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New Technology Spreader Bars

Savatech’s new-technology Spreader Bar is designed and engineered to meet the challenges of today’s recovery professional using Sava’s “safety through innovation” concept. The fivepiece Spreader Bar includes components that can be stored in any truck compartment, while being easily assembled in the field for use. This design aids in protection and storage to keep operators off the top of the vehicle limiting fall hazards.

The bar is designed for rapid and convenient assembly. Carrying handles are provided on all components to move them with ease to the assembly location. Assembly pins are permanently attached to the fittings to eliminate loss in mud and snow, and keep them right where they are needed. For additional safety, the pins also have hairpin clips tethered directly to the handle. To aid in assembly the new tech design uses feet, or kickstands, so the parts stand independently. This allows a single operator to slide the components together and place the pins. The complete assembly design provides a level of safety to the operator by reducing component weight and the body stress of lifting, moving, and aligning components to complete the assembly.

Veer angle indicators are provided for the top sling connection points. These numeric strips work in conjunction with angle indicator arrows on the shackle to take the guesswork out of rigging. The operator will know the accurate veer angle and in turn the lifting capacity of the bar during use. This feature keeps the bar from being used at a bad veer angle or over the working load limit. The rated capacity using a 45-degree top sling angle at 110” is 30,000 lbs.

The bar is manufactured in the USA and is made in accordance with ASME B30.20 BTH-1 Standard assuring quality and safety.

Savatech.com

Mentored by AT Expo Networking Key to Malik’s Success

Universal Towing’s 1983 Kenworth W900 with a 25-ton Century 925 SDU.

by Brendan Dooley

In Baltimore, Md., in the shadows of the American Towman Exposition, one local tower credits the annual goings-on inside the Baltimore Convention Center—and American Towman Magazine—with showing him a path to success in the towing industry.

Malik Stuckey, owner and founder of Universal Towing, said he got into the business because he saw a need in his area for towers with superior service. His own older Ford Taurus had let him down more than once, and he became familiar with area tow companies from the customer’s viewpoint. Often, the ETAs were several hours except for a few.

That’s when he decided to get into towing—without having worked at another tow service first.

“It was kind of a closed market then (in the early 2000s) for non-experienced towers,” he said. So he set out to build a business his own way and began with a ridealong with another towman.

“I started getting American Towman magazine when it was recommended by that tower,” Stuckey said. The soon-to-be-former salesman also knew that trade shows are important in business and learned about the American Towman Expo right in his own town.

“I’ve been going to American Towman shows for about 16 years; since before I even started the business,” he said. “For two years I went to American Towman shows in planning my business. That’s where I came in contact with the important people who helped me out, like [AT seminar presenter] John Borowski, Gary and Donna Coe, Jeff and Michelle Godwin—I’ve been mentored by all of them.

“John Borowski taught me about understanding your police contracts and working with the government in his seminars. … From that, after eight years of fighting with my city, I was among the first to be awarded an actual contract. Before that, for 36 years, there were no contracts here. There was no bid process, nothing.”

Stuckey said Universal Towing was the first contracted African-American towing company under Baltimore’s new contract system. In an

Tow boss Malik Stuckey.

effort to pass along what he’s learned, he created the African American Towing Association in 2010 to help minority-owned companies get municipal contracts.

He also credits seminars by 2015 Towman of the Year Bill Johnson and AT Operations Editor Randy Resch with showing him how to build relationships in local government and with police departments.

“I’ve followed all their steps and that’s enabled me to get where I am,” Stuckey said. “The Coes and Godwins helped me understand the numbers and the business side of towing. I still remember Michelle yelling at me during a tow show that ‘a customer is only a customer if they pay you!’ I had a lot of large accounts at the time that weren’t paying. I was scared to lose them as a customer and she said, ‘They’re not a customer if they don't pay you.’ ”

Stuckey said some of the best advice he got in overall business was from Gary Coe.

“He always told me, ‘Don't be afraid to be different. Everyone has the same trucks, the same problems and lose the same amount of money,’” Stuckey said. One way to be different he took from Coe is running gasoline trucks.

“It’s worked out to be cheaper than diesel, and its easier to get mechanics because its only gas,” he said.

“I’ve built very strong ties through the shows.” Stuckey said that the networking is the biggest factor in attending a tow show. You’ll get to meet towers “from New York to California,” as well as those local towers you work too hard to meet.

“My best advice for towers at a show is to make the time for the business side of it and get to the early seminars,” he said. “There will be at least one seminar that will make you more profitable. … I still go to seminars every year. Even if I’ve been to one the year before, I’ll go again and see what's different and get new insights.

“And the breakfast outside of the seminars is where the networking happens. I’ve built relationships with some of the biggest towers in the country, just sitting at a table eating eggs and potatoes and drinking coffee. That breakfast is so important … and when you go to a seminar before the show floor opens, you’ll have all the ammunition you need before the show even starts.”

He said the tow show is more than looking at pretty trucks. “You can learn how to get profitable, how to finance your truck—and then buy it on the other side of the show floor.” Stuckey’s top tips for attending a tow expo are: • Don’t underestimate the seminars. • Don’t just look at the pretty trucks. • Take advantage of the time away and network. • Take your time at each one of the booths—you never know when you’ll need one of those items.

Starting Out

In the beginning, after saving startup money for a year, Stuckey said he was turned down by 29 banks in continue to page 22