Tow Boss
The Professional Recovery Operator By Justin Cruse
Justin Cruse is president of WreckMaster, the world’s leading towing and recovery training organization.
R
esilience is the word that comes to mind when I think about today’s recovery professionals. In this industry, you must be able to adapt and recover quickly from the challenges that come your way. Don’t forget that it is critical that you are able to back it up with the technical ability to get the job done. Many veteran operators will tell you that towing is in their blood but if you dig a little deeper you will find that they have a strong work ethic and a desire to help others. I have also noticed their commitment to family; this could be a natural result of a generational industry, but I believe that this is a true reflection of their character. Our industry is made up of good people and in my opinion, they cherish their family because they constantly must leave them when they respond to the call. The generation of operators that built this industry lived by that call; they took great pride in responding to that call, because they knew that they were making a difference. They shouldered this responsibility at all hours of the night and in all weather conditions. They did this knowing that their workday would not end at 5pm and usually, their obligations would extend well into the night. We choose to refer to them as highway heroes because they set their needs aside to help the motoring public get back home to their family. They put themselves in harm’s way to ensure that our roadways are cleared as quickly, and as safely as possible. If only the public would judge them by the contributions and the sacrifices they make, rather than of the stereotype that we as an industry, are trying to break. Changing the way the world looks at the towing industry has been an uphill battle but through our resiliency as an industry, we will one day make sure our highway heroes receive the appreciation and the respect that they so rightfully deserve.
24 • May 2021 | Towman.com
THE DANGERS OF RECOVERY WORK
Ask any experienced operator to tell you about their favorite recovery job and you will see their eyes light up. The raw passion for recovery lives deep in the heart of today’s recovery professionals and woven throughout these stories you will uncover some important lessons. There are countless dangers that recovery professionals must be aware of at the scene of an accident, especially when working on a busy highway. If you want to have a long career in this industry you must be mentally present and constantly assessing the dangers around you. This is why it is critically important to ensure you have the knowledge and competency to perform the task you are sent to do. One of the most exciting and rewarding aspects about this career is the variety of situations that you will find yourself in. These situations will pose varying degrees of risk. Any given call can put you down a slope or even a cliff. You may find yourself in a river waist high in the current. The sun isn’t always shining. A storm may be swirling around you. Icy roads may make for treacherous footing. Look around, power lines may be down. You can find yourself stretched beneath a vehicle and trying to lay straps round a car perched in a precarious situation. The career, recovery professional will face countless dangers on the job. The work always requires caution, because as you develop more experience is it easy to find yourself slipping into a habit. Therefore, the best advise that a veteran operator can provide to a new apprentice is never take on a job that exceeds your capabilities and always stay within ratings of your equipment. Most importantly, when working on a busy highway always be aware of your surroundings and keep your attention focused towards
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