Inside: AT Expo XXXIII Plan Your Experience in Baltimore!
The Road Calls Less Pain
At the Pump
TAX
Reduction Strategies
Alternative Fuel Vehicles
Holmes Split Boom on a ’47 Chevy
TowIndustryWeek.com
JULY 2022 AmericanTowman.com
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Contents
Cover Feature
Volume 46 Issue 7
July 2022 48
Buried Treasure
Digging up a Classic Chevy Fitted With a Legendary Holmes by Joe Greeves
Departments 6 The Walkaround 8 News Share 10 Road Tools 12 Tow Boss 20 Beacons On! 34 Ad Index
Joe Greeves tracked down this ’47 Chevy and Split Boom setup, nicely restored by Chris Diederich.
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Features
20
36 Tow Manager 44 Tow Business 48 Classic Wrecker 54 Repo Run 60 An American Towman 62 Towman’s Market 64 My Baby 66 Lowdown 73 Adventures of A.T.
Here’s Looking at You
Beautifying Your Wrecker by Randall C. Resch
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Mix Master
Handling Hazardous Cement Mixers by George L. Nitti
4 • July 2022 | Towman.com
First on the scene since 1977
The Walkaround High-Value Content
Dennie Ortiz Publisher
So many things to do and so little time to do them— an adage that is becoming truer and truer. Though by taking a few of your precious moments to read the valuable articles within this issue will pay dividends. Listed below are a few you will not want to miss. Change is inevitable, so looking toward and preparing for the future is key. Brian Riker leads us down the unavoidable path of what is to come for our industry as we face lower and zero-emission regulations for equipment. Planning ahead for your fleet makeup will put you one step ahead in the game. On an entirely different note, Randall Resch throughly details what a Wrecker Pageant participant needs to know if you want win the contest at any of the American Towman shows. The tips shared here are just as useful for your everyday operations. Is it just me, or do cement mixers tend to be a consistently occurring casualty of a recovery? Nope, it’s part of their nature. With their extensive experience righting these monster pieces of equipment, All-American Towing & Recovery out of Texas details the considerations they take to approach this particularly formidable job featured this month. Unfortunately with no end in sight of rising fuel prices, Steve Temple’s timely piece offers some suggestions on what you can do to help lower your costs at the pump. Mark Twain shrewdly lamented that death and taxes are the only two certainties in life. While death can’t be avoided, there at least ways to avoid paying extra in taxes. Larry Oxenham breaks down five legal strategies to reduce your tax liability and ensure you do not shell out more than you should. Last but not least, Mark Lacek provides some practical pointers on the legal aspects of vehicle repossessions, and how to avoid ending up in court—or worse. Enjoy the issue, and as always, stay safe out there!
Texas Big
Steve Temple Editor
Our recent TowXpo in Fort Worth in mid-June proved to be an outstanding success. The exhibit area was packed full of displays, the tow seminars were all well attended, and the Wrecker Pageant filled the arena. As a result, we came away with material on a number of innovative products for tow operators, and exciting leads for both tech and tow truck features in upcoming issues. Attending our tow shows is always an engaging and informative experience, so if you missed TowXpo, don’t worry, as we have two more opportunities later this year: AT ShowPlace in Las Vegas, Nevada from September 21 to 23, and the American Towman Exposition in Baltimore, Maryland from November 17 to 19. We hope to see you there!
6 • July 2022 | Towman.com
Dennie Ortiz Steve Calitri Steve Temple Randall Resch Terry Abejuela David Kolman John Borowski Mark Lacek Brian Riker George Nitti Henri “Doc” Calitri
President / Publisher Editor-In-Chief Editor Operations Editor Field Editor, West Chassis Editor Safety Editor Repo Run Editor Contributing Editor Contributing Editor Contributing Editor
Editorial Board Tommy Anderson Roy Carlson Debbie Collins Belinda Harris Bill Johnson Kurt Wilson
Dallas, Texas Saint Paul, Minn. Las Vegas, Nev. Greensboro, N.C. South Hadley, Mass. Creve Coeur, Ill.
American Towman Staff Gina Johnson Dennie Ortiz Ellen Rosengart Henri Calitri Patrice Gesner Peggy Calabrese Ryan Oser Emily Oz Steve Calitri
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American Towman Media Headquarters 2 Overlook Drive, Suite 5, Warwick, NY 10990 800-732-3869 or 845-986-4546
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News Share A billboard was put up for Austin Gayne in order to bring further awareness to the Move Over Law.
Colorado Enacts Tow Bill
Colorado has enacted a tow bill that gives greater leniency to car owners. Gov. Jared Polis signed into law on June 7 the “Towing Carrier Nonconsensual Tows” bill. Under this bill, tow yards will be required to release cars if the car owner can pay a minimum of 15% of the bill, capped at $60, and then make payments over time. Other changes include a mandate that towers must now give a 24-hour notice before removing a car from an apartment parking lot or mobile home park. The law also forbids towers from removing cars due to expired plates, unless ordered by police, and empowers Colorado’s attorney general to enforce infractions. Proponents of the bill aim to mitigate the abuses of predatory towing allegedly rampant in the state. However, the towing industry excoriated the bill for not understanding the industry and penalizing them for the actions of a few bad actors. Source: denverpost.com
Man Sentenced for Killing Tower
Dean Robert was sentenced to 4.5 years in prison, followed by five years of probation, and a $10,000 fine, for killing Connecticut tower Corey John Iodice who was working roadside in April of 2020. Iodice was assisting a driver whose vehicle broke down on the Merritt Parkway when Robert lost control of his 2016 BMW. It traveled up the truck bed, striking Iodice, who was standing near the flatbed. The truck then rolled over onto its roof. Iodice was pronounced dead at the scene. After the verdict, Iodice’s sister Cindy, who started a nonprofit organization called Flagman that brings national awareness to Move Over laws, said, “The death of my brother was tragic and avoidable. When Corey died, everybody was shocked.” Robert was charged with seconddegree manslaughter with a vehicle, driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, failure to reduce speed or move for an emergency vehicle, reckless driving and failure to drive in the proper lane. Sources: patch.com, courant.com
8 • July 2022 | Towman.com
Billboards to
Save a Tower’s Life
In Orlando, Florida, the mother of a tower that was killed roadside over a year ago is taking it into her own hands through billboards to bring awareness of Move Over/Slow Down. All in the hopes of saving the lives of more towers and other first responders. Her son Austin, who was a tower for Johnson’s Wrecker Service, was killed in February of 2021 after a driver failed to move over while Austin stopped to tow a disabled truck. “Someone wasn’t paying attention and came by and struck him,” said Brooke Lawrence, describing the death of her son, 24-year-old Austin Gayne. Despite broad day light and plenty of reflective lettering on Gayne’s uniform, the challenge of getting the public to slow
down and move over remains. A related campaign in Champaign, Illinois comes in the wake of the death of 21-year-old Ross Booker in March. Owner Jim Hampton was surprised to learn the staggering amount of people who didn’t know about these laws. Hampton also addressed this lack of public knowledge through an advertising campaign, which features signs around town and a digital billboard public-service announcement in tribute to Mr. Booker. Although billboards won’t bring these people back to life, advertising and public service reminders are another weapon the industry has to fight the tragedy of first responders. Source: fox35orlando.com
Trooper Saves Pinned Tower On May 23, in Silver Spring, Maryland, a tower was rescued by a trooper, after he was pinned by an SUV that slipped off his flat bed while clearing the scene of a crash on I-495. The tower was in the process of attaching a winch to another vehicle when the incident occurred. Despite having never operated a tow truck, trooper Jason Reid witnessed the accident and intervened, using the truck’s controls to lower the bed and maneuver it underneath the SUV. Reid then used the bed to lift the SUV off the 51-year-old driver, so he could pull him to safety. Soon after, the driver, whose identity
Maryland Trooper Jason Reid saved a tower after an SUV slid off his flat bed and pinned him. was not released, was taken to an area hospital for treatment of his injuries. Source: baltimore.cbslocal.com
News Share
Portland Tow Company
Reports Repeated Thefts Video recording captured two men stealing a tow truck from a Portland storage lot.
On May 29, Portland, Oregon, tow company Zelmer Enterprises was burglarized as surveillance video captured a couple of men driving one of the company’s tow trucks through the front metal gate of their storage lot, which caused thousands of dollars in damage. Owner Tamera ZelmerO’Connor-White said this is not the first theft, and tow truck owner Douglass Bartee noted that this has happened three times. Fortunately, the stolen tow truck was recovered several miles away. The company is disgruntled that
police haven’t been more responsive, allegedly showing up hours after the reported incident. “Nobody seems to want to do anything about it,” Zelmer said. Bartee worries that growing crime, a next-door encampment, and rising drug use are part of the problem, pointing at many of the vehicles he tows in their storage lot. “Eight out of ten cars have needles in them from fentanyl or heroin,” he described. Source: kgw.com
Funeral and Tribute for Slain Georgia Tower Friends and family gathered for tower Christopher Harrold at his funeral.
Family and friends, along with a convoy of tow trucks, came together at East Lake Methodist Church on May 31, giving tribute to tow owner Christopher Harrold, who was shot and killed at a Chevron gas station in Georgia. Harrold, who was a husband and father of five, was the owner of Fast Action Towing. “Chris was full of life,” said Maya Harrold, Christopher Harrold’s widow.
Work the non-traffic side - Stay Safe!
“He loved his family, he loved people…He just gave.” Harrold was training a new driver, who got into an argument with another man before the shooting broke out and Harrold was hit. Police said officers arrested Victor Richardson, 25, and charged him with felony murder and aggravated assault. Source: fox5atlanta.com
Vehicle Lien Scheme Foiled
A tower working with a Milwaukee County employee were both charged with stealing tens of thousands of dollars over two years in a vehicle lien scheme that included forgeries, money laundering and more. The scheme involved using vehicles liens that childsupport worker Daneen Pope wrote and sold to tower Michael Morgan. He in turn sold the vehicle for cash at a scrapyard, according to a 16-page criminal complaint filed on May 25. Allegedly Morgan would text Pope the VIN number, make and model, and lien holder’s name for a certain vehicle. He’d pay Pope, a Milwaukee County Child Support Services employee responsible for processing lien release payments, between $25 and $50 to forge a lien release form for the vehicle. In return, Morgan would get the vehicle lien-free to sell, junk or salvage. The complaint says police believe Pope made at least $15,000 and estimates Morgan made between $37,000 and $43,000. She faces one charge of misconduct in public office, while Morgan, who’s in jail, faces six charges including racketeering, embezzlement and bribing a public official. Source: fox6now.com
Illinois Tackles Rogue Towing
Governor JB Pritzker on May 13 signed a bill requiring police agencies to call only on tow companies that are on an approved tow rotation list when there is an accident. The bill was in response to ongoing reports of rogue towing practices, exposing how private tow companies would deliberately hold vehicles. Under the bill, if a random tow driver pulls up on the scene and wasn’t requested by the owner of the car or officer, the operator will not be authorized to tow the vehicle. The legislation requires any towing service working within the jurisdiction of a given police agency to submit an application for inclusion on that police agency’s tow rotation list. Tow drivers will also need to go through background checks, insurance, and licensing. Source: cbsnews.com
AmericanTowman.com | July 2022 • 9
Road Tools Look Your Best
Clean, polish and protect your wrecker with products from Flitz International. Affordable and easy-to-use, Flitz Metal Pre-Clean makes short work of road salt, mag chloride and brake dust to get your wheels, diamond-plate and steel ready for polish. Then, with over 40 years of road-tested results, Flitz Paste Polish brings aluminum, chrome and stainless steel to a mirror finish. Plus it leaves behind a barrier of carnauba wax to keep things cleaner longer. For even more protection, Flitz Ceramic Sealant is an easy-toapply, water resistant, nano-ceramic product that can keep your vehicles protected for up to six months or more! Flitz products come with an unconditional 100% satisfaction guarantee. Special fleet, military and first-responder discounts are available.
Flitz.com
Bright Idea
Wolo’s new 8000 Series Grill and Surface Mount LED Warning Light delivers powerful safety lighting for commercial trucks. It offers high visibility in bright sun, dense fog, and heavy rain, with 26 light patterns, including strobe-like flash and three color options—amber, blue, or red. This kit comes complete with two, super-bright linear LED clusters, and also features simple plug-and-play, waterproof connections for ease of installation. The lights are operated by the switch control, which can be mounted to the dashboard or console. They are built with painted black aluminum brackets to fit seamlessly into a vehicle’s grill, and the polycarbonate lenses resist yellowing, even when exposed to sunlight. The Wolo 8000-A is pre-wired to accept additional lighting and can be expanded from two to four LEDs with an optional expansion pack.
Wolo-mfg.com
Gloves for Grease Monkeys
Tow operators, mechanics, and auto enthusiasts can all appreciate this advancement in glove technology and performance with the introduction of Grease Monkey Dura-Knit gloves. Dura-Knit is the first 3D-knit automotive work glove that enhances durability, control, and comfort, while offering superior protection. Featuring a breathable fabric that provides 360-degree stretch, Dura-Knit is digitally optimized to mold to the hand for a second-skin fit and all-day comfort. The seamless back design eliminates failure points and uncomfortable seams, while the grip-enhanced palm delivers the confidence and control to safely handle tools and even small parts with both precision dexterity and breathable comfort. Whether working on a tow recovery or in a repair shop, Dura-Knit provides innovative work gloves that are built stronger to last longer, and help keep hands and fingers protected. Hillman Protective Solutions has a broad portfolio ranging from knee pads, tool belts, job-site storage, and work gloves that deliver innovative solutions to the home, automotive, and hardware industries.
GreaseMonkeyGloves.com 10 • July 2022 | Towman.com
Tow Boss
International’s MV Electric Series requires less maintenance, features regen braking, and has an option for fast charging. Delivering 335 hp, its range is about 135 mph between charges, depending on the payload. An electric PTO is under development.
Propane is another option on the table for alternative-fuel vehicles, with conversions available from companies such as Roush. This 7.3-liter engine delivers 350 hp and 553 lb/ft of torque.
Cummins is poised to lead the transition from diesel to propane and hydrogen fuel technologies. Also, ethanol-fueled Cummins engines are being developed by Clear Flame Technologies.
What Kind of Fuel am I?
Alternative Fuels in Tow Trucks Raises Some Questions By Brian J. Riker
Brian J. Riker is a third-generation towman, with 26 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
T
owers are resistant to change, always have been, and likely always will be. It is our nature to be skeptical of newfangled, sometimes unproven, technology. Heaven knows we spend enough of our time towing strange new vehicles off the highway and back to the dealerships! Towers generally prefer the tried-and-true when it comes to equipment that not only makes them a living but also builds a reputation for exceptional service. We can’t go rescue someone when our own equipment is sitting at the dealership awaiting repairs with obscure parts. Consider one possible scenario involving an electric vehicle, for instance. Imagine telling your State Highway Patrol that you can’t keep up with the snowstorm response because your truck is almost out of power and you need hours of downtime to recharge! Or it’s just too cold for your
12 • July 2022 | Towman.com
battery-powered electric winch to work so they are just going to have to wait until it warms up a bit. After those patrol officers are done cussing at you and wondering if you have lost your mind, they will simply move on to the next tower on the list. Well, if legislators get their way, these situations, and others, may just become reality for many towers across the nation. It’s not all doom and gloom, as there have been some great advances in alternative fuels for motor vehicles. Even some that may make sense for commercial trucks for towers. Before sorting through them, though, here is what we are facing on a regulatory front.
UPCOMING ZERO-EMISSION REGS
Several states, with California and New York leading the way, have
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Battery-powered commercial trucks require heavy-duty tires, and also evaluation of gross vehicle weight and payload considerations.
placed sales restrictions, or even outright banned the sales of most internal combustion engines (ICE) that power equipment and motor vehicles. How soon? Some of these restrictions are being phased in as early as 2024 for small engines, with a complete transition to zero-emissions, alternative fuel passenger vehicles by 2035, and all commercial vehicles slated for 2045. These states are not all confined to one region either. According to Reuters, the governors of 12 states have called on President Biden to support, on a Federal level, the conversion to zero-emission power sources, with a ban on sales of most internal combustion powered motor vehicles by 2035. These twelve states are CA, NY, MA, NC, CT, ME, NJ, NM, OR, WA, RI and HI. While 2035 may sound far off, it is only 12 vehicle model years away from today. California already has rules in place to require the gradual transition of fleets, not just passenger vehicles, from fossil fuels with specific targets based on fleet size, company revenue and type of vehicles operated beginning in 2024. Many other states are expected to follow. 14 • July 2022 | Towman.com
a nationwide network of fast chargers, approximately one station every 50 miles. But for early adopters of these technologies, charging station availability is still a serious concern. If you are based in, or operate within, one of the states leading the call for alternative-fuel vehicles, it may be wise to start your investigation and planning now. This careful preparation will give you about a decade to figure out what works for you, gain experience with different power sources, and become an expert on these vehicles. Thinking ahead on
Thinking ahead on alternative-fuel technology can not only help your fleet operation, but also give you a
competitive advantage…
PRACTICAL DRAWBACKS
Besides the obvious patchwork of fuel types for long-haul operations (a topic for another article), the choices for alternative fuels have serious limitations for vocational trucks that require power-takeoff driven pumps for auxiliary equipment, or that operate with unpredictable range or longer distance requirements. Since there are neither high-speed electric vehicle chargers yet on every corner, nor hydrogen filling stations, the deployment of alternativefuel vehicles requires careful and complex planning by fleets, drivers and dispatchers to make sure their vehicles don’t run out of fuel. These infrastructure limitations will be addressed in the coming years as the Biden Administration has dedicated at least $5 billion over the next five years to building
alternative-fuel technology can not only help your fleet operation, but also give you a competitive advantage once everyone else is forced to catch up with where you already are.
WHAT ARE THE ALTERNATIVES?
Depending on how the transition to zero emissions is managed in your state or region, you may have options for some more traditional engines such as hydrogen fuel cell technology or compressed natural gas, but the question is for how long? There is a strong push by environmentalists to have the Federal government restrict production of fossil fuels. And in the Executive Order signed by California Governor Gavin
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Newsom back in 2020 that led to current phase-out plans, he has called for the end of hydraulic fractured wells within the State, as well as the repurposing of fossil fuel processing plants. This means that even if you can select a fossil fuel powertrain, you might not be able to get the fuel in the near future as easily as you can today. Cummins, a leading manufacturer of diesel engines for decades, is poised to lead the transition from diesel and natural gas to hydrogen fuel technologies. According to a press release from 2020, and demonstrated by recent product introductions, Cummins is investing heavily into developing efficient, large-scale hydrogen power solutions. “Hydrogen technologies, particularly electrolyzers, will be a fast-growing and increasingly important part of our business over the next few years,” stated
16 • July 2022 | Towman.com
Cummins Chairman and CEO Tom Linebarger at a virtual event, which drew a registered audience of more than 3,000 analysts, media members, environmental advocates and others. “As momentum increases worldwide for the use of hydrogen solutions,” he continued, “we will continue to leverage our industryleading hydrogen technologies, our deep customer relationships and our extensive service network to enable adoption.” In line with this goal, Linebarger also serves on the board of the global Hydrogen Council. Just this January Cummins recommitted to its investment in hydrogen fuel as an alternative to traditional fossil fuels by announcing a Destination Zero Initiative as the new direction of the company. This initiative has the company working to further
reduce emissions from currently available engines and fuel sources, while investing heavily into the development of hydrogen fuel systems. That is where Cummins sees the greatest opportunity to “decarbonize” transportation.
CONVERTING TO ETHANOL
Another alternative to traditional fossil fuels that does not require major revision of the fueldelivery network, or even much in the way of operational changes in your fleet, is a solution provided by Clear Flame Technologies. With its first prototype complete and the concept proven, this firm is testing a diesel engine conversion, based on the Cummins X15, that allows a heavy-duty truck to burn 100 percent renewable E98 Ethanol fuels instead of diesel. According to Julie Blumreiter,
Co-Founder and Chief Technology Officer, this technology is scalable and provides greater net carbon reduction than electric vehicles. “Clear Flame will continue testing its trucks under various operating conditions throughout Q1 2022, with customer beta testing underway by the end of 2022,” said Blumreiter. “In addition to long-haul trucking, the technology enables emissions reduction for hardto-electrify applications in a wide range of industries, including agriculture, power generation, and other off-highway markets.” This is good news for towing applications that rely heavily on engine-driven power while stationary, in order to run pumps, winches and other accessories, often for many hours in a row without a chance to recharge.
EV FLEET ISSUES
Electric vehicles appear to be the worldwide favorite child of most government regulators, vehicle manufacturers and consumers alike. Perhaps this popularity is the result of great marketing, familiarity with rechargeable devices currently in use, or the reluctance to invest in other new technologies. Electric vehicles do appear to have a large place in the future
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Work the non-traffic side - Stay Safe!
AmericanTowman.com | July 2022 • 17
of powering our industry (at least as a bridge to other technologies) and it isn’t all bad. For a single family to transition to electric vehicles, the hurdles are not as great as commercial fleets. Basically there’s a need to install a charging station at home, and maybe adjust travel routines slightly to fit within the range and operational characteristics of an electric vehicle. For a commercial fleet, however, things are not all that simple. First, a fleet manager needs to evaluate the range, duty cycle and other factors that go into its current operations, and find electric-powered equivalents. And also identify areas where changes can be made to accommodate the current limitations of electric powered vehicles. This evaluation will also include gross vehicle weight and
18 • July 2022 | Towman.com
payload considerations, as electric vehicles with extended ranges often weigh more than their diesel or gasoline powered equivalents. In the short term, this difference may dictate upgrading to class B, CDL-required vehicles in place of non-CDL vehicles, or changing what you haul with a specific class of truck. At least until weightexemption regulations catch up with the increased weight of battery electric trucks compared to their fossil fuel equivalents. Next, before more than one or two units are placed into service, a fleet operator must consult with the local electric utility to make sure it can provide the amount of current required on demand to charge a whole fleet of vehicles simultaneously. This feat is not always easily achievable, as these vehicles draw a lot of current for fast charging, often more than
your existing electric service and distribution network can handle. There are serious on-site logistics and infrastructure considerations that may require a complete redesign of your parking lot or garaging area for your fleet. Unfortunately recharging an electric truck is not as simple as pulling up to a fueling station for 15 or 20 minutes while you pump several gallons of diesel into a tank. It takes time, and the more time you take to charge an electric vehicle, the better life and range you will get from the batteries. Fire safety is another consideration for any alternativefuel vehicle, but especially electric vehicles. While all vehicles have different considerations, such as explosive vapors from gas leaks, electric vehicles are especially dangerous due to thermal runaway fires within their batteries, which
can cause serious damage to surrounding vehicles, buildings and other property.
MANUFACTURERS’ MOVES TO EV TECH
Electric options are becoming more plentiful each day with offerings from familiar names as well as new entries into the commercial vehicle segment. Ford, Ram, GM, Paccar, International, Freightliner and Volvo all have, or will have real soon, viable electric platforms available. Several global OEMs have made bold statements about phasing out all their internal combustion platforms for passenger and light truck vehicles, with Volvo and Ford claiming they plan to do this as soon as 2030 in Europe. Major legacy manufacturers like Dana, Spicer and ZF, among others, well known for their transmission and rear-drive axle components, are even offering options for the market to both newly manufactured vehicles and even as retrofit kits for already built trucks. These options include complete axle and electric motor assemblies that take up no more space than a traditional drive axle, allowing more room for larger batteries and other components. Altogether, with the global electric vehicle market projected to reach $803 billion by 2027, there will be no shortage of options to choose from. But with a caveat: for a tow fleet transitioning from fossil fuels to EVs, the most logical starting point is with light service vehicles. With several production models already available, such as the Workhorse C-Series panel vans, Chevy Silverado, F-150 Lightning pickup truck or the Ford E-Transit van, the transition does not have to be all consuming. These light service vehicles are a natural fit for a gradual transition, as they often stay close to home, return to the Work the non-traffic side - Stay Safe!
base daily, and have no need for power take-off options or other complex upfits. In summary, alternative fuel vehicles are here to stay and towers need to look at them from many angles, beyond just how to provide service to them. Towers must also figure out how to provide service with them. It is not a matter of holding onto our older trucks longer, as traditional fossil-fuel powered vehicles are approaching an end to their life
support. Certainly not next year, nor even within the next decade, but relatively soon diesel and gasoline engines will be relics from the past. Better to begin preparing today for tomorrow’s technologies.
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AmericanTowman.com | July 2022 • 19
Beacons
On!
Presentation is everything at a wrecker pageant.
Here’s Looking At You Beautifying Your Wrecker By Randall C. Resch
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.
S
o, yer’ lookin’ to compete with the big boys? In addition to American Towman’s shows in Texas and Las Vegas, there’s the “Super Show” in Baltimore, that happenin’ place where towers experience the largest, international towing and recovery exposition worldwide. Touting this show as the biggest on the planet for over 33 years, Towman’s wrecker pageant has been the leader in tow-truck elegance. Every year, over 100 tow trucks, carriers, support vehicles and varied classes compete, all seeking to win Towman’s coveted “Best of Show” silver cup, along with other trophy classes. For those looking to enter their truck in this year’s pageant, what do pageant judges look for in show winners? These helpful tips may help your entry earn a winning score.
PAGEANT PREP
Carrying clipboards with checklists and freshly sharpened pencils, judges are tasked with scrutinizing trucks and equipment, noting that no two trucks are the same in equipment, preparation 20 • July 2022 | Towman.com
and presentation. Our judges are selected based on their industry experience, knowledge of tow trucks, equipment and job-related accessories. If you think evaluating wreckers is easy business, guess again. It’s far more complicated than you might think. They’re looking for not only attention to detail, but also upgrades and embellishments. There are so many trucks to review, and little time to spare, so don’t be offended if your judge can’t stick around to chat.
READY OR NOT
This year, we’ve upped a task for entrants: paperwork. In past years, Towman provided contestants with entry sheets to identify the truck’s information and mileage. Unfortunately, some contestants failed to complete entry sheets or even display them as required. This year, accuracy counts! So, when receiving entry paperwork, first apply your neatest printing to complete the entry sheet thoroughly, and then, tape the sheet inside on the driver’s side window where it’s easy to view.
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Entrants come thousands of miles seeking to win “Best of Show” within their respective truck classes. Keep in mind, though, that winning trucks aren’t necessarily those brand-new beauties purchased a week earlier. The judges are more impressed with classes that demonstrate impeccable preparation and overall presentation. Fact: The best trucks incite an onlooker’s visual senses.
A HIGHER STANDARD
A beauty show pageant (by design) is a ruthless competition amongst owners, drivers and companies being represented. A first-place win in any class, or a “Best of Show” results in huge bragging rights rightfully earned. Many over-the-top tow trucks, carriers and specialty class vehicles are equipped with extensive bling, murals, wraps, and incredible paint. Judges hold participants to much higher
standards while seeking the best preparation and display. Those tiny details make a winning truck standout beyond all others. A smidge of dust atop a truck’s radiator sticks out like a sore thumb. If a critical safety item is lacking or busted, these discrepancies will knock off points. Accordingly, when judges look for tie-breakers, the following observations typically draw a judge’s attention: • Emergency lighting and lighting systems not operational • Winch-lines not properly wrapped and show crossover, bird-nest and rust. No matter what class truck, if there’s winchmounted equipment, its winch line needs to be 100 percent “judge pleasing.” • Cable-hooks must include safety clips, designed to fully enclose chain, straps, etc. (especially on big rigs) • A fire extinguisher must be fully-charged, with its gauge “in the green,” and accessible and mounted, versus tossed in compartments • The extinguisher must include its annual inspection tag • Zerk fittings that don’t show a level maintenance • Dolly tire sidewall’s are rotted, flat or worn tread • Bent side plates on a snatch-block • Ratchet straps show excess rips and tears • Road flares broken, rotted, or “gone to powder” • Broken work-light lenses (top, bottom, or deck mounted) • Extension (drag lights) with bare/cut wires • Bent/missing grab hooks on wheel-lift retainers • If the tool/accessory is battery operated, it must work • Disorganized side-compartments or top-shelves (carriers) • Obvious deficiencies knowingly covered up
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22 • July 2022 | Towman.com
TRUE BENEFITS OF WELL MAINTAINED TOW TRUCKS Today’s towers need to keep in mind the the psychology and benefits of keeping their trucks clean and well maintained as they relate to every-day operations. When representing your company to the public, customers, and the law enforcement community, it’s true that a ramshackle tow truck can work the same crash or tow the same car with ease. Even so, the visual presentation of a clean, well-appointed tow truck or carrier helps to exude ability and competency. This aspect includes the cab as well. When a tow truck looks or smells funky, the customer might believe the tow company won’t treat their vehicle with care. Not only that, there are practical reasons for taking good care of your wrecker. All tow trucks, new or old, are required to pass DOT or CVSA inspections regardless as to the niche an operator serves. And, when the tow truck’s driver slowly inches through a commercial truck scale, a clunky, messylooking tow truck or carrier may attract the attention of some hawk-eyed inspector who’s looking for violations. There’s a solid expectation that wellmaintained and well-equipped trucks can pass an unannounced, impromptu inspection. When the green light at the drive-through scales quickly goes red, there’s a good chance a citation is awaiting the tower at the scale house. In addition, a periodic power washing of your truck’s understructure, wheel lift or bed rails helps to expose leaks and finger-cracks in frame and mount welds. Some owners go the expense of hiring professional detailers to clean their trucks in the fleet. Of course, tow trucks are bound to suffer dents, dings, or cracked windshields in course of operations. These unsightly damages help create that undesirable junkyard appearance. While taking a truck out-of-service for repairs is a difficult process, it’s to your advantage to make corrective repairs in a timely manner. And that can pay off—literally—in retaining your truck’s value when it comes time for resale. After all, a clean tow truck is a happy truck, right?
Lots of polishing is a requirement to win.
HOW IT’S STOWED?
Brand-new trucks obviously should be well organized and well-stocked. Judges have high expectations when it comes to side and top equipment boxes. If stowage is messy, don’t expect good scores. Equipment, tools, and accessories should be located in areas where tow and recovery equipment typically gets stowed. Little things like painted grab hooks, stowed chains with grab hooks together, and ramp-cut 4x4s simply look better. The same goes for hand tools, wrenches, and jacks, etc. Taking more care to arrange the truck’s equipment makes for a better presentation. Vintage Class (antique and classic trucks) benefit from being outfitted with period tools and equipment, reflecting what might have been on the truck during that era.
THE RAIN COMETH
Whatever the weather brings, a pageant truck must be spotless. Inclement weather adds a difficult dimension to participation. It’s easy to see who’s committed to “chasing the win” by seeing firsthand who delivers the proverbial elbow grease in making their truck a top contender. In past years, low scores were levied because trucks weren’t cleaned before being judged. In one poor example, globs of mud, oil streaks, bright yellow butterfly guts, and even tobacco spit-stains were slathered down one entrant’s door. If a participant carrier has its bed raised, clean the frame and the wheel-lift’s under-structure, making sure systems aren’t leaking. Why not power-wash the frame and engine compartment? Frames needn’t be waxed, just cleaned. Overspray on tires and inside engine compartments isn’t favorable to good scores, especially when it drips from the truck’s undersides. Of course, it’s understood that working trucks are precisely that, but higher scores go to the extra efforts
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A trophy truck has to be immaculate inside as well.
that exemplify a winning show truck. Why should AT’s pageant be any different than preparing trucks for an annual highway patrol or DOT inspection? (See sidebar on the “True Benefits of Well Maintained Tow Trucks.”)
BIGGER THE BETTER?
For nostalgic appeal, some judges personally prefer vintage truck displays, but big-rigs and rotators generally are show favorites because of their sheer size. Although heavy wreckers tend to display more specialty equipment and industry trinkets, a well-presented smaller truck can easily stand out above others. When you’re showing a monster rotator or heavy, its winch cable cannot be poorly wound on primary and secondary winches. Cable hooks must have clips that aren’t taped back, zip-tied or missing, since that’s not what OSHA has in mind for safety. Keeping that in mind, some trucks earn lower scores simply because they’re not inspection ready. The extra effort that’s put into showing a pageant truck could be the difference in scoring high or simply meeting basic scores. It’s also advantageous for participants to be present with their trucks when judges are on the floor; sometimes not always possible because judges get delayed while in-process of judging. If you can’t be present, be sure your entry form includes a phone number of someone who can return immediately for judging. Trucks without representatives can’t be judged entirely if judges can’t view inside. A judge might call asking someone to return so judging can continue without the entrant being docked points for an unattended truck. Another fan-favorite is when participants go the extra effort to include a storyboard that includes information and photos of the truck displayed. A complete storyboard includes information regarding the truck, i.e., the restoration process, equipment, pictures, or the truck’s past history. 26 • July 2022 | Towman.com
WHEN VOTES ARE IN
Votes are electronically counted by Towman’s computerized voting system. Show attendees vote by swiping show cards and entering their choices. Remember, although the judge’s critique and visual evaluation of each truck is critical, judges play a small component in the final scoring process. First counted are electronic votes from the shows’ attendee population, with judge’s notes and scoresheets compiled separately. There’s always a favorite truck, paint scheme, mural or theme. Once electronic votes are tabulated, judge assessments become tie-breakers if two trucks have identical scores. When that occurs, the judge’s tiebreakers will edge one or the other out of first-place standing. Because the pageant is a competition, good sportsmanship is always welcome, asking that
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participants accept loss in the same spirit they’d accept winning. Not all participants win and some will be disappointed; not everyone goes home with a trophy. Yet every entry has a fair and equal chance to win. While there should be no sense of entitlement (even if a truck has won at previous shows), some trucks are destined to win again. For that, we’re sorry, but that’s just how competition goes. With sincere certainty, all our judges evaluate in a professional, dispassionate manner and take their responsibilities seriously. We salute your energy and passion for this industry. What better way is there to highlight what your company is all about? In that, we invite you to make our judges’ work extra challenging this year by asking yourself, “Will my entry take home this year’s coveted American Towman trophy?”
AmericanTowman.com | July 2022 • 27
News Flash
Nick’s Golden Anniversary
This year marks 50 years in business for Nick’s Towing Service. “I’ve been blessed to assist my beloved community, the one in which I’ve raised my family, all these years,” noted Nick Testa, president of Nick’s Towing Service. “From flat tires to breakdowns to accidents and heavy recovery, my team and I have serviced people from all walks of life, doing our absolute best to provide 5 Star Service to each and every customer.” He pointed out that his team is often coming to the aid of the motoring public on one of their worst days. Based on the feedback coming in regularly, Nick said that he knows his operators have made a small difference in getting a family member home for the holidays, in assisting a mom with her kids from out of state who doesn’t know what to do, in keeping a new teenage
28 • July 2022 | Towman.com
driver safe and comforted until his parents could come to get him, and so much more. “We’ve also come to the aid of and transported many four legged friends too: dogs, cats, horses, and even lions, tigers and elephants!,” he added. “This work is hard and it hasn’t always been easy but boy we’ve had some fun too. The crew stories are truly endless.” Such as: Billy “just helping a guy out” and offloading an Apollo space capsule in Manhattan; the raccoons
sharing the office with Walter (video on TikTok); Al getting a half eaten steak as a tip (yes, really!); and John helping himself to NTS leftovers only to find out it was from some random guy; and so on… Nick expressed his thanks not only towns surrounding his operation in Rutherford, New Jersey, but also the state police and authorities for the outpouring of support all these years. “It has truly been an honor to serve our community in good times and bad. The bad times have certainly been challenging; such as the horror of 9-11 and the wrath of Superstorm Sandy. The good times have been good though too; the Ringling Brothers Circus coming to town every year, John and Tommy making it onto a television show as extras, the first (and last) company fishing trip, and watching how this team rallies around their work family make it all worthwhile.”
Supplier Scoop
Dobbs Peterbilt’s New Western HQ
Peterbilt Motors Company today announced the opening of a full-service location in Sumner, Washington by Dobbs Peterbilt. This flagship location will serve as the new western region headquarters for the dealership. Dobbs continues its strong dealer growth with over 20 locations spread across Tennessee, Arkansas, Mississippi, Louisiana, California and Washington. The Sumner facility features 18 service bays capable of accommodating 27 trucks, 1,000 sq. ft. of retail space and 30,000 sq. ft. of parts storage. “We’re very pleased to announce the opening of our brandnew Dobbs Peterbilt Sumner, WA dealership, designed to serve our valued customers,” said Mike Clark, CEO Dobbs Peterbilt. “We now have nine Peterbilt locations throughout Washington to
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serve the transportation community. The Sumner location marks our first Peterbilt dealership we designed and constructed from the ground up. We focused on features and a layout that creates an excellent work environment that results in a great customer experience.” Olen Hunter, Executive Vice President of Dobbs Peterbilt, pointed out that, “We designed the new Sumner dealership with dedicated Parts, Service, Truck Sales and Rental & Leasing entrances along with a covered service reception area to give our customers easy
access and protection from the elements. We’ve deployed Peterbilt’s new AR Tech tool to help drive Uptime for our customers and made sure this facility is capable of servicing and supporting Battery Electric Vehicles. Our flagship Dobbs Peterbilt Sumner dealership sets a new benchmark for commercial truck dealerships on the West Coast.” Dobbs Peterbilt - Sumner is located at 2800 136th Ave Court E. in Sumner, Washington, 98390, on State Highway 167 between Highways 18 and 410.
AmericanTowman.com | July 2022 • 29
Mix
Master
Having worked together so many times, All-American’s crew functions smoothly as a team.
All-American Towing & Recovery Knows the Hazards of Handling Concrete Mixers By George L. Nitti
Photos by Brad Fenley Images
30 • July 2022 | Towman.com
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ome towing jobs are like a high-wire act. “A mixer recovery can turn you from a hero to a zero in two seconds flat,” admits Mike Phillips, owner of All-American Towing & Recovery. He knows full well what can go wrong with mixer recoveries, since his firm averages at least a dozen or more per month.
RESPONDING EQUIPMENT
“If you don’t give the mixer the respect it deserves, it will absolutely not go your way,” he points out. On April 1, 2022, All-American, with locations in Denton, Justin and Rhone, Texas, was dispatched to yet another concrete mixer casualty, this time about five miles from one of the company’s Texas locations. “Mixer recoveries are common around here,” explains Phillips, noting that there are probably over 300 mixer companies in the fast-growing Dallas/Ft. Worth metroplex. “They fall over quite a bit because they have a high center of gravity.” Phillips indicated that it doesn’t take much for a driver to come around a turn too fast or slip a tire off the edge of the road, causing an awkwardly shaped 65,000-ton mixer to rock and tip over. Fortunately, Phillips and his crew are well versed in the mixer recovery routine, understanding the ins and outs, some presenting more challenges than others. “A mixer is one of those things that intimidates a lot of guys,” Phillips said. “Especially guys that don’t work on them on the scale that we do.”
Within minutes, All-American had its 2011 Kenworth 1075 Century Rotator dispatched, along with a 2015 Mack 5130 Century, with Phillips taking the lead for operators Kris Moore, Tyler Parker and Jason Watts. Having worked together so many times, they function smoothly as a unified team. “We don’t even need to talk when we get on scene,” Phillips notes. “Everybody knows what their job is, everybody knows what we are going to use to upright it. We do so many of them, it just kind of floats. It’s like muscle memory.” The first measure was to assess and remove the truck’s driveline, and set the brakes in order to prevent a rollaway situation. “If you start up righting one and it is on an incline, the tires roll and it takes off, there goes your tow truck with it,” Phillips points out. Next the operators hooked the lift and catch bridle, simultaneously. Phillips emphasized that, “You have to set them up slow and steady. It pays to allow the mud in the drum to find center because the drum will roll. It will pivot on its axis until the mud is on the bottom. And if you set it up too fast,
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2011 Kenworth 1075 Century Rotator
2015 Mack 5130 Century
2018 Peterbilt Century 9055
RECOVERY PERSONNEL Mike Phillips Kris Moore
Tyler Parker
Jason Watts Work the non-traffic side - Stay Safe!
The first step is to inspect and remove the truck’s driveline, and then set the brakes in order to prevent a rollaway situation.
AmericanTowman.com | July 2022 • 31
DRUM ROLL, PLEASE!
Mike Phillips explains how his crew handles a detached drum: “Wrapping a chain around a detached drum is a task. If the drum is buried on the ground, you may have to start with shovels in order to get the chains just under the front of it. Then we use the winch lines on each side of the wrecker and place them on each side of the drum, pulling them back and forth, like the sawing motion of a twoman wood saw. You do that back and forth, until you get that chain where you need it to be able to wrap the drum. It’s not an easy task. “When you are standing them up, generally you cradle the whole drum because you can be dead-nut center of the drum itself. You can run two chains and cradle that drum coming up and you don’t have to worry about the drive motor, which sometimes is damaged. Because the heaviest part of the mixer is the top, it’s easier on our equipment to do a reverse roll and it’s a whole lot more stable than trying to pull one to you.” “It is approximately a 25-minute on-scene job.”
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the drum will spin quickly, and the momentum will carry it in the opposite direction.” Particularly challenging was that the mixer laid perpendicular to the roadway with its nose against some trees. “Generally, we like to back up to the center of the drum and do a reverse roll,” said Phillips. “Or have a truck in the general area and pick it up and push it away from us.” In this case, the mixer was in a bad spot, sitting in a fairly steep ditch that made it impossible to get a truck down to it. So the next option was to upright it off the rear pedestal. “That poses its own set of challenges, Phillips said, “You must have a lot of trust in the drive motor in the front of the mixer drum to be able to accept and hold that weight. If we sensed that the motor had any kind of distortion to it or broken bolts, we would have had to do something different to it.” While the 5130 25-ton applied downward pressure to the axles, the rotator uprighted the mixer. Once upright, a 2018 Peterbilt Century 9055, which arrived later on scene, had its cables hooked to the nose, pulling the front of the
The mixer was sitting in a fairly steep ditch that made it impossible to get a truck down to it.
mixer onto the road. While Phillips, using a remote, swung the boom and set the back of the mixer onto the roadway where it was finally towed to the customer’s yard. “One thing I really push to my
Work the non-traffic side - Stay Safe!
operators is that just because we have it upright, that doesn’t mean it’s all sunshine and rainbows from there,” Phillips advises. “Generally, when that mixer is turned over, it’s sustained damage that’s going to
make its tow-ability less than ideal. So we preach to our guys to inspect it very well, to maintain your speeds and watch your turns.” And that’s real good advice for just about any type recovery.
AmericanTowman.com | July 2022 • 33
AD INDEX Agero.........................................................11 Akins Body & Carrier Sales.........................25 All American Jerr-Dan ............. N, S 67, M 69 Amell Insurance Agency.........................W 70 Atlanta Wrecker Sales, Inc..........................34 AT&T/FirstNet......................................... N 69 AT ShowPlace Las Vegas...................... 41-43 Austin Insurance ...................................M 70 Blue Tiger..............................................W 68 Captain Recovery................ N 70, S 69, M 71 Chevron Commercial..................................38 Copart..........................................................2 Crouch’s Wrecker & Equipment Sales.........45 Custer Products.........................................40 Donnie Cruse Recovery Award....................57 Dual-Tech Wreckers & Carriers...................18 Edgetec.................................................W 72 Elizabeth Truck Center................................37 FCar Tech USA...........................................27 G.Stone Commercial.............................. N 71 Int’l Towing Museum..................................53 ITI..............................................................19
34 • July 2022 | Towman.com
July 2022
Landoll Corp...............................................75 Len Zermenos............................................23 McMahon Truck Center..........................M 67 Metrocom..................................................51 Midco Sales...........................................W 67 Midwestern................................................16 Miller Industries...........................................7 Mobile Control Systems..............................26 Mobile Video Computing Solutions..............39 North American Bancard............................21 NRC Industries...........................................15 OMG Tow Marketing...................................29 Online impound auctions............................33 Order of Towman.......................................59 Pacific General Insurance.......................M 68 Peak Wrecker.........................................W 69 Recovery Billing Unlimited..........................33 RimSling....................................................17 SafeAll Products.........................................26 Santander Bank.........................................76 Sea Crest Insurance Agency...................W 72
ServiCase..................................................28 Smyrna Truck & Cargo...............................49 Speak Easy Communication.......................47 Talbert Manufacturing............................M 70 Towbook Management Software...................3 Tow Brokers Insurance...............................49 Tow Industries.......................................W 69 Towman Hero Medal..................................35 TowMate....................................................47 Trail King Industries...................................40 Traxero North America................................37 Urgently.....................................................46 US Fleet Tracking.......................................51 Utility Trailer Sales Southeast.................W 70 Warn Industries............................................5 West End Service.......................................58 Winches Inc...........................................W 68 Wrecker Warehouse...............................W 71 XINSURANCE..........................................M 71 Zacklift International..................................17 Zip’s AW Direct....................................13, 22
Tow Manager
Pain at the Pump
Ways to Improve the Fuel Efficiency of Your Tow Trucks By Steve Temple
Steve Temple has many years of experience as an automotive photojournalist and editor of numerous magazines, both consumer and trade. He has a passion for diesel engines, and one of his personal rigs is a one-ton Dodge dually with an upgraded Cummins turbodiesel, often used for both towing and hauling.
T
here’s a truism that fuel prices take off like a rocket and drop like a feather. Well, right now towers aren’t seeing a lot of falling feathers, just skyrocketing prices. Which obviously makes it tough to operate a tow business these days. The reasons why fuel is so expensive now isn’t as relevant as finding ways to economize. So what can help you to offset high fuel expenses? Here are a few tips to reduce your overhead.
FREE GAS-PRICE APPS
GasBuddy, Gas Guru, and Gas Prices by MapQuest are easy-to-use ways to find the cheapest gas station(s) in your area. So when you need to tank up, especially on a long haul, check out the choices available.
CASH IS KING
Many service stations offer lower prices if you pay by cash, usually indicated 36 • July 2022 | Towman.com
right on their price boards. The difference can be as much as 10 cents or more per gallon. Keep your receipts, though, so you remember to write off fuel expenses on your taxes. Yeah, this method does create more bookkeeping, but the savings can really add up.
DISCOUNT CARDS
Some gas credit cards and service stations offer rewards to regular customers, but you’ll need to pay them off each month to avoid interest charges. Also, web sites like Gift Card Granny, CardCash, and Gift Card Place offer discounts on gas gift card. Warehouse clubs like Costco and Sam’s Club have cheaper gas as well.
IMPORTANT MAINTENANCE
Keep your wrecker in good shape, especially if it’s getting older. A clean air filter, properly inflated tires, chassis
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Work the non-traffic side - Stay Safe!
AmericanTowman.com | July 2022 • 37
DRIVING TECHNIQUES
Fuel prices take off like a rocket and drop like a feather. alignment, and regular oil changes can all improve fuel efficiency. On the other hand, carbon deposits from incomplete combustion are the biggest place to lay blame if you’re looking at why older trucks don’t get the mileage they used to (assuming there’s no mechanical problem that needs attention). Deposits on fuel injectors can build up, and degrade mileage because they prevent them from spraying the fuel in a fine mist that mixes properly with air and burns at the optimal rate. Deposits can also develop on other areas like the combustion chamber and valves, and act like sponges,
38 • July 2022 | Towman.com
absorbing misted fuel and keeping it from burning efficiently. In addition, buildup on the oxygen sensor makes it less able to read emissions accurately. Which in turn causes the engine computer to downgrade your mileage up by overcompensating for emissions levels that aren’t really true to real life. These problems can apply to both gas and diesel, and addresses the need for proven fuel and detergent additives to keep various engine components clean. Keep track of any additives’ impact on fuel efficiency, though, in order to make sure they are worth the added expense.
Keep your speed down to the legal limit, use your cruise control, and avoid jackrabbit starts and stops. The biggest effect of speeding on fuel consumption is when you’re on the highway. One statistic indicates that every five mph you go above 50 mph lowers your MPG by seven percent. And that’s even higher with a vehicle in tow. Also, a navigation app can indicate the most efficient route to a job.
IDLE TIME
Another strategy for fuel consumption reduction is idling reduction. According to the USDOE, commercial diesel trucks in general waste over 800 million gallons of fuel per year without even moving. That’s a lot of fuel consumption without any miles being logged.
Of course, on a recovery site, diesel tow trucks need to idle out of necessity. But in some cases an APU (Auxiliary Power Unit) or engine pre-heaters can cut down on the need for excessive idling. In addition, the EPA’s SmartWay program provides information on the availability, adoption and market penetration of fuel-saving technologies and operational practices to help commercial fleets save fuel, lower costs and reduce adverse environmental impacts.
FLEET FUELING
A fleet manager needs to ensure that tow operators employ the best and proper fueling practices for their trucks. These will save time, money and stress for everyone.You would think that filling your tank with the right kind of fuel would be second nature to most towing pros,
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but a surprising amount of financial impact is caused each year from this basic mistake. The number nationwide for commercial fleets is about 300,000 vehicles sidelined, and $250 million in unnecessary damage and expense. Tow managers aiming to optimize fleet performance should also make sure they’re using the correct fuel octane or cetane rating. As a rule of thumb, just follow what’s recommended by the vehicle manufacturer. Using fuel with too-low octane or cetane rating will most certainly cut into fuel efficiency. On the other hand, using fuel with higher-thanrecommended octane or cetane rating can be wasteful, because these fuels might not improve performance as much as you might think. Tip: post written fuel reminders in a visible location, such as on the filler door.
COMPUTERIZED MONITORING
Fleet fuel management systems offer tracking and data gathering functions, so tow managers have the information they need to optimize their fleet’s mileage. These systems also monitor scheduled maintenance intervals, which also can affect fuel consumption. They also save you money by automatically compiling data for regulatory compliance and billing, freeing up your staff to focus on tasks that are more directly related to producing actual revenue for a tow business. In sum, fuel management systems ensure that all the fuel (and additives) used are tracked. That way, a tow manager can know where they’re going, and their impact on the bottom line.
AmericanTowman.com | July 2022 • 39
LITE-IT UP WITH
CUSTER PRODUCTS
www.custerproducts.com • 800-490-3158
40 • July 2022 | Towman.com
Supplier Scoop Trail King’s New Sales Director
Eric Thomas has joined Trail King’s Sales & Marketing department as the Director of Sales. He will be responsible for leading the District Sales Managers and Product Support Managers. Coming to Trail King with over 30 years of sales experience, Thomas has spent much of his time focused on the machinery industry. Most recently, he was the Regional Sales Manager for Kohler Co., and holds a Bachelor of Science degree focused in Agricultural Mechanization from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He will work out of his home office in Carlyle, IL. Trail King Industries, Inc., headquartered in Mitchell, SD, manufactures opendeck and materials-hauling trailers with load capacities ranging from 12,000 to 1,000,000 pounds, and serving a wide variety of markets.
Tow Business
Numbers Game 5 Tax Reduction Strategies By Larry Oxenham
A
Larry Oxenham is a senior advisor with the American Society for Asset Protection and is one of America’s top asset protection experts.
mericans pay more in taxes each year than they spend on food, clothing, and housing combined, so reducing your taxes to the legal minimum can greatly increase your ability to build wealth. After all, it’s not how much money you make, but how much sticks to you. So as Judge Learned Hand pointed out, “Anyone may so arrange his affairs that his taxes shall be as low as possible; he is not bound to choose that pattern which will best pay the treasury; there is not even a patriotic duty to increase one’s taxes.” Also, Supreme Court Justice Sutherland declared, “The legal right of a taxpayer to decrease his taxes or to altogether avoid them by means which the law permits cannot be doubted.” In line with these astute observations, here are five strategies to reduce your taxes to the legal minimum.
1. CREATE NON-TAXABLE INCOME
The IRS allows you to rent out your home for up to fourteen days each year without having to declare the rent as income. When a business partner or client comes into town and stays at your home, you can charge your corporation rent for the room. You can also have a 44 • July 2022 | Towman.com
company party or trainings at your home and rent your home to your corporation for the day. The corporation deducts the rental expense, and you enjoy the rental income tax free.
2. SPREAD INCOME
If you are in a federal tax bracket higher than 15 percent, you may be able to reduce your taxes by setting up a Nevada C corporation and have up to $50,000 of your income flow to this corporation. Nevada has no state income tax and has a federal tax rate of 15 percent on the first $50,000 of taxable income. Your corporation can retain these earnings so you are not double taxed. If you had a personal marginal federal income tax rate of 28 percent and a state income tax rate of 7 percent, you would pay $17,500 in federal and state income tax on this $50,000. If, however, this $50,000 flowed to a Nevada C corporation,
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you may only pay the federal corporate tax rate of 15 percent (depending on the activity of the corporation), or $7,500, saving you $10,000 in taxes. Another application of this strategy is to spread income to children in lower tax brackets. Instead of paying your children’s expenses directly with after-tax dollars, hire your children and pay them for the work they do, and then have your children pay for their own clothes, food, schooling, etc. from the money they earn. You can deduct the wages as a business expense, and your children will pay taxes at their lower tax bracket.
3. MAXIMIZE DEDUCTIONS
There are thousands of items that are allowed as business expenses. You want to make sure as many expenses as possible are deducted as business expenses. Expenses you
46 • July 2022 | Towman.com
may not be taking full advantage of as a business deduction are your medical expenses. Within a sole proprietorship or an S corporation, there is a limit on the medical expenses you can deduct. With the right provisions in a C corporation, you can deduct all medical insurance premiums and all out-of-pocket medical expenses for co-pays, medications, first aid items, etc.
4. DEFER INCOME
One way the IRS allows you to defer income is by contributing to a retirement plan. A retirement plan that works well for a business with no employees (you may have another business with employees) is a SEP IRA (Simplified Employee Pension Individual Retirement Account). The IRS allows you to contribute 18.58 percent of net profit (maximum of $50,000
per year) to your SEP IRA for retirement. If you have $100,000 net profit in your business, you would be able to contribute up to 18.587 percent ($18,587) to your retirement account. You would get to deduct the contribution, saving you thousands in federal and state taxes. Thus, money goes into your SEP IRA tax-free and grows taxfree. SEP IRA funds are taxed at ordinary income tax rates when qualified withdrawals are taken after 59.5 years of age.
5. PROPER USE OF ENTITIES
The tax rules are different for S corporations, C corporations and Sole Proprietorships. You want to use the entity or entities which require you to pay the least amount of tax. For example, if you operate your business as a sole proprietor, all profit (up to the
taxable maximum) is subject to Social Security and Medicare taxes. In an S corporation, profits are distributed through a K-1 and are not subject to Social Security and Medicare taxes. Having your profits flow to you as K-1 income, instead of as profit from a sole proprietorship, could save you thousands each year in Social Security and Medicare taxes. For example, if a sole proprietorship has a profit of $100,000, a 15.3 percent tax (12.4 percent Social Security tax and 2.9 percent Medicare tax) would have to be paid on the entire $100,000, totaling $15,300 ($100,000 x 15.3 percent). In comparison, if an S corporation has a profit of $100,000 and you pay yourself a reasonable salary of $40,000, the other $60,000 would flow to you as profit (K-1) and is not subject to Social Security and Medicare taxes. You only pay social security and Medicare tax on the $40,000 salary, for a tax of $6,120
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($40,000 x 15.3 percent). In this scenario, using an S corporation would save $9,180 ($15,300 $6,120) in taxes each year. While it would be nice to have the whole $100,000 excluded from Social Security and Medicare tax, the IRS requires that owner-employees of an S corporation be paid a salary that is a “reasonable amount” for the work being performed.
IN SUMMARY
As a result of people not using all the deductions and laws available, billions of dollars are overpaid in taxes. Even the IRS commissioner admits that millions of taxpayers are overpaying their taxes each year. So use these five strategies to avoid paying more taxes than you are required.
AmericanTowman.com | July 2022 • 47
Classic Wrecker COE tow trucks are rather rare. This ’47 Chevy has the classic chrome grab bars, running boards, wide wheel wells, and side panel holes for the “infamous” hand crank.
Buried Treasure
Digging up a Stylin’ Art Deco ’47 Chevy Fitted With a Legendary Holmes 515 By Joe Greeves
Joe Greeves is a retired Marine Corps LtCol as well as an active automotive photojournalist since 1974. Enjoying all phases of the hobby, Joe shoots feature articles, tech articles, and show coverage, with more than 2200 published articles in 48 years.
G
etting hooked up with a vintage tow truck sometimes takes longer than you might expect. Chris Diederich first heard about a vintage 1947 Chevy ten years before he ever saw one in person. Clearly this initial exposure planted a seed that took a while to germinate. What helped to sprout his restoration project? Even though he’s not a tow operator, as a machinist by trade Chris is intrigued by well-equipped prewar vehicles, and was looking for something to replace his 1942 Chevrolet half-ton pickup. He had sold it to cover the expenses of relocating from his home in Iowa to northern Florida. Finally settled in the Sunshine State and ready for a new project, he decided to revisit his appreciation for the old Chevy tow truck. After some research, he was able to locate a dilapidated Chevy COE (Cab Over Engine) in the middle of one man’s collection of more than 50 old Fords. Standing out of the crowd of Blue Ovals,
48 • July 2022 | Towman.com
this Bow Tie’s classic Art Deco lines were exactly what he was looking for. Although licensed as a ’47, it was actually an earlier holdover design with prewar styling. The vintage Holmes Traffic King 515 service body was simply a bonus that appealed to his mechanical background. Even though the vehicle was in bad need of TLC, he decided to buy it anyway. And when he arrived home, the purchase was hardly greeted with applause. Rather, the general consensus from friends and family was that Chris had lost his marbles. Fortunately, Chris is a man of vision, able to look past a rough exterior. He viewed the rusty body with a machinist’s eye and knew he could bring it back to life. With a proper restoration, the old tow truck could be transformed into a genuine treasure. The first of many obstacles began with getting the wrecker into his garage, due to the limitations of its seven-foot high
door. His initial method was to attach a set of lightweight wheel dollies, but they folded up almost immediately under the weight of the truck. His next approach employed four small, solidrubber forklift tires with welded-in custom centers. Once the centers were drilled to match the bolt pattern, the new lower profile allowed the COE to move into the garage easily. Just for grins, Chris drove it around the block on those tiny tires, much to the amusement of the neighbors! The Holmes Traffic King 515 service body, manufactured by the Ernest Holmes company in Chattanooga, Tennessee, was a big part of the vehicle’s charm. Advertisements of the day proudly proclaimed, “It’s the one piece of equipment worth waiting for,” alluding to the fact that the company was struggling to meet the pent-up demand for wreckers after WWII. Holmes assured his customers that his firm was producing them as quickly
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Work the non-traffic side - Stay Safe!
AmericanTowman.com | July 2022 • 49
Even though this COE is a Chevy, the power takeoff unit is a repurposed Ford Model T differential that Mr. Holmes pressed into service to handle the wire ropes.
as possible and if patient, they would not be disappointed. Made with 14-gauge coldrolled steel, the bodies were touted as, “modern and streamlined in appearance, equipped with stainless steel handrails.” They featured side panels that extended
Fortunately, Chris is a man of vision, able to look past a rough exterior. He viewed the rusty body with
a machinist’s eye and knew he could bring it back to life.
50 • July 2022 | Towman.com
down to cover the truck frame, adding an unexpected touch of style and setting a trend for today’s modern tow trucks. Also, for both safety and convenience, all the controls were positioned at the rear of the body,
allowing the operator to adjust the anchor lines and raise or lower the load. He could also speed up or slow down the pull without changing his position or losing sight of the car in tow. The Holmes setup was well engineered, designed to work hard, last long, and get tough jobs done. Restoration began with the wrecker portion and, since he wanted to ensure the finished project was as accurate as possible, Chris called upon the International Towing & Recovery Hall of Fame and Museum in Chattanooga, Tennessee, an invaluable source of information. He was also assisted throughout the build by Holmes expert, Spanky Hardy from Burlington, North Carolina, owner of more than 25 Holmes wreckers over the years. With just enough information to get started, he began replacing each of the shafts and the stainless steel
handrails. One of the interesting surprises during the rebuild was learning that the power takeoff unit used a repurposed Ford Model T differential that Mr. Holmes pressed into service to handle the wire ropes. In addition to modifying and rebuilding the existing parts,
sourcing some of the missing parts was a challenge. A replacement for the heavy 540 towing cradle initially supplied with the truck was finally located in Illinois, one of several authentic parts that Chris was fortunate to find. With the wrecker portion
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All the controls were positioned at the rear of the body, allowing the operator to adjust the anchor line and raise or lower the load.
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AmericanTowman.com | July 2022 • 51
The upholstery in the cab includes bench seat, done in black leather and sporting genuine horsehair, along with an original accessory radio.
coming along nicely, Chris turned to the powertrain, replacing the original engine with a rebuilt 1962 235ci straight six. It was similar in appearance to the original and the latest model that would fit into the tight confines of the COE Chevy engine bay. He reinstalled the original intake, exhaust, and the 6-volt electrical system. The engine is matched to a 4-speed transmission with a floor shift and a two-speed differential. Chris still has the truck’s original straight six in his garage, just for the memories. With bodywork the next phase, he soon realized that the biggest problem was rust, as it covered almost everything. He recalls hauling large plastic garbage bags to the curb, filled to capacity. Metalwork was a particular challenge, with one of the fenders having a hole the size of a basketball. In addition to repairing the damage, sections of sheetmetal had to be added throughout to reestablish structural rigidity. Once the body was completed to an acceptable level, Chris handled painting in his garage, choosing a red and black combination. As for the interior, the upholstery in the cab was simplified with an Internetsourced bench seat, done in black 52 • July 2022 | Towman.com
leather and sporting genuine horsehair. The period-treatment’s finishing touch included an original accessory radio, Model Number 985792. Of course he had to replace those solid little donuts that allowed the truck to fit into his garage. Refurbished rims and six new 750-20 tires created a considerably
different reaction years later when he took his latest trip around the block. It was nice to hear applause for a change. Some folks think solving a jigsaw puzzle without a picture is the ultimate challenge. Chris put a reverse spin on his project, using the picture in an original postwar Holmes advertisement as the guide to solving his puzzle. He re-created a virtually exact reproduction of the truck in the ad, right down to the “Super Chevrolet Service” decal on the side. While he can’t use it as a tow vehicle (due to restrictions on his insurance policy) now that the fiveyear restoration is complete, Chris enjoys picking up his grandson from school and participating in local car shows. He’s put more than 3,000 fun miles on it in the last decade or so, with about 40 mph as the top speed. He smiles when he sums up his ‘47 Chevy: “These old trucks were made to pull hard—but not get anywhere quickly!”
Early Holmes wreckers were easy to operate and the booms were “splittable.” Rigging port-tostarboard could be done by pulling a center-plunge T-Pin at the top of the boom sheaves. This truck also has an under-reach, wheel-lift attachment.
Repo Run
Repo Liabilities Legal Pitfalls to Avoid By Mark Lacek
I Repo Editor Mark Lacek has over 35 years of recovery experience. He is the former editor of Professional Repossessor magazine. Lacek is a sought-after repossession expert witness. He has been retained by law firms across the country more than 25 times in repossession-related lawsuits, including cases involving injury and death. He is the past President of the Florida Repossession Association and has authored the CCRA repossession certification program offered at www. riscus.com. Email him at Marklacek@ymail.com.
njury and death during repossessions have increased drastically in recent years. As a result, legal actions are through the roof. For instance, during a repossession, just mentioning to someone why you are knocking on his neighbors’ door, or asking law enforcement to stand by, could end you up at the wrong side of a lawsuit. New as well as existing laws are in place to protect the consumer, so you damn well better know what they are. Protocol and procedures for the day-to-day interactions with the public are critical factors in the repossession business. A repossessor must have a clear knowledge of the laws governing his actions, because a lawsuit could be only a court summons away.
PROFIT BEFORE SAFETY?
In the repossession business, we’d like to believe that the clients who hire us expect the employees we send into
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the field are trained and/or certified. You may be surprised to learn, however, that some clients don’t really care. Many of those who hire us put the cost of the job ahead of public safety, and the safety of ourselves and our employees. In some instances, safety is last, and profit comes first. Somewhere it has been decided that the financial bottom line is paramount. This is why it is up to you to seek training and knowledge. No one is going to look out for your best interests better than you.
CASE IN POINT
The following account is about a man who was killed because the repossessor had received no training before being sent out to the field. The story is repeated time and time again, though the names and specifics might be different, the message is the same. More people are being injured or killed during the repossession process than ever before.
The May 2019 issue of American Towman briefly reported on an innocent Texas consumer, Albert Nduli, who lost his life during a repossession. The facts presented for my review as a consultant for the plaintiff’s attorney were very disturbing. A peaceful morning came to an end on a dreadful day in Texas. Neighbors watched as repo man Oscar Lee Harrison ran over Albert Nduli and crushed his skull. Harrison continued on his way with the Lincoln Navigator hooked to his tow-truck. Harrison didn’t stop until he pulled the Navigator into his employer’s storage lot. A man was dead, but another repossession was completed. In the police report, Harrison said there was a disagreement between him and the registered owner of the car, Albert Nduli. Albert’s wife Josephine was standing there also before Harrison pulled away with the Navigator. Harrison said he saw Albert Nduli in his rear view mirror as he pulled away. Harrison stated the man was attempting to get up off of the pavement. Months later during trial deposition, Harrison’s story had changed. He testified that during the repossession when he pulled out into the street, as he was driving away with the Lincoln Navigator in tow, he did not see Albert Nduli at all. The lawsuit in this case was filed by Kherkher Garcia who represented the wife of Albert Nduli. Attorney Kevin Haynes, a partner with the Houston Texas law firm Kherkher Garcia, crossexamined Harrison, asking if he had ever received any specific training about how to interact with people from whom he’s repossessing things. Harrison answered very quickly, and clearly “No.” Attorney Haynes then asked Harrison if he had ever heard the Work the non-traffic side - Stay Safe!
word “retreat” in the context of performing repossession. “Not as a repo driver,” Harrison replied. By the time the deposition was over, it was very clear Oscar Harrison should not have been sent to repossess anyone’s car that day.
COMPANY OMISSIONS
On the day he killed Albert Nduli, Oscar Lee Harrison was working for Harris County Impound, a small Houston repossession company. It was managed by Robin Heaslet and owned by her father. During her deposition Robin Heaslet admitted that neither she or her father didn’t require any of their drivers to have any training or certifications regarding towing safety. Her testimony didn’t help her in any way. TitleMax of Texas sent the repossession assignment to Harris County Impound. TitleMax is in the business of loaning money, and holding the title as collateral. As a defendant in the lawsuit, TitleMax would have to send its representative to answer questions to the deposition. TitleMax sent Jose Cotto, the company’s Compliance Manager, as its official representative to answer questions. As the six-hour deposition came to an end, at no time during his deposition did Cotto testify TitleMax required its repossession vendors or their employees to be trained or certified. Cotto’s answers did not help his employer TitleMax. This case was settled at arbitration. The amount paid to the wife of Albert Nduli is called an “undisclosed settlement.” You can bet the settlement was big. Altogether, this article is not about TitleMax, it’s not about Harris County Impound, nor is this story about Oscar Lee Harrison. It’s about how to keep your ass out of court.
REPO TYPES
To understand the meaning of “Wrongful Repossession,” one must first understand repossession law and the foundation of all matters relating to repossession. There are two types of repossessions. First is judicial repossession. The second is the self-help repossession. A judicial repossession is when the lien holder chooses to go through the courts to recover the collateral. Paperwork is filed, a court order is granted most often called a repliven. The jurisdiction will send law enforcement to repossess the collateral. With a self-help repossession, the lien holder can send a private entity to repossess the collateral. This is when a repossession agency is contacted. There are rules in place to perform a self-help repossession. To mention only a few, a repossessor cannot enter the debtor’s dwelling, the repossessor may not utilize law enforcement, and the repossession must be performed without breach of peace. The repossessor must retreat when confronted by the verbal objection to the repossession. Training and certification instructs the repossession agency on all of the aspects governing repossessions. There are laws to protect the consumer from unfair practices during the collection of a debt. Training and certification teaches the strict guidelines on what a repossessor can and cannot do during the repossession process.
FEDERAL GUIDELINES
The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) is the main federal law that governs debt-collection practices. The FDCPA prohibits debt-collection companies, including repossessors, from using abusive, unfair or deceptive practices to collect
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debts from you. The majority of wrongful repossession lawsuits pertain to the acts of the repossessor during the repossession. Another law is UCC Article 9. If a debtor defaults on a debt, the creditor may repossess the secured property. How this is accomplished is clear in the written law. There are strict guidelines to follow when repossessing collateral. The FDCPA and UCC Article 9 are only two of the laws pertaining to repossessions. There are others. Training and certification instructs the attendee on all of the laws and rules pertaining to consumer rights during the repossession process.
front of a judge and jury. There are factors which cause the repossessor to break away from professional standards, but here’s how things used to be. There was a time when a repossession company was quite profitable. Being in the repossession business meant multiple revenue streams. It wasn’t just the repossession of the collateral where the money was made. Other revenue streams included storage, making keys, personal property inventory, an assignment close or resolution fee, and a second tow was invoiced when the repossession agency delivered the
If you fail to apply this knowledge to your daily procedures, you’re just setting yourself up for an appearance in front of a judge and jury.
LEGAL IMMUNITY?
Training and knowledge is the foundation of professional standards. When the business owner, the office staff and those in the field become trained and certified, the recovery agency has surely placed a barrier wall against potential lawsuits right? Maybe not! Becoming certified is only a part of following professional repossession industry standards. The lessons learned from training must be followed. If you go through the process of becoming trained and certified, and then fail to apply this knowledge to your daily procedures, you’re just setting yourself up for an appearance in 56 • July 2022 | Towman.com
collateral to the auction. Sometimes if the client did not have the customer’s home address or work location, the repossession agency was able to charge extra to locate the debtor. This was called a skip fee. There was money to be made in the repossession business.
LOSING PROFITS
All that stopped with the introduction of the middleman, the asset-management company, aka “the forwarder.” Forwarders managed to outsource almost all of the other revenue streams, leaving not much meat on the bone for the repossession agency. Simply put, the repossession business is no longer profitable. So many of the older and
well-established agencies have closed doors and have gone out of business. Those still in business have cut costs drastically, choosing to forgo training and certification in an effort to keep the cost of being in business down. The increase in the cost of equipment, insurance and the price of fuel has affected maintenance, wages and efficiency. You only have to listen to the news stories of the increase in violent confrontations during the repossession process. Repossessors and consumers are being injured and killed at an alarming rate. Repossessors are taking chances they never would have years ago. The old adage that, “There is always time to come back later” no longer applies, as the cost of each trip to the debtors has increased drastically.
PAYMENT ISSUES
Repossessors have been forced to work recovery assignments on contingency. This term means the repossessors aren’t paid unless they bring in the metal, and this mindset is causing injury and death across the nation almost daily. Contingency is a dirty word in the repossession industry. Nobody likes it, but because of fierce competition, repossession agencies have no other choice. Accept the assignment as contingent on the recovery, or lose the recovery assignment to a competitor. Is there money to be made in the repossession business, absolutely? Is there profit to appreciate? Absolutely not! There is no reason for a towing company to think there is extra revenue to be made getting into the repossession business. Understand this: In the business of towing cars, the towing company gets a call asking for help. The customer needs his car towed; he gives you the address of where
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the car is located. The customer is usually happy to see the driver; he might smile and shake the operators hand. The customer probably thanks the tow operator as he calmly drives away with the customers car in tow. A repossession agency’s customer is different. The customer is the client, the lien holder. The client may not know where the car is, but the client will give you the address he has on file when the car was financed a year or so ago. And by the way, you’re not allowed to call the debtor; you will have to sneak up to the car when no one is looking, hook to the car and take it. You might have to check the address two, three or more times before you locate the car. Oh, by the way, if you don’t find the car and the debtor makes a payment, you’re probably not getting paid for anything you have
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done. The client may pay you $50 bucks for your efforts just to keep you available for the next time the client wants to send you a repo assignment. Not coming back with the car happens more than 80 percent of the first trip. And recovering the collateral at all is less than 50 percent of the time.
JUST SHOOT ME
One more thing: In the repossession business, if you get caught while hooking to the car, the debtor might just shoot you. Training and certification is only “part one” in keeping you out of the courtroom or becoming victim of injury or death during the repossession process. Applying what you learn is part two. Tragedy strikes without notice. It is often not about one bad decision, but an accumulation
of smaller mistakes that ultimately lead to catastrophe. Across the street from Albert Nduli’s apartment, mounted on the corner of the house was a video camera that clearly revealed how he died. The video recording showed a man running next to the tow truck and jumping onto the foot rail of driver-side door. Just as the driver of the tow truck pulled onto the main road and turned right, somehow the man lost his footing and fell, and as the tow truck pulled away, the Lincoln Navigator in tow, ran over and killed the man. A witness said the driver opened the door causing the man to fall. Josephine, Albert’s wife looked on as he lay dead in the road. Even worse, her daughter comes out of the apartment, asking, “Mommy, where’s my Daddy?” Be safe out there. Get good training, and apply what you learn.
An American Towman
KHALED “KELLY” AL BAROUDI Owner and Founder Professional Towing and Recovery Tempe, Arizona
Success Story
By Working Hard From the Heart By Charles Duke
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.
S
punk. Hustle. Hard work. All successful towmen must have a degree of these three traits to survive in this industry. Khaled “Kelly” Al Baroudi, owner and founder of Professional Towing and Recovery in Tempe, Arizona, has those qualities in spades, going along with his magnetic personality in building his fourlocation company. Kelly emigrated from Syria to the United States in 2000, when his brother-inlaw left the Marines to work with the U.S. government. Kelly came to Michigan to help take care of his sister who was about to have a baby, as his brother-in-law had to serve a mission. Upon arriving in the U.S., Kelly found work two days later with a towing company owned by his brotherin-law’s brother. Kelly found he really had a knack for it, and loved the work. Before he knew it, he was still with that company for four years. But Kelly always wanted something of his own. On a whim he headed to Arizona,
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I had in my mind to buy one truck every year. I ended up buying one
truck every month.
after shoveling snow from his house one May morning on the day he left. Once in Arizona, he saw people enjoying a warmer climate and wondered, “What am I doing in Michigan?” So he made the decision to relocate there. Through his own persistence, Kelly found work three days later. Kelly related that he got the job by walking to a mechanic shop. “My mentality is if I applied for a job and you are hiring, done deal, right? So I walked in and asked, ‘Hey, are you guys hiring?’ They said they were, so I applied for a job. “But I woke up the next morning, and (the general manager) hadn’t called me. So, I walked back in and said, ‘I applied for a job; you didn’t call me.’ He said, ‘You just applied yesterday.’ I said I know, but you’re looking for someone to work, and I’m here to find a job. He said, ‘OK, I’ll let you know by the end of the day.’ “By the end of the day, he didn’t call me. I walked in the next day, ‘You didn’t
call me.’ He said, ‘You know what? I don’t care what my boss is going to say, I’m going to hire you.’” Kelly was there for two months when the owner asked him how to spell his name so that he could put it on his uniform. Kelly, who had been saving his money from the time he’d been at that company and from the time he was in Michigan, told the owner not to bother with the embroidered name tag because his dream was to eventually open his own business. The owner then made him an offer to buy into his business. This offer took him by surprise, because he never owned a business in the United States before, and he barely spoke English. But Kelly had the drive inside him to do it. He met with the owner that night and asked a few friends to help him out in securing business loans, and made a small down payment. And on August 1, 2005, he owned his own business. “In May 2006, I bought my first tow truck,” he related. “I figured I’m doing repair, I know towing, I can add a tow truck.” Kelly worked with that one tow truck until 2016. That’s when he was joined by his younger brother Hamza and their friend Haddi Hakim to build the towing portion of the business. Today, Professional Towing and Recovery boasts of four locations: two in Tempe (where one serves as its main location), and one each in Phoenix and Gilbert. The company’s 34-vehicle fleet includes one rotator, a mix of heavy, medium and lightduty bodies, three trailers, and a car hauler. Most of the fleet are 2018 models and up. “I had in my mind to buy one truck every year,” he recalled. “I ended up buying one truck every month. From 2016 to right now, I’ve grown my company from one truck to 30-plus.” Work the non-traffic side - Stay Safe!
DUEL IN THE DESERT
Kelly recalled a job from May 2020 that took place in Arizona’s brutal, 100-degree heat. “I received a police call for a stolen vehicle in the middle of the desert, about 12 miles off road. The vehicle had no tires, it was halfburnt, and there was no cellphone service in the area.” On top of it all, Kelly got stuck in quicksand for approximately a half mile. Unable to get help, he had to undertake a series of maneuvers involving winching and releasing the stolen vehicle several times. He would use his winch to pull the vehicle closer to his truck until it got stuck, release it from the boom, and then manually push his truck forward until he was able to regain traction to re-hook and winch the vehicle again. “I had to repeat this over and over,” he explained. All told, the entire job took two hours before he was able to get back to the main road. “This was especially memorable, as it was hot and I had no means of help,” Kelly said. “I had to figure a way out, and the conditions and heat were bad. I was able to barely move a few feet until one of the vehicles would get stuck. Keep in mind that the vehicle I was recovering had no tires, and I was doing much of this while having it hanging in the air.” Over time, Kelly has gained a reputation for providing top-notch customer service to all. He recently added his fifth government account, a contract to do towing for the City of Phoenix. He mentioned that he has received recognition from several motor clubs for his performance. Also, Professional Towing and Recovery is a three-time recipient of the American Towman ACE Award, garnering trophy buckles for the years 2017, 2018 and 2019. Part of his good business name was exemplified by a recent occurrence involving a call he received one morning from a very well-known Arizona Department of Public Safety captain. The captain
explained that he had heard a lot about Kelly’s customer service, and he wanted to personally come to the shop to shake his hand. When he arrived, he gave Kelly a commemorative coin from the Arizona DPS, something that Kelly said he will always cherish. “If I work for anything,” Kelly said, “I work for these moments. Someone stopping by who cares about safety and customer service. They stop by to shake my hand because of my customer service. That tells me I’m doing good, and I’m going to continue to do good. That means more to me and the company than financial success—that’s my success. Working from my heart.”
AmericanTowman.com | July 2022 • 61
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Insight LPR, a technology company providing proprietary license plate recognition (LPR) software, hardware and data products, has officially released a new business model and LPR strategy to the auto repossession industry. “We’re launching our agent-centric platform in response to a real market need,” said Insight LPR Chief Product Officer Oscar Nunez. This platform is designed to provide recovery agents with much more control over the LPR data they collect. Also, Insight LPR says its platform enables quicker repossessions, increases recovery rates and adds value to an agent’s business. The company also offers a “bring-your-own” Genetec device option, as this hardware is compatible with the new platform. “What’s most exciting about our platform is that we have built a solid LPR solution on a flexible and reliable technology stack. Our offering fills the gaps on existing technologies and is setting new standards for excellence and LPR innovation in the industry,” Nunez added. Additional benefits include • Transparent partnership • No long-term commitment, no 12-month, non-compete post termination • Agent data is not shared or sold to forwarders, lenders or competing recovery companies • Agent has full access to historical data • Optimized network size • Full case management integrations • Access to large staging hotlist • Earn a minimum of $355 per Live Repo For more information on Insight LPR’s model and strategy for the auto repossession industry, visit insightlpr.com.
In December of last year, the American Petroleum Institute (API) began development of a new diesel engine oil category called PC12 or Proposed Category 12. This new category will replace the current API CK-4 and FA-4 engine oils, in order to meet the needs of increased performance, and enable engine manufacturers to meet the proposed NOx and GHG emission standards expected in 2027, along with requirements for fuel economy for certain engine models. The performance improvements of PC-12 will include better oxidation resistance to prevent increases in oil viscosity and reduced lubrication. Also, additive levels will be controlled to minimize the potential for catalyst poisoning. Formation of soot particulate will be reduced as well to assure cleaner exhaust. In addition, new engine seal elastomer materials must be evaluated to assure that the PC-12 engine oil does not attack or erode them. Once the EPA establishes NOx emission limits, this will allow engine manufacturers to better understand how oil marketers can help engine manufacturers reach these limits by changing the composition of engine oil. The Engine Manufacturers Association (EMA) can then look at how the chemistry of the oil can help them to extend the useful life of a diesel particulate filter and the complete after-treatment system. With PC-12, new engine tests are being developed to ensure backward compatibility with CK-4 and previous-generation oils. API will continue provide updates on the development of the diesel engine oil specification. More information about API and the Engine Oil Licensing Program is available at api.org.
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Work the non-traffic side - Stay Safe!
AmericanTowman.com | July 2022 • 63
My Baby
Creating a Masterpiece
How an Exotic Car Craftsman Turned to Tow Trucks By George L. Nitti
George L. Nitti has written for American Towman since 2009. He started out as a news writer and now writes a weekly feature on TowIndustryWeek.com, Tow Illustrated, which spotlights the tow truck graphics.
T
hey say life is what happens in between your plans. As proof, just ask Anthony Monaco. When started his company, Anthony’s Hightech Auto Center, Inc. of Milford, Connecticut in 1990, he was a talented, passionate auto technician, garnering a first- place state award for his skilled craftsmanship. “I wanted to separate myself from the regular technician and be a cut above,”
64 • July 2022 | Towman.com
Monaco related. He even entertained a sixfigure offer by famed auto executive Lee Iacocca after winning a fifth-place national award in a Chrysler competition. Then custom wreckers changed his plans. Towing became an offshoot as the exotic cars that he serviced needed to be picked up and delivered, adding that personal touch on which Monaco prided himself. As the business grew, towing was incorporated, and he found another passion: channeling his automotive technical skills into building state of the art units for his tow company. Anthony’s newest truck, a 2022 Peterbilt 567 1075 Rotator, is a cut above. Working together with Chris Lambiase of New England Truck Master in North Haven, Connecticut on the unit’s customization, along with his fiancee, Lori Jansen o n
TECH HIGHLIGHTS
the wrap, this masterpiece was born. The customized axles at the rear of the unit were an ingenious innovation. “Everybody had been building a quad steer and could not scale them,” he noted. “We stretched the axles to distribute the weight better. It’s the first one that’s been built in the United States.” These axle units have a 60-inch spread to allow for more weight capacity per bridge law. Monaco also painted the zinc frame lime green, to preserve it from rust, maintain its future resale value, and match the body’s color. “Because the value of the truck is so crazy, the first thing you want to do is make sure that the foundation is perfect,” he explained. “Then you can drop all of the big money on top of it.” Strobes made by Whelen on the side doors were added for safety reasons, he pointed out. “When you open the door they go on. When motorists see the lights, they stay away. Lasers shoot down on the ground when the rotator arms extend out.” Work the non-traffic side - Stay Safe!
Not only does this unit pop with customized features, but also is mesmerizing to the eye with Anthony’s company name splashed out in lime green against a black background and complementary tribal flames, also lime green. “We do all of our graphics in house,” said Monaco. “I was striving to do something different and incorporated a skull. This rotator is aggressive looking on the highway, especially with its reflective lettering.” Near the winch area you will find Lori’s name and his two daughters, Analisha and Nicolette. “For good luck,” he smiles. The hood of the truck is pure artistry, as “Monaco Enterprises,” sitting partially on a dark metallic background, pops in silver against a sea of green fierce flames. As a finishing touch, “Hustling Hardcore” is written on the spreader bars. “It’s a master of disaster,” Monaco proudly proclaimed. “This truck can clear up anything. We hustle and it does the work.”
Chassis: 2022 Peterbilt 567 Heritage edition Wrecker Body: Century 1075 75-ton 360-degree boom Rotator Engine: Cummins X15 605 hp, 2050 lb/ft torque Paint: zinc coated Monster Energy green Strobes: Whelen Engineering Company, Inc. Axles: Simard twin-steer conversion Laser: JW Speaker, Big Red Stripe Model 529 Wrap graphics: Lori Jansen and Anthony Monaco Custom features: Arctic Fox fuel heater, Air Disc brakes
AmericanTowman.com | July 2022 • 65
Lowdown
Grit, Intelligence, Heart Behind Masters of Chaos By Steve Calitri
Steve Calitri Editor-in-Chief scalitri@towman.com
J
ust start with a little chunk of chaos. A car has driven into a ditch off the road. Getting people out of that car, and then the car out of the ditch without doing further damage. Maybe it’s dark, maybe there’s rain or snow. Many a human being would get stressed out figuring how to handle the situation. And that’s just a little bit of chaos. Add several degrees more with a tractor trailer in the ditch. Now figure a highway incident with multiple vehicles having crashed. A little bit of chaos there with three cars involved. Now take a scene with many cars and trucks. Maybe ten vehicles. Or take the Great Texas Pileup involving 135 vehicles. Police, Fire, EMT all on the scene. Oh, and the indispensable ones, the true masters of chaos, the towmen: without them the road never gets cleared, the men and women trapped in their vehicles don’t get the help when needed. Maybe some would never get out. In Fort Worth last month, James Bennett Jr. of Beard’s Towing & Recovery, spoke to towing professionals about his incident command role and how the Great Texas Pileup was unraveled by a dozen towing companies and the coordinated work of police, firefighters and EMTs working with them. The importance of the work they all did cannot be overstated. Many lives hung in the balance, saying nothing of the lives affected by closing the freeway. Before that incident, Bennett had hosted many cross-training exercises at the Beard’s towing grounds for all the emergency service
66 • July 2022 | Towman.com
James Bennett Jr. of Beard’s Towing & Recovery spoke about how the Great Texas Pileup was unraveled.
disciplines that are called on at incidents. During TowXpo, Bennett hosted three different training courses involving light and heavy duty wreckers, including rotators. The trainers raved about the Beard’s location as a training facility. Bennett provided victim vehicles and tow trucks. His only reward was knowing he was helping his peers and the Dallas-Fort Worth area that would benefit from the training. Bennett gave a seminar on the Great Texas Pileup at TowXpo to share with towers what he learned by helping to coordinate the incident response. Again, his reward: his peers learning something they can take home to their tow shops and communities. Bennett along with 16 other towers were recognized for their role in that great pileup at a dinner inside the Fort Worth Hilton. Bennett was also recognized for the honor of being chosen the 2022 Towman of the Year. His contributions to TowXpo’s training and education program confirmed why he was chosen. He has a lot to offer the towing industry and he doesn’t hold back. Bennett will be contributing his seminar on the Great Texas Pileup in Las Vegas and Baltimore this September and November. For that seminar alone, it’s worth traveling to those cities.
News Flash
Christopher Russell was given a moving tribute with towers driving in procession and delivering his casket on the back of a flatbed.
Tribute for Tower Christopher Russell
On June 1, Connecticut towtruck driver Christopher Russell, who was acting as a Good Samaritan before he was killed in New Haven by a drunk driver on I-91, was given tribute by family, friends, and towers. Owner Anthony Monaco of Hightech Auto Center of Milford, Connecticut, said, “He had just finished helping someone pulled over and got hit by a drunk driver as he was walking back to the truck.” With his casket strapped to the bed of a tow truck, dozens of tow truck drivers drove in procession to a cemetery in Manchester, Connecticut, where Russell was laid to rest. At the event, towers spoke about the pressing need for the motoring public to slow down and move over.
“I’m out there all the time, too, and you know, people come within mere inches and they don’t think it’s like serious, but he didn’t get to go home to his family that night,” said Luis Crespo, friend and former colleague of Russell. Source:nbcconnecticut.com
Philadelphia Employing Safety Enforcement Officers
Philadelphia plans to employ 28 safety enforcement officers to ticket and tow abandoned cars on its streets. The bill, which allocates $1.25 million for the positions, was approved by the Philadelphia City Council, also with the aim to free up city police to fight gun violence, which remains at high levels. “We need Public Safety Enforcement officers on the job in Philadelphia — and we need them
Philadelphia City Council members announcing new plan to employ safety enforcement officers.
North 68 • July 2022 | Towman.com
today,” said Council President Darrell Clarke. “With gun violence remaining at high levels, we need every available police officer on the streets, fighting crime and acting to prevent gun violence. Abandoned cars are a blight in too many neighborhoods and can lead to a climate of disorder than breeds crime. Communities deserve better, and Public Safety Enforcement officers can play a real role in getting these blights off the streets—and freeing up police to do more proactive violence reduction work.” Source: penncapital-star.com
Car dealership owner Adel Elhindawi passed away after being shot at for repossessing a loaner vehicle.
Man Arrested for Shooting Owner of Car Dealership
The man who shot the owner of a car dealership in Ft. Worth, Texas, was taken into custody by Arlington police and charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and robbery. The incident occurred around noon on May 16 when dealership owner Adel Elhindawi came to repossess a car loaned to Espy. After Espy’s car was repaired for mechanical issues and returned to him and his loaner not returned, Elhindawi came to repossess the vehicle. “For somebody to do this to a loving person, who was doing a favor, who was helping them out, who was going above and beyond to help them out,” said Damien
◀
News Flash Espinoza, an employee at the dealership. “Give them a car when they needed a car. For them to do this to him, it’s senseless.” Elhindawi passed away a few days later. Source: star-telegram.com
$800,000 Wrecker Stolen
A heavy-duty Wrecker worth $800,000 was stolen in Miami at a Commercial Truck Dealership around 1:00 a.m. on Saturday, May 8. Surveillance video captured several people pulling up to the TruckMax Inc. Commercial Truck Dealership, entering through the fence, attaching a chain to the metal gate, and using the big rig to pull the gate down. Investigators say the keys were not inside, but the thieves were still able to start the vehicle. The owner of the rare truck, used to tow and lift large vehicles, said that the truck could be started with a key to a dif-
North 70 • July 2022 | Towman.com
The Heavy-Duty Tow Truck worth $800,000 that was stolen in South Florida.
ferent truck of the same make and model, since so few are manufactured every year. An investigation is ongoing. Source: gaterrocks.iheart.com
Tow Contract Rejected in Wichita
The Wichita City Council rejected a tow contract that would grant a 4% increase to nine tow compa-
nies that provide emergency towing services for the Wichita Police Dept. and remove abandoned vehicles. The contract is set to expire June 1. Former City Council member Greg Ferris, representing the tow companies, said the companies are facing higher costs for fuel and other items, and can’t go any lower than the fees negotiated in the contract. Some council members argued price gouging, or that the in-
crease would be a financial burden for citizens. Under the contract, the fees would continue increasing by 4% annually for four years. One council member who supported the contract, said the city should approve rate increases to help small businesses. The council member challenged the mayor’s claim that the rate increases could result in residents losing their jobs or homes. “The average increase per incident would probably be $50 for the individual, so I’m doubtful that that would put someone in the position of losing their home,” said the councilman. “I’m also cognizant of the fact that these occurrences happen rarely. Somebody doesn’t get their car impounded by the police on a frequent basis. So the fact of jeopardizing our community members’ jobs or homes is probably limited.” More than 1,700 vehicles were towed under the city’s contract last
Work the non-traffic side - Stay Safe!
year, with more than 600 of those were sold at auction. Sources: kfdi.com, kansas.com
Fatalities Rise on U.S. Roads
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that 2021 saw more fatalities on U.S. roads, as nearly 43,000 people were killed, the highest number in 16 years and a 10.5% jump over 2020 stats. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said America faces a crisis on its roads. The safety administration urged state and local governments, drivers and safety advocates to join together to reverse the rising death trend. Americans drove about 325 billion miles last year, 11.2% higher than in 2020, which contributed to the increase from 38,824 killed that year. Traffic deaths began to spike in
2019. NHTSA has blamed reckless driving behavior for increases during the pandemic, citing behavioral research showing that speeding and traveling without a seatbelt have been higher. Before 2019, the number of fatalities had fallen for three straight years. Source: swvatoday.com
Scene of a fatal car crash in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
AmericanTowman.com | July 2022 • North 71
North 72 • July 2022 | Towman.com
Episode 15
Copyright©2021 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
News Flash streets, fighting crime and acting to prevent gun violence. Abandoned cars are a blight in too many neighborhoods and can lead to a climate of disorder than breeds crime. Communities deserve better, and Public Safety Enforcement officers can play a real role in getting these blights off the streets—and freeing up police to do more proactive violence reduction work.” Source: penncapital-star.com
Christopher Russell was given a moving tribute with towers driving in procession and delivering his casket on the back of a flatbed.
Tribute for Tower Christopher Russell
On June 1, Connecticut towtruck driver Christopher Russell, who was acting as a Good Samaritan before he was killed in New Haven by a drunk driver on I-91, was given tribute by family, friends, and towers. Owner Anthony Monaco of Hightech Auto Center of Milford, Connecticut, said, “He had just finished helping someone pulled over and got hit by a drunk driver as he was walking back to the truck.” With his casket strapped to the bed of a tow truck, dozens of tow truck drivers drove in procession to a cemetery in Manchester, Connecticut, where Russell was laid to rest. At the event, towers spoke about the pressing need for the motoring public to slow down and move over. “I’m out there all the time, too, and you know, people come within mere inches and they don’t think it’s like serious, but he didn’t get to go home to his family that night,” said Luis Crespo, friend and former colleague of Russell. Source:nbcconnecticut.com
Philadelphia Employing Safety Enforcement Officers
Philadelphia plans to employ 28 safety enforcement officers to ticket and tow abandoned cars on its streets. The bill, which allocates $1.25 million for the positions, was approved by the Philadelphia City Council, also with the aim to free up city police to fight gun violence, which remains at high levels. “We need Public Safety Enforcement officers on the job in Philadelphia — and we need them today,” said Council President Darrell Clarke. “With gun violence remaining at high levels, we need every available police officer on the
Car dealership owner Adel Elhindawi passed away after being shot at for repossessing a loaner vehicle.
Man Arrested for Shooting Owner of Car Dealership
The man who shot the owner of a car dealership in Ft. Worth, Texas, was taken into custody by Arlington police and charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and robbery. The incident occurred around noon on May 16 when dealership
Philadelphia City Council members announcing new plan to employ safety enforcement officers.
South 68 • July 2022 | Towman.com
owner Adel Elhindawi came to repossess a car loaned to Espy. After Espy’s car was repaired for mechanical issues and returned to him and his loaner not returned, Elhindawi came to repossess the vehicle. “For somebody to do this to a loving person, who was doing a favor, who was helping them out, who was going above and beyond to help them out,” said Damien Espinoza, an employee at the dealership. “Give them a car when they needed a car. For them to do this to him, it’s senseless.” Elhindawi passed away a few days later. Source: star-telegram.com
$800,000 Wrecker Stolen
A heavy-duty Wrecker worth $800,000 was stolen in Miami at a Commercial Truck Dealership around 1:00 a.m. on Saturday, May 8. Surveillance video captured several people pulling up to the Truck-
Work the non-traffic side - Stay Safe!
The Heavy-Duty Tow Truck worth $800,000 that was stolen in South Florida.
Max Inc. Commercial Truck Dealership, entering through the fence, attaching a chain to the metal gate, and using the big rig to pull the gate down. Investigators say the keys were not inside, but the thieves were still able to start the vehicle. The owner
of the rare truck, used to tow and lift large vehicles, said that the truck could be started with a key to a different truck of the same make and model, since so few are manufactured every year. An investigation is ongoing. Source: gaterrocks.iheart.com
◀
AmericanTowman.com | July 2022 • South 69
News Flash
Downtown Wichita, where a tow contract was rejected for requesting a 4% increase for tow services.
Tow Contract Rejected in Wichita
The Wichita City Council rejected a tow contract that would grant a 4% increase to nine tow companies that provide emergency towing services for the Wichita Police Dept. and remove abandoned vehicles. The contract is set to expire June 1. Former City Council member Greg Ferris, representing the tow companies, said the companies are facing higher costs for fuel and other items, and can’t go any lower than the fees negotiated in the contract. Some council members argued price gouging, or that the increase would be a financial burden for citizens. Under the contract, the fees would continue increasing by 4% annually for four years. One council member who supported the contract, said the city should approve rate increases to help small businesses. The council member challenged the mayor’s claim that the rate increases could result in residents losing their jobs or homes. “The average increase per incident would probably be $50 for the individual, so I’m doubtful that that would put someone in the position of losing their home,” said the councilman. “I’m also cognizant of the fact that these occurrences happen rarely. Somebody doesn’t get their car impounded by the police on a frequent basis. So the fact of jeopardizing our community members’ South 70 • July 2022 | Towman.com
jobs or homes is probably limited.” More than 1,700 vehicles were towed under the city’s contract last year, with more than 600 of those were sold at auction. Sources: kfdi.com, kansas.com
Fatalities Rise on U.S. Roads
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that 2021 saw more fatalities on U.S. roads, as nearly 43,000 people were killed, the highest number in 16 years and a 10.5% jump over 2020 stats. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said America faces a crisis on its roads. The safety administra-
Scene of a fatal car crash in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
tion urged state and local governments, drivers and safety advocates to join together to reverse the rising death trend. Americans drove about 325 billion miles last year, 11.2% higher than in 2020, which contributed to the increase from 38,824 killed that year. Traffic deaths began to spike in 2019. NHTSA has blamed reckless driving behavior for increases during the pandemic, citing behavioral research showing that speeding and traveling without a seatbelt have been higher. Before 2019, the number of fatalities had fallen for three straight years. Source: swvatoday.com
Supplier Scoop Cleaner, More Efficient Diesel Fuel
Advanced Refining Concepts, LLC (ARC) has proven significantly better performance of its proprietary GDiesel fuel in Germany. In three on-road trucks, powered by Volvo and Mercedes Benz heavy-duty diesel engines, GDiesel demonstrated fuel consumption savings over conventional diesel as high as 12.99%, and emissions reductions of up to 36.5%. Other noteworthy benefits of GDiesel included decreased visible smoke, improved cold weather operability, better engine responsiveness, and a reduction in DEF (Diesel Exhaust Fluid) usage. GDiesel is a 100% drop-in, liquid alternative fuel, produced using ARC’s patented ClearRefining technology that combines molecular components of biogas and liquid hydrocarbons in a unique low-temperature, low-pressure and cost-effective process. The eight-month trials were undertaken by GDiesel Technologies, GmbH (ARC’s German licensee), and Spedition Uwe Ludwig, GmbH (a third-party trucking company located near Leipzig, Germany). Max Lier, Managing Director of Spedition Uwe Ludwig GmbH said, “We were impressed with the GDiesel fuel product and look forward to its commercial introduction in Germany.” ARC’s Managing Partner noted that, “The European trial results are consistent with those from our extensive GDiesel customer trials in the United States. The ability to use bio-derived feedstocks in our production process, coupled with significant consumption and emission reductions, combine to make GDiesel a compelling greenhouse gas reduction solution for the worldwide diesel industry.” Founded in 2008, ARC is a fuel-technology development and licensing company based in Kingston, WA. ARC owns patented technology rights in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Europe and in Work the non-traffic side - Stay Safe!
other select international jurisdictions. To date, ARC has produced and successfully tested more than 40 million gallons of its GDiesel fuel in U.S. customer trials. Company website: clearrefining.com
Hackney and Worldwide Partnership
Hackney, a brand of ST Engineering Hackney, and Worldwide Equipment Sales announced an exclusive certified sales and service partnership of Hackney’s commercial product portfolio in the Midwest region. The partnership will deliver Hackney’s specialized side-load bodies and trailers, service bodies, and aftermarket parts, including shelving, through Worldwide Equipment’s network in the Midwest region. Through this partnership, Hackney will leverage Worldwide’ s dedication to customer service and high-level support for commercial tow trucks and trailers. Worldwide will support Hackney aftermarket parts and service, warranty support, and full-scale body refurbishment. Commenting on the connection with Worldwide, Mitchell Lance, Vice President of Hackney Sales and Marketing, noted that, “Their offering of full-range commercial vehicle services and their solid reputation for delivering the highest level of service and products available in the trucking industry brings immediate value to our partnership.” said Mitchell Lance, Vice President of Hackney Sales and Marketing. Jeff Irr, CEO of Worldwide Equipment, said of Hackney that, “Their best-in-class product offerings allow us to continue expanding our product range to our customers, while maintaining our reputation for representing the highest quality products in the industry.” Hackney is a manufacturer in North America for specialized truck bodies and trailers. Worldwide
Equipment Sales is a leading dealer of tow trucks and trailers, featuring high quality self-loader wreckers and flatbed car carriers. Worldwide specializes in custom-built, one-of-a-kind equipment, serving customers nationwide with locations in Illinois, Pennsylvania, and Michigan. Visit www.hackneyusa. com or www.kidron.com for more information.
New Texas Tower
Both licensed and bonded, 360 Towing Solutions has announced a new company that provides roadside assistance, auto locksmith services and a wide variety of professional towing in Fort Worth, Texas. With affordable pricing and support service available both day and night, 360 Towing Solutions’ professional team of towing technicians and skilled mechanics can handle a wide range of car-related problems. This firm offers a large selection of specialist, non-stop towing services, day or night. The company’s professional tow truck drivers are all experienced and can provide an immediate response along with a guaranteed fair cost assessment. 360 Towing Solutions understands the stress that can come with needing to hire a towing company, and ensures its team will first secure the safety of both the driver and vehicle. The company’s customer support team is friendly and efficient, while also being available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. They can diagnose the most effective way to help and send one of the experts at 360 Towing Solutions or a licensed affiliate from an extensive network to a customer’s location within a fast response time. To find out more about 360 Towing Solutions and to see a comprehensive list of the firm’s professional services, visit 360towingsolutions. com/fort-worth/.
AmericanTowman.com | July 2022 • South 71
South 72 • July 2022 | Towman.com
Episode 15
Copyright©2021 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
News Flash
Tribute for Tower Christopher Russell
On June 1, Connecticut towtruck driver Christopher Russell, who was acting as a Good Samaritan before he was killed in New Haven by a drunk driver on I-91, was given tribute by family, friends, and towers. Owner Anthony Monaco of Hightech Auto Center of Milford, Connecticut, said, “He had just finished helping someone pulled over and got hit by a drunk driver as he was walking back to the truck.” With his casket strapped to the bed of a tow truck, dozens of tow truck drivers drove in procession to a cemetery in Manchester, Connecticut, where Russell was laid to rest. At the event, towers spoke about the pressing need for the motoring public to slow down and move over. “I’m out there all the time, too, and you know, people come within
mere inches and they don’t think it’s like serious, but he didn’t get to go home to his family that night,” said Luis Crespo, friend and former colleague of Russell. Source:nbcconnecticut.com
Philadelphia Employing Safety Enforcement Officers
Philadelphia plans to employ 28 safety enforcement officers to ticket and tow abandoned cars on its streets. The bill, which allocates $1.25 million for the positions, was approved by the Philadelphia City Council, also with the aim to free up city police to fight gun violence, which remains at high levels. “We need Public Safety Enforcement officers on the job in Philadelphia — and we need them today,” said Council President Darrell Clarke. “With gun violence remaining at high levels, we need
every available police officer on the streets, fighting crime and acting to prevent gun violence. Abandoned cars are a blight in too many neighborhoods and can lead to a climate of disorder than breeds crime. Communities deserve better, and Public Safety Enforcement officers can play a real role in getting these blights off the streets—and freeing up police to do more proactive violence reduction work.” Source: penncapital-star.com
Man Arrested for Shooting Owner of Car Dealership
The man who shot the owner of a car dealership in Ft. Worth, Texas, was taken into custody by Arlington police and charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and robbery. The incident occurred around noon on May 16 when dealership owner Adel Elhindawi came to repossess a car loaned to Espy. After Espy’s car was repaired for mechanical issues and returned to him and his loaner not returned, Elhindawi came to repossess the vehicle. “For somebody to do this to a loving person, who was doing a favor, who was helping them out, who was going above and beyond to help them out,” said Damien Espinoza, an employee at the dealership. “Give them a car when they needed a car. For them to do this to him, it’s senseless.” Elhindawi passed away a few days later. Source: star-telegram.com
$800,000 Wrecker Stolen
A heavy-duty Wrecker worth $800,000 was stolen in Miami at a Commercial Truck Dealership around 1:00 a.m. on Saturday, May 8. Surveillance video captured several people pulling up to the TruckMax Inc. Commercial Truck Dealership, entering through the fence, attaching a chain to the metal gate, and using the big rig to pull the gate down.
◀
Midwest 68 • July 2022 | Towman.com
News Flash Investigators say the keys were not inside, but the thieves were still able to start the vehicle. The owner of the rare truck, used to tow and lift large vehicles, said that the truck could be started with a key to a different truck of the same make and model, since so few are manufactured every year. An investigation is ongoing. Source: gaterrocks.iheart.com
Tow Contract Rejected in Wichita
The Wichita City Council rejected a tow contract that would grant a 4% increase to nine tow companies that provide emergency towing services for the Wichita Police Dept. and remove abandoned vehicles. The contract is set to expire June 1. Former City Council member Greg Ferris, representing the tow companies, said the companies are facing higher costs for fuel and other items, and can’t go any lower than the fees negotiated in the contract. Some council members argued price gouging, or that the increase would be a financial burden for citizens. Under the contract, the fees would continue increasing by 4% annually for four years. One council member who supported the contract, said the city should approve rate increases to help small businesses. The council member challenged the mayor’s claim that the rate increases could result in residents losing their jobs or homes. “The average increase per incident would probably be $50 for the individual, so I’m doubtful that that would put someone in the position of losing their home,” said the councilman. “I’m also cognizant of the fact that these occurrences happen rarely. Somebody doesn’t get their car impounded by the police on a frequent basis. So the fact of jeopardizing our community members’ jobs or homes is probably limited.” More than 1,700 vehicles were towed under the city’s contract last year, with more than 600 of those were sold at auction. Sources: kfdi.com, kansas.com
Midwest 70 • July 2022 | Towman.com
Fatalities Rise on U.S. Roads
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that 2021 saw more fatalities on U.S. roads, as nearly 43,000 people were killed, the highest number in 16 years and a 10.5% jump over 2020 stats. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said America faces a crisis on its roads. The safety administration urged state and local governments, drivers and safety advocates to join together to reverse the rising death trend. Americans drove about 325 billion miles last year, 11.2% higher than in 2020, which contributed to the increase from 38,824 killed that year. Traffic deaths began to spike in 2019. NHTSA has blamed reckless driving behavior for increases during the pandemic, citing behavioral research showing that speeding and traveling without a seatbelt have been higher. Before 2019, the number of fatalities had fallen for three straight years. Source: swvatoday.com
Work the non-traffic side - Stay Safe!
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AmericanTowman.com | July 2022 • Midwest 71
Midwest 72 • July 2022 | Towman.com
Episode 15
Copyright©2021 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
News Flash
Tow Contract Rejected in Wichita
The Wichita City Council rejected a tow contract that would grant a 4% increase to nine tow companies that provide emergency towing services for the Wichita Police Dept. and remove abandoned vehicles. The contract is set to expire June 1. Former City Council member Greg Ferris, representing the tow companies, said the companies are facing higher costs for fuel and other items, and can’t go any lower than the fees negotiated in the contract. Some council members argued price gouging, or that the increase would be a financial burden for citizens. Under the contract, the fees would continue increasing by 4% annually for four years. One council member who supported the contract, said the city should approve rate increases to help small businesses. The council member challenged the mayor’s claim that the rate increases could result in residents losing their jobs or homes.
West 68 • July 2022 | Towman.com
“The average increase per incident would probably be $50 for the individual, so I’m doubtful that that would put someone in the position of losing their home,” said the councilman. “I’m also cognizant of the fact that these occurrences happen rarely. Somebody doesn’t get their car impounded by the police on a frequent basis. So the fact of jeopardizing our community members’ jobs or homes is probably limited.” More than 1,700 vehicles were towed under the city’s contract last year, with more than 600 of those were sold at auction. Sources: kfdi.com, kansas.com
Tribute for Tower Christopher Russell
On June 1, Connecticut tow-truck driver Christopher Russell, who was acting as a Good Samaritan before he was killed in New Haven by a drunk driver on I-91, was given tribute by family, friends, and towers. Owner Anthony Monaco of Hightech Auto Center of Milford, Connecti-
◀
Work the non-traffic side - Stay Safe!
AmericanTowman.com | July 2022 • West 69
News Flash
cut, said, “He had just finished helping someone pulled over and got hit by a drunk driver as he was walking back to the truck.” With his casket strapped to the bed of a tow truck, dozens of tow truck drivers drove in procession to a cemetery in Manchester, Connecticut, where Russell was laid to rest. At the event, towers spoke about the pressing need for the motoring public to slow down and move over. “I’m out there all the time, too, and you know, people come within mere inches and they don’t think it’s like serious, but he didn’t get to go home to his family that night,” said Luis Crespo, friend and former colleague of Russell. Source:nbcconnecticut.com
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West 70 • July 2022 | Towman.com
West 72 • July 2022 | Towman.com
Episode 15
Copyright©2021 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