American Towman Magazine - August 2021

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The Road Calls

Bridge

D RAMATIC R ecovery

Branding Your

Tow Business

DANGERS OF

Side-rail Removal

Scouting HIGH-TECH for Tow Operators

TowIndustryWeek.com

AUGUST 2021 AmericanTowman.com

$10

Contents

Cover Feature

Volume 45 Issue 8

August 2021 52

Dangling Over LA Freeway Great pictures of this dramatic recovery of a tractor-trailer dangling over a bridge.

by Jim “Buck” Sorrenti

Peterbilts and Century rotators were used on the bridge recovery.

Features

19

Branding Your Tow Business

Departments 6

The Walkaround

8

News Share

10

Road Tools

11

Zoom In

12

Safety

19

Tow Boss

28

Case Closed

34

Ad Index

62

Workhorse

66

Tow Manager

78

Towman’s Market

80

My Baby

82

Lowdown

N, S 89 M 93 W 101

Adventures of A.T.

Expert commentary on the ins and outs of branding your business.

by Katie Lundin

12

Dangers of Removing Siderails

Resch puts the practice of removing carrier side rails under his microscope.

by Randall Resch

4 • August 2021 | Towman.com

First on the scene since 1977

The Walkaround AT Adds Legal Department I’ve always said towers are the unsung heroes of the road. While I believe that still to be true, towers get much greater recognition these days especially from other first responders. As we know it was a struggle over many years to even be identified as part of that select group.

Dennie Ortiz American Towman has always understood Publisher the importance of recognizing towers for the hard work they perform and their dedication to the motoring public. We have and will continue to acknowledge towers’ efforts in the pages here and at our trade shows throughout the year. You will find in this issue a few of the many programs we produce to salute the toils persevered, accomplishments and contributions made by this rare breed of professional. Be sure to see if any of your towing brethren or your company meets the criteria for one of these awards whether it’s for recovery excellence, fire/police department/community engagement or for the endeavor to save another’s life while on duty. Get your recognition!

As we flesh out the educational aspects of this issue I point you towards our ever safety conscious Operations Editor, Randy Resch as he casts a spotlight on the potential hazards of removing side rails. Resch suggests alternate methods and offers up some tips to consider if a wider than usual load needs to be placed and secured on a carrier’s bed.

Branding is one of the most important aspects of marketing a business, though too often times overlooked. Contributing author, Katie Lundin, lays down an easy to follow, step-by-step process on how best to grow your business through brand marketing. For tow business owners and suppliers alike, this article is a must read.

This month we are excited to introduce a new column focusing on legal issues (and cases) within our industry. Josh Brown, Esq., shares a case in which he represented the interests of a tow company being sued by an ex-employee. The attorney describes in detail the suit in question and how he was able to steer a ruling, through mediation, towards a favorable outcome for the business owner. To keep your business protected, be sure to read through to the end for the ‘moral of the story.’

The nighttime recovery featured later in our pages is one you don’t want to miss. Pepe’s Towing of SoCal brings to life, through graphic photos, this challenging recovery.

If you are considering a purchase of a rotator, take a gander at Wily T. Mann’s article as he takes you down the road to his experience with this expensive investment. In his story he shares some of the pitfalls and advantages he encountered along the way through a year and half of owning this high-end piece of equipment.

As we slip quickly back to branding, a prime example of a well thought out logo and color scheme can be found in our My Baby department. Take a look at the approach taken by Morgan Towing & Recovery, out of Oklahoma, to make their trucks stand out.

As always, we hope you enjoy your read and stay safe out there!

6 • August 2021 | Towman.com

Dennie Ortiz Steve Calitri Randall Resch Terry Abejuela Jim “Buck” Sorrenti David Kolman Bill Simmons Mark Lacek Brian Riker

Publisher Editor-In-Chief Operations Editor Field Editor, West Field Editor, Northeast Chassis Editor Safety Editor Repo Run Editor Contributing Editor

Editorial Board Tommy Anderson Roy Carlson Debbie Collins Belinda Harris Bill Johnson Ron Mislan Kurt Wilson

Dallas, Texas Saint Paul, Minn.

Las Vegas, Nev. Greensboro, N.C. South Hadley, Mass.

Warren, N.J. Creve Coeur, Ill.

American Towman Staff Page Layout Artist Advertising Sales Mgr. Senior Account Exec.

Customer Service Subscription Manager Regional Advertising Sales iMarketing Manager ATTV Producer President

Gina Johnson Dennie Ortiz Ellen Rosengart Henri Calitri Patrice Gesner Peggy Calabrese Ryan Oser Emily Oz Steve Calitri

American Towman Media Headquarters 2 Overlook Drive, Suite 5, Warwick, NY 10990 800-732-3869 or 845-986-4546

E-Mail: Publisher Editor-In-Chief AT’S Digital Edition AT’S Website AT’S Weekly ATTV

dortiz@towman.com scalitri@towman.com itowman.com americantowman.com towindustryweek.com americantowmantv.com

Copyright ©2021 American Towman Magazine is published 12 times a year by American Towman Media, Inc.

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All material published through American Towman Media (AT), to include American Towman Magazine, iTowman.com and TowIndustryWeek.com, including advertisements, editorials, articles and all other content is published in good faith. However, AT accepts no liability for any errors or omissions, and does not endorse any companies, products or services that appear. AT does not test or review products submitted for inclusion in its publications. AT does not accept responsibility for the accuracy of content, warranties or claims made or implied by its advertisers. The views expressed are the authors’ alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of AT. The act of mailing or delivering a letter, email or article to AT shall constitute permission to publish that letter or article or any portion thereof. AT reserves the right to edit any and all material submitted. No part of the magazine or websites may be reproduced without prior written consent of AT. AT reserves the right to not publish advertisements that disparage competitors or call into question the integrity of a competitors product or service.

News Share Governor Vetoes Towing Reform Bill

A Missouri bill that would allow the Joint Committee on Transportation to regulate tow rates, investigate towing complaints and regulate how law enforcement agencies determine towing rotations was vetoed by the Governor of Missouri, Michael L. Parson.

The bill, supported by the OwnerOperator Independent Drivers Association, was viewed as providing additional consumer protections for truckers facing unscrupulous tow operators in the cases of nonconsensual tows where truckers have received invoices for more than $40,000 after a third-party tow.

Parson called the proposal “legally problematic” in his veto letter. “As a practical matter, the committee cannot legally function as this proposal suggests,” the letter stated. Parson cited three factors in his decision: the potential of over-regulation of rates, preventing tow companies from doing business and not allowing for due process protections of tow companies.

Source:landlinemedia.com

Towing Ordinance Advisory Board

In Manassas, Va., the City Council established a towing ordinance advisory board for the city that will regulate the removal or restraint of vehicles parked on private property. The owners or managers in charge of any property with an unauthorized vehicle on the premises can report to this board to remove the vehicle.

Like its counterpart in Prince William County, the advisory board will also set fees charged for removing vehicles left on private property. The city currently contracts with local law enforcement and local towing companies for vehicle removal and storage.

The board will consist of three members, one from the Manassas City Police Department who will be appointed by the chief of police, a representative of the local towing companies, and a member of the public. All board members will serve a term of four years, with the chair position rotating among its members on an annual basis.

Source: potomaclocal.com

8 • August 2021 | Towman.com

Tow Procession

Honors Slain Tower

Dozens of tow truck drivers gathered in Hillsboro, Or., on the morning of 7/17 for the Enough is Enough tow truck procession to remember fallen tow truck driver Patrick Sanford, who died two months ago when he was shot and killed while on a towing job at the Park Creek Village Apartments.

“It was a senseless way to go. That gentleman was just doing his job.” said Jean Underwood of Beaverton Towing.

Sanford was moving vehicles from the apartment complex parking lot for a maintenance project lot when he was

Decoy for Theft Operation Under the guise of a tow company, two men in Punta Gorda, Fla. were arrested for operating a catalytic converter theft operation after surveillance video allegedly caught them taking a catalytic converter from a truck on May 23.

Surveillance footage showed the two men pulling up in a tow truck marked with “Kings Towing,” a nonexistent company, and then working in unison to commit the crime, one of them with the letter “B A” tattooed on his right arm.

On June 22, the tow truck was spotted by road patrol deputies, the driver’s tattoo matching what was observed on the surveillance footage

confronted by a resident and shot and killed.

42-year-old Mathew McAdoo has been charged with second degree murder.

“I think today is amazing. It’s a wonderful statement about Patrick and the horrible thing that happed to Patrick,” said Sanford’s sister Erin Fitzgerald as the procession started.

Their hope is that people they encounter on the job show more patience and kindness, even when the reason for the tow is disputed.

Source: kgw.com

from May 23. During the stop, the passenger provided deputies with a fraudulent business card stating he owned and operated Y & S Towing.

It was determined that neither Kings Towing or Y & S Towing are legitimate businesses.

The suspects, identified as Andy Manuh Flores Herrera, 35, and Yordan Carreras Cespedes, 33, confessed to their involvement into catalytic converter thefts in the area and selling the items for profit and were arrested and charged with theft, burglary, and dealing in stolen property.

Source: mysuncoast.com

News Share Tow Co. Violates Fair Labor Act

Towers Light Up Sky for Wounded Officer

On Tuesday, June 30, in Central Florida, towers converged with their trucks, forming a long line and lighting up the sky with their flashing lights to show support for a Daytona Beach police officer that was critically injured on June 23. Dozens of tow trucks took part in the rally.

Officer Jason Raynor, 26, was shot in the head on June 23 as he was patrolling an area where residents had complained about increased crime. He remains hospitalized and in critical condition.

The man accused of shooting him was arrested in Georgia.

Lee Thomson of Volusia Towing said he was pleased by the turnout for Tuesday night’s event, which was organized by Volusia Towing, Arrow Towing and Daytona Wrecker. He said the night Raynor was shot the tow truck drivers were helping the police by trying to find the suspect.

“They were out there searching for the suspect as well trying to help out any way that they can and I’m sure every other towing company was doing the same,” Thomson said. “We are a big family out here so we all try to look after each other.”

Source: newsjournalonlline.com

Tower in Right Place at Right Time

Montreal Enacting 10 Tow Zones To address “the climate of violence and retaliation” rampant among towing companies in Montreal (according to a 2017 report of the city’s Inspector’s General Office), Montreal is enacting a tow reform that will include 10 new exclusive towing areas forcing drivers to use a specific service.

Ten areas are in place “to protect the safety of drivers who are involved in an accident or whose vehicle breaks down and blocks traffic or is dangerous,” says a police press release. The new law also sets standard rates for towing companies in the areas, which drivers are required to use.

“Road users involved in an accident or a breakdown must call the designated exclusive towing company for the sector where the accident happened,”

Work the non-traffic side - Stay Safe!

Chicago Tow Company, ACD Emergency Road Services LLC, violated the Fair Labor Standards Act by misclassifying hourly workers as independent contractors instead of employees and subsequently failed to pay them minimum wage or overtime according to investigators from the U.S. Department of Labor.

Minimum wage violations resulted from the employer’s practice of making illegal deductions from workers’ wages for vehicle damages, traffic tickets, uniforms and even for failing to give a “timely” resignation notice. Investigators also found that ACD paid its hourly employees “straight time” for all the hours they worked. By doing so, the employer violated overtime regulations when employees worked more than 40 hours in a workweek.

ACD owners Camara Bowden and Dantea Grayson paid $166,030 in unpaid overtime and minimum wages and interest to 56 workers as part of a consent judgment entered in U.S. District Court in Chicago on June 21, 2021. They also agreed to comply with the FLSA in the future.

Source: insurancejournal.com

the press release says. Police say if an officer is at the scene, the officer will be responsible for contacting the towing company. But if the driver is alone, they must call 9-1-1 and the call taker will put the person in contact with the company.

Source: globalnews.ca

A tow truck driver exiting a parking garage in Southern Los Angeles happened to be in the right place at the right time when he intercepted a dangerous highspeed chase taking place between California Highway Patrol and the driver of a white vehicle that refused to stop.

For 40 minutes, the car was chased by LAPD when the tow truck became just the blockade needed to stop a chase that had reached speeds of 70 miles per hour.

“It’s not like I wanted to stop him or anything like that. I was trying to move out of the way,” the tow truck driver explained.

The unidentified driver said he was pulling over to the left when the white car hit him.

The LAPD thanked the tow truck driver, who said he was just glad no one got seriously hurt.

Source: insideedition.com

AmericanTowman.com | August 2021 • 9

Road Tools Hino’s Extended Cab The new L series is maximizing your business’s functionality with the new 138” extended cab. You can add 3 additional passengers to transport your customers while towing their vehicle.

Hino.com

Snap-on Increases Ratchet Access and Leverage The new Snap-on® TK72/TKF72 1/4” Drive Dual 80® Technology Stubby Ratchets give techs access and leverage for hard-to-reach jobs that require a tool that grabs onto fasteners and delivers just the right swing arc. Whether it’s the fixed-head or flex-head, these ratchets get into the deepest, tightest places with six teeth in contact with the gear. The 72-tooth gear, innovated

by Snap-on as Dual 80® technology, provides 5° of swing arc…that’s up to 25 percent less ratcheting arc needed to engage the next gear tooth.

With uncompromising strength and durability, the stubby handle provides easier access to cramped spaces. The contoured handle offers technicians more comfort and better control. The ratchet heads are sealed to maintain lubrication and prevent dirt from getting in and clogging the gear, while the signature chrome exterior finish makes for easy cleanup.

SnapOn.com

Digital Car Key with Ultra-WideBand Technology

Hella.com

10 • August 2021 | Towman.com

With HELLA Smart Car Access, end users can lock and unlock their cars completely hands-free and can also start the engine without having to pick up a classic remote key or a smartphone. From a distance of 50 metres, the mobile device is automatically detected and recognised by the vehicle. As soon as the driver approaches within two metres of the car, it is unlocked. The engine itself can only be started when the smartphone is inside the vehicle. At the same time, access authorisations to the vehicle can be digitally managed and shared on the basis of the HELLA Smart Car Access system, e.g. for car sharing services or for fleet providers. Personalisable information can also be stored in the smartphone to activate additional comfort or individualisation features, such as functions enabling welcome or interior lighting.

In order to implement these Smart Car Access functions simply, reliably and safely, HELLA uses ultra-wideband technology. This radio technology for near-field communication is used as standard in new smartphones.

Zoom In

Kenworth Adds Hendrickson HAULMAAX EX Suspension

Kenworth now offers the Hendrickson HAULMAAX® EX as an option for the Kenworth T880, W990, T680 and T480 models.

The Hendrickson next generation heavy duty lightweight rubber suspension is designed for vocational applications such as dump, concrete mixer, refuse, logging, crane/boom, platform, and fire/rescue.

The new suspension replaces the Hendrickson HAULMAAX family of 40,000and 46,000-pound capacity suspensions and also adds a new 52,000-pound capacity.

In addition to the increased capacity range, the Hendrickson HAULMAAX EX provides a higher site rating and maintains the same weight and durability compared to its predecessor. The suspension utilizes a unique rubber spring design that balances empty-ride quality and loaded stability. Angled bolster springs and a unique progressive load spring provide extra stability for demanding applications such as refuse, concrete mixers and dumps.

“The Hendrickson HAULMAAX EX is an excellent choice for Kenworth vocational customers seeking a lightweight, durable suspension equipped to handle rugged operating conditions and provide a smooth on-highway driving experience,” said Genevieve Bekkerus, Kenworth marketing director. “Now that this suspension line is also available with a 52,000-pound suspension rating, Kenworth customers operating in heavy applications have a viable new suspension option to consider.”

Hendrickson-intl.com Work the non-traffic side - Stay Safe!

AmericanTowman.com | August 2021 • 11

Safety

Ridin’ the Rails

Dangers associated with removing side-rails

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.

Left tires are inside the left-side rail while right tires ride (partially) atop the right-side rail.

T Note: Special thanks to Allstate Roadside and their commitment to tow operator safety.

AT’s Safety Focus sponsored by

hey’re called flatbeds, carriers, slide-backs, and even tilt-trays. Ever since carriers gained popularity in the mid-1980s, a tow company’s intent to serve all, do all, initiated the practice of removing carrier side-rails for convenience or because they simply were in the way. Because keeping transported loads secured is the intent of federal law, it bears the question, does removing siderails violate the law?

That’s a question I wasn’t able to confirm by carrier manufacturers.

And after reviewing manufacturers’ recommendations, I couldn’t reference a defining statement specific to the legality of removing rails. Perhaps it boils down to the tow company’s decision whether to keep the rails in place or remove them.

Removing side-rails in the field is

12 • August 2021 | Towman.com

inconvenient for one single reason: where do they get stored along with whatever else is being transported or delivered?

It’s a fact that most towers do remove rails for convenience, but is overall safety diminished by doing so? Preferably, I leave rails in place for safety.

LOADING TECHNIQUE

When rails are left in place, it creates problems for operators not trained in how to load wider than normal loads. For ease, rails are typically removed when forklifts load pallets and products are off loaded from the carrier’s sides.

Removing rails is all about size and convenience specific to loads transported atop carrier decks. Loads protruding beyond the carrier’s width (dimensions) shouldn’t be considered load-and-go

◀

the highway, be totally aware when the load extends to the deck’s right side.

Example: In a wide-load incident, an extra wide set of truck mirrors snagged a service bay wall when the carrier’s operator didn’t allow sufficient room when entering the bay. That unintended blunder cost the tow company thousands of dollars and the loss of a long time account.

GET CREATIVE

A 4x4 positioned under the inside tire helps bear the truck’s weight.

transport. The ideal carrier load is one that fits comfortably and easily within left and right side-rails.

Loads that protrude beyond the deck’s platform may violate state law. For example, California’s Vehicle Code 35100.(a) states, “The total outside width of any vehicle or its load shall not exceed 102 inches, except as otherwise provided in this chapter.” Typically, most sixton carrier decks are 96 inches and 102 inches wide. Wider than normal loads can attract attention of traffic cops.

By stacking atop right side-rails, you keep excess overhang from protruding (left) into active lanes of traffic. But, once travel leaves 14 • August 2021 | Towman.com

Loading wider vehicles or bumper pull trailers is an easy process. When trucks or trailers are winched onto the deck, position them where left-side tire or tires are centered inside the traffic side’s rails and allow right-side tires to travel atop the passenger side-rail.

Aim steerable tires (both left and right sides) inside the rails.

However, the dually’s rear tires, or the wider wheel base of a trailer may start to climb the right passenger side-rail.

As the rear, outer dually tire climbs the rail, position the tapered 4x4 under the inside dually tire to help bear the truck’s weight

Prepare carrier 4x4s by cutting a 2-inch high 8-inch slope for easy transitioning.

◀

Work the non-traffic side - Stay Safe!

AmericanTowman.com | August 2021 • 15

atop the rail. Some operators deflate outside dually tires so more tire surface rides atop the 4x4. The downside to deflating tires means that tires must be reinflated at the end of the delivery.

For extra wide trailers, if its right side tires climb the rail, position a long, tapered 4x4 alongside the rail to support the trailer’s weight atop the rail. No matter what the challenge, work with slow speed to monitor progress.

Depending on a carrier’s year, brand and model, side-rails may be hollow with tinsel strength that can’t bear the weight of a truck or trailer, especially when fully loaded. Positioning a long 4x4 here helps prevent bending the rail.

When carrier’s are not equipped with modern side pulling equipment, untrained operators may use side-rails to attach a snatch block by looping chain around the

16 • August 2021 | Towman.com

rail. Rails are mounted into the deck’s side pockets and may be secured only by small, underside bolts or lynch pin clips.

Danger: Side-rails are not intended for winching purposes.

Doing so could result in great bodily injury or death to the operator or loss of intended load should the side-rails detach under misuse or extreme pull.

CROSS CHAIN DANGERS

Consider the possibility when securing chains are crossed and a carrier gets violently impacted from angles other than straight-on.

If rails were removed, a topside vehicle could sweep off the deck.

While some manufacturers suggest that cross chain securement is a proper technique, I debate the technique because I feel cross chaining is problematic and potentially deadly under the

wrong circumstances.

Example: An experienced carrier operator was double loaded with a smallish vehicle atop the deck and another on the wheel lift. The carrier did not have rails because the company personnel chose to remove them. In the operator’s manner, he used the crossed chain technique to secure the vehicle.

As the slow-moving carrier climbed the grade towards an auction yard, a DUI motorist impacted the carrier at such an angle and force that it caused the traffic-side J Hook chain to break.

With rearward chains crossed, the passenger side chain remained tight sweeping the car off the carrier’ deck.

While the industry naysayers and its tow police say that is not possible, if you know how to scooch (center) vehicles on a carrier’s deck using a single J Hook

and chain … that is the exact motion.

Combine high-speed impact, an oily deck, and the forces of momentum and centrifugal force, the sweeping potential is real.

While the incident was described as freakish, it is a rare example that anything can happen. I don’t teach operators to cross secure when transporting cars, light trucks or SUVs. For light-duty operations, cross chaining might look cool, but the technique proves to be potentially dangerous.

Although cross chaining heavy equipment is commonplace and proper for load items and vehicles of considerable size and weight, lighter cars, pickups and SUVs do not have sufficient weight to keep them in place. I recommend carrier loads are secured using a straightaway procedure.

While towers question this admonition, the downside of cross securing is better understood when witnessed. I invite you to conduct a quick experiment. Winch a vehicle forward onto your carrier’s deck to near load position and make safe.

Using a single J Hook and chain, hook the J to the far, left-side (axle or suspension) location.

Pull the chain’s clevis end to the opposite, right side banjo eyelet, and remove all slack. Using the in control, bump the winch cable and watch as the vehicle bounces to the far, opposite side. This action simulates an unforeseeable, violent impact.

high at the 4x4’s end (midheight) and eight inches back from the two inch mark. Angle cut lumber helps ease transition from the pavement to near rail height. It works for loading low profile specialty vehicles.

This narrative serves as a reminder that side-rails have a valid purpose. Although some carrier manufacturers offer rails as options, if they are on the truck, why not keep them there? I don’t see the wisdom or

practicality of outfitting carriers only to leave an intended safety item back at the yard.

Note: Special thanks to Allstate Roadside and their commitment to tow operator safety.

AT’s Safety Focus sponsored by

MAKE THE CUT

I recommend rails are kept mounted as a better and safer practice in retaining vehicles and loose items on a carrier’s deck. As an easy solution to avoid bending side-rails, add a length of 4x4 to the loading scenario.

Prepare a longish 4x4 by cutting an angled ramp to one end. The angled cuts measurements are two-inches Work the non-traffic side - Stay Safe!

AmericanTowman.com | August 2021 • 17

18 • August 2021 | Towman.com

Tow Boss

There are a lot of moose in Skowhegan, Maine where 201 Service Towing and Auto Repair operates. Branding their trucks with the moose speaks pride of locale.

Inexpensive Branding Strategies For Growing Your Small Business

By Katie Lundin Katie Lundin is a Marketing and Branding Specialist at crowdspring, one of the world’s leading marketplaces for crowdsourced logo design, web design, graphic design, product design, and company naming services.

She helps entrepreneurs, small businesses and agencies with branding, design, and naming, and regularly writes about entrepreneurship, small business, and design on crowdspring’s award-winning small business blog.

I

f you think that branding is a luxury and something you can do in the future, when your business is successful, you’re not alone in thinking this way.

In fact, some small business owners struggle to understand how branding impacts their businesses. As a result, they have difficulty justifying spending a part of their budget on branding.

The problem is that these business owners often struggle to grow their businesses. If they’re lucky, they might see modest short-term growth. But, businesses that don’t invest in strong branding rarely see aggressive long-term growth.

Work the non-traffic side - Stay Safe!

Bad branding undermines credibility, customer awareness, and customers’ trust.

Bad branding harms your business in the long run.

Good branding builds credibility, helps your best customers to identify, relate to, and remember you when they need your product or service. Good branding builds trusted relationships with customers that pay you back in revenue and repeat business.

The sooner you begin to develop a strong, authentic brand and brand identity, the sooner your business will start to reap the benefits.

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AmericanTowman.com | August 2021 • 19

Branding Your Tow Company

By Steve Calitri The greatest branding challenge for a tow company is to have a motorist whose car broke down immediately think of their company name. It might have been years since the last break down. Certainly this driver doesn’t shop towing companies on a regular basis. So, a tow company not only has to have a great name and reputation, they have to find ways to promote their business, and the name of that business is crucial. You may be able to build a successful business with an ordinary name, but you probably won’t succeed with a wrong name, a name that has negative associations.

Getting positive ink in the local paper, a feature story on the local tv news, showing in parades, organizing a collection of toys for a Christmas charity event…there are many things a tow company can do to be noticed, to put their name out there.

If you need a plumber, what name will pop in your mind?

Maybe it’s a plumber whose name and truck graphics are memorable. Maybe it’s Roto Rooter, whose jingle and alliterative name made its success.

Many tow companies have the family name. The challenge with that name with those unfamiliar with it, is to have a logo, or font style of the name painted on the door, the colors used, projecting competence and professionalism.

If you’re proud of that family name, have that pride show in how that name is presented on the truck, advertised in print and on the Internet.

Branding is not just a slick marketing term. It’s a dynamic word that can pack a lot of punch in one’s business strategy.

20 • August 2021 | Towman.com

Let’s examine these strategies.

CREATE AN AUTHENTIC BRAND

Whether you’re starting a business or growing an existing business, the most important branding investment you can make doesn’t cost a cent. It’s the time and thought you invest in defining your authentic brand.

As we’ve previously mentioned, every business has a brand whether they’ve made a single conscious branding decision or not.

That’s because a brand is made up of the visuals, words, actions, and products that represent your business, as well as customer experiences and perceptions.

If you’re running a business, these elements exist. But, is your brand: 1. a confusing, misaligned mess, or 2. a carefully contrived façade, or 3. a consistent customer experience that communicates an authentic core identity of your business to your target market.

The best brands are authentic.

Authentic brands ring true for consumers (winning their trust and loyalty) and can be maintained with less effort because you don’t have to lie or put on a show.

Authentic branding choices will come naturally because they’re motivated by your actual values and genuine personality. So, take the time to think about: • what makes your business unique, • what makes your products or services unique, and • which guiding personality traits and values best describe your business – as it actually is.

Then, use the brand traits you discover as a guide for literally every other decision you make in your business.

This step is free. And it is VITAL. So, take the time to figure out what your brand really is.

GET A STRONG BRAND NAME

Your business name is the most fundamental representative of your brand.

While it’s impossible to control the entirety of your brand (remember that a brand is made up of public perception as well as the conscious branding choices you make), you do control your business name.

People will identify and remember your business by its name.

They’ll search for your business online by its name.

They’ll recommend your business (or not) by its name.

The name of the business is a big deal.

And, your business name (ideally) should communicate “who” your business is. A business name that doesn’t align with your brand will cause cognitive dissonance for your audience. This will make your brand name harder to remember and harder to trust.

But, a brand name that clearly communicates the essence of your business will resonate with and attract your best customers.

Your business name is absolutely a place to invest in your brand.

Some people invest time (it took our founders nearly 50 hours to

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Work the non-traffic side - Stay Safe!

AmericanTowman.com | August 2021 • 21

name crowdspring).

Take a look at this guide for tips on naming your small business or startup.

And, if you’re struggling to grow an existing business, consider whether your brand name is holding you back. This may be the perfect time to rebrand and start with a fresh new brand identity.

BUILD A UNIQUE VISUAL BRAND

Humans are visual creatures.

Most of us rely on our eyes to navigate the world and our lives.

So, every business benefits when it presents a visual brand that people can recognize and identify.

In fact, if you’re starting a business and working on a business plan, potential investors and lenders will evaluate the strength of your visual brand when deciding whether to make an investment or a loan.

But, not all visual branding elements are equal. Let’s take a look at the visual branding elements with the biggest bang for the buck…

LOGO

People identify other people by their facial features, body shape, posture, and style of movement.

But, most businesses don’t have a single face or body by which they can be identified.

So, we create a company logo people can use to identify and remember our business.

Your logo is the primary visual identification tool for your business. It’s your business’s face!

We can’t overstate how important your logo is.

Invest in a custom-designed logo that effectively captures your authentic brand.

And, remember that you get what you pay for.

Be wary of free logo generators 22 • August 2021 | Towman.com

and $50 “original” logo designs.

These free and cheap options will cost you more in legal fees (you can’t trademark stock art and generic templates, which you’re getting from generators and discount logo purchases).

Your logo is the primary

visual identification

tool for your business. It’s your

business’s face!

Real custom logos can be trademarked.

And, computers don’t understand human emotion, color or shape theory, or psychology.

Real logo designers understand how people think and know how to create emotionally powerful brands.

For more insights and a list of questions to ask designers or agencies when looking for a logo, check out this guide on how much logo design should cost.

BRAND COLOR PALETTE

A logo is the cornerstone of a visual brand. But, it’s not the whole visual brand.

A complete visual brand provides a broader visual context that people can relate to your business. And, no visual brand is complete without a dedicated color palette.

Color is a major branding powerhouse. Colors resonate with people, capture attention, and communicate emotion.

And, when colors repeatedly coexist in combination, they take on an identity of their own.

Red and yellow conjures McDonald’s. Forest green and white evokes Starbucks. Looking for Best Buy? You’ll recognize it by the royal blue and yellow sign long before you can read the type.

Your business can also benefit from brand color recognition. And, the best news is that this powerful branding tool should cost you very little – just a bit of time.

So, invest the time to develop a brand color palette.

How to use colors effectively Your brand logo should inspire your color palette. It should include your logo colors, some neutrals (black, white, grey, taupe, etc.) for flexibility, and possibly an additional complementary color or two (based on how many colors are in your logo).

Don’t go overboard with too many strong signature colors. Balance strong colors that draw focus with calmer, more recessive colors to ensure your ads, social media content, website (and more) are easy to read.

increasing the likelihood that they’ll get to know your brand.

2.

Providing a broader visual context creates a larger neural network dedicated to your business in people’s brains, so they’re more likely to remember you.

3.

Illustration systems can be used and re-used in countless contexts. So, you’ll always have versatile resources to use for branding visuals

without spending more after the initial cost of creation.

If you can’t afford an illustration system now, set aside money to invest in one later. It’s an investment that will keep paying you back.

CREATE A STRONG ONLINE PRESENCE

When deciding where to spend money for your brand, prioritize your website.

A website is not only a

◀

ILLUSTRATION SYSTEM

For businesses with a bit more wiggle room in their branding budget, consider an illustration system.

An illustration system is a series of illustrated graphics that can be used, re-mixed, and re-used throughout your website, social media posts, business cards, blog graphics, and email templates.

Good illustration systems visually complement your logo. And, together with your logo, they create a bigger visual context by which people can recognize your brand.

This is investment will deliver branding bang for your buck in three ways: 1.

It’s another way for people to visually recognize your business, Work the non-traffic side - Stay Safe!

AmericanTowman.com | August 2021 • 23

major brand representative; it’s also a functional sales tool. So, this investment pays your business back on multiple levels.

Every business website should be quick to load and easy to navigate. But, vital functional details like these are only part of the equation.

Your website also needs to act as your brand ambassador – helping people get to know your business, educate them about what you do, and reassure them that they’ve found the business they’re looking for.

Luckily, if you’ve invested in a unique custom logo, a memorable and brand-appropriate color palette, and an illustration system, you already have all of the building blocks you need to create a fantastic, on-brand website.

Because most prospective customers will see your website

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before interacting with your business in any other way, you cannot afford to cut corners on your website. Like your logo, place your branding dollars here.

DEVELOP A UNIQUE BRAND VOICE

Brands don’t only communicate with graphics, they also communicate with text and spoken words.

And, the words you choose must align with your brand personality and values. This creates the impression that your business has a consistent identity.

Trust grows from repeated exposure – but only when each exposure confirms our initial impressions. It’s hard to trust people or businesses who are erratic and unreliable.

So, your website copy, social media posts, email messages,

packaging design (if applicable), and customer support language should all sound like it’s coming from the same “person.” Your brand.

Identifying and consistently using a specific brand voice is a core pillar of your brand identity.

And, it’s free. But, it does require a bit of thought.

Define a few adjectives to describe your brand voice. Keep these handy whenever you’re writing new copy. And share them with anyone who interacts with your customers. A consistent brand voice will pay you back in customer trust and additional sales.

A FINAL WORD

Your brand is an invaluable tool that can lift your business – or hold it back. These strategic branding investments will enable you to create a compelling brand without breaking the bank.

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AmericanTowman.com | August 2021 • 25

Supplier Scoop Cummins to Acquire Half of Momentum Fuel from Rush Enterprises

Cummins Inc. (NYSE: CMI) and Rush Enterprises, Inc. (NASDAQ: RUSHA & RUSHB) have signed a Letter of Intent for Cummins to acquire a 50% equity interest in Momentum Fuel Technologies from Rush Enterprises.

The joint venture between Rush Enterprises and Cummins will produce Cummins-branded natural gas fuel delivery systems for the commercial vehicle market in North America, combining the strengths of Momentum Fuel Technologies’ compressed natural gas (CNG) fuel delivery systems, Cummins’ powertrain expertise, and the engineering and support infrastructure of both companies.

“This collaboration shows Cummins’ continued commitment to natural gas powertrains,” said Srikanth Padmanabhan, President of the Engine Business at Cummins. “This partnership will improve customers service for both CNG and RNG through an improved support network. We are thrilled to expand our network of clean and reliable power solutions.”

“The immediate environmental benefits of CNG and RNG, combined with upcoming regulatory requirements, will drive growth in natural gas vehicles for the foreseeable future,” said W.M. “Rusty” Rush, Chairman,

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Chief Executive Officer and President, Rush Enterprises, Inc. “This partnership will enable Rush Enterprises to continue to provide unparalleled support to our customers through our mutual, wide-ranging portfolio of Cummins’ and RushCare aftermarket solutions and keep trucks up and running across the country.”

The joint venture will offer aftermarket support through Rush Truck Centers dealerships and Cummins distributors which will be able to service both the engine and the fuel delivery system. The partnership between Cummins and Rush Enterprises will benefit customers by providing them with access to an extensive CNG vehicle parts and service network; both Cummins’ and Rush Enterprises’ respective networks, which together represent over 250 locations in the US and Canada, will be equipped with certified technicians and access to a comprehensive CNG vehicle parts inventory.

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AmericanTowman.com | August 2021 • 27

Case Closed

Ready for Action

How We Won a Labor Lawsuit Through Preparation

By Josh Brown, Esq.

Josh Brown is a lawyer with Cassone Law Offices LLC. in Columbus, Ohio who represents small to mid-sized businesses (especially tow truck companies) with general counsel, lobbying, and litigation.

A

t about 11:00 a.m. I received an unexpected call from a federal magistrate in Cleveland. I was right in the middle of another project and the magistrate forced me to make an immediate mental u-turn. He barely took time to make acquaintances before he went straight into it.

“Hello, this is Attorney Josh Brown,” I answered.

“You’re Josh Brown?” the magistrate asked.

“Yes sir” I humbly replied.

“This is Magistrate ______ from the federal court in Cleveland.

I’m mediating your case.”

“Yes sir” I said.

“Ok, tell me what you think about this case?”

It happened that quick. I don’t think he even mentioned which case it was.

Luckily, I knew which case he was referring to, because we had court-mandated mediation scheduled for a week later. I quickly collected my thoughts.

My client is Hook-N-Haul, a towtruck company in Ohio. A young man worked for my client for years. They set him up in a rental property, gave him rides to get his driver’s license and other necessities, lent him money, and trained him to be a mechanic from scratch. His personal life was largely a roller-coaster, but my client took him under their wing and helped him when he needed it. Of course, in exchange, they wanted him to be a good employee and appreciate all they did for him. Apparently, that was asking too much.

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The young man was fired for engaging in a series of unacceptable acts. He threw fits-of-anger at the shop, refused to go on calls, and behaved unprofessionally. As the story unfolded, I was amazed at just how patient they were with him. Just to put it in short—he seemed to resent his employer because they wanted him to work hard and show respect to management. It d i d not matter how well they treated him.

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AmericanTowman.com | August 2021 • 29

When his employment was terminated, he almost immediately filed for unemployment benefits. My client objected, citing a longlist of good reasons for his termination. Then, he decided to really stick it to my client.

He found a law firm (probably online) that advertises themselves as “Wage and Hours Lawyers.” Based on this young man’s word, they filed a federal lawsuit against my client. They alleged my client failed to pay required overtime as required by the Federal Labor Standards Act (“FSLA”).

This is a scary situation for any business. One disgruntled employee can find professional lawyers and file a major lawsuit that can cause real damage, with little to no factual basis

whatsoever. We call it “driveby lawyering.” There is little an employer can do to stop an employee from exercising his right to sue.

One

disgruntled employee can

find professional lawyers and file a

major lawsuit that can cause real damage, with little to no factual basis whatsoever.

To defend itself, the employer may incur significant lawyer fees.

Punishments for non-payment of required overtime can be steep.

And thanks to our representatives in Congress, the lawyers who sue you can demand the employer pay their steep legal fees themselves. If you are the employer, you have to pay the lawyer to sue you. In this case, the lawyers told the court they estimated their fees would be nearly $200,000.00.

Keep in mind, this whole thing is over a mere few thousand dollars in alleged non-payment of overtime.

And you cannot just simply pay the overtime owed—you still have to pay their lawyers and any other damages that may be applicable.

Another scary aspect of this case, is that my client would have to pay full fees if they had found even a single unpaid hour of overtime entitlement.

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Preparation is the key to defeating such lawsuits. My client uses a system called Towbook, which tracked all of the young man’s activity. We had a journal entry for every job he engaged in—and the young man himself created those entries, making it very hard for him to argue against them. They also had a GPS tracker on his company phone. So we knew where his phone was at all times, and he was required to keep it with him at work.

In the end, we actually discovered that the young man owed the company several thousand dollars, because he failed to clock-out for lunch many times.

We showed the court maps of the young man’s phone tracking him going to Subway on the clock, during mid-day. We also had maps showing him taking other inappropriate detours on the clock.

Under the FSLA, certain types of “mechanics” who engage in certain types of activities are exempt from overtime pay requirements. We felt we could prove that this young man was exempt through the tracking systems the client had in place. Although the law is unclear and full of grey areas, we felt the tracking system showed that he met the requirements for the exemption, in terms of what he did, what vehicles he worked on, and what his job was.

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AmericanTowman.com | August 2021 • 31

Our problem was that the Judge ordered us to file only one such request for a judgment. That means, if the grey-areas went against us, we could not make adjustments to the request later on. Nonetheless, I advised my client to take the chance.

I was met with anger and hostility from the other side. They said it was frivolous and foolish to go allin on this request from the Judge as we could not easily amend later. Hence, the late nights I experienced thinking about this case.

So, when the magistrate asked me “Tell me what you think of this case?” I had about two seconds to debate whether I should take a conciliatory approach or stand my ground on my request. I paused for a moment and thought about it.

Then the magistrate added something to the effect of, “Don’t posture with me, I want your actual thoughts, unfiltered.”

I said, “I don’t posture.”

I stood my ground 100%. I explained the strengths and weaknesses of our request to the Judge, honestly and forthrightly. That day, through the mediation conducted by the magistrate, the former employee settled the case for $750.

It is not fair that my client even had to pay $750, invest in legal fees, and endure all kinds of emotional turmoil to defeat a disgruntled ex-employee, who was taking every opportunity available to hurt my client, just for the sake of causing damage. In fact, I suspect the young man is happy to have done the damage he did but it could have been much worse.

Hopefully the U.S. Congress will address this problem. Until then, here is the moral of the story: my client won because my client was prepared. A good lawyer can help you be prepared. The only thing more expensive than a lawyer is not having a lawyer. A good lawyer can show you how to manage your books and employees in a way that allows you to present your defense quickly and efficiently, so that you can reduce your odds of prolonged litigation.

You should assume that someday soon you will be audited and you will be sued. Be like the great Marcus Aurelius who said, “There have to be shameless people in the world. This person in front of you might just be one of them. Remembering that this whole class must necessarily exist, will enable you to tolerate its members.”

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AD INDEX Akins Body & Carrier Sales.........................29 Allstate Roadside.......................................65 American Society for Asset Protection........22 American Towman Exposition............... 35-50 Anchor Graphics........................................71 APTO Assoc............................................M 84 Atlanta Wrecker Sales................................76 AT Showplace Las Vegas................ W98-W99 Austin Insurance....................................W 86 AutoReturn.................................................72 Beacon Software........................................68 Captain Recovery................ N 86, S 85, W 97 Chevron Commercial..................................60 Crouch’s Wrecker & Equip. Sales................65 Custer Products.........................................70 Donnie Cruse Recovery Award....................77 Dual-Tech Wreckers & Carriers...................27 Dynamic Towing Equipment.......................61 East Coast Truck & Trailer........63, N 83, W 87 EasTract.....................................................72 Edgetec.................................................W 92 Elizabeth Truck Center................................67 Environmental Chemical Solutions..........W 84 EZ Spare Wheel......................................W 90 Fayetteville Ford.........................................74 G.Stone Commercial.............................. N 87 Guniwheel Distributed by LKQ................W 92 Hanks Insurance....................................W 94 Hawkeye Truck & Wrecker......................W 96

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August 2021

Hino Trucks.................................. Back Cover ICW Group Insurance..................................32 Intek Leasing.............................................30 ITI..............................................................17 Jerr-Dan Corp..............................................2 Len Zermenos............................................70 Lien Enforcement...................................W 93 Lynch Truck Centers...................................51 Matheny Towing Equipment........................33 Matjack Jumbo Safelift..............................26 McMahon Truck Center..........................M 83 Metrocom..................................................22 Midco Sales...........................................W 90 Miller Industries.........................................13 Mobile Control Systems..............................74 Mobile Video Computing...............................7 New England Truckmaster...................... N 85 North American Bancard............................25 Nottingham Insurance............................ N 87 OMG Tow Marketing...................................21 Order of Towman.......................................69 Pacific General Insurance.......................M 84 Peak Auto Auctions....................................68 PeakPTT....................................................30 Peak Wrecker Sales...............................W 88 Performance Advantage Company..............71 Progressive Commercial.............................21 Quick Cash for Remotes.........................W 95 Quick Draw Tarpaulin System.....................24

Recovery Billing Unlimited..........................26 RimSling....................................................27 RRA Tow Truck Insurance.......................W 83 SafeAll Products.........................................31 Santander Bank................. Inside Back Cover Sea Crest Insurance Agency...................W 93 Servicase...................................................34 Sierra Pacific Insurance..........................W 91 Smyrna Truck & Cargo...............................31 Specialty Vehicle Equip. Funding................15 Steck Mfg. Co............................................64 Towbook Management Software...................3 Tow Brokers Insurance..................S 83, W 85 Tow Industries.......................................W 96 Towman Games........................... M 85-M 92 Towman Medal..........................................75 Towman Originals.......................... S 86-S 87 TowMate....................................................16 Trail King Industries...................................62 Truck Source..........................................W 94 Urgent.ly....................................................73 Utility Trailer Sales S.E. TX......................W 84 VTS Systems..........................................W 89 Warn Industries............................................5 West End Service.......................................73 Will-Burt Company.....................................32 Winches Inc...........................................W 86 XINSURANCE..........................................W 88 Zip’s/AW Direct....................................18, 23

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DANGLING Over LA Freeway

by Jim “Buck” Sorrenti

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A

t 3:45am on Friday January 29th 2021 Pepe’s Towing Service was called by the California Highway Patrol to respond to a tractor-trailer wreck.

They were informed that the tractor was dangling over the rail on the Eastbound 10 Freeway at the Santa Fe exit in Los Angeles, California. ◀

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50-ton rotator is used to boom over the freeway and attach 15-foot chain to tractor frame.

Century 1075, 75-ton rotator attaches to the front of the container using container slings.

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Pepe’s owner, Jose Acosta, responded with Big Flipper, his 2019 Peterbilt 389 with a Century 1075 75-ton rotator. His son Joshua Acosta responded with Hulk, his 2020 Peterbilt 389 with a Century 1150 50ton rotator. Operator Echo responded with their 2012 Peterbilt 389 with a three axle Landoll and operator Jacob responded with their 2014 Peterbilt 389 with a 35-ton wrecker.

Josh informed, “Our first step was to try and bring the tractor that was dangling over the freeway back up onto the lanes. Space was extremely limited, so we used the 50-ton rotator to boom over the freeway, and attached a Grade 10 half inch 15-foot chain to the frame of the tractor. As I winched in, my dad used the 75-ton rotator to attach to the front of the container using container slings for support and safety.”

Once the tractor was back onto the freeway, they split it from the container. Josh then re-rigged to the tractor, lifted off the back corner and swung it counter-clockwise so that the Landoll could back up underneath. He stated, “This was incredibly risky as I had to do this on a single lane trans road with limited outrigger space.”

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AmericanTowman.com | August 2021 • 55

After the burned tractor was transported out of the way, Jose and Josh split the broken chassis from the container so they could upright it and tow it out.

The last step was for them to upright the loaded container. “We had our rotators backed up on each end, and used container slings for this process,” explained Josh. “Space was again tight as I was working under a freeway pass. Once upright, we needed to move the container approximately 50-feet forward so our second Landoll could transport it. My dad came up with the idea to lift and cradle the container, then as he drove forward, I backed up and follow him. The plan worked great, and we were then able to have room to set the container on our Landoll to complete the job.”

Everything was towed and transported back to Pepe’s shop approximately two miles away, with the burned tractor on one Landoll, the container on a second Landoll, and the broken chassis towed with their 35-ton wrecker. The excess debris was transported using their Freightliner flatbed.

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About Pepe’s Towing Service Pepe’s Towing Service was established in March of 1978, by Jose and Delfina Acosta. As the business grew, Jose Jr. and brother Manuel “Manny” followed in their father’s footsteps by taking an interest in the towing business and became full-time employees in March 1987. In 1989, Lorenzo Navarro joined the Acosta brothers and became an integral part of the company.

More than 40 years later, Pepe’s is still family owned and operated. Manny runs the Inland Empire offices and Jose Jr. runs the LA offices. Jose’s son Joshua “Josh” is the manager the LA base of operations. They have over 90 employees, a fleet of over 80 trucks, including everything from light to super heavy-duty and specialized equipment.

Pepe’s has yards located in Los Angeles, Riverside and San Bernardino Counties.

Their specialty and primary focus is medium- and heavy-duty towing and recovery.

Three axle Landoll came in handy.

Rotators backed up on each end of the container.

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CREDIT CARD CALCULATIONS Calculating and collecting on surcharge amounts is a breeze with the latest Beacon Software update. This new feature is a direct response to customer feedback, requesting a way to easily set up credit card and surcharge calculations. Learn more about set up options, or contact the Beacon support team to learn more!

BeaconSoftCo.com See ad pg. 68

WIRELESS TOW LIGHTS Custer’s innovative wireless tow lights are a must-have in the towing industry. Not only does it save the tow truck operator the time and hassle of dealing with extension cords, but it also dramatically increases their safety while on the job. Custer’s wireless tow lights come in a variety of sizes to suit all of your towing needs. Visit their website at Custerproducts.com for more information.

See ad pg. 70

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IDENTIFY ELECTRONICALLY EImpound.com allows towing and storage providers to identify and notify lien holders and registered owners electronically and at no cost, and it can be used to manage and track the vehicle tow and storage lifecycle – again, all at no cost! It now has over 5,000 users across North America.

EImpound.com

SETCOM LIBERATOR MAXX The new Setcom Liberator Maxx full duplex headsets along with 3M’s Peltor line of headsets offered

by Matjack, sets a new standard in the market for this type of equipment.

When communication is critical, these don’t require a base station or line of sight and up to a mile connectivity.

Matjack.com See ad pg. 26

MOBILE VEHICLE SURVEILLANCE SYSTEMS Every towing company deserves liability protection and an accountable employee. Menzel MVSS allows you to be proactive instead of reactive giving you the ability to stop an incident from ever happening!

Menzeltech.com

SAFEALL PROPORTIONAL REMOTE FROM ZIPS Stay in tune with technology with SafeAll’s new Proportional Remote Control System. This patent-pending design offers wireless precision for your car carrier controls with just a twist of the wrist. The intuitive control is much safer than competitive wireless remote systems by delivering smooth, feathered action. Order Item#: SA-RCS at Zips.com today. See ad pg. 31

NO DISTANCE LIMITATIONS PeakPTT provides towing companies and their employees with a better, faster, more efficient way to communicate. LTE radios provide virtually no distance limitations. Built-in GPS tracking gives you real-time location information.

PC dispatch software alleviates the need for a base station and is cost-effective.”

PeakPTT.com See ad pg. 30

PATROL WORKS Ranger is changing the game in private property enforcement (relocation). Rather than manual lot surveys looking for vehicles with no, or invalid permits/stickers, LPR cameras are utilized to identify violations based on license plates. The complete PatrolWorks-LPR solution includes on-line information/input portals for Property Managers and Permit holders RangerSST.com

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COMMAND CONTROL Towbook processes over 3 million jobs per month. Towbook empowers towing and roadside companies to receive more jobs and easily manage dispatching, invoicing, vehicle inventory and impounds, liens, auctions and more - all through an easy-to-use cloudbased system accessible on desktop, Android, and iOS. Sign up for your 30-Day free trial at: Towbook.com See ad pg. 3

ROBOTIC CAR REMOVAL TowTract is a “state of the art” robot with caterpillar tracks controlled by a remote and is one fifth the size of a rollback.

Capable of zero touch/zero traction extraction and carrying the entire load out of low clearance parking (78 inches”) and on to the rollback WITH LOAD! TowTract is designed to remove all types of vehicles, gently and without any technical constraints or need for vehicle interior access.

Ideal for criminal evidence, low clearance, new electric cars.

EasTractna.com/towtract See ad pg. 72

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Workhorse

The Dollars and Sense of a Rotator Purchase!

By Wily T. Mann

Note on author: Wily T. Mann is the pen name of a long-established, tow-business owner operating in the eastern U.S.

S

o, you’re thinking of buying a rotator. This article is not intended to be a negative towards a purchase, nor a positive; it is simply my experience over the last eighteen months.

I am hopeful my experience will help you make your decision!

To give some context, a little about my company; we do a bit over five million in sales per year, which includes a body shop and a mechanical shop with the towing and storage representing about three million of the sales. We tow for several different municipalities with populations ranging from a few thousand to upwards of 40,000. The truck traffic is limited as we are near several interstates, but, we do not directly service any. Myself and the management team of the company

60 • August 2021 | Towman.com

debated the purchase of a rotator for years and we finally decided the time was right in October of 2019. We knew from past experience when we added a new service it would take a while to build the customer base. We have been around for over four decades and have experienced the growth from light duty to medium duty, then to heavy duty with heavy trailers.

Now to the story, we did our research and we zeroed in on the manufacturer we wanted and decided we would see if we could strike a deal in Atlantic City at the American Towman Exposition in December of 2019.

The first day at the show, I found the truck we were looking for, I then called the business and discussed it with my sons, we agreed let’s buy it. So, I arranged the

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financing for this $800,000 new piece of equipment, satisfied I made the right decision I signed the papers. My euphoria was short lived as I received a call from my wife about two hours later, asking how things were in Atlantic City.

She had found out about the purchase from one of my sons and I thought she was inquisitive and interested in the purchase, as she asked me questions about the truck, specifically if it had a sleeper? I stated, “no,” and she then said, “well that’s too bad as you’re going to be sleeping in the goddam truck.” So, I learned you should include your spouse in the discussion.

When I got back from the show, we did a final review of our monthly costs to determine rates.

Monthly payment $7800, insurance cost $500, estimated fuel and

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maintenance $650 (rotator does not travel far from home). I then added a 10% return on investment which equals $895. Which equals $9,015.

We figured on average the rotator would get used twice a month.

Labor costs would be $1600 for the two rotator jobs per month total coming in at $10,615. To cover the cost and overhead associated with the rotator, recovery jobs are billed out with a four-hour minimum; the first hour is $1750 and three other hours at $1250 per hour. Two jobs a month is $11,000. Sounds all good on paper, now the challenge is to make it work in the real world.

We took delivery of the truck just before Christmas. This created a challenge trying to get the ancillary equipment as everyone had limited hours because of the holidays. We worked through this problem since we had enough excess equipment

from the other heavies to get by.

The time of year is just something else to think about.

We got our first job January 15,th 2020; it was a tractor impaled on a bollard. The rotator handled the job quickly and efficiently.

Unfortunately, the tractor owner did not pay the bill as quickly and efficiently as the service we performed. I hired a lawyer, and bottom line, we never got paid for the job.

The tractor was sold through the lien process and we got $2100 minus the $500 for the attorney to chase a ghost company, net $1600.

I am now one month into this new piece of equipment and we just made the first monthly payment of $7800 and the down payment and equipment was another $50,000.

You can do the math, it’s not good.

The good news is I never had to

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sleep in the truck. My wife let me in when I got back from Atlantic City, although we had a few quiet meals.

Anyway, back to the rotator.

Between January and March of 2020, we started to get a few jobs for the rotator and I was back to thinking we made the right decision. Well, we all know what happened March 16,th 2020, the economy stopped and the phone stopped ringing.

Having been through many economic downturns over the last forty years, I knew I had to act quickly, I swallowed my pride and I called the lender on this truck and said, what do you want to do? In short order, we worked out a threemonth deferral on the payments.

We continued our marketing efforts throughout the pandemic and we started to see results. One community’s fire department reached out to us to do joint training. This in and of itself does not sound like a big deal but we have been towing for this community for twenty years and have offered to do training together prior, to no avail. The rotator made the difference.

Another community that we have

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Having been through many economic downturns over the last forty years, I knew I had to act quickly, I swallowed my pride and I called the lender on this truck and said,

what do you want to do?

had discussions with previously about being a service provider for heavy duty and a back-up for light duty was calling now because of the rotator. The public authorities and my customers are aware of the truck and the services we provide.

I ran the numbers from December 1, 2020 until June 30 2021 and we have averaged $11,426.85 per month for the rotator. Have we always got the four hour recovery jobs to achieve that magic number past the $11,000? No not always, but other jobs have come in to meet the dollar amount goal. This income, however, does not include our other trucks and equipment on scene that gets billed out as a result of having the rotator. Not to

mention the storage incurred from the vehicles impounded.

I knew the first year would not be easy making the monthly payments for the truck, training the operators and getting the truck equipped properly. We are striving to recoup those costs as I never could have predicated the Covid 19 Pandemic, but we survived and we still have the rotator.

In closing, purchasing the rotator has worked for our company. If you’re contemplating your own purchase consult with your CPA and make sure your management team is in favor. Also be prepared to lose money for several months.

The last piece of advice, make sure you tell your spouse first.

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Tow Manager

Semi Trucks Are Not Submarines By: Randall C. Resch

Photo courtesy of CBS News, not actual photo of this incident

O

Author’s Note: This narrative is dedicated inmemory of, John Elliott Buell, a Maryland tow company owner/operator who tragically drowned in 1942, attempting to rescue a flooded and submerged vehicle. This fall, American Towman will feature Buell’s story in-congunction with Buell being added to the Wall of the Fallen.

nce again, I’m here to pick a fight. The Center for Disease Control reports half of flood-related drownings occur when motorist’s drive into hazardous water. Playing, “Follow the Leader”, is one reason motorists and commercial drivers find themselves in, “Deep Doodski.” This narrative is my response to an imbalanced reporting against the towing and recovery industry.

Scenario: On. June 29, 2021, Detroit (IL), motorists and semi-trucks drivers intentionally drove into flooded highway lanes of Interstate-94 requiring emergency recovery. Tow companies were chastised for, “gouging,” where in one incident, a trucking company’s owner and local news unfairly berated Goch & Son’s Towing, a well-known and respected company.

Adam McCloe, truck company owner, criticized the tow company’s actions, stating, “I think it’s highway robbery, literally,” adding, “Over $9,000 to get a truck out that was only towed seven miles is just ridiculous.” His comments failed to mention that his semi-driver “intentionally” drove into deep, standing

66 • August 2021 | Towman.com

waters. He and the news didn’t report the facts, yet intended to “suck in viewers” and garner public sympathy.

News segments were incredibly onesided highlighting McCloe’s knee-jerk response to his employees’ improper actions. His derogatory comments didn’t speak to the size, mangitude and difficulty necessary to recover a gigantic, loaded, water-soaked and stuck semi-truck and trailer that took better than six-hours to recovery. We’re not talking grandpa’s 64’ Chevy pickup here.

Overseeing the trucking company’s operations was a female manager who told local news, “He (the driver) got stuck in-traffic, there was nothing he could do.

Water started rising and by the time he called me, there was a foot of water in his cab,” Sounds like her driver entered standing water following others and continued driving until water flooded the truck’s cab. So, … how about not intentionally driving into deep water?

This event was totally the semi drivers fault. In all reality, the trucking company’s owner and operations manager are

completely clueless as to what it takes to conduct a dangerous, water recovery.

Let’s not forget the semi and its trailer’s 80,000-pound weight greatly increased its total “winch weight”, due its soggy load. I believe Goch’s operators worked hard to successfully and safely extract the mired load easily exceeding 100,000-pounds.

DANGEROUS WATER

Let’s talk “On-Scene Safety”, shall we? Where is it written that tower’s must put their lives in harm’s way to correct the ignorant actions of others? Fact: Extracting a partially sunk semi-truck combination is a dangerous proposition. To our readers’, I remind water recoveries are deadly citing tow operators who, in 1942 and 2008, drowned attempting to recover vehicles that entered floodwaters.

Flowing and standing water sweeps houses from foundations, creates muddy bogs, ruts and potentially deadly sinkholes, not to forget potential “waterborne diseases” present in runoff. Water that “inundates” absorbs its surroundings, meaning bacteria’s molds, pesticides, cattle urine, sewage, and other chemicals and biohazards are part of the runoff.

Flood waters may contain Salmonella, E. coli,

Work the non-traffic side - Stay Safe!

So … how about not intentionally driving into deep water? or Shigella. Unfortunately, there are no vaccines for these infections. It takes just one “unintended glug of nasty water”, to ingest a virus, bacteria or Tetanus.

Avoiding potential illnesses is easy; stay out of the water. But, who other than professional tow operators are capable of extracting a mired, eighty-thousand pound semi? That’s just the tip of this argument.

Heavy wreckers are far different than small tow trucks used in town to tow cars, pickups and Urban MomMobiles. By cost alone, heavy wreckers/rotators can bear a half-million dollar (or higher) pricetag.

Don’t forget, costs of operations require liability, on-hook and cargo insurance to minimally cover onemillion dollars’ per incident, fuel, maintenance, tow operator training, driver wages and other associated costs. For a single, heavy wrecker/rotator to roll off it’s property, is a costly undertaking.

For motorists or commercial drivers entering flooded roadways, they do so at their own risk and

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AmericanTowman.com | August 2021 • 67

peril. For vehicle drivers who “follow others” into floodwaters should be cited and arrested with their vehicles impounded, especially when their stalled vehicle requires emergency rescue … there are no free rescues.

And, to you, Mr. Truck Company Owner, perhaps this is your business lesson in “Vicarious Liability.” Your company should initiate policy demanding trucks don’t ford swollen streams, rivers, flooded streets and highways. To avoid unwanted recovery bills in the future, demand drivers to keep semi’s on solid and unflooded ground. Mr. McCloe, tow companies aren’t to blame for your driver’s blunders. If your driver stayed on high-ground, heavy recovery wouldn’t have been necessary.

RECOVERY AIN’T CHEAP

In law enforcement recovery, the term, “Portal-to-Portal”, is defined as; “When law enforcement calls tow

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68 • August 2021 | Towman.com

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AmericanTowman.com | August 2021 • 69

LITE-IT UP WITH

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70 • August 2021 | Towman.com

company dispatch to request services, the time-clock starts. When trucks and personnel roll-out, an hourly rate applies, counting “in total minutes/ hours”, or, “incrementally”, until trucks and equipment are returned and cleanup completed.”

Based on allowable heavy/ rotator rates charged in California, I (comparably) calculated a similar, “rough cost estimation” of a six-hour recovery working a “start to finish” scenario. My estimation totaled close to $9,000 considering minimal fees for: • 1 x Rotator w/operator - $775 hr. x 6 = $4,650 • 1x Low-boy w/operator - $300 hr. x 6 = $1,800 • 1 x Salvage diver - $2,000 flat fee = $2,000 Subtotal = $8,450 • On-scene considerations for per hour rates or storage may include: Portable to Portal travel (to and from the scene), assessing,

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AmericanTowman.com | August 2021 • 71

rigging, subsequent extraction, stand-by, and or waiting for trucks or specialty equipment to arrive, cleanup & restocking, and daily storage When “light-duty” vehicles must be extracted, local law enforcement rates vary (In San Diego, light duty CHP is $240 per hour.) A, five mile, commercial, flatrate tow (locally) is approximately $85. Note: When law enforcement request a “police initiated tow”, commercial rates typically don’t apply.

Recovery plans (of this magnitude) may require separating semi-tractor and trailer. Because flooded vehicles experience flood/mud-caked rotors, axles, bearings and dragging brake pads, the tractor may have been loaded onto a Landoll carrier. The trailer may have been towed in the usual manner.

DO THE MATH

For tow companies operating heavy/rotator services, billing and collection processes will forever be a “hassle” based on collecting for work conducted. Motorists, trucking companies, and insurance agents aren’t aware of what it takes to conduct these operations. They don’t understand why police initiated rates are so expensive.

I didn’t interview Goch & Sons Towing for this narrative. I wanted to estimate this scenario in like-

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72 • August 2021 | Towman.com

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AmericanTowman.com | August 2021 • 73

type dollars. If this scenario included a heavy wrecker/ rotator and Landoll-type heavy carrier, my calculations include just the basics (time), no mileage and no essential workers on-scene. If stored at Goch’s facility at the trucking company’s request, my estimate didn’t include $90 (California’s) per day storage.

I don’t know what Illinois allows for heavy/rotator rates, but, in San Diego, California, at minimum and based on allowable rotator rates and special equipment, $6,500 isn’t unreasonable. A swimmer/salvage diver here costs $400 to $500 per hour depending on the nature (and risk) of the dive. Charging $2,000 to dive isn’t out of line based on dive industry rates. Note: Trucking company owners and insurance agents are predisposed to fighting submitted invoices and not pay; like it’s their job.

Add insult to injury, insurance companies historically cry foul and refuse or negotiate payment. But, where rates are charged in-line with difficult and dangerous emergency recoveries, tow companies are due every right to be paid for “reasonable work conducted.”

One misnomer the motoring public, trucking companies and insurance agent’s assume; when thinking “tow truck”, they’re not thinking “tow truck for recovery.” Even greater are scenarios that involve, “heavy wrecker/rotators for partially submerged

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74 • August 2021 | Towman.com

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AmericanTowman.com | August 2021 • 75

and stuck, semi-tractor trailers with load.”

In this case of alleged highway robbery, I believe Goch & Son’s invoice is “reasonable.” The media (as they frequently do) jumped on their bandwagon before hearing all the facts. Mainstream media and the semi-truck’s owner belched their usual smoke-screen and dodged the understanding of the (heavy and rotator) towing and recovery industry. They too assumed “lightduty rates” applied.

RECOVERY AIN’T CHEAP

This scenario embodies the definition of “Emergency Recovery.”

When tow companies aren’t funded by tax base, the industry developed its rate structure, although it is closely monitored by agencies having jurisdiction where incidents occur. Although Interstate-94 was flooded by an act of nature, it only

76 • August 2021 | Towman.com

took a handful of ignorant vehicle drivers to plug highway lanes.

Towers simply responded to get lanes open.

In my support of Goch & Sons Towing, and, the tow community as a whole, don’t give your services away when your charges are inline with the work you do. As far as the media and whining parties; they’re quick to heap wrongdoing on the tower’s part; shame on you.

I didn’t find the tower’s bill or actions out-of-line. Towers, I recommend you attend a, “Recovery Billing Unlimited”, seminar by industry expert, Bob Fouquette, to learn how to bill for the work you do. Don’t be rattled by mainstream media, whining truck owners and insurance agents.

CLEAN YOUR HOUSE

While I wasn’t privvy to details of this recovery, I’m sure

we’ll hear about a subquent investigation. Let this narrative serve as a reminder to trucking companies to suggest; when semi-truck drivers attempt imprudent driving actions that get them stuck, stalled, crashed or overturned, it likely will require heavy wreckers and rotators to undo their ignorant moves.

Driving into five-feet of standing water was an ignorant move.

Because common sense get’s lost in translation, the motoring public and semi-driver’s haven’t realized; hundreds of motorists die every year across the US by driving into flood situations, regardless of the depth. To that, there exists the public advisory statement that says, “Don’t Drown Turn Around.”

That’s a prudent statement. Better yet, let the trucking industry know that … “Semi-trucks aren’t submarines.”

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AmericanTowman.com | August 2021 • 77

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410-784-7029 AmericanTowman.com | August 2021 • 79

My Baby

Western Modern

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.

I

n describing the killer logo found on his 2018 Kenworth T880 with a 1075 S Century Rotator, owner Nik Morgan, who has received acclaim in the new reality TV show “Hustle and Tow,” says it projects the image of grit, iron, toughness, and bad to the bone.

Morgan, who owns Morgan’s Towing & Recovery, the largest tow company in Oklahoma with as many as 70 trucks, projects a similar image on the show,

80 • August 2021 | Towman.com

as he is seen doing extreme recoveries with his 75 ton rotator. So it is only fitting that the company brand rises to some of the owner’s unique qualities.

The logo puts the Morgan name front and center, in a western styled font. Morgan said, “Afterall, we are in Oklahoma and we tow in the plains and the valleys through the countryside.” Contrasting the western flavor, however, is a modern scripted

font, giving contrast between country and modern sensibilities.

Behind the white lettering of each of the fonts that are accentuated by shadows of red and black, is a diamond shaped design in a washed out black and white graphic with several stars and stripes. That shape is contained partially in a diamond plated frame as the crisp lettering extends over the diamond and onto the red background of the truck where modern black and white stripes give it further identification.

Morgan said, “I wanted to do something modern and contemporary with 80’s styled pinstriping. Something smooth.”

Those modern stripes can also be found on the side of the unit, extending across its large rotator real estate, with the Morgan logo and brand clearly standing out.

Work the non-traffic side - Stay Safe!

Morgan said, “I didn’t want a busy truck. Or a loud one. I wanted something calm to contrast with our name, so that it would stand out.”

The red, white and black rotator, with a Western Modern flavor, is also enhanced by the yellow outriggers that stand out against

those colors.

“Oklahoma’s Largest” pops in white lettering on the front sides of the truck. When asked about how he keeps up with such a large business, Morgan said, “It has a sleeper for a reason. It’s a dog house.”

AmericanTowman.com | August 2021 • 81

Lowdown

R.A.I.L. system flashing lights on Jerr-Dan carriers are designed to alert oncoming cars.

Roadside Safety is the Paramount Issue

By Steve Calitri

Steve Calitri Editor-in-Chief scalitri@towman.com

B

y the time this is being read, nine industry leaders will have met in San Antonio for American Towman’s Roadside Safety Conference. They will have drilled into the core issues of what it will take to better manage the risks of working the white line and reduce the casualties haunting our industry.

One of the goals of the conference was to explore creating a standard roadside safety protocol. Questions will be addressed: how the operator should exit the cab, where he should operate the controls, which safety vests to wear, etc.

The conference would have explored the field of traffic control apparatus that can be attached to the cab or placed down the road, directing vehicles to move over. It will discuss ideas for wrecker manufacturers to consider.

There are savvy tow business owners who have a move over arrow (MOA) truck accompany a tow truck on the freeway. The conference will have discussed the viability of making this standard operating procedure.

If this practice was made more prevalent, where a MOA truck must accompany a tower working on high traffic roads, this could be added to the fee charged the motorist. This vision opens up another revenue stream for the company and for the industry.

The issue of driver safety when working the white line may be directly related to the challenge tow bosses face in recruiting viable operators. If a tow operator can be trained to lower the risks associated with

82 • August 2021 | Towman.com

passing traffic and have more confidence being out there doing the job, that operator new to towing will stay on longer, so it stands to reason.

The small details of what it takes to protect oneself while working the white line will be examined. We all know it takes a split second for tragedy to strike. In some cases, the errant vehicle was across the white line with a drunk driver behind the wheel. In some cases, the operator made one careless move at the wrong time with eyes off the road because he was mentally distracted for some reason.

AT will explore creating a seminar at its shows that is designed for the tow boss/ manager training his operators on roadside safety; attitudes and precautions would be examined.

The conference will have also addressed what more can be done to promote enforcement of the Move Over law. This is something towers can make happen.

They have relationships with the police departments.

What will have also been addressed is how towers can help make motorists aware of the risks all first responders take working the white line, and that there is a move-over law to protect them. The Spirit Ride campaign achieved media attention that brought the message home to motorists.

What more can be done, now?

Stay tuned, I will report on what comes out of the Roadside Safety Conference.

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AmericanTowman.com | August 2021 • North 83

News Flash

Tow Goes Awry

A car that was towed apparently without authorization from a used car dealership in SC on June 6 was mysteriously found engulfed in flames eleven days later.

A representative from KT Towing and Recovery of Ladson, SC said they received a call to pick up a car and drop it off somewhere, indicating the man who called told the company that he had pushed the car onto the car lot. The representative said the driver was new and should have picked up on the suspicious circumstances. However, he says law enforcement investigated the driver and did not find him to be colluding with the person who called for the tow.

The sales manager of the dealership, Eric Duncan said they use towing services all the time and there’s generally some kind of check to make sure the person ordering the tow owns the car. Several other tow truck companies said they don’t necessarily require proof of ownership but do occasionally get suspicious calls and look for red flags before agreeing to a tow.

The 2004 Red Pontiac GTO sits back at the dealership with its red leather interior burned up and its custom engine and transmission gone. “It was a beautiful machine.

A very beautiful piece of automotive history,” said Duncan.

S o u rc e : l i v e 5 n e w s . com/2021/07/16/dealership-sayscar-its-lot-improperly-towed-laterfound-fire/

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all taxes paid, Ford F-150.

Each week will constitute a new opportunity for owners, dispatchers and drivers to earn sweepstakes entries for every tow completed.

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Tow Company Defends Unfair Charges

The end of June and first week of July, amidst massive flooding on Interstate 94 in Detroit, Mi., there was public outcry over towing charges, with some drivers purportedly paying $500 in towing fees and storage retrieval. Trucking company GM Freight was reported to be in shock when they received a bill from tow company Goch and Son’s Towing for over $9000 when their semi-truck was submerged in the floodwaters.

According to GM Freight owner Adam McCloe, “I think it’s highway robbery, literally.”

Unfortunately, the story presented gave a one-sided perspective favoring the consumer without any input from the unfairly vilified tow company. According to Mike Goch, owner of Goch and Son’s Towing, “You might call it ambush reporting.”

American Towman Operations Editor Randall Resch in defense of the company’s fees said, “Why should tow companies be responsible for the imprudent actions of drivers who get caught in 5 feet deep water, putting towers’ lives in harm’s way to ‘cheaply’ correct the ignorant actions of others?”

For the tower involved in this type of recovery, Resch notes all kinds of inherent dangers, including the hazards of diving in flooding waters that may be laden with mold, pesticides, sewage, and other chemicals and biohazards.

North 84 • August 2021 | Towman.com

The other key point Resch makes is the cost of running heavy duty wreckers. In this case Goch and Son’s Towing brought to scene two rotators, totaling nearly a million and a half dollars worth of equipment and 4 operators, including two guys that dove in the water. Resch said, “Add in liability, on-hook and cargo insurance to minimally cover one-million dollars per incident, fuel, maintenance, tow operator training, driver wages and many other associated costs and the expenses add up. For a single, heavy wrecker to roll off its property, it’s a costly undertaking.”

Goch said, “What the media portrayed was a tow. But it was far from a tow. We tried to pull this truck out that was locked up and full of water. It was like trying to move a pyramid. The thing did not want to budge. These guys were out there for 3 days trying to recover 12 semis. What the media didn’t portray was all the work done before we towed it.”

Source: towindustryweek.com

Towers Hand-out Hero’s for Heroes

Led by Mariners Harbor and J & J Towing Company, on 6/26, for the second year running, towers across the five boroughs joined together to deliver food and drinks to first responders across Staten Island.

“We started it last year when people couldn’t go out,” said Juan Serrano, of Mariners Harbor and J&J Towing Company. ”We got together and started delivering heros and drinks to the EMS, FDNY, precincts, and hospitals, as a thank you from the community.”

The event kicked off at 7 p.m. in Ocean Breeze, where the first stop was Staten Island University Hospital, Ocean Breeze, where tow trucks displayed American flags in honor of first responders.

Other stops along the way included the NYPD’s 122nd Precinct,

New Dorp; FDNY’s Rescue 5, Grasmere; NYPD’s 120th Precinct, St. George; Richmond University Medical Center, West Brighton; NYPD’s 121st Precinct, Mariners Harbor, and the NYPD’s 123rd Precinct, Tottenville.

“Sometimes we don’t thank our essential workers and admire all the work they do for us,” said Serrano.

“We aren’t working as much as they are, and they keep us running.”

Source: silive.com

Tower Fatality Strengthens Move Over Advocacy

The tragic death of AAA tow truck driver Glenn Ewing in Ohio highlights the risks faced by emergency first responders in Maryland and around the country, and continues to reverberate through Move Over advocacy. Ewing was killed on July 4 while placing a disabled vehicle on the back of a flatbed on the side of the road.

“When one of our colleagues is

Work the non-traffic side - Stay Safe!

lost, we’re all affected,” said Garland Amaker, Supervisor, AAA Fleet – Baltimore. “Glenn died while helping a driver on the side of the road – it can happen to any one of us.”

“We can’t stress enough how important it is that drivers move over and change lanes when they see AAA or any other first responder working in and around traffic,” Amaker added. “By doing so, you are also potentially saving someone’s life.”

AAA and its traffic safety partners will strengthen advocacy and community awareness throughout the year, including ‘National Move Over Day,” which occurs the third Saturday in October every year.

Guardian Fleet Services Merges with A Superior Towing Company

The merger Guardian Fleet Services with A Superior Towing, through Guardian’ Fleets ESOP Trust, gives both companies greater access to

municipal, state, and commercial customers throughout the state of Florida and the southeastern United States. The combined companies perform towing, recovery, and specialized transportation services over 600 times per day.

The merger with A Superior Towing brings a respected service provider in the Broward County market, for over 33 years, into Guardian Fleet’s organization, filling a void between the Miami-Dade and Palm Beach counties in the South Florida region. With the addition of A Superior Towing’s fleet and its 40 experienced employees, Guardian Fleet and its subsidiaries now employ over 300 personnel dedicated to meeting customers’ expectations while operating over 200 light-, medium-, heavy-duty recovery vehicles and specialized tractors, along with 100 trailers.

Sean Loscalzo, A Superior Towing’s founder and president, will continue as president of A Su-

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AmericanTowman.com | August 2021 • North 85

News Flash perior Towing, while assuming additional responsibilities as vice president of the South Florida market reporting to Guardian Fleet Services CEO Geoff Russell and Chief Operating Officer Scotty Crockett.

“This next step allows our legacy to continue to grow and become not only a leader in Broward County, but also the leader in the towing and recovery, and the specialized transportation industry throughout the Southeast United States and beyond,” said Loscalzo of A Superior Towing.

Stated Russell: “The merger adds additional strengths and ownership that involve all of Guardian Fleet’s management and employees through their participation in the Guardian ESOP Trust. I couldn’t be more excited about this merger and the opportunity to work with the A Superior Towing team.”

Source: Guardian Fleet Services

Supplier Scoop

Stertil-Koni Adds Northeast Sales Manager

Glenn Orn has joined Stertil-Koni in the newly created post of Northeast Regional Sales Manager.

Stertil-Koni, manufactures heavy duty vehicle lifting systems serving transit agencies, corporate fleets, municipalities, state agencies, the U.S. Military and private business sectors across North America.

In this position, Orn, brings more than 26 years of top industrial sales experience to the role, having most recently served as Eastern Regional Sales Manager for a leading manufacturer of industrial sheet rubber. There, he oversaw five independent sales agencies across 32 states and worked with multiple distributors to grow company sales by 100 percent during a seven-year tenure.

At Stertil-Koni, Orn will report directly to company president, Dr. Jean DellAmore, and will manage a

North 86 • August 2021 | Towman.com

territory covering Maine, Vermont, Connecticut, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island − as well as Ontario, Quebec, Newfoundland, and the Canadian Maritime Provinces.

Orn studied Civil Engineering at Central New England College and earned a business degree at Quinsigamond Community College in Massachusetts. He, his wife, and children live in Clinton, Connecticut, where Glenn enjoys supporting Boston sports teams and spending time with his family at the beach and traveling.

The Road to Recovery

Shell Rotella®, the market-leading heavy-duty diesel engine oil in North America, announced the launch of The Road to Recovery campaign which is rooted in championing the virtue of hard work.

The program seeks to create opportunities out of change for peo-

ple who drive trucks and operate heavy duty equipment on- and off- highway.

Through this campaign, the brand will celebrate and recognize those who are committed to getting the job done even in difficult circumstances.

Essential workers in transportation, construction and agriculture have taken their hard work down many roads. Shell Rotella wants to honor those embarking on the most important ‘road.’ Through the three pillars of go safely, go further and get savings, the campaign will support those who are living this commitment to hard work.

“As the industry, and North America, continue to navigate unprecedented times, hardworking men and women have been instrumental in driving us forward,” said Annie Peter, North American Brand Manager for Shell Rotella. “Shell Rotella is proud to introduce The Road to Recovery campaign to put the spotlight on hardworking individuals, acting selflessly day in and day out by showcasing the resilience they have demonstrated in the face of uncertainty.”

Work the non-traffic side - Stay Safe!

AmericanTowman.com | August 2021 • North 87

North 88 • August 2021 | Towman.com

Episode 4

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

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AmericanTowman.com | August 2021 • South 83

Supplier Scoop Stertil-Koni Adds Northeast Sales Manager

Glenn Orn has joined Stertil-Koni in the newly created post of Northeast Regional Sales Manager. Stertil-Koni, manufactures heavy duty vehicle lifting systems serving transit agencies, corporate fleets, municipalities, state agencies, the U.S. Military and private business sectors across North America.

In this position, Orn, brings more than 26 years of top industrial sales experience to the role, having most recently served as Eastern Regional Sales Manager for a leading manufacturer of industrial sheet rubber. There, he oversaw five independent sales agencies across 32 states and worked with multiple distributors to grow company sales by 100 percent during a seven-year tenure.

At Stertil-Koni, Orn will report directly to company president, Dr. Jean DellAmore, and will manage a territory covering Maine, Vermont, Connecticut, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island − as well as Ontario, Quebec, Newfoundland, and the Canadian Maritime Provinces.

Orn studied Civil Engineering at Central New England College and earned a business degree at Quinsigamond Community College in Massachusetts. He, his wife, and children live in Clinton, Connecticut, where Glenn enjoys supporting Boston sports teams and spending time with his family at the beach and traveling.

The Road to Recovery

Shell Rotella®, the market-leading heavy-duty diesel engine oil in North America, announced the launch of The Road to Recovery campaign which is rooted in championing the virtue of hard work. The program seeks to create opportunities out of change for people who drive trucks and operate heavy duty equipment on- and off- highway.

Through this campaign, the brand will celebrate and recognize those who are committed to getting the job done even in difficult circumstances.

Essential workers in transportation, construction and agriculture have taken their hard work down many roads.

Shell Rotella wants to honor those embarking on the most important ‘road.’ Through the three pillars of go safely, go further and get savings, the campaign will support those who are living this commitment to hard work.

“As the industry, and North America, continue to navigate unprecedented times, hardworking men and women have been instrumental in driving us forward,” said Annie Peter, North American Brand Manager for Shell Rotella.

“Shell Rotella is proud to introduce The Road to Recovery campaign to put the spotlight on hardworking individuals, acting selflessly day in and day out by showcasing the resilience they have demonstrated in the face of uncertainty.”

For fans to share their story of how they are driving The Road to Recovery, visit https://mymilesmatter.com/ road-to-recovery.

South 84 • August 2021 | Towman.com

News Flash Tow Goes Awry

A car that was towed apparently without authorization from a used car dealership in SC on June 6 was mysteriously found engulfed in flames eleven days later.

A representative from KT Towing and Recovery of Ladson, SC said they received a call to pick up a car and drop it off somewhere, indicating the man who called told the company that he had pushed the car onto the car lot. The representative said the driver was new and should have picked up on the suspicious circumstances. However, he says law enforcement investigated the driver and did not find him to be colluding with the person who called for the tow.

The sales manager of the dealership, Eric Duncan said they use towing services all the time and there’s generally some kind of check to make sure the person ordering the tow owns the car. Several other tow truck companies said they don’t necessarily require proof of ownership but do occasionally get suspicious calls and look for red flags before agreeing to a tow.

The 2004 Red Pontiac GTO sits back at the dealership with its red leather interior burned up and its custom engine and transmission gone. “It was a beautiful machine. A very beautiful piece of automotive history,” said Duncan.

Source:live5news.com/2021/07/16/dealershipsays-car-its-lot-improperly-towed-later-found-fire/

Tow Company Defends Unfair Charges

The end of June and first week of July, amidst massive flooding on Interstate 94 in Detroit, Mi., there was public outcry over towing charges, with some drivers purportedly paying $500 in towing fees and storage retrieval. Trucking company GM Freight was reported to be in shock when they received a bill from tow company Goch and Son’s Towing for over $9000 when their semi-truck was submerged in the floodwaters. According to GM Freight owner Adam McCloe, “I think it’s highway robbery, literally.”

Unfortunately, the story presented gave a one-sided perspective favoring the consumer without any input from the unfairly vilified tow company. According to Mike Goch, owner of Goch and Son’s Towing, “You might call it ambush reporting.”

American Towman Operations Editor Randall Resch in defense of the company’s fees said, “Why should tow companies be responsible for the imprudent actions of drivers who get caught in 5 feet deep water, putting towers’ lives in harm’s way to

‘cheaply’ correct the ignorant actions of others?”

For the tower involved in this type of recovery, Resch notes all kinds of inherent dangers, including the hazards of diving in flooding waters that may be laden with mold, pesticides, sewage, and other chemicals and biohazards.

The other key point Resch makes is the cost of running heavy duty wreckers. In this case Goch and Son’s Towing brought to scene two rotators, totaling nearly a million and a half dollars worth of equipment and 4 operators, including two guys that dove in the water. Resch said, “Add in liability, on-hook and cargo insurance to minimally cover one-million dollars per incident, fuel, maintenance, tow operator training, driver wages and many other associated costs and the expenses add up. For a single, heavy wrecker to roll off its prop-

Work the non-traffic side - Stay Safe!

erty, it’s a costly undertaking.”

Goch said, “What the media portrayed was a tow. But it was far from a tow. We tried to pull this truck out that was locked up and full of water. It was like trying to move a pyramid. The thing did not want to budge. These guys were out there for 3 days trying to recover 12 semis. What the media didn’t portray was all the work done before we towed it.”

Source: towindustryweek.com

Towers Hand-out Hero’s for Heroes

Led by Mariners Harbor and J & J Towing Company, on 6/26, for the second year running, towers across the five boroughs joined together to deliver food and drinks to first responders across Staten Island.

“We started it last year when people couldn’t go out,” said Juan Serrano, of Mariners Harbor and

J&J Towing Company. ”We got together and started delivering heros and drinks to the EMS, FDNY, precincts, and hospitals, as a thank you from the community.”

The event kicked off at 7 p.m. in Ocean Breeze, where the first stop was Staten Island University Hospital, Ocean Breeze, where tow trucks displayed American flags in honor of first responders.

Other stops along the way included the NYPD’s 122nd Precinct, New Dorp; FDNY’s Rescue 5, Grasmere; NYPD’s 120th Precinct, St. George; Richmond University Medical Center, West Brighton; NYPD’s 121st Precinct, Mariners Harbor, and the NYPD’s 123rd Precinct, Tottenville.

“Sometimes we don’t thank our essential workers and admire all the work they do for us,” said Serrano.

“We aren’t working as much as they are, and they keep us running.”

Source: silive.com

AmericanTowman.com | August 2021 • South 85

South 86 • August 2021 | Towman.com

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AmericanTowman.com | August 2021 • South 87

South 88 • August 2021 | Towman.com

Episode 4

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

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AmericanTowman.com | August 2021 • Midwest 83

News Flash

Tower Fatality Strengthens Move Over Advocacy

The tragic death of AAA tow truck driver Glenn Ewing in Ohio highlights the risks faced by emergency first responders in Maryland and around the country, and continues to reverberate through Move Over advocacy. Ewing was killed on July 4 while placing a disabled vehicle on the back of a flatbed on the side of the road.

“When one of our colleagues is lost, we’re all affected,” said Garland Amaker, Supervisor, AAA Fleet – Baltimore. “Glenn died while helping a driver on the side of the road – it can happen to any one of us.”

“We can’t stress enough how important it is that drivers move over and change lanes when they see AAA or any other first responder working in and around traffic,” Amaker added. “By doing so, you are also potentially saving someone’s life.”

AAA and its traffic safety partners will strengthen advocacy and community awareness throughout the year, including ‘National Move Over Day,” which occurs the third Saturday in October every year.

Midwest 84 • August 2021 | Towman.com

Episode 4

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

Work the non-traffic side - Stay Safe!

AmericanTowman.com | August 2021 • West 83

Supplier Scoop Stertil-Koni Adds Northeast Sales Manager

Glenn Orn has joined Stertil-Koni in the newly created post of Northeast Regional Sales Manager. Stertil-Koni, manufactures heavy duty vehicle lifting systems serving transit agencies, corporate fleets, municipalities, state agencies, the U.S. Military and private business sectors across North America.

In this position, Orn, brings more than 26 years of top industrial sales experience to the role, having most recently served as Eastern Regional Sales Manager for a leading manufacturer of industrial sheet rubber. There, he oversaw five independent sales agencies across 32 states and worked with multiple distributors to grow company sales by 100 percent during a seven-year tenure.

At Stertil-Koni, Orn will report directly to company president, Dr. Jean DellAmore, and will manage a territory covering Maine, Vermont, Connecticut, New Hampshire, Massachu-

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West 84 • August 2021 | Towman.com

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AmericanTowman.com | August 2021 • West 85

Supplier Scoop setts, and Rhode Island − as well as Ontario, Quebec, Newfoundland, and the Canadian Maritime Provinces.

Orn studied Civil Engineering at Central New England College and earned a business degree at Quinsigamond Community College in Massachusetts. He, his wife, and children live in Clinton, Connecticut, where Glenn enjoys supporting Boston sports teams and spending time with his family at the beach and traveling.

The Road to Recovery

Shell Rotella®, the market-leading heavy-duty diesel engine oil in North America, announced the launch of The Road to Recovery campaign which is rooted in championing the virtue of hard work. The program seeks to create opportunities out of change for people who drive trucks and operate heavy duty equipment on- and off- highway. Through this campaign, the brand will celebrate and recognize those who are committed to getting the job done even in difficult cir-

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West 86 • August 2021 | Towman.com

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AmericanTowman.com | August 2021 • West 87

Supplier Scoop

cumstances.

Essential workers in transportation, construction and agriculture have taken their hard work down many roads.

Shell Rotella wants to honor those embarking on the most important ‘road.’

Through the three pillars of go safely, go further and get savings, the campaign will support those who are living this commitment to hard work.

“As the industry, and North America, continue to navigate unprecedented times, hardworking men and women have been instrumental in driving us forward,” said Annie Peter, North American Brand Manager for Shell Rotella. “Shell Rotella is proud to introduce The Road to Recovery campaign to put the spotlight on hardworking individuals, acting selflessly day in and day out by showcasing the resilience they have demonstrated in the face of uncertainty.”

For fans to share their story of how they are driving The Road to Recovery, visit https://mymilesmatter.com/ road-to-recovery.

West 88 • August 2021 | Towman.com

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AmericanTowman.com | August 2021 • West 89

News Flash

Tow Goes Awry

A car that was towed apparently without authorization from a used car dealership in SC on June 6 was mysteriously found engulfed in flames eleven days later.

A representative from KT Towing and Recovery of Ladson, SC said they received a call to pick up a car and drop it off somewhere, indicating the man who called told the company that he had pushed the car onto the car lot. The representative said the driver was new and should have picked up on the suspicious circumstances. However, he says law enforcement investigated the driver and did not find him to be colluding with the person who called for the tow.

The sales manager of the dealership, Eric Duncan said they use towing services all the time and there’s generally some kind of check to make sure the person ordering the tow owns the car.

Several other tow truck companies said they don’t necessarily require proof of ownership but do occasionally get

◀

West 90 • August 2021 | Towman.com

Work the non-traffic side - Stay Safe!

AmericanTowman.com | August 2021 • West 91

News Flash

suspicious calls and look for red flags before agreeing to a tow.

The 2004 Red Pontiac GTO sits back at the dealership with its red leather interior burned up and its custom engine and transmission gone. “It was a beautiful machine. A very beautiful piece of automotive history,” said Duncan.

Source:live5news.com/2021/07/16/ dealership-says-car-its-lot-improperlytowed-later-found-fire/

Sweepstakes for Towers

Agero Summer Hustle tow sweepstakes!

From Sunday June 27 until September 11, qualifying in-network tow business owners, dispatchers and drivers will have a chance to win one of several weekly prepaid card drawings, worth up to $500, with drivers having an additional opportunity to grab the end-of-summer grand prize: a brand new, all taxes paid, Ford F-150.

Each week will constitute a new opportunity for owners, dispatchers and drivers to earn sweepstakes entries

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West 92 • August 2021 | Towman.com

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AmericanTowman.com | August 2021 • West 93

News Flash for every tow completed. Seven winners – randomly selected by our third-party sweepstakes management provider – will be announced weekly.

More information, terms, and conditions are available here: info.agero.com/ agero-summer-hustle.

Tow Company Defends Unfair Charges

The end of June and first week of July, amidst massive flooding on Interstate 94 in Detroit, Mi., there was public outcry over towing charges, with some drivers purportedly paying $500 in towing fees and storage retrieval. Trucking company GM Freight was reported to be in shock when they received a bill from tow company Goch and Son’s Towing for over $9000 when their semi-truck was submerged in the floodwaters. According to GM Freight owner Adam McCloe, “I think it’s highway robbery, literally.”

Unfortunately, the story presented gave a one-sided perspective favoring the consumer without any input from the unfairly vilified tow company. According to Mike Goch, owner of Goch and Son’s Towing, “You might call it ambush reporting.”

American Towman Operations Editor Randall Resch in defense of the company’s fees said, “Why should tow companies be responsible for the imprudent actions of drivers who get caught in 5 feet deep water, putting towers’ lives in harm’s way to ‘cheaply’ correct the ignorant actions of others?”

For the tower involved in this type of recovery, Resch notes all kinds of inherent dangers, including the hazards of diving in flooding waters that may be laden with mold, pesticides, sewage, and other chemicals and biohazards.

The other key point Resch makes is the cost of running heavy duty wreckers. In this case Goch and Son’s Towing brought to scene two rotators, totaling nearly a million and a half dollars worth of equipment and 4 operators, including two guys that dove in the water. Resch said, “Add in liability, on-hook and cargo insurance

◀

West 94 • August 2021 | Towman.com

Work the non-traffic side - Stay Safe!

AmericanTowman.com | August 2021 • West 95

News Flash to minimally cover one-million dollars per incident, fuel, maintenance, tow operator training, driver wages and many other associated costs and the expenses add up. For a single, heavy wrecker to roll off its property, it’s a costly undertaking.”

Goch said, “What the media portrayed was a tow. But it was far from a tow. We tried to pull this truck out that was locked up and full of water. It was like trying to move a pyramid. The thing did not want to budge. These guys were out there for 3 days trying to recover 12 semis. What the media didn’t portray was all the work done before we towed it.”

Source: towindustryweek.com

Towers Hand-out Hero’s for Heroes

Led by Mariners Harbor and J & J Towing Company, on 6/26, for the second year running, towers across the five boroughs joined together to deliver food and drinks to first responders across Staten Island.

“We started it last year when people couldn’t go out,” said Juan Serrano, of Mariners Harbor and J&J Towing Company. ”We got together and started delivering heros and drinks to the EMS, FDNY, precincts, and hospitals, as a thank you from the community.”

The event kicked off at 7 p.m. in Ocean Breeze, where the first stop was Staten Island University Hospital, Ocean Breeze, where tow trucks displayed American flags in honor of first responders.

Other stops along the way included the NYPD’s 122nd Precinct, New Dorp; FDNY’s Rescue 5, Grasmere; NYPD’s 120th Precinct, St. George; Richmond University Medical Center, West Brighton; NYPD’s 121st Precinct, Mariners Harbor, and the NYPD’s 123rd Precinct, Tottenville.

“Sometimes we don’t thank our essential workers and admire all the work they do for us,” said Serrano. “We aren’t working as much as they are, and they keep us running.”

Source: silive.com

West 96 • August 2021 | Towman.com

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AmericanTowman.com | August 2021 • West 97

West 98 • August 2021 | Towman.com

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AmericanTowman.com | August 2021 • West 99

2021 Exhibitors

For a complete list of exhibitors and updates, visit us at atexposition.com Access Tools (Merit Int’l Enterprise) AE Oscroft & Sons LTD / AEO Alliance Funding Group Allstate Roadside - pg. 65 Amdor American Key Supply American Sweeping System American Towman Magazine American Transportation Insur. Grp. / ATIG American Wrecker Sales SC AmeriDeck™ Amur Equipment Finance Anchor Graphics - pg. 71 Arizona Prof. Towing & Recovery Assoc.

Ascentium Capital Auto Data Direct Automobile Club of Southern California AutoReturn - pg. 72 Joyride Baremotion BBSI Inc. Beacon Funding Beacon Software - pg. 68 Chevron West/Golden West Towing Equip.

Clean Diesel Specialists Inc. Collins Mfg Command Light Commercial Best Insurance Services Copart Auto Auctions CTTA Curtis J Vernon Insurance Agency Custer Products - pg. 70 California Lien Sales DewEze Mfg. Dibuduo & Defendis Discovery Bay Insurance DriverLocator.com Dynamic Towing Equip. / Mfg. - pg. 61 East Coast Truck & Trailer Sales - pgs. 63, N 83, W 87 EDGETEC Elite Commercial Insurance Services Elite Specialties Agency LLC Enviro. Chem. Solutions / ECS - pg. W 84 Excel Sportswear ExxonMobil c/o Wex, Inc. Farmers Insurance / Khasim Insurance FCar Tech USA Federal Signal Finex Group LLC Five Star Registration FleetNet America Fullbay

G.L. Anderson Insurance GEICO GM Consultants, Inc. Guniwheel Dist. by LKQ Corp. - pg. W 92 HAAS Alert Honk Technologies Hydraulic Shop, Incorporated ICW Group. Insurance Cos. - pg. 32 Idaho Wrecker Sales Isuzu Commercial Truck of America Kalyn-Siebert Landoll Corporation Leavitt Group Lien Enforcement - pg. W 93 Lubnau Gonzalez Insurance Agency Magnetworks / Stamp Works McCandless International Trucks MercurySend.com Metropolitan Transportation Commission Midco Sales - pg. W 90 Midland Equipment Finance Mike Keith Insurance Miller Industries - pg. 13 Mobile Binaries Inc. Mobile Create USA Mobile Video Computing Sol. - pg. 7 Motorcycle Towing Services Murphy Bank Nation Safe Drivers (NSD) National Automobile Club NRC Industries, Inc. Omadi OMG Tow Marketing - pg. 21 ParkingPass.com Payroc / NXGEN Peak Auto Auctions - pg. 68 PeakPTT - pg. 30 Peddle Penny Pockets, LTD PGM Recovery Systems Phoenix USA, Inc Planet Halo Prof. Exchange Service Corp.

QuestX Towing Services Quick Cash for Remotes - pg. W 95 R. A. Storelee Insurance Agency, Inc. Ramos Oil Company Ranger SST RealWheels Corporation RIGS Truck Roadside Pro Roadside Response RoadSync

Robinson Oil Rocky Mountain Wrecker Sales RP Recovery Consulting RRA Tow Truck Insurance - pg. W 83 Rush Towing Systems Safety Up Safety Vision Santander Bank - Inside Back Cover Santiam Enterprises Inc. Sea Crest Insurance Agency - pg. W 93 Secure Tow Servicase Sierra Pacific Insurance - pg. W 91 Southern California Tow Equipment Specialty Vehicle Equip. Funding - pg. 15 Spill Tackle LLC. Steck Mfg. Co., Inc. - pg. 64 Sterling National Bank TCF Capital Solutions TEC Equipment The Dispatch Agency TJR Equipment and Controls Todd Equipment TOMAR Tow Brokers Insurance - pg. S 83, W 85 Tow Industries - pg. W 96 Tow World Towbook Management Software - pg. 3 TowToolz TowTruckLocator.com TowXchange Tracker Management Systems Trail King Industries - pg. 63 Transit Pros Truck Body Sales, Inc. Two Way Radio Gear UniFirst Corp.

Urgent.ly - pg. 73 US Fleet Tracking Utah Professional Towing Alliance Verdant Commercial Capital, LLC W Star USA Inc. Warn Industries - pg. 5 Will-Burt Company - pg. 32 Webfleet Solutions Whelen Engineering Co. Whiterail Reviews WorldClass Insurance Services Worldwide Equipment Sales WreckMaster, Inc. Xpress Pay Zip’s / AW Direct - pg. 18, 23

*Supplier names in bold are display advertisers in this issue with their ad page number cross-referenced.

Episode 4

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

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AmericanTowman.com | August 2021 • 3

4 • August 2021 | Towman.com