said. “That’s why it’s black. We added all the lights in at Lynch.” The Shrek and Donkey graphic wrap was done by Troy Hoffman of After Hours Grafix in Aurora, Nebraska. “The graphics were inspired by Tim teaching our son Joe how to run the heavy trucks,” Lisa said. “Joe is the next generation and always by Tim’s side.” There is no question that this ogre is a beauty. Shrek took second place in the Heavy Duty-Tandem category last November during the 2017 American Towman Exposition in Baltimore, Maryland.
Jim “Buck” Sorrenti, a longtime editor of American Towman, has been our field editor for the past few years. He is a freelance writer and photographer with more than 40 years of experience covering motorcycle, hot rod, truck and towing culture. He writes weekly for TowIndustryWeek.com.
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AMERICANTOWMAN.COM -March 2018 • 65
The Great Social Experiment
by Steve Calitri
E
xpositions, as the Digital Age has evolved, have become the great social experiment of our time. Attendees of American Towman shows have found a real, in-person networking experience regarding their trade that can’t be found anywhere else … certainly not in their hometown. In their hometown, tow bosses rarely connect with other towers in their market area. Hey, they’re competitors and towing is all too often a dog-eat-dog business that somehow can bring out the worst in us. But traveling to an Exposition is like discovering a Utopia of peers where no malice rears its ugly head and tow bosses exchange experiences and ideas, war stories and humor. In this climate, humanity reveals its finest face and those attending are enlivened, even inspired. Today, when people communicate digitally and young people have little or no experience with face-to-face encounters, commerce is less and less transacted in-person; the Exposition is like a phenomenon out of a science fiction film or novel. People getting together … what creative genius thought up this concept? American Towman claims it is the greatest trade show among all industries because it is the vanguard of the Exposition as a human experiment, and much more than a trade event. American Towman special events are worth trekking to for their own value certainly. The Action in the Arena during Tow Industry Week in Las Vegas shows off the big toys to the delight of tow operators viewing the South Point Arena floor. The American Towman Academy
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presents intelligence briefings (seminars) at all the shows: Las Vegas, Dallas and Baltimore. Social events like the Smokers (The Desert Smoke, The Big Smoke, and Calitri’s Cuba) are happenings at the three shows as well. There are ceremonies that would make Britain’s Royal Crown envious, parties that would make Hollywood feel small, and backroom pow-wows that would make any political convention’s “behind-the-scenes” action seem inconsequential. And the Exhibit Floors in Las Vegas (American Towman ShowPlace), Dallas and Baltimore are the most active and colorful marketplaces in the world. But it is the humanity at American Towman shows that stand out as in a bas-relief sculpture. One walks through an American Towman show and is struck by the art that is there around them, whether the art on the wreckers in the Pageant Hall, the art of the hand-painted 100-foot mural, the art of the custom-built Towman Chopper, or the sculpture of the Towman Monument. In the Halls of these Expositions, one hears the songs played and sung by live musicians and songs celebrating the towman’s trade, dedication and humanity. Tow business owners see and feel this art imitating life as if they are walking through a human Renaissance … a rebirth, revival, of what it once meant to be alive on Earth when people met and celebrated amongst each other. It is no wonder towmen and tow women keep coming to the American Towman shows … this magnificent experiment of being alive, such a novel experience.
It seems like Mike and Ilce Corbin just got done escorting the “Spirit” casket on its 2017 Spirit Ride, but the 2018 route is calling. With the Spirit Ride getting ready to roll again next month, American Towman Magazine, TowIndustryWeek.com and AmericanTowmanTV.com are prepared to bring you coverage of the industry promotion it garners. You can also keep up with the national coverage of the Spirit Ride through ATSpiritRide.com.
In other news, did you see TIW recently welcomed a new columnist for the Tow Business & Operations column? Longtime industry veteran Brian J. Riker has been sharing his thoughts every other week (opposite weeks of AT Operations Editor Randall Resch) there, including his thoughts on keeping your business on course when flu strikes and more. Miss a week, miss a lot. See you at TowIndustryWeek.com.
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The U.S. Labor Department recorded 107 incidents of towers being killed or injured last year. That is part of what prompted Bill Byers, owner of Byers Wrecker in Rochester, to form Move Over Michigan. For more than two years, the group has moved to reduce the risk of first responders being struck roadside by providing public educational videos, setting up information booths at various conferences and pushing for updated traffic laws. “Unfortunately, tow truck operators can’t protect the scenes. They have to get in front of the vehicles and all around the vehicles. Fire departments, because of the tow truck industry, have been trained now to park and protect the scene and our people,� Groveland Township Fire Chief, and Move Over Michigan member, Steve McGee said. “An ambulance will park in front of the scene and put a [fire] engine behind the scene so that’s what gets hit if anything gets hit.� The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration estimated that 3,477 people were killed by “distracted driving� in the United States in 2015, and that around 391,000 were injured. Cellphones contributed to 1,893 crashes in Michigan, according to the Michigan State Police’s 2016 Michigan Traffic Crash Facts. In the last decade, Move Over Michigan and the State Police both said that smart phones, and other devices in the car, have contributed to distracted driving. Byers wants the Move Over law to be part of driver’s education. “I’m in the process right now with the Secretary of State’s office of trying to get questions put on the state driving license test and renewal,� Byers said. Source: oaklandcounty115.com.
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NORTH 72 • March 2018 - TOWMAN.COM
All Chevron & Vulcan wrecker and car carrier parts. Call for all your towing accessory needs; chains, straps, ratchets, winches, toolboxes, lighting accessories and more!
"FREE! Rollback Tie Down Kit from B/A Products with purchase of new rollbacks, while supplies last. Also for purchase at a deep discount through our parts dept.
14 Head Whelen Justice Towman LED Lighter with Stop Turn Tail and Work Lights JFOBAAAA-14 $1050.
800-689-8090, Atlanta, GA AtlantaWrecker.com
Atlanta Wrecker Sales
800-752-5336, Brandon, MS bzsalesinc.com
Complete line of parts and accessories to customize your tow truck or carrier. Also large stock of replacement parts to keep your equipment operating smoothly.
Underbody Glow available for installation on any new truck sold by Elizabeth Truck Center. Get the hottest new look when it’s #builtbyjimpowers!
#1 Jerr-Dan parts dealer & distributor in the nation. Call for ALL your towing needs!
908-355-8800, Elizabeth, NJ ElizabethTruckCenter.com/tow-sales/
815-725-4400 - Illinois 248-324-9040 - Michigan 562-287-5200 - California www.NewTowTrucks.com
Crouch's Wrecker & Equipment Sales
800-628-5212 Kingston Springs,TN & Orlando, FL CrouchTowTrucks.com
Jerr-Dan 2” x 2” Galvanized L-Arm.
Florida Wrecker Sales
813.626.2144, Tampa, FL gottowtruck.com
Look at the new Bawer's tool boxes available at Austin Hinds Motors. Available from 24” - 60”. The box includes a unique aerator/vent to keep moisture out as well and gas shock door openers & lockable stainless steel handles.
Austin Hinds Motors
256-586-8161, Arab, AL AustinHindsMotors.com
B & Z Sales
Elizabeth Truck Center
Sanderson Truck Equipment Best Tools Magic Kit - 55" & 32" reach tools with air wedge, accessories, and carrying case. Black, red, blue and camo options - $77.50
Sanderson Truck Equipment 623-842-8663, Glendale, AZ JerrdanParts@Sanderson TruckEquipment.com
4” X 6” LED Headlamp High Beam Uses 6 Rebel LEDs, DOT approved, completely sealed electronics, standard OEM blade connector.
Utility Trailer Sales South East Texas
713-821-6300, Houston, TX Utilitytrailers.com
Chevron Commercial
800-443-5778, Highland, IL chevroncommercial.com
Worldwide Equipment Sales
Offers a ten function remote for the MPL Series and repo trucks and can be made to order.
TJR Equipment and Controls
815-955-2478, Downers Grove, IL tjrrec.com
Tired of rusty cans? Offering new long lasting, easy to clean, built in USA, Tuff Can with screw on lid. Available with deck or bulkhead aluminum mounts.
Worldwide Equipment Sales Calif.
562 287 5200, Santa Fe Springs, CA NewTowTrucks.com
Move Over in Driver’s Ed?
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SOUTH 68 • March 2018 - TOWMAN.COM
The U.S. Labor Department recorded 107 incidents of towers being killed or injured last year. That is part of what prompted Bill Byers, owner of Byers Wrecker in Rochester, to form Move Over Michigan. For more than two years, the group has moved to reduce the risk of first responders being struck roadside by providing public educational videos, setting up information booths at various conferences and pushing for updated traffic laws. “Unfortunately, tow truck operators can’t protect the scenes. They have to get in front of the vehicles and all around the vehicles. Fire departments, because of the tow truck industry, have been trained now to park and protect the scene and our people,� Groveland Township Fire Chief, and Move Over Michigan member, Steve McGee said. “An ambulance will park in front of the scene and put a [fire] engine behind the scene so that’s what gets hit if anything gets hit.� The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration estimated that 3,477 people were killed by “distracted driving� in the United States in 2015, and that around 391,000 were injured. Cellphones contributed to 1,893 crashes in Michigan, according to the Michigan State Police’s 2016 Michigan Traffic Crash Facts. In the last decade, Move Over Michigan and the State Police both said that smart phones, and other devices in the car, have contributed to distracted driving. Byers wants the Move Over law to be part of driver’s education. “I’m in the process right now with the Secretary of State’s office of trying to get questions put on the state driving license test and renewal,� Byers said. Source: oaklandcounty115.com.
Work the non-traffic side–Stay Safe!
AMERICANTOWMAN.COM - March 2018 • SOUTH 69
New CTTA Video/Podcast Programs The California Tow Truck Association’s Digital Productions department has created a brand new video/podcast series focused on individuals in the state’s towing industry. Interviews with CTTA President Terry Warford Jr., Sam Johnson of Capitol City Automotive/Blue Collar Guy, CTTA Light Duty Instructor Peter Fuerst, and the general counsel/lobby team at Ellison Wilson Advocacy are currently posted on the site, as well as tutorials and online training. Programs are available via YouTube, Soundcloud, podcast as well as an interview page set up at the CTTA website. Source: ctta.com.
AAA Tests Self-Driving Cars The American Automobile Association is testing self-driving cars powered by Torc Robotics “Asimov” system. The aim is to gather information and develop safety criteria that could be used by any company developing self-driving tech. “By creating a blueprint for automakers to follow, we hope to build public trust in technology,” said Tim Condon, CEO of AAA Northern California, Nevada & Utah. A recent AAA survey found that 75 percent of Americans are skeptical of self-driving cars, and as a driverfocused, independent organization, the AAA feels its well-placed to help build up that trust. The Asimov system has been cross-country tested in more than 20 states, it notes. AAA believes autonomous cars “have the potential to dramatically reduce traffic fatalities on our roadways,” according to a release from the company. “We’re acknowledging that transportation habits are changing,” Condon said. “AAA is over a hundred years old, and we remain committed to continuously innovating in the area of traffic safety.” Source: www.engadget.com. SOUTH 70 • March 2018 - TOWMAN.COM
Work the non-traffic side–Stay Safe!
AMERICANTOWMAN.COM - March 2018 • SOUTH 71
TowCap Launches The National Interstate Insurance Co. has launched TowCap Premier, a group rental captive designed exclusively for towing and recovery. With its launch, the company said operators can better control their risk cost and be confident they are insured by a stable carrier. “We are thrilled to bring TowCap Premier to the … industry,” said Mike Winchell of National Interstate, and added the company looks forward to improving operations of founding members, while reducing their cost of insurance and raising safety standards throughout the industry. “Our group searched for a solution for two challenges in our industry: better control of insurance cost and stability in a carrier,” said Tyler Harden of Jim’s Towing Service and Chairman of the TowCap Premier Executive Committee. “Year after year, National Interstate has stuck by our industry, so who better than to partner with but the experts, who’ve built a captive insurance program around us.” Source: natl.com.
SOUTH 72 •March 2018 - TOWMAN.COM
#1 Jerr-Dan parts dealer & distributor in the nation. Call for ALL your towing needs!
Worldwide Equipment Sales 815-725-4400 - Illinois 248-324-9040 - Michigan 562-287-5200 - California NewTowTrucks.com
Underbody Glow available for installation on any new truck sold by Elizabeth Truck Center. Get the hottest new look when it’s #builtbyjimpowers!
Elizabeth Truck Center
908-355-8800 Elizabeth, NJ ElizabethTruckCenter.com/tow-sales/
Your lockout tool connection.
Select Truck & Equipment 800-896-2120 Columbia, MO Towtrucksmo.com
All Chevron & Vulcan wrecker and car carrier parts. Call for all your towing accessory needs; chains, straps, ratchets, winches, toolboxes, lighting accessories and more!
Chevron Commercial
800-443-5778, Highland, IL chevroncommercial.com
Best Tools Magic Kit - 55" & 32" reach tools with air wedge, accessories, and carrying case. Black, red, blue and camo options - $77.50
Sanderson Truck Equipment 623-842-8663 Glendale, AZ JerrdanParts@Sanderson TruckEquipment.com
Complete line of parts and accessories to customize your tow truck or carrier. Also large stock of replacement parts to keep your equipment operating smoothly.
Crouch's Wrecker & Equipment Sales 800-628-5212 Kingston Springs,TN & Orlando, FL CrouchTowTrucks.com
Offers a ten function remote for the MPL Series and repo trucks and can be made to order.
TJR Equipment and Controls 815-955-2478 Downers Grove, IL tjrrec.com
8 point tie-down system keeps wheels from moving forward, backward or side to side. Vehicle rides on its own suspension Multiple lengths accommodates different tire sizes easy to use.
Tired of rusty cans? Offering new long lasting, easy to clean, built in USA, Tuff Can with screw on lid. Available with deck or bulkhead aluminum mounts.
McMahon Truck Center
Worldwide Equipment Sales Calif.
614-252-3111 • 740-373-7200 Columbus & Marietta, OH mtccolumbus.com
562-287-5200 Santa Fe Springs, CA NewTowTrucks.com
Move Over in Driver’s Ed? The U.S. Labor Department recorded 107 incidents of towers being killed or injured last year. That is part of what prompted Bill Byers, owner of Byers Wrecker in Rochester, to form Move Over Michigan. For more than two years, the group has moved to reduce the risk of first responders being struck roadside by providing public educational videos, setting up information booths at various conferences and pushing for updated traffic laws. “Unfortunately, tow truck operators can’t protect the scenes. They have to get in front of the vehicles and all around the vehicles. Fire departments, because of the tow truck industry, have been trained now to park and protect the scene and our people,” Groveland Township Fire Chief, and Move Over Michigan member, Steve McGee said. “An ambulance will park in front of the scene and put a [fire] engine behind the scene so that’s what gets hit if anything gets hit.” The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration estimated that 3,477 people were killed by “distracted driving” in the United States in 2015, and that around 391,000 were injured. Cellphones contributed to 1,893 crashes in Michigan, according to the Michigan State Police’s 2016 Michigan Traffic Crash Facts. In the last decade, Move Over Michigan and the State Police both said that smart phones, and other devices in the car, have contributed to distracted driving. Byers wants the Move Over law to be part of driver’s education. “I’m in the process right now with the Secretary of State’s office of trying to get questions put on the state driving license test and renewal,” Byers said. Source: oaklandcounty115.com.
MIDWEST 68 • March 2018 - TOWMAN.COM
TowCap Launches The National Interstate Insurance Co. has launched TowCap Premier, a group rental captive designed exclusively for towing and recovery. With its launch, the company said operators can better control their risk cost and be confident they are insured by a stable carrier. “We are thrilled to bring TowCap Premier to the … industry,” said Mike Winchell of National Interstate, and added the company looks forward to improving operations of founding members, while reducing their cost of insurance and raising safety standards throughout the industry. “Our group searched for a solution for two challenges in our industry: better control of insurance cost and stability in a carrier,” said Tyler Harden of Jim’s Towing Service and Chairman of the TowCap Premier Executive Committee. “Year after year, National Interstate has stuck by our industry, so who better than to partner with but the experts, who’ve built a captive insurance program around us.” Source: natl.com.
MIDWEST 70 • March 2018 - TOWMAN.COM
Work the non-traffic side–Stay Safe!
AMERICANTOWMAN.COM - March 2018 • MIDWEST 71
MIDWEST 72 • March 2018 - TOWMAN.COM
Lift Capacity 3,500 lb., easy installation, zinc plated, requires forklift with 5,000 lb. minimum lift capacity. Kit includes lift attachment, spring it, 6 ft. chain with grab hook.
4” X 6” LED Headlamp High Beam Uses 6 Rebel LEDs, DOT approved, completely sealed electronics, standard OEM blade connector.
Utility Trailer Sales South East Texas
All Chevron & Vulcan wrecker and car carrier parts. Call for all your towing accessory needs; chains, straps, ratchets, winches, toolboxes, lighting accessories and more!
Chevron Commercial
Casanova Towing Equipment
800-746-8802, Compton, CA casanovatowequipment.com
713-821-6300, Houston, TX Utilitytrailers.com
800-443-5778, Highland, IL chevroncommercial.com
Complete line of parts and accessories to customize your tow truck or carrier. Also large stock of replacement parts to keep your equipment operating smoothly.
Underbody Glow available for installation on any new truck sold by Elizabeth Truck Center. Get the hottest new look when it’s #builtbyjimpowers!
#1 Jerr-Dan parts dealer & distributor in the nation. Call for ALL your towing needs!
Crouch's Wrecker & Equipment Sales
800-628-5212 Kingston Springs,TN & Orlando, FL CrouchTowTrucks.com
The perfect driveline securing device! The Driveline Buddy easily secures the driveline in heavy trucks for fast and efficient towing. In Stock at TBS!
Truck Body Sales
916-395-8641, Sacramento, CA truckbodysalesinc.com
Custom 24” tunnel box with sliding jack tray. Fits- Dodge 4500/5500, and Ford F450/F550. Additional Equipment extra. Call for pricing.
Tow Industries
323 660-4866, Los Angeles CA towindustries.com
Elizabeth Truck Center
908-355-8800, Elizabeth, NJ ElizabethTruckCenter.com/tow-sales/
Sanderson Truck Equipment Best Tools Magic Kit - 55" & 32" reach tools with air wedge, accessories, and carrying case. Black, red, blue and camo options - $77.50
Sanderson Truck Equipment 623-842-8663, Glendale, AZ JerrdanParts@Sanderson TruckEquipment.com
Celebrating 50 Years!!! We're here for the long haul! Call us today for all your parts and accessories.Use promo code: AT50 online for a 10% discount!
Rocky Mountain Wrecker
801-268-8850, Salt Lake City, UT rockymountainwrecker.com jake@rockymountainwrecker.com
Worldwide Equipment Sales 815-725-4400 - Illinois 248-324-9040 - Michigan 562-287-5200 - California NewTowTrucks.com
Offers a ten function remote for the MPL Series and repo trucks and can be made to order.
TJR Equipment and Controls
815-955-2478, Downers Grove, IL tjrrec.com
Tired of rusty cans? Offering new long lasting, easy to clean, built in USA, Tuff Can with screw on lid. Available with deck or bulkhead aluminum mounts.
Worldwide Equipment Sales Calif.
562-287-5200, Santa Fe Springs, CA NewTowTrucks.com
TowCap Launches The National Interstate Insurance Co. has launched TowCap Premier, a group rental captive designed exclusively for towing and recovery. With its launch, the company said operators can better control their risk cost and be confident they are insured by a stable carrier. “We are thrilled to bring TowCap Premier to the … industry,” said Mike Winchell of National Interstate, and added the company looks forward to improving operations of founding members, while reducing their cost of insurance and raising safety standards throughout the industry. “Our group searched for a solution for two challenges in our industry: better control of insurance cost and stability in a carrier,” said Tyler Harden of Jim’s Towing Service and Chairman of the TowCap Premier Executive Committee. “Year after year, National Interstate has stuck by our industry, so who better than to partner with but the experts, who’ve built a captive insurance program around us.” Source: natl.com.
WEST 68 • March 2018 - TOWMAN.COM
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Work the Passenger side–Stay Safe!
AMERICANTOWMAN.COM - March 2018 • WEST 71
WEST 72 • March 2018 - TOWMAN.COM
CopyrightŠ2018 American Towman Magazine. Characters and stories are fictitious; no resemblance to real life characters is intended.
Send your thoughts/suggestions on the Adventures to scalitri@towman.com or American Towman, 7 West St, Warwick NY 10990