American Towman ShowPlace—Las Vegas... May 10th & 11th
Fire Truck Stuck in Muck
Enjoy your coffee at TowIndustryWeek.com
Safe Night Driving Selling a Tow Business? Ready Trucks for Summer
On the cover: McGuire’s Towing sent out two Century heavies for a fire engine stuck in a ditch.
FEATURE CONTENTS
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Unearthing Towing’s Past A Jerr-Dan10-ton bed backs a classic Freightliner COE sleeper cab in New Hampshire.
Have we found the first documented case of a towman being killed in the line of duty? by Randall Resch
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Departments The Walkaround . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6 News Share . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8 Road Tools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10 Work Horse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16
Fire Truck Stuck in Muck In Kentucky, McGuire’s Towing responded to a fire engine mired in a muddy ditch. by Jim “Buck” Sorrenti
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Ad Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .34
Who’s Selling
Tow Manager . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .36
What are buyers looking for in an existing tow company? Contracts? Modern fleet? Territory? by George Metos
Letters to the Editor . . . . . . . . . . .48 Tow Boss . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .52 Chassis Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .54 Repo Run . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .64
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Towman’s Market . . . . . . . . . . . .70
A Perennial Spirit Ride?
My Baby. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .72
First responders are asking, and towers should be to: How can we keep this thing going?
Low Down . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .74 Adventures of A.T. . . . . . . . . . . . .81
4 • May 2018 - TOWMAN.COM
The Spirit Ride 2018 Is On First On The Scene!
by Dennie Ortiz
The AT Spirit Ride is touring America’s highways and byways once again. On April 11, the first ceremony of the 2018 Spirit Ride was held in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Five days later there already was significant media coverage for the motoring public of the critical need to protect our first responders by obeying the Move Over laws. Here in the pages of American Towman, we have covered the Sprit Ride many times over the last year to remind the entire towing community that—when this industry is
united in a common cause—it can accomplish so much. If increasing awareness of the dangers our first responders face working on the white line spares even one life, then our mission has been successful. I again offer our heartfelt thanks for the efforts of everyone involved—from the towers, police, EMS and local communities—as well as deep appreciation to the sponsors that keep this initiative rolling. I truly believe this campaign is making a difference! To view the Spirit Ride schedule and to track it live, visit ATSpiritRide.com.
Summer Is Coming. Right? Please? by Brendan Dooley
Just about a month into “spring,” I’m looking out my window in southeastern Wisconsin at about two feet of freshly fallen snow after the weekend’s blizzard conditions. I was thinking summer was just around the corner only a few days ago, as I looked at the lawn turning greener and more active. Now it’s covered in white. I was just contemplating giving the lawn mower a tune up. Now I can’t even put the snow thrower in storage yet. Even if Mother Nature pretends otherwise, we all know (hope?) summer really will be here soon enough. Beyond my couple of concerns in the workshop, I know tow companies have a lot more to consider when it comes to summarizing equipment. Get the lowdown on all the items you should be maintaining from Chassis Editor David Kolman on page 54. (I’m not too disheartened by the white stuff right now. Though it’s icy and blustery right now as I write, I know that I’ll be warming up in Las Vegas during Tow Industry Week at the AT ShowPlace as you read this. Cheers!)
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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 Patrice Gesner Henri Calitri Toni Vanderhorst William Burwell Peggy Calabrese Ryan Oser Emily Oz Steve Calitri
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 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.
HOF Nominees Announced The International Towing and Recovery Hall of Fame and Museum announced its 2018 class of inductees. The eight nominees were recognized for their contributions to the towing and recovery industry, their families and communities. The inductees are Michael Aspesi, Massachusetts; Scott Burrows, Kentucky; John Coldwell, England; Rene Fortin, New Hampshire; Danny Horton, Virginia; Cynthia Martineau, Massachusetts; Glenn Neal, California; and Geri Roskopf, Wisconsin. They will be inducted into the Hall in a ceremony on Sept. 15 at the Chattanoogan Hotel in Chattanooga, Tennessee. “Our Hall of Fame is not about single events or simply participating; but is instead about celebrating those who have worked hard to support and grow our industry’s professionalism,” said Bill Gratzianna, ITRHFM president. Source: towingmuseum.com.
Impounds: ‘Too Much Conflict’
A year after signing contracts to tow illegally parked vehicles from Waukesha, Wisconsin-area private parking lots, a towing company says they’ve had enough. “The money’s good, but when you’re out there, there’s too much conflict, and too many hard feelings,” said Scott Bailey, owner of J&J Towing. “It’s in our best interest to terminate all private parking patrols.” Bailey said things started going awry when confusion over parking permits started causing trouble between his company and motorists. He said there were times when apartment complexes failed to issue permits to residents, or other times when he was handed a license plate roster with numerous typos. Both types of mix-ups led to tows … followed by angry residents. Source: patch.com. 8 • May 2018 - TOWMAN.COM
‘No Parking’ in NJ a Moving Target year by selling the “no Hoboken, New parking” signs. Jersey, towed more Some residents have cars from its streets had trouble because they during the first quarsay the signs went up with ter of 2018 than the no warning when they same time in 2017, were already parked—and according to Hoboken they didn’t see them in Parking Director Ryan Sharp. He said Temporary “no parking” time. Other residents have that 415 cars were signs in Hoboken, New gone on vacation and Jersey, causing big parked their car in a legal towed in the first headaches. spot, only to come back quarter of 2017, and hudsonreporter.com image. and find it towed because this year, the number someone had posted a temporary was 489. sign after they left. Some residents have complained Sharp said there’s technically no that temporary “no parking” signs ordinance about posting the signs in have been placed on spots where advance. Thus, anyone can turn a they were already parked. There’s no legal spot into an unusable spot at city law giving residents notice of the any time. Sharp said that there is also signs, although the Parking Utility no standard of how long they wait tries to give warnings. before towing a vehicle in a temporary Residents can buy the signs for “no parking” zone, but that towing is when they are moving, having cona last resort. struction done, or holding a special Source: hudsonreporter.com. event. The city earned $2 million last
After 10 Years,
Cars Four Times as Likely to Need a Tow AAA said it received more than 32 million requests for roadside assistance in 2017. When data from these events was collected and analyzed, AAA found that vehicles 10 years old or older are twice as likely to be stranded at the roadside, and four times more likely to require a tow. In 2017, 67 percent of calls AAA received for roadside assistance were for vehicles 10 years old and older, while 33 percent of calls received were for newer vehicles (9 years old and newer). Approximately 35 percent of the vehicles AAA responded to at the roadside required a tow to a repair facility. Of those vehicles, 81 percent were 10 years and older. Based on AAA data, the top reasons for serious breakdowns that result in a tow are:
Battery and related electrical system issues cause 23 percent of tows, according to AAA data. motoringbox.com image.
• Battery and related electrical systems issues, 23 percent. • Engine cooling system failures, 11 percent. • Tire damage that cannot be repaired or replaced at the roadside, 10 percent. Source: aaa.com.
… We’ve all jumped over the guardrails … Towmen Want Stiffer Penalties Towmen in Massachusetts want stiffer penalties for violations of the state’s Move Over law. “Here’s a guy out there trying to support his family, making an honest living and he leaves his house one day and now he’s never going to see his wife and kids again,” said Mike Mabardy, owner of Mabardy’s Gulf in Natick, speaking of towman Daniel Coady Jr., who was killed in an accident in March. “We’ve all jumped over the guardrails to avoid being hit,” said Henry Kerstgens, owner of Henry’s Towing in Framingham. “People don’t pay attention and it’s worse now with phones and texting.” Violating the law is only a $100 citation, said Kim Lowell, executive director of the Statewide Towing Association. She said the association hopes to work with legislators to increase the penalty. “You get a bigger fine for not shoveling a sidewalk than you do for endangering someone’s life,” said Lowell. “[The Move Over law] was the first step. Now we have to revisit it again. Source: natick.wickedlocal.com.
Rotation System Allegedly Rigged A Massachusetts state police troop currently under investigation for an alleged overtime scam had been previously cited for contracting irregularities. The “Boston Globe” reported State Police Troop E pushed thousands of motorists to use Perfection Towing of Watertown when they awarded it with a three-year contract. Members of the Massachusetts DOT and three lieutenants from Troop E also allegedly rigged the system against the company’s competitors. The inspector general office believes the three officers “influenced” the team to award lower scores to competitors from assessing internal police emails and operations dating from 2013 to 2016. MassDOT said it has adopted changes in its contracting. Source: wbur.org. Work the non-traffic side–Stay Safe!
Houston MTA Joining SafeClear Houston, Texas, Metropolitan Transit Authority board members approved joining the SafeClear program recently. The approval allows towmen enrolled in the program, to remove stranded vehicles from the HOT (high-occuSafeClear program expands in Houston, Texas. pancy toll) lanes in the chron.com image. center of Interstates 45, 69 and U.S. 290. “The faster you respond ... the faster you get traffic moving back to normal,” said Metro CEO Tom Lambert. “The free program clears up any delay. We view this as part of that long-term benefit to safety and mobility.” The program will allow for free tows of stranded vehicles to a safe spot off the freeway. It is funded for at least three years via the Houston-Galveston Area Council, as part of its regional transportation program. It is expected to cost $8 million annually to reimburse tow truck operators listed in the program. Source: chron.com.
AT Spirit Ride Hits the Road for 2018 “Spirit,” the iconic casket of the American Towman Spirit Ride, started its 2018 journey recently as the campaign continues nationally in promoting the Move Over law. The “Spirit” Casket pays tribute to first responders who paid the ultimate sacrifice working the white line while promoting public awareThe Spirit casket at a ceremony in April in Myrtle ness of the Move Over Beach, South Carolina. wbtw.com image. law. Last year, the ceremonial casket was relayed from carrier to carrier across the country in 140 towns and cities, drawing much attention from local TV, radio and print and online newspapers. This year, Spirit will be relayed in 160 towns and cities. The 2018 AT Spirit Ride started in the Carolinas last month; follow its progress at ATSpiritRide.com.
AMERICANTOWMAN.COM - May 2018 • 9
Check Out What’s NEW and HOT!
Hino Enters Class 8 with XL Series
New Arrow Lights from Superior Signals
Superior Signals recently added new LED arrow lights that are designed to be mounted on the rear of utility vehicles to direct oncoming traffic. The SY800-LED-2 is 12V, 53” long, has a heavy gauge aluminum base, polycarbonate lenses and 36 LEDs. There are four flash modes (left arrow, right arrow, double arrow and a caution bar). The split arrow
light, SY855-LED-2, is a two-piece set designed for placement on wide vehicles. Each piece is 12V, more than 27” long, has an ABS base and three flash modes (left arrow, right arrow and double arrow). Both lights include a controller, 25’ or 50’ wire harness, and a two-year warranty.
superiorsignals.com
Muncie ‘Quiet’ PTO for Ford 6R140 Muncie Power Products recently introduced a quiet power take-off (No. FR6Q) designed to fit Ford 6R140 transmissions. The company said its FR6Q features the latest in noise-abatement technology with patent-pending spring-loaded rocker mechanism to eliminate “virtually all gear rattle noise.” The FR6Q PTO specifically fits 4X2 and 4X4 Ford Super Duty trucks, F-350 to F-550, with the Ford 6R140 transmission. Muncie said it may also be used on F-650 and F-750 trucks. The FR6Q has a one-piece installation with rocker. It has up to 200-ft./lbs. of torque capability, includes a preconfigured wiring harness, is solenoid activated and available with direct-mount pump drives or round shaft output options.
munciepower.com/quiet
Gearwrench Adds Extra Long Models to 120XP Ratchets
Gearwrench, a brand from Apex Tool Group, recently unveiled four additions to its line of 120XP ultra-narrow swing-arc ratchets. Three new extra long handle ratchets, measuring 9”, 18” and 24” long, as well as a twopiece set, now join the line. 120XP ratchets feature 120 positions for every full rotation, allowing them to turn fasteners with a swing arc of as little as 3 degrees. The 120XP Double-Stacked Pawl technology provides an ultra-narrow swing arc, allowing users to reach fasteners in severely limited access. All 120XP ratchets have a 60-tooth gear that alternately engages the double-stacked pawls to produce the 120 positions and 3-degree swing arc. The double-stacked pawls exceed ASME torque performance specifications. The 120XP extra-long handle ratchets now available: • No. 81034: 1/4”-drive (9” long) • No. 81269: 3/8”-drive (18” long) • No. 81364: 1/2”-drive (24” long) gearwrench.com • No. 81271: 1/4”- and 3/8”-drive two-piece set.
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H
ino Trucks unveiled its new line of XL Series models at the 2018 Work Truck Show in Indianapolis, Indiana. This all-new lineup rounds out Hino’s Class 7 products and launches them into the Class 8 market for the first time in the U.S. The Hino XL7 and XL8 models are powered by Hino’s A09 8.9L turbo-diesel inline-six engine; the A09 claims a B10 life of 1 million miles according to Hino. “Considering our remarkable success in Class 4-7 in North America, and our growing global presence in the Class 8 market, entering the North American heavyduty segment makes for the next logical step,” said Yoshinori Noguchi, president/CEO of Hino Trucks North America. “Not to mention our customers and our dealer network have been asking for this for some time.” The Hino XL Series will be offered in a host of straight truck and tractor configurations ranging from a GVWR of 33,000 lbs. to 60,000 lbs. and GCWR up to 66,000 lbs. with max performance of 360 hp and
Work the non-traffic side–Stay Safe!
1,150-lbs./ft. torque. The XLs will have wheelbase selections of up to 304”, and tandem-axle and fifth-wheel configuration options for various vocations. Air-ride cab and driver’s seat, hands-free Bluetooth audio/calling, steering wheel controls, LED headlights, cruise control and air conditioning are a few of the features that will be standard equipment on every 2020 model year Hino XL7 and XL8. The lineup features new active safety solutions with electronic stability control (standard on tractor) and collision-mitigation systems, innovative payload management suspension options, and a body builder friendly optimized design that was also engineered for maximum ease of serviceability. Production of the new Hino XL7 and XL8 will start in early 2019. The new lineup will be assembled in Mineral Wells, West Virginia, at the fully renovated production facility that Hino acquired last year.
hino.com AMERICANTOWMAN.COM - May 2018 • 11
Towing’s Past Unearthing
by Randall C. Resch
I
’ve discovered some exciting news regarding the towing and recovery industry and its 100-year history. As technology and products advance, some old-school ways and memories are quietly fading away. I’ve experienced my fair share of hours behind a wrecker’s steering wheel as owner, manager and tower. Yet today, I’m still excited and proud of my profession. I’ve been infected with a desire to investigate industry archives to see where we’ve been and look at where we’re going. Having that insatiable curiosity to
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First Documentation of Towman Killed in Line of Duty?
The double murder of a CHP officer and a “garage mechanic” during an impound in Chico, California, on Oct. 6, 1934, made page three in San Bernardino’s paper the next day. cdnc.ucr.edu image.
uncover industry history through tenacious research, I’ve uncovered a snippet of tow industry history that occurred during the Great Depression. This story’s been hiding under a proverbial rock for nearly 84 years. Finding it was a fluke, but my memory’s still pretty good. I remember my towing career’s beginnings prior to graduating high school. If not for growing up in the industry, I wouldn’t have recognized this story I’m about to share based upon two words: “Garage Mechanic.”
Some History My dad was a warrant officer in the U.S. Navy; he was in charge of the hard-hat diving school in San Diego, California. He was a Master Hard Hat Diver with heavy chain, rigging and underwater recovery specializing in submarine rescue. His specialty: Deep-dive rescue. So, if a submarine went down, his team of Assault Submarine Rescue Divers would deploy to service. Once the submarine was located, the ASR
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... continued from p. 12 ship anchored in close proximity. The ship was specially outfitted with monstrous air pontoons that dropped overboard, strategically chained to the submarine and then had air pumped back in to float the sub to the surface. It had a resemblance to modern airbags in today’s recovery market. In 1962, dad retired from Navy service and purchased a tow company; hence my beginning in the industry. I dispatched and worked in dad’s gas stations before I got my driver ’s license. The company towed commercially, for the police and the California Highway Patrol. Our tow truck drivers then were referred to as “garage mechanics,” because they worked on cars, or pumped gas as their primary jobs; towing was a secondary obligation. It’s difficult to chase down details three quarters of a century old. I’ve located a dozen news and specialty articles regarding this shootout. According to news reports of the day: On Oct. 6, 1934, in Butte County, California, CHP officer William R. McDaniel, 36, or then known as “Road Patrol Officer,” happened upon a wrecked vehicle belonging to a locally known jeweler and ex-con named Nick Turchinetz, 45. The wreck was abandoned and McDaniel subsequently called a local garage to have it impounded. Enter “garage mechanic” Kenneth Ray Davis, 29, who arrived at McDaniel’s location to tow the wreck away. From the nearby groves, vehicle owner Turchinetz, armed with a long rifle, opened fire on them. Davis attempted to take cover under his wrecker, but was immediately shot and killed. Turchinetz then fired on McDaniel. Although shot himself, McDaniel engaged Turchnietz and shot him in return. McDaniel died at the scene. The killer fled, but was killed at his residence that same day by a “sheriff’s posse.”
The Wall I think that Davis rightfully deserves to have his name placed on 14 • May 2018 - TOWMAN.COM
the Wall of the Fallen in Chattanooga, Tennessee. The process of applying to the Wall requires documentation to prove that towers are killed in the line of duty. For Davis, I reached out to the Butte County coroner, CHP Public Information Office and CHP Museum. I was hoping for official confirmation from someone that Davis was killed serving the highway patrol. After weeks of a languishing wait, I received a letter of confirmation from CHP Deputy Commissioner Scott Silsbee. In a March 7, 2018, letter, Silsbee wrote: “I received your correspondence dated February 20, 2018, requesting formal historical verification of the death of California Highway Patrol (CHP) Officer Williams R. McDaniel and Tow Truck Operator Kenneth Davis, in Butte, California on October 6, 1934. Thank you for taking the time to write the CHP in an effort to have Mr. Davis’ name added to the International Towing & Recovery Museum Wall of the Fallen. “Officer McDaniel and Mr. Davis were both shot and killed by an exconvict while Officer McDaniel was investigating the scene of a traffic collision. Officer McDaniel intended to impound the vehicle that had been driven and abandoned by the ex-convict. Mr. Davis was the tow operator who was retrieving the abandoned vehicle when both Officer McDaniel and Mr. Davis were accosted by the ex-convict. Mr. Davis was shot and killed instantly. Officer McDaniel returned fire, wounding the assailant; but was also fatally shot. The killer fled the scene, but was subsequently located and shot by a sheriff’s posse.” He closed the letter offering condolences, “The CHP depends heavily on the assistance of tow operators, and our Department was saddened by the loss of Mr. Davis.”
Family The letter made me ecstatic to say the least, confirming those 84-year-old stories as true. It increased my motivation to submit Davis’ story to the Wall, even though there’s most likely no immediate family living to help tie these ends together or represent him if he goes on the Wall. (I’ve sent numer-
ous letters to newspapers in Chico, San Francisco, Woodland, and Davis, California, sharing this story asking for additional information regarding surviving family members. It’s reported that Mr. Davis was married and had a toddler daughter at the time of his death and I’m searching for them.) I have submitted Davis’ name and story to the Wall of the Fallen committee to be recognized posthumously on the Wall. I’ve also recommended he be listed on websites like the Tow Operator’s Memorial as the first-known recorded tow operator killed in the line of duty. (I’ve scoured online through various archives and towing history sites and haven’t yet found convincing documentation of other incidents prior to Davis’ story. From my research of tow operators killed in the line of duty, the next oldest fatality I’ve seen recorded occurred on Dec. 14, 1946. Aubrey Bryan Collier, 50, lost control of his wrecker and crashed into a telephone pole near Nashville, Tennessee.) If my request is accepted and Davis’ name is to be added, I hope to travel to Chattanooga and be present at the annual Wall of the Fallen memorial this September to witness it. (If Ernest Holmes invented the tow truck in 1916, this incident would have taken place approximately 18 years after the tow truck’s invention. I close my eyes to imagine a 1930-ish tow truck with an early Holmes 485 or a Manley or Weaver crane on the back.) Had it not been for my own history with the garage mechanic moniker for early towmen, I might have missed opening the article to learn about this incident. Author’s Note This has been a very special project for me and certainly has taken a long time in bringing it to you. I really owe this article’s attainment to several persons who helped cross the gap of information and provide confirmation. I respectfully send thanks to CHP’s Officer Ramus Payton, Lt. Mike Alvarez, and Deputy Commissioner Scott Silsbee.
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.
2018 NTEA Work Truck Show Debuts
T
his year’s Work Truck Show, put on by NTEA-The Association for the Work Truck Industry, saw six vehicle launches in the medium-duty market at the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis in March. Along with new products and services from hundreds of suppliers, new commercial vehicles were confirmed, announced and/or unveiled by the likes of Chevrolet, Ford, Fuso, International, Hino and Ram Commercial. “The Work Truck Show was once again the venue for showcasing the best, newest and most innovative commercial vehicles, equipment and solutions the industry has to offer, across all weight classes and applications,” said Steve Carey, NTEA executive director. Other manufacturer updates and product introductions from the 2018 show included (in alphabetical order):
Chevrolet
Chevy’s new medium-duty Silverado.
Chevrolet Commercial Vehicles laid claim to being among the biggest reveals of the Work Truck Show, brining in its brand new 4500HD, 5500HD and 6500HD models. General Motors also recently announced production of the next-generation Chevrolet Silverado 2500-3500HD pickup trucks will start in the third quarter of 2019. Chevrolet’s heavy-duty truck lineup will be introduced for the 2020 model year. “With a completely new, expanded range of Silverado models on the horizon, we expect to see even more truck buyers in Chevrolet showrooms,” said Alan Batey, president of GM North American operations. (Check out more details and specs on Chevy’s reveals on pgs. 18-22 of the April 2018 issue of American Towman.)
Ford Ford introduced its new 2019 Transit Connect Cargo Van, with new and exclusive driver-assist technologies, two new drivetrains (including the only available diesel in the segment). The company said its Ford Transit compact cargo van 16 • May 2018 - TOWMAN.COM
by AT Staff
2019 Ford Transit Connect Van.
has a 46-percent market share in America and that 97 percent of the 300,000-plus Transit Connect sold since 2009 are still on the road. “We’ve enhanced Transit Connect’s available technology and powertrains to keep up with what our customers need,” said Tim Stoehr, Ford general fleet marketing manager. “It is a critical tool with smart features to help improve productivity out in the field.” The 2019 Transit Connect Cargo Van offers three different engines capable of running on five different fuels. Transit Connect is a modern-day workhorse. With cityfriendly dual sliding side doors, a wide and flat load floor finished in durable vinyl, near-vertical walls and integrated tie-downs, it boasts flexible and generous cargo-carrying and towing capability. Ford said its Transit Connect Cargo Van is exceptionally customizable, including substantial support from aftermarket upfitters and suppliers for interior cargo management solutions. Transit Connect has the most driver-assist technologies in the segment Ford said, including automatic emergency braking standard across all models. Other standard features include pre-collision assist with pedestrian detection, side wind stabilization and rearview camera. Safety options include blind spot information system with cross-traffic alert, lane keeping system and adaptive cruise control that automatically slows the vehicle when radar detects traffic slowing ahead. A standard embedded 4G LTE modem provides Wi-Fi for up to 10 devices, while an available 6.5” floating touch screen running SYNC 3 helps drivers keep their eyes on the road as they field customer calls and text messages hands-free or navigate to job sites. Available wireless phone charging keeps compatible mobile devices topped off and ready for service. FordPass helps monitor small fleets, including
driver location, fuel level, tire pressure and more. Ford’s MyKey programmable ignition key remains standard for Transit Connect XLT, enabling owners to preset warnings and limits for vehicle speed, while restricting the entertainment system’s audio to 45 percent of maximum volume. The 2019 Ford Transit Connect Cargo Van goes on sale this fall.
Freightliner Freightliner Trucks included several models and engines in its display. The Freightliner Trucks booth featured several vocational, medium-duty and alternative-fuel solutions including several M2 models with various Cummins and Detroit engines and PTO options.
The family of Freightliner M2 vocational models.
“All of our vocational and medium-duty products are designed for applications requiring reliable products,” said Kelly Gedert, director of product marketing for Freightliner and Detroit Components. “Whether we’re developing new powertrain technologies or working with bodybuilders to make the upfitting process as efficient as possible, our priority is to provide the right solutions.” In addition to truck models, also on display in the Freightliner booth will be the Detroit DD5, Detroit DD8 and Detroit DD13 engines. The DD8 that was unveiled at last year’s Work Truck Show recently began production, and the DD5 engine is Detroit’s first medium-duty offering. Included with the DD5, DD8 and DD13 engines is the Detroit Connect Virtual Technician remote-diagnostics service.
Fuso Mitsubishi Fuso Truck of America launched its new gasoline-powered Class 4 and Class 5 FE Series cab-over work trucks. The new trucks feature the General Motors 6L V8 engine and Allison 1000 automatic transmission, as well as a new cab interior designed for driver comfort and efficiency. “While much of the medium-duty market still relies on diesel power, gasoline engines are increasing in popularity, and now occupy about a 40-percent market share, so development of a gas-engine option for our customers was a no-brainer,” said Justin Palmer, Fuso president/CEO. He added that these will be the first Fuso trucks to be 18 • May 2018 - TOWMAN.COM
Fuso’s FE140, FE160 and FE180 are now available with gas engines.
assembled in the U.S. (in South Carolina by Freightliner Custom Chassis Corp.) “We’re also proud of the fact that, by adding our new gas-engine line to our existing diesel FEs and eCanter allelectric trucks, our dealers can offer their customers the broadest range of powertrain choices in the marketplace,” he said. The V8 gasoline engine will be initially available in two Class 4 models: the FE140 and FE160, and will soon follow in the Class 5 FE 180, making it the first Class 5 cabover with an available gas engine. In future models, the engine can also be equipped to use compressed natural gas or liquefied petroleum gas as fuels. Fuso said the Allison 1000 heavy-duty automatic transmission makes it the first cab-over manufacturer to offer a robust, commercial-truck transmission in a medium-duty cab-over (vs. a transmission designed for pick-up trucks). The Allison transmission, on the other hand, has been designed from the ground up for use in commercial trucks, and includes a provision for an optional PTO. The new FE gas models include a 40-gal., rear-mounted fuel tank, complemented by streamlined fuel line and wiring harness routing and securement protecting sensitive fuel and wiring lines from rubbing and chafing damage. The clean frame rails that result also provide additional space for toolboxes and side-mounted vocational equipment. The FE140 and FE160 gas models were projected to be on dealer lots by mid-year.
Hino Trucks Like Chevy, Hino Trucks went for the “wow” factor with a big reveal. The company unveiled its new line of trucks, the Hino XL Series. The XL Series rounds out Hino’s Class 7 and enters it into the Class 8 market in the U.S. “Both drivers and owners are going to love this truck,” said Glenn Ellis, VP of customer experience. “The first thing you notice is the styling—the aerodynamic, yet bold, design could proudly represent any business. Then you open the door to a wide, easy-access entry and an automotive grade finished interior ready to provide the best service possible to drivers and teams.”
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Hino unveiled its new XL Series for Class 7/8.
of efficiency to customers, creating unparalleled driver satisfaction and leveraging the smartest technologies available,” said Michael Cancelliere, president of truck and parts. “The MV Series delivers on those promises by combining uncompromising reliability with enhanced productivity for the driver, maintainer and upfitter.” The MV Series’ redesigned features include new cab doors with a lower bottom glass edge and removed vent window, giving the driver a single large piece of glass to look through, improving side visibility and reducing blind spots. A new premium gauge cluster with a digital driver display was added to give drivers real-time monitoring of vehicle operation and other alerts in clear sight. The new display offers up to 15 customizable digital gauges. The flat-panel dash contains space for up to 30 customizable switches that are backlit for easy viewing at night.
Production of the new Hino XL7 and XL8 will start in early 2019. (Check out more details and specs on Hino’s XL Series on page 11, “Zoom In,” in this issue.)
International International Truck launched its new Class 6/7 MV Series that the company said completes its Project Horizon product refresh. “Project Horizon was focused on delivering new levels
International Truck’s Project Horizon refresh culminated with its new Class 6/7 MV models.
“The new International MV Series reflects our vision for the future of commercial vehicles with a host of advancements that support improved driver safety and productivity,” said Jeff Sass, SVP of sales and marketing. The MV Series features the Diamond Logic advanced electrical system that streamlines chassis and body equipment integration and allows customers to program automated tasks. The MV Series can be managed digitally through the OnCommand Connection platform with the Advanced Remote Diagnostics system. The MV Series is available in regular cab, extended cab, and crew cab with either the Cummins B6.7 or L9 engine. The standard transmission on the MV Series is the Allison 1000 HS automatic, with Allison FuelSense 2.0, with DynActive Shifting as an available option. “We have designed the MV Series to seamlessly integrate with any body solution,” Sass said. “This truck can be easily configurable for any application.”
Parker Chelsea The Chelsea Products Division of Parker Hannifin Corp., introduced its QT Gear, a patent-pending sounddampening technology that can be applied to Parker PTOs
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... continued from p. 20 that are engine-driven by a live PTO drive gear in the transmission. The new gear assembly design dampens the torsional vibrations found in diesel engine applications, with no change to the durability or torque capacity of the PTO. “Drivers of work trucks are really going to appreciate the quite operation of a PTO with QT Gear technology,” said Matthew Brannon, Chelsea marketing manager. “Reducing noise always helps to make drivers more comfortable and allows them to be more productive.”
*** Parker Hannifin also launched a new solution for changing oil in engines and machines. Its QuickFit is a complete oil change system simplifies the process to be accomplished in less than 30 minutes. QuickFit offers an accessible, single point of connection for a three-step process that purges, evacuates and refills oil all from that one connection point. It uses compressed air to purge the oil by pushing it through the filter into the engine sump. The oil is drained directly to waste containment, allowing for clean removal of the filter. New oil then is pumped into the engine using the same connection point. “Reducing the number of steps in the process eliminates any risk of safety hazards or spills, which creates less consumable waste and is more environmentally friendly,” says Mario Calvo, division marketing manager for Parker Quick Coupling Division. QuickFit features an ergonomic design and eliminates oil spills. Maintenance becomes simple, productivity goes up, the risk of spills and contamination is virtually eliminated and it works for engines and machinery across multiple markets.
Continued on p. 24... Chelsea Products unveiled its new quiet technology QT Gear PTO.
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... continued from p. 22 Ram Commercial Ram revealed its all-new 2019 Ram 1500 Tradesman model aimed at one of the largest traditional pickup customer categories: vocational use. The new Ram 1500 Tradesman is designed for small businesses and commercial fleets. “Ram launched the original Tradesman model in 2011, and our work truck customers have enjoyed Ram’s benchmark durability ever since,” said Mike Manley, head of Ram Brand-FCA.
2019 Ram 1500 Rebel and Ram 1500 Limited.
The 2019 Ram 1500 Tradesman is available as 4x2 or 4x4 in quad cab (6’4” bed) or crew cab (5’7” or 6’4” bed). Powertrain offerings include standard 3.6L Pentastar V6 with eTorque mild hybrid system, or optional 5.7L Hemi V8 or 5.7L Hemi V8 with eTorque. Through the use of high-strength steel and other engineering, the all-new Ram 1500 has reduced its overall weight by 225 lbs. The company said all 2019 Ram 1500 models are equipped with the largest front brakes in the segment at 14.9”. The Ram 1500 features a segment-exclusive multi-link rear coil suspension for improved ride and handling that centralizes and absorbs bumps and impacts, while reducing the amount of friction in the spring system. Options available for the Tradesman include 3.21 or 3.92 rear-axle ratios, anti-spin rear differential, rear electric-locking differential, off-road package with factory suspension lift, 180-amp alternator, folding trailer-tow mirrors, rubber floor mats, Mopar chrome side steps and bumper step, spray-in bedliner and trailer-brake controller. *** The Ram Commercial truck brand also announced a factory-installed telematics system for its business customers (ramtrucks.com/telematics). Ram Telematics, powered by Verizon Connect, is a technology for fleets that allows commercial vehicle managers to turn vehicle data into operational savings. Ram Telematics is a vehicle connectivity platform designed to provide fleet owners and managers with a broad range of vehicle data, diagnostics and driver behavior information to help them better understand how their vehicles are being used and to improve operational efficiency.
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Zip’s Donates to Survivor Fund From their “Slow Down, Move Over” campaign, Zip’s Truck Equipment (zips.com) in New Hampton, Iowa, recently gave $750 to the Survivor Fund for providing immediate financial support to families of towing operators who lose their lives in the line of service in our industry. Last summer, Zip’s created a variety of products to support Move Over, like vinyl vehicle decals in a range of colors and sizes. Continuing on that, Zip’s expanded the product line with T-shirts, long-sleeve shirts and baseball 3/4-sleeve shirts. For more information on the decals and shirts, visit zips.com/slow-down-for-a-cause. For more information on the Survivor Fund, visit internationaltowingmuseum.org/survivor-fund.
Urgent.ly Partners with Uber Roadside assistance platform Urgent.ly (geturgently.com) partnered with Uber to provide roadside assistance services for Uber drivers. Uber drivers who purchase roadside assistance with the new Uber Visa Debit Card receive coverage at a discount. “We’re incredibly excited to be partnered with Uber; the alignment between our platforms and services is incredible. In partnering with Urgent.ly, Uber can expect fast, digital, loyalty-generating service experiences for their drivers and Uber Visa Debit cardholders,” said Chris Spanos, Urgent.ly CEO/co-founder.
Miller Donates to The Miracle League Miller Industries (millerind.com) donated more than $10,000 to The Miracle League of Chattanooga (Tennessee). The Miracle League is one of more than 300 Miracle League organizations across the country that
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AMERICANTOWMAN.COM - May 2018 • 25
... continued from p. 25 serves children and adults with unique abilities, and helps them engage in sporting events. The donation comes at the close of Miller Industries’ 2017 WeTow campaign, which aimed to raise awareness of the towing community’s support for charities across the United States, as well as the good deeds towers provide within the communities they serve. Six national organizations have been recognized: Susan G. Komen; DAV-Disabled American Veterans; Miracle League; Shriners Children’s Hospital; International Towing Recovery Museum & Hall of Fame; and the Wall of the Fallen Survivor Fund.
Stertil-Koni Adds Development Manager Stertil-Koni (stertil-koni.com) recently hired Radu Pop to be its Business Development Manager. In his new position, Pop will work closely with the company’s regional
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sales managers and top leadership to advance fleet sales and support the efforts of Stertil-Koni’s national accounts’ team. “Radu has an extensive background in vehicle lift sales and facility operations,” said Dr. Jean DellAmore, president of Stertil-Koni. Pop brings a decade of industry experience with an extensive knowledge of maintenance facility operations, technician safety, and recommended practices across a wide variety of fleet types to the company.
VTS Systems Adds to Sales Lisa Perez joined VTS Systems (vts-systems.com) as a sales and software licensing executive. Born into a Texas towing family, Perez has 25-plus years of industry knowledge “and truly relates to the forthcoming changes facing today’s family owned towing and vehicle storage businesses,” said a company release. She holds a Texas Incident Man-
agement towing and recovery license, in addition to those issued by the city of Houston and Harris County.
Talbert Adds Sales Manager Talbert Manufacturing, (talbertmfg.com) recently welcomed Steve Gardonyi as its Canadian sales manager to assist dealers in Canada with Talbert trailer sales, marketing and customization, as well as broaden the company’s Canadian dealer network. “There is a lot of synergy between Steve and our team, both in terms of experience and passion as well as a commitment to customer success,” said Troy Geisler, Talbert VP of sales and marketing. “The knowledge he brings from multiple facets of the industry will help us continue our mission to provide our customers with the heavyhaul solutions they need to be successful, whether that’s ‘off-the-shelf ’ trailers or fully customized units.” Gardonyi has nearly 30 years of industry experience and a Red Seal certification in trailer mechanics.
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AMERICANTOWMAN.COM - May 2018 • 27
Fire Truck
Muck
Stuck in
O
A longtime Kentucky towing and recovery family is called to rescue a fire truck from a muddy ditch.
by Jim “Buck” Sorrenti
n Feb. 22, 2018, the Boyd County (Kentucky) Dispatch Center called on McGuire’s Towing & Recovery to winch out a stuck fire truck. “The truck was Summit-Ironville Fire Department’s Engine 1 stuck in a muddy ditch,” said McGuire’s coowner Sam McGuire. Brothers Sam and Steve McGuire, along with operator Jon Napier, all 6/7 WreckMasters, responded. They drove to the scene with their 2007 Peterbilt/Century 1060 60-ton and their 2018 Peterbilt 389/Century 1150 50-ton rotator.
Continued on p. 30 ...
Trucks On Scene • 2007 Peterbilt/Century 1060 • 2018 Peterbilt 389/ Century 1150
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AMERICANTOWMAN.COM - May 2018 • 29
... continued from p. 29 The fire truck was leaning and stuck in the muck up to its wheels. After surveying the scene they got busy rigging. Sam rigged the rear, while Jon and Steve rigged the front. They rigged the 1060 for a low pull with a three-part line to the front end of the fire truck and used rim slings to attach to the right rear wheel so the 1150 could lift the casualty. Rim slings are the perfect size for attaching to aluminum rim hand holes when traditional round slings won’t fit. They’re made from a high quality synthetic rope with a protective sleeve to prevent wear. For recovery work, rim slings maintain a higher working load limit and have a longer lifespan than a round sling.
I swung the 1150 rotator’s boom over to the passenger side. “I swung the 1150 rotator’s boom over to the passenger side of the casualty to lift the rear end straight up,” Sam said. “As we picked it up with the 1150 rotator, we began to winch it out with the 1060. “Once the fire truck was up so far, we rigged the drag winch to the left rear wheel and slid the rear of the fire truck into the roadway. … [Then] we continued to pull the front end up and onto the road.” The fluids were checked and the fire department decided to drive its fire engine back to the station. The fire truck received little damage in the incident.
About McGuire’s McGuire’s Towing & Recovery is a family owned and operated business based in Ashland, Kentucky. “I own the family business along with my dad, mom, and younger brother Steven,” said Sam McGuire. His parents, Michael and Barbara started the company in 1988. McGuire’s specializes in all things towing, transportation and recovery. Through hard work, attention to detail and prompt service, they have built a solid reputation with years of dedicated service to the tristate area. They are fully licensed, bonded, and insured in the states of Kentucky, West Virginia, and Ohio. The family and their employees take great pride in what they do and all of their drivers take part in continuing education classes. Author’s note: As I was in contact with Sam to write this, the McGuire family was blessed with news about their expected July arrival. Pink smoke billowing from the stacks of their 1998 Peterbilt revealed that Baby McGuire will be a girl. Congratulations!
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Jerr-Dan Adds DSM for Latin America Jerr-Dan Corp. (jerrdan. com) announced it is growing its presence in Latin America by adding a district sales manager for the region. The company hired Francisco Javier Vargas Huerta, previously with sister company JLG Industries. Vargas Huerta will lead JerrDan sales and aftermarket development initiatives in the territory. He will report directly to Jeff Irr, senior director of sales and marketing. “He brings almost 30 years of business and sales experience to this new role as Jerr-Dan continues its steady development plan and we continue to grow our presence in Latin America,” said Richard del Campo, VP/GM at Jerr-Dan.
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AMERICANTOWMAN.COM - May 2018 • 33
AD INDEX May 2018
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4 State Trucks (Bawer Tool Boxes) 69 Access Tools 55 Advantage Funding 67 Akins Body & Carrier Sales 47 All Colorado Semi Trailers W 76 AmerideckWest 24 Assoc. of Professorial Towers Ohio M 78 Atlanta Wrecker Sales S 75 Atlantic Emergency Solutions N 79 AT ShowPlace-Las Vegas 50, 51 AutoReturn 32 Austin Insurance M 76 AW Direct 39 B/A Products 46 B & Z Sales S 77 Beacon Software 3 Captain Recovery M S 80, N 75 Casanova Towing Equipment W 80 Chelsea Products Division of Parker 33 Chevron Commercial 26 Crouch’s Wrecker Equipment & Sales 35 Danco Products 65 Deep South Wrecker Sales 38 Driveline Buddy W 77 Dual-Tech Wreckers & Carriers 22 Dynamic Towing & Equipment Mfg. 33 eimpound.com 20 Elizabeth Truck Center 49 34 • May 2018 - TOWMAN.COM
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Environmental Chemical Solutions 30 ESTRA Tow Show N 77 Fitzgerald Wrecker Sales 17 Ford Commercial Trucks 7 Ginn Carrier & Wrecker Sales 45 G. Stone Commercial N 75 Heartland Payment Systems W 78 Intek Truck Eq. Finance & Lease 25 Jerr-Dan Corp. 5 Kalyn-Sibert 53 Kenworth of South Florida/TruckMax 21 Len Zermenos 67 Lodar USA 25 Matjack Jumbo Safelift 34 Manufacturer Express 27 McMahon Truck Center M 79 Miller Industries (Century, Vulcan) 83 My Big Tow N 75, S M 80 New England Truckmaster 53 North American BanCard 15 Northeast Wrecker Sales N 78, S 75 NRC Industries 37 OMG National N S M, 80 Pacific General Insurance Agency M 77 Progressive Commercial 27 Recovery Billing 25 Renew Truck Body N 77 Rick's Truck & Equipment M 75
Page#
Rocky Mountain Wrecker W 75 Sanderson Truck Equipment 57 Santander Bank 84 Sea Crest Insurance Agency 69 Select Truck & Equipment M 77 Southern California Tow Equip. 58 Spill Tackle M 76 Steck Mfg. 48 Swoop 23 TJR Equipment 24 Towbook Management Software 13 Tow Expo Dallas 40, 41, 42 Tow Industries W 76 TowMate 32, 68 TowToolz 56 Transfer Flow 65 Truck Body Sales W 77 Urgent.ly 45 Utility Trailer Sales S.E. TX W 79 US Fleet Tracking 57 Warn Industries 49 Wisconsin Towing Association M 75 WorldClass Insurance M 78, W 79 Worldwide Equipment 43 Worldwide Equipment Sales W 80 Zacklift International 2 Zip’s Truck Equipment 19, 31
How Good Is Your Company’s Safety Policy? 1
3 2
H
by Erin Berg
ow confident are you that your staff thoroughly understands your company’s safety policy? Do you put as much effort into teaching them safety as you do with other aspects of vehicle service? Owners who have not experienced major safety issues often assume that their staff knows on-scene safety guidelines … only to realize a problem exists when it is too late. Safety needs to be practiced daily and needs to be conveyed through different methods to ensure your staff keeps it top of mind. To help owners develop their safety protocols, Allstate Roadside Services consulted industry expert Paul Stephens about his recommendations on tow company safety policy. Follow these tips to make sure your team is performing the correct actions on scene so that everyone gets home safely at night.
Get Organized Who owns your company safety program? Create a Safety Manager role in your office. Designate someone to oversee your safety program and protocols. Make it a part of their assigned duties within the company. Keep a company safety manual. Use it! Review sections of your safety manual regularly with your staff to refresh their knowledge when it comes to the company’s safety expectations. (Tip: Text your staff a question from a section in the manual and ask them to text you an answer. Reply to let them know if they were right or wrong, 36 • May 2018 - TOWMAN.COM
along with the validating sentence from the manual.) Order equipment in the off-season. Schedule dates on your calendar to check inventory and order equipment prior to each season to maximize cost savings.
Checklists Use checklists to keep you from making avoidable, but still costly, mistakes. Start every day with a quick review of the items for the safety of your employees and customers. Gear checklist: • High-visibility pants/shirt/ jacket • Gloves. • Hardhat. • Raingear. • Boots. • Safety glasses. When it comes to your trucks, the federal government mandates a pretrip safety inspection, which needs to be monitored by the companyassigned safety owner to validate compliance. Your operators should always inspect their truck prior to the start of their shift and report any safety issues or needs. Truck checklist: • Wheel chocks. • Cones. • High-visibility apparel. • Truck lighting (inspect for working condition). • Make sure all equipment is stored for efficient access. • Check tie-down equipment and safety chains.
1. Use the mantra, “Turn around! Do not drown,” when performing a water recovery. Never go into water alone. 2. Customer and operator safety are paramount during severe weather events; for instance, staying hydrated in extreme heat scenarios. 3. Don’t let your staff develop bad habits. Every quarter, use a stepby-step on-scene checklist with each operator to verify they are performing each step required.
(Tip: Perform spot checks on company trucks periodically to confirm your staff are reporting all items that need attention. This should be done regularly and be tied to performance ratings.) Don’t let your staff develop bad habits. Every quarter, use a step-bystep on-scene checklist with each operator to verify they are performing each step required. This can be done on a ride-along or without the operator’s knowledge to see how they handle themselves. Give them a score that goes into their performance record. Operator checklist: • Always utilizes personal safety gear—gloves, high-vis apparel, glasses, etc. • Always uses non-traffic side controls (when appropriate). • Secures non-traffic side of the road for tie-down, then transports the vehicle to a safe location if there is danger on traffic side. • Performs a tire change on the non-traffic side of the road only (unless there are 6’ of clearance on traffic side). • Sets up tow truck with wheel turned out (so if struck, it will push away from the operator and customer). • Parks the correct way on the side of the highway. • Uses proper access to get in/out of the truck for operator and customers.
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... continued from p. 36 • Marks the rescue site with cones, flares, etc. • Does not use phone or tablet when moving a vehicle or performing a loading task. • Follows proper safety protocol when working at night. • Confirms customer ’s safety upon service completion.
Plan for Crises Review the company emergency plan periodically throughout the year and not just prior to extreme weather. Assign an emergency supervisor during extreme weather. The supervisor’s role is to protect employees and customers by monitoring all activity and ensuring that the company’s plan is carried out. On-scene recoveries longer than 20 minutes should require an additional person on scene to monitor for safe execution of the job. Injuries, health conditions, job changes, and other employee concerns need to be reported to the supervisor. No matter where you live, severe
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weather and emergencies happen. Be prepared for them with plans that address how you and your team will manage these moments of crisis. Include your expectations for communication, personal safety and customer safety. Customer and operator safety are paramount during extreme weather events. Make sure your operators know to check in with you and to verify that the customer is physically OK and in a safe area. Excessive heat can affect tire pressure and cause engine failure. On hot days, operators should check the tire pressure on trucks prior to starting their shift. Also, if there is any chance a truck has been parked in the heat for an extended period, crack open the hood to create more airflow to the engine area. Operators should incorporate short rest periods during their shift to avoid road fatigue. Dispatchers should check in with operators throughout the day to ensure the operator is doing OK. Heat safety checklist:
• Hydration for operators and customers. (Recommend 8 oz. of water per 15-minute intervals per person.) • Light, breathable safety clothing. • Head cover. • Sunblock. When dealing with flooding, never drive through water in which you cannot see the depth; an apt mantra is, “Turn around! Do not drown.” When performing a water recovery, always have a safety harness with tag liner. Never go into water alone. Flood safety checklist: • Waterproof steel-toe boots • Rain jackets and pants By creating structure and having a plan in place for emergencies, your team will be able to perform more effectively during times of stress— which could save a life. About the author Erin Berg is a communications specialist for Allstate Roadside Services.
LSI Adds Sales Director Lubrication Specialties Inc.(lubricationspecialties.com), manufacturer of Hot Shot’s Secret fuel and oil additives, recently added Brian Merz as its director of national account sales. Merz has two decades of experience in strategic planning, new business development and sales management with some of the largest companies in the lubrication industry. “Within the last year, we have positioned Hot Shot’s Secret to be the brand to watch for increased market share,” said Chris Gabrelcik, LSI president. “We are now poised to fully support our distribution partners with the level of attention and planning that will help move product quickly.”
to the fitting and possibly resulting in a fuel leak. A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition can cause a fire, and fuel leaking onto the roadway can increase the risk of a crash, NHTSA says. Daimler recalled approximately 7,128 model year 2017-2019 Western Star 4700, 4900, 5700 and 6900 trucks for a possible electrical issue. The affected trucks have a power stud that passes through the bulkhead, which could contact the bulkhead, resulting in an electrical arc. Daimler says an electrical arc can cause a fire. Owner notifications for both companies are scheduled to go out in May. Source: ccjdigital.com.
Bolt Lock Revamps Website Bolt Lock (boltlock.com) recently debuted its new website designed to be user- and mobile-friendly. Bolt’s vehicle match feature allows users to easily find all of the available locks for their specific vehicle. The new design places vehicle selection on the homepage for easy access to available products. The website now includes sections showcasing products for specific use applications such as towing, off-roading, outdoor activities and more. This additional feature better allows users to locate which locks are best suited for their specific needs and applications
Downloadable CTEK Charger Guide CTEK Inc. (ctek.com) recently published a new product guide that covers the company’s chargers, power management systems and related accessories. The CTEK 2018 North American Product Guide includes products for both the consumer and professional users, and also has power management products for off-road/RV enthusiasts. The 28-page guide gives detailed descriptions of the products available for North America and also includes a quick reference guide for selecting the right charger for any application. It is available at smartercharger.com/product-guide/.
Western Star, International Recalls Issued Two separate recalls from Daimler Trucks North America and Navistar have resulted in more than 7,600 Western Star and International tractors being recalled, according to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration documents. The Navistar recall that affects approximately 527 model year 20182019 International LT trucks. In the affected trucks, when the hood is closed, the fender splash panel could rub on the inlet fuel line fitting to the fuel/water separator, causing damage Work the non-traffic side–Stay Safe!
Visit us at ATShowPlace Las Vegas booth 1302 AMERICANTOWMAN.COM - May 2018 • 39
Who’s Selling? Getting out of Towing, Part 1
by George Metos
W
e have all witnessed towing companies getting bought up over the years. You may have wondered what was paid, and how your own business compares. You may have also wondered what you could do to make your own towing company more attractive to a buyer, whether you intend to sell in the near future or years down the road. In the towing business, buyers are looking for several attributes: • Profitability. You expected that one. This is universal in all business types. It is not mandatory though. If you have some of the other attributes, a deal could still be done. • Contracts. Whether written or oral, your relationship with the highway patrol, police department, and private companies may provide reliable future revenue for the buyer. Being on rotation is not always easy to accomplish, and is looked upon as an accomplishment. • Population. More people implies more cars, which implies more tows. There may be exceptions for the recovery business, where an owner may do a tidy business in locations where tractor-trailers often go off the road, whether it 44 • May 2018 - TOWMAN.COM
is near population or not. The same is true of roadside assistance companies where help in remote areas is a welcome sight to travelers. But otherwise, having a successful business near a good population is a plus. • Real estate. Towing companies with their own real estate is positive to those buyers who believe they can make money in the business as well as benefit from the appreciation of the real estate. If they can operate a business in the path of progress (population growth), then they have established an excellent investment. • Good reputation. With all of the positives mentioned above, a good reputation encourages the buyer to believe they can continue the business and grow. A bad reputation may be difficult to overcome, unless the name is changed. Deals with towers who have bad reputations still happen, but at a discount. • Type. Buyers tend to acquire towing companies that operate in a segment that they are familiar with. A light-duty tower may be interested another towing company that also does primarily light-duty towing. Impound towers might like to acquire
additional PPI towers, etc. • Territory. Towers like to build within a region. We seldom see towers with facilities 500 miles away from one another. The classic method of valuing companies is based on the value of the real estate plus profits times a multiple or assets and some goodwill, whichever is greater. Owners will always get paid for their real estate, whether as sale or a lease. The values are typically fair market value, and in the case of a lease, the tenant may demand the right to buy the real estate years down the road, again typically at fair market value.
Profits vs. Assets The more sophisticated part of the valuation is the profit vs. asset approach. Business brokers are trained to look for profit wherever it may be hiding in the company, such as depreciation, owner perks and other areas that are typical of towing companies. We might calculate an adjusted profit number such as Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization (EBITDA) or free cash flow, depending on preference. This amount is multiplied by a factor based on the size of that profit number. The bigger the profit, the bigger the multiplier.
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... continued from p. 44 Meanwhile, assets are based on the value of the resale fleet and any equipment. The depreciated value of the trucks, or how you show them on your balance sheet is of little concern. Buyers focus on the price they’d pay for a similar truck in a similar condition on the open market. There may also be some equipment, but in this industry, the assets are primarily trucks. In the towing industry, a significant amount of capital is tied up in the fleet. If that fleet is not generating sufficient profit, then it stands to reason that a buyer may not be very attracted to the company. There are many instances where the adjusted profit times a multiple was barely more than the assets, so the seller worries that the purchase price will not be much more than the liquidation value. Unless there are other attributes that attract the buyer and drive the price up, then the seller has a problem. If a seller has some positive attributes, we may be able to add some
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In the towing industry, a significant amount of capital is tied up in the fleet. If that fleet is not generating sufficient profit, then it stands to reason that a buyer may not be very attracted to the company.
goodwill to the sales price. Some call this blue sky or intangibles. Sometimes there are attributes that a buyer can exploit to a greater extent than the current owner, and it would be appropriate to increase the price accordingly. It is wise for owners of any company, whether in the towing industry or otherwise, to be aware of valuation methods and get a valuation checkup now and then. The information learned in the checkup can go a long way toward giving the owner ideas on how to steer the company over the years so that there is a happy conclusion to their career in the business. Towers are notorious for paying more attention to preventive maintenance of their fleet than for the overall company! The smart operators make themselves aware of values, and it doesn’t take all that much effort in the end. About the author George Metos runs GM Consultants Inc., a business-brokering agency (businessbrokergeorge.com) specializing in representing owners of towing companies and auto salvage facilities. Contact him at 801-953-1003 or georgemetos@aol.com.
Towers Helping Towers I received a job to move some trailers from Big Lake, Texas, up to Fort Worth. I had seven in total that needed to be moved, so I was going to be making one run a day from Saturday through Friday. The run Saturday went without any issue. I was on my way through Abilene, still three hours from dropping off, when I had an upper radiator hose bust. With all of the dealerships being closed, I called a truck stop roadside service and the closest one they had was in Dallas. I did an Internet search for big truck roadside service near my breakdown location and Abilene Wrecker Service came up, so I gave them a call to see if they had road service or knew of any around. Cody Phillips answered the phone and I explained the situation to him, he said there weren’t any that he knew of but said he wasn’t too far away from where I was broken down and would come see if there was anything he could do to help. Ten minutes later, he arrived in his personal truck and took me to a nearby AutoZone so we could get some coolant to at least get the truck out of the road. We got back to the truck, added the coolant and moved the truck, loaded with the trailer, into a parking lot. Then we went to another parts store to see if they had the hose that was needed to fix the truck. They didn’t, so we were both calling around to see if there were any stores open on a Sunday afternoon that might possibly have the part. After about an hour on the phone, we finally found a place 40 miles away that possibly had the correct hose. Cody said let’s go there in his truck so we could get me back on the road. On the way there, we passed a different shop that was open; we turned around to see if they had the correct hose … they did. We headed back to my truck about 15 miles away and replaced the hose and added more coolant. After making
sure there weren’t any leaks, I was up and running. When I asked what I owed him for gas and time, he said “absolutely nothing.” I told him I owed him something and he again told me no and he was glad he could get me back on the road. I was shocked to hear that because he spent three-anda-half hours helping me out and wouldn’t even take a dime. The day continued without any more issues and I made it to the drop spot and back to the hotel. On Monday, I was back loaded with another trailer and—after having a blowout on the way to the drop that had me sitting for a couple hours on the side of the highway—I was ready to get back to the hotel. I made it back to Ballinger and a hose that went to the DEF system busted. I was about an hour away from Cody, so I gave him a call at 10:30 p.m. to see if he knew anyone in the area that might have a hose to get the truck fixed. He asked me to send him pictures of the hose and he would see if he had any at his shop. Thankfully he did, and made the hour drive to help me get back on the road as a storm was headed through the area. After getting it fixed, and making sure there weren’t any more leaks, I asked him again what I owed him for the hose, gas and time. Again he replied, “Absolutely nothing.” Cody is an amazing towman to come that far and help a stranger and not ask for anything in return. It is hard in this day and age to find anyone willing to do that. Thank you Cody, and Abilene Wrecker Service, for all you did to help me get back on the road. —Chris Smith Banis Towing; San Antonio, Texas Editor’s note Do you have a similar story of a fellow towman helping you out of a jam? So often, mainstream media reports focus on the bad news in this industry. We’d love to start a regular feature highlighting the brotherhood of towers. Email your story, and any pictures you have, to me at bdooley@towman.com. Use the subject line “Brotherhood of towers.”
Visit our booth #1018 during AT Showplace-Las Vegas 48 • May 2018 - TOWMAN.COM
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AMERICANTOWMAN.COM - May 2018 • 49
Exhibitor Roster 4 State Trucks-pg. 69 AAA-Commerical Insurance
Access Tools-pg. 55 Advantage Funding-pg. 67 Agero all-Grip Vehicle Recovery Sys. Allstate Roadside Services Aluminum Wheels Mfg. Inc. American Alliance Drug Testing Amerian Towman Magazine Anchor Graphics ARI-Hetra Arizona Prof. Towing & Recovery Association Arkon Mounts Arrowhead Automotive Insurance Auto Data Direct Auto Shop Solutions
AutoReturn-pg. 32 Automobile Club of Southern Calif.
AW Direct-pg. 39 B/A Products-pg. 46 B&B Industries Beacon Funding
Beacon Software-pg. 3 Boxer Tools CalSafe / Metropolitan Transp. Commission CapX funding Car-Part.com
Casanova Towing Equipment-pg. W 80 Centerpointe Insurance Services Century Chevron Sales West Clean Diesel Specialists Inc. Clinic Shape Commercial Best Insurance Services Copart Auto Auctions CrashFilm CTTA Custer Products Custom Radio Dangelo's Custom Built Mfg. DewEze Mfg. Discovery Bay Insurance DOT Tie Down
Driveline Buddy-pg. W 77 Dynamic Towing Equip. & Mfg.-pg. 33 East Coast Truck & Trailer Sales/Jerr-Dan Effective Web Solutions Employers Guardian
Environmental Chemical Solutions-pg. 30 Excel Sportswear Expo Enterprise ExxonMobil Farmers Ins/Khasim Ins Agency Federal Signal Work the non-traffic side–Stay Safe!
Finex Group LLC Five Star Registration FleetDown Fleetmatics - A Verizon Company FleetNet America Flitz International Futura Trailers GEICO Global Gadgets
*Supplier names in bold are display advertisers in this issue with their ad page number cross-referenced.
Rocky Mountain Wrecker/Jerr-Dan-pg. W 75 RP Recovery Consulting Safety Vision
Sanderson Truck Equip./Jerr-Dan-pg. 57 Santander Bank-pg. 84 Sea Crest Insurance Agency-pg. 69 Southern California Tow Equipment-pg. 58 Specialty Vehicle Equip. Funding
Heartland Payment Systems-pg. W 78
Steck Mfg. Co.-pg. 48
Honk Technologies ICW Group Insurance Idaho Wrecker Sales Int'l Towing & Recovery Hall of Fame & Museum IQ Technologies IST Solution Isuzu Commercial Truck of America
Swoop-pg. 23
Stertil-Koni, USA Sun Country Trailers Superwinch TCF Equipment Finance The Will-Burt Company Titanium Payments
Kalyn Siebert-pg. 53
TJR Equipment-pg. 24
Kaper II LED Lighting and Woody's Acces. Landoll Corporation Legacy Plus Insurance Lien Enforcement Lift Marketing Group Live View GPS Localis Lubnau Gonzalez Insurance Agency
Todd Equipment TOMAR Electronics TomTom Telematics
Manufacturer Express-pg. 27
Towbook Management Software-pg. 13
Many Wain Enterprise Co. LTD McCandless International Trucks MercurySend.com Metropolitan Transportation Commission Midwest Keyless
Towing & Recovery Assoc. of America (TRAA) Towing Dispatch Services Towing Payment Solutions Powered by Xpress Pay
Miller Industries-pg. 83 Mobile Battery Solutions Mobile Video Computing Solutions Murphy Bank Nation Safe Drivers (NSD) National Automobile Club Nite Beam
NRC Industries-pg. 37 NXGEN Payment Services Orange County Transportation (OCTA) Omadi Omega Comp HR
OMG National-pg. N S M, 80 Phoenix USA Planet Halo Q&A Insurance Marketing Quest Towing Services R.A. Storelee Insurance Ramos Oil Company Red Peak Camera Systems Road America Robert Bell Insurance Brokers Robertson Ryan Robinson Oil
Tow Industries-pg. W 76 Tow Life Tow Recruiter Tow Times Tow World
TowToolz-pg. 56 towXchange Tracker Management Sys. Truffoire/LV TTN Fleet Solutions UniFirst Corp.
Urgent.ly-pg. 45 US Bank Corp
US Fleet Tracking-pg. 57 USAC/MD USI Insurance Services Verizon Connect VIAIR Corporation
Vulcan-pg. 83 Warn Industries-pg. 49 We Buy Key Fobs Weego Whelen Engineering Co. Whiterail Reviews Woody's Acces
WorldClass Insurance Services-pg. M 78, W 79 Worldwide Equipment/Jerr-Dan-pg. 43, W 80 WreckMaster Xtreme Air Wedge
Zip’s Truck Equipment-pg. 19, 31 AMERICANTOWMAN.COM - May 2018 • 51
The Impact of Tax Cuts and Jobs Act by John Freeman
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he Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, a $1.5 trillion tax-cut package, was signed into law on Dec. 22, 2017. The centerpiece of the legislation is a permanent reduction of the corporate income tax rate. The corporate rate change and some of its other major provisions will affect businesses and business income. (Provisions take effect in tax year 2018 unless otherwise stated.) Instead of the previous graduated corporate tax structure with four rate brackets (15 percent, 25 percent, 34 percent, and 35 percent), the new legislation establishes a single flat corporate rate of 21 percent. The Act reduces the dividendsreceived deduction (corporations are allowed a deduction for dividends received from other domestic corporations) from 70 percent to 50 percent. If the corporation owns 20 percent or more of the company paying the dividend, the percentage is now 65 percent, down from 80 percent. The Act permanently repeals the corporate alternative minimum tax.
Income Deduction Individuals who receive business income from pass-through entities (e.g., sole proprietors, partners) generally report that business income on their individual income tax returns, paying tax at individual rates. For tax years 2018 through 2025, a new deduction is available equal to 20 percent of qualified business income from partnerships, S corporations and sole proprietorships. For those with taxable incomes exceeding certain thresholds, the deduction may be limited or phased out altogether, depending on two broad factors: The deduction is generally limited to the greater of 50 percent of the W-2 wages reported by the business, or 25 percent of the W-2 wages plus 2.5 percent of the value of qualifying depre52 • May 2018 - TOWMAN.COM
ciable property held and used by the business to produce income. For those with taxable incomes not exceeding $157,500 ($315,000 if married filing jointly), neither of the two factors above will apply (i.e., the full deduction amount can be claimed). Those with taxable incomes between $157,500 and $207,500 (between $315,000 and $415,000 if married filing jointly) may be able to claim a partial deduction.
‘Bonus’ Depreciation The cost of tangible property used in a trade or business, or held for the production of income, generally must be recovered over time through annual depreciation deductions. For most qualified property acquired and placed in service before 2020, special rules allowed an up-front additional “bonus” amount to be deducted.
For tax years 2018 through 2025, a new deduction is available equal to 20 percent of qualified business income. For property placed in service in 2017, the additional first-year depreciation amount was 50 percent of the adjusted basis of the property (40 percent for property placed in service in 2018, 30 percent if placed in service in 2019). The Act extends and expands firstyear additional (“bonus”) depreciation rules. Bonus depreciation is extended to cover qualified property placed in service before Jan. 1, 2027. For qualified property that’s both acquired and
placed in service after Sept. 27, 2017, 100 percent of the adjusted basis of the property can be deducted in the year the property is first placed in service. The first-year 100-percent bonus depreciation percentage amount is reduced by 20 percent each year starting in 2023 (i.e., the first-year bonus percentage amount will be 80 percent in 2023, 60 percent in 2024, 40 percent in 2025, and 20 percent in 2026) until bonus depreciation is eliminated altogether beginning in 2027. For qualified property acquired before Sept. 28, 2017, prior bonus depreciation limits apply—if placed in service in 2017, a 50-percent limit applies; the limit drops to 40 percent if the property is placed in service in 2018, and to 30 percent if placed in service in 2019. Note that the timelines and percentages are slightly different for property with longer production periods.
Section 179 Small businesses may elect under Internal Revenue Code Section 179 to expense the cost of qualified property, rather than recover such costs through depreciation deductions. The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act increases the maximum amount that can be expensed in 2018 from $520,000 to $1 million, and the threshold at which the maximum deduction begins to phase out from $2.07 million to $2.5 million. Both the $1 million and $2.5 million amounts will be increased to reflect inflation in years after 2018. The new law also expands the range of property eligible for expensing. About the author John S. Freeman is a registered principal at Keating & Associates in Overland Park, Kansas. Their services for business owners include personal financial organizer, employee benefits, business succession and business consulting.
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AMERICANTOWMAN.COM - May 2018 • 53
How to Ready Trucks for Summer by David A. Kolman
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repping your wreckers, from carriers to heavy rotators, for the hot and dry weather of summer is just as important as getting trucks ready for winter conditions. Extreme temperatures—whether cold or heat—place additional stresses on trucks and specific systems. Taking the time now to summerize vehicles will help them take the heat and keep operating efficiently. Here is some truck summerizing advice gathered from truck, truck component and tire manufacturers, automotive fluids companies and others.
Cooling System A good starting point is the truck’s engine cooling system. It is designed to protect an engine from the destructive forces of too much heat and keep it operating at its most efficient temperature. In hot weather, because of the higher temperatures, the cooling system is required to work harder to keep the engine from overheating. If it is not maintained properly, the engine will not operate as efficiently and internal components could be damaged. Even one cooling system overheat can severely damage a truck engine. Research has shown that cooling system failures cause approximately 40 percent of engine problems. Yet, virtually all cooling system problems are preventable. Here are some preventive maintenance tips to ensure optimal engine cooling system performance and reduced downtime: • Inspect the radiator inside and out for signs of damage. • Be sure the cooling system is full and look to see if the coolant is clean and pure, with no rust or other impurities. These can contaminate the cooling system and cause costly issues. 54 • May 2018 - TOWMAN.COM
• Examine the radiator cap for cracks and/or swelling. • Check the cooling fan for loose or damaged fan blades. • Inspect the water pump for leaks and verify that the engine maintains a temperature within the manufacturer’s specification.
Engine Coolant Good cooling system preventive maintenance practices include the coolant itself. Using and maintaining a properly formulated coolant: • Provides efficient heat transfer to control critical engine temperature. • Increases the boiling point to help prevent boil-over and overheating failures. • Provides effective inhibition of corrosion for all cooling-system metals.
Batteries need additional attention because battery degradation occurs much more rapidly in hot weather. If the coolant is unable to satisfy these requirements, the vehicle’s emissions, fuel economy, horsepower and durability of engine components will be compromised. It is advisable to do an engine coolant analysis. This not only determines coolant condition and additive concentrations, it also identifies other vehicle problems that can show up in the cooling system.
Engine coolants are more complicated than most people think. Different engines come with different coolants. Adding the wrong type of coolant can have significant consequences. Complicating matters, there are no standards for the color of coolant, and the dyes no longer mean what they used to. Mixing of technologies and not maintaining them correctly can lead to cooling system problems.
Belts, Hoses Engine belts and hoses are often overlooked. Exposure to heat, vibration and contaminants makes them wear. A simple check of these components and taking the necessary preventive measures can avoid problems. A simple visual inspection is all you need to determine the condition of belts. Check belts for proper tension. Check the function of the tensioner arm. Look for belt misalignment. Inspect all belts for cracks, wear and tension. Check hoses and lines for excessive mushiness, hardness, cracks, leaks, bulges and other signs of deterioration. Be sure all connections are tight to avoid leakage.
A/C To ensure optimal performance during the hot summer months, thoroughly check the truck air conditioner system. • Look for leaks in valves and hoses. • Ensure that the system is properly charged.
Electrical Systems Another key area to focus on when prepping vehicles for summer opera-
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... continued from p. 54 tion is the electrical system. • Examine the electrical wiring to make sure wires haven’t come loose. • Look for frayed or cracked insulation. • Check cable routing for chafing and abrasion damage. • Inspect for signs of corrosion. • Check starter and alternator connections and ground wires to ensure that all connections are clean and tight. • Make any necessary repairs. • When testing electrical systems, do not use a test light with a piercing probe as this pokes holes in the wiring that can allow moisture—and eventually corrosion—into the system.
Batteries All vehicle batteries need additional attention because battery degradation occurs much more rapidly in hot weather. In fact, summer heat can be more damaging than winter’s cold temperatures. When a battery is not functioning correctly, it leads to a degradation of the plates and there is a loss of capacity. • Ensure that all batteries are firmly mounted in place. • Check the batteries to see if the cases are bulging, cracked or leaking.
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• Examine the integrity of the battery cables where they connect to the battery and be certain the fasteners are secure. • Inspect the battery cables to assure they aren’t in contact with items that will wear through their insulation. • Look for corrosion at the battery’s terminal posts. If corrosion is present, clean it off and spray the connections with a protectant.
Tires Hotter weather conditions necessitate that greater attention be paid to tire inflation pressure. The most critical factor in tire maintenance is proper inflation. Tires flex when they roll, which bends the rubber and steel used within the rubber to provide additional operating characteristics. This flex generates heat, and heat is a tire’s worst enemy. Hot weather exacerbates heat build-up that weakens the tire by breaking down the rubber in tires. This makes them more susceptible to punctures from road debris such as metal objects, screws, nails, etc. With correct tire inflation, there is the proper contact with the road surface. This promotes traction and braking capability, plus reduces irregular and rapid tread wear, all of which helps with safer vehicle operation. What’s more, improper inflation
can have detrimental effects on the performance of both tires and vehicles because tires flex in ways they weren’t designed to. This changes the shape of the tire’s footprint, resulting in irregular wear patterns and reduced tread life. Underinflation causes abnormal tire deflection, which builds up heat and causes irregular wear and reduced performance. Overinflation, in addition to irregular wear, causes tires to run hard, making for a harsher ride because of increases in road shocks and vibrations transmitted to the vehicle. Additionally, overinflated tires tend to not absorb hazards—like debris in the road and potholes—as well, increasing the risk of sustaining a puncture or impact damage. Tire inflation pressure should be checked regularly and always with a properly calibrated pressure gauge to obtain an accurate reading. Check and adjust tire inflation when tires are cold. Tires are considered cold when the vehicle has been parked for three or more hours or if the vehicle has been driven less than a mile at moderate speed. Checking inflation is also a good time to: • Look over tires for damage to the tread and sidewall area. • Examine for uneven wear, as this could indicate the need for an alignment.
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... continued from p. 56 • Inspect wheels, looking for cracks and elongated bolt holes due to loose lug nuts. • Be alert for anything out of the ordinary. Valve caps should be installed on all valve stems and be kept tight. This helps to help keep air inside the tires. If left uncovered, water and dirt can get down into the tire value stem can cause it to partially open, allowing air to escape.
Cleaning Wash trucks—especially the undercarriage—to remove all the winter chemicals (used during winter weather for road pre-treatment, anti-icing and de-icing). Rust and corrosion occurs more rapidly when road chemicals are left unwashed. •Waxing is a simple truck maintenance step to protect the finish from harmful dirt and UV rays. • Summer brings bugs, so make sure you use a windshield washer fluid that can handle the mess. Help to assure good truck performance during summer’s hot temperatures by performing these recommended summerizing preventive maintenance procedures.
AT Chassis Editor David Kolman is a multi-faceted trucking trade journalist with experience in print, online and broadcasting. He has hosted trucker television and radio programs and helped write trucking industry documentaries and video programs.
58 • May 2018 - TOWMAN.COM
A Perennial Spirit Ride?
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Winston-Salem ceremony: police line up in front of motor-coach graphics depicting officers escorting Spirit Casket onto a carrier bed.
he Spirit Ride scored on the airwaves and in newspapers across the Carolinas as it launched on its 2018 Route, kicking off in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. First Responders continued to play a major role. In Wilson, the chief of the Sanoca Fire Department in Saratoga brought a ladder truck, raised an American flag over the ceremony, and nodded to a perennial Ride. “We support the Spirit Ride,” Chief A.J. O’Bryant told the Wilson Times. “Hopefully, this will get bigger and bigger every year and will help educate the public on how important it is to move away from first respon-
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ders who are operating on the roadway.” Several fire departments played roles in the Rides through the Carolinas. Police escorts were a major contribution to the Rides as well. Chief O’Bryant is not the only first responder with a perennial vision of the Ride. The Spirit Ride is querying 2017 and 2018 Relay Station towers, those who hosted ceremonies and led processions, on their interest in continuing the campaign into 2019 and beyond, as several of them have expressed a desire to keep it going. Spirit Ride is also asking them to create local fundraisers. “The Ride needs a grassroots fundraising apparatus to be the
bedrock of the operation,” said Steve Calitri, the Spirit Ride’s creator. “This will allow the Ride to continue annually and also to graduate to more professional fundraising activities. Whether that happens is all up to the Spirit Riders. “The potential for promoting awareness of Move Over Laws is there through many platforms and media, but we have to go beyond operating out of a shoebox and be on sound financial footing.” The Spirit Ride has relayed the Spirit ceremonial casket in more than 160 cities since June 1, 2017; by year’s end it will have relayed in 300 cities. Check out the full schedule at ATSpiritRide.com.
AMERICANTOWMAN.COM - May 2018 • 59
Spirit Rides throu ugh the Carolinas The first Rides of 2018 drew great participa tion from First Responders and the Media.
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Spirit Ride Schedule through July 31, 2018 GPS Tracking provided by:
Join the Spirit Ride processions. For the exact site of the ceremony and procession start-point contact the Relay Station. Relay Stations 05/02/18 05/03/18 05/03/18 05/04/18 05/05/18 05/05/18 05/08/18 05/09/18 05/15/18 05/16/18 05/18/18 05/19/18 05/22/18 05/23/18 05/24/18 05/25/18 05/25/18 05/25/18 05/26/18 05/30/18 05/31/18 06/01/18 06/01/18 06/01/18 06/02/18 06/02/18 06/05/18 06/05/18 06/06/18 06/06/18 06/07/18 06/07/18 06/08/18 06/09/18 06/12/18 06/12/18 06/13/18 06/14/18 06/14/18 06/15/18 06/15/18 06/16/18 06/19/18 06/19/18 06/20/18 06/20/18 06/21/18 06/22/18 06/23/18 06/23/18 06/23/18 07/07/18 07/07/18 07/10/18 07/11/18 07/12/18 07/13/18 07/14/18 07/17/18 07/18/18 07/19/18 07/20/18 07/21/18 07/24/18 07/24/18 07/25/18 07/25/18 07/26/18 07/27/18 07/28/18 07/31/18
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Atlanta Athens Westminster Matthews Knoxville Blountville Clintwood Charleston Elizabethtown Paoli Tuscumbia Birmingham Starkville Jackson Grand Bay Biloxi Bay St. Louis Picayune Zachary West Monroe La Porte Bastrop Austin Austin Atascosa Boerne Llano Temple Grand Prairie Denison Muskogee Alma Tontitown Kansas City Washington Monticello Minneapolis Audubon Perley Sioux Falls Sioux Falls Bellevue Grand Island Kearney North Platte Sterling Heminford Cheyenne Aurora Lafayette Colorado Spring Denver Glenwood Springs Green River Salt Lake City Green River Pocatello Blackfoot Whitehall Great Falls Butte Dilon Twin Falls Boise Nampa Ontario Baker City Baker City Pasco Cle Elum Unknown
GA Greg Greeson GA Tyler Mize SC David Hatley NC Carl Atkins TN Joey Walker TN Brian Monroe VA Howie Davis WV Chris Reed KY Kevin Estes IN Marcus Roach AL Andy wayne Smith (Pam) AL Chris Birdsong MS Jonathan Ratliff MS Robert Ward (Tray) AL Brise Blackwell MS Peggy Linton MS Bennis Moss Jr MS Darren Champagne LA Pamela Turner LA Brian Heisler TX Richard Thompson TX Jacob Schapansky TX Tasha Mora TX Hiten Bhatpuria TX Luis Chacon TX Paula Hayner TX Michael Steelman TX Matthew Jarma TX Greg Joyner TX Jenn Green OK Nik Morgan AR Tasha Lovelady AR Donald Rogers MI Amy Gresham IA George Moore IA Steve Koob MN Steve Schmit MN Matt Hughes MN Kasey Hegreberg SD Paul Giese SD Jeffrey Day NE Michael Kiekow NE Troy Wells NE Logan Dowhy NE Unknown CO Steve Hernandez NE William Shammel WY Michelle Krening CO Jason Thomas CO Tracy Davison CO Jason Kane CO Shaun Healy CO Unknown UT Michael Silliman UT Ted Sterling WY Sheridan Norberg ID Scott Briley ID Kacey Redmond/Asher MT Ronald Fuller MT Joe Benski MT John Richards MT Brandon & Toree Turney ID Jody Revai ID Lee Bellemare ID T.J Biggers OR Sharon Taylor OR Sharon Taylor OR Justin Merritt WA Dustin Jaeger WA Thomas Willette Unknown
South Metro Towing Barrett's Towing Jims Auto INC Wiliams Wrecker Anytime Towing and Recovery First Line Towing & Recovery Davis Service Public Safety Expo Doug's Towing & Recovery Mark's Garage Andy's Wrecker Service Vestavia Tire Express Champion's Towing Ward's Wrecker Service Inc S&H Truck Parts /S&H Towing & Recovery All About Towing Inc Moss Towing Walker Towing Lee's Towing Plunk's Wrecker Service Industrial Transportation & Towing Texas Pride Towing & Recovery A&A Wrecker and Recovery, LLC Statewide Towing Recvry Rescue Trans Inc Chacon Towing 1 Veterans Towing River City Wrecker Temple Towing, Inc Dave's Hi-Way Wrecker Lone Star Haulin Morgan Towing Alma Auto Service and Sales Donald Rogers Wrecker Service GT Tow Service Moore's BP Amoco, Inc Koob Automotive & Towing Inc Schmit Towing, Inc Bad Boyz Towing K & K Towing Jim and Ron's Service Inc Meier Towing Inc Premier Towing Inc Lone Tree Towing and Recovery Dowhy Towing & Recovery Unknown A & R Towing LLC Baas 24HR Towing LLC Big Al's Towing & Recovery JW Towing USA Towing, LLC Randy's High Country Towing Shaun's Towing S & S Garage & Service Adams Towing Norberg Towing Stans Pro Tows Rack Towing & Recovery Whitehall Body Shop Benski Towing & Recovery Red Wrecker Turney Repair & Towing INC Marky's Super Tow Abyss Towing Crossroads Towing Roadrunner Towing Inc Baker Valley Towing Superior Towing Inc Pinkie Tow LLC Willette's Towing LLC
The Spirit Ride continues through the Western States, the Northwest and California. Go to ATSpiritRide.com for complete schedule. 62 • May 2018 - TOWMAN.COM
Sponsors
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Contribute to the Spirit Ride at www.ATSpiritRide.com
double diamond
GPS Tracking provided by:
Anonymous
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AMERICANTOWMAN.COM - May 2018 • 63
Bickering Associations Don’t Benefit Anyone by Mark Lacek
I
’m not a genius. I know this because I’m 62 and still working. (Then again, so is Bill Gates and he’s also 62. While I don’t think Gates has to work, I do.) Recently I was lucky enough to reacquaint myself with my old friend Rusty Ansel of Ocala, Florida. Rusty was repossessing cars long before selfloaders and hydraulics. I’d guess Rusty has been at it since the ’70s. In Florida, back in the day before certification, licensing and regulation, there was a group that spearheaded the birth of the professional repossessor. Rusty was part of that group. Rusty has been an inspiration to a boatload of up-and-coming professionals in our industry, including me. It was great speaking to Rusty again and to see he is still in the game. The biggest news in the industry of late is the obvious hostility going on between the big three national repossession associations, i.e. Time Finance Adjusters, American Recovery Association and Allied Finance Adjusters. Don’t think for a moment that the disagreements are new; the conflicts have been around for years, but the visibility of social media has shone a light on the fighting from the front pages of blogs and discussion groups. The CU Collector site (blog.cucollector.com) recently highlighted decisions from auto lenders Bridgecrest/Drivetime and Santander that mandate repossession agencies sign up and become certified through competing compliance programs. Bridgecrest mandates the new ARA program while Santander directs all its recovery vendors be certified and compliant through the well-known RISC program.
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In a blog post titled, “Bridgecrest Erosion of Fees,” CU Collector founder Kevin Armstrong explains in detail how Bridgecrest has managed to cut repo fees. He reports that if conducting repossessions for Bridgecrest, “in order to make the same income from 10 years earlier, you would need to recover more than twice as many units just to make the same gross income as you did 10 years ago,” and that “ARA is killing its own industry.” It’s hard not to agree.
The conflicts have been around for years, but the visibility of social media has shone a light on the fighting. Another post on the blog, “ARA, TFA Decry Recent Allied Sales Pitch,” is from the ARA and targets Allied for going after TFA members and claiming that the trade association was failing. That post alleged, “In an unprecedented move, Allied Finance Adjusters has been targeting TFA members with advertising that depicts a sinking ship, suggesting that the trade association will fail once the current Employee Dishonesty Policy expires, and that TFA members should quit and join AFA.” TFA, once considered the leading membership directory of repossessors, lost more than half its members since the death of its founder, repossession
industry legend Harvey Altes. As much as I respect current leadership, I think TFA must restructure its brand. I wish them well as they have supported a professional industry longer than any other repossession organization. I believe Armstrong hit the nail on the head in his reports of how TFA, ARA and AFA members are bending over backwards (my words, not his) for the auto lender. For years, the national associations have claimed to fight the large forwarding companies and contingent repossession assignments. Now, the assignment forwarding companies are major sponsors at all of the yearly conferences as well as enjoying great relationships with board members. In April, well before this article is published, The North American Repo Summit will convene in Dallas, Texas. The rumors are that the leaders of TFA, ARA and AFA will meet in an effort to come to an understanding on important issues that will affect the future of the repossession industry. Many believe the only way is for the three to combine and form one large association. We’ll see. My opinion has always been that a national repossession association must become an assignment forwarder, sending recovery assignments directly to its members. This should have been done years ago ... but what the heck do I know, I’m just a working stiff like Bill Gates.
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 - May 2018 • 65
ALS Resolvion Integrates with Clearplan ALS Resolvion announced that it recently became the first repossession management firm to successfully integrate its in-house proprietary technology, WOMBAT, with the leading repossession agent workflow management platform, Clearplan. “The integration with Clearplan will significantly enhance compliance by reducing the possibilities of repossessions in error and will greatly streamline communications with our agent partners,” said Jose Mendiola, president of ALSR. A feature was developed in conjunction with the integration to allow recovery agents to give “on hook” notification directly into ALSR’s platform. The “on hook” notification gives ALSR the ability to alert lenders of collateral recovery as the car is recovered. Source: autoremarketing.com.
Bank Settles after Repo Violations West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey recently sent letters to more than 300 consumers explaining how they will benefit from approximately $1.49 million in debt cancellation secured as part of a settlement with First Sentinel Bank of Richlands, Virginia. The settlement resolves allegations that First Sentinel Bank violated state and federal laws, which prohibit banks, debt collectors and other entities from engaging in unfair, deceptive or abusive practices. The Attorney General alleged First Sentinel Bank representatives frequently visited consumers at their homes or places of employment to collect debts, a practice generally viewed as unlawful. He also alleged the bank had repossessed vehicles without its vendors having a state business license to do so. First Sentinel Bank admitted no wrongdoing as part of the settlement. The settlement requires First Sentinel Bank close accounts with a $0 66 • May 2018 - TOWMAN.COM
balance for all West Virginia consumers whose vehicles were unlawfully repossessed. It is estimated such action will amount to $1.49 million for 323 consumers. It further requires First Sentinel Bank pay the state $27,400, as well as $2,500 to a Mercer County resident who brought the initial complaint. Source: wcbcradio.com.
$390K Embezzled from Repo Company A Billings, Montana, woman pleaded guilty to four counts of wire fraud in U.S. District Court recently as part of a case in which she allegedly embezzled more than $390,000 from a local repossession company over a period of seven years. Jennifer Anne Thaw was charged after making four unauthorized wire transfers in July 2017 from her Billingsbased employer, J&S Recovery Inc., according to federal investigators. While working as the office manager for the company, Thaw oversaw accounts receivable and accounts payable, and transferred the money into her personal Wells Fargo checking account, court documents state. Although each of the four transfers identified in court documents were for less than $5,000, her total theft from the company amounted to more than $390,000, according to prosecutors. Thaw pled guilty to each count and was released pending sentencing. Each count of wire fraud carries up to 20 years in prison. Source: billingsgazette.com.
Police: Man Stole SUV from Repo A Mohnton, Pennsylvania, man stole his vehicle off the hook of a tow truck as it was being repossessed in April, police said. According to police, a registered repossessor hired by a recovery company was in the process of lawfully repossessing the small SUV from Andre L. Allen, 34. The SUV’s rear wheels were on
the lift and the repossessor and his assistant were trying to secure it with straps. Allen dashed from his apartment to the lot and entered the driver's side of the SUV. He started the engine and operated the vehicle in a violent manner in an attempt to remove it from the tow truck. With the two agents nearby, the elevated tires of the SUV were spinning at a high rate, sliding back and forth while Allen rocked the vehicle. He was eventually able to free one of the rear wheels from the truck while continuing to spin the wheels and rock the SUV. The other rear tire slid off the lifting rack, allowing Allen to drive away. The workers feared they might be hit by the SUV when it broke loose. Allen was charged with robbery of a motor vehicle, theft by unlawful taking of moveable property, reckless endangerment and related offenses. Source: readingeagle.com.
Man Wields Shovel Against Repo Agent A Tallahassee, Florida, man was arrested after video showed him swinging a metal shovel at a repossession agent attempting to take a car. William Louis Heatherly, 41, was booked on a charge of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon without intent to kill and released on a $2,500 bond. Heatherly threatened a repossession agent he saw attempting to repossess a car he previously owned, according to a probable cause affidavit. During the incident, Heatherly entered the 2009 Chevy Tahoe as it was attached to the tow truck's boom. He tried, unsuccessfully, to drive the Tahoe off the tow truck while the back end of the vehicle was hoisted in the air. After that, Heatherly threatened to cut the agent's throat and threatened him with a shovel. The agent said that when
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AMERICANTOWMAN.COM - May 2018 • 67
... continued from p. 66 Heatherly came within striking distance of him, and then swung the shovel at him, the agent got his stun gun from his tow truck to keep Heatherly at bay. A video the repo man's fiancee recorded showed Heatherly threatening him with the shovel, the court document said. Tallahassee Police Department officers who reviewed the video said it showed Heatherly coming out of his carport with the shovel and swinging it only a foot from the repo man. Source: wtxl.com.
Credit Union Repo Ruling Reversed The Missouri Court of Appeals Eastern District has found in favor of a man who claimed that a lender that provided him financing of two vehicles failed to give proper notice as required by the Uniform Commercial Code when it repossessed them and sought a deficiency judgment.
A lender ... failed to give proper notice as required by the Uniform Commercial Code. According to the ruling, ShowMe Credit Union had taken action against Dustin Mosely when he stopped making payments for the cars it financed for him. Show-Me argued that it sent Mosely a right to cure letter containing statutory notices and that he voluntarily surrendered the cars. It also claimed that it later sent Mosely a statutory notice of intent to sell the two cars and that after selling them and applying payments and credits due to Mosely, $12,535.96 remained due on his account. Show-Me’s legal action sought the amount due, as well as attorneys' 68 • May 2018 - TOWMAN.COM
fees, costs and expenses. In a counter action, Mosely sought to pursue a class action alleging Show-Me did not obtain his written consent to repossess, failed to send notices that complied with UCC requirements and wrongfully charged interest. Show-Me's motion to dismiss argued that Mosely failed to state a claim upon which relief could be granted and that it did comply with UCC requirements in the underlying action. The dismissal that was granted was eventually reversed when the appeals court panel noted that a failure to specify the type of sale in a presale notice to a debtor, public or private, leaves the debtor without an adequate ability to protect his or her interests. The panel remanded the case to Audrain County for further proceedings. Source: stlrecord.com.
Work the non-traffic side–Stay Safe!
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AMERICANTOWMAN.COM - May 2018 • 69
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AMERICANTOWMAN.COM - May 2018 • 71
Everything Old Is New Again
by Jim “Buck” Sorrenti
R
aymond Mock owns Contoocook Auto Clinic, a small automotive repair and maintenance company in Contoocook, New Hampshire. He started his company in 1990 and now has five employees and four vehicles in his fleet, including a 2016 Ford F-150 service truck, a 2003 GMC 5500 with a 19’ Century steel bed, a 2008 Freightliner M2 business class with Jerr-Dan 10-ton 28’ steel transporter body and the 1992 Freightliner COE featured here. This totally reconditioned Freightliner has a new Jerr-Dan 10-ton capacity 26’ steel transporter body with a 12,000-lbs. capacity worm-gear winch with wireless remote control that came from Sabil & Sons in White River Junction, Vermont. The truck also has a totally custom headboard, hydraulic
72 • May 2018 - TOWMAN.COM
Tech Highlights Chassis: 1992 Freightliner COE sleeper. Wrecker: Jerr-Dan 10-ton transporter. Engine: 3406 CAT diesel. Trans: Eaton-Fuller Road Ranger nine-speed. W i n c h e s : 12,000-lbs. worm gear with wireless remote. Builder: In-house. Extras: Custom interior, custom stationary headboard, integrated dual exhaust stacks. Paint:. In-house
rear dock stabilizer and air-shift PTO. “I purchased the used chassis and spent the best part of the last yearand-a-half turning it into a working show truck,” Mock said. This 1992 Freightliner COE sleeper cab is powered by a 3406 CAT diesel engine with an engine brake and a nine-speed Eaton-Fuller Road Ranger manual transmission. It features a 12,000-lbs. front axle and 38,000-lbs tandem rears with a 3.91 axle ratio. With a 300-gallon fuel capacity, this truck now has more than 1,300,000 miles on it. The 2016 Jerr-Dan 10-ton bed features a wood-inlay transporter body. All lighting is LED, including a 72” ECCO Axios lightbar. It has three stainless steel toolboxes with batteries built into a toolbox.
“Truck Mounts in Greencastle, Pennsylvania, installed the 2016 JerrDan 10-ton capacity transporter body,” Mock said. “All other modifications were performed by our employees Jay, Eric and Mike in our shop, with quite a bit of help from my friend Josh Caron, including the headboard, special lighting, new custom interior, custom sound system, rear view camera, navigation system, moon roof and under glow lighting.” This beauty is tastefully detailed. Nothing was left untouched, inside or out. It has all-new custom interior Work the non-traffic side–Stay Safe!
including a custom moon roof over the sleeper birth, a new custom sound system with built-in navigation, XM radio, CD/DVD player. Outside are a rear-view camera and a new custom stationary headboard with integrated dual exhaust stacks. Alcoa Dura Brite wheels all around include super single rear tires. All axles were converted to hub piloted with air brakes. “We use this truck to move equipment, including generators and air compressors, throughout the Northeast states for Milton CAT,” Mock said. “This unit brings a great deal of
pride and recognition to our business for the quality and performance of this 25-year-old workhorse.” Ray set out to build a working show truck and has done just that. In May 2017 at the New Hampshire Tow Show, this rig took the first place award in the beauty contest for antique truck and second place for heavy-duty carriers.
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.
AMERICANTOWMAN.COM - May 2018 • 73
Action in the Arena
T
here’s something to be said about sameness, familiarity and consistency. These are the hallmarks of success for the fastfood industry. There’s also something to be said for what is unique in this world. Each fast-food chain strives to stand out from it’s competitors. Towers strive to provide consistent service while looking to stand out also. Maybe it’s cookies and coffee in the reception room while the motorist is waiting to retrieve their car. Maybe it’s the unique look of the wrecker with an amazing paint job. Perhaps it’s the way the motorist is greeted on the phone. Maybe it’s the level of training each tow operator receives. American Towman shows also strive for consistent excellence in the experience offered to tow business owners, while striving at the same time to be a unique experience. For instance, the cigar smoker events are first class at each show, but each one has a unique venue. In Las Vegas on May 9, the Desert Smoke takes place in and around the Gazebo by the pool in the arid air only a desert can offer. Cigar smokers appreciate the total experience with a great cigar. Among all the tow shows held in
74 • May 2018 - TOWMAN.COM
the U.S., there is only one venue that presents recovery demonstrations in an arena. Inside the South Point Hotel & Casino, AT is presenting Action in the Arena with demonstrations by Jerr-Dan, Miller Industries and NRC. The spectacle of recovery using heavy-duty wreckers and rotators deserves an arena and comfortable seating for those watching and learning. … AT thinks so, anyway. In August, AT is offering a summer experience with Tow Expo in Dallas at the Gaylord Texan Resort. For a summer getaway mixing business and pleasure, no other industry event can match it. Understanding the dynamics of consistency on one hand and uniqueness on the other is paramount to a tow boss’ success, any businessman’s success. One tow business owner I know prided himself in being fair with all the employees and cultivating a team mentality. At least one day each summer, he would take all his tow operators to a Major League Baseball game. In creating a great tow company he strove to be unique in all he did. Our industry is filled with tow bosses who do many little things to give the business character that stands out above the competitors. They are the successful ones. It’s not all dollars and cents. Or
more accurately put, dollars and cents are not all dollars and cents. Take the $5 entrance fee for those who did not advance-register for an American Towman Show. American Towman—since 1989 with its first show in Baltimore— has charged but $5 to get in. Those lucky enough to get a Boss’ Pass in the mail had that fee waived. Five dollars to get in when movie theaters charge about $10, pro sports charge hundreds, and other trade shows on the average charge over $30; well, what’s up? Certainly the cost of providing a sophisticated gateway into a Convention Center show exceeds $5. How do we get by? The answer may lie in “the art of the deal.” Any tower entering an American Towman Show knows it’s quite a deal. The $5 is like a nostalgic relic from the good old days. Something we feel we deserve when it rarely comes along in this pay-through-thenose world. It’s something that stands out about an AT show. It’s something consistent. Something unique. by Steve Calitri
Work the non-traffic side–Stay Safe!
AMERICANTOWMAN.COM - May 2018 • NORTH 75
New Country, New Idea by Sarah Bruce
F
or Allan Rivera, not having all the information available cost him $4,200 out of pocket. Rivera was a computer engineer working as a private technology contractor in New York when he met his wife from Canada in 2009. So in early 2016, when his immigration was finalized, he made the move to Canada. When he first arrived his focus was to establish himself and provide for his family. While looking for work in the technology industry, he came across an employment advertisement from a towing company looking for a tow truck operator. Although it was unrelated to his chosen profession, he found the position appealing and seized the opportunity. As he finished his training and began to settle into his new position, he soon realized the job was far more demanding and dangerous than he had expected. “Maintaining safety for myself and my clients when assisting them with disabled vehicles had become dangerous when working in high volume areas like Highway 401,” Rivera said. “On many occasions when working at the side of the highway, vehicles do not move over. This creates a feeling like you are being sucked into a vacuum and you must brace yourself. “The more time you spend in situations like that, the more chance there is that you can get injured.” Unfortunately, as Rivera learned, things get even more difficult when tow truck drivers have to assess the
NORTH 76 • May 2018 - TOWMAN.COM
Operator develops new tool to get towers more info from VINs
vehicle and collect information in order to tow it. This entails examining the vehicle while having to get down on the ground to look underneath it for possible damage concerns, such as low oil pans, bumper, frame or sub-frame.
The cost of that tow to me personally was $4,200. One day, he received a routine call to assist a gentleman with a frontwheel-drive sedan. He performed all his usual routine checks and noticed a plastic cover over the driveline. He was not concerned, as he had towed similar models many times before without issue. Together with the client, they decided to tow the vehicle about 30 miles to the closest dealership. About 45 miles down the road, the rear wheels locked up. He pulled over and noticed the tires were burned out. He unloaded the car, hooked it back up using the dollies and carried on. Upon his arrival, he notified the dealership service staff about what had happened. They used the vehicle identification number to pull up information on the vehicle and informed Rivera that this was not in fact a frontwheel-drive model, but a new allwheel-drive model. “The cost of that tow to me per-
sonally was $4,200,” Rivera said. “This unfortunately is not uncommon in this industry. Individual operators pay millions a year out of pocket for this type of situation.” Lack of information available, coupled with the dangers of having to inspect a vehicle on the side of the road, often on high volume highways, made him wonder if there was not a better, safer way for tow truck operators to do their jobs. Had the information provided by the VIN been readily available to him, he believes he could have prevented the costly damages. If this type of information could be available to all towers, they would spend less time inspecting vehicles while working dangerously close to traffic and be better prepared to hook up upon arrival at the job scene. This was when he brought together Dean Soukeras, who has 20 years of technology experience, and Ben Baboolal, with 10 years of towing and recovery experience, to work out a way to use VIN information to assist tow operators. Many months of preparation and testing subsequently went into the development of Rivera’s idea and then into an actual product. Carster (mycarster.com) was born. Rivera and his team work with industry data companies to ensure the accuracy of the product. Rivera’s goal is to continue to develop tools and utilize new technology for the roadside emergency industry.
Samaritan Helps Struck Towman A tower was badly hurt after he was struck by a car that lost control on Interstate 395 recently in Alexandria, Virginia, but a good Samaritan helped get him to a hospital. Virginia State Police said the tower was outside his truck trying to clear an accident scene when he was hit at around 4 a.m. A 2004 Honda Accord was traveling northbound when the driver lost control, investigators said. The car hit a concrete jersey wall, then crossed the interstate to the right shoulder of the road, striking the tow truck and towman. The crash happened on a morning when heavy rains fell over much of the area, resulting in slick roads. The tower worked for Henry’s Wrecker Service in Falls Church. The towing company’s owner, Fred Scheler, said his employee’s leg was severed below the kneecap in the crash. Scheler credited a good Samaritan for saving his employee’s life. After the accident, a man, who is former military, stopped to help the injured tower. “He took his belt off, put a tourniquet on his leg, and then took his jacket off to cover him up,” Scheler said. That good Samaritan then waited with the tower, talking to him so he didn’t lose consciousness, Scheler said. The man helped the tower call his wife before he was taken to the hospital, and Scheler called the man his driver’s “angel.” As of press time, Scheler and the tower’s family were hoping the man who helped out would come forward so they can express their gratitude to him in person. “The family would like to thank him for basically saving my driver’s life,” Scheler said. The driver of the car that struck the tower was not hurt; police charged that driver with failure to maintain control. Source: wtop.com. Work the non-traffic side–Stay Safe!
AMERICANTOWMAN.COM - May 2018 • NORTH 77
Hundreds Pay Tribute to Coady Towmen from around New England gathered in North Andover, Massachusetts, in late March to bid farewell to Daniel Coady Jr., who was struck and killed while doing his job on Interstate 495. Coady, 41, was a lifelong employee of Coady’s Towing in Lawrence. “The Coady family is well-respected and Danny was very well-liked,” said North Andover police Detective Lieutenant Eric J. Foulds, who estimated that more than 500 people—including tow truck drivers, police, and fire personnel—were there to pay their respects to Coady. Todd Chase of the Statewide Towing Association said approximately 380 trucks were there for the event. “It was overwhelming,” he said. “It was a great tribute to a very good man.” Shiina Dionne, 28, of Lawrence, was charged with vehicular homicide, drunken driving, speeding, and other offenses in connection with the crash. Source: bostonglobe.com.
NORTH 78 • May 2018 - TOWMAN.COM
NORTH 80 • May 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
Work the non-traffic side–Stay Safe!
AMERICANTOWMAN.COM - May 2018 • SOUTH 75
New Country, New Idea by Sarah Bruce
F
or Allan Rivera, not having all the information available cost him $4,200 out of pocket. Rivera was a computer engineer working as a private technology contractor in New York when he met his wife from Canada in 2009. So in early 2016, when his immigration was finalized, he made the move to Canada. When he first arrived his focus was to establish himself and provide for his family. While looking for work in the technology industry, he came across an employment advertisement from a towing company looking for a tow truck operator. Although it was unrelated to his chosen profession, he found the position appealing and seized the opportunity. As he finished his training and began to settle into his new position, he soon realized the job was far more demanding and dangerous than he had expected. “Maintaining safety for myself and my clients when assisting them with disabled vehicles had become dangerous when working in high volume areas like Highway 401,” Rivera said. “On many occasions when working at the side of the highway, vehicles do not move over. This creates a feeling like you are being sucked into a vacuum and you must brace yourself. “The more time you spend in situations like that, the more chance there is that you can get injured.” Unfortunately, as Rivera learned, things get even more difficult when tow truck drivers have to assess the
SOUTH 76 • May 2018 - TOWMAN.COM
Operator develops new tool to get towers more info from VINs
vehicle and collect information in order to tow it. This entails examining the vehicle while having to get down on the ground to look underneath it for possible damage concerns, such as low oil pans, bumper, frame or sub-frame.
The cost of that tow to me personally was $4,200. One day, he received a routine call to assist a gentleman with a frontwheel-drive sedan. He performed all his usual routine checks and noticed a plastic cover over the driveline. He was not concerned, as he had towed similar models many times before without issue. Together with the client, they decided to tow the vehicle about 30 miles to the closest dealership. About 45 miles down the road, the rear wheels locked up. He pulled over and noticed the tires were burned out. He unloaded the car, hooked it back up using the dollies and carried on. Upon his arrival, he notified the dealership service staff about what had happened. They used the vehicle identification number to pull up information on the vehicle and informed Rivera that this was not in fact a frontwheel-drive model, but a new allwheel-drive model. “The cost of that tow to me per-
sonally was $4,200,” Rivera said. “This unfortunately is not uncommon in this industry. Individual operators pay millions a year out of pocket for this type of situation.” Lack of information available, coupled with the dangers of having to inspect a vehicle on the side of the road, often on high volume highways, made him wonder if there was not a better, safer way for tow truck operators to do their jobs. Had the information provided by the VIN been readily available to him, he believes he could have prevented the costly damages. If this type of information could be available to all towers, they would spend less time inspecting vehicles while working dangerously close to traffic and be better prepared to hook up upon arrival at the job scene. This was when he brought together Dean Soukeras, who has 20 years of technology experience, and Ben Baboolal, with 10 years of towing and recovery experience, to work out a way to use VIN information to assist tow operators. Many months of preparation and testing subsequently went into the development of Rivera’s idea and then into an actual product. Carster (mycarster.com) was born. Rivera and his team work with industry data companies to ensure the accuracy of the product. Rivera’s goal is to continue to develop tools and utilize new technology for the roadside emergency industry.
Samaritan Helps Struck Towman A tower was badly hurt after he was struck by a car that lost control on Interstate 395 recently in Alexandria, Virginia, but a good Samaritan helped get him to a hospital. Virginia State Police said the tower was outside his truck trying to clear an accident scene when he was hit at around 4 a.m. A 2004 Honda Accord was traveling northbound when the driver lost control, investigators said. The car hit a concrete jersey wall, then crossed the interstate to the right shoulder of the road, striking the tow truck and towman. The crash happened on a morning when heavy rains fell over much of the area, resulting in slick roads. The tower worked for Henry’s Wrecker Service in Falls Church. The towing company’s owner, Fred Scheler, said his employee’s leg was severed below the kneecap in the crash. Scheler credited a good Samaritan for saving his employee’s life. After the accident, a man, who is former military, stopped to help the injured tower. “He took his belt off, put a tourniquet on his leg, and then took his jacket off to cover him up,” Scheler said. That good Samaritan then waited with the tower, talking to him so he didn’t lose consciousness, Scheler said. The man helped the tower call his wife before he was taken to the hospital, and Scheler called the man his driver’s “angel.” As of press time, Scheler and the tower’s family were hoping the man who helped out would come forward so they can express their gratitude to him in person. “The family would like to thank him for basically saving my driver’s life,” Scheler said. The driver of the car that struck the tower was not hurt; police charged that driver with failure to maintain control. Source: wtop.com. Work the non-traffic side–Stay Safe!
AMERICANTOWMAN.COM - May 2018 • SOUTH 77
Sentencing Scheduled for Hit-and-Run Allison Huffman told authorities in Tampa, Florida, she was afraid. So she never stopped to investigate after her car hit something early one morning in 2016 on the Howard Frankland Bridge. Instead, she kept going, later abandoning the vehicle and heading to a casino. She didn’t know she had killed Rogelio Perez-Borroto, a tower who had stopped to help a pair of stranded motorists. She finally agreed to face consequences in mid-April. Huffman, 38, pleaded guilty to a charge of leaving the scene of an accident with death. Circuit Judge Vivian Corvo set her sentencing for this month.
She knows that she hit someone or something. And yet she didn’t stop and do the right thing. Huffman faces up to 30 years in prison. Among those in attendance for the brief court hearing were several local tow company operators. They spoke afterward, expressing hope that the case might help educate drivers about road safety. “If she had followed the simple procedure of ‘slow down, move over,’ which is the law in the state of Florida, we wouldn’t be here today,” said Ginger Darling, of Nationwide Towing and a member of the Professional Wrecker Operators of Florida. “She knows that she hit someone or something. And yet she didn’t stop and do the right thing.” Huffman was mostly silent as she stood before the judge in orange jail scrubs. During standard questioning to ensure she understood her plea change, Huffman’s attorney, Michael SOUTH 78 • May 2018 - TOWMAN.COM
Hanson, mentioned a psychological examination that indicated bipolar disorder. Corvo ordered a pre-sentence investigation. Huffman had three prior drunk driving convictions at the time of the Feb. 15, 2016, crash. It happened after Perez-Borroto, 43, stopped about 2 a.m. to help Raoul Antoine and Adline Joassaint, whose Honda SUV broke down on the northbound side of the span that connects Interstate 275 between St. Petersburg and Tampa. Perez-Borroto let the pair sit in his truck cab while he secured the SUV. Minutes later, they heard a boom. The truck shook. They winced, then saw a black car speeding away. Antoine got out and saw a shoe. About 50 feet away, Perez-Borroto laid in the roadway dead. It took about 24 hours for the Florida Highway Patrol to locate Huffman. After the crash, she drove to a hotel near West Shore Plaza, just off the bridge, where she left her Volkswagen Passat. Troopers later found it with heavy damage, along with blood and tissue on its right side. Huffman was seen on surveillance video leaving the car and walking to a nearby Walgreen’s. She called a cab, giving the name “Beth.” Troopers later tracked her cell signal to the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino. There, she turned her phone off. Amid a flurry of local news reports, a friend of Huffman’s called St. Petersburg police and said she was in his apartment. She was arrested there and later taken to jail in Hillsborough County. Because of the delay between the fatal crash and her arrest, troopers were unable to determine if she had been intoxicated. Her arrest history, factored into sentencing guidelines, suggests her lowest possible punishment would be 10 years in prison, Assistant State Attorney Aaron Hubbard said in court. Source: tampabay.com.
Hundreds Pay Tribute to Coady Towmen from around New England gathered in North Andover, Massachusetts, in late March to bid farewell to Daniel Coady Jr., who was struck and killed while doing his job on Interstate 495. Coady, 41, was a lifelong employee of Coady’s Towing in Lawrence. “The Coady family is wellrespected and Danny was very wellliked,” said North Andover police Detective Lieutenant Eric J. Foulds, who estimated that more than 500 people—including tow truck drivers, police, and fire personnel—were there to pay their respects to Coady. Todd Chase of the Statewide Towing Association said approximately 380 trucks were there for the event. “It was overwhelming,” he said. “It was a really, really large turnout. It was a great tribute to a very good man.” Coady’s casket was draped with a “thin yellow line” flag, a symbol representing the towing industry, and was carried on the back of a flatbed truck. Shiina Dionne, 28, of Lawrence, was charged with vehicular homicide, drunken driving, speeding, and other offenses in connection with the crash. Source: bostonglobe.com.
Towmen, Responders Pay Tribute to Arnett Dozens of tow trucks and representatives from law enforcement and fire departments joined the funeral procession for business owner Randy Arnett, owner of Moorman’s Towing and Body Shop in Xenia, Ohio, recently. He was 62. Ryan Arnett said his dad bought the towing business in 1990 and at first it was a struggle to pay the bills but the last few years running the business became fun for him. “Even though he was semi-retired, he would say, ’If you need me, call me,’ ” Ryan said. “He always wanted to come out and reminisce with the first responders. He always had his hand in the cookie jar. He always knew what was going on.”
Randy was proud of the fact that his business was a family business. “Randy was proud of the fact that his business was a family business, with all his children and longtime friends by his side working together,” his obituary read. ”(Arnett) was the pillar of our community who strived to make his business, his family, and his town better.” A convoy of tow trucks, fire trucks and cruisers from various parts of the region motored in for the funeral service. Source: daytondailynews.com.
Tow Company Fined $13K for ‘Scam’ Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro announced recently that the state had secured full restitution
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for 28 victims of an illegal towing “scam” perpetrated over the years by George Smith Towing. “Parking in the city is hard enough without the threat of your car being illegally towed,” Shapiro said. “This settlement is about protecting consumers from illegal conduct—and getting them restitution. We’ll fight for every consumer who files a complaint with our office. In this case, we’re getting each consumer full restitution after their cars were wrongly towed— $205 apiece.” An investigation was launched into George Smith Towing by the attorney general’s office in 2017 after several complaints were filed regarding the company’s seemingly illegal business practices. The outcome of that probe found that George Smith Towing: failed to accept credit cards; towed vehicles where signs were not clearly displayed; did not notify police prior to towing a vehicle; failed to take and maintain photographs of the violation
prior to towing vehicle; charged vehicle owners more than the lawful amount; towed vehicles that were not illegally parked from public streets, and failed to obtain written permission from property owners prior to towing from, or in front of, the owner’s property. The terms of the settlement stipulate that the company will pay a total of $13,756 for violating Pennsylvania’s Unfair Trade Practices and Consumer Protection Law, the Towing and Towing Storage Facility Standards Act, and Philadelphia’s towing ordinance, according to the state Bureau of Consumer Protection. Source: phillymag.com.
WTRAA Scholarships Open The TRAA recently announced that the WTRAA Scholarship application, under the TRAA Education Foundation, is now available. Application forms can be found online at traaonline.com or wtraa.org.
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Sentencing Scheduled for Hit-and-Run Allison Huffman told authorities in Tampa, Florida, she was afraid. So she never stopped to investigate after her car hit something early one morning in 2016 on the Howard Frankland Bridge. Instead, she kept going, later abandoning the vehicle and heading to a casino. She didn’t know she had killed Rogelio Perez-Borroto, a tower who had stopped to help a pair of stranded motorists. She finally agreed to face consequences in mid-April. Huffman, 38, pleaded guilty to a charge of leaving the scene of an accident with death. Circuit Judge Vivian Corvo set her sentencing for this month. Huffman faces up to 30 years in prison.
She knows that she hit someone or something. And yet she didn’t stop and do the right thing. Among those in attendance for the brief court hearing were several local tow company operators. They spoke afterward, expressing hope that the case might help educate drivers about road safety. “If she had followed the simple procedure of ‘slow down, move over,’ which is the law in the state of Florida, we wouldn’t be here today,” said Ginger Darling, of Nationwide Towing and a member of the Professional Wrecker Operators of Florida. “She knows that she hit someone or something. And yet she didn’t stop and do the right thing.” Huffman was mostly silent as she stood before the judge in orange jail scrubs. During standard questioning to ensure she understood her plea change, Huffman’s attorney,
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Michael Hanson, mentioned a psychological examination that indicated bipolar disorder. Corvo ordered a pre-sentence investigation. Huffman had three prior drunk driving convictions at the time of the Feb. 15, 2016, crash. It happened after Perez-Borroto, 43, stopped about 2 a.m. to help Raoul Antoine and Adline Joassaint, whose Honda SUV broke down on the northbound side of the span that connects Interstate 275 between St. Petersburg and Tampa. Perez-Borroto let the pair sit in his truck cab while he secured the SUV. Minutes later, they heard a boom. The truck shook. They winced, then saw a black car speeding away. Antoine got out and saw a shoe. About 50 feet away, Perez-Borroto laid in the roadway dead. It took about 24 hours for the Florida Highway Patrol to locate Huffman. After the crash, she drove to a hotel near West Shore Plaza, just off the bridge, where she left her Volkswagen Passat. Troopers later found it with heavy damage, along with blood and tissue on its right side. Huffman was seen on surveillance video leaving the car and walking to a nearby Walgreen’s. She called a cab, giving the name “Beth.” Troopers later tracked her cell signal to the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino. There, she turned her phone off. Amid a flurry of local news reports, a friend of Huffman’s called St. Petersburg police and said she was in his apartment. She was arrested there and later taken to jail in Hillsborough County. Because of the delay between the fatal crash and her arrest, troopers were unable to determine if she had been intoxicated. Her arrest history, factored into sentencing guidelines, suggests her lowest possible punishment would be 10 years in prison, Assistant State Attorney Aaron Hubbard said in court. Source: tampabay.com. Work the non-traffic side–Stay Safe!
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Sentencing Scheduled for Hit-and-Run Allison Huffman told authorities in Tampa, Florida, she was afraid. So she never stopped to investigate after her car hit something early one morning in 2016 on the Howard Frankland Bridge. Instead, she kept going, later abandoning the vehicle and heading to a casino. She didn’t know she had killed Rogelio Perez-Borroto, a tower who had stopped to help a pair of stranded motorists. She finally agreed to face consequences in mid-April. Huffman, 38, pleaded guilty to a charge of leaving the scene of an accident with death. Circuit Judge Vivian Corvo set her sentencing for this month. Huffman faces up to 30 years in prison.
She knows that she hit someone or something. And yet she didn’t stop and do the right thing. Among those in attendance for the brief court hearing were several local tow company operators. They spoke afterward, expressing hope that the case might help educate drivers about road safety. “If she had followed the simple procedure of ‘slow down, move over,’ which is the law in the state of Florida, we wouldn’t be here today,” said Ginger Darling, of Nationwide Towing and a member of the Professional Wrecker Operators of Florida. “She knows that she hit someone or something. And yet she didn’t stop and do the right thing.” Huffman was mostly silent as she stood before the judge in orange jail scrubs. During standard questioning to ensure she understood her plea change, Huffman’s attorney, WEST 76 • May 2018 - TOWMAN.COM
Michael Hanson, mentioned a psychological examination that indicated bipolar disorder. Corvo ordered a pre-sentence investigation. Huffman had three prior drunk driving convictions at the time of the Feb. 15, 2016, crash. It happened after Perez-Borroto, 43, stopped about 2 a.m. to help Raoul Antoine and Adline Joassaint, whose Honda SUV broke down on the northbound side of the span that connects Interstate 275 between St. Petersburg and Tampa. Perez-Borroto let the pair sit in his truck cab while he secured the SUV. Minutes later, they heard a boom. The truck shook. They winced, then saw a black car speeding away. Antoine got out and saw a shoe. About 50 feet away, Perez-Borroto laid in the roadway dead. It took about 24 hours for the Florida Highway Patrol to locate Huffman. After the crash, she drove to a hotel near West Shore Plaza, just off the bridge, where she left her Volkswagen Passat. Troopers later found it with heavy damage, along with blood and tissue on its right side. Huffman was seen on surveillance video leaving the car and walking to a nearby Walgreen’s. She called a cab, giving the name “Beth.” Troopers later tracked her cell signal to the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino. There, she turned her phone off. Amid a flurry of local news reports, a friend of Huffman’s called St. Petersburg police and said she was in his apartment. She was arrested there and later taken to jail in Hillsborough County. Because of the delay between the fatal crash and her arrest, troopers were unable to determine if she had been intoxicated. Her arrest history, factored into sentencing guidelines, suggests her lowest possible punishment would be 10 years in prison, Assistant State Attorney Aaron Hubbard said in court. Source: tampabay.com. Work the Passenger side–Stay Safe!
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Samaritan Helps Struck Towman A tower was badly hurt after he was struck by a car that lost control on Interstate 395 recently in Alexandria, Virginia, but a good Samaritan helped get him to a hospital. Virginia State Police said the tower was outside his truck trying to clear an accident scene when he was hit at around 4 a.m. A 2004 Honda Accord was traveling northbound when the driver lost control, investigators said. The car hit a concrete jersey wall, then crossed the interstate to the right shoulder of the road, striking the tow truck and towman. The crash happened on a morning when heavy rains fell over much of the area, resulting in slick roads. The tower worked for Henry’s Wrecker Service in Falls Church. The towing company’s owner, Fred Scheler, said his employee’s leg was severed below the kneecap in the crash. Scheler credited a good Samaritan for saving his employee’s life. After the accident, a man, who is former military, stopped to help the injured tower. “He took his belt off, put a tourniquet on his leg, and then took his jacket off to cover him up,” Scheler said. That good Samaritan then waited with the tower, talking to him so he didn’t lose consciousness, Scheler said. The man helped the tower call his wife before he was taken to the hospital, and Scheler called the man his driver’s “angel.” As of press time, Scheler and the tower’s family were hoping the man who helped out would come forward so they can express their gratitude to him in person. “The family would like to thank him for basically saving my driver’s life,” Scheler said. The driver of the car that struck the tower was not hurt; police charged that driver with failure to maintain control. Source: wtop.com.
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