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‘Tow Tank’ at Tow Expo Dallas
You’ve likely seen or heard about “Shark Tank,” the ABC television show where budding entrepreneurs pitch their ideas to a panel of investors. Now you’ll have a chance to do the same with your ideas to improve towing and recovery.
“We want the towers that have ideas, inventions and business plans—but don’t have the money or contacts or knowledge to get them going—to bring those ideas to the Tow Expo International,” said Matt Manero, CEO of Commercial Fleet Financing.
Towers who enter their ideas into the Tow Tank will be heard and voted on by four judges, including Manero. As of press time, the first-place prize for winning over the Tow Tank judges was a minimum of $5,000, furnished by CFF, and one year of business advice from Bethany Williams, a global marketing, branding and small business expert.
You can submit your video entry at cffnationwide.com/towtank; 10 entries will advance to do a live pitch to the judges during Tow Expo Int'l on Aug. 4-6 at the Arlington (Texas) Convention Center. For details, call Sarah Burnett at 972-247-8447, Ext. 10.
Towman Violated Campaign Rules
Investigators said Advantage Towing, San Diego, Calif. owner Aymen Arekat laundered illegal campaign donations to three different candidates in the 2012 mayoral election.
The investigation showed Arekat, who had contracts with the city, donated the maximum $500, and had his employees do the same with the understanding he would reimburse them—which he did.
Advantage Towing’s contract with the city is under review.
Source: cbs8.com.
AT Shows Roll On, Victorious
The American Towman ShowPlace-Las Vegas delivered its largest crowd in its four-year history last month, leaving exhibitors and tow bosses marveling at AT’s run on the tow show tables.
Tow business owners flew in from all over the country to interact with more than 140 exhibitors, recovery demonstrations, conference educators, and then revel at AT’s Centennial Celebration, the show finale. Tow Industry Week, the event-conference venue of the show co-sponsored by TowIndustryWeek.com and American Towman Magazine, featured six conferences and 20 seminars.
Next up is towing’s premier summer show in Dallas, Texas, Tow Expo Int’l, Aug. 4-6. For years held in San Antonio, attendance at the Arlington Convention Center is expected to rank second among all industry tow shows for the year.
Bid Process
Canceled in Kentucky
Tow companies in Anderson County, Ky., cried foul recently when the fiscal court solicited bids for a contract that would end the rotation system. The companies claimed the equipment requirements allowed only one company, Carey’s Towing, to bid.
“The equipment list is exactly what Eddie Carey has got,” said Doug Smith, owner of Smith’s Towing in Florence.
Judge-Executive Orbrey Gritton insisted that nothing was done to benefit Carey, who happened to be a contributor to Gritton’s campaign when he ran for office. Gritton ordered the bid process canceled.
Source: theandersonnews.com.
Judge Tosses Overtime Complaint
A Chicago, Ill., federal judge has ruled against a group of towmen attempting to collect overtime pay they claimed they were owed under federal law from a Chicago tow operator.
Judge John J. Tharp Jr. issued an opinion on a putative class-action complaint three towers filed. The drivers argued they should have been afforded protections under the federal Fair Labor Standards Act.
Tharp said the plaintiffs sued under the wrong law; since they were regularly dispatched to jobs across state lines, he said the federal Motor Carrier Act governed their employment, not the FLSA.
Source: cookcountyrecord.com.
AAA Taken to Court Over ‘Threats’
A Superior Court judge ruled recently that AAA of Northern California, Nevada and Utah used coercive and misleading language in a settlement offer that many of its tow companies perceived as a threat.
Judge Barry Goode told AAA it would have to rewrite the language of a contract addendum to settle a 2013 class-action suit against AAA.
Providers testified they’ve been threatened with retaliation for joining the suit.
Source: mercurynews.com.
The Women of Towing & Recovery Association of America has selected WTRAA President Michelle Topel, co-owner of Topel Truck Center in Lake Mills, Wis., as its 2016 Tow Woman of the Year.
Topel owns Topel Truck Center with her husband Shawn, which has been in business for 24 years.
“She has been a best friend, wife, mother, business manager and one who handles all these tasks with grace and proficiency,” Shawn said.
Topel was awarded the honor by a selection committee of past recipients Gay Rochester, Joanne Blyton and Cynthia Martineau.
Source: wtraa.org.
TowShow.com
Topel Named Tow Woman of The Year
Michelle Topel (left) receives the Tow Woman of the Year award from Gay Rochester. Submitted photo.
550-plus Cars Towed after Flooding
The Houston (Texas) Police Department towed more than 550 abandoned vehicles through its SafeClear program during recent flooding.
Mayor Sylvester Turner said there’s not much the city can do to relieve flood victims whose cars got towed. Turner is calling on towing companies to consider the circumstances of those who lost every- Abandoned cars in Houston after flooding await tows. Houstonpublicmedia.org image. thing in the flood and didn’t have a choice in where to put their cars.
Source: houstonpublicmedia.org.
