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MAY 2019 / $10
THE ROAD CALLS
I-75 Bridge Collapse
Doug Yates Towing & Recovery responds to open up traffic lanes
Tow Safety: The Hi-Vis Power of Orange Scene Lighting at All Angles Improving Safety On-Scene Enjoy your coffee at TowIndustryWeek.com
AmericanTowman.com
may
Volume: 43 Issue: 5 2019 On the cover: Doug Yates Towing & Recovery used their Century 1075 rotator at the scene where a huge slab of concrete fell from a bridge onto Interstate 75.
FEATURE CONTENTS
24
I-75 Bridge Collapse Departments The Walkaround . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 News Share . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Road Tools. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Zoom In . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Beacons On!. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Tow Engineer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Ad Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34 Seminar Spotlight . . . . . . . . . . . . 43 Tow Boss. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52 Work Horse. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56 Letters to the Editor. . . . . . . . . . . 62 Repo Run. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64
When 83,000 lbs. of concrete fell off a bridge in Chattanooga, Tennessee, dragging was the first order before lifting. by Brendan Dooley
28
Emergency Lighting in the U.S.
Here’s an in-depth look at the state-by-state regulations and relevant codes you should be aware of for the beacons on your truck. by Brian J. Riker
36
Getting Muddy in Indiana
Towman’s Market . . . . . . . . . . . . 70
When muck got deep and temperatures dropped, two old-school rigs carried the load.
My Baby.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72
by Jim “Buck” Sorrenti
Repo Times. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66
Low Down . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74 Adventures of A.T. . . . . . . . . . . . . 81 Graham’s Wrecker Service in Franklin, Indiana, used two Hubbard heavies to recover equipment at a construction site.
4 • May 2019 - TOWMAN.COM
History in the Making By Dennie Ortiz
Recent times have seen some historic firsts! I received a text on April 10 from my Uncle Ramiro de a Reza, an astrophysicist, who said the day would be historic for his profession. A world press conference that day revealed, for the first time, the face of the black hole at the center of the galaxy. The towing industry, never to be upstaged, had it’s own historic first the following day when the Towing and Recovery Association of America elected it’s first female president, Joanne Blyton from Billings, Montana. Congratulations, Joanne! Joanne is a former state legislator and the 2014 American Towman of the Year; she has dedicated much of her life to advancing the goals of the towing industry. As TRAA president, she will excel. Times have been changing and women continue to see more opportunities become available. Ruth Landau, of Glenn’s Tow-
ing in Florida, recently recalled the time when, as a female, she was not allowed to be on-scene during a tow or recovery. Now we have safety apparel designed exclusively for women (see Road Tools on page 10). We have also featured a new line of safety gloves that were designed and manufactured by a women entrepreneur, who also happens to be a police officer. She told me she perused the idea after almost getting struck and injured the previous year while working on the roadway. Safety is paramount for all first responders. As we look to the future, our contributing editor, Brian Riker, makes a case in his Emergency Lights article (page 28) for a Uniform National Emergency Lighting Standard for all emergency responders. This standard would allow for less confusion among the motoring public and fewer injuries and fatalities for those working the roads. A must read! Both Brian and Joanne will be featured seminar speakers during our conferences at AT Showplace-Las Vegas, May 8-10. Hope to see you there!
Safety-Packed Issue of AT By Brendan Dooley
In this month’s focus on safety, you’ll find that AT’s editors and contributors have sought to bring you the latest and greatest on products and information to help keep you safer working on the roadside. On page 12, Operations Editor Randall Resch covers the ins and outs of being seen while you work. On page 18, Field Editor Terry Abejuela gives a rundown on the lighting options available to brighten your work zone. On page 28, Field Editor Brian Riker shares some of his exhaustive research into the state-by-state 6 • May 2019 - TOWMAN.COM
regulations for emergency vehicle lighting. (Special thanks to AT’s new layout artist, Gina Johnson, for the exceptional graphic to accompany Brian’s work.) On page 52, Field Editor Paul Stephens adds his thoughts on keeping yourself safe on-scene as well as impacting your area for additional safety factors. All those safety-focused pieces are in addition to new products, two recoveries, Repo Run, Workhorse and more, making this a pretty full issue. Perhaps you’ll have time to get it all read on the plane to Las Vegas to visit us at the AT Showplace, May 8-10? Be safe.
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 Gina Johnson Dennie Ortiz Ellen Rosengart Norma Calitri Jimmy Santos Toni Vanderhorst Henri Calitri Patrice Gesner William Burwell Peggy Calabrese Ryan Oser Emily Oz Bob Aglione Steve Calitri
Page Layout Artist Advertising Sales Mgr. Senior Account Exec. VP of Accounts General Manager Publisher’s Assistant Customer Service Subscription Manager TIW Media Director Regional Advertising Sales iMarketing Manager ATTV Producer Communications Director President
American Towman Media Headquarters 2 Overlook Drive, Suite 5, 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 ©2019 American Towman Magazine is published 12 times a year by American Towman Media, Inc. Subscription: Single Copy: $10 1 yr: $60 – 2 yrs: $110 International: $75 & $135 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.
2019 Hall of Fame Class Announced
The International Towing and Recovery Hall of Fame and Museum recently announced it will add seven people to its Hall of Fame. The Class of 2019 will be inducted in a ceremony on October 12 at the Chattanoogan Hotel in Chattanooga, Tennessee. The seven newest members are: John Coupland (Dorset, United Kingdom), Michael Cherry (Land O’Lakes, Florida), Jamie Davis (British Columbia, Canada), George Kuntz (Bismarck, North Dakota), Glenn Landau (Daytona Beach, Florida), Quinn Piening (Fremont, California), and Perry Shusta (Antioch, California). “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. *** The ITRHFM also recently announced the formation of an Experienced Owners Group that will provide support for company owners who are dealing with the ramifications of losing an employee on the job. The EoG is made up of towing and road service industry company owners who have had an on-the-job death and are willing to speak to others going through a similar loss. The group was formed for moral support; it will not provide answers to legal questions. “The Experienced Owners Group has been in development for several years. During the last year we have seen an increased need and have been told by those involved in the tragedies that this service would be of great benefit,” said Jeffrey Godwin, co-chairman of the ITRHFM Survivor Fund/ Wall of the Fallen Committee. “As we begin to roll out a few new Survivor Fund benefits in 2019, supporting of all survivors is our focus.” Source: towingmuseum.com.
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Tower Shields Man from Traffic AAA towman Waylon Mills was recognized by the Massachusetts State Police for preventing a potential tragedy as he used his tow truck to shield a man in a wheelchair from traffic who had wandered into a tunnel. boston25news.com image.
Massachusetts Turnpike Police credited AAA towman Waylon Mills with preventing a possible tragedy after he assisted a 56-year-old man in a wheelchair who ended up inside of the Prudential Tunnel as traffic rushed past him. Around 8:16 a.m. on March 26, officers received calls from several drivers who reported seeing a man in a wheelchair traveling westbound in the tunnel along the Massachusetts Turnpike.
“I saw a head and I’m like, nah,” Mills said. “And as I got closer, I saw the wheelchair and the person was just pushing themselves up in the wheelchair. … Nobody stopped. “Everybody was just going around him, some blowing their horns and stuff like that. And I was just shaking my head in the truck saying, ‘This is unreal.’ ” The man in the wheelchair was unharmed. Sources: boston.com; wcvb.com.
Airplane Narrowly
Misses Hitting Towman An Ontario, Canada, towman said he’s lucky to be alive after a small plane slammed across a road, just missing him, recently near Buttonville Airport in Markham, Ontario. Bill Chan captured the incident on his truck’s dash cam. Chan told CBC Toronto he was on his way to a family meal at the time of the incident. “I was driving on the highway, I was picking up speed, and then the plane just came right in front of me,” he said. “I tried to dodge it, and that’s when everything crashed.” Chan said he got out of his truck to make sure the people on the plane were OK and saw them getting out of the plane.
A small plane crossed in front of towman Bill Chan as he was driving and slammed across a road, just missing him near Buttonville Airport in Ontario, Canada. Dash cam image.
He said the plane was approximately “two car lengths” away from his truck when it flew by and crashed. Source: cbc.ca.
… AT Spirit Ride hopes to re-launch in 2020. … APTO-Sponsored Bill Now Law
AT Spirit Ride on Hiatus in 2019 groundbreaking campaign promoting Move Over laws. The Ride generated 700 news articles and television news stories covering its ceremonies and processions and the Move Over message. The non-profit project hopes to raise the funds necessary to re-launch in 2020.
The Association of Professional Towers-Ohio recently announced that Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine has signed HB 62 into law. It includes an APTO-sponsored permanent exemption from size and weight limits for heavy-duty towing and recovery vehicles traveling to and from the site of an emergency. The exemption applies when a tower is engaged in the initial towing and recovery of a vehicle, when traveling to the nearest site where the vehicle can be brought into compliance, to the nearest qualified repair facility and to the nearest storage facility as well. “APTO would like to extend a special thank you to the members of the House Finance Committee, especially State Representative Dave Greenspan, for accepting our amendment and their attention to our testimony during the committee process,” said an APTO release. Source: APTO.
The American Towman Spirit Ride is taking a hiatus in 2019 after a successful two-year campaign in 2017-’18 that relayed the Spirit casket in 308 towns and cities across America. The processions included approximately 10,000 tow trucks and other emergency service vehicles in a
Oregon Considers State Tow Board
John Sabalauskas, a towman with CCC Towing in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, recently rescued a woman who was being attacked by a male suspect attempting to take her pocketbook. Sabalauskas was driving down Market Street when he heard her desperate cries. He looked over and saw the woman on her back, fighting off a man who was on top of her. Sabalauskas threw his truck in park, jumped out and ran over to help. Towman John Sabalauskas heard a woman’s cries for He also yelled to help and jumped out of his truck to fight off her attacker. another bystander to philadelphia.cbslocal.com image. assist, who grabbed at the A few weeks later, Sabalauskas attacker. Sabalauskas said that he knocked the attacker off-balance, and was honored for his heroics with a city the two men held him down until council resolution presented by Counpolice arrived. cilman David Oh. Source: philadelphia.cbslocal.com.
Oregon Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum recently released the state’s annual list of Top Ten Consumer Complaints, and, for the first time, towing made the list. Complaints included consumers who claimed they were wrongfully towed or towed where there wasn’t proper signage. Rosenblum now has introduced Senate Bill 548 to create an Oregon Board of Towing. This board, comprised of members of the towing industry, law enforcement, consumer advocates and relevant agencies, would address complaints and conduct investigations related to the towing of vehicles, and impose disciplinary action when needed. Source: oregonbusinessreport.com.
Work the non-traffic side–Stay Safe!
AT Spirit Ride Ambassadors Mike and Ilce Corbin with the memorial casket, Spirit.
Towman Saves
Woman from Attacker
AMERICANTOWMAN.COM - May 2019 • 9
Check Out What’s NEW and HOT! Hi-Vis Safety Gear for Women
Safety4Her offers comfortable and stylish high-vis clothing options for women. The company has developed high-vis, reflective gear for women including hi-vis leggings, vests, rainproof jackets and more. The company said it is designing with safety and fashion in mind to provide safety apparel that fits working women everywhere.
safety4her.com
Maintenance-Free Dollies from ITD
In The Ditch recently released its all-new X-Series Dolly, the XL. The XL models offer eXtended Life automotive sealed hubs that never need grease. The X-Series Dolly sets come in two sizes: standard SD and larger XD. Ergonomic and lightweight, both SD and XD models include bolt-on, easily replaceable spindles with high-wear bushinngs.
intheditch.com
High-Vis Traffic Gloves
Haltzgloves’ new Nighttime Traffic Full Gloves feature high-visibility reflective materials to help be seen at night. According to the company, the patented materials provides outward reflective visibility at up to 1,250 linear feet. Traffic officer Deidre Goodwin created the high-vis gloves after experiencing near-misses working the busy roads in Atlanta, Georgia.
haltzgloves.com
10 10 •• May May 2019 2019 -- TOWMAN.COM TOWMAN.COM
New Options for Will-Burt Powerlite Towers Will-Burt now is offering two new options for its Night Scan Powerlite HDT light towers. The optional Sirion LED light package nearly doubles the lumens that are generated in the company’s light towers. The standard Powerlite HDR is 120,000 lumens, while the Sirion package delivers 220,000 lumens. The Profiler is particularly popular in heavy recovery according to Will-Burt because it can fit on the toolboxes that run down the side of the rig. The company said “Highway Thru Hell’s” Jamie Davis has purchased a few of these. (Pictured is the Profiler version, which now delivers 110,000 lumens vs. the standard option of 60,000.)
Work Work the the non-traffic non-traffic side–Stay side–Stay Safe! Safe!
Additionally, an optional wireless remote control is now available for all Night Scan HDT towers, as well as a new wireless remote-controlled light called the Night Scan Spot. The Night Scan Spot can be mounted just about anywhere on just about any vehicle.
willburt.com
AMERICANTOWMAN.COM AMERICANTOWMAN.COM -- May May 2019 2019 •• 11 11
The Power of
ORANGE
T
By Randall C. Resch
here’s more to this industry than being a steering wheel holder. One component of being a professional tow operator is the ability to recognize on-scene dangers. The manner you respond to those dangers may be part of a legal battle anytime motorists are injured or killed (regardless of fault). Once the scene is assessed, a plan of action should be immediately initiated where safety techniques and methods address observed dangers. In today’s litigious society, the common attack against our industry is to ask, “What did you do, Mr./Ms. Tow Operator, to identify the area you were working when my client drove into your tow truck? What did you do to make it clear that there was an active work zone?” (Never mind if their client was DUI or texting, the possibility remains that they’ll finagle a way of blaming you for what you didn’t do, but should have done.) Towers who haven’t prepared an “active work zone” with appropriate lighting, signage, equipment or techniques are likely to be accountable for a plaintiff’s settlement if they can’t defend their on-scene actions to meeting a certain standard of care. How should towers identify an active work zone?
On Arrival
The process of your on-scene actions must be determined before work begins. This arrival assessment begins before you exit your truck. Once towers have exited their tow trucks or flatbed carriers, they change hats from driver to pedestrian. If an active work zone—for the tow trucks and other recovery com-
12 • May 2019 - TOWMAN.COM
Use of hi-vis signs provides advanced warning of the recovery scene ahead.
ponents—isn’t easily observed by approaching drivers, there’s more of a chance that a wayward motorist could enter the work area. To limit that possibility, pedestrian tow operators must employ tactics to ensure their scene be obviously visible. Pedestrian workers are most vulnerable when struck by DUI drivers and distracted motorists. Operators must be constantly aware of dangerous traffic and other roadside dangers by limiting on-scene exposure by not standing in traffic lanes; stay far away from active, moving traffic. Arrival assessment is an immediate, visual determination that arriving tow operators and first responders use to determine what actions are needed based on the type of scenario and the positioning of vehicles and obstacles. If vehicles are blocking traffic lanes,
traffic may still be flowing around you while you work outside and beyond the tow truck. The first consideration of arrival assessment is situating the tow vehicle strategically so as not to add confusion to the scene. Position your tow vehicle legally and defensively while activating overhead amber/emergency lighting, in accordance with Move Over laws, and set about working the incident. Emergency lighting and traffic devices provide advanced warning to approaching traffic of your work zone. A semitrailer that’s parked on an emergency shoulder creates extremely dangerous conditions. Adding a heavy wrecker to that mix decreases shoulder safety exponentially. Semis (at speed) should be considered extremely dangerous to your safety where high visibility is key to survival.
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A pool noodle is an inexpensive visual aid on wire rope rigged across a work zone.
Hi-Vis
There are specific safety items and accessories that towers use (or should be) on a regular basis. The motoring public easily sees high-visibility, reflective gear and equipment. When referring to the use of tow-specific equipment, TIM calls for towers and first responders to employ these kinds of items to provide early warning. Such items would include: Amber rotating/strobe lights: Specific and necessary for Move Over requirements, if a casualty vehicle is SUV-sized or larger, lower lights won’t be seen by approaching traffic. Upper structures and rotor/strobe emergency lights may not be visible when a carrier’s deck is lowered to full tilt. When a heavy wrecker positions in front of a disabled semi, a semi’s sheer size renders overhead emergency lights useless. Reflective vests: ANSI 3 vests are a necessary, important and required component of tow operator safety. When reflective vests are worn, the wearer is more visible to motorists. All first responders are required to wear reflective vests on their outermost garment when walking, standing or working highway accidents and incidents.
Cones block traffic from the recovery area on each side of the wire rope. Orca’s Island Towing photo.
14 • May 2019 - TOWMAN.COM
‘‘
If you respond in
your heavy wrecker to tow a disabled
semi, you know it’s going to take more than 10 minutes to
hook up and be on your way.
Reflective triangles: The value of reflective triangles, especially at night, is immediate. The Department of Transportation requires them to be carried on commercial vehicles; their purpose (like cones) is specific to working shoulder towing scenarios. Minimally, and per Federal 49 CFR 392.22 Emergency Signals; Stopped Commercial Motor Vehicles: “Whenever a commercial motor vehicle is stopped upon the traveled portion of a highway or the shoulder of a highway for any cause other than necessary traffic stops, the driver of the stopped commercial motor vehicle shall immediately activate the vehicular hazard warning signal flashers and continue the flashing until the driver places the warning devices required.” The regulation later states the driver shall place the warning drivers “as soon as possible … within 10 minutes” of stopping. Reflective cones and flares: Categorized as two of the most important safety items available to highway operations, towers repeatedly fail to employ them when working
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Use of hi-vis jackets is a first defense towers can use in becoming more visible working on the roadside.
shoulder events. Cones and flares are an obvious addition in identifying any active work zone where tow operators situate their tow trucks. When employed properly, the initial arrival assessment determines how cones/ flares are set where doing so identifies active work zones, lane changes or road closures giving direction to approaching motorists. (With the use of flares come other considerations, especially where the presence of fuel, gasoline and dry grass are part of the work environment. Use flares only in areas where the likelihood of a flash fire is minimal.) Clip-on flags: Identify active work zones when winch cables are stretched and ready for winching scenarios. Similar to a water ski flag, they’re easily added to winching scenarios by clipping them to a stretched cable. Pool noodle: Bright orange noodles help to identify an active work zone when cable is stretched and readied for winching scenarios. In order to identify stretched cable at recovery sites, towers apply bright orange noodles over stretched wire rope as a means to identify the cable’s
16 • May 2019 - TOWMAN.COM
presence. There’s no reason tow trucks can’t be outfitted with several noodles, especially when they cost as little as a dollar and change. Prepare the noodle by cutting one slice through the entire length and simply place it on the cable. Application takes seconds and the bright orange color immediately highlights where cable is situated. Signage: To provide TIM pre-notification and advanced warning to approaching traffic, hi-vis safety signs must be compliant as written in the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices. Large, orange reflective signs are approved for use at locations where tow truck activity is occurring. Placed strategically—well before the onset of tow, accidents, or incidents— these signs provide advanced information to approaching motorists. Available from many sources, they’re designed for easy, fold-up storage and cost as little as $60. The power of orange is a consideration for all tow trucks and carriers, regardless of size, type or operations. While most law enforcement contracts don’t always require having these items aboard rotation tow trucks,
savvy tow owners know the importance of making their trucks noticeable during all applications. If you respond in your heavy wrecker to tow a disabled semi, you know it’s going to take more than 10 minutes to hook up and be on your way. It makes perfect sense to employ these kinds of safety devices at the onset of every tow when you anticipate that you’ll be there more than 10 minutes (as required by CFR 392.22). So, if the semi’s commercial driver hasn’t placed triangles and you’re now on-scene, the liability transfers to you. The climate of distracted driving is at pandemic levels. The few minutes it takes to employ these kinds of safety devices can help increase your total on-scene safety. Why not make it part of your routine.
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.
Truck-mounted light towers set up quickly and illuminate a large area. Will-Burt image.
Scene Lighting at All Angles
L
By Terry Abejuela
ighting on a tow truck is an important tool operators have at their disposal to help do their job effectively, efficiently and safely. Lighting on tow trucks includes emergency warning lights, work lights, toolbox lights and scene lighting. Except toolbox lights, each of these lights must be utilized correctly to perform the job effectively and not create a hazard to motorist. Emergency warning lights are required on tow trucks in many states (see page 28). Laws often differ on the color and legal use of these lights, so it is imperative that towmen be familiar with their state and local laws. For example, tow trucks in California are allowed to have amber emergency warning lights, but they can only use them if an unusual traffic hazard exists. The use of these amber warning lights when no unusual hazards exist can create a hazard by distracting motorists. In general, operators should min 18 • May 2019 - TOWMAN.COM
imize the use of emergency lights. If you only need to warn traffic approaching from behind the tow truck, only use rear-facing lights when possible. Flashing amber warning lights warn motorists that there is a hazard, but does not instruct the motorist what to do. Directional traffic advisor light bars are able to display a directional arrow to direct motorists to move to the left or right. Halogen and High Intensity Discharge lights are available on the market, but many towers have opted to go with LED bulbs (Light Emitting Diodes). HID lights are usually brighter than halogen or LEDs, but they are more fragile. LEDs are solid state and have advantages over incandescent, halogen and HID light sources, including less energy consumption, longer lifespan, improved physical robustness, small size and low heat. LEDs are considered to be as close to actual sunlight as you can currently get.
Light Towers
Scene lighting, as the name implies, focuses on illuminating a large area such as a collision or recovery scene. Scene lighting can have a positive impact on scene safety. What you can’t see can hurt you. Sufficient lighting at the scene is required for the safety of all first responders working the incident scene. Truck-mounted light towers have become increasingly popular on heavy-duty tow trucks. These lights can be quickly set-up to illuminate a large area of an incident scene. Remote control allows for easy set-up, repositioning and storage. Portable generator lighting packages are available that allow the light to be brought to a scene when the truck is not able to get close enough or into a position where the lighting tower can be effective. Generator technology has resulted in smaller, lighter, more powerful and more energy-efficient generators. Portable, battery-oper-
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Work the non-traffic side–Stay Safe!
AMERICANTOWMAN.COM - May 2019 • 19
Work lights to help loading at the wheel lift.
ated lights mounted on a telescoping pole can be very useful. There are units available that only weigh about 25 lbs., making them very portable. Scene lighting can be integrated with a camera system to record an incident. This can be useful as a training tool as well as documentation of the work performed for justification of billing. It is becoming increasingly popular for companies to utilize drones at incident scenes. Some drones are capable of providing illumination of a scene as well as camera recording.
Work Lights
Tow trucks are often equipped with work lights to illuminate their workspace. This type of lighting, often referred to as task lighting, focuses on illumination of a specific task or job being performed such as loading a vehicle on a wheel lift or car carrier.
20 • May 2019 - TOWMAN.COM
‘‘
Sufficient lighting at
the scene is required for the safety of all first responders
working the incident scene.
Most tow trucks are equipped with upper and lower work lights that can be displayed individually or together. These bright lights must be aimed properly to avoid blinding motorists as they approach the work zone. In California, the law says that the work lights must be aimed so that the light hits the roadway no more than 75’ behind the tow truck.
Brow lights can be mounted on the front of the truck to provide more illumination of the area in front of the tow truck. In the past, only the truck’s headlights illuminated this area. At an accident scene, better illumination of the area in front of the truck can help you avoid running over debris deposited on the roadway by the incident thus potentially avoiding damage to your truck. LED work light strips can be mounted along the rails of a car carrier deck to illuminate the under carriage of the vehicle being loaded to help the operator quickly identify tie-down locations. Spotlights can be aimed to illuminate a work area. Side-mounted spotlights have a limited range of motion. Roof-mounted spotlights provide more range of motion to cover more area and can be equipped with wireless remote control.
Personal Lights
Personal lights include flashlights, hardhat lights and other wearable warning lights. Flashing amber or red lights can also be effective in helping others to see you when you are in an area of the scene without direct light. Battery technology has resulted in powerful and lightweight batteries
such as lithium-ion batteries and nickel-metal hydride batteries that can provide a lightweight, long-lasting power source for portable lighting. Often, on a recovery scene, a tow operator may need lighting that is both lightweight and portable to the illuminate the immediate area. Climbing down an embankment safely
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LED strips brighten the toolbox. ◀ Deck lights illuminate the carrier bed.
Work the non-traffic side–Stay Safe!
AMERICANTOWMAN.COM - May 2019 • 21
to attach recovery chains to a vehicle may require hands-free lighting such as a cap or hardhat light. Headband lights are another option available.
Toolbox Lights
Toolbox lighting is essential for tow truck operators to quickly and easily find equipment in the toolbox. Ideally, toolbox lights should take up little space and be durable. LED light strips work well in this application. Whenever you are in the market to purchase lighting equipment, make sure you do some research before making a decision. As technology is rapidly advancing, more effective options that are smaller, brighter and more efficient are continually offered.
Field Editor Terry Abejuela has 40-plus years of light-duty towing and recovery experience. He is also a light-duty Level 1 instructor for the California Tow Truck Association.
22 • May 2019 - TOWMAN.COM
Work the non-traffic side–Stay Safe!
AMERICANTOWMAN.COM - May 2019 • 23
I-75 Bridge By Brendan Dooley
Yates Towing responds for fallen beam blocking Chattanooga traffic
CO LLAPS
E When a concrete section of a bridge over I-75 in Chattanooga, Tennessee, collapsed, Yates Towing & Recovery handled the clearance with its Peterbilt/ Century 1075 rotator.
O
n April 1, 2019, a chunk of concrete beam fell from a bridge over Interstate 75 South in Chattanooga, Tennessee, at the Interstate 24 split. It hit a car and injured the driver, who was extracted and taken to hospital. The large beam however was blocking the interstate as it leaned against the bridge above. Officials called on nearby Doug Yates Towing & Recovery to respond to the scene and help get the road clear. Shannon Yates, VP of Doug Yates Towing & Recovery, said they sent two rotators to the scene, expecting to rig and lift the concrete beam off the structure it was leaning on and out of the way.
24 • May 2019 - TOWMAN.COM
‘‘
It seemed like
we had everyone from the city of
Chattanooga out there, from the mayor to state
engineers and anyone else.
“They called us immediately because they knew we could respond more quickly than a crane getting
there,” Yates said. “First we had to get the beam off the bridge where it was still hanging.” Officials on-scene decided it was too dangerous for anyone to try and rig the top of the beam, so the Yates crew was instructed to drag the concrete off the bridge. They used their Peterbilt twin-steer/Century 1075 75-ton rotator to do the work. “We hooked it from the bottom and winched it until it fell and hit the roadway; once it did that it broke in two and we went in with torches to cut the rebar loose,” Yates said. “When the concrete was one big chunk, it was about 83,000 lbs., but it broke in two pieces. We used torches to cut through the rebar.”
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Yates said the big piece weighed 50,000 lbs. and the little chunk weighed about 33,000 lbs. “When the two pieces were free of each other, we picked each one up and set it over the guardrail and out of the way,” Yates said. There was lots of media coverage of the event. “It seemed like we had everyone from the city of Chattanooga out there, from the mayor to state engineers and anyone else,” Yates said. “It was like five hours for total of us on-scene getting it cleaned up doing what we had to do as those other people did what they needed doing like investigation and pictures and documentation on what they thought caused the bridge to fail. “We’d move it a little bit, and then they’d go back and do more investigations and check things over again. … Originally we just thought we were going out to lift the beam off and set it down.” Other than that winch-and-drop development, it was just a heavy-lift scenario, said Yates. “It was just basic heavy lifting; we used our 75-ton Miller rotator to pick up the chunks and pieces and rotate them over the guardrail and set ’em down out of the way,” Yates said. “Then they brought in an excavator with a big hammer and broke it up into pieces and buried it.”
Editor Brendan Dooley joined AT in January 2011 after serving as the editor of two magazines covering the auto repair industry for shop owners, techs and tool distributors. His experience includes hard news on daily newspapers and editorial leadership at vintage motorcycle and car magazines. Brendan is WreckMaster 6/7A certified. 26 • May 2019 - TOWMAN.COM
With the beam in two main pieces, Yates rigged, lifted and rotated the chunks over the guardrail and set them back down.
For safety reasons, Yates first dragged the concrete beam until it fully dropped onto the roadway.
Work the non-traffic side–Stay Safe!
AMERICANTOWMAN.COM - May 2019 • 27
in the U.S. WA*
By Brian J. Riker
ND
MT*
MN SD
OR
ID*
WY*
*not required
IA
NE*
KEY
NV
UT
CO
KS*
MO*
CA AZ
Amber Lights
OK*
NM
AR*
*except red
Amber & White Lights
Amber, Red, & Blue Lights
Amber & Red Lights
Any Color Combination
When In-Tow
Permit Required
Wheel Lift Only
Slow Moving
Stationary Only
Headlights Required
Hazard to Traffic
Emergency
* See sidebar, p. 29, for additional regulations 28 • May 2019 - TOWMAN.COM
H
ow often have you wondered what the actual rules are regarding what lights are required, when they can be used and, most importantly, how they are regulated? Lighting standards are guided by several sources, including the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards, specifically FMVSS 108. This standard is the basis for state-level regulations in all 50 states related to standard lighting equipment such as tail lights, turn
TX
LA
signals, headlights and reflectors. This standard is why all vehicles in the U.S. have similar lighting systems and uniform colors (red to the rear, amber to the front or side, etc.) By contrast, emergency lighting
STATE CODE
Compiled by Brian J. Riker (current as of March 2019)
State by state, what are the regulations you need to follow?
Alabama: 32-5A-115(c). Alaska: 13 AAC 04.095. Arizona: 28-947 Arkansas: 27-36-305 and 27-50-1203. *red for special licensed trucks
California: CVC 12-2-7 25253. Colorado: 42-4-214. Connecticut: 14-96 Q(c)(f). Delaware: 4134(b). Florida: 316.2397(c). Georgia: 40-8-92. Hawaii: no citation available. Idaho: 49-910A(2).
*red allowed when blocking highway
Illinois: 625 ILCS 5/12-215(b)1. Indiana: no citation available. Iowa: 321.423. Kansas: 8-1720, 8-1404 and KSA 66-1329.
ME VT
WI
*red for emergency tow trucks
NY
MI* IL
IN
*not required
CT WV
KY TN
SC* AL
NJ
VA*
GA
*red allowed when at crash or disabled
Minnesota: 168B.16. Mississippi: 63-7-19. Missouri: 304.022.
*also allows sirens when responding to emergencies
Montana: 61-9-226 and 61-9-416. *red optional when stationary
DE
Nebraska: 60-6-233.
*optional red and blue at accident or disabled
MD
NC*
*not required
MS
MA RI
PA
OH
Kentucky: 189.920(4). Louisiana: 32:327(c). Maine: 29-19-2054(2)(c). Maryland: 22-218(c)(6). Massachusetts: 22.06(2)(a). Michigan: 257.698(5)(f).
NH
AK
Nevada: NRS 484D.185. New Hampshire: 266:78-h,i and 266:109. New Jersey: 39:3-50. New Mexico: 66-3-835 (D). New York: no citation available. North Carolina: 20-130.2. *required when towing vehicle greater than 96” wide or wider than tow vehicle
North Dakota: 39-01-03.1 and 39-01-01. Ohio: 4513.17. Oklahoma: 595:25-5-2. *red and blue optional
is not regulated on the federal level, leaving it open for 50 or more different interpretations of what is safe and effective. There are guidelines published by several sources, like the National Fire Protection Association, that give sound advice on what colors
Oregon: 816.280. Pennsylvania: 173.3(5). Rhode Island: 31-24-31(2). South Carolina: 56-5-4710. *red only at scene of accident
South Dakota: 32-17-10. Tennessee: 55-9-402(d)(1)(c). Texas: 547.305(d)(4). Utah: 41-6a-1616. Vermont: 23 VSA 1252(b). Virginia: 46.2-1025.
FL
Work the non-traffic side–Stay Safe!
HI *except blue
*on scene or in tow
to use and how to use them for the most effective advanced warning. This mixed approach to emergency lighting standards is often confusing, espe-
➢
Washington: RCW 46.37.196. *red for emergency tow trucks
West Virginia: 17C-15-26(4)(A). Wisconsin: 347.26(6). Wyoming: 31-5-928.
*amber and white breakdown and normal hazards, allows red and bue at emergency scenes
AMERICANTOWMAN.COM - May 2019 • 29
STATE REGS
BY THE NUMBERS
50 15 6 6
Allow or require at least amber warning lights. Allow colors other than amber.
Require permits to use any warning lights, including amber. Require use of amber warning lights while in-tow with wheels on ground.
2
Minnesota and Wisconsin require use of red lights when at accidents or disabled roadside vehicles.
1
Connecticut requires use of amber when towing or on carrier deck.
30 • May 2019 - TOWMAN.COM
cially for motorists traveling across the country. Emergency lighting is not a traffic control device, as it is merely intended to signal approaching motorists that there is an unusual event occurring that requires extra caution. Highway responders often forget this and develop a false sense of security when their warning lights are displayed, especially when the colors are any combination other than amber.
‘‘
This mixed
approach to
emergency lighting standards is
often confusing, especially for
motorists traveling
across the country. Although red and blue lights tend to portray a greater sense of urgency among the general motoring public, as well as command greater respect, they do not offer any greater protection than amber, white or any other color of warning light.
Less Is More
Numerous studies have indicated that motorists are often momentarily blinded or otherwise distracted by emergency warning lights. That’s not to say people are drawn to flashing lights like a moth to a flame, however emergency lights can create a hazard. It is accepted practice among law enforcement and fire departments to turn off most of their emergency lighting once on scene. Most emergency vehicles are equipped with multiple levels of
lighting control, allowing operators to turn off the forward-facing lights on divided highways, reduce intensity or speed of the flash or even cut specific colors from the display. The same applies to work lighting; only the lighting that is absolutely needed should be illuminated, and never if it will blind approaching traffic. For example, there is no need to have the lower (under body) work lights illuminated on rollback carriers while loading a vehicle onto the deck. As you tilt the deck level, those lights will become exposed and could blind an approaching vehicle— causing them to strike your truck, you or your customer! What about colors? Many towers want red and blue lights for protection. Fifteen of 50 states currently allow colors other than amber on tow trucks while working at an emergency scene or roadside. The most common color permitted is red, with a few allowing red and blue or any color combination. All 50 states allow amber lights when presenting a hazard to traffic or working stationary alongside the roadway.
Red and Blues
In light of the alarming number of struck-by injuries and deaths each year, there has been a call for red and blue lights to be nationally recognized for tow trucks. It is speculated that motorists have become desensitized to amber lights due to their increasing use by many non-emergency type vehicles. It seems like everybody has a flashing amber light on their truck today. Modifying the emergency lighting standards by creating a Uniform National Emergency Lighting Standard makes sense, yet red and blue isn’t necessarily the answer for tow trucks. A national standard would be helpful, not only for our industry, but for emergency responders as a whole. For example, in Pennsylvania a blue light is
only a courtesy; motorists are not required to stop or even yield right-of-way. Yet, just a few hours south of there a blue light means police and that you yield to them. This is very confusing for the average motorist that does not travel interstate often, and the meaning of lighting colors should not be confusing. Perhaps when we as an industry can stop misusing our amber lights, we will be ready for a national roll out of red and blue lights. With the exception of the seven states that require display of amber lights while in-tow, there is absolutely no legitimate reason to display amber (or any other color) warning lights while in tow if you are able to maintain normal highway speeds. Yes, occasionally we will have a severely damaged or oversized vehicle in tow that warrants display of warning lights, but that is the exception and not the rule. To see tow trucks, especially carriers, running around with a million flashing lights lessens their impact. It is not industry-accepted practice to run with your lightbar flashing just because you are a tow truck! Unless you are operating in one of the seven states that require this unwarranted display of warning lights, you should stop doing it immediately. Otherwise, you are adding to the problem of drivers not paying attention when our amber lights are on. In developing a uniform national standard, we need to ask how we currently use emergency lighting, how we should
➢
Work the non-traffic side–Stay Safe!
AMERICANTOWMAN.COM - May 2019 • 31
use it and what best practices can we learn from other responding agencies. Perhaps we should consider voluntary use of directional warning devices, remote-mounted lighting devices and even lighting devices mounted on our person, such as lighted safety vests and other garments. Some best practices that are highly recommended include: • Keeping all lighting devices clean and well-maintained. • Individual control of front, back and side lighting, separated into zones. • Work lights on individual switches for upper, mid-body and lower level. • Avoid mounting strobe lights too close to DOT-required lighting. • Turn off as many lights as possible while on-scene, including headlights and other forward-facing lights that may blind others. • Use brighter settings in daylight;
32 • May 2019 - TOWMAN.COM
reduce light output levels at night. • Make sure in-cab indicators are working to avoid driving with lights activated unintentionally. • Use tow lights on towed vehicles rather than using overhead beacons.
‘‘
Your police contract
may have additional stipulations
on emergency lighting use.
As always, be aware of the laws in your home state, as well as any other states you may work in, and comply with those regulations. Your police contract may have additional stipula-
tions on emergency lighting use; six states even require approval from the local law enforcement agency or a state permit before installing or using any warning lights. Stop and think for a moment how often you have been blinded by lights from another emergency or highway maintenance vehicle, especially in construction zones. If a trained professional that is very aware of what those lights mean can be distracted or blinded momentarily, what happens when the average driver comes upon your own warning lights? Stay safe, watch your back and please be mindful of how you use your warning and work lights.
Brian J. Riker is a third-generation towman, with 25 years of experience in the ditch as a tow operator, and president of Fleet Compliance Solutions. He specializes in helping navigate the complex world of federal and state transportation regulatory compliance. He can be reached at brian.riker@fleetcompliancesolutions.net
AD INDEX May 2019
Page #
Access Tools 33 Akins Body & Carrier Sales 43 AmeriDeck West 31 Atlanta Wrecker Sales 49 Atlantic Emergency Solutions N 75 AT ShowPlace - Las Vegas 50-51 Austin Insurance W 80 AutoReturn 47 Captain Recovery M 78, N 79, S 76 Casanova Towing Equipment S,W 80 Chelsea Products Div. of Parker 19 Chevron Commercial 32 Crouch’s Wrecker Equip. & Sales 61 Custer Products 54 Danco Products 31 Deep South Wrecker Sales 47 Dual-Tech Wreckers & Carriers 67 Dynamic Towing & Equipment Mfg. 23 Elizabeth Truck Center 68 Environmental Chem. Sol. (ECS) 60 ESTRA Tow Show N 76 Ford Commercial Truck 5 G. Stone Commercial N 76 Ginn Carrier & Wrecker Sales 46 In The Ditch Towing Products 57
34 • May 2019 - TOWMAN.COM
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Page #
Intek Truck Equip. Finance & Lease 53 Jerr-Dan 2,3 Kenworth of South Florida 53 Legacy Plus Insurance 62 Len Zermenos 63 Lodar USA 27 Matjack Jumbo Safelift 48 McMahon Truck Center M 75 Midwest Wrecker M 76 Miller Industries 7 Mobile Create USA 48 New England Truckmaster N 77 North American BanCard 17 Northeast Wrecker Sales N 78 NRC Industries 13 OMG National M, N 79, S 75, W 76 Order of Towman M, N 80, S 78 Pacific General Insurance M 76 Peak Wrecker S 75, W 79 Performance Advantage Co. 22 Progressive Commercial Insurance 55 Quest Towing Services 62 R & R Towing Insurance W 75 Recovery Billing Unlimited 27 Safetyline 15
Page #
Sanderson Truck Equipment 34 Santander Bank 84 Sea Crest Insurance Agency W 76 Select Truck & Equipment M 77 Sepson US 21 Southern California Tow Equip. W 77 Steck Mfg. Co 20 Sterling National Bank 23 Towbook Management Software 83 Tow Expo Dallas 40-42 Tow Industries W 78 Towman Medal 69 TowMate 22, 60 TowTrax 67 Tow Truck Locator W 79 TruckMax 27 Urgent.ly 19 US Fleet Tracking 49 Utility Trailer Sales S.E. TX W 75 Warn Industries 59 Will-Burt Company, The 39 WorldClass Insurance M 77, W 78 Worldwide Equipment 35 XINSURANCE W 77 Zip’s/AW Direct 25
GETTING
MUDDY in INDIANA
36 • May 2019 - TOWMAN.COM
Graham’s Wrecker Service in Franklin, Indiana, sloshed around in a mud pit recovering a Skyjack Telehandler at a construction site.
Hubbard heavies handle recovery at a frigid construction site by Jim “Buck” Sorrenti
This story originally ran on AT’s sister site, towindustryweek.com, which features industry news, training, recoveries, new products, events and more. Don’t miss out— make sure to read it each week. Work the non-traffic side–Stay Safe!
O
n Feb. 1, 2019, Graham’s Wrecker Service in Franklin, Indiana, was called to recover a piece of heavy equipment from a muddy construction site. “We were contacted … by Franklin Equipment about possibly recovering one of their large Skyjack lifts that was buried in the mud on a construction site, approximately 250-feet down and behind the new Nashville/ Brown County Event Center in Nashville, Indiana,” said Scott Graham, who represents the fourth generation in the family business established in 1929. The temperature included a wind chill down to -19 degrees F, so the company wanted to hold off a few days to attempt the recovery. The downside to that was the temperature rose above freezing and it rained. This made the entire site a mud pit, from 6” to 12” deep. The initial request was for a large wrecker to simply winch out the Skyjack. Not a word was said about the transmission being faulty with no pulling power to break the suction caused by the mud. They had spun it down on the frame, creating holes with all four tires. It was buried 3’ deep and there it had sat for four-plus days. The Skyjack model SJ1256 TH Telehandler is a heavy unit for heavier-duty applications. This was a very large telehandler with a length of 23’-1” to the fork face, a width of 8’-5” and a height of 8’-6” with the boom down. It
➢
AMERICANTOWMAN.COM - May 2019 • 37
‘‘
We got the unit
out without damage, returned to Franklin,
and spent two hours washing trucks, cables, chains and boots.
weighed in at 34,500 lbs. and being stuck in the mud made it that much heavier. “We were apprised of the state of the access drive and where we would have to sit on a mud pad,” said Scott. “The decision was made to leave the rotator at home, due to its size and weight. It would have basically fell through and been stuck before even getting to the winch pad. … We elected to start with ‘Heavy,’ our ‘92 Freightliner with a 50-ton, three-winch Hubbard wrecker and side-puller.” Operator Steve Williams went down, got set up and gave it a shot. It became quickly apparent that he had enough winch power, just not enough anchorability due to the wet ground and dead pull. He could get no lift on a 250’ pull. He then discovered that the unit had no power. At this point, Steve called and asked Scott to bring “Pete” down. “Pete” is a 1977 Peterbilt 359 with a 40-ton two-winch Hubbard. Both of Graham’s Hubbard heavies are Zacklift equipped trucks. The Pete has a Zacklift Z30 and the Freightliner has a Zacklift Z402. Steve and the construction crew then called Franklin Equipment for how-to guidance, and pulled the planetary gears/pins, allowing the unit to free wheel. Scott arrived about 45 minutes later. “We pulled 250-feet of cable through the sticky mud to the stuck
38 • May 2019 - TOWMAN.COM
The Peterbilt/Hubbard unit did the hard work, and needed to be winched out by the Freightliner/Hubbard unit (top). The Skyjack SJ1256 TH Telehandler had no power to assist in the pull out of the mud (above). The wire rope went out some 250’ to reach the stuck Skyjack (below).
Skyjack Telehandler,” Scott said. “With the two Hubbard heavies, and the help of a small dozer pushing, the Skyjack literally popped straight up out of the holes and we proceeded to winch and ‘cable steer’ it around a ditch and up the hill to flat ground.” Amazingly, “Heavy” walked right out of the mud, but “Pete” was stuck. “‘Pete’ was the sacrificial lamb so to speak,” Scott said. “We were in a foot of mud and gravel. I had one shot to spin in, so I had to bury poor old ‘Pete’ into position for winching, and there he stayed. Steve took great delight in winching me out. He was smiling the whole time he was pulling me out. “With two trucks and a little dozer nudging it, the recovery itself took about one hour once we had both trucks on scene. We got the unit out without damage, returned to Franklin, and spent two hours washing trucks, cables, chains and boots.”
Jim “Buck” Sorrenti, a longtime editor of American Towman, has been our field editor for the past 10 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.
Work the non-traffic side–Stay Safe!
They spent more time washing the Hubbard units and tow equipment than on the recovery.
AMERICANTOWMAN.COM - May 2019 • 39
T OW E XPO DALLAS AUGUST 15–18, 2019
Skip the Form and Register Online @ TOWEXPODFW.COM Or mail this form to: 2 Overlook Drive, Suite 5, Warwick, NY 10990 • Fax: 845-986-4171 Phone: 800-732-3869 x214
D A L L A S • F T . W O R T H
— REQUIRED INFORMATION —
1. REGISTER HERE
By advance-registering, the company “Boss” and one guest are admitted free to Exhibit Hall. A $5 fee applies to all others. Children under 14 free. Produced by AT Expo Corp.
1st Registrant: (FREE) 2nd Registrant: (FREE) 3rd Registrant ($5): 4th Registrant ($5): Company: City: Phone:
Title: Email: Title: Email: Title: Email: Title: Email: Mailing Address: State: Zip: Country: Do You Tow For Your Town/Police? o Are You a STO Member? o Yes o No Yes o No
2. PLEASE CHECK BOXES BELOW 1. What is your primary business?
o Towing/Recovery o Auto Repair/Serv. Ctr. o Repossession o Transport/Trailer Serv. o Salvage/Autoparts o Truck Repair o Auto Body Shop
When did you last attend an American Towman show?: o This is my first show o 1-2 yrs. ago o 3-5 yrs. ago o More than 5 yrs. ago 7. What brand(s) of chassis do you use? 3. # Employees: o 1-5 o 6-10 o 11-20 o Ford o Freightliner o 21-50 o 51-100 o 100+ o Service Station o Ram/(Dodge) o Western Star o Auto/Truck Dealership 4. Which best describes your purchasing authority: o Navistar o Kenworth o I authorize/approve purchases o I recommend o No authority o Hino o Vehicle Leasing o Peterbilt 5. Tow trucks in fleet: o 1-3 o 4-7 o 8-12 o 13-16 o 17+ o Finance/Banking o GMC o Isuzu o Distributor Equip 6. Types of trucks in fleet (check all that apply): o Chevrolet o Other o Light Duty o Medium Duty o Heavy Duty o Transport o N/A o Lockout o Class 7/8 o Service o Carriers o Rotators o Other o Other
2. Secondary Business (check all that apply):
o Service Station o Auto/Truck Dealership o Vehicle Leasing o Finance/Banking o Distributor Equip o Lockout o Other
o Towing/Recovery o Auto Repair/Serv. Ctr. o Repossession o Transport/Trailer Serv. o Salvage/Autoparts o Truck Repair o Auto Body Shop
3. EVENT REGISTRATION – Exhibit Hall Open Fri. 8/16 & Sat. 8/17 11 am - 5 pm
Quantity
$ Amount
FREE EVENTS
AMERICAN TOWMAN CONFERENCES INCLUDE: Towing & Recovery • Business Operations • Safety • Sales & Marketing Working With Legislators • Police Towers Conference
Please Check All the Events You Wish to Attend
EXHIBIT HALL • Fri., Aug. 16 & Sat., Aug. 17; 11am - 5pm
o 1st & 2nd registrants are free; Additional $5 each. Badge is good for both exhibit hall days! ...................# attending: _____@ $5 pp $______
TOWEXPO CONFERENCE PASSPORT • Thur. Aug. 15, 3–5pm; Fri. Aug. 16, 8am–11am; & Sat. Aug. 17, 8am–11am $125 advance registration fee; $195 after 8/14 – Save $70 when you register now! Includes Police Towers Conference!
o 1st registrant o 2nd registrant o 3rd registrant o 4th registrant ............................................................ # attending: _____@ $125 pp $______
USA WRECKER PAGEANT • Trucks enter Thur., Aug. 15, 8am–5pm & Fri. Aug. 16, 8am–10am and stay in Arena until Sat., Aug. 17, 5pm
Check class you will compete in. One vehicle per class & up to four per company. $75: o Light (pre-2018) o Light (2018-2019) o Medium o Vintage (Pre-1993) o Service/Support Truck $100: o HD Single Axle o HD Tandem o Carrier o Rotator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $75/$100 $______
WRECKMASTER HEAVY DUTY RECOVERY TRAINING: CONVENTIONAL & ROTATOR
Thurs. Aug. 15, 8am–12Noon and 1–5pm; Fri., Aug. 16, 8am–12Noon. $695 after 8/14; Conference Passport included. o 1st registrant o 2nd registrant o 3rd registrant o 4th registrant. ..........................................................................# attending: _____@ $595 pp $______
MEDIUM/HEAVY RECOVERY TRAINING (12-HOUR COURSE) • Classroom & Hands-on with CIRT instructor Bobby Tuttle.
Fri. Aug. 16, 8am–5pm (includes boxed lunch); Sat. Aug. 17, 8am–12noon. Conference Passport included. o 1st registrant o 2nd registrant o 3rd registrant o 4th registrant ................................................................... # attending: _____@ $495 pp $______
THE BIG SMOKE VIP EXPERIENCE • One complimentary cigar, one premium cigar, one premium drink, and a gift. Thur., Aug. 16; 9-11pm. TAP-IN Grill & Pub, downtown Grapevine (shuttle provided). Sponsored by Auto Return. o 1st registrant o 2nd registrant o 3rd registrant o 4th registrant ..................................................................# attending: _____@ $25 pp $______
Subscribe to American Towman Magazine 1 year new or renewal $40 (regularly $60) ............................................................................................................................ $40 $______ o
o THE BIG SMOKE • Thurs. Aug. 15; 9-11pm; TAP-IN Grill & Pub, downtown Grapevine (shuttle provided). One complimentary cigar. Sponsored by AutoReturn ......................................................................................................... # attending: ______ o 10 GALLON GALA • Fri., Aug. 16: 5-8 pm. Casino Night, Country Line Dancing and more! ......................................................... # attending: ______ o BITE & A BREW • Sat., Aug. 17, 3–5pm; Longhorn Hall. Sponsored by American Towman ................................................. # attending: ______ o USA WRECKER PAGEANT CEREMONY • Sat., Aug. 17, 4:30; Longhorn Hall ............................................................................. # attending: ______
4. PAYMENT Credit Card Number: Name on Card:
CSV# (on back of card):
Expiration Date:
r Billing Address if Different From Above:
5. HOTEL RESERVATIONS
DISCOUNT RATE CUT-OFF DATE: JULY 12, 2019
Gaylord Texan Resort • TowExpo Headquarters: 1501 Gaylord Trail, Grapevine, TX 76051 • $179 + $20 resort fee and tax. S/D. r Hotel features a Fitness Center and Spa. Rooms have flat panel television, balcony with patio furniture, workstation with ample lighting, small refrigerator and safe. Convenient to restaurants, pools, and convention center.
o Guarantee reservation to card Arrival Date:____________, 2019 - Depart Date: _____________, 2019 # Rooms __________ # Guests in each room ___________ # of beds ___________ If reserving more than one room please list names for each room: 1st :______________________________________ 2nd:_________________________________________ 3rd__________________________________ Special Requests __________________________________________________________________________________________________
May Mag
What’s Your Succession Plan?
W
By Charles Duke
hile 71 percent of entrepreneurs plan to retire in the next 10 years, most are woefully unprepared. According to a 2018 study conducted by Northwestern Mutual, a financial services company: • One in five Americans have NO retirement savings at all. • One in three Baby Boomers, the generation closest to retirement age, only have between $0-$25,000 in retirement savings! • Three quarters of Americans believe it is “not at all likely” (24%) or only “somewhat likely” (51%) that Social Security will be available when they retire. • Nearly half of adults have taken no steps to prepare for the likelihood that they could outlive their savings. Jim Silverman, director of national accounts for Automobile Training Institute, will be facilitating a seminar at the American Towman Las Vegas show titled, “Effective Succession Planning,” to help towmen and business owners better prepare for retirement. Silverman said that in order for tow company owners to comfortably retire, they need to develop an adequate financial plan and do major preparation for who will take
44 • May 2019 - TOWMAN.COM
over the business along the way. “You really have to be prepared in advance,” Silverman said. “Most people don’t prepare for their retirement until they’re ready to retire; and once you start thinking about retirement it’s too late to ‘think about retirement.’ They should be thinking about it when they’re young and healthy and starting out the business.
‘‘
Tow business
owners looking to retire and enact
their succession
plan should always be prepared for the unexpected.
“The biggest challenge is that they don’t start early enough.” In planning for retirement, business owners should do a mathematical calculation as to how much it costs them per year to live. Silverman said that once you retire, you actually have more free time; so it’s more expensive to live. Getting out of the house, taking trips; it all costs money. You need to be prepared for your expenses after retirement, and it shouldn’t be bare bones, he emphasized. “Then you have to work backwards to say, ‘Do I have enough money in the bank or in my 401k or my retirement plan or whatever I have to support that going forward?’, Silverman said. “Most people think ‘I have Social Security; that will take care of me;’ but Social Security is not that much. It’s not easy to live on Social Security (which is) below the poverty line in most states. “So the other thought is, ‘I’m going to sell my business.’ That’s great; what is your business worth? What are your business assets? ‘Well, I’ve got five trucks that are each five years old, and they’ve got a lot of miles on them and they’re sort of worn out. What am I going to get for them?’ And that’s what you have to live off of.” The business owners who are in their
Accelerated Savings Is there any way for an entrepreneur to accelerate (so to speak) their readiness to retire, if they don’t have enough saved or a plan in place? Jim Silverman, director of national accounts for Automobile Training Institute, said that there is an opportunity for a person in that position to make a one-time lump sum deposit to catch up. “Of course, you have to have that money on hand to make that deposit. “If you don’t have the money at 60, you need to start thinking about: ‘How am going to live? Am I going to live with my kids? Am I still going to have to work after retirement? I’m going to retire at 65, but then what am I going to do?’ “‘I’m going to still have to get a job. I sold my business, or I sold my assets to my business; I still have to get a job. I’m going to have to drive someone else’s tow truck part-time—or I have to stand at Walmart and say, ‘Welcome to Walmart’ and get a part-time job.’ ”
30s or younger are who Silverman says are in the best position for future planning. This person can start today putting away income right now. If somebody is 30 now, they need to be saving up for the next 30 years almost the same amount that their income is today. His advice to that business owner is to start by calculating your income. “When you’re calculating your income, you say ‘It costs me this much money to live every year, now. This is my cost of living at this point in my life. So I need to have that much money set aside for every year I intend to live past 60 or 65. “You put away half of your income today for the next 30 years because at 60 you’re going to end up living until 90. Especially the people who are 30 today. Medical science has extended our lives ridiculously.” Silverman said the second challenge is finding who is going to succeed you. However, it is extremely important that you tell the person you have in mind that you’re looking at that person as your successor. Without that, there is the possibility that you lose a good candidate, as they may take another offer for another job. “You forgot to tell him that you were planning for him to take it over— so he left for a job that pays him two dollars more an hour. That’s a major one. Then you have to work on a succession plan for (his position) and for
Work the non-traffic side–Stay Safe!
you,” Silverman said. The best way is to pre-plan it, Silverman said. The owner that won’t have family to inherit the business should be out looking for a new employee; and when they hire their new employee to think of that person as “your replacement.” “The first part of the job requirement is ‘I am hiring my replacement. I’m not hiring you to drive my truck; I’m hiring you to take over my company,’ ” Silverman said. “They’re going to get a better caliber of person, and they’re going to find somebody that realizes the value of going forward and taking over their company. “Hopefully that person is either going to do a buyout over a time period; or if they’re young enough, you could potentially get some insurance on it so that it will pay you something.” Tow business owners looking to retire and enact their succession plan should always be prepared for the unexpected. One does not know what’s going to happen tomorrow. Health, the economy, etc. can put a dent in plans. Silverman even went as far as saying that you never know when there may be a national emergency, such as 9-11, or a personal tragedy like a business fire. And, Silverman said, you shouldn’t expect the government to bail you out. It’s going to call for creativity. “You do not want to sell your
assets in a fire sale. By fire sale I mean, ‘I decided today I’m closing down; I’m going to auction off all my trucks and my equipment, and I’m out of business.’ You do not want to do that. That’s the most expensive way. So you really do have to be prepared. Have your affairs in order. “The first thing is to know exactly what you have and to know where everything is, and you need somebody else to know where everything is because you never know when one of those emergencies are going to happen. You need to have somebody who knows where your secrets are hidden.” Silverman said that his seminar is also going to talk a little bit about business culture. “Business culture is what attracts people to your company and what makes them stay. People come to the job because of the job; they leave because of the person.”
ShowPlace Seminar
Jim Silverman’s seminar, “Effective Succession Planning,” will take place at the South Point Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada, Thursday May 9 at 8:00 a.m.
American Towman Magazine Senior Editor Charles Duke has written and served as editor for trade, music and nonprofit publications. He also serves as the editor for AT’s online sister publications Tow Industry Week and Tow Industry Today.
AMERICANTOWMAN.COM - May 2019 • 45
Jerr-Dan, Worldwide Donate Truck to CTTA
Jerr-Dan Corp. (jerrdan.com), in conjunction with Worldwide Equipment Sales (newtowtrucks.com), has donated a new 2018 RAM 3500 with a CHP-approved Jerr-Dan MPL-NG aluminum body to the California Tow Truck Association (ctta.com). The truck that will be auctioned at the CTTA Industry Leaders & Awards Night dinner on May 10 to benefit the CTTA Foundation, a 501(c)3 non-profit dedicated to providing training and continuous education to keep towers and the motoring public safe. The CTTA Industry Leaders & Awards Night takes place at the South Point Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada, during the American Towman Showplace. This year, CTTA marks 50 years of protecting the California tow-
46 • May 2019 - TOWMAN.COM
ing industry and providing operator training. “As a long-time supporter of the CTTA, Worldwide Equipment Sales is thrilled to have the opportunity to contribute to such a special evening like the CTTA Industry Leaders & Awards Night,” said Barry Wilson, general manager of Worldwide Equipment Sales of California. “Jerr-Dan is a strong supporter of towing associations that are committed to their local communities and those that foster education and training of our industry,” said Jeff Irr, senior director of sales and marketing for Jerr-Dan. The CTTA Foundation was established to provide funding and support for education within the towing industry. The foundation aligns values, passions and resources to support professionalism, training, and benevolence in the towing and emergency road service industry while fostering a positive image to the motoring public. “We are wholly committed to providing California towing and recovery
drivers and towing business owners with the best industry training and education, in addition to supporting them through the challenges they face in the profession,” said Terry Warford Jr., president for the foundation.
New Site for Hino Chrome
Hino Trucks line of popular chrome accessories, HinoStyle, now has its own website at hinostyle.com that features an interactive experience for customers. For a limited time, when you visit the new site, Hino owners can register for an opportunity to win $3,000 in HinoStyle accessories. “Our goal is to add convenience for owners that are looking to stylize the look of their trucks as well as provide more chrome options,” said John Donato, VP of Parts Operations for Hino Trucks. HinoStyle accessories are exclusive to authorized Hino Truck dealerships.
Work the non-traffic side–Stay Safe!
AMERICANTOWMAN.COM - May 2019 • 47
Meyers Truck Becomes Stephens Truck Center Meyer Truck Center Oklahoma was purchased by Brady and Jackie Stephens of Collinsville, Oklahoma, and now will operate as Stephens Truck Center, which will be a Miller Industries distributor. They have added an outside sales manger, Grant Hickman. A release said the company’s website is in progress, and will be at okwreckers.com.
Roush CleanTech Adds Managers
Roush CleanTech’s focus on business development and customers has led to some new hires and promotions (roushcleantech.com). Brian Carney has been promoted to VP of customer success, overseeing both Roush CleanTech and Roush Performance’s Customer Success divisions. Dylan Kyle joins Roush CleanTech as commercial sales manager to expand the adoption of propane autogas vehicles in commercial fleets. Adam Wilkum joins Roush CleanTech as business development manager, focusing on the alternative-fuel school bus market.
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Work the non-traffic side–Stay Safe!
AMERICANTOWMAN.COM - May 2019 • 49
AAA-Arizona Access Tools – pg. 33 Agero Alliance Funding Group Allstate Roadside Services American Towman Magazine American Transportation Insurance Group Anchor Graphics Archangel Device Arizona Prof. Towing & Recovery Association Ascentium Capital Auto Data Direct Automobile Club of Southern California Automotive Training Institute AutoReturn – pg. 47 BBSI Beacon Funding Beacon Software Best Tools Boxer Tools Casanova Towing Equipment – pg. S, W 80 Chergey Insurance Chevron West/Golden West Towing Equipment Clean Diesel Specialists Inc. Copart Auto Auctions CrashFilm CTTA Custer Products – pg. 54 Custom Employer Solutions Custom Radio Detroit Torch DewEze Mfg. Discovery Bay Insurance DriverLocator.Com Dynamic Towing Equip. & Mfg. – pg. 23 East Coast Truck & Trailer Sales Eemerge.com Elite Specialties Agency Employer’s Guardian Environmental Chemical Solutions – pg. 60 ESinnovation Excel Sportswear Farmers Ins / Khasim Ins Agency Federal Signal Finex Group LLC Five Star Registration FleetDown FleetNet America Freeway Service Patrol GEICO Global Gadgets GM Consultants Heartland Payments Systems Honk Technologies
IAA ICW Group Insurance Idaho Wrecker Sales In The Ditch Towing Products – pg. 57 International Key Supply Isuzu Commercial Truck of America Kalyn Siebert Kleine Motor Co Landoll Corporation Legacy Plus Insurance – pg. 62 Lien Enforcement, Inc. Lift Marketing Group Live View GPS Lubnau Gonzalez Insurance Agency Mach 1 Services Manufacturer Express McCandless International Trucks MercurySend.com Metabond USA MFE Distribution Co Miller Industries – pg. 7 Miracle System & Airopower by Equipment Gateway Mobile Create USA – pg. 48 Mobile Video Computing Solutions Murphy Bank Nation Safe Drivers (NSD) National Automobile Club Nite Beam Nomad Manufacturing NRC Industries – pg. 13 NXGEN Payment Services Omadi OMG National – pg. M, N 79, S 75, W 76 Penny Pockets PFC Brakes Phoenix USA Planet Halo Podium Corp. Pro Tools Prof. Exchange Service QuakeLED Quest Towing Services – pg. 62 Quick Cash for Remotes R & R Towing insurance – pg. W 75 R.A. Storelee Insurance Ramos Oil Company RealWheels Corp. Road America Robinson Oil Rocky Mountain Wrecker Sales Roush Clean Tech RP Recovery Consulting
Samsara Sanderson Truck Equipment – pg. 34 Santander Bank – pg. 84 Santiam Enterprises Sea Crest Insurance Agency – pg. W 76 Sierra Pacific Insurance Southern California Tow Equipment – pg. W 77 Specialty Vehicle Equip. Funding Spill Tackle Steck Mfg. Co. – pg. 20 Sterling National Bank – pg. 23 Sun Country Trailers Swoop TCF Equipment Finance TJR Equipment TKO Solutions Tire Tools Todd Equipment TOMAR Electronics TomTom Tow Industries – pg. W 78 Tow Times Tow Truck Locator – pg. W 79 Tow World Towbook Management Software – pg. 83 Toweez Towing Dispatch Services Towing.com TowLien.com TowTrax – pg. 67 towXchange Trac2Tow Tracker Management Systems Transit Pros Truck Body Sales, Inc. Truck Protection Inc. (GAP) UniFirst Corp. Urgent.ly – pg. 19 US Bank Corp US Fleet Tracking – pg. 49 Vasquez Tow Truck Repair Verdant Commercial Capital Warn Industries – pg. 59 We Buy Key Fobs Wellnex Group Whelen Engineering Co. Whiterail Reviews Will-Burt Company, The – pg. 39 WorldClass Insurance Services – pg. M 77, W 78 Worldwide Equipment Sales – pg. 35 WreckMaster Xpress Pay Xtreme Air Wedge Zip’s /AW Direct – pg. 25
*Supplier names in bold are display advertisers in this issue with their ad page number cross-referenced.
Safety Factors On-Scene
W
By Jimmy Santos
e as an industry (yes, this means you), working in emergency management and roadside scenarios, need to consider our safety and the safety of others while doing our job always; a parking lot can be just as dangerous as an open highway. This is the area we all seem to need to take a step back and consider if we’re making the right split-second decisions based on the consequences. Too often, we hear of an unfortunate accident or injury related to an operator, customer or other industry professional. Do you take the time to learn more about the incident or just move on? There is a tremendous amount of education available from every incident, injury-related or not: • What happened? • Why did it happen? • What mistakes were made? • What corrections can be made? Most companies will deal quietly with internal problems, such as vehicle damages and injuries, not wanting to publicize—even within the company—their mistakes or operator mistakes. Yet we all can learn from a mistake, so why not educate your staff on what steps or corrections can be made when bad stuff happens. There is no secret that the Move Over law needs heavy communication to the motoring public, but what about the Slow Down part? We need to communicate this as an educational tool in schools, businesses and national news. If traffic is flowing, many citizens immediately pull out their phones and start to video or take some pictures. I have been on scenes where people have stopped in the middle of the interstate to take a picture; the officer looks at them and implores them to “Keep moving, don’t stop!” Would it not be prudent for the same officer to pull that motorist to the side of the road and issue a summons
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Reflective clothing and personal safety gear worn at the scene will help project a more professional image, as well as making operators on-scene safer.
or a warning? Now you are alerting all operators around that person that distracted driving at an incident scene will not be tolerated. At least the scenes will be slightly safer.
Self Protection
As a driver, are you protecting yourself to best extent on-scene? As an owner, are you sure your operators are protected? The law is clear on the
ANSI class ratings for roadways, and yet there are many operators who show up to get a vehicle off the roadway in jeans and a T-shirt, no reflective gear anywhere to be seen, no vest, no jacket, no pants, nothing. At what point do we as an industry take steps to protect ourselves? The law enforcement agencies should also enforce this policy as most of them do not practice this and they lead us by example.
This cannot be as simple as putting on a vest or reflective jacket; it’s more in education, driver awareness through DMV education programs and, most importantly, CDL training programs (where a guy was pumping gas or a school teacher yesterday and today is driving an 80,000-lbs. missile). Drive it home in those driver classes that if you see a person in reflective clothing, slow down, move over and stay completely focused until you’re past the scene. Once we have penetration into that part of the education, it can work its way into strict law enforcement instead of officers watching cars speed by a human being with nothing more than a painted white line on the roadway between them and injury or death. This will take years to accomplish, so we need more immediate solutions to help minimize injury. My family’s company takes safety very seriously and it has reflected into our local market.
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Work the non-traffic side–Stay Safe!
AMERICANTOWMAN.COM - May 2019 • 53
Other industries wear uniforms and safety gear that protects as well as helps identify them at an accident scene.
Market Impact How can you make an impact in your market? This is done through proper use of your safety equipment. I recently heard a young driver tell an operator that some safety equipment, “looks stupid on your truck!” This operator had a newly patented safety device installed on his truck for testing, and was dismayed by the comments. He asked me why he had to have it on
his truck if everyone was making a joke about the way it worked. I explained it simply, “You are a night-shift employee, your safety is as important as others; however, you have an elevated risk exposure where those others have daylight on their side. If this device works as well as it does in theory, all trucks will end up with it.” I’ve never subscribed to the mentality that looking cool should decide what
you wear. It is a closed-minded approach and you probably should not be towing if you feel that way. There are a lot of devices out there to assist with a safer work environment. Thinking outside of the box can help you mitigate your company’s liability exposure by protecting your scene.
‘‘
We can all do a
better job when it comes to safety, especially as
we are usually
the one industry
most likely being pressured to work faster.
When you are on a large accident scene, most emergency management, DOT and hazmat techs
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are easily identifiable by either their uniforms and the safety equipment they wear. We should be at that level anytime we leave on a call to be prepared for anything as well as be easily identifiable to incident leaders, other agencies and the motoring public. We all want the recognition when a truly difficult job is handled, but we don’t always project the proper image by utilizing the appropriate equipment and personal gear. Why not make sure they know exactly who we are and how professional our industry can be? We can all do a better job when it comes to safety, especially as we are usually the one industry most likely being pressured to work faster, e.g. to open a roadway, unblock a parking lot, etc. I point to others’ timing when approached by DOT or other officials to work faster: Would you ask the road construction crew or bridge inspector to go faster? A
Work the non-traffic side–Stay Safe!
DOT official recently was upset we weren’t getting a roadway cleared fast enough for his tastes. I was told to see if I could speed up the recovery operation because it was impacting traffic. “We are working off the shoulder, over the guardrail on a 47-degree incline. If you would like to help carry the 40-lbs. chains down the hill while hanging onto a guide rope, it would speed up the process,” I said. Make sure you are keeping your company, your employees and yourself safe and don’t let anyone else compromise your approach … unless it is deemed unsafe by others. This will serve you well in the field and keep your head in the game.
Jimmys Santos is the Safety Editor for American Towman Magazine.
We can all do a better job when it comes to safety and visibility on-scene.
AMERICANTOWMAN.COM - May 2019 • 55
Is Used Oil Testing Worthwhile?
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By David A. Kolman
ell-planned preventive maintenance is essential to efficient vehicle operation. An integral part of the PM program should be engine oil analysis. Why? Because it can be very helpful with engine maintenance. It is akin to sending one’s blood to the lab for testing. Used oil analysis is a fast, non-damaging way to gauge an engine’s health by providing important information about the condition of the engine’s internal parts and oil contamination. Also, monitoring engine wear serves as an early warning system of potential engine problems. Through diagnostic oil analysis, hidden or emerging potential prob-
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lems or failures can be identified. This allows for the appropriate PM or repairs to be done while they are small, rather than waiting for costly catastrophic failures. With the knowledge gained from a consistent used oil analysis program, a vehicle operator/owner can help: • Optimize oil drain intervals. • Lower repair bills. • Increase equipment reliability and life. • Minimize unscheduled downtime. • More precisely track operating efficiency and maintenance practices. All this contributes to lowering total operating costs. Plus, a used oil
‘‘
Monitoring engine wear serves as
an early warning
system of potential engine problems.
analysis program can provide support in the event of a warranty dispute. Furthermore, knowing oil condition history provides additional input as to what has been happening with oil and, to some extent, engine-wearrelated problems. Having such information might also add resale/trade-in value to a vehicle.
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Oil Analysis Providers Selecting an oil analysis service is a strategic decision that requires a number of considerations. Among them:
Five Essentials
There are five keys to a successful used oil analysis program: 1. Have clearly defined goals and program requirements. 2. Take representative samples to make sure the oil can be determined by reliable, accurate testing. 3. Be sure sample information is complete. 4. Stay in regular contact with the oil analysis provider to promote accurate analysis interpretations. 5. Promptly review analysis reports to ensure abnormal or critical conditions are recognized and acted on in time to prevent damage and/or breakdowns, and to see if there are situations that require monitoring.
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1
Is the provider well-established and well-equipped?
2
Is the provider known for being a quality and reliable company?
3
Does the provider have knowledgeable, well-trained and experienced staff?
4
Is there rapid turnaround of analysis reports?
5
Does the provider offer an array of services, including training?
6
How user-friendly is the program?
7
Are report management features and tools available? Talk with other owners or managers to get recommendations on what companies they use for their used oil analysis.
Sampling Procedure
Oil analysis involves sampling and examining engine oil for various properties and materials to monitor engine wear and contamination from such things as water, antifreeze/coolant, fuel and dirt. This should be done on a regular basis to establish a baseline of normal wear and to help indicate when abnormal wear or contamination is occurring. Oil that has been inside an engine for any length of time will reflect the engine’s internal condition. Oil is in contact with the mechanical components as metallic trace particles, caused by wear, enter the oil. These particles are so small that they remain in suspension. Products of the engine’s combustion process will also become trapped in the circulating oil. Any externally caused contamination enters the oil as well. Thus, the oil becomes a working history of the engine. By identifying and measuring these impurities, an indication of the rate of wear and of any excessive contamination can be obtained. A best practice when taking a used
Work the non-traffic side–Stay Safe!
oil sample is to take a sample in the same manner each time. This helps to keep the results consistent. All paperwork that accompanies each sample needs to be as complete as possible. This information is critical to providing a complete and accurate analysis report. Be sure to note if any oil was added between oil drains and what type was used. Once a lab receives an oil sample, it typically takes up to 72 hours before the data is ready for reporting. Obviously, the longer it takes to get the sample to the lab the longer it takes to get the analysis back. Frequently, vehicle operators/owners accumulate several samples before sending them to the lab for analysis to save on shipping costs. In the long run, however, the value of the testing is lost due to this type of delay.
Understand the Reports
Reading the results of a used oil analysis results can be a challenge. However,
it is important to fully understand the findings. Always consult with the analysis provider if you are unsure of anything or if you have specific questions about a report. The No. 1 cause of machine wear is lubricant contamination. For that reason, oil analysis reports involving antifreeze/ coolant, dirt, fuel and, in some cases, soot contamination should get full attention. If a sample indicated a critical issue, typically, the laboratory will contact the customer. Oil and lubricant analysis programs differ in many aspects, including tests available, interpretations and reports, turnaround time, price and more. Invest adequate time and effort to be able to select the program that best serves your requirements and needs.
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.
AMERICANTOWMAN.COM - May 2019 • 59
TRAA Develops Support Staff Certification The Towing & Recovery Support Certification Program is the towing industry’s first educational program designed especially for individuals providing support to incident management efforts who are not themselves tow truck operators. A release from TRAA said the program is for new and seasoned dispatchers, office managers, company safety managers, compliance directors, non-operator company owners and general administrative staff. The program will include two levels: Entry Level (Nationally Certified Towing Support Professional) and Advanced Level (Nationally Certified Towing Support Specialist). The educational program aims to inform, evaluate and set the standard for professionals working in this important capacity, according to the release. It will cover a wide variety of content from customer service, on-scene and off-scene considerations, traffic incident management, post-incident activities and more. Source: TRAA.
Initiative to End Workplace Deaths This year, the National Safety Council will launch Work to Zero 2050 with a $500,000 grant from the McElhattan Foundation. Its purpose is to eliminate death on the job by the year 2050. The initiative will pilot and evaluate promising technology and training programs that could eliminate workplace fatalities in this lifetime. In the United States, more than 5,000 workers were killed on the job last year due to motor vehicle crashes, falls, exposure or other causes. In the early 1900s, more than 50,000 employees were killed each year; 10 times more than now. “We won’t stop until every one of these fatalities is eradicated,” a release from NSC read. Since 1913, NSC has used data, expertise and innovation to solve some of the toughest workplace safety problems. Source: National Safety Council.
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Praying for Towers’ Safety Ms. Ortiz, I want to say thank you for your help with the American Towman subscription, I really enjoy reading every story and even all the ads. Some of the stories are very touching, it really makes me sad when I read something in the magazine about someone not paying attention around an accident scene and putting the towing men and women in more danger then they are already in. Drivers need to show more concern and respect to the towing people; after all, they are there to help others be safe and to keep the roads open. It takes a dedicated person to do what they do. I don’t have much … I’m 63 now, but what I do have is prayer and I pray for all towing personnel for their safety and I would like to thank them for all they do. I watch “Highway Thru Hell” and “Heavy Rescue” and it’s amazing what they can do and I know that it took years to learn. Ms. Ortiz please keep up the great job of putting out a great magazine. Thank you. Timothy Lewis
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More Revenue Outside the Box
I
By Mark Lacek
t’s not only about repossessing cars. Recovery agencies are creating new revenue streams by providing services to a wide range of lenders. Boats, farm equipment, RVs and commercial trucks are just some of the collateral being repossessed. Repossession firms are realizing there is an entire new world of opportunity for those who aren’t afraid to think outside the box. For a minimal investment, a repossession agency can greatly improve their bottom line. A gooseneck trailer and a matching hitch in your pickup truck bed can be used to recover all types of equipment small and large. Financed collateral like lawn mowing equipment, small business equipment and farm tractors are sold and financed all across the country by hundreds of lenders. These lenders are always looking for someone to repossess their delinquent
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‘‘
accounts. A number of these recoveries are voluntary surrenders.
No longer can
the repossession service providers
limit themselves to repossessing only automobiles.
A well-equipped pickup truck with a fifth wheel and/or gooseneck hitch can also repossess a wide variety of trailers. Cargo trailers, boat trailers, landscape trailers and RVs can be repossessed, which often pay more
than the standard auto repossession fee. To compete in today’s competitive market, a repossession agency must provide these services to the lending communities. I have one client who finances semis; sometimes the trucks are in bad shape. This 2004 Peterbilt 379 is a clear example. When I brought the truck into the yard, it was in need of a complete overhaul. These photos are after a new paint job, a Caterpillar premium overhaul with four-year unlimited miles warranty, new carpet, new seats and a fresh set of tires. This truck sold for over $75,000; it would have had a hard time bringing in $20,000 when it was repossessed. My staff and I did a great job of rebuilding this truck while making money on the labor as well as a nice sales commission. For years the auto repossessor was
holding back from thinking outside the box. No longer can the repossession service providers limit themselves to repossessing only automobiles. More and more, agencies are becoming equipped to provide a wide range of services. Open your recovery agency up to this strategy and you will be on the road to bigger profits.
Do Your Job
In my Repo Run column in the last issue, I wrote about being broke down on the scales with a truck I had repossessed in Chicago, Illinois. As I wrote in April, the truck broke down and I had Portland Towing & Collision tow the truck to the Volvo dealer to fix the problem. About $35,000 later with a brand new engine, the truck was ready. Now it was time to travel to Kentucky and bring the freshly rebuilt truck back to Florida … simple enough if people would only do their job. This story begins with a flight to Nashville from Orlando, departing at 3:58 p.m. At the check-in gate, I’m told the flight is delayed until 7:58 p.m. “There is nothing I can do sir,” said the gate agent, “but here’s a food voucher.” It was for $10; printed clearly on the bottom it said, “not good for alcoholic beverages.” Really? I contacted the Volvo Truck dealer and asked them to park the truck outside the fence, and that I would be later than planned. So I arrived in Nashville much later than anticipated, but it still was something I could deal with. At the check-in counter at the Nashville Airport Hilton, the counter person told me my reservation confirmation was for a room somewhere in Virginia … and the hotel was full. In fact, all of the hotels in Nashville were full because of a cheerleading competition. I spent the next two hours looking for a room, even including places I normally would never stay. No luck. So, at 11 p.m., I hired an Uber for the 65-mile trip to Franklin, Kentucky, to pick up the Volvo. I spent the entire Uber ride trying to find a hotel room in or near Franklin. There weren’t any
Work the non-traffic side–Stay Safe!
Some rebuild work and labor pushed this Pete’s resale up more than $50,000, netting more money for the repo company as well.
rooms there because of some basketball tournament. You guessed it: Here I am again next to this Volvo super-truck, I’ve been awake for at least 16 hours and in no condition to head down the road. So I crawled up into the truck and off to sleep. The next morning, half awake and in serious need of a cup of java, I spent 30 minutes in a truck stop waking up before jumping on southbound I-65. By 8 p.m., I was home. The message in all this is, it’s difficult enough to make it through the day without having to deal with people who have no idea of how to perform
their jobs. From hotel booking agents who got the wrong state, to delayed airplanes, to the gas station attendant who swears I didn’t give him a $50 bill, and so on. Do your jobs, people. Some of us take pride in the job we do, we pay attention to making things flow; will the rest of you please stay out of our way?
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.
AMERICANTOWMAN.COM - May 2019 • 65
LPRs Dealt a Blow in Virginia
A Virginia circuit court recently ruled that police can no longer scan license plates and record them in a database, unless they’re related to an ongoing and specific investigation. The ACLU won the injunction against the police department of Fairfax County in a case that was filed in 2015 on behalf of a single motorist. As of April, police within the area surrounding Washington, D.C., cannot use LPRs at will. But in most every other place in America, license plates can be scanned. According to the ACLU, pro bono lawyers accepted the Virginia case after the group pushed for legislation in 2015 that would have prohibited police from using license-plate readers on everyday citizens and would have limited data storage to seven days. The legislation to prohibit this kind of LPR use failed, and the ACLU went to court, arguing such use of LPRs violated the state’s Government Data Collection and Dissemination Practices Act. The circuit court first sided with the police department, then the Virginia Supreme Court sided with the ACLU. Source: caranddriver.com.
Repo Agent Speaks Out on Job Dangers A Weslaco, Texas man who works for a repossession company is speaking out about some of the dangers he’s encountered while doing his job. Ramiro Villareal said he works a dangerous job and always hopes the owners understand. “You go with orders to pick up a vehicle or something because they failed to meet obligation, but they don’t look at it that way,” he said. He spoke of one encounter where a woman—whose trailer he repossessed—tried to ram him with her small car. “She was furious. She came around the driver’s side and tried pushing me over with her vehicle to the side of the road,” Villareal said. “I couldn’t
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believe it; but she tried her damndest.” Villareal feels fortunate to have never had a gun pulled on him after hearing about the man who was shot by a homeowner while trying to repossess property recently. “That guy is lucky; that guy is lucky because people get furious,” he said. Villareal said that he doesn’t carry any weapons on the job. “I hate to have to come to that point,” he said, “where it came down to that.” Source: krgv.com.
Primeritus Financial Acquires CARS Primeritus Financial Services, a provider of recovery management, skip-tracing, and remarketing services, recently announced its acquisition of Consolidated Asset Recovery Systems. “We are very excited to grow in size and scale and we will continue to invest in technology and operational capabilities which add value. As we continue this journey we will always embrace great people, great processes, and great solutions,” said Mike Thomas, Primeritus CEO. Steve Norwood, president/CEO for CARS, said, “We will continue to operate as separate businesses leveraging synergies in skip, back office functions and remarketing. We are very excited to be a part of the Primeritus family of companies.” Source: Primeritus.
Woman Accused of Stealing Repo’d Car A Memphis, Tennessee woman was arrested after police say she stole a car that had been repossessed by a local auto dealer. The manager for Joe Cooper Auto Sales told police that they sold a 2004 Pontiac Grand Prix to Ashinik Johnson in late January. Two weeks later the car was repossessed after she failed to pay a deferred down payment of $300. The vehicle was taken back to the business for safekeeping, the company
said. Two hours after the car arrived, employees said it vanished from their lot. According to an affidavit, Johnson admitted to retrieving the vehicle from the business during a subsequent phone interview with police. Johnson was booked into jail and charged with a felony count of theft of property. The next day, Johnson contacted a local television station and denied the allegations. She said her arrest was the result of a misunderstanding and that she was trying to retrieve personal items from the vehicle prior to her arrest. She also says the vehicle never left the car lot. Source: wreg.com.
Woman in Towel Runs over Agent Athens, Georgia authorities recently arrested an Athens woman after she allegedly ran over a repo company employee trying to take possession of her vehicle. Employees of C&O Recovery and Towing tried to repossess a 2018 Nissan Versa from outside an apartment complex, according to reports. As employees prepared to hook up the car to a tow truck, 24-year-old Shanita Maryann Smith ran from her apartment wearing a towel and got into the Versa. A repo company employee tried stopping Smith from driving away, but Smith put the car in reverse and began driving with the employee caught in the car’s doorframe, reports said. After she was dragged a short distance, the victim fell from the car, which ran over both of her legs and an arm. Smith then crashed the car into a parked SUV before speeding away and backing into a parking space, according to reports. After being located and detained, Smith was taken to her apartment so that she could get dressed. She explained that she had just gotten out of the shower when she heard activity near her car and she went out to see what was happening, according to reports.
She admitted to starting up the car and placing it into reverse when the repo woman jumped in and began fighting for control of the vehicle, according to reports. She accused the repo woman of elbowing her in the ribs. Smith reportedly explained to police that she drove off because she was scared and “had no intention at all to try and run over (the victim).” She denied knowing that she crashed into another vehicle, according to reports. Smith was arrested and charged with reckless endangerment and also hit and run for crashing into the parked SUV, police said. Source: onlineathens.com.
Man Arrested After Repo Shooting Police were on the scene of a shooting in Jackson, Mississippi, recently and one person was taken into custody. According to police, a man was shot during a vehicle repossession; he was taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Officers learned that the owner of the vehicle had fired shots at the tow truck, following the repossession of his vehicle.
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Brian Miller, 45, was taken into custody by Jackson police. The passenger in the tow truck was injured in the neck area and transported by the driver to an area hospital. The victim’s injuries may have been caused by glass debris resulting from the gunfire. Miller was taken into custody and has since been charged with aggravated assault and shooting into an occupied vehicle. Source: wlbt.com.
Man Steals Back Car Second Time A Vernon, Connecticut, man is facing two criminal charges after breaking into a storage lot and taking back his car after its second repossession, an arrest warrant indicates. Keishon Dullivan, 41, was arrested in April and charged with third-degree criminal trespass and second-degree criminal mischief, according to a warrant.
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Dullivan claimed he had a payment arrangement with his creditor and the creditor was uncooperative with police, so no theft charges were filed, police said. But Dullivan was still charged with breaking into Complete Auto Recovery and Transport to take back a 2017 Hyundai Sonata that had been repossessed for the second time, according to a warrant. He had confronted two owners of the company about their actions previously, according to a warrant. Dullivan is accused of scaling a 6’ fence and then backing the Hyundai through the fence to take it back, according to a warrant. Source: patch.com.
Millions Behind on Car Notes A record 7 million Americans are 90 or more days behind on their auto loan payments, according to
a study from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. That number is a million higher than the total at the end of 2010, a time when unemployment rates hit 10 percent and “delinquency rates were at their worst” notes the Fed. At that time, 5.3 percent of auto loan borrowers were three months late on their payments. Now, the share is a slightly lower 4.5 percent, due in part to a growing number of people taking out loans to purchase a car. But The Washington Post reports that there is increasing concern among economists that this rate has continued to rise in spite of or concurrent with dropping unemployment levels. That Americans are late on auto loan payments is significant, as this is one of the first bills individuals are likely to pay. Cars are often necessary for transportation to and from work, and falling too far behind on payments can lead to repossession of one’s car. Source: fortune.com.
CALIFORNIA TOW TRUCK ASSOCIATION INTRO TO TOWING The California Tow Truck Assn. presents INTRO TO TOWING. A new 5-part online course for towing beginners and new hires! Through five videos and corresponding quizzes, operators will learn the basics of towing. Students will receive a certificate of completion, and company owners are able to track their progress! Available now at: ctta@ctta.com
To Advertise In Towman’s Market CALL
800-732-3869 Ellen Rosengart x 203 erosengart@towman.com
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A Tale of Two Heavies by Jim “Buck” Sorrenti
Mechanical Animal
Chassis: 1987 International Paystar 5000. Wrecker: Holmes 750. Engine: Cummins. Trans: Eight-speed. Winches: 750 Holmes 25-ton. Builder: Holmes.
C
larence James Hafer and his wife, Ruth Ann, own Geneva Truck & Equipment in Cochranton, Pennsylvania. The company, in the trucking/ sales and towing industry since 1962, carries and sells a variety of used
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medium- and heavy-duty trucks and heavy-duty equipment. They also offer 24-hour towing and flatbed services. They have six full-time employees in shop plus four part-time employees
with more than 50 years of combined experience. Doug Sekerski is the garage manager, senior wrecker operator and scene supervisor for most of Geneva’s recovery operations. Their modern fleet of eight trucks handles everything from the smallest to the biggest jobs. It includes one medium-duty, one light-duty, two carriers, one service truck along with flatbed and Landoll trailers, heavy equipment, loaders, forklifts and three heavy-duty wreckers. Two of those heavies are “Mechanical Animal” and “The Big Red 1.” Mechanical Animal is a 1987 International Paystar 5000 with a factory-installed Holmes 750 25-ton wrecker. It is powered by a Cummins engine with an eight-speed transmission. The old Holmes split-boom 750s are excellent units that you just can’t
The Big Red 1
Chassis: 2008 Peterbilt 379. Wrecker: 2016 Custom Built 30-ton. Engine: Cat C13. Trans: Eight-speed. Winches: Two 17.5-ton. Builder: Dangelo’s Custom Built Manufacturing.
beat for straight-line pull winching. The split-booms are versatile and have been working off the side long before there were any rotators. The Holmes 750 mechanical wrecker is a legendary piece of recovery history and culture. The 25-ton 750 became the heavyduty wrecker to beat and there are quite a few in regular operation today because they have withstood the test of time. “Yep, this old 750 only has 12,000 original miles on it,” garage manager Sekerski said of Mechanical Animal. “It was a former municipal wrecker. It was used by a local city only. Spent most of its time in the garage parked in the corner. Used mostly in the winter months to pull garbage trucks and dump trucks out of the snow. “The attributes of this classic 750 are its pure brute strength, reliability and versatility.” The second heavy, The Big Red 1, is a 2008 Peterbilt 379/2016 30-ton Dangelo’s Custom Built 30-ton wrecker. It was installed in 2016 by Custom Built at their factory in Kane. Hand-crafted
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and hand-fit, from metal forming to welding and assembly, company owner Derek Dangelo personally supervises every step of the manufacturing processes. They manufacture their booms, sub frames, boxes and all related parts in Kane. The Big Red 1 is powered by a Cat C13 engine mated to an eight-speed trans. It has two 17.5-ton winches. The Big Red 1 has assisted local industry pulling loaded railcars to off-load over an underground hopper system when their winch system was down for repairs.
“It winched over 1 million pounds of cars (five rail cars) and cargo to offload,” Sekerski said. “Had to control the winching as the rail line had an upwards grade; winching was in both directions. We had to do this for several days until the repairs were done. “The attributes of our Custom Built are reliability, ease of operation and the overall quality of the unit.” These trucks are basic beasts of burden. They don’t boast any special paint or themes, and haven’t won any beauty contests. This dynamic duo just works the highways and byways, individually and as a team, day after day.
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Taking Off on Mobile
T
By Steve Calitri
owIndustryWeek.com, towing’s exclusive news and features online publication, revamped its format last month to be mobile-friendly on smartphones and tablets. Usage immediately skyrocketed. TIW received five times more page views and time spent on the site, and three times the number of unique readers, due to the improved search engine optimization of the scrolling format and the high number of smartphone and tablet users. Towers now are being keyed into everything towing via their smart-
phones, enhancing the tow boss’ awareness along with everything American Towman: the Magazine, Expositions, ATTV, TIW. But we must wonder what the world is coming to. Right now, smartphone users are receiving news bulletins and text messages relentlessly. People who were not news junkies are becoming so now. Those who were not particularly sociable now find themselves at the party, so to speak. Very soon I suspect Google will be coming out with a new revolution, a new knockoff of its Google glasses.
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Remember them? Before you know it, people will be walking around in an eerie info-fog, bombarded by the second with news, facts, fake news and entertainment. The look in their eyes, whatever unimposing eye-gear they wear, will be beyond a blank zombie. People’s brains of course can’t keep up with it all, not in the traditional sense of “being on the ball.” The brain in today’s world is already operating in a skip-and-skim mode with the electronic version of consciousness carrying most information currents running through it. Today one doesn’t need self to get by. You get by with Siri or Alexa, Amazon, and a plumber. Once in a blue moon you need a tower. But Siri or Alexa will call the tower for you. Tow bots are out there pioneering the operational landscape (stay tuned). Our lives are easier, in many ways and yet life as we have known it is vanishing quickly. TIW will have its app available for free download by June. Meanwhile TowIndustryWeek.com mobile is accessible on your smartphone browser. But what’s the next stage in this high-tech whirlwind? Could it be AT is furiously conjuring its own version of Siri, the iPhone’s AI genie who answers all your questions with personality and attitude? If so, ours would be called, “Mr. Industry,” aka John Borowski, who can answer any tow-related question. For those of you who already have Mr. Industry’s phone number, you’re a step ahead of us. If you want John’s phone number in the meanwhile—while we work on the digital version of John—you can meet up with him at the South Point Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas during Tow Industry Week, the event, or at his booth with AutoReturn on the showfloor of the American Towman ShowPlace, May 8-11.
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City to Ease Tow Licensing
The Westbrook, Maine, city council was scheduled to consider an ordinance amendment that would loosen restrictions on tow truck operators. As the city’s license ordinances read, tow truck operators with theft convictions are not allowed to serve city departments, notably the police department. Recently, the council has fielded and approved two appeals from towers who weren’t able to tow for the city because they had theft convictions dating back close to 30 years. With the amendment, tow truck operators convicted of a Class E or D crime or driving offense would be ineligible to provide services to the city for five years. Two such convictions would come with a 10-year ineligibility from the date of the most recent conviction. A conviction of a Class A, B or C crime or driving offense would make the individual permanently ineligible.
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“This is definitely a good adjustment that affords some flexibility,” said Councilor Mike Foley. Source: news.keepmecurrent.com.
Syracuse to Vote on Rate Increases The Syracuse (New York) Common Council recently heard from tow company owners about an increase and is considering raising the rate. If passed through the council, the city will adopt the rates used by Onondaga County. “We’ve been trying for the last couple of years to get it taken care of,” said Mike Sesta, owner of MC’s Towing. Rates for tows through the police department have stayed put for more than a decade. In March 2008, city leaders set the flatbed tow rate at $140 and it is still the same price today. Vehicle storage would go from $25 to $40 per day. A flatbed tow would go from $140 to $175.
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The council was scheduled to vote on the proposal as of press time. Source: cnycentral.com.
Towmen Pay Tribute to Schaeffer More than 70 towers lined up recently in Tunkhannock, Pennsylvania, to remember 24-year-old Colin Schaeffer. Schaeffer was trying to tow his own truck after it got stuck before work. A car ran over the cable he laid across the street and the cable snapped, hitting Colin and killing him. Tow trucks from all over northeastern and central Pennsylvania, as well as New York, New Jersey, Maryland and even Alabama came to take part in the tribute. The first tow truck in the procession had Schaeffer’s old tow truck on the back with his name written on the front. Source: wnep.com.
Ordinance Targets Excessive Overcharging The North Charleston (South Carolina) City Council recently approved the first reading of an ordinance to prevent people from being overcharged by tow companies. Under the ordinance, a wrecker cannot tow a car from private property without the property owner’s permission. Operators cannot go inside a vehicle whether it’s locked or unlocked. Fees will be set at $160 or $250, depending on the vehicle’s type or weight. Additionally, if the car owner returns to the vehicle and it’s hooked up, it must be released for no more than $80. “Tow companies by and large are doing the right thing and they have been doing the right thing. This is only addressing the few number of companies that are taking advantage of the consumer,” said city spokesman Ryan Johnson.
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Any towing company that violates the new law could face a fine up to $500 or up to 30 days in jail. Source: live5news.com.
ELD Exemption for Small Carriers A bill to allow very small carriers— those with 10 or fewer trucks—to forgo use of electronic logging devices and return to using paper logs has been filed in the U.S. House. Rep. Collin Peterson recently introduced H.R. 1697 into the House’s Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. The bill, dubbed the Small Carrier Electronic Logging Device Exemption Act, would exempt all carriers with 10 trucks or fewer from the ELD mandate, meaning they could revert back to using paper logs to record duty status. The legislation was originally introduced last May but failed to make it out of committee. Source: ccjdigital.com.
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$475K Fine for Predatory Towing
All County Towing in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, has been ordered to pay nearly $500,000 in fines after targeting cars at a mall in Sunrise. Companies caught making illegal tows in Sunrise will face fines as high as $15,000 per incident. All County was alleged to have illegally towed 94 cars near the Sawgrass Mills mall over the 2015 Thanksgiving holiday. A judge ordered All County to pay $411,000, or $4,372.34 per tow. At the city’s request, the judge tacked on $41,498 in interest and $4,475 in legal fees, bringing the final tally to $457,520. Neither All County nor its attorney could be reached for comment at press time. Sunrise first cracked down on tow companies in 2011 after an even more extreme towing frenzy at Sawgrass Mills mall. That year, more than 350 cars were towed on Black Friday,
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one of the biggest shopping days of the year. Sunrise Mayor Mike Ryan says his city has zero tolerance when it comes to predatory towing. Source: sun-sentinel.com.
Ordinance Targets Excessive Overcharging The North Charleston (South Carolina) City Council recently approved the first reading of an ordinance to prevent people from being overcharged by tow companies. Under the ordinance, a wrecker cannot tow a car from private property without the property owner’s permission. Operators cannot go inside a vehicle whether it’s locked or unlocked. Fees will be set at $160 or $250, depending on the vehicle’s type or weight. Additionally, if the car owner returns to the vehicle and it’s hooked up, it must be released for no more than $80. “Tow companies by and large are
doing the right thing and they have been doing the right thing. This is only addressing the few number of companies that are taking advantage of the consumer,” said city spokesman Ryan Johnson. Any towing company that violates the new law could face a fine up to $500 or up to 30 days in jail. Source: live5news.com.
ELD Exemption for Small Carriers A bill to allow very small carriers— those with 10 or fewer trucks—to forgo use of electronic logging devices and return to using paper logs has been filed in the U.S. House. Rep. Collin Peterson recently introduced H.R. 1697 into the House’s Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. The bill, dubbed the Small Carrier Electronic Logging Device Exemption Act, would exempt all carriers with 10 trucks or fewer from the ELD mandate, meaning they could
revert back to using paper logs to record duty status. The legislation was originally introduced last May but failed to make it out of committee. Source: ccjdigital.com.
Bill Adds Towers to Move Over A bill sponsored by Washington State Rep. Bill Jenkin was unanimously approved recently by the state’s House of Representatives. The bill seeks to modify the current provisions relating to how drivers approach emergency and work zone vehicles. “People working on our roadways are continually placed in harm’s way. Often, they are forced to jump out of the way of vehicles driving too fast around them,” said Jenkin. “Firefighters, law enforcement officers and tow truck drivers have been killed working on the side of our roadways. My bill is a common-sense solution intended to save lives.”
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The bill would require drivers passing an emergency or work zone vehicle to reduce speed, change lanes and move away from the vehicle. “This bill was initially brought to my attention by some of my local tow truck drivers. They wanted to know if there was anything that could be done to get drivers to slow down when approaching them on our roadways, similar to what drivers are supposed to do for first responders,” Jenkin said. Source: keprtv.com.
Idaho Bill to Expand Move Over Idaho’s “slow down, move over” law—which currently applies to police and emergency vehicles on roadsides only—would be broadened to also apply to motorists, towmen and incident response or utility crews displaying their flashing hazard lights at the side of the road, under legislation that passed the House recently. SB 106 now heads to the Senate
side. Rep. John McCrostie, D-Boise, said the bill was brought to the Legislature by the Idaho Towing Association, and is supported by AAA, the Idaho Sheriffs Association, and insurance groups. Source: idahopress.com.
City to Ease Tow Licensing The Westbrook, Maine, city council was scheduled to consider an ordinance amendment that would loosen restrictions on tow truck operators. As the city’s license ordinances read, tow truck operators with theft convictions are not allowed to serve city departments, notably the police department. Recently, the council has fielded and approved two appeals from towers who weren’t able to tow for the city because they had theft convictions dating back close to 30 years. With the amendment, tow truck operators convicted of a Class E or D crime or driving offense would be
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ineligible to provide services to the city for five years. Two such convictions would come with a 10-year ineligibility from the date of the most recent conviction. A conviction of a Class A, B or C crime or driving offense would make the individual permanently ineligible. “This is definitely a good adjustment that affords some flexibility,” said Councilor Mike Foley. Source: news.keepmecurrent.com.
Tow Owner Sues Mayor
Shane Anders, owner of Star Towing and Recovery in Monroe, Michigan, and Area Towing & Recovery in Taylor, filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court claiming Taylor Mayor Rick Sollars wanted to steer city towing contracts to Gasper Fiore—a towing magnate sentenced to federal prison last year in a bribery scandal. Anders is seeking at least $2.5 million, claiming Sollars moved to keep his company from consideration in city contracts to favor Fiore. Anders claimed that in 2016, the city’s police chief told him that Sollars warned if Anders’ company didn’t use Fiore’s company for all heavyduty tows, its contract would not be renewed. To keep the pact, Anders “reluctantly agreed to use Gasper Fiore’s company, B&T Towing, for heavy-duty tows,” according to claims made in the filing. Sollars recently was targeted in an FBI raid of his house during an investigation for corruption. The FBI seized $206,493 from his home; his office also was raided. Sources said the raids were part of an investigation into a possible bribery and kickback scheme related to towing contracts. In early 2018, although the City Council approved Area Towing for a three-year contract, Sollars vetoed the resolution, because “Anders spoke out against and complained to city officials about being forced and directed to use Gasper Fiore for heavy-duty tows,” according to the suit. Anders’ suit also lists a Michigan State Police commander and trooper. Source: detroitnews.com; clickondetroit.com. Work the non-traffic side–Stay Safe!
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Tow Owner Sues Mayor
Shane Anders, owner of Star Towing and Recovery in Monroe, Michigan, and Area Towing & Recovery in Taylor, filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court claiming Taylor Mayor Rick Sollars wanted to steer city towing contracts to Gasper Fiore—a towing magnate sentenced to federal prison last year in a bribery scandal. Anders is seeking at least $2.5 million, claiming Sollars moved to keep his company from consideration in city contracts to favor Fiore. Anders claimed that in 2016, the city’s police chief told him that Sollars warned if Anders’ company didn’t use Fiore’s company for all heavyduty tows, its contract would not be renewed. To keep the pact, Anders “reluctantly agreed to use Gasper Fiore’s company, B&T Towing, for heavyduty tows,” according to claims made in the filing. Sollars recently was targeted in an FBI raid of his house during an inves-
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tigation for corruption. The FBI seized $206,493 from his home; his office also was raided. Sources said the raids were part of an investigation into a possible bribery and kickback scheme related to towing contracts. In early 2018, although the City Council approved Area Towing for a three-year contract, Sollars vetoed the resolution, because “Anders spoke out against and complained to city officials about being forced and directed to use Gasper Fiore for heavy-duty tows,” according to the suit. Anders’ suit also lists a Michigan State Police commander and trooper. Source: detroitnews.com; clickondetroit.com.
WTA Board Rejects AutoReturn The Wisconsin State Patrol recently asked the Wisconsin Towing Association to weigh in on its debate
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regarding hiring AutoReturn to work its dispatch. The WTA board discussed a variety of issues and concerns with AutoReturn and issued a letter to the Wisconsin State Patrol against using the company. The WTA letter did say they would form a committee to “further examine the issue and work with the Wisconsin State Patrol on the matter of new technology as it relates to third-party dispatch services.” It is unknown at this time whether WSP will decide to work with AR. Source: WTA.
City to Ease Tow Licensing The Westbrook, Maine, city council was scheduled to consider an ordinance amendment that would loosen restrictions on tow truck operators.
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As the city’s license ordinances read, tow truck operators with theft convictions are not allowed to serve city departments, notably the police department. Recently, the council has fielded and approved two appeals from towers who weren’t able to tow for the city because they had theft convictions dating back close to 30 years. With the amendment, tow truck operators convicted of a Class E or D crime or driving offense would be ineligible to provide services to the city for five years. Two such convictions would come with a 10-year ineligibility from the date of the most recent conviction. A conviction of a Class A, B or C crime or driving offense would make the individual permanently ineligible. “This is definitely a good adjustment that affords some flexibility,” said Councilor Mike Foley. Source: news.keepmecurrent.com.
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Bill Adds Towers to Move Over A bill sponsored by Washington State Rep. Bill Jenkin was unanimously approved recently by the state’s House of Representatives. The bill seeks to modify the current provisions relating to how drivers approach emergency and work zone vehicles. “People working on our roadways are continually placed in harm’s way. Often, they are forced to jump out of the way of vehicles driving too fast around them,” said Jenkin. “Firefighters, law enforcement officers and tow truck drivers have been killed working on the side of our roadways. My bill is a common-sense solution intended to save lives.” The bill would require drivers passing an emergency or work zone vehicle to reduce speed, change lanes and move away from the vehicle. “This bill was initially brought to my attention by some of my local tow truck drivers. They wanted to know if there was anything that could be done to get drivers to slow down when approaching them on our roadways, similar to what drivers are supposed to do for first responders,” Jenkin said. Source: keprtv.com.
Idaho Bill to Expand Move Over Idaho’s “slow down, move over” law—which currently applies to police and emergency vehicles on roadsides only—would be broadened to also apply to motorists, towmen and incident response or utility crews displaying their flashing hazard lights at the side of the road, under legislation that passed the House recently. SB 106 now heads to the Senate side. Rep. John McCrostie, D-Boise, said the bill was brought to the
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Legislature by the Idaho Towing Association, and is supported by AAA, the Idaho Sheriffs Association, and insurance groups. Source: idahopress.com.
ELD Exemption for Small Carriers A bill to allow very small carriers— those with 10 or fewer trucks—to forgo use of electronic logging devices and return to using paper logs has been filed in the U.S. House. Rep. Collin Peterson recently introduced H.R. 1697 into the House’s Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. The bill, dubbed the Small Carrier Electronic Logging Device Exemption Act, would exempt all carriers with 10 trucks or fewer from the ELD mandate, meaning they could revert back to using paper logs to record duty status. The legislation was originally introduced last May but failed to make
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it out of committee. Source: ccjdigital.com.
Towmen Pay Tribute to Schaeffer More than 70 towers lined up recently in Tunkhannock, Pennsylvania, to remember 24-year-old Colin Schaeffer. Schaeffer was trying to tow his own truck after it got stuck before work. A car ran over the cable he laid across the street and the cable snapped, hitting Colin and killing him. Tow trucks from all over northeastern and central Pennsylvania, as well as New York, New Jersey, Maryland and even Alabama came to take part in the tribute. The first tow truck in the procession had Schaeffer’s old tow truck on the back with his name written on the front. Source: wnep.com.
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CopyrightŠ2019 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, 2 Overlook Dr #5, Warwick NY 10990