American Towman Magazine - October 2022

Dennie Ortiz Publisher

Nothing Can Compare

The thrumming of a light brush on a taught drum skin, the strong bright tone of a trumpet joining the crowd’s rumble, a baton twirled by a top-hatted man standing over nine-feet tall. These are the sights and sounds of the marching band as it leads the thousands of towers onto the exhibit floor at the greatest trade show on earth—the American Towman Exposition.

Unlike any other trade show, in any other indus try, the AT Expo is by far the most unusual congrega tion and spectacle, unifying the towing industry for a few precious days and nights.

At no other venue will you witness aisle after aisle of breathtakingly beautiful tow trucks, standing side by side, as if paying tribute to their honored industry.

From the moment you step up and behold the glo ry of the Towman Monument (on this issue’s cover), it self a sentinel, watching and welcoming towmen and women to the entrance of the convention center; to the engagement of the hundreds of suppliers on the trade show floor eager to respect your trade and earn your business; to the bright minds of the academy presenters earnestly sharing their knowledge; to the ul timate events recognizing the sprit, the grit and the rare breed which makes the towing professional.

Nothing can compare—you must experience it yourself!

I hope you will join us this year at the 33rd American Towman Exposition in Baltimore as we come together in celebration of this truly remarkable industry!

As always stay safe out there.

Getting Amped Up

Steve Temple Editor

As highlighted above, we look forward with ex citement to the American Towman Exposition in Bal timore. On the other hand, after a long, hot summer, cooler temps are finally on the way, so we’ve included a few tips in this issue to handle the upcoming change in the weather. Batteries are the unsung heroes of tow trucks, but summer heat can really degrade their performance, causing them to age at an accelerated rate. And when temperatures drop below freezing, a battery can lose anywhere from 30 to 60 percent of its available cranking power. Also, parasitic loads from accessory items will drain your battery even more. So we’ve provided a few practical ways to make sure your tow truck fires right up on a cold night to help a stranded motorist. And if your wrecker is getting on in years, we also have some maintenance tips to make sure it holds up well this winter.

Dennie Ortiz Steve Calitri

Steve Temple

Randall Resch

Terry Abejuela

David Kolman

John Borowski

Mark Lacek

Brian Riker

George Nitti

Henri “Doc” Calitri

President Editor-In-Chief Editor

Operations Editor

Field Editor, West Chassis Editor Safety Editor

Repo Run Editor

Contributing Editor

Contributing Editor Contributing Editor

Editorial Board

Tommy Anderson

Roy Carlson

Debbie Collins

Belinda Harris

Bill Johnson

Kurt Wilson

Dallas, Texas

Saint Paul, Minn.

Las Vegas, Nev.

Greensboro, N.C. South Hadley, Mass. Creve Coeur, Ill.

American Towman Staff

Anne Ruzsilla

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

President Editor-In-Chief Editor Subscriptions

Art Director Advertising Sales Mgr. Senior Account Exec. Customer Service Subscription Manager Regional Advertising Sales iMarketing Manager ATTV Producer President E-Mail: dortiz@towman.com scalitri@towman.com stemple@towman.com patrice@towman.com

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Two Towers Save Pinned Driver

Edward Spina Jr. from ECRB Towing & Recovery in Bloomfield, NJ and JT Sagun from Nick’s Towing Service in Rutherford were on their way to work when they intervened to save a driver pinned in his overturned dump truck.

“The accident literally happened in front of me,” Spina said. “I couldn’t believe my eyes.”

Turning on his tow lights to alert other motorists, he headed towards the driver, finding him pinned under the steering wheel, bleeding from the face. With the door locked, Spina knocked out the windshield while Sagun climbed on the cab. Another good Samaritan offered a knife to cut away the rubber gasket holding the windshield in place. After unlocking the door, they discovered the driver wasn’t severely injured as they pulled him to the curb to hydrate and stabilize him.

“Thankfully my many years on the job made it so there wasn’t a moment of hesitation,” Spina stated. “I knew I needed to get that driver out and quickly, if at all possible.”

J&M Towing of Wayne righted and removed the truck.

Source: dailyvoice.com

N.C. Tower Getting Bad Press

Despite criticism from the press and local media, and a court injunction, a Charlotte, North Carolina tow owner persists on towing vehicles. According to a news source, David Satterfield, owner of Satterfield’s Automobile Recovery and Parking Enforcement, was accused of price gouging and pepper-spraying customers. Then he was hit with a court injunction by the state attorney general regulating his tow fees, prohibiting charging credit card, storage and any fees outside of towing and booting, and requiring authorization for nonconsensual tows from private property managers or owners.

A news source indicated that further action was taken by the North Carolina Department of Justice to pursue a criminal contempt charge against him. The source, WBTV, continues to expose what they see as more violations.

Source: wbtv.com

California Tower Named to Hall of Fame

Robert Van Lingen of Van Lingen Towing in Torrance, California will be inducted into the Towing Hall of Fame on October 8, 2022 at the Westin Chattanooga, which will also include towing legends from around the U.S., Australia, France and Japan.

“As a youngster, Robert would sleep with clothes and boots on in front of the door so his dad couldn’t run a call in the middle of the night without taking him,” stated his nomination statement. “He literally grew up in the industry.”

He has made his mark in towing and recovery by improving on procedures that have become standard in the towing industry. For instance, Van Lingen created a standard for police impound operations and facilities that today is utilized worldwide. In addition, he introduced a safer and more efficient way to upright overturned sea containers. “The rigging method has

Robert Van Lingen of Van Lingen Towing will be inducted into the International Towing & Recovery Hall of Fame.

been adopted around the world and is known as the ‘Van Lingen Method.’”

To be inducted, each leader must have at least 20 years of experience. The Hall of Fame has grown to include over 300 distinguished towing professionals from around the world.

Source: einnews.com

Milwaukee Man Sentenced for Terrorizing Towers

A man who terrorized towers from Milwaukee during a three-week crime spree last Fall was sentenced to 22 years in prison.

Latherio Meadows, 25, robbed seven drivers, who all identified him, at gunpoint. Meadows pleaded guilty in June to all the robberies and two counts of using a gun during a violent crime.

Meadows’ “…crime spree sparked a wave of fear in the small community of self-employed tow truck drivers in the Milwaukee community,” wrote Assistant U.S. Attorney Abbey Marzick in a sentencing memo.

According to court records, Meadows called his victims, saying he either needed his car towed or wanted to scrap a car for cash. When the trucks arrived at various locations around Milwaukee’s north side,

A man was sentenced to 22 years in prison for terrorizing seven Milwaukee towers.

Meadows pointed a gun at the drivers and demanded their money, weapons and cell phones. He obtained cash in amounts ranging from $500 to $3,000 from drivers, and handguns from two of his victims. Meadows pistol whipped one driver, causing head wounds that had to be stapled.

Source: jsonline.com

Maryland’s Move-Over Law

Motorists in Maryland must move over when approaching emergency, law enforcement, tow truck, utility, and transportation vehicles while they are stopped, standing, or parked on a highway with their red, amber, or yellow lights flashing. If it is not safe or feasible to move over, motorists must slow to a reasonable and prudent speed that is safe for existing weather, road, and vehicular or pedestrian traffic conditions.

Beginning October 1, 2022, the Move Over Law in Maryland will expand to require motorists to make a lane change or slow down when approaching any stopped, standing, or parked vehicle displaying warning signals—including hazard warning lights, road flares, or other caution signals including traffic cones, caution signs, or non-vehicular warning signs. The expanded law is in place to protect law enforcement, emergency responders, and any

motorist that may encounter a roadside emergency and must stop near travel lanes.

Violating the law is a misdemeanor carrying a $110 fine and one point on your license. If the violation causes a crash, the fine is $150 and three points. If there is a death or serious injury, the fine is $750 and three points.

The original “Move Over” law in Maryland, passed in 2010, provided protection only for emergency responders, law enforcement personnel, and CHART trucks who provide motorists roadside assistance. In 2014, the law was extended to include tow truck drivers.

Towers Seeking Higher Wages

In Decatur, Alabama, the town council may be forced to reconsider tow rates for police-initiated tows. According to a Decatur tow manager, it’s been reported that some wrecker services are turning down city calls, causing lengthy delays at the scene.

Kenny Hetrick, manager of All Star Towing & Recovery of Decatur, asked the City Council to consider increasing the rates a wrecker company can charge when responding to a city call. Currently, Decatur allows a wrecker company to charge $75 for a typical tow and $125 for a wreck, a tow necessitated by an arrest or to pick up an abandoned vehicle. Storage of a vehicle towed on behalf of the city is capped at $20 per day.

Hetrick proposed allowing charges of $125 for a traffic stop or routine tow, $200 for a wreck or abandonment and $30 per day for storage. He pointed out the city hasn’t raised tow truck rates since 2008. He said the city does not allow any charge for the first 24 hours

of storage.

“At the time [of the last rate increases in 2008], diesel was $1.50 a gallon, and now it’s $5 a gallon,” Hetrick pointed out. “My truck alone cost $70,000 new [in 2008], and now it costs $100,000plus. Drivers’ pay is $18 to $20 an hour. Taking all of this into consideration and a $75 rate, it makes you question whether it is worth it to respond to a city call.”

Source: news.yahoo.com

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Rising Tow Rates in Virginia

Motorists in Spotsylvania County, Virginia will see the cost of tows rising. New rates—the first increase since 2014—were set at the Board of Supervisors meeting on August 9 after a public hearing. The rates apply only to calls that come in through law enforcement and not public calls involving vehicles on private property. These rates cover numerous categories of towing, including incidents such as crashes and abandoned vehicles on public property.

The rate for a basic tow was $275 and is now $325 during regular daytime hours. After-hours rates will increase from $300 to $375. Administrative fees will jump from $150 to $250. Standby fees were $75 per hour with a maximum of $300 and are now $100 per hour with a cap of $400. The cleanup rate will increase from $25 to $50.

Rates for heavy-duty tow truck calls were $450 for the first two hours, and are now $800. After the first two hours, those fees will increase from $100 to $200 per hour. Administrative fees will change from $150 to $250.

The major reason cited for the rising rates is due to the rising costs of operating a tow truck.

Source: fredericksburg.com

Tower Shot during a Repossession

In San Diego, a tower was shot in the arm while attempting to repossess a vehicle that was illegally parked at an intersection. After being wounded, the tower called 911, which alerted the San Diego Police.

The police said a woman and a few others confronted the tow truck driver. The woman pulled out a gun and shot the driver at least once in the arm, SDPD said. The driver was taken to the hospital and expected to survive. The group was believed to have retreated into a nearby apartment complex, prompting police to surround the building and call a SWAT team to respond. After several hours, officers made their way inside two apartments and searched the units. No one was inside and the SWAT standoff was called off, SDPD said.

Source: nbcsandiego.com

Kenny Hetrick of All Star Towing & Recovery is pushing the city to raise towing rates.

Tow

A Stitch in Time…

Preventative Maintenance is Key to Business Survival

By Brian J. Riker

Unless you have been living under a rock these past couple of years you are aware that everything around us has changed. And often not for the better. The changes to the workforce, travel restrictions and concern about Covid have upended our work lives—it’s the new normal.

Brian J. Riker is a third-gen eration towman, with 26 years of experience in the ditch as a tow operator, and president of Fleet Compli ance Solutions. He special izes in helping navigate the complex world of federal and state transportation regula tory compliance. He can be reached at brian.riker@fleet compliancesolutions.net

Especially difficult for tow companies are the disruptions to the global supply chain. Vehicles and towing components that had only been a few days away now may take weeks or months to obtain, if they are even still in production.

The current just-in-time restocking model is extremely ineffective once the slightest ripple has been introduced. Dealers and distributors simply can not obtain inventory at short notice.

ONGOING DELAYS

Recall when more than 100 ocean vessels were anchored off the coast of the United States waiting to off-load their containers. While this backlog has been mostly cleared on the West Coast, delays still aren’t gone entirely. Shippers simply moved their port of choice to the East Coast, creating even more unforeseen complications for timely deliveries of replacement inventory. Even if all these ships could be unloaded overnight,

Taking good care of an older truck can save you money in the long run, as doing regular maintenance is usually way cheaper than major repairs or buying new.

Often aging equipment can be given new life with some simple repairs.

which is impossible, it will still take weeks to get these products onto trucks and into warehouses for final distribution to the end user.

As an all-too typical example, a dealer with a nationwide footprint across multiple product lines in many industries is facing a severe shortage of new truck inventory. The dealer’s supply of chassis’ has been cut by as much as two thirds for some models, and there is currently over a 12-month delay in delivery of new vehicles. This difficulty is not unique, as almost every dealer and equipment distributor are facing similar issues.

Worse yet, with the current problems facing the parts supply chain and a problem with Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF) sensors failing prematurely, a large portion of the vehicles on the ground are out of service awaiting repairs or EPA approval for a software patch that will bypass the DEF sensor temporarily. This issue has red tagged hundreds, if not thousands of dieselpowered trucks nationwide. The current average wait time for a DEF sensor is eight to ten weeks.

COPING MECHANISMS

What this means to the tow manager is that it is now more critical than ever before to keep up with maintenance of your equipment. Not only oil changes and grease jobs, but also cosmetics and driver comfort features, since the in-service life expectancy must be increased by at least 18 to 24 months beyond the normal replacement cycle. If you have not put much focus on preventative maintenance, you will be playing catchup to maximize your up-time.

Extending the life cycle of equipment

Extending the life cycle of equipment requires close attention to detail.

requires close attention to detail. Manufacturer recommended maintenance must be performed on time and in accordance with industry best practices. Routine inspections are key to identifying a problem early while there is still time to repair it before a critical and costly failure. Preventative maintenance is just that— preventative—meaning you take action to replace a component before it fails, rather than being reactive and only fixing something after it’s broken.

Routine repair and service supplies, including oil and grease, can be difficult to obtain at times. Overall, though, it is still less expensive to shorten your maintenance intervals (the opposite from current practice of extended intervals) in order to extend the life of serviceable mechanical components. Current OEM recommended intervals are designed to keep the vehicle serviceable for a specific period of time, often referred to as the “B-life.” This duty cycle can be extended somewhat by performing service more often, although there’s a fine line between extending the life and just wasting supplies and money. To avoid crossing this fine line, oil analysis is available at reasonable costs. More than just a tool to tell you when a lubricating oil is worn out, when done as a regular part of routine maintenance, oil analysis is an excellent predictive tool for hidden failures such as internal engine components.

DEF TIPS

Especially important for owners of diesel-powered vehicles is maintaining the quality of your DEF.

It has a short shelf life, it crystallizes quickly, and can cause severe damage to the after-treatment systems on modern diesel engines. Keep your filler neck clean, use on highquality fluid and avoid storing it in sunlight as the UV light accelerates degradation. Keeping the DEF tank on your trucks topped off helps reduce condensation contamination which will reduce the number of false DEF quality faults. When servicing your trucks don’t forget to change the DEF filter as recommended by the manufacturer.

WATCH YOUR RIGGING

Preventative maintenance extends far beyond taking care of your truck chassis and tow body. Winch lines, chains, straps, snatch blocks and other tools also need regular service. When straps and other supplies were easily available and relatively inexpensive, owners tended to overlook driver-inflicted damage to chains and straps as a cost of doing business. While it is a cost of doing business, it still must be controlled. Now is the time to conduct some reinforcement training on proper use and care of straps, chains, binders, ratchets and other wear items. One of the most common abuses is using a J-hook as a snatch block on carriers to change the direction of pull, while sliding a car in-line to winch onto

IMPORTANCE OF PRE-TRIP INSPECTIONS

Towers are often in a hurry, but we still can’t skip critically import ant actions such as pre-trip and mid-trip inspections. They must be conducted both at the start of your shift and each time you switch equipment throughout the day. This includes inspecting the vehicles you hook up to tow, as they can cause just as much damage should something fail while on the hook. Someone’s life could depend on it! Inspect all of your tow truck’s critical systems such as lighting, brakes, suspension, tires, cargo securement, wipers, heater/defroster, exhaust, chassis/frame and mirrors. Any critical defects must be cor rected before placing the vehicle in service for the day, even if a call or two is waiting.

Throughout the day, such as when you stop and get out of the vehicle, take a quick walk around and check your tires, lights and overall condi tion of the vehicle and your load. A quick glance underneath can help you spot trouble such as leaking flu ids or loose parts. In addition, at the end of the day, do a complete post-trip inspection, including documentation of the vehicle’s condition. This procedure will not only help you identify any defects, but also have them cor rected before the truck is needed again, saving yourself or the next operator some precious time.

A pre-trip inspection by the driver would have noticed this wheel seal leaking long before it led to the failure of the wheel bearing and near loss of the hub assembly from the truck while in mo tion. It could have been easily prevented, reducing the need for a road call, spindle rebuild and expensive downtime.

the deck. Towers, please use your snatch block! It is safer and will prevent damage to the wire rope.

Also, drivers should be aware of rub points that will cut or fray a strap, how and when to use padding or edge protectors or softeners, and how important it is to keep your securement devices tight.

As a practical point, tow managers should stock up on the basic consumables as often as possible in order to prevent a truck from being put out of service simply because it doesn’t have the proper tie-down equipment. You simply can’t rely on running down to the local rigging supply shop or overnight delivery from your favorite distributor currently.

Tow tip: build up at least three to six months of your normal consumable parts and supplies. Or even longer if you have the space and budget, to allow you to ride out the supply chain disruption without overpaying for urgently needed parts.

MISCELLANEOUS MECHANICALS

With the global disruption, even parts like brake pads, tires and belts are in short supply. Stock a few of these types of parts as well for the key trucks in your fleet, so the parts are available as needed. Maybe even stock some extra if you perform mobile fleet service so you can be there for your customers. Remember, your customers are facing the same pressures you are, and anything you can do to better serve them will set you apart from your competitors.

Used items are always an option for major components. Even the major fleets will cannibalize older, out of service, trucks for spare parts. When selecting used parts it is important to inspect them thoroughly for damage and wear. No sense in replacing a defective part on your truck with another that is just about to fail. While new or professionally remanufactured is preferred, sometimes you have to do what you have to do to keep your fleet on the road. Overall, doing preventative maintenance is always cheaper than extensive repairs.

Editor’s note: For more detail on keeping older trucks in service, be sure to check out Brian Riker’s seminar being held at our upcoming AT Expo in Baltimore.

Tree-BounD Recovering a Concrete Pumper From a Thick Forest

Several trees trapped the pumper, and had to be removed before righting the rig.

Truck

By Steve Temple

When somebody says, “Well, we’re not out of the woods yet,” that’s not a good thing. This expression applied to an accident in August of 2022, on SR 71 southbound, at mile-mark er 120, north of Columbus, Ohio. For un known reasons, a concrete pumper truck left the roadway while traveling at about 65 mph, per witness accounts. It went through the guard rail and flipped on its side, land ing at the bottom of a hill in a densely wood ed area. Tragically, the driver, who had been ejected from the cab when it struck a pole, did not survive the crash, and his body was removed by first responders.

A four-point pick attached to D-rings allowed the crane to hoist the pumper back on the roadway.

The concrete pumper went through the guardrail, it landed at the bottom of a hill about 150 feet away, well out of sight from the roadway.

Eastland Crane & Towing was called by the Ohio State Patrol to the scene to recover the stricken truck, which required considerable effort just to locate, and just about the most difficult aspect of the job.

“It was about 150 feet from the roadway,” recalled Eastland’s Craig Marshall. “We couldn’t even see it, and had to rappel down there.”

A commercial cleanup crew from Eastland was called in to clear the scene. It took three chain saws and a pole saw to cut out several trees trapping the truck.

“We first removed trees off the truck, to be able to upright it with the 150-ton crane,” noted Craig. Fortunately there was a flat area nearby to set the chassis on, but the front axle was broken. So the driveshaft was pulled out, and

RECOVERY PERSONNEL

Bob Marshall

Craig Marshall Kevin Marshall Wayne Conley

Todd Hedderick

Richard Good Randy Riley

the brakes caged in the rear to allow the wheels to turn for less resistance.

At this point, the crane kept the truck upright so it could be winched up the hill by two other wreckers, using a three-part line with two snatch blocks. One of the wreckers served as a “deadman,” providing extra stability for this “tug o’ war” with the disabled

truck. There was so much resistance from the 70,000-pound pumper that it took the weight of two trucks to overcome it and still remain in place.

“Then we winched it halfway up the hill,” Craig said. From there, Eastland’s operators crew hooked up the crane with a four-point pick attaching to big D-rings, in order to lift the casualty over the guardrail, and then back onto the road.

The pumper was then towed back to Eastland’s storage facility after about a six-hour recovery job, once the crew was safely out of the woods.

RESPONDING EQUIPMENT

2011 T800 Kenworth

Model 5230 Century, 30 ton

1981 KW/Holmes 1801, 45 ton

1998 GMK 5130 150-ton crane

It took a couple of wreckers to winch the pumper halfway up the hill.

DECADES OF EXPERIENCE

Overcoming the difficulties involved in this recovery, fortunately Eastland Crane & Tow ing has many years of experience. Bob Mar shall founded the company back in 1973. He started out with a couple of wreckers and a service truck, which he operated out of a Shell Gas Station. Over the last 49 years, the oper ation has grown substantially, now including 17 different sizes of cranes, from 14-ton to 150-ton rigs. The firm also runs 20 various wreckers and service trucks. Now 80 years young, Bob is still very active in the everyday operation of the towing and crane business. “He really loves towing, something you’ve got in your heart,” Craig shared.

Tips on Assisting and Towing EVs

Getting the Juice on Electric Vehicles

By Dennis McGowan

By 2025, as estimated 18 million EVs will be on the road in the United States, and by 2040, possibly 58 percent of global passenger vehicle sales will come from EVs, according to Bloomberg New Energy Finance. If that all comes to pass (assuming the electrical grid has enough charging capacity), about one-third of all the cars on the road will be EVs.

More recently, we’ve seen an increase in electronic parking brakes and other electronic overrides, increasing the need for special equipment like dollies and skates. Today, EVs are the next step in the evolution of the towing industry.

Providing towing and roadside assistance services for EVs is not more complex than traditional gas-powered vehicles, but EVs do have a slightly different set of procedures. As vehicles evolve, so must towing and roadside assistance techniques.

A second-generation tower, Dennis McGowan, has 15+ years of roadside experience. Currently is HONK Technol ogies Senior Manager of Dis patch Operations, focused on streamlining how HONK relays information to towing and roadside assistant pro fessionals. Dennis is also a WreckMaster Level 4/5 certi fied operator and the co-host of the Get Hooked Podcast.

So what does this automotive sea-change mean for the towing and roadside-assistance industry? First, it must prepare now to support these new types of vehicles.

For details on this subject, HONK, which manages a number of roadside assistance programs, recently spoke with Chris Young from Parkway Consulting. He’s a 20year veteran of the towing industry, and a top-rated Towing & Roadside Resource Developer, Trainer, and OEM Automotive Industry Consultant. As a guest on the podcast “Get Hooked,” Chris provided towing and roadside tips for servicing EVs, ways to use tie-downs, where to find manufacturers' towing recommendations, the value of training, and most important, how to protect towers from safety hazards and unwarranted damage claims.

NEW METHODS

Over the years, towing procedures have changed for new types of vehicles. In the 1980s and 90s, tow operators had to learn about handling new unibody frames. The reduction in metals and increase in plastics forced the industry to adapt.

For instance, sling-towing cars was no longer the appropriate method for most new vehicles. Then in the 2000s, we saw a massive shift to 4x4 and AWD vehicles, increasing the need for rollbacks.

WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT EVS

Despite all the technology advancements of EVs, these vehicles are still subject to breakdowns on the side of the road, just like gas-powered vehicles. Some of the more common breakdowns include flat tires, running out of battery charge, central processing unit (CPU) or software failures, and brake-related issues.

Towers need to educate themselves on a few specific ways to handle EVs, since these methods are different than the way one handles traditional gas-powered vehicles.

NEUTRAL POSITION?

EVs, like many new vehicles on the road today, have no mechanical parkrelease option since their transmissions are controlled electronically. Therefore, operators must know the different types of overrides for finding neutral to safely prep a vehicle for loading onto a carrier.

Some EVs may require you to charge the 12-volt battery (which is different from the drive battery—more on that later) to place the vehicle in neutral. In addition, some EVs have a “tow mode” option, which releases the parking mechanisms automatically to move and position for towing safely.

As an example, Tesla vehicles have a

“transport mode” that limits the speed output to prevent misuse or accidents, and disables the smart air suspension. In addition, it restricts the battery drain, so the vehicle has a charge when unloaded.

Some OEMs do not want their vehicles to be jumped in the field, forcing you to skate the vehicle on. Therefore, we recommend the tower refer to the owner’s manual for the specific year, make, and model vehicle before attempting to prep the vehicle for tow or transport.

GETTING ATTACHED FOR LOADING

Manufacturers recommend that all EVs be towed on a rollback or moved on dollies, to avoid potentially catastrophic damage to the vehicle. In addition, towers need to limit the wheels from spinning since that spin generates power for the EV battery.

When towers begin to load EVs

on their rollbacks, it’s essential to know the available connection points, as this could be different for each manufacturer. Knowing the correct connection points on EVs also prevents potential frame-rail damage.

Following the manufacturer's recommendations to load and unload EVs is vital. We recommend using the tow eyelet solely to load the EV. The tow eyelet should not be used for securing the vehicle during transport. Instead, tow operators should deploy a minimum of fourpoint (and preferably an eight-point) tie-down for all vehicles. Again, the owner's manual is the best resource for information on the specific vehicle you are servicing.

Another excellent tip for tow operators is how to protect themselves from unwarranted EV damage claims, since they can become very expensive. As with all towing and roadside jobs performed, it’s essential to take

photos to document everything that towers are doing with these vehicles in order to prove no damage was caused during the service. So take pictures and videos of EVs as well, just like on any other service. These photos include arrival at the scene while loading and securing it

CHECK THEM OUT

Each week, towers should take the time to browse EV owner’s manuals or reference guides online. Here’s a great starting list of EVs to look up:

Tesla Models S/Y/X/3

Hyundai Ioniq 5

Kia EV6

Kia Nira EV

Ford Mach-E

Nissan Leaf

BMW i4/i7/iX

Mercedes Benz EQS

Chevrolet Bolt

Volkswagen ID.4

for transport, unloading it, and then once it’s placed/parked at the repair facility, car dealership, or customer’s home. Lastly, be sure to organize and catalog these photos so they’re easily accessible should a claim arise.

TRAINING TIME

While most of today's industry training focuses on accident-scene recovery and fire hazards related to EVs, there is still little training for roadside breakdowns. In addition, different procedures can be confusing

for towers. Until more comprehensive training becomes available, operators should consult the Owner’s Manual before performing any service on an EV.

Note in particular how most EVs have two batteries. They are typically 12-volt and 400-volt lithium-ion batteries. So it’s essential to know where these batteries are located.

On a Tesla, for instance, the 400-volt battery is situated toward the driver’s side. So if the tire needs to be changed, towers must be aware of the correct

lifting points on each EV.

RECOVERY CAUTIONS

If an EV has been involved in an accident, has extensive body damage, or appears to have white smoke coming from anywhere in the vehicle or battery compartment, it’s strongly urged to call the fire department as a fire could develop on the EV.

Most EV manufacturers have first responder hotlines and training information at the ready, and this information is free. For example, Tesla has a First Responders website at tesla.com/firstresponders with many downloadable PDFs on all of their EV models and diagrams of how to tow a Tesla properly.

In addition, Towspec provides a variety of information directly from its website. Included are recommended towing methods, instructions, tow limits, tie-down points, and jacking locations for all vehicles, not just EVs. Additionally, towing companies can visit towspec.com to print or email instructions.

LEARNING CURVE

Buying an EV is a significant financial investment for a consumer, so tow operators must take the time to learn all the new procedures and be aware of potential issues that could arise while providing towing and roadside assistance services. All towers must know the basics when handling EVs and apply the correct techniques.

Towers should also consider taking training courses that deliver critical knowledge, skills, and abilities to safely interact with hybrid and electric vehicles at an operational level. Available training sources in the towing and roadside industry include WreckMaster, ERSCA, and most states’ towing associations offer various training and certification programs.

Dennis McGowan HONK Technologies, Sr. Manager, Network Supply Operations

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 Interna tional Towing & Recovery Hall of Fame and recipient of the Dave Jones Leadership Award. Email Randy at rre schran@gmail.com.

No Seatbelts for Recoveries

When Not to Use a Safety Belt

By Randall C. Resch

Afour-door Mitsubishi had vaulted beyond the shoulder’s guardrail. For the wrecker operator, this job was an easy pick that created no inconvenience to rush-hour traffic. With his rotator’s outriggers spread and the boom’s end pushed beyond the guardrail’s edge, the operator hooked into the crumpled Mitsubishi’s passenger-side front seatbelt to conduct a lift. When the winch-in was initiated, the Mitsubishi dangled awkwardly nose-down, yet was lifted sufficiently high enough to clear the rail. But this setup was a recipe for disaster.

Rotators are typically equipped with a plethora of chain, straps and recovery equipment. The industry teaches extensive training that doesn’t include lifting by seatbelts, but in this case, the 4000-pound Mitsubishi was awkwardly suspended by a single seatbelt. No other equipment or safety precautions were inplace.

At the moment of lift and swing, the car jerked violently, but fortunately didn’t detach—although it did create a level of shock-load. While this recovery was quick and easy, was the technique proper, based on the industry’s Standard of Care? Is this what towers are supposed to do?

Dangling a car from its seatbelt demonstrates a potentially deadly disregard that sidesteps on-scene safety.

In another scenario, a new heavy operator, without direction, hooked into a seatbelt during a training class. As he initiated his action, two participants aggressively stopped his action, telling him just how dangerous the practice was. The operator’s flippant reply: “Don’t worry about it,” he insisted. “I’ve lifted this way a bunch of times.” Maybe so, but not in this class!

The operator became indignant when fellow towers challenged his technique, claiming, “I’ve got 15 years’ experience working lightduty.” Because he recently completed heavy training elsewhere, he claimed he was, “Heavy Certified.” His self-

denial and conceit demonstrated that his inflated ego was far bigger than his professional awarenesses. By the end of the training class, his mentality remained completely unchanged. He wasn’t convinced of the dangers.

WHAT EXPERTS SAY

A demonstration video produced by Minnesota’s Department of Public Safety showed a heavy wrecker lifting a crashed car by its driver’s-side seatbelt. The video was produced as a public safety message intended to encourage motorists to use seatbelts. Its message wasn’t recovery training, and wasn’t about lifting cars by onboard seatbelts.

◀

Using seatbelts for recovery is a sloppy, lazy and dangerous practice.

This topic is sure to ruffle feathers for the simple fact that towers don’t agree on techniques. Not using seatbelts for recovery should be a nobrainer since they are “vehicle safety devices,” designed with one purpose only: to secure drivers and occupants from harmful movement or ejection in the event of an impact or a violent rollover.

If you Google the word “seatbelt” you’ll find numerous definitions describing what seatbelts are, and how they contribute to saving lives. Do seatbelts save all lives? Not always, but that’s not the focus of this narrative.

Our basic point is that seatbelts aren’t for recovery. Of all the references for seatbelts listed, not a single one validates that seatbelts can be used for recovery. When it comes to operator professionalism, competency and on-scene safety, using seatbelts for recovery is a ◀

Seatbelts are typically mounted to a vehicle’s floor, and years of rust, salt or previous damage can assuredly cause lifted loads to rip loose and detach.

sloppy, lazy and dangerous practice. So, why do operators take that risk? Convenience and the “cool-factor” seem to override a proper Standard of Care.

READ THE BOOK

There’s no reference that even remotely suggests that it’s okay to use seatbelts for recovery. For example, the operator’s manual for Ford’s newest F-250 pickup has approximately 663 pages dedicated to the truck’s operations. And there’s not a single sentence about using seatbelts for anything other than driver and passenger safety. Seatbelts serve only one purpose, and shouldn’t be used for anything other than motorist restraint. And this fact is true of all vehicles.

While some industry instructors might feel otherwise if a Quick Clear is necessary, let’s break down the operational merits of this approach. The case for not using seatbelts is simple, even if an operator incorrectly claims the following:

“SEATBELTS ARE CONVENIENT!”

“Convenient” is a substitute word for the lazy factor in selecting proper tools or equipment items. Because rated lifting straps and chain are the norm, there’s no reason to use seatbelts that are neither intended nor designed for lift and recovery.

“ IT’S OKAY TO USE THEM!”

By whose standards is it “okay” to lift by seatbelts? There’s no official sanction, written protocol, or vehicle manufacturer to openly state their vehicle’s seatbelts are for the specific purpose of lifting or recovering vehicles. So it’s never safe to consider it, “okay”. Also, what might happen after the fact if seatbelts and retractors used in a recovery are sold for installation into another vehicle?

“USE SEATBELTS WHEN SPEED OF RECOVERY IS NECESSARY!”

While skilled tow operators have plenty of recovery techniques up

their sleeves, ”Quick Clear” should never be a justification to conduct dangerous and unacceptable techniques that risk bodily injury or death. Some towers may argue ◀

that seatbelts are of similar webbed fabric and design used in tow-straps and V-bridles. While that may be somewhat true, it’s the safety factors behind the seatbelt mounts that are highly problematic. Considering that seatbelts are typically mounted to a vehicle’s floor, years of rust, salt or previous damage can assuredly cause

lifted loads to rip loose and detach.

LEARNING BAD HABITS

Think of newbie towers who search the web to selfeducate, or, perhaps their employer is too cheap to invest in formal training. When unsafe practices and videos are posted on Facebook, industry forums or websites, dangerous habits are quickly formed. When newbie towers follow that lead, it’s a dangerous seed to sow.

Towers are reminded that proper techniques are a requirement of safe operating practices. Dangling a car from its seatbelt demonstrates a potentially deadly disregard that sidesteps on-scene safety.

While we’d all to like to think the towing industry has made strides in its level of professionalism, taking unnecessary risks is far from working safely and professionally. For newbie towers, seeing old salts work recoveries in this manner suggests that younger, less experienced towers will likely imitate them, ignoring potential danger.

Why not err on the side of safety? Why not work smart and use proper attachment equipment and acceptable techniques common to lift recovery? Towers should never roll the dice by attempting a dangerous and unpredictable lift.

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October 2022

Environmental Chem. Solutions

STEVE WALLACE

Owner, Auto Medic Towing and Repair Fruitland, Maryland

Safety and Consideration Are His Watchwords

By Charles Duke

American Towman Maga zine Senior Editor Charles Duke has written and served as editor for trade, music and nonprofit publications. He also serves as the editor for AT’s online sister publica tions Tow Industry Week and Tow Industry Today.

When talking with Steve Wallace, owner of Auto Medic Towing and Repair in Fruitland, Maryland, one is taken in right away by his easygoing and relaxed manner. But there’s a lot more depth to him as we’ll point out, but first a bit about his tow operation. He’s has been towing for close to 30 years, having been at it since his early twenties. His business got a unique name from a combination of his wife and business partner Nancy’s former profession, plus his chosen line of work.

“My wife was an ex-paramedic/EMT,” Wallace explained. “And me being an auto mechanic, we just kind of came up with a name, ‘Auto Medic,’ because you hear all about car doctors and everything like that. Auto Medic was kind of catchy and caught on.”

It wasn’t his first approach, though. At one point Wallace was going to start his business working on boats. He bought a trailer and placed a toolbox and an air compressor in it,

and worked at marinas and yacht clubs. He even came up with a name for the business, “The Water Wrench.”

But towing and car repair was in his bloodstream, and Wallace opened Auto Medic Towing and Repair in 1995. The company’s operators handle light- and medium-duty towing, but they, “…don’t get anything too heavy,” he notes. “There are a couple of heavy-duty companies around here and they pretty much have that all locked up, so I really didn’t see any sense in getting into that.”

Wallace and his crew specialize in towing motorcycles, along with exotic cars, vintage cars and hot rods. Auto Medic boasts of a fleet size of ten vehicles. They include a medium-duty, three rollbacks, two lightduties, and a “quick-pick.”

Wallace employs four full-time drivers and a few part-time. Son Steve, Jr. was recently brought into the business about three years ago and works both sides, towing and repair. In addition to consensual towing, they tow for police, insurance companies, motorcycle shops, body shops and fleets.

“We do road service to a point,” Wallace stated. “I won’t change flat tires on the highway.” He said that was challenging in working with motor clubs, so instead, “I’ll load it up and I’ll take it to a safe location.”

Wallace maintains that one of the biggest challenges he’s facing is the costs of fuel and insurance.

“My insurance is going up 25 percent this year. People think the tow companies are trying to rip them off; and they’re not,” he said.

Commenting on tow operators’ significant challenges, “Your fuel prices went up, your insurance went up, so you have to raise your price to even stay competitive. It’s the same for everybody. The cost of trucks right now is through the roof.”

He added it’s just as hard with the auto repair end of his business, as the supply-chain slowdown has made it hard to get parts.

“For example, a one- or two-day job may now take a week or more, and it’s mainly because the vehicle is sitting out there waiting for parts,” Wallace said. “You have to explain that to your customer. Some are understanding, and some aren’t.”

Wallace stated that his business is 25 percent towing and 75 percent repair. He mentioned that before Covid, towing accounted for as much as 40 percent. He surmised that the pandemic actually made the business grow, due to the government stimulus money. It allowed customers to make repairs they couldn’t afford in the past, and getting them fixed instead of trading them in. Customers out of work or working from home had time to bring the vehicle in.

One issue that Wallace has with working the white line today concerns excessive lighting. He feels

that it could have a negative impact regarding towmen being struck and killed, especially at night and on highways.

“I think the reason behind having them is, ‘OK, if I have all these lights, then people are going to see me, and they’re not going to hit me.’ But again, that could be a Catch-22, because you have all these lights; and you’re on the road blinding people when they come up to you making the matter worse,” he said.

If you get the impression that safety is top of mind with Wallace, you’re spot-on. He and his company hosted a Spirit Ride ceremony back in October 2017 as a part of the campaign to bring awareness to the Slow Down/Move Over law in Maryland. It was the proliferation of towmen being struck on the road that motivated him to do it.

“I actually got tired of hearing about the ‘towers down’,” Wallace said. “I called my local TV station one time, and they sent reporters to cover our event. We did some interviews; then we went out on the road and the TV stations actually filmed where some drivers didn’t slow down.” What was the result?

“All of the tow companies I contacted were willing to be ◀

involved,” Wallace recalled. He was able to get a decent location, with tow companies, fire engines, police, and DOT trucks out there.

“I wanted to do it at one of the high schools where people taking driver’s education to get their license,” he continued. “I believe Slow Down/

Move Over is something that should be taught. I’m not aware if they teach that in Driver’s Ed or not.” Wallace added that if they’re teaching students to stop or move over for school buses, then the Slow Down/ Move Over law is should also be included.

GOOD-HEARTED GESTURES

Wallace said that what moti vates him to keep going as a towman is the ability and the opportunities to help people.

He said that that he will go out of his way to help some one if he feels they need it. He recounted one such instance during his career as a towman.

Wallace’s ceremony was held at WinterPlace Park & Equestrian Center in Salisbury.

“I was honored to do it, and I really hope it got the message out there.”

“I towed a vehicle in one time for the sheriff’s department that had bad tags,” Wallace recalled. “I found out the guy worked at Walmart. The reg istration had expired on his truck. After we towed in his truck, I found out he was riding a girl’s bicycle every day twelve miles to work.”

Sometimes the bike would get a flat tire, and he’d end up walking the bike to work. He didn’t have insurance, and his family was living in a house with no electricity. His wife was diabetic, and she had to go down to Norfolk, Virginia, and move in with parents so her insulin could stay refrigerated. “He came up to the office and we talked,” Wallace related. “I found out he was a Navy vet, and I felt bad about that.” Wallace ended up buying him a larger bike, a helmet, a lock for the bike—all sorts of stuff. He brought the items to Walmart and towed his truck back to his house for free.

“I squashed the bill because I felt bad for his situation,” he added. “You’ve got some people who are really going through hard times, and it’s nothing of their own doing.”

Auto Medic and Repair hosted the American Towman Spirit Ride in October 2017.

BOOMS IN THE SKY!

Masters of Chaos are feted at the world’s largest tow show inside the Baltimore Convention Center with equipment and services essential to operating their towing & recovery businesses. Tow bosses will engage with the men and women who make the wreckers as well as those who represent call providers that feed them business.

From dispatch systems to finance providers, the trip to the American Towman Exposition has been paying off for tow business owners since 1989.

The show floor also features free mini-clilnics on towing EVs and Luxury vehicles, conducted by Allstate Roadside and Urgently.

Wrecker/Carrier Manufacturers

Custom Built

Dual-Tech Wreckers & Carriers

Dynamic Tow. Equip. & Mfg.

Jerr-Dan Corp.

Metro Tow Trucks

Miller Industries (Century, Chevron, Holmes, Vulcan)

NRC Industries

Trailer Manufacturers

Kalyn Siebert

Landoll Corp.

Talbert Mfg.

Trail King Industries

Chassis Manufacturers

Hino Trucks

International Trucks

Exhibit Hall Hours

Thurs., November 17: 1 - 5pm

Fri., November 18: 11am - 5pm

Sat., November 19: 11am - 5pm

Motor Clubs/ Call Providers

AAA

Agero*

Allstate Roadside*

Copart Transportation

FleetNet America

GEICO*

Honk Technologies

IAA

Nation Safe Drivers (NSD)*

Peddle Roadside Protect

Questx Towing Services

Urgently

* ACE Award co-sponsor

SCHEDULE

OF EVENTS

WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 16 THURSDAY NOVEMBER 17

7 AM - 8 AM

REGISTRATION OPEN

WreckMaster/ERSCA

Participants Only Pratt Street Lobby, Baltimore Convention Center

8 AM - 5 PM

REGISTRATION OPEN

Pratt Street Lobby, Baltimore Convention Center

WRECKMASTER ROTATOR RECOVERY

TRAINING

Baltimore Convention Center

Raven’s Parking Lot

ERSCA QUICK CLEARANCE TRAINING

Baltimore Convention Center

Raven’s Parking Lot

7 AM - 8 AM

REGISTRATION OPEN

Carte Blanche Passport / Skeet Participants Only Pratt Street Lobby, Baltimore Convention Center

8 AM - 6 PM

REGISTRATION OPEN

Pratt Street Lobby, Baltimore Convention Center

8 AM - 12 PM

CARTE BLANCHE PASSPORT SEMINARS

Level 3 Meeting Rooms, Baltimore Convention Center

9 AM - 2 PM

TOWMAN HUNT

SKEET SHOOT

(Ticket Required)

Prince George Skeet & Trap Club

Transportation from Pratt St.Baltimore Convention

12 PM - 2 PM

DONNIE CRUSE RECOVERY AWARDS

LUNCHEON (Ticket Required)

Morton’s The Steakhouse Sponsored by WreckMaster, Zip's/AW Direct, B/A Products, American Towman

1 PM - 5 PM

EXHIBIT HALL OPEN!

EXHIBITS PREVIEW

Baltimore Convention Center

SAFETY & TECHNICAL INFORMATION SERIES

Baltimore Convention Center

Sponsored by Allstate Roadside

EV SAFETY CLINICS

Baltimore Convention Center

Sponsored by Urgently

AMERICAN WRECKER

PAGEANT OPEN

Baltimore Convention Center

Exhibit Hall AMERICAN WRECKER

PAGEANT VOTING

Baltimore Convention Center Exhibit Hall

Sponsored by All American Jerr-Dan

5 PM - 7 PM

CARTE BLANCHE

PASSPORT SEMINARS

Level 3 Meeting Rooms, Baltimore Convention Center

6:30 PM

WELCOME DINNER

CRUISE /THE SPIRIT OF BALTIMORE (Ticket Required)

Baltimore Inner Harbor

Boarding 6:30 pm, departs at 7:00 pm - returns 9:30 pm

5:30 PM

CEREMONY OF THE

EV SAFETY CLINICS

7 AM - 6 PM

REGISTRATION OPEN

Pratt Street Lobby, Baltimore Convention Center

8 AM - 12PM

CARTE BLANCHE

PASSPORT SEMINARS

Baltimore Convention Center

11 AM - 5 PM

EXHIBIT HALL OPEN!

SALUTE TO AMERICA

Baltimore Convention Center

11 AM - 5 PM

SAFETY & TECHNICAL INFORMATION SERIES

Baltimore Convention Center Sponsored by Allstate Roadside

EV SAFETY CLINICS

Baltimore Convention Center Sponsored by Urgently

11 AM - 5 PM

AMERICAN WRECKER

PAGEANT OPEN

Baltimore Convention Center Exhibit Hall

11 AM - 5 PM

AMERICAN WRECKER

PAGEANT VOTING

Baltimore Convention Center Exhibit Hall

Sponsored by All American Jerr-Dan

12 PM - 2 PM

CAPTAINS OF INDUSTRY LUNCHEON

Baltimore Convention Center

ORDER OF TOWMAN

Baltimore Convention Center Camden Lobby

7:30 PM

MILLER ROCKS!

BULL & PIG ROAST (Free)

HARD ROCK CAFE

Sponsored by Miller Industries & American Towman

9 PM

CALITRI’S CUBA CIGAR SMOKER (Ticket Required)

LUCKIE’S TAVERN

POWER PLANT LIVE Sponsored by American Towman

NOVEMBER 18 SUPER SATURDAY NOVEMBER 19

7 AM - 5 PM

REGISTRATION OPEN

Pratt Street Lobby, Baltimore Convention Center

8 AM - 11 AM

CARTE BLANCHE

PASSPORT SEMINARS

Level 3 Meeting Rooms, Baltimore Convention Center

11 AM - 5 PM

EXHIBIT HALL OPEN!

Baltimore Convention Center

GRANDE ENTR É E

“When the Saints Go Marching In”

SAFETY & TECHNICAL INFORMATION SERIES

Baltimore Convention Center

Sponsored by Allstate Roadside

Baltimore Convention Center

Sponsored by Urgently

11 AM - 3:30 PM

AMERICAN WRECKER

PAGEANT VOTING

Baltimore Convention Center Exhibit Hall

Sponsored by All American Jerr-Dan

11 AM - 5 PM

AMERICAN WRECKER

PAGEANT OPEN

Baltimore Convention Center

Exhibit Hall

2 PM

ACE AWARDS (Free)

Baltimore Convention Center

Sponsored by Allstate Roadside, GEICO, Nation Safe Drivers, Agero

3 PM

SATURDAY PIE (Free)

Baltimore Convention Center

Exhibit Hall

4 PM AMERICAN WRECKER

PAGEANT WINNER

CEREMONY (Free)

Baltimore Convention Center Band Stage in Food Court

7 PM FESTIVAL NIGHT

(Ticket Required)

Marriott Waterfront

Grand Ballroom

March of the Heroes, American Towman Medal

Sponsored by American Towman Magazine

Baltimore Convention Center | Baltimore, MD

TAKE A BREAK

IN BALTIMORE!

Baltimore’s Inner Harbor has been the towing industry’s home away from home since 1989.

The waterfront ambiance with shops, museums, pubs and restaurants has charmed tow professionals from all over the world. The close proxim ity to the Convention Center and hotels allow attendees to conveniently take in the events of the Exposition and the sites of the town.

Some American Towman events are right by the water, such as Miller Rocks (Bull & Pig Roast) at the Hard Rock Cafe and Calitri’s Cuba at the Power Plant and Luckies Tavern. Festival Night is at the Waterfront Marriott. Tow bosses can tour the Inner Harbor from the water during the Welcome Cruise Thursday evening, one of the Expo’s premier networking events.

November 16-19, 2022

Baltimore Convention Center | Baltimore, MD

EXHIBIT HIGHLIGHTS

5Star Specialty Programs

5Star provides an exclusive insurance program for independent AAA service providers. Save money and increase insurability by using 5Star.

AAA

The AAA Network of Savings provides superior value to our hardworking, everyday highway heroes.

Agero

12 million+ dispatches annually, Agero is largest provider of B2B driver assistance services in U.S., helping you grow your capa bilities so you can serve more customers.

All American Jerr-Dan

All American Jerr-Dan in New Jersey is one of the largest distributorships in the country selling wreckers and carriers.

Allstate Roadside

Fuels your business with dependable vol ume, easy payments and industry-lead ing vehicle information. Visit tow-provid ers.allstate.com to get started!

American Safety & Supply

Rechargeable LED Cap-Mounted Light

4 LED light-modes, 90° tilt, 2.5-hour run-time, water impact resistant. Clips to brim of a hat. Item #0015.

AmeriDeck

PowerDeck™

The small footprint, ground-level load ing, and 2,500lb load capacity of the AmeriDeck® PowerDeck™ makes it an ideal solution for motorcycle recovery.

Ascentium Capital

Ascentium specializes in flexible financ ing solutions for the tow industry with financing up to $2.5MM and terms to 84 months.

Atlanta Wrecker Sales

JD10 Freightliner Industrial Hauler

Jerr-Dan’s 28ft JD10 paired installed on a Freightliner M2 tandem is highly useful and very affordable.

EXHIBITOR ROSTER

360 Payments

360 Payment Solutions specializes in payment processing and merchant services.

5Star Specialty Programs

Insurance underwriter for tow companies

AAA

The AAA Network of Savings provides superior value to our hardworking highway heroes.

Access Tools

Undisputed leader in lockout tools.

Agero

America’s largest breakdown, accident, and vehicle transport services provider for insurance companies and automakers.

All American Jerr-Dan One of the largest Jerr-Dan distributorships in the country selling wreckers & carriers.

Alliance Funding Group Leader in the financing industry providing equipment financing, leasing, and working capital programs.

Allstate Roadside

Join the network that supports you with leading technology, network support and technical information.

American Safety & Supply

High-Visibility clothing and safety equipment.

American Towman Magazine

Leading publication serving the towing and recovery industry for over 46 years.

AmeriDeck Motorcycle loader and hauler.

Anchor Graphics

Existing to create customized tow signs, parking permits, hang tags for the towing industry!

ARI-Hetra

Heavy-duty vehicle maintenance to include mobile column lifts, wheel service products & exhaust systems.

Ascentium Capital

Specializes in flexible financing solutions up to $2.5mm. Request pre-approval today.

AT&T - The Wireless Experience

Connected dashboard cameras, GPS tracking, fleet management telematics, wireless phones, DIRECTV.

Atlanta Wrecker Sales

Jerr-Dan Towing & Recovery Equipment.

Austin Insurance

Specializing in the towing and repair industry, providing all insurance needs to our customers.

Auto Data Direct

DMV123 (real-time vehicle data), Direct Post-Office (certified mailing tools), NMVTIS Salvage vehicle reporting tools.

Autogod

Work Lights, Emergency Lights, Stickers, Pins, License plates.

Azuga, A Bridgestone Company

Azuga, A Bridgestone Companytelematics and camera system which works closely with Towbook.

B/A Products

Parts and accessories for the towing, fire rescue, and auto transport industries.

Bad Dog Tools

Since 1988, we’ve been making specialty and multi-purpose tools so good we guarantee ‘em for life!

Battelini Wrecker Sales

Distributor of NRC Industries, Dynamic, Trail-Eze trailers & Reitnouer trailers. Full sales, service & custom fabrication facility.

BBSI

One of the largest providers of business management solutions, for HR, payroll, workers’ comp, risk, and business strategy.

Beacon Funding Equipment financing options at competitive rates to towing businesses across the nation.

Brown & Brown Insurance

Captive and traditional insurance products for the towing and repair industries.

MILLER INDUSTRIES

NETWORKING & HOSPITALITY

and Tell

Networking and Legendary Hospitality go hand in hand at the American Towman Exposition. At Saturday Pie on the show floor, towers take a moment to celebrate with complimentary pie and coffee with fellow towers. Even before that opportunities abound on the exhibit floor, whether at an exhibit booth or the food court listening to the blue grass band.

Convention Center | Baltimore, MD

CALITRI’S CUBA

Baltimore has long been the towing industry’s mecca for networking. The super-networking events like Calitri’s Cuba and Miller Rocks (Bull & Pig Roast) are a gathering of tow bosses from all fifty states and twenty nations. Like Generals taking time off from the wars, they tell their battle stories over cigars and beer, pulled pork and roasted steer.

SUPER SATURDAY PIE

16-19,

Convention Center | Baltimore, MD

SEMINAR BREAKFASTS

Another great networking event is the American Towman Academy, where towers meet up in the breakfast corridor each morning, catch up with old friends, and make new ones. Breakfasts are comped to each Academy Passport participant.

Perhaps the most supercharged event for breaking bread with one’s peers is Festival Night where Mike Corbin performs the Towman Ballads.

EXHIBIT HIGHLIGHTS

B/A Products

Austin Insurance

Specialist in the towing and recovery industry. We provide our clients with the best coverage and most competitive rates possible.

EZ Wheel

B/A, innovator in towing solutions, introduces this lightweight, all in one solution to vehicles with locked, dam aged, or stolen wheels.

BBSI

We provide Payroll, Workers Comp, HR, Claim Management and Free training.

Chevron Commercial

Your one stop shop for Chevron and Vulcan car carriers, wreckers and parts. We are the eye candy of the industry!

Crouch’s Wrecker & Equipment Sales

Century

Your one stop shop full line Miller distribu tor servicing your equipment needs since 1989 with offices in Tennessee and Florida.

Custer Products

LIW-36STR-7R

Wireless 36” light bar with additional strobes! The 7-round transmitter and 12V charger are included. Safe and easy setup.

DewEze Mfg.

DewEze is your live hydraulics solution, backed by more than 20+ years in the wrecker industry.

DP Winch

8RPW,

&

Driverlocate.com

Peak Push

Series.

renowned design and quality as the heavy duty dp Winch, optimized for the light duty recovery market.

Talk Radios

Instant connectivity, nationwide coverage, no distance limitations. Groups, individu als, secure & encrypted. Record voice, SOS, GPS locations on PC Dispatch

EXHIBITOR ROSTER

Car-Part.com

Car-Part.com and Cart-PartPro.com creates software that provides auto recyclers with integrated end-to-end work flow.

CardConnect

A payment platform that helps thousands of organizations accept billions of dollars in credit card transaction each year.

Chevron Commercial Chevron and Vulcan car carriers, wreckers and transporters.

Chevron/WEX Business Fuel Card

Fuel your fleet anywhere with paperless receipts, purchase controls, and rebates at Chevron and Texaco.

Collins Dollies

Since 1972, Collins designs and manufactures products: Dollies, Under-body Boxes, Tunnel Boxes, & Push Bumpers.

Copart Trasnportation

Copart is the leading provider of online vehicle auctions and remarketing services around the world.

Crouch’s Wrecker & Equipment Sales

Your Tennessee & Florida Miller Distributor making Tow Truck dreams come true since 1989.

Curbside SOS

Curbside SOS brings real-time jobs in your area at rates you set. We put you back in control.

Custer Products

Custer Products manufactures & distributes the highest quality lite-it wireless, strobes, LED lights in the Towing Industry.

Custom Built MFG

Manufacturer of heavy wreckers and rotators 15-ton to 80-ton.

DewEze Mfg.

The DewEze hydraulic system provides the best solutions for mobile hydraulic power.

DOT Tie Down

Tow Straps, Towing Hardware, Ratchets & Cam Straps.

DRIVE

The largest coaching & training company in North America serving the tow, auto, collision & truck repair business owner.

Driverlocate.com

DriverLocate.com is a leading provider of GPS tracking and Dash Cams for the Tow industry since 2007.

Dual-Tech Wreckers & Carriers

Dual-Tech is a manufacturer of quality towing equipment-carriers and wreckers.

Dynamic Towing Equip. & Mfg. Designs, manufactures, & distributes self loading wreckers, carriers, slideins & rotating rollbacks domestically & internationally.

East Coast Truck & Trailer Sales

Full service Jerr-Dan & Cottrell dealer. Offering parts, service, and equipment sales at great prices.

East Penn Truck Equipment

Full line Miller Industries distributor featuring sales, service, parts and restorations.

EdgeTec/Hooks

Full line Miller Distributor offering parts, accessories, service and sales.

Emergency Road Service Coalition of America / ERSCA

National towing association created to facilitate and promote collaboration in the industry, with a focus on training and advocacy.

Energy Security Agency

Providing valuable information on how to hook up and disengage electric vehicles allowing for a successful and safe tow.

Environmental Chemical Solutions

We teach you how to get paid for what you already do – cleaning up spills at accident scenes.

Excel Sportswear

Custom designed imprinted & embroidered sportswear.

FCar Tech USA

Truck diagnostic scanner, A/C service machine and NOCO battery.

Federal Signal Federal Signal is a premier provider of tow truck warning lights and back-up safety products.

First Business Bank Bank financing for all your new & used truck acquisitions with rates as low as 5.99%.

Festival Night at the Marriott Waterfront

The Ceremonies At American Towman

On Festival Night the March of the Heroes and the bequeathing of the Towman Medal touch the hearts of all there. Towers have reported that Festival Night played nights after in their dreams.

At the Order of Towman ceremo ny (convention center) the sword plays the symbolic role

akin to knighting the towers sworn into the Towman Order, towers who have impressed police and fire chiefs with their dedication in serv ing their communities.

At the ACE Awards event a cere monial song unique to the towing industry is performed during the handing out of the 2022 Towman

ACE Buckles, awarded for service reliability.

On Super Saturday at the Grand Opening a marching band leads towers into the exhibit hall, a cere monial celebration of greatness.

At the Winners Ceremony of the American Wrecker Pageant, an ele gant model is on hand at the award ing of the legendary silver trophies. The spontaneous reaction of the winners is unceremoniously joyous.

The American Towman Exposi tion XXXIII is full of energy and surprises, while steeped in cer emony and tradition.

16-19, 2022 Baltimore Convention Center | Baltimore, MD

RECOVERY IS KING IN BALTIMORE

Recovery specialists young and old will find hardcore recovery events in Baltimore, November 16 – 19. All day Wednesday and Thursday morning, WreckMaster is conducting its exclusive AT Expo Rotator Recovery training at the convention center (classroom) and Ravens parking lot (hands-on). All day Wednesday, ERSCA is conducting its light-medium duty quick clearance training there as well.

James Bennett, Jr. will talk on the Great Texas Pileup and the tower’s role as incident commander at the Captains of Industry luncheon at the Convention Center. He is also conducting a full seminar on that same topic.

The business side of recovery will be addressed, drilling down on everything you need to know about getting paid. Bob Foquette and Recovery Billing are conducting a ten-hour course on Friday and Saturday that will have you mastering challenges by insurance companies, and encouraging invoices that reflect the true value of recovery service performed. The Recovery Billing Course has been given high marks by recovery professionals across the country, spanning two decades.

Ron Meyers and John Borowski team up once again to present Recovery Business Success on Thursday morning, a three-hour course that covers the essentials of documenting the recovery, itemizing the bill, and collecting from businesses and insurance companies. Thursday at noon, recovery specialists will learn from the critiques of the Donnies: the winning recoveries at the Recovery Luncheon and Donnie Cruse Memorial Awards.

On the show floor the best of recovery vehicles can be found at manufacturer’s booths as well as distributors’ displays.

The American Towman Exposition is a mecca for tow bosses seriously into recovery work.

EXHIBIT HIGHLIGHTS

Dual-Tech Wreckers & Carriers

Dual-Tech manufactures dependable, high-quality, low maintenace towing and recovery equipment; backed by an outstanding customer support team.

Dynamic Towing Equipment & Mfg.

The Python has a reach of 82”, 25˚ of power/neg tilt 8,000 lb tow rating. Cus tomers asked for a unit that lifts faster, higher & provides better weight transfer.

Environmental Chemical Solutions

Gold Crew TC

EPA-NCP listed 50 years strong. Re moves oils and suppresses Voc’s, speeds biodegradation.

FCar Tech USA

The FCAR TECH offers excellent truck scanners, shop equipment and Auto AC recovery machines for towing industry.

First Business Bank

First Business Specialty Finance is an ex perienced lender specializing in providing competitive equipment finance solutions to the towing & recovery industry.

FirstNet, Built with AT&T

Wireless for First Repsonders

Come by booth 3115 to see if you can benefit from FirstNet, Built with AT&T.

GEICO

Come see how you can join the elite in providing exceptional customer service to GEICO’s 19 million policies and 24.4 million vehicles.

Guniwheel

Universal Lug Pattern Wheels & Hubs

Original and patented complete line of universal lug pattern wheels and hubs for stolen or damaged tires & wheels. Easy damage-free towing solution!

Hale Trailer Brake & Wheel

The largest independent trailer dealer ship in North America, Hale Trailer offers trailer sales and rentals, as well as parts and service.

AT ACADEMY

BUSINESS OPERATIONS CONFERENCE

Risk Management and On-Scene Safety - Co-Teach with Brian Riker

The industry has lost fo cus on what techniques are advantageous to tow operator safety. For tow business owners, focusing on on-scene safety is far more important than learning how-to operate new wreckers, carriers and rotators. This seminar brings focus to best practices necessary for safety operations on all calls including in dustrial scenarios, driving operations, choosing the right tool for the job and complete on-scene awareness. Con sider this a one-hour survival course for professional tow operators typical ly not covered in big box training. Randall Resch, American Towman. Thursday, Nov. 17, 11 am

Putting a Handle on the Real Profit Cen ter of your Business

How to operate and maintain your office and getting the people answering your phones to maximize profitability. Your dis patch is the first thing given to the cus tomer to evaluate their needs. John Borowski, AutoReturn. Friday, Nov. 18, 11 am

Maintaining Aging Equipment

This seminar will pres ent some challenges faced with older equip ment and solutions to help the tow boss keep their older equipment on the road and in good working order longer. A must attend for those that can’t get, or don’t want, a brand new truck in today’s market.

Brian Riker, American Towman. Saturday, Nov. 19, 10 am

Maintaining a Clean Compliant

VSF (Vehicle Storage Facility)

Your facility needs to be in compliance with stormwater and haz ardous waste laws. With simple “good housekeeping” practices you can es tablish a Spill Prevention Containment and Cleanup Plan (SPCC). Jim Figueira & Ed Grubbs, Environmental Chemical Solutions. Saturday, Nov. 19, 10 am

Benefits of Using High Quality DEF

The quality of the Die sel Exhaust Fluid (DEF) going into your trucks is as important as the quality of the engine oils or fuels used in them. This session will help you better understand what to look for when purchasing and han dling DEF in your facility. This includes the importance of using quality DEF, how to preserve the quality of your DEF for maximum shelf life, correct storage, handling processes in the shop and on the road, and more.

Jeffrey Harmening, American Petroleum Institute, Thursday, Nov. 17, 9 am

Proper Engine Oil Storage and Handling

With the growing num ber of engine oil vis cosities that can be used in diesel engines, shops need to prop erly accommodate numerous oils. Proper storage and handling of oil in bulk tanks, drums and bottles is very important. This session will provide a look at API engine oil specifications, tips for managing storage of engine oils in shops, proper dispensing of oils to avoid misapplication of viscosities, how to avoid oil contamination and more.

Jeffrey Harmening, American Petroleum Institute, Saturday, Nov. 19, 8 am

THE BUSINESS OF TOWING & RECOVERY CONFERENCE

The Business & Economics of Owning a Rotator

Thinking about getting a rotator? Many tow companies are enjoying the benefits and added business that a rotator brings to their bottom line. Is it the right investment for you? This two-hour seminar tells you everything you need to know.

Bob Fouquette, Big Wheel Towing. Thursday, Nov. 17, 5-7 pm

When Does A Tower Need A CDL?

Join 30 year veteran tower and CDL in structor, Brian Riker, as he explores when a tower requires a com mercial drivers license. Although there is a limited emergency exception to some CDL regulations you will be sur prised how often a tower actually re quires a CDL and what seemingly in significant differences can trigger the CDL requirements. A must attend for owners and drivers alike, especially in today’s lawsuit happy world.

Brian Riker, American Towman. Thursday, Nov. 17, 10 am

Training for Towing & Recovery of Alternative Fuel Vehicles (AFV) (2Hrs)

Attendees will be in troduced to the theory of towing and recovery for AFV's. The emphasis will be to train operators already trained for towing and recovery to understand the differ ent sources of fuel and power and how to handle, recover, tow and store AFV's safely. Certificated class.

John Borowski, AutoReturn. Friday, Nov. 18, 8-10 am

SEMINARS

The Latest Tech Trends for Managing your Towing or Roadside Business

Learn about what on line applications are available for Towing/ Roadside Business management: Tow ing Management Software, Motor Club Digital Dispatching, Private Property Impound, Impound Lien/notification processing, Auctions, Payment Pro cessing, GPS, etc. Learn the value and benefits of a SaaS solution, On prem installations, and everything in-be tween. Should you choose different vendors or go with a single vendor that offers solutions for all your needs? Should you sign-up for Out-of-Net work (OON) jobs? And what roll does technology play in OON?

Todd Althouse, Traxero Friday, Nov. 18, 8 am

Building a Culture of Success, The Uncomfortable Truths

The values of a success ful towing company:

Selecting the best new hire for today's growing tow business.

Casey Burrows & Bear Godfrey, WreckMaster.

Friday, Nov. 18, 10 am

Strategies for Building Your Future Tow Business

Fact: All successful tow companies and their owners have one thing in-common; they all started from meager beginnings. Tow company success doesn’t happen overnight, yet, there’s a progression of considerations that help navigate a path to success and survival necessary to enduring an extremely competi tive and cutthroat industry. Because there’s no single book or source spe cific to the tow and recovery industry, this seminar is directed at currently active businesses as well as start-up companies.

Randall Resch, American Towman. Friday, Nov. 18, 11 am

Tips and Tricks Of Air Cushion Revenue

Discussion and ques tions regarding how to make money over a wide range of airbag uses from uprights to underwater.

John Sweezy Jr, Matt Bartlett & Jeff Martin, Matjack Jumbo Safelift. Saturday, Nov. 19, 10 am

BUILDING REVENUE CONFERENCE

Finding Qualified

Drivers & Mechanics in 2022

We all know that hiring new drivers and me chanics is becoming increasingly difficult.

During this seminar, Daniel Ostrov and David Ostrov from Whiterail Recruits will detail how to find new employ ees faster, smarter and better—within weeks, not months!

Daniel Ostrov, Whiterail Recruits, Saturday, Nov. 19, 9 am

Accident Remedia tion, Making money and getting paid for supplying environ mental services

Making money and get ting paid for supplying environmental services. Learn the is sues and responsibilities relating to the required cleanup of the vehicle operating fluids released at a traffic collision. We discuss insurance liability, proper billing techniques, proper dis posal and handling. We also address TSA’s, legislation and Billing Support. Jim Figueira & Ed Grubbs, Environmental Chemical Solutions. Friday, Nov. 18, 9 am

Grow Your Towing Business Online

Learn strategies on how to improve your presence online from the team at OMG Tow Marketing.  Jared Fischgrund & Chris Blake, OMG Tow Marketing.

Friday, Nov. 18, 9 am

The Insider's Guide for Staying On Top of Google Searches

Understand powerful ways to lift your online rank throughout your service area in search, maps, reviews, ads, & social media.

Kevin McMillan, Lift Marketing Group. Friday, Nov. 18, 10 am

Hiring, Recruiting & Understanding the Available Workforce

Still talking about how to work with Millenni

als? You’re a generation behind! Gen Z started entering the workforce in 2016. Millen nials should no longer be your primary focus. Attend this session with indus try expert David Saline, Vice President of Sales & Service at DRIVE, and learn how to reach, attract and work effec tively with the new Gen Z workforce.  David Saline, Drive. Saturday, Nov. 19, 8 am

How Towing Owners Can Protect their Business & Save

Thousands in Taxes

Is your financial house in order? Discover the tools towing owners can use to become invincible to law suits, save thousands in taxes, and achieve financial peace of mind. Dale West, American Society for Asset Protection. Saturday, Nov. 19, 8 am

SEMINARS

SAFETY CONFERENCE

The Tower as Incident Commander

A breakdown of the re covery work and road clearance of the Great Texas Pileup, and the role the tower plays with incident command.

James Bennett Jr., Beard's Towing. Thursday, Nov. 17, 9 am

Active Safety and Saving Lives Safety measures to the High cost of insurance.

Scott Watkins, Mobile Video Computing Solutions & Allen Jay, Mobileye An Intel Company.

Thursday, Nov. 17, 10 am

Ensuring Every Tow is Safe

As a tow truck operator, you have a responsibil ity to ensure every tow you perform is complet ed safely. Exceeding the towing equipment or cab & chassis rat ings, no secondary attachment chains (safety chains), no tow extension lights, improper steering wheel securement and towing damages are still common issues in the light duty towing industry. This seminar will explore these ele ments of your tow to assist you in en suring every tow is safe.

Terry Abejuela, American Towman. Friday, Nov. 18, 8 am

Prioritizing Communications for Public Safety Support: FirstNet in the Towing Industry

FirstNet, built by AT&T is revolutionizing the way public safety and our nation’s first responders communicate. At First Net, we understand that companies that support our first responders also rely on secure, dependable, and prioritized communi cations in order to perform their mission

critical operations effec tively. FirstNet is the only wireless network that can help improve the com munications, vehicle safe ty, and fleet management while meeting the bud getary requirements of today’s Towing industry.

Brian Coakley, Sarah De Guzman, Ezana Zewdie, Rodger Pulley, FirstNet, Built with AT&T. Friday, Nov. 18, 10 am

Advances in

Private Property Impounding

Replacing the manu al checking of permits with LPR cameras (us ing the LP as the "stick er") and sharing information on any violations with both property manag ers and permit holders. Jim Shellhaas, Ranger SST. Saturday, Nov. 19, 9 am

Safe and Effective Car Carrier Operation  Car carriers have be come the equipment of choice for many towing companies to provide damage free service for their customers with late model or high end vehicles. Car carrier operators must be properly trained and follow manufac turers recommended procedures to ef

fectively utilize the equipment safely and effectively without causing damage. This seminar will cover equipment ratings, loading techniques, load distribution, se curement techniques, and customer and operator safety.

Terry Abejuela, American Towman. Saturday, Nov. 19, 9 am

INSURANCE CONFERENCE

The DO’S & Dont’s That Affect Your Insurance

Managing Claims, Man aging Drivers and Man aging Coverages.

Rob Austin, Austin Insurance. Thursday, Nov. 17, 9 am

How to Turn your Insurance Program into Profit Center

This discuss would lay out how a well preform ing Captive Insurance Program through it’s cash flow could gener ate substantial invest ment income back to the Captive Members.

Todd Welch & Don Blood, Brown & Brown.

Thursday, Nov. 17, 9 am

COURSES

Recovery Business Success

A special three-hour course geared towards the business end of re covery. Three crucial steps for recovery busi ness success will be cov ered: Documenting the Recovery; Billing the Re covery; and Collecting on the Recovery Invoice. $250/person.

$350 after Nov. 15

Thursday, Nov. 17, 9 am - Noon

John Borowski, Auto Return, Ron Myers, Pine Tree Towing.

American Towman Quick Clearance Certification Course

Arm your company and its tow operators with ac cepted quick clearance methods, on-scene inci dent management prepa ration, essential commu nications with police and fire command. Test follow 3 hours course, require for American Towman Quick Clearance certification card.

$75/person. $150 after Nov. 15

Saturday, Nov. 19, 9 am - Noon  Ron Myers, Pine Tree Towing & John Borowski, AutoReturn

TRAINING

WRECKMASTER ROTATOR RECOVERY TRAINING

Wednesday, November 16th, 8 am - 12 Noon  (Part I: 4-hours of  Classroom Training)

Wednesday, November 16th, 1pm - 5pm  (Part II: 4-hours of Hands-on Training)

Thursday, November 17th, 8 am – 12 noon (Part III: 4-hours of Classroom Training)

FEE REQUIRED $695/person. $795 after Nov 15 Fee also includes Carte Blanche Passport (12-HRS) • Classroom & Hands-on with WreckMaster instructors Bruce Campbell & Jeff Martin

Introduction & Explanation of Students Role

• Introduction of Lead Instructor, assistances and students

• Set Course goals and objectives Overview of WreckMaster program

You & The Tow Truck Set-Up

• Positioning the truck

• Leveling the truck

Recommended distances- Utilities Overhead & Underground

• Recommended cribbing

• Safety in General GROUND LOADS

• Calculating Out-rigger Loads

Understanding The Lift

• Determining the weight Shock Loads

• Cause and effect of tipping

• Determining the COG “Center of Gravity”

The Boom

Calculating “Load Capacity”

Calculating “Boom Top Load”

Rigging

• General overview

• Wire Rope, Synthetic & Chain Bridles

Calculating Bridle Leg Lengths

• Calculating Bridle Leg Loads

• Selecting the Correct Rigging for the job Site Safety

PPE “Personal Proction Equipment”

• Operator Training

• Rigging Training

• Site Supervisor Training

ERSCA QUICK CLEARANCE

Advanced Carrier & Wrecker Training (8HR) Instructor Shane Coleman

$395/person($495 after Nov. 15)

Wednesday, Nov. 16 , 8am - Noon (Hands-on, Includes Lunch) Wednesday, Nov. 16, 1 pm - 5 pm (Classroom)

The use of light-duty carriers and wreck ers in highway, quick clearance. Loading damaged vehicles, repositioning to clear lanes, and rigging for recovery, are some of the primary tasks trained in this course. A trained operator can handle a myriad of tasks; but careless use and improper opera tor techniques can lead to potential injury, fatality and extensive damage to the wreck er or carrier itself.

This, “reality based training”, invites you to acquire fundamental skills, techniques and considerations necessary to avoid trag edy while working in the best interests of Quick Clear Programs and on-going workplace safety.

The course brings a solid focus to light-duty wreckers and carrier specific operations to include discussion regarding on-scene safety and survival practices.

The modules of discussion are:

• Roadside and Operator Safety

• Working Off the White Line

• Initiating an Advanced Warning Area

• Can Carriers be used for Quick Clear?

• Minimizing lane closures, time of lane closures and distractions to motorists

• Equipment Placement

• Responding to incidents quickly but safely

• Developing Quick Clearance Best Practices

RECOVERY BILLING COURSE - 10 HOUR

TRAINING

Presented by Bob & Eric Fouquette of Recovery Billing Unlimited.

Part I - Friday, Nov. 18, 9 am2 pm. (5 Hours classroom)

Part II - Saturday, Nov. 19, 9 am - 2 pm. (5 Hours class room)

Amount $2,500 per person.Must be accepted by Recovery Billing.

Includes AT Conference Passport.

Incl. Carte Blanche Passport both days!

You do the work, you deserve to get paid.

We teach you how!

Are you tired of hearing “Sorry, it’s not cov ered!” resulting in you either not getting paid or settling for partial payment? You have employees, equipment, insurance and so many more expenses associated with running a successful towing and recovery business. We get it-- we have 40+ years of experience in the industry! Every time the trucks roll out of the garage YOU NEED TO GET PAID. We teach you the ins and outs of how to invoice properly, get paid on different types of insurances, navi gate the legal babble and red tape in order to get you paid from insurance and private payers! Join our alumni network of 1000+ companies that have leveled up their tow ing business and get paid their worth!

We teach:

Building the proper business foundation

• Proper way of writing invoices

• Communicating with insurance/ private payers

Keeping the paper trail

• Obtaining payment for proper billing

• How to make accident scene clean up profitable not an expense

Different avenues to get paid

• How and when to submit claims under collision, property damage liability, home owners insurance, etc!

Laws that will help you get paid

• Lawyer and insurance executive guest speaker

EXHIBITOR ROSTER

FirstNet, Built with AT&T Wireless solutions for first responders and those that support them.

FleetNet America

Excels in vehicle maintenance & repair solutions by providing the best 3rd party vendors for the nation’s private & for-hire commercial fleets.

Flitz International, LTD

Flitz polishes, sealant, waxes, buffers, cleaners and micro fiber cloths.

FlowStop

FlowStop’s world class spill kits, products, & equipment for first responders & towing and recovery professionals.

Frontline Agencies

Online marketing strategies aimed to get more business...owned by veteran towing & recovery professionals.

FULLBAY Repair Shop Software

Fullbay is software built to manage heavy duty repair shops and works on any device that connects to the internet.

GEICO

Emergency Road Service-Accident tow and secondary tow. Guniwheel

Universal Lug Pattern Wheel Solutions.

Haas Alert

Safety Cloud® alerts approaching drivers to Slow Down and Move Over for active tow scenes and operators.

Hale Trailer Brake & Wheel

North America’s largest retail supplier of commercial and specialized trailers including rentals, parts and service.

HD Trailers

Heavy haul trailer dealership.

Hino Trucks

Medium-duty conventional and cab forward trucks.

Honk Technologies

On-demand roadside assistance.

Hunter Engineering Premier Manufacturer of wheel service equipment for automotive and HD industries.

Huntington Bank Financial Services.

i Buy Remotes

We purchase automotive remoteswe pay top dollar - in cash.

IAA

Join the IAA Tow Network- work whenever, wherever. Inbound and outbound towers! Competitive rates offered.

ICW Group Insurance

A top 20, full-service carrier providing comprehensive workers’ compensation insurance products and services nationwide.

Independent Auto Transporters Alliance / IATA Auto transporters networking together to establish best practices. Discounts for our members.

Integrated Vehicle Leasing

A nationwide leasing & financing company for 20+ years in the tow industry.

Intek Truck & Equipment Leasing/Financing

Financing source since 1986. Customized, flexible, lease and finance options for all trucks and equipment.

International Recovery Systems

A leader in the automotive repossession industry.

International Trucks

A complete lineup of class 4 through class 8 commercial vehicles for recovery and towing. Providing industry leading uptime.

J & R Products & Towing Accessories

Home of the L-Arm Sleeve, we offer innovative and quality products for your towing needs.

JB Towing

Innovative towing accessories filling a void in the towing industry.

Jerr-Dan

Leading industry innovator offering an extensive range of standard, medium& heavy-duty wreckers, carriers & rotators.

Joyride Autos

Joyride helps you recover more costs from unclaimed vehicles. Start selling on Joyride today!

Junk Car Buyer Academy USA

JCBA USA is an automotive recycling consultant for towing businesses ready to 10x their income.

i Buy Remotes

We Buy Your Used Remotes Turn your junk into cash! Visit us online or bring your remotes to our booth. We pay top dollar!

HIGHLIGHTS

Intek Truck & Equipment Leasing/Financing

Offers customized and flexible lease & financing options for all new and used towing equipment. Exclusive finance programs for up to 10 years.

ICW Group Insurance

ICW Group offers you exclusive work comp services to keep your tow busi ness moving forward. Visit us at Booth #3006.

Integrated Vehicle Leasing

As a national direct lender since 1999, Integrated has been providing leasing and financing for the tow truck industry.

Landoll Corp.

440B

You

best traveling

ITI

We’ve done the shopping for you with our hand-picked rollback skate kits. Choose from the Standard, Essentials, or Master kits for your car carrier.

Kalyn Siebert

Kalyn Siebert’s VersaMAXX series offers versatility and durability for your coastto-coast needs.

Lift Marketing Group

Online Marketing Solutions

Dominate Google rankings and get more cash calls. We’re tow marketing made sim ple: custom, fast, & effective since 2009.

Lodar USA

Radio Remote Control

Industry leaders in wireless operation for over 35 years. Offering high-quality products, first-class service and a 5-year pro-rated warranty. Affordable pricing.

EXHIBITOR ROSTER

Kalyn Siebert

Trailers for the towing industry, sliding axles, VersaMaxx Bus transports and hydraulic trailers.

Landoll Corporation

Manufacturer of specialized equipment transport, traveling axle and detachable trailers. Galvanizing, HOSS hydraulic systems, enhanced LED lighting.

Lift And Tow

Inexpensive alternative tow truck for your pick up truck.

Lift Marketing Group

Drive profit for your company with our custom online marketing strategies.

Light Safe Apparel

Hi-Visibility Safety Workwear Products.

Lodar USA

Manufacturers of Wireless Radio Remote Controls for all industries.

Lynch Truck Group

Distributor of towing equipment for Miller Industries and Talbert Trailers.

Madison Capital Vehicle and equipment finance company.

Marshall & Sterling Insurance

In business since 1864 providing all lines of insurance coverage with a specialty in Towing & Transportation Insurance.

Maryland Core

Maryland Core is a member of the PGM of Texas catalytic converter recycling group.

Matheny Towing Equipment

Full line Miller Industries dealer with locations in West Virginia, Ohio, Virginia and now Kentucky.

Matjack

Matjack Airbags + Jumbo Cushions, Landing Cushions, Underwater Cushions, PMI helmets, Communication Headsets, Coupler Kits, Rigging.

MD Carrier Wrecker

Get the service, price and support you would expect from a National dealer in your backyard.

Menzel Technologies

With over 30 years in the transportation business, we test our products on real-world scenarios to provide quality systems.

Metro Tow Trucks

The ultimate in towing and recovery equipment, built for towers by towers.

Metrocom

Two way radio nationwide communication, sales and service.

Miller Industries

The world leader in towing and recovery equipment. Manufacturers of the industry leading brands Century, Vulcan, Chevron, and Holmes.

DYNAMIC TOW EQUIPMENT & MFG.

Mobile Road Service Solutions

Premier provider of purpose-built mobile service vans for tow, mobile battery, traffic management and spill cleanup providers.

Mobile Video Computing Solutions

MVCS integrates video, telematics and information systems to create fleet solutions for the towing industry.

Nation Safe Drivers (NSD)

A forward thinking motor club working to make a positive change to benefit our partners and clients.

National Interstate Insurance Company

National Interstate is a financially strong insurance carrier that offers creative solutions for the Tow Truck industry.

Nite Beam Products

Distributor for LED safety apparel and LED safety products.

Nottingham Insurance Nationwide insurance agency for the auto service industry offering comprehensive and complete solutions.

Novawinch USA

Around the globe, the NOVAWINCH brand is recognized as a leader in the winch industry.

NRC Industries

Manufacturer of towing and recovery equipment renowned throughout the world for their strength and reliability.

NTTS Breakdown Directory

Helping truckers locate repair vendors since 1989. Fast & free website, app & printed directory.

A STUDY IN CONTRAST

The American Wrecker Pageant

The beauty of the wreckers at the American Wrecker Pageant inside the Baltimore Convention Center is a stunning contrast to their purpose and history. After all, these specimens of art and engineering are used to clear America’s roads and recover crashed vehicles. They play in a world of trauma. As equipment they are given the critical care they deserve from their owners. The art painted on them celebrate life in

landscapes, cityscapes, classical art, cartoon characters, and more. The life showing on the trucks’ doors and booms, hoods, and fenders may appear out of place at an accident scene – but maybe these wreckers arrive to upright people’s spirits as much as fallen vehicles.

Attendees will enjoy speaking to the proud owners of these amazing trucks, voting on the best of show, and witnessing the exultation of the winners on Saturday afternoon.

EXHIBITOR ROSTER

OMG Tow Marketing

Providing tow bosses with creative advertising and marketing services. Websites, local search ads, video, onhold messages.

On Call GPS Video

Mobile Binaries Inc. provides GPS vehicle tracking, ELD and DVR solutions designed for tow trucks.

One Team One Goal /

SDMO Foundation

T-shirts, apparel, and literature for Slow Down Move Over awareness.

Online Impound Auctions

OnlinelmpoundAuctjons.com’s auction platform provides the easier way to maximize revenue for your abandoned vehicles.

Paccar Winch

BRADEN designs and manufacturers industrial winch solutions as part of the PACCAR Winch family.

ParkingPermits of America (PPOA)

Parking management software and permits.

Parkva Integrated with your digital permit system, Parkva’s mobile LPR cameras easily identify apartment complex parking violations.

Peak Auto Auctions

Free online auction platform where tow companies make more money for their abandoned vehicles.

Peddle

Boost your towing business with a consistent flow of Peddle pickups and easy automated payments.

Penny Pockets

Custom apparel, jackets, printed T-shirts,embroidered jackets, Hi-Vis workwear.

Phoenix USA Wheel simulators and accessories, lightbars, lighting products, emergency lighting, storage products, Alcon wheels and accessories.

Podium Corp.

Helping local businesses get more customers, with easy-to-use growth, communication, and payment tools.

Pop - A - Lock Offering franchises for road service and auto locksmithing.

Purpose Wrecker Sales

Authorized National Distributor of Miller Industries, Century and Vulcan wreckers and rollbacks, located in St. Louis MO.

QuakeLED

Leading the LED lighting industry with latest in off-road light technology at straight from the factory prices.

Questx Towing Services

Provide roadside assistance to insurance companies and network with service providers across the US.

Quick Cash for Remotes

Your #1 source for selling new and used key fobs.

R.P. Recovery

Wireless team Communication headsets and LTA portable lighting.

R&A Insurance

Independent insurance brokers specializing in the towing, heavy haul and recovery industry.

Ramsey Winch Company

Industrial grade winches, hoists and speed reducers for mission-critical applications.

Ranger SST

Complete parking management solutions with LPR for private properties (permitting & enforcement) with tow management.

Razor Wraps

Printer and installer of graphicallyenhanced truck wraps.

RC Industries

American made toolboxes for the American working man.

Recovery Title Solutions

Management service for certified mailings, title searches and lien process for unclaimed and abandoned vehicles.

Ricky’s Sales & Service

Family owned and operated! Apparel, parts, sales and service for your specialty needs.

EXHIBIT HIGHLIGHTS

Lynch Truck Group

Lynch Chicago is your one stop for tow trucks, flat bed carrier and heavy duty wreckers. Call 708- 233-1112 today!

Matjack

Matjack Hurricane System uprights trail ers in as little as 5 minutes. Come see us to hear more.

Miller Industries

The Century® 5130 comes with an indus try-leading weight-forward design, 128” underlift, 25-Ton recovery boom, and 25k lb. recovery winches.

Nottingham Insurance

We specialize in the automotive service & towing industry. We are available 24/7 Just Like You! Always happy to help.

OMG Tow Marketing

OMG Tow Marketing helps you get more cash calls by getting your business found higher on Google.

Online Impound Auctions

Platform)

Stop Losing Auction Revenue! Use OnlineImpoundAuctions.com! Our low bidder fees make us the best value pro vider for your impound auctions!

Phoenix USA

Corrosion resistant durable poly fender for most 19.5” dual wheels. Stainless steel mounting tubes with plated steel hardware.

R.P. Recovery

RP Recovery is committed to providing the best available towing and recovery products and training for our industry.

Ranger SST

Patrol Works with LPR

Complete parking management solu tion for you to serve your private prop erty customers with portals for property managers and permit holders.

EXHIBITOR ROSTER

Roadside Protect

Dispatch administration and motor club.

RoadSync

Digital platform that reduces payment processing time for use by heavy duty tow & repair, warehouses, drivers, brokers & carriers.

Robert Young’s NRC Sales & Service

Your “One-Stop-Shop” for NRC equipment, B/A Products, All-Grip, TowMate and much more!

Rocket Auction

Free online auction tool with integration preferred partner, towbook.

Royal Truck & Equipment

Nation’s largest manufacturer of attenuator trucks and innovative safety products that keep highway workers safe.

RRCATS.com

Catalytic Converter Buyer/Recycler.

RRL Insurance

We offer commercial insurance for tow trucks, public auto, trucking, waste haulers and construction equipment.

Safety Vision

Leader of mobile video innovation.

We serve a variety of industries and accommodate specific needs.

Santander Bank

Commercial Equipment and Vehicle Finance.

Sepson US

Sepson manufacturers world class, military grade winches to make your operation safer and more reliable.

ServiCase

A web based search tool allowing commercial carriers the ability to locate and electronically dispatch service providers.

Speak Easy Communication Wireless radios designed for heavy industry jobs.Featuring noisecanceling technology, background noise is eliminated.

Specialty Vehicle Equipment

Funding Group

Tow Truck financing made simple.

Spill Tackle

Biodegradable, fully sustainable, absorbent sourced and manufactured in the U.S.

Stamp Works

Custom tow truck shaped refrigerator magnets and light up key chains, mouse pads and more!

Steck Mfg. Co.

Manufacturer of quality lockout tools and various tow tools and equipment.

Superwinch

Westin/Superwinch have been engineering top quality recovery/ towing assist products for over four decades.

Talbert Manufacturing

Manufactures high quality heavy haul trailers and specialized transportation equipment including lowbed and travel axles.

The Hilb Group

Your local insurance agency specializing in towing and transportation insurance since 1984.

Tiger Payment Solutions

Providing solutions that will dramatically improve customer experience and reduce credit card processing fees - guaranteed.

Time-Out Seated Massage Corner

Seated massage, foot massage and Reiki sessions.

Tow Life

Wearing apparel and decals that support the towing community.

Towbook Management Software

The most trusted towing software; Towbook is built for companies of all sizes! Try it for 30-days, free!

Towing & Recovery Association of America

The industry’s only national membership association, offering representation, education, and leadership at the federal level.

Towing.com

The public face of the towing industry. Your company’s advantage to win the internet.

CUSTOM BUILT

AT EXPO BEER STEIN

EXHIBITOR ROSTER

TowingWebsites.com

Get Hooked Up® with more cash calls! Tow marketing, Google ads, SEO, website, Facebook, reviews!

TowMate

Wireless Towing Lights, light bars, LED strobes, roadside safety systems, move over lights. Made in USA.

TowToolz

Serving the industry with innovative recovery solutions with combination of consultation, training, and professional equipment sales.

Trail King Industries

Trail King is the leading manufacturer of a complete line of trailers for a wide variety of applications.

Transit Pros

America’s largest sub haul coordinator specializing in medium and heavy duty towing, transportation, tire replacement and ERS.

Traxero North America

Traxero is the leading provider of innovative software solutions within the towing industry.

Tulsa Winch - DP Winch

DP Winch is the industry leader in the commercial towing, government and recovery markets.

TW Products

High quality Trucking, Towing and Rigging Hardware.

Two Way Radio Gear

Two Way Radio Gear is a value added reseller of Motorola radios and body cameras.

UHS Hardware

UHS Hardware is the #1 wholesaler of locksmith and security supplies in the industry.

Urgently

Re-imagining roadside assistance –our digital platform connects you with more nearby jobs to grow your business.

US Fleet Tracking

Live vehicle tracking with 10-second updates, PTO monitoring, no controls, no hidden fees.

Verdant Commercial Capital National commercial equipment finance company that focuses on customized financing solutions.

Warn Industries

Manufactures electric and hydraulic winches and hoists for commercial and industrial applications.

Webfleet

Market-leader provider for fleet tracking and dashcam solutions for towers.

West End Service

Miller Industries Full Line distributor of wreckers and carriers. Medium-duty international dealer.

Whelen Engineering Co.

Manufacturer of warning light systems; technologies used include halogen, strobe, LED and Syper-LED®.

Whiterail

Hire drivers now. No recruiter fees. 10X more drivers than Indeed.

Will-Burt

These scene lighting products enhance safety and security in rescue and recovery operations.

Worldwide Equipment Sales

Worldwide Equipment Sales is the leading dealer of new and used tow trucks, wreckers and car carriers.

WreckMaster

WreckMaster offers operator training and certification along with a wide selection of rigging and recovery products.

Xpress-Pay

Xpress-pay helps businesses adopt an epayment solution that reduces or eliminates, credit card processing fees.

Zacklift International

Zacklift International is the world leader in heavy duty detachable towing.

Zellner Insurance

Insurance agency offering comprehensive insurance programs for tow businesses.

Zip’s AW Direct

Industry-leading supplier of everything a tow company needs, including straps, chains, lighting and safety gear.

EXHIBIT HIGHLIGHTS

RC Industries Toolboxes

The World’s leader in vehicle mounted stor age solutions. Come see our new Fender box on display. Proudly made in the USA.

RimSling

Put your tired, rusty chain to bed. Reach for the light, bright RimSling Recovery and Lifting Slings on your next roadside job.

Royal Truck & Equipment

Attenuator Trucks

Positioned behind your working opera tion, attenuator trucks act as barriers to prevent your workers from being struck by distracted drivers.

SafeAll

Studies have shown words are more effective than lights. Use SafeAll’s new Traffic Commander message board to get traffic to pay attention.

Santander Bank

Commercial Vehicle and Equipment Financing . Finance your next truck with us! We put customers on the road with quick credit decisions, flexible financing, and cus tomized payment options for 20+ years.

ServiCase

Connects carriers & fleet managers to towers thru an electronic breakdown management system. Free starter package - get listed with carriers & fleet managers nationwide.

Speak Easy Communication

Wireless Communication Radio

Rely on Speak Easy’s revolutionary wire less radio system for clear, noise-cancel ing communication. No push-to-talk or base station necessary. Reasonable cost.

Specialty Vehicle Equip. Funding

We finance tow trucks and equipment with competitive rates and quick credit decisions. Apply online at www.special tyvehiclefunding.com

Steck Mfg. Co.

Fourth Wheel Loader allows drivers to load and secure vehicles up to 5 tons with broken ball joints and locked wheels on roll back wreckers.

EXHIBIT HIGHLIGHTS

Talbert Manufacturing

4050TA

Talbert Manufacturing builds durable, high quality heavy haul trailers including lowbed, travel axle and specialty trailers for the towing industry.

Towbook Management Software

Dispatching Software. The most trusted towing software, period! Towbook is made for companies of ALL sizes! Try it for 30-Days, Free! www.towbook.com

TowMate

The LifeSaver

Instantly turn any traffic cone into a HIGHVIZ warning beacon. Protect your workers with the Lifesaver! Available from your local TowMate dealer. www.towmate.com

Trail King Industries Sliding Axle

The Trail King Sliding Axle offers the FASTEST slide pan in the industry! Find your rep at trailking.com/find-a-rep

Traxero North America

The leader of innovative towing and road side software. We integrated the most trusted industry solutions to empower our clients to operate more profitably.

Urgently

Urgently is re-imagining roadside as sistance. Our digital platform connects you with more nearby jobs to grow your business efficiently.

Warn Industries

WARN Series G2 Winches

The Series G2 electric and hydraulic winches are more modular, high per formance, and durable than any WARN industrial winch ever.

West End Service

Limelight Towmate

Wireless Towlight. Comes with charget and either 4 pin transmitter or hardwire transmitter.

Will-Burt Company

Light Towers and LED Scene Lighting Night Scan light towers improve safety and can make you money. Visit booth 120 to see the latest lighting tech.

Zacklift International

Zip’s AW Direct

Towing/Recovery

Auto Repair/Serv.

Station

Towing/Recovery

Repair/Serv.

Service Station

Dealership

Vehicle Leasing

Truck Repair

Shop

CARTE BLANCHE PASSPORT

AMERICAN WRECKER PAGEANT One vehicle per class/three per company Trucks enter Wed. & Thurs. and stay in hall until completion of awards on Sat.

$100: Light (pre-2021) Light (2021-2022) Medium Vintage (40+ years) Service/Support - $125 after 11/15 $ ______ $150: HD Single Axle HD Tandem Rotator Carrier - $175 after 11/15 $ ______

HEAVY DUTY RECOVERY WITH ROTATOR TRAINING/ WRECKMASTER 12-hour classroom/hands-on, Nov. 16, Wed. 8 am 5 pm.

Nov. 17, Thurs. 8 am 12 noon

lunch and Passport seminars.

1st registrant 2nd registrant 3rd registrant

$795 after 11/15 $695 pp $ ______

registrant

ERSCA QUICK CLEARANCE ADVANCED CARRIER & WRECKER TRAINING Nov. 16, Wed. 8 am 12 Noon, Classroom • Wed. 1 pm 5 pm, Hands on $495 after 11/15 $395 pp $ ______

lunch

1st registrant 2nd registrant 3rd registrant 4th registrant

RECOVERY BUSINESS SUCCESS Nov. 17, Thurs., 9 am - 12 noon, includes breakfast. $350 after 11/15

$250 pp $ ______ 1st registrant 2nd registrant 3rd registrant 4th registrant

TOWMAN SKEET Skeet shooting, Nov. 17, Thurs. 9 am at Prince George's Skeet & Trap Club Transport, supplies & lunch included. $125 pp $ ______

DONNIE CR USE RECOVERY AWARDS LUNCHEON Nov. 17, Thurs., 12 noon at Morton’s Steakhouse. All towers welcome Co-Sponsored by Zip’s/AW Direct, B/A Products, along with American Towman Magazine & WreckMaster $75 adults / $25 child $ ______

CAPTAINS OF INDUSTRY Nov. 18, Fri. 12 Noon; Legendary Long Table. Ticket required.

$55 pp $ ______ RECOVERY BILLING COURSE

Baltimore Convention Center Sponsored by American Towman

10-hour course teaches towers how to become more profitable, Nov. 18, Fri. & Nov. 19, Sat. 9 am - 2 pm.

Presented by Bob & Eric Fouquette. Includes Passport seminars Per additional Person $2,500 1 $ ____ $1,500 $ ____ BULL & PIG ROAST - MILLER ROCKS! FREE, Nov. 18, Fri. 7:30 pm, Hard Rock Cafe. Enjoy cocktails, food, and FREE T-Shirt from the Miller Truck. Sponsored by Miller Industries with American Towman Magazine # of ppl CALITRI’S CUBA VIP Nov. 18, Fri., 9 pm, Luckie’s Tavern: Powerplant Live ; Sponsored by American Towman Includes (2) Premium Cigars, and (1) Premium Drink $30 pp $ ______

•American Towman Quick Clearance Certification Course Nov. 19, Sat., 9 am 12 Noon; Advanced level of safe & efficient quick clearance. $150 after 11/15 $75 pp $ ______1st registrant 2nd registrant 3rd registrant

Cold-Weather Battery Tips

Making Sure You’re Amped Up

Courtesy of Odyssey Battery, Phillips Industries and Shell Rotella

The wear and tear of summer heat on your battery becomes apparent when the temps begin to drop and firing up your tow truck’s engine gets harder. That’s because frigid weather thickens engine oil, increasing the load on your battery. Colder conditions require that the battery produce as many Cold Cranking Amps (CCA) as possible to run the engine and electrical accessories for a successful start. By definition, the CCAs rating represents how much current the battery generates at 0°F (-18°C) to maintain at least 7.2 volts for 30 seconds.

All batteries can freeze if cold enough. The key to protecting any battery from freezing is to make sure it stays fully charged throughout winter. If your battery is used sporadically, and left to discharge during this time, the electrolyte

Not all batteries provide the same level of output. For instance, in contrast to lead-alloy batteries, Thin Plate Pure Lead (TPPL) batteries, like those from Odyssey, provide ample CCAs even at a low DOD (Depth of Discharge). The lead plates are also thinner than those of conventional batteries, so there are more plates in the same footprint for greater surface area, and thus more power. They tolerate temperatures as low as -40°F, and can recover from deep discharges that occur when powering onboard devices, such as heaters, defrosters and radios.

begins to change from acid to water as the voltage declines. The more water-like the electrolyte becomes, the easier it is to freeze.

Fall is the ideal time to check in on the condition of your tow truck’s battery through proper inspection, cleaning, testing and charging. Here are some tips for preparing your battery for winter:

BASIC PROTECTION

When handling the battery, protect your eyes and hands with goggles and gloves, and use insulated tools to prevent a short circuit in the battery.

CLOSE INSPECTION

Make sure all cable connections are secure. Check battery components for corrosion and acid burns. Inspect terminals for stripping and scuffing, the case for cracks and leaks, and hold-down ties for breakage. Damaged cables and clamps may be replaced, but a damaged case or terminal require replacement of the battery itself.

CLEAN AND TIGHT

Cables and connections should be free of dirt. If cleaning is required, disconnect the battery. Acid accumulation can be neutralized and cleaned with ◀

ammonia or a paste of one part baking soda to three parts water. Remove the deposits from the terminals with a battery terminal brush, and clean the case and clamps with water. Once the battery is reconnected, the terminals should be coated with dielectric grease or petroleum jelly to prevent more deposits from accumulating.

BENEATH THE SURFACE

To determine the battery’s State of Charge (SOC), measure the Open Circuit Voltage (OCV) with a voltmeter six to eight hours after the battery has been charged. This interval ensures that the chemical reactions in the battery have reached an equilibrium and that the surface charge is gone. The manufacturer’s specifications will indicate the OCV that corresponds to 100 percent SOC (usually 12.7 to 12.9 volts). If a charge is necessary, consult the battery manufacturer’s specifications for the proper level of charge.

LOW-VISCOSITY DIESEL ENGINE OILS FOR COLD WEATHER

As noted at the outset, frigid temperatures thicken crankcase oil putting a strain your engine battery during startup. One way to minimize that is by using a low-viscosity engine oil, which flows more easily than a 15W-40 oil, the standard oil used in diesel engines for many years. The most common lower viscosity die sel engine oil is 10W-30, which is suitable for many modern die sel pickup truck engines provides the same level of protection as a 15W-40 with some important benefits. A 10W-30 oil causes less friction in the engine, preventing internal wear when starting a cold engine. With better flow properties at lower temperatures, these oils do a better job of coating critical engine parts faster, helping to increase engine durability in cold environments. There are other benefits as well. For instance, Shell Rotella T5 10W-30 (either a synthetic blend or full synthetic) provides longer oil drain intervals and more. This makes it an excellent choice for pickup trucks engaged in towing. Lower viscosity oils can also deliver a fuel economy benefit of up to two percent, compared to a conventional 15W-40, helping you save money.

AVOID SULFATION

Battery life varies due to many conditions, but one thing ensures a battery performs for its intended service life: proper charging. Keeping the battery fully charged prevents sulfation, which reduces available plate surface area to deliver power or energy. The current must be high enough for a full charge, but not so high that it overheats the battery. Consult the battery manufacturer’s specifications for the proper charge settings.

All told, preparing your tow truck’s battery for harsh weather will help improve its performance all through the winter.

Track Drives Added to Gearmatic

Gearmatic has added a new line of hydrostatic track drives to the compa ny’s product mix, boasting maximum torque output ratings from 12,539 to 162,264 lb/ft. The TD Series offers a wide array of gear ratios and mounting options among 11 models, providing a full-line solution of new or replacement drives for tracked vehicles used in in dustrial applications.

Built for outstanding performance and reliability, the heavy-duty TD Series is designed for easy installation, mini mal maintenance and universal fitment with ISO and SAE hydraulic motors. Its compact profile is ideal for space-crit ical mounting configurations while in creasing the overall efficiency of the undercarriage.

PACCAR Winch, Inc. engineers and manufactures winch, hoist and drive systems under the BRADEN, CARCO and Gearmatic brand names.

classic wrecker

Tribute Truck

A Freshly Restored 1931 Ford Model A Tow Truck

By Steve Temple

Competing for attention with all the other booth displays at an American Towman show is no easy task. But the EdgeTec booth at TowXpo in Fort Worth, Texas made us stop in our tracks this past June, with a beautifully restored ’31 Ford Model A, all dressed up in Gulf Oil livery. What makes this classic wrecker such a showstopper? A short history explains why.

Founded in 1901, Gulf Oil merged with Standard Oil in 1985, which was later rebranded as Chevron. Even today, though, the orange and blue Gulf logo is still one of the most recognizable in the world. That’s due in part to the company’s prominent sponsorship of famous race cars, the U.S. space program, and

NBC news broadcasts.

So having these corporate colors on a 1931 Ford Model A tow truck made good sense as an eye-catching booth presentation at a busy trade show. The Gulf Oil logo, along with corresponding colors on the body, spoked wheels and twin-boom Weaver mechanical wrecker assembly, really stand out. Finished to museum quality in 2020, this meticulous restoration was done as a tribute to the father of the truck’s previous owner, who once operated a Gulf station in New Hampshire.

The truck also boasts a fresh engine rebuild, performed by a North Carolina specialist, and tested with 15 minutes of run time. The engine is Ford’s 200.5 cubic inch, L-head inline-four, original to the vehicle. When new, the carbureted engine had a compression ratio of 4.22:1, and was rated by the manufacturer at 40 horsepower.

The only change made for the sake of more modern mechanicals was replacing the factory generator with a six-volt alternator. Otherwise the engine bay is stock and virtually spotless, and the old four-banger fires up immediately, even when cold. The non-synchronized transmission still shifts properly, and the rear-end axles and seals were refreshed.

In addition to a flawless finish on the body panels, the frame was professionally media blasted and repainted to eliminate any traces of rust. For a jaunty period-

◀

treatment, this Model A was accessorized with fog lamps, a radiator screen, and dual side-mount spares.

In the bucket section, the bench seat is upholstered in gray vinyl, and rubber mat covers the floorboards. The painted steel dashboard has just a few original-spec instruments, both new and rebuilt.

All the exterior lights are functional, including those custom-mounted on the Weaver twin-boom, which is fully operational. Manufactured in Springfield, Illinois, a Weaver Auto Crane was a popular product first made in 1915. It could be used to convert a truck or even a car into a tow truck, and came in several capacities. The Model G had a stated rating of 6,000 pounds.

Of course a three-ton capacity is not much by today’s standards, but vehicles back in the day were much lighter as well. Even though this Model A wrecker is an exceptional piece of automotive nostalgia, it shows just how far we’ve progressed when it comes to tow trucks.

Is Your Home Protected?

By Larry Oxenham

Larry Oxenham is one of America’s top asset protec tion experts, having helped thousands of professionals achieve financial peace of mind by teaching them how to properly structure their assets for lawsuit protection and tax reduction. He has authored and co-authored several articles and books on the subject including The As set Protection Bible and How to Achieve Financial Peace of Mind through Asset Protec tion. Larry Oxenham is a na tionally recognized speaker who has trained thousands of professionals at hundreds of conventions, conferences and seminars across the country.

Homestead laws were created by states to protect personal homes against creditors. These laws vary widely between the states, with some providing unlimited protection and others providing little or no protection. Six states (Florida, Iowa, Kansas, Oklahoma, South Dakota, and Texas) have a no dollar cap on the homestead exemption. Which means that your primary home in these states, regardless of value, cannot be taken by a judgment creditor, and is thus protected from lawsuits by state law.

In the other 44 states, however, with limited homestead protection, you may want to put your home into a separate legal entity to protect it against a lawsuit. For example, if you have $200,000 equity in your home and your state’s homestead laws only protects $5,000, a creditor could take $195,000 of the equity in your home to satisfy a judgment.

Note, too, that homestead laws are only for your primary residence, so vacation or second homes are not protected by homestead laws. Also, homestead laws do not protect you against federal tax liens.

NO PROTECTION?

If someone were to obtain a judgment against you, this individual can seek to satisfy the judgment by taking your home. The collection process begins by the creditor filing a summary of the judgment (Abstract of Judgment) with the county recorder in the county where you own the property. Just as you cannot sell your property without satisfying liens from a mortgage or deed of trust, you cannot sell or refinance your home until the judgment is paid or expires.

A creditor can also file a Writ of Execution with the county recorder for the right to sell your home to the highest bidder at a public

Implementing these asset protection strategies can ensure your home is protected from loss as the result of a lawsuit.

money collected

interest

HOW TO LIMIT YOUR LIABILITY

Let’s say you have $500,000 equity in our home, and your state homestead laws only protect $100,000. To ensure that your home cannot be taken to satisfy a judgment, you can own your home in a properly drafted and worded Limited Liability Company (LLC). This LLC has what is called “charging order protection” that prevents a creditor from seizing the property.

In addition, to ensure that you can still take advantage of the capital gains exclusion when you sell the home, you can place your home ◀

into a single-member LLC.

A single-member LLC is a disregarding legal entity for tax purposes, so no yearly tax return is required. In the eyes of the IRS, it is as if you still own the home personally. This provision allows you to have the charging order protection of an LLC, while still qualifying to take the capital gain exclusion on the sale of the home and the mortgage-interest deduction.

While most states provide charging order protection for multi-member LLCs, only two states currently provide charging order protection for single-member LLCs— Wyoming and Nevada. Even so, your primary residency does not have to be in Wyoming or Nevada to be owned by a Wyoming or Nevada LLC.

Most people own their home in their individual name(s) which provides no protection from lawsuits. Placing your home in a single-member LLC in Wyoming or Nevada is very simple. The use and function of the home will be exactly the same, and no tax return is required. The only difference will be that on the title the LLC is listed as the owner instead of an individual name(s). Implementing these asset protection strategies can ensure your home is protected from loss as the result of a lawsuit. LLCs can also be used to protect other real estate you may own from lawsuits.

supplier scoop

Agero Summer Hustle Winners 2022

Agero Summer Hustle ’22 rewarded outstanding performance and dedication of its in-network towers hustling from June through August. Weekly winners received $500 in Visa Prepaid Cards + swag. Each winner was in the running for grand prize packages: First Place (2 winners): $15,000 check + trip to AT ShowPlace, Las Vegas with $5,000 + swag. Second Place (2 win ners) $5,000 check + swag. Week 8:

•

Top NPS East: Elite Towing and Transport

• Top NPS West: Bricks

Towing Service

• Top CA East: VIP Towing Services

• Top CA West: Kendall Performance & Repair Week 9:

• Top NPS East: Tally's Towing and Recovery

• Top NPS West: Rapid Response Road Service LLC

• Improved CA East: K&R Towing

• Improved CA West: Dream Towing Week 10:

• Top NPS East: A Budget

Towing LLC

• Top NPS West: Flat Rate Towing

• Improved CA East: Infinity Stones

Towing LLC

• Improved CA West: Morgan Towing & Recovery Week 11:

• Top NPS East: Stan's Pro Tows of Florida LLC

Top NPS West: Unlimited Towing

Improved CA East: Khan Enterprises DBA Colonial

Improved CA West: Kidds Towing Grand Prize:

First Place East: US Towing & Recovery

• First Place West: Kendall Performance

Second Place East: All Ways Towing

Second Place West: Unlimited Towing

Army Strong!

A Century M100 Hoists a 20-ton, M24 Chaffee Tank

By Steve Temple

There’s often more impact when showing folks something rather than just telling them, right? So what better way to prove the capability of a Century 100-ton rotator than to pick up a really heavy item in

front of a show crowd of curious tow operators.

The M24 Chaffee tank lifted by a M100 came courtesy of Joe McClain of Knight’s Armament, which has several tanks in its collection, and manufactures various military weapons and accessories. The M100’s owner, Craig Keith of Carolina Towing, originally wanted to use Knight’s M1 Abrams tank, but due to its extra width, he would not have been able to bring it into the show.

Military history buffs note that the M24 Chaffee (named after

General Adna R. Chaffee Jr.), was manufactured by Cadillac from 1944 to 1945, and served in the later part of WWII, plus post-war conflicts as well. Designated as a “light” tank, it tips the scales at 40,500 pounds.

Even so, Craig said the rotator was hardly stressed by the tank’s weight, given the high boom angle. He has moved far heavier objects at a much lower angle of only 10 to 12 degrees, such as a recycling compactor weighing about 80,000 pounds. It was located inside a building with only a 15-foot ceiling, and the compactor had

to be slid outside of the structure. His assessment of the M100’s performance: “Phenomenal!” he enthused. “It’s a beast.”

Craig has owned the M100 for only a few months, but already customized it like the other trucks in his fleet. The Carolina blue color treatment was handled by Dendy Hill Graphics, with a lighted boom that’s color-matched to the truck. He opted for a wheel lift and custom LEDs from Raney’s Truck Parts.

“They’re killer lights,” he says, noting how these one-piece units replace the entire bezel of the stock units. Craig also ordered all the interior options offered by Kenworth.

Carolina Towing, based in multiple locations in South Carolina, is family owned and been operated since 1994. “My dad helped me after he retired,” Craig said. Wife

lends a hand when he’s not working as a full-time fireman. Son Kyle has a college degree in economics, but also has a CDL, and maintains a keep-clear contract with the the state for I-26. The company has 15 tow rigs, almost all of them from Miller Industries.

Helping out with the rigging for the tank-lifting demo at the tow show in Orlando was Mike Fraser

and Carolina’s Scott Hedgcoth, both veteran towers. Craig noted that the big key to the operation was to be cautious about all the spectators, using situational awareness, so there was a different safety factor to keep in mind. Everything came off smoothly, and while not a typical load for a rotator, it vividly demonstrated how the Century M100 is “Army Strong.”

Hill

18-speed Eaton Fuller

Carolina Towing is a family operation, founded in 1994.

supplier scoop

New CEO at Emergency Safety Solutions

Emergency Safety Solutions (ESS), has appointed Tom Metzger as its new chief executive officer. ESS is the creator of the Hazard Enhanced Lo cation Protocol (H.E.L.P.) that helps prevent crashes into disabled vehi cles and related injuries to occu pants. Metzger is an auto industry pioneer in con nected vehicle technologies and brings to ESS a broad range of busi ness and leadership experience. He has served more than 33 years in a range of leadership positions at Har man International Industries, which produces, designs and engineers connected products for automakers, consumers and professional markets. Between stints with Harman, Metzger served as senior vice president and general manager of SiriusXM’s Con nected Vehicle Services unit, and in the same role at Agero Connected Vehicle Services’ ATX Group before it was acquired by SiriusXM in 2013. Prior to that, he worked at Harman International in Japan and Korea in a range of roles focused on connected solutions for automakers.

Tom Metzger, new CEO of ESS.

“Every once in a while, that rare opportunity comes around where you literally have a chance to change the world for the better, and that’s why I chose to join ESS,” added Metzger. “We have a product that can help prevent tens of thousands of deaths and hundreds of thousands of injuries globally as we scale up adop tion, and I can’t think of a greater per sonal and professional legacy than to achieve something like that.”

ESS seeks to eliminate prevent able crashes involving disabled ve hicles stopped on or near active roadways. This growing safety is sue affects more than 72,000 peo ple yearly in the United States, with 15,000 injured or killed.

supplier scoop

Dobbs’ New Director of EV Mobility

Dobbs Truck Group announced the promotion of Kirk Gulian to the position of Director of EV Mobility. In his new role, Kirk has responsibility for developing, implementing, and leading Dobbs Truck Group business plans related to electric vehicle truck sales and infrastructure planning, along with identifying funding and grant sources. Mr. Gulian has worked for Dobbs Truck Group for over 15 years and has extensive fleet sales, truck specification and transportation industry knowledge.

Dobbs Truck Group is the holding company for Dobbs Peterbilt, Dobbs Leasing, Dobbs TRP, Dobbs Techni cal Institute, Western Truck Center and Western Truck Leasing. As an authorized dealer of Peterbilt, Volvo, Mack, Hino, Autocar, and Battle Mo

Kirk Gulian, Dobbs’ Director of EV Mobility.

tors, Dobbs Truck Group has a strong brand portfolio in the industry. Dobbs Truck Group is proud to offer an in dustry-leading lineup of battery elec tric commercial vehicles.

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

Another First at AT Expo

By Steven Calitri

The topics that have been expounded on at the American Towman Exposition in Baltimore have been as diverse as trees in a forest. In November a veteran tow boss will be discussing the logistics of clearing one of the greatest pileups in American history. This is the keynote address at the Captains of Industry luncheon, and the topic of a more detailed seminar at the Academy. You could say it’s a crash course on road clearance. It marks the first time that a great pileup and road clearing event will be dissected in a forum for towing and recovery professionals, anywhere.

James Bennett, Jr. of Beard’s Towing in Texas helped coordinate the Great Texas Pileup of 2021. As a member of the incident command team there, he was as prepared as one can be for an event of this magnitude. In reality, there could be no full preparation for it, and those calling the shots, including Bennett, had to draw on past experiences and common sense to meet the challenges they faced. Multiple 18-wheelers and 135 vehicles were involved in this pileup that left six people dead and dozens injured. The work of a dozen tow companies alongside 150 police officers and firefighters achieved this herculean task of untangling the wreckage, saving lives and clearing the freeway.

Towing and recovery engineers are traveling to Baltimore to listen to Bennett. They all know they will learn something invaluable from his experience. At the heart of what they will hear involves the essence of being a recovery specialist today: a critical member of the first-responder team that deals with roadway incidents.

The tow boss as incident commander is the theme of the 33rd American Towman

Exposition this November 16-19. Every towing professional entering the exhibit hall will be pinned with the Masters of Chaos button, a keepsake souvenir for sure. How important are all Masters of Chaos? They were needed in Manhattan on 9/11, in Europe to sort out the devastation of the bombs in World War II, and materials that were towed in the building of the great pyramids of Egypt.

Only a rare breed of men and women will brave the perilous highways to service breakdowns and accidents. Only a towman can keep the roads clear for commerce to keep on rolling, and individuals to keep on going.

In short, if the U.S. Congress would solve the nation’s ills in the same practical manner with which towers solve the chaos that occurs on the roads, life would be uprighted. See you in Baltimore.

James Bennett, Jr. will speak at AT Expo’s Academy and Captains Dinner

flash

Connecticut Towers Unite for Move Over Event

The Towing and Recovery Profes sionals of Connecticut (TRPC) held a Move Over event on Saturday, Sep tember 10, at X-Finity Theatre, bring ing together towers to remind mo torists of the Connecticut Move Over Law. The event showcased 56 tow trucks with more than 110 companies from across the state in attendance. Before arriving at Xfinity, the trucks paraded down Interstate 91. Food trucks, ATV rides and tow-trucking competitions were part of the festiv ities.

“One of the biggest problems the industry faces is the inherent danger of roadside wreckage clearing,” point ed out Sal Sena, president of TRPC. “To complete a successful tow, work ers spend hours on the side of the roads with cars sometimes recklessly whizzing by. In the past three years the towing industry in Connecticut has lost two members to roadside accidents.”

TRPC secretary

Eileen Colonese, who has several family members in the tow business, added, “I watch the DOT high way cameras when ever they go out and you see people speeding by, not even slowing down. You’d be surprised how many people recklessly drive by. For me it’s nerve wracking, I’m afraid for my family.”

Nationwide, tow drivers have 15 times higher risk of on-the-job death than the average American employ ee, according to a 2019 study by the

National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. The average an nual death rate was 43 per 100,000 workers, according to the Center of Fatal Occupational Injuries, with the top cause being an impact from a passing vehicle.

Source: courant.com

facebook.com

A big turnout of tow trucks and tow companies gathered for a Move Over Event organized by the Towing and Recovery Professionals of Connecticut.

Tower Gets Recognition for National Award

Wisconsin tower Chris Nieman, who owns Nieman’s Towing Service in Wis consin Rapids, was nominated by nine fire departments for The Order of Tow man’s Award.

“I just couldn’t believe it,” Nieman said. “I kept opening every single one and it was a different fire chief from a different fire department.”

Chris took over Nieman’s Towing Service in 2005. His grandfather started the business in 1945.

“There’s nobody more profession al and nobody that cares more about the community and dedicated to it than Chris Nieman,” said Wisconsin Rapids Fire Chief, Todd Eckes.

Nieman will travel to Baltimore in No vember to accept the award.

Source:waow.com

Move Over Event for Blake

In Kansas City, Missouri towers hon ored the life of fallen tower Blake Gresh am while spreading awareness of the Move Over Law. Gresham, who was hit and killed 10 years ago while helping a stranded driver on a bridge, worked as a tow truck driver for his family company.

Move Over for Blake, a nonprof it committed to raising public safety awareness for towers and other emer gency personnel on the roadways, host ed the tenth annual Light the Sky event at Berkley Riverfront Park.

“Every year on his anniversary, a bunch of tow companies come together for this. Once it gets dark, then every body’s going to turn on their lights,” Amy Gresham said.

Dozens of companies came togeth er to spread awareness for drivers to slow down and move over and to re mind drivers of the high fatality rates of towers. The money raised from the sale of T-shirts will go towards placing bill boards in the Kansas City area encour aging drivers to recognize emergency workers on the roadway and move over and slow down.

Source: kmbc.com

News flash

Rising Tow Rates in Virginia

Motorists in Spotsylvania County, Virginia will see the cost of tows ris ing. New rates—the first increase since 2014—were set at the Board of Super visors meeting on August 9 after a pub lic hearing. The rates apply only to calls that come in through law enforcement and not public calls involving vehicles on private property. These rates cover nu merous categories of towing, including incidents such as crashes and aban doned vehicles on public property.

The rate for a basic tow was $275 and is now $325 during regular daytime hours. After-hours rates will increase from $300 to $375. Administrative fees will jump from $150 to $250. Standby fees were $75 per hour with a maximum of $300 and are now $100 per hour with a cap of $400. The cleanup rate will in crease from $25 to $50.

Rates for heavy-duty tow truck calls were $450 for the first two hours, and are now $800. After the first two hours, those fees will increase from $100 to $200 per hour. Administrative fees will change from $150 to $250.

The major reason cited for the rising rates is due to the rising costs of operat ing a tow truck.

Source: fredericksburg.com

NY Representative Introduces Clean-Up Bill

Long Island legislator Nick Caracap pa, a representative of Suffolk County, New York, introduced the “Crash Site Clean Up” bill, which states that tow truck operators called to the scene of an accident or disablement shall clean up any debris in the surrounding area resulting from the vehicle(s) they are towing to the satisfaction of the law en forcement or authorized representative on the scene.

NY Representative Nick Caracappa introduced a bill to ensure onsite cleanup.

This in cludes clean ing up any oil, coolant, or gas that the vehicle(s) in volved spilled on the road. Also, the tow truck opera tors will now be required to carry a liq uid absorbing substance, shovel, broom, and a container to collect debris.

Legislator Caracappa stated, “Re maining accident debris in our road ways becomes a dangerous hazard for motor vehicles and even more so for motorcycles. It is incumbent upon all parties to ensure the safest possi ble passage for our families, friends and loved ones.”

Source: longisland.com

Eldon Kuntz, CTTA Officer, Passes

Eldon M. Kuntz, who held many po sitions with the Cal ifornia Tow Truck Association (CTTA), passed away on Au gust 9, 2022. Tow ers came out in pro cession on August 25 to honor his life. Kuntz, 77, is sur vived by his wife of 51 years, Judy; his son, Keenan (Gina); “adopted” children, Shannon (Mark) and Jerome (Tiffany) their children Amelie and Max; his broth ers, Mitch (Tina) and Joel; along with many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Born in Dickinson, N.D., he settled in California in the late 1960s and was a business owner for over 40 years. A longtime member of CTTA represent ing the Central Valley Chapter, he was a board member and held the office of Treasurer and Vice President.

Source: thedickinsonpress.com

Connecticut Towers Unite for Move Over Event

The Towing and Recovery Profes sionals of Connecticut (TRPC) held a Move Over event on Saturday, Sep tember 10, at X-Finity Theatre, bring ing together towers to remind mo torists of the Connecticut Move Over Law. The event showcased 56 tow trucks with more than 110 companies from across the state in attendance. Before arriving at Xfinity, the trucks paraded down Interstate 91. Food trucks, ATV rides and tow-trucking competitions were part of the festiv ities.

“One of the biggest problems the industry faces is the inherent danger of roadside wreckage clearing,” point ed out Sal Sena, president of TRPC. “To complete a successful tow, work ers spend hours on the side of the

roads with cars sometimes recklessly whizzing by. In the past three years the towing industry in Connecticut has lost two members to roadside accidents.”

TRPC secretary Eileen Colonese, who has several family members in the tow business, added, “I watch the DOT highway cameras whenev er they go out and you see people speeding by, not even slowing down.

You’d be surprised how many people recklessly drive by. For me it’s nerve wracking, I’m afraid for my family.”

Nationwide, tow drivers have 15 times higher risk of on-the-job death than the average American employ ee, according to a 2019 study by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. The average an nual death rate was 43 per 100,000 workers, according to the Center of Fatal Occupational Injuries, with the top cause being an impact from a passing vehicle.

Source: courant.com facebook.com

A big turnout of tow trucks and tow companies gathered for a Move Over Event organized by the Towing and Recovery Professionals of Connecticut.

Tower Gets Recognition for National Award

Wisconsin tower Chris Nieman, who owns Nieman’s Towing Service in Wisconsin Rapids, was nominated by nine fire departments for The Or der of Towman’s Award.

“I just couldn’t believe it,” Nieman said. “I kept opening every single one and it was a different fire chief from a different fire department.”

Chris took over Nieman’s Tow ing Service in 2005. His grandfather

started the business in 1945.

“There’s nobody more profession al and nobody that cares more about the community and dedicated to it than Chris Nieman,” said Wisconsin Rapids Fire Chief, Todd Eckes.

Nieman will travel to Baltimore in November to accept the award.

Source:waow.com

Move Over Event for Blake

In Kansas City, Missouri towers honored the life of fallen tower Blake Gresham while spreading awareness of the Move Over Law. Gresham, who was hit and killed 10 years ago while helping a stranded driver on a bridge, worked as a tow truck driver for his family company.

Move Over for Blake, a nonprof it committed to raising public safe ty awareness for towers and other

HERO Nominate a

emergency personnel on the road ways, hosted the tenth annual Light the Sky event at Berkley Riverfront Park.

“Every year on his anniversary, a bunch of tow companies come to gether for this. Once it gets dark, then everybody’s going to turn on their lights,” Amy Gresham said.

Dozens of companies came to gether to spread awareness for driv ers to slow down and move over and to remind drivers of the high fatality rates of towers. The money raised from the sale of T-shirts will go to wards placing billboards in the Kan sas City area encouraging drivers to recognize emergency workers on the roadway and move over and slow down.

Source: kmbc.com

Do you know a tower who risked their life to save another while on the job?

Tower Chris Nieman receives multiple nomina tions from fire chiefs in central Wisconsin.

News flash

time hours. After-hours rates will in crease from $300 to $375. Admin istrative fees will jump from $150 to $250. Standby fees were $75 per hour with a maximum of $300 and are now $100 per hour with a cap of $400. The cleanup rate will increase from $25 to $50.

Rising Tow Rates in Virginia

Motorists in Spotsylvania Coun ty, Virginia will see the cost of tows rising. New rates—the first increase since 2014—were set at the Board of Supervisors meeting on August 9 after a public hearing. The rates ap ply only to calls that come in through law enforcement and not public calls involving vehicles on private property. These rates cover numerous cate gories of towing, including incidents such as crashes and abandoned ve hicles on public property.

The rate for a basic tow was $275 and is now $325 during regular day

Rates for heavy-duty tow truck calls were $450 for the first two hours, and are now $800. After the first two hours, those fees will in crease from $100 to $200 per hour. Administrative fees will change from $150 to $250.

The major reason cited for the ris ing rates is due to the rising costs of operating a tow truck.

Source: fredericksburg.com

NY Representative Introduces Clean-Up Bill

Long Island legislator Nick Cara cappa, a representative of Suffolk County, New York, introduced the

“Crash Site Clean Up” bill, which states that tow truck operators called to the scene of an accident or dis ablement shall clean up any debris in the surrounding area resulting from the vehicle(s) they are towing to the satisfaction of the law enforcement or authorized representative on the scene.

This includes cleaning up any oil, coolant, or gas that the vehicle(s) in volved spilled on the road. Also, the tow truck operators will now be re quired to carry a liquid absorbing substance, shovel, broom, and a container to collect debris.

Legislator Caracappa stated, “Re maining accident debris in our road ways becomes a dangerous hazard for motor vehicles and even more so for motorcycles. It is incumbent upon all parties to ensure the safest possi ble passage for our families, friends and loved ones.”

Source: longisland.com

Donnie Cruse Recovery Award

by:

Tow Yards in Santa Fe Hit with Break-ins

According to the Santa Fe New Mexican newspaper, break-ins at tow yards are occurring on a frequent ba sis.

“I know every other tow company in the area; everyone around me, they get hit almost every other night,” said Chris Aragon, who owns a tow yard.

Lauren Richardson, a dispatcher with Anaya’s Roadrunner Wrecker Service, said break-ins have become

almost a daily occurrence, which can be costly as the tow yard is liable for each vehicle on its property. She said it’s common to see people’s person al items and documentation ripped from the vehicle, which, depending on the damage, can range between hundreds to thousands of dollars. According to her, tow companies are prohibited from securing personal property from vehicles.

Santa Fe Police Department Pa trol Capt. Bryan Martinez said police have attempted to address the tow yards’ complaints, including installing a mobile camera unit near the prob lem areas for about six weeks, which seemed to cut into the number of break-ins, but not stop them.

“We have done several things to try to combat that,” Martinez said. “We have conducted close patrols; we are doing reports in the areas; we urge the business owners to contact [police] whenever they do have a bur glary.”

Source: news.yahoo.com

Eldon Kuntz, CTTA Officer, Passes

Eldon M. Kuntz, who held many po sitions with the Cal ifornia Tow Truck Association (CTTA), passed away on August 9, 2022. Towers came out in procession on Au gust 25 to honor his life. Kuntz, 77, is survived by his wife of 51 years, Judy; his son, Keenan (Gina); “ad opted” children, Shannon (Mark) and Jerome (Tiffany) their children Amelie and Max; his brothers, Mitch (Tina) and Joel; along with many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Born in Dickinson, N.D., he settled in California in the late 1960s and was a business owner for over 40 years. A longtime member of CTTA represent ing the Central Valley Chapter, he was a board member and held the office of Treasurer and Vice President.

Source: thedickinsonpress.com

Tower Gets Recognition for National Award

Wisconsin tower Chris Nieman, who owns Nieman’s Towing Service in Wis consin Rapids, was nominated by nine fire departments for The Order of Tow man’s Award.

“I just couldn’t believe it,” Nieman said. “I kept opening every single one and it was a different fire chief from a different fire department.”

Chris Nieman

Chris took over Nieman’s Towing Service in 2005. His grandfather started the business in 1945.

“There’s nobody more profession al and nobody that cares more about the community and dedicated to it than Chris Nieman,” said Wisconsin Rapids Fire Chief, Todd Eckes.

Nieman will travel to Baltimore in No vember to accept the award.

Source:waow.com

HERO Nominate a

Do you know a tower who risked their life to save another while on the job?

News flash

time hours. After-hours rates will in crease from $300 to $375. Admin istrative fees will jump from $150 to $250. Standby fees were $75 per hour with a maximum of $300 and are now $100 per hour with a cap of $400. The cleanup rate will increase from $25 to $50.

Rising Tow Rates in Virginia

Motorists in Spotsylvania Coun ty, Virginia will see the cost of tows rising. New rates—the first increase since 2014—were set at the Board of Supervisors meeting on August 9 after a public hearing. The rates ap ply only to calls that come in through law enforcement and not public calls involving vehicles on private property. These rates cover numerous cate gories of towing, including incidents such as crashes and abandoned ve hicles on public property.

The rate for a basic tow was $275 and is now $325 during regular day

Rates for heavy-duty tow truck calls were $450 for the first two hours, and are now $800. After the first two hours, those fees will in crease from $100 to $200 per hour. Administrative fees will change from $150 to $250.

The major reason cited for the ris ing rates is due to the rising costs of operating a tow truck.

Source: fredericksburg.com

NY Representative Introduces Clean-Up Bill

Long Island legislator Nick Cara cappa, a representative of Suffolk County, New York, introduced the

“Crash Site Clean Up” bill, which states that tow truck operators called to the scene of an accident or dis ablement shall clean up any debris in the surrounding area resulting from the vehicle(s) they are towing to the satisfaction of the law enforcement or authorized representative on the scene.

This includes cleaning up any oil, coolant, or gas that the vehicle(s) in volved spilled on the road. Also, the tow truck operators will now be re quired to carry a liquid absorbing substance, shovel, broom, and a container to collect debris.

Legislator Caracappa stated, “Re maining accident debris in our road ways becomes a dangerous hazard for motor vehicles and even more so for motorcycles. It is incumbent upon all parties to ensure the safest possi ble passage for our families, friends and loved ones.”

Source: longisland.com

2022 Donnie Cruse Recovery Award

by:

Tow Yards in Santa Fe Hit with Break-ins

According to the Santa Fe New Mexican newspaper, break-ins at tow yards are occurring on a frequent ba sis.

“I know every other tow company in the area; everyone around me, they get hit almost every other night,” said Chris Aragon, who owns a tow yard.

Lauren Richardson, a dispatcher with Anaya’s Roadrunner Wrecker Service, said break-ins have become

almost a daily occurrence, which can be costly as the tow yard is liable for each vehicle on its property. She said it’s common to see people’s person al items and documentation ripped from the vehicle, which, depending on the damage, can range between hundreds to thousands of dollars. According to her, tow companies are prohibited from securing personal property from vehicles.

Santa Fe Police Department Pa trol Capt. Bryan Martinez said police have attempted to address the tow yards’ complaints, including installing a mobile camera unit near the prob lem areas for about six weeks, which seemed to cut into the number of break-ins, but not stop them.

“We have done several things to try to combat that,” Martinez said. “We have conducted close patrols; we are doing reports in the areas; we urge the business owners to contact [police] whenever they do have a bur glary.”

Source: news.yahoo.com

Eldon Kuntz, CTTA Officer, Passes

Eldon M. Kuntz, who held many po sitions with the Cal ifornia Tow Truck Association (CTTA), passed away on August 9, 2022. Towers came out in procession on Au gust 25 to honor his life. Kuntz, 77, is survived by his wife of 51 years, Judy; his son, Keenan (Gina); “ad opted” children, Shannon (Mark) and Jerome (Tiffany) their children Amelie and Max; his brothers, Mitch (Tina) and Joel; along with many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Born in Dickinson, N.D., he settled in California in the late 1960s and was a business owner for over 40 years. A longtime member of CTTA represent ing the Central Valley Chapter, he was a board member and held the office of Treasurer and Vice President.

Source: thedickinsonpress.com

News flash

time hours. After-hours rates will in crease from $300 to $375. Admin istrative fees will jump from $150 to $250. Standby fees were $75 per hour with a maximum of $300 and are now $100 per hour with a cap of $400. The cleanup rate will increase from $25 to $50.

Rising Tow Rates in Virginia

Motorists in Spotsylvania Coun ty, Virginia will see the cost of tows rising. New rates—the first increase since 2014—were set at the Board of Supervisors meeting on August 9 after a public hearing. The rates ap ply only to calls that come in through law enforcement and not public calls involving vehicles on private property. These rates cover numerous cate gories of towing, including incidents such as crashes and abandoned ve hicles on public property.

The rate for a basic tow was $275 and is now $325 during regular day

Rates for heavy-duty tow truck calls were $450 for the first two hours, and are now $800. After the first two hours, those fees will in crease from $100 to $200 per hour. Administrative fees will change from $150 to $250.

The major reason cited for the ris ing rates is due to the rising costs of operating a tow truck.

Source: fredericksburg.com

NY Representative Introduces Clean-Up Bill

Long Island legislator Nick Cara cappa, a representative of Suffolk County, New York, introduced the

“Crash Site Clean Up” bill, which states that tow truck operators called to the scene of an accident or dis ablement shall clean up any debris in the surrounding area resulting from the vehicle(s) they are towing to the satisfaction of the law enforcement or authorized representative on the scene.

This includes cleaning up any oil, coolant, or gas that the vehicle(s) in volved spilled on the road. Also, the tow truck operators will now be re quired to carry a liquid absorbing substance, shovel, broom, and a container to collect debris.

Legislator Caracappa stated, “Re maining accident debris in our road ways becomes a dangerous hazard for motor vehicles and even more so for motorcycles. It is incumbent upon all parties to ensure the safest possi ble passage for our families, friends and loved ones.”

Source: longisland.com

Tow Yards in Santa Fe Hit with Break-ins

According to the Santa Fe New Mex ican newspaper, break-ins at tow yards are occurring on a frequent basis.

“I know every other tow company in the area; everyone around me, they get hit almost every other night,” said Chris Aragon, who owns a tow yard.

Lauren Richardson, a dispatcher with Anaya’s Roadrunner Wrecker Service, said break-ins have become almost a daily occurrence, which can be costly as the tow yard is liable for each vehicle on its property. She said it’s common to see people’s personal items and documen tation ripped from the vehicle, which, depending on the damage, can range between hundreds to thousands of dol lars. According to her, tow companies are prohibited from securing personal property from vehicles.

Santa Fe Police Department Patrol Capt. Bryan Martinez said police have attempted to address the tow yards’ complaints, including installing a ◀

mobile camera unit near the prob lem areas for about six weeks, which seemed to cut into the number of break-ins, but not stop them.

“We have done several things to try to combat that,” Martinez said. “We have conducted close patrols; we are doing reports in the areas; we urge the business owners to contact [police] whenever they do have a bur glary.”

Source: news.yahoo.com

Tower Gets Recognition for National Award

Wisconsin tower Chris Nieman, who owns Nieman’s Towing Service in Wisconsin Rapids, was nominated by nine fire departments for The Or der of Towman’s Award.

“I just couldn’t believe it,” Nieman said. “I kept opening every single one and it was a different fire chief from a different fire department.”

Chris took over Nieman’s Tow ing Service in 2005. His grandfather started the business in 1945.

“There’s nobody more profession al and nobody that cares more about the community and dedicated to it than Chris Nieman,” said Wisconsin Rapids Fire Chief, Todd Eckes.

Nieman will travel to Baltimore in November to accept the award.

Source:waow.com

Connecticut Towers Unite for Move Over Event

The Towing and Recovery Profes sionals of Connecticut (TRPC) held a Move Over event on Saturday, Sep tember 10, at X-Finity Theatre, bring

ing together towers to remind mo torists of the Connecticut Move Over Law. The event showcased 56 tow trucks with more than 110 companies from across the state in attendance. Before arriving at Xfinity, the trucks paraded down Interstate 91. Food trucks, ATV rides and tow-trucking competitions were part of the festiv ities.

“One of the biggest problems the industry faces is the inherent danger of roadside wreckage clearing,” pointed out Sal Sena, president of TRPC. “To complete a successful tow, workers spend hours on the side of the roads

A big turnout of tow trucks and tow companies gathered for a Move Over Event organized by the Towing and Recovery Professionals of Connecticut.

with cars sometimes recklessly whiz zing by. In the past three years the towing industry in Connecticut has lost two members to roadside acci dents.”

TRPC secretary Eileen Colonese, who has several family members in the tow business, added, “I watch the DOT highway cameras whenev er they go out and you see people speeding by, not even slowing down. You’d be surprised how many people recklessly drive by. For me it’s nerve wracking, I’m afraid for my family.”

Nationwide, tow drivers have 15 times higher risk of on-the-job death than the average American employ ee, according to a 2019 study by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. The average an nual death rate was 43 per 100,000 workers, according to the Center of Fatal Occupational Injuries, with the top cause being an impact from a passing vehicle.

Source: courant.com facebook.com

HERO Nominate a

Do you know a tower who risked their life to save another while on the job?