American Towman Magazine - November 2018 by dortiz-towman

AmericanTowman.com

TowIndustryWeek.com

Cover Shot: Reynolds Towing in Urbana, Illinois, hoisting the Flag for the Spirit Ride cermony on October 11.

Departments The Walkaround . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6

FEATURE CONTENTS

News Share . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8

Working Heavy

Road Tools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10

Outfit your HD wreckers with what you need; stay clear of as much “I-think-I-might-need” equipment as possible. by Paul Stephens

Seminar Spotlight . . . . . . . . . . . .24 Ad Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .34 Tow Engineer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .36 Tow Boss . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .42 Tow Manager . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .46

Bigg-Time Service

Tow Boss . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .68

Recovery support truck from Mickey Bigg’s shop in upstate New York has everything you need on a recovery scene.

Repo Run . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .72

by AT staff

Towman’s Market . . . . . . . . . . . .78

Beacons On! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .62

My Baby. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .80 Low Down . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .82 Adventures of A.T. . . . . . . . . . . . .89

Winning with Motor Clubs Tips and tricks to include motor-club service calls in your bottom line more efficiently and effectively. by Erin Berg

Kids and Spirit The inside of the Mickey Bigg’s service truck that won first place at the AT Expo’s American Wrecker Pageant is a study in "a place for everything and everything in its place."

Kids were omnipresent at Spirit Ride ceremonies. by Steve Calitri

Raise the Flag Towing’s patriotism has never been more evident. by Steve Calitri

4 • November 2018 - TOWMAN.COM

AT Expo and Incident Response Awareness Week by Dennie Ortiz

Which came first, in Chattanooga, Tennessee, (as well the chicken or the as its many years in the past) we lose egg? This question too many too soon. Danny, now as a has sparked count- tow truck salesman, says he makes less philosophical every effort with every customer to debates over the years, ensure they are as safe as possible and with no conclusive working on the roadside. American Towman identified the agreements. Now, for the question of which came first in the third week of dire need to raise awareness directly November—the American Towman among motorists on the dangers Exposition or the National Traffic faced and the need to pay tribute to Incident Response Awareness the many lives that have been lost. In Week—most of us know the answer: so doing, AT created The Spirit Ride that has crossed the AT Expo. country four times Last year, the U.S. over and brought Department of Transtremendous media portation launched a The timing attention to these peryearlong effort to raise ils. The Spirit Ride motorist awareness of the of these tour has made thoudangers that first responsands more people ders, public safety protwo events aware of the Move fessionals and utility Over laws and the workers face on the roadis perfectly basic need to be mindside. The DOT effort to ful of those working prevent responder, driver matched. on the roadways and passenger deaths whose lives are at risk. culminated with this recThe Spirit Ride ognized week. The timing of these two events is will directly participate in this year’s perfectly matched. As an organiza- National Traffic Incident Response tion, American Towman has pro- Week media event that includes a moted the extreme importance of major recovery demonstration, fire safe practices for tow operators over equipment, police vehicles to display the course of our 42 years in publish- for the media at major incidents. Later in the week, the Baltimore ing the magazine and for the 30 years we have produced the Exposi- Convention Center opens its doors to thousands of towing professionals tion in Baltimore. In speaking with industry veteran and suppliers who will all be a part Danny Horton, who was inducted of the 30th Annual AT Expo … a into the Towing Hall of Fame this milestone we hope you will share year, our conversation revisited how with us. Hope to see you there and as dangerous it still is to operate on the roadways. As evidenced this year always … be safe! with the Wall of the Fallen ceremony

6 • November 2018 - TOWMAN.COM

Dennie Ortiz Steve Calitri Brendan Dooley Charles Duke Randall Resch Terry Abejuela Jim “Buck” Sorrenti David Kolman Bill Simmons Emily Oz Mark Lacek

Publisher Editor-In-Chief Editor Senior Editor Operations Editor Field Editor, West Field Editor, Northeast Chassis Editor Safety Editor On Screen Editor Repo Run Editor

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

Dallas, Texas Saint Paul, Minn. Las Vegas, Nev. Greensboro, N.C. South Hadley, Mass. Warren, N.J. Creve Coeur, Ill.

American Towman Staff Ann Marie Nitti Dennie Ortiz Ellen Rosengart Norma Calitri Jimmy Santos Toni Vanderhorst Henri Calitri Patrice Gesner William Burwell Peggy Calabrese Ryan Oser Emily Oz Bob Aglione Steve Calitri

Page Layout Artist Advertising Sales Mgr. Senior Account Exec. VP of Accounts General Manager Publisher’s Assistant Customer Service Subscription Manager TIW Media Director Regional Advertising Sales iMarketing Manager ATTV Producer Communications Director President

American Towman Media Headquarters 2 Overlook Drive, Suite 5, Warwick, NY 10990 800-732-3869 or 845-986-4546 E-mail: Publisher: dortiz@towman.com Editor-In-Chief: scalitri@towman.com Editor: bdooley@towman.com AT’S Digital Edition: itowman.com AT’S Website: americantowman.com AT’S Weekly: towindustryweek.com ATTV: americantowmantv.com Copyright ©2018 American Towman Magazine is published 12 times a year by American Towman Media, Inc. Subscription: Single Copy: $10 1 yr: $60 – 2 yrs: $110 International: $75 & $135 All material published through American Towman Media (AT), to include American Towman Magazine, iTowman.com and TowIndustryWeek.com, including advertisements, editorials, articles and all other content is published in good faith. However, AT accepts no liability for any errors or omissions, and does not endorse any companies, products or services that appear. AT does not test or review products submitted for inclusion in its publications. AT does not accept responsibility for the accuracy of content, warranties or claims made or implied by its advertisers. The views expressed are the authors’ alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of AT. The act of mailing or delivering a letter, email or article to AT shall constitute permission to publish that letter or article or any portion thereof. AT reserves the right to edit any and all material submitted. No part of the magazine or websites may be reproduced without prior written consent of AT.

STA Wants Strict Move Over

The Statewide Towing Association has called for the Move Over law in Massachusetts to mandate a 20-mph reduction in the posted speed limit for vehicles encountering an emergency scene and for that slow down to begin 100’ before reaching that scene. Todd Chase, STA spokesperson, said changes are needed across the U.S. “(Nationwide) a tow operator is killed on the side of the road every six days. They’re getting cars brushing by them at 65 to 85 miles per hour. I think we’re going to see not only more tow operator deaths, but first responder deaths,” he said. The Massachusetts Move Over Law imposes a fine of $100. The STA wants to see that fine bumped up and additional penalties added, including the possibility of jail time and loss of license. Source: boston25news.com.

Spirit Ride Gets ‘Thumbs Up’

In the October issue of “The State Journal-Register” from Springfield, Illinois, the paper’s editorial board gave the Spirit Ride a “thumbs up.” The board said: “The Spirit Ride uses more than 10,000 tow trucks to transport a symbolic casket across the country as a reminder to motorists to slow down for safety reasons when a disabled vehicle is on the side of the road. “The Springfield area knows all too well the dangers first responders and tow-truck operators face when they are assisting others along roadways: In December, tow truck operator Ronald Chaney of Springfield was killed on Interstate 72 between MacArthur Boulevard and Veterans Parkway while picking up a disabled automobile. “The Spirit Ride is organized by American Towman Spirit, Inc. We appreciate them for bringing this tribute to our town, and for any local companies that took part.” Source: sj-r.com. 8 • November 2018 - TOWMAN.COM

Towing HOF Adds Eight Eight towing industry leaders recently were welcomed into the International Towing and Recovery Hall of Fame and Museum in this year’s induction ceremony in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Added in the 2018 HOF class were: Michael Aspesi, Ted’s of Fayville Inc., Southborough, Massachusetts; Scott Burrows, Burrows Wrecker Service, Pendleton, Kentucky; John Coldwell, Institute of Vehicle Recovery, Bury St. Edmonds, Suffolk, England; Rene Fortin, New Hampshire Towing Association, Manchester, New Hampshire; Danny Horton, Atlantic Emergency Solutions, Manassas, Virginia; Cynthia Martineau, Towing and Recovery Association of America; Glenn Neal, Vacaville Tow Inc., Vacaville, California; and Geri Roskopf, Roskopf’s Towing and Service, Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin.

Eight new members were inducted into the International Towing and Recovery Hall of Fame this year in Chattanooga, Tennessee. menafn.com image.

“This year’s inductees are truly worthy of the highest honor we can bestow on a person in the towing industry,” said Bill Gratzianna, president of the towing museum. ”It’s always a joy to get to know each of the inductees better, and an honor to be president when such great people are inducted.” Source: menafn.com.

Tow Charity Raises $1,000

for Kids Christmas Toys A team of Murray (Kentucky) Fire Department employees won the Towing for Toys Tow Truck Pull in 10.1 seconds. murrayledger.com image.

In Murray, Kentucky, Max’s 641 Towing runs a charity that distributes toys to needy children at Christmas. This year, its Towing for Toys Tow Truck Pull event raised about $1,000 from entry fees in a contest won by local firefighters. A team of Murray (Kentucky) Fire Department employees won by pulling a truck full of donated toys to

the goal in 10.1 seconds. The Murray High School football team had the second best time at 10.5 seconds, and third place was a team from Murray State University’s Lambda Chi Alpha chapter with 10.89 seconds. Other first responders and law enforcement teams were participants as well. Source: murrayledger.com.

. . . trying to make some peace with it . . . Free TIM Training Offered A free four-hour traffic incident training class will be conducted by Patrick Rooney, coordinator for the TIM Responder Training Program for the Federal Highway Administration, and Patrick Majewski, WreckMaster lead instructor, at the American Towman Exposition on Friday, Nov. 16, from 8 a.m. to noon. The comprehensive TIM training was developed by responders, for responders. It was designed to promote consistent training towards the TIM National Unified Goal: responder safety, safe and quick clearance and prompt, reliable, interoperable communications. Participants will engage in interactive, hands-on incident-resolution exercises. They will learn to coordinate response activities and optimize operations that are vital to responding effectively in the field in building a unified national practice on incident management. Source: AT staff.

AAA Terminates Impound Tower AAA ended its relationship with Michigan’s Breakthrough Towing following a viral video that alleged the company was “running a scam” at a Detroit McDonald’s that may have resulted in customers getting towed. The auto club said it terminated the company following an investigation. “While the video is not referencing a AAA-related service request, the actions and behavior seen in this video are in no way tolerated and do not reflect the values of the AAA brand,” said Susan Hiltz, a spokeswoman with AAA of Michigan. Breakthrough Towing could not be reached for comment at press time. Sources: metrotimes.com, wxyz.com. Work the non-traffic side–Stay Safe!

Tower’s Book Details Roadside Heartbreak Having spent most of his working life as a tower, Jesse Sensibar said the job was “constantly surrounded by sudden, tragic loss of life.” He said his life towing vehicles in Flagstaff, Arizona, is what has shaped him the most. Living that close to death affected him, changed him. Over the years he’d tow many Jesse Sensibar wrote a book about wrecked vehicles from the highways. tragedies he’s been part of as a Often at the locations of the accidents, towman. azdailysun.com image. Sensibar would later see makeshift shrines and memorials pop up with images, objects and stories attached to them, connections to people lost. “They weren’t just these weird distractions on the road. I mean to some people they’re just a distraction, and to other people, they’re kind of folk art,” said Sensibar. “But to me, they really came to have kind of a profound meaning.” In 2005 he began documenting the shrines, posting photos and short descriptions of them on Facebook. Along with a collection of 10 short stories and non-fiction vignettes, Sensibar compiled the posts in a book, “Blood in the Asphalt: Prayers from the Highway.” “I’ve seen things and have been involved in things that won’t ever leave me,” said Sensibar. “And I think part of it is about trying to attach some meaning to it and some value to it and part of it is about trying to make some peace with it in my own mind.” Source: azdailysun.com.

Memorial Signs Dedicated to Towmen The Ohio Turnpike and Infrastructure Commission recently dedicated three Ohio Turnpike Memorial Signs in honor of five men from northwest Ohio. Among the five honorees were three towmen—David R. Lescher, Frank Protzman Jr. and Jeff Hotz— who were killed in this same region in 1995, 2002 and 2003, respectively. The Commission also honored two maintenance employees from the Castalia Maintenance Building who were killed in 1970. The OSHP and Ohio Turnpike teamed up in 2017 to conduct and publicize aerial speed enforcement in and near work zones and is doing so again in 2018. Because of these efforts, together, the Patrol and Commission saw a 21.5-percent decrease in the number of traffic crashes in

Family of late towman David Lescher and Randy Cole (far left), executive director of the Ohio Turnpike. Lescher, and four other workers killed on the Ohio Turnpike, recently were honored with memorial signs. 13abc.com image.

work zones in 2017 (from 349 to 274). This campaign also led to a 44percent decrease in the number of injury crashes (from 84 to 51). Most importantly, there were no fatal crashes in work zones in 2017. Source: 13abc.com.

AMERICANTOWMAN.COM - November 2018 • 9

Check Out What’s NEW and HOT! More Cranking Amps for Weego 44, 66 Weego’s new jump-starting compact power packs, Weego 44 and Weego 66, are spec’d out with 10-percent more true cranking amps. Weego 66 now offers 660 cranking amps (2,500 peak amps), while Weego 44 increased to 440 cranking amps (2,100 peak amps). The power packs were built for outdoor enthusiasts and professionals alike, according to the company, “including tow operators doing multiple jumps a day.” The

Weego 44 also now includes AutoBoost technology (already built into the 66). The technology enhances the jump-starting experience for lowvoltage vehicle batteries. With AutoBoost, maximum power is automatically sent to dead batteries (down to 0.5 volt) without an override button, which can compromise safety.

myweego.com

Fuel-Saving Toyo Super Singles Toyo Tire USA Corp. recently launched two fuelefficient super singles, the Nanoenergy M675 long-haul drive tire and the Nanoenergy M175 long-haul trailer tire. Both feature new lowrolling resistance tread compounds. The M175 and M675 super singles feature proprietary Nano Balance Technology that minimizes fuel

consumption while improving grip. The M675 drive tire has a six-groove design and 24/32” tread depth, while the seven-groove M175 freerolling trailer tire has a tread depth of 13/32”. These two tires also incorporate Toyo’s e-balance technology that the company said reduces irregular wear and increases overall longevity.

toyotires.com/commercial

Compact, Foldable Ken-Tool Multi-Lug Wrench Ken-Tool’s new Stow & Go heavy-duty lug wrench (No. 35636) offers a fold-away design that allows the wrench to be compactly stowed when not in use. The moveable arms easily swing and lock into the 90-degree position, plus the arms can be slid within the locking hub to create greater leverage when removing and tightening a lug nut. The Stow & Go features three fixed (17mm, 19mm and 21mm) lug-nut sockets, plus a 1/2” square-drive adapter to use other sockets. It also doubles as a heavy-duty, hightorque wrench for removal of other bolts or nuts.

kentool.com 10 • November 2018 - TOWMAN.COM

Rotary Lift Heavy-Duty Two-Post Lifts Offer Capacity, Versatility

otary Lift’s new heavy-duty two-post lifts, the SPO16 and SPO20, offer the company’s highest capacity in the segment. Both feature Rotary’s award-winning Trio arms and available Shockwave technology. With lifting capacities of 16,000 lbs. (4,000 lbs. per arm) and 20,000 lbs. (5,000 lbs. per arm), these heavyduty lifts are ideal for servicing most work trucks; the Trio arm design also accommodates smaller vehicles, like SUVs and cars, making them a great choice for mixed fleets and service centers. Trio arms use a proprietary three-stage design that enables technicians to move the arms into position to put adapters exactly where they’re needed for proper lifting. The arm swing of the SPO16/20 Trio is 22-percent greater than a standard two-stage arm, which

Work the non-traffic side–Stay Safe!

makes it possible to properly reach the lifting points on more passenger vehicles and Class 4 and 5 trucks. Rotary SPO16 and SPO20 two-post lifts can be optioned with the company’s Shockwave technology for faster raising/lowering. Shockwave-equipped lifts are battery-powered and have onboard chargers. Shockwave-equipped lifts come with Rotary’s Spotline laser-spotting guide that makes it easier to center a vehicle between the lift columns. The SPO16 and SPO20 come equipped with rubber adapters for pinch welds and height adapters to reach recessed frames. Both can be fitted with LockLight, an optional lift accessory that uses an illuminated green light to show technicians if a vehicle lift is resting on its locks and ready to be serviced.

rotarylift.com AMERICANTOWMAN.COM - November 2018 • 11

Heavy Working

Outfitting Your Heavy-Duty Truck for Every Day Use by Paul Stephens

hen outfitting a truck to handle almost any situation that may arise, there is a fine line between items you need and items you might use. There will always be the occasional-use item that could make a recovery a lot easier or help a customer get back on the road quicker vs. waiting for another driver. There are many options to choose from when purchasing a new truck, but when you acquire a pre-owned you undoubtably will end up with whatever was left on the unit when you purchased it. Heavy-duty owners like to reuse as much equipment as possible, so when they trade or sell they tend to leave only the bare basics in the truck’s tool compartments. This can sometimes cause problems for the dealer when it comes to resale, as they may not want to invest more money in equipment. When deciding on a purchase— or if you are attempting to outfit your current unit for everyday use in recovery, towing, transport, lifting, or road service—there are thousands of equipment items available, but only so much storage space on your truck. Continued on p. 14.

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The most important thing about chain is to make sure you choose the right options for your applications; having only a few can severely limit your abilities.

... continued from p. 12 The Basics Let’s start with the basics that are usually manufacturer, dealer or previous-owner supplied. You will typically get the basic axle-fork package (around seven sets), an auxiliary tow light, air hose, tow chains, safety chains and possibly a toolbox. One noticeable thing, new or used, is that you do not get a large amount of equipment when making a truck purchase unless you choose one of the many upfit packages and equipment options available from the dealer. There are an abundance of upgrades, supplies and useful items for purchase from distributors before taking delivery of the truck. Many owners opt to buy the truck and then outfit on their own before it goes into service. Where do you start? Start your research with trade magazines (like American Towman), online (TowIndustryWeek.com), supplier catalogues, talking to peers, etc. (I like to use the B/A Products catalogue from our dealer as well.)

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The best way to outfit your heavy duty is to get a piece of paper and start writing down the items you absolutely need (or want), then the items you will use a fair amount of the time, and lastly the items that might be helpful but are not crucial to daily use. This works well before purchasing any items so you can visualize where the pieces will sit within the storage compartments.

Organization Organization is key here as every item needs its own place so the operator knows exactly where its located at 2 a.m. in the rain. Toolboxes, shelving, hangers, hose reels, chain racks, etc. will allow you to maximize space available once you have a lay out for your boxes and large component storage. The next step is to decide on regular towing equipment. Exploring items such as fork risers, chain-sling adaptors, fifth-wheel plates, wheellift grids, U-bolt adaptors, spring hanger forks and more all need a safe place to be stored.

Chains The options for chains are endless, there are many combinations of Grade 80, Grade 100 and Grade 120 that can be purchased at any length, but pay close attention to the hooks you choose to put on those chains as this industry tends to gravitate towards grab hooks. Look for different combinations that help you do your job. Think outside the box, like Grade 100 Hi-Vis 1/2” 10’ lengths with oblongs on one end. This different combination can be used for lifting, recovery or choking. The most important thing about chain is to make sure you choose the right options for your applications; having only a few can severely limit your abilities.

Straps, Shackles After chains, naturally the next items are straps. The usual continuous-loop strap kits and webbing recovery straps come in different sizes and lengths. Continued on p. 16

Snatch blocks are important items. I see a lot of trucks at shows with two; I always carry five or six.

... continued from p. 14 I have always gone in a different direction with our strap purchases, by this, I mean I do not usually take what the kits supply. I choose my straps by what applications I want to use the straps for, such as recovery. I have multiple different lengths of 8”, 10” and 12” web straps for uprighting or stabilizing, but I do not have the extra-long ones most people buy as they tend to be too long. I match the strap with the actual length of a trailer or box and then go a few feet past so as not to run out of wire rope when the strap stretches. Depending on what type of straps you purchase, you will also need specific shackles for the strap attachment. Webbing straps need webbing shackles, but beware of using webbing shackles for continuous loops as they will need a different style and can fail if not used properly. Have enough straps and shackles to efficiently do the job. 16 • November 2018 - TOWMAN.COM

Miscellany The list can start with one item you should have on all heavies: an extendable ladder. This can be a time saver, especially on a recovery. Synthetic rope slings with eye-to-eye loops on each end can be especially handy for going through a rim or fishing into a tight area. A fifth-wheel puller can save time on a tow by using it to pull chains under a rear end or between the tandems. A Sawzall can help in a jam cutting a bolt head or removing hanging parts, but be sure to keep multiple blade types. Several ratchet binders can also help solve problems on the road if a rear spring is broken or a steering arm is broken. Drivetrains can be a problem, having enough tools to remove any driveline or axle is paramount in heavy work. Standard and metric sockets are a start, but having good impact sockets will make life much easier. The most common with heavy opera-

tors are 1/2” impact guns. There are a lot of tools available so choose wisely among ratcheting wrenches, driveshaft removal tools, 12mm driveline sockets, 18mm driveline sockets, 3/8” impact sockets and breaker bars. (Some towers build their own by welding a breaker bar with a socket.) Be sure to have a pan for axle removal grease and another small empty bucket in case you need to pull all four. Snatch blocks are important items, but how many should you have? I see a lot of trucks at shows with two; I always carry five or six. This isn’t just for decreasing line load, but also to change direction … several times if needed. If you are not fully educated on a snatch block, get help when purchasing as wire rope size, application and more play into the actual size needed to maintain working load limits. Extendable dock poles will help

Continued on p. 18

... continued from p. 16 with reaching underneath without sticking your arm in there. Wood blocks of various sizes, auto-ratcheting straps and line markers are all nice additions if you can fit them.

It’s a good idea to keep extra rain suits, hard hats, gloves, safety vests and absorbents; all are important for helpers on a large recovery. It’s a good idea to keep extra rain suits, hard hats, gloves, safety vests and absorbents; all are important to keep stocked in the unit for helpers on a large recovery. Air fittings … you can never have enough. There are a lot of options out

18 • November 2018 - TOWMAN.COM

there from complete sets to individual DOT quick-connects. The first place to start is air lines that fit your purpose. Many operators are going to the 20’ to 25’ coiled style to keep them from pulling when turning or dragging on the ground. There are also uses for longer lines for trailer service connections or bypassing a glad hand to connect to a trailer. When choosing air fittings, make sure you plan ahead for any potential problems, have extra fittings for your own lines and have DOT quick-connect fittings for fast repairs. The newer trucks have Compucheck fittings and have several different styles, so be sure to have as many as possible. Caging pins are a must on every heavy duty; have at least 10 to 12 to be ready.

Other There are many more items to have but are not often thought of like plugs for diesel tank ruptures, a blowup baby pool from a toy store for a diesel leak catch pan, a spill kit with

absorbent pads and dykes. Time is critical with a leak, so having it onboard will at least mitigate the environmental impact. There is also a need for a first aid kit, but don’t just get a cheap one. Find a substantial kit from a medical supply shop. Traffic cones, stay dry, strap protectors, valve-core puller, truck tow pins, brooms, shovels, pallet puller, aluminum angle, 33mm sockets for wheels, safety glasses, ratchet straps in different sizes, brake buddy, assortments of bolts, washers, metal wire, wire butt connectors, spare fuses, sledgehammer, creeper—the list could go on and on. The important thing to remember is to have a use for the item before it goes into your truck and make sure you have what is needed to safely complete the task in front of you.

Paul Stephens is a towing industry trainer with more than 33 years of towing experience. He has served as a consultant for many automobile manufacturers, equipment manufacturers, and companies for service provider education, towability and road service procedures.

Move Over Gains National Support U.S. Congressman Andy Biggs of Arizona recently introduced a resolution supporting state Move Over laws, which require drivers to shift lanes

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away from tow trucks, police, and emergency vehicles whenever it is safe to do so. While recognizing the risks to all individuals engaged in roadside duty, this resolution especially highlights the underreported dangers faced by

the towing industry and expresses support for a “National Move Over Law Day,” ideally to be held the third Saturday in October. “After months of working on it, Arizona Congressman Andy Biggs introduced a national resolution for the third Saturday of every October to be considered National Move Over Law Day," said Angela Barnett, executive director of the Arizona Professional Towing & Recovery Association, in an email. "With the assistance of APTRA’s lobbyist and one of our member's lobbyists, the language was introduced to Congressman Biggs and he gladly accepted. ... This is a win for every responder in the nation.” “In 2017, nearly 50 tow truck operators lost their lives in America while performing roadside assistance—a devastating statistic that does not always receive the attention it deserves,” Biggs said in a statement. “These deaths, along with those of police and emergency personnel, are an enormous tragedy. I am happy to see that all 50 states have passed Move Over laws, and I encourage them to continue educating drivers everywhere to look out for tow truck drivers, first responders and other people assisting on the road.” Source: APTRA.

Work the non-traffic side–Stay Safe!

AMERICANTOWMAN.COM - November 2018 • 21

Exhibitor Roster 360 Payments

4 State Trucks pg. 31 AAA AASP-PA

Access Tools pg. 71

Agero Allstate Roadside Services Alpha Innovations Aluminum Wheels MFG Inc. Amdor

American Safety & Supply pg. 64 American Towman Mag. pg. S 87, M W 88, N 94 Anchor Graphics ARI-Hetra Arjex Tools AT&T

Atlanta Wrecker Sales pg. 75 Atlantic Emergency Solutions pg. N 96 Aussie Rimshine Austin Hinds Motors

Austin Insurance pg. N 90

Auto Data Direct Automotive Training Institute

AutoReturn pg. 33 B/A Products pg. 65 B&B Industries Bad Dog Tools BBSI Beacon Funding

Beacon Software pg. 75 Beijing Worldboson Best Tools Brekford Traffic Safety Capital One Services Car-Part.com Carvana Century

Chelsea Products Div. of Parker pg. 45 22 â&#x20AC;¢ November 2018 - TOWMAN.COM

Chesapeake Auto Equipment pg. N 92

Chevron

Chevron Commercial pg. 26 Comeup USA Commercial Fleet Financing Copart Auto Auctions

Crouch's Wrecker & Equip. Sales pg. 41 CTTA

Custer Products pg. 69 Custom Radio

Cutting Edge Automotive Solutions pg. 18 D & W Clutch & Brake

Danco Products pg. 43

Dangelo's Custom Built Mfg. DewEze Mfg. DK2 Warrior Winches DomTex Marketing DOT Tie Down

Driveline Buddy pg. N 84 Dual-Tech Wreckers & Carriers pg. 14 Dynamic Towing Equip. & Mfg. East Coast Truck & Trailer Sales

East Penn Truck Equipment pg. 32 ECCO eComply Edin Burg Truck, ETS Hobby shop Enovative Technologies

Environmental Chemical Solutions pg. 43 Excel Sportswear Eye3Data FCar Tech USA Federal Signal Find Truck Service First Business

Fleetway Capital Flitz International FlowStop Force America

Ford Commercial Vehicles pg. 5 Free State Nam Knights Galactic Global Gantt Insurance Agency Gear Jammer Magazine GEICO GetResqued.com Global Gadgets Globe Trailers GPS Pro

Gravity Payments pg. 76 Hale Trailer Brake & Wheel pg. N 83 Hino Trucks Holly's Towing Dispatch Holmes Honk Technologies Hooks Towing & Equipment I Tow In

INA / Wreaths Across America pg. N 87

insurancehub Int'l Towing & Recovery Hall of Fame & Museum Integrated Veh. Equip. Leasing

Intek Truck & Equip. Leasing/Financing pg. 33 International Trucks

Jerr-Dan Corp. pg. 13

Kalyn Siebert Kaper II, Inc / Wooody's Accessories Keen Utility

Fitzgerald Wrecker Sales pg. 63 Fleet Complete FleetDown FleetNet America

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

Landoll Corporation pg. 34 Legacy Plus Insurance pg. 53 Lift and Tow pg. 45 Lift Marketing Group Lodar USA

Easy online Registration @ ATExposition.com

Exhibitor roster as of October 15th

Lucky's Trailer Sales Lynch Truck Centers Magnetworks / Stamp Works

Manufacturer Express pg. 55

Marathon Business Card Program Marlow Ropes Martens Johnson Insurance

Maryland Carrier & Wrecker Sales pg. N 85 Matheny Motor Truck Co.

Matjack Jumbo Safelift pg. 91 McMahon Truck Center pg. M 87 Metro Tow Trucks pg. 20, 74 Midwest Keyless Midwest Wrecker

Miller Industries pg. 7

Millner-Haufen Tool Minute Man Wheel Lifts Mobile Binaries

Mobile Create USA pg. 77

Mobile Video Computing Solutions Motor Guardian Cam Muncie Power Products Myers Benner Corp. Mytee Products Nanjing Miao Run Sen Nation Safe Drivers (NSD) National Automobile Club National Interstate Insurance Co. Nite Beam Noco Jump Packs

NRC Industries pg. 47

NTTS Breakdown Directory Olson & Company Omadi

OMG National pg. N 91, S 88, M 85, W 86 OnlineParkingPass.com OnTrak Solutions Optotraffic Oswald Companies Penny Pockets Penske Truck Leasing People's United Equipment Finance Performance Advantage Company PGM Recovery Systems Phoenix USA Photo Card Specialists Podium Corp. Pop - A - Lock Power Tac Lights Inc. Powerhouse Industries Prime Industries Pro-Vision Video Systems Professional Dispatch Service Protech Industries Purpose Wrecker QuakeLED

Robert Young's NRC Sales & Service Rotary Lift RP Recovery Consulting Rydin Decal Samsara

TowMate pg. 26, 64 towPartners

TowToolz pg. 20

towXchange TowZing Tracker Management Sys. Trail-Eze Trailers Travis Barlow Insurance Trimble Truck Crane Solutions Trux Accessories TTN Fleet Solutions Tulsa Winch United Plastic Fabricating UPAS Group/ICOM North America

Santander Bank pg. 55, 92 ScaleIt Auto App pg. N 85

Sepson US Setcom Corporation Shanghai Jinli Special Rope Co.,Ltd Shanghai Tough Industrial Co.

Sovereign Risk Solutions pg. N 88 Specialty Vehicle Equip. Funding

Spill Tackle pg. N 86 Spirit Ride pg. 56, 57 Steck Mfg. Co. pg. 66 Sterling National Bank pg. 40

Urgent.ly pg. 54

US Fleet Tracking

USAC / MD pg. 74

Stertil-Koni, USA Superwinch sureFleet SureSpot

Verdant Commercial Capital Verizon Connect VersaTran Vort3x De-Pollution Systems Vulcan

Swoop pg. 15 T.R.P.M.

Warn Industries pg. 53

Talbert Mfg. pg. 31

We Buy Key Fobs

TCF Equipment Finance Time-Out Seated Massage Corner TJR Equipment TOMAR TomTom Telematics Tow Brokers Tow Canada Tow Life Tow Recruiter TowTrax Tow Truck Locator

Weego pg. 51

WeldBuilt Wreckers & Carriers

West End Service pg. N 87 Whelen Engineering Co. Whip Around Whiterail Reviews

Will-Burt Company pg. 43 Witzco Trailers pg. S 85 Worldwide Equipment Sales pg. 73, W 83

Towbook Management Software pg. 35 Towing & Recovery Assoc. of America Towingbids.com Towing.com TowingWebsites.com TowLien.com

WreckerTow.com WreckMaster

XINSURANCE Powered By EIB pg. N 93 Xpress Pay Xtreme Air Wedge

Zip's AW Direct pg. 3, 37

SPONSORS

Quest Towing Services pg. 44 R & A Insurance Ram Trucks Ramsey Winch

Ranger SST pg. 38 RC Industries Rear View Safety

Recovery Billing Unlimited pg. 76 Republic First National/Bay Street

Ricky's Sales & Service pg. N 95 Road America Roadside Protect

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AMERICANTOWMAN.COM - November 2018 • 23

Legislators Conference Focused on Relationships by Charles Duke

he towing industry consists of mainly mom-and-pop businesses, out there grinding every day doing the dangerous, dirty work … and doing it really well. However, almost universally, towers tend to default into a “me against the world” mentality outside the actual work. Governmental regulations, law enforcement, the insurance industry, motor clubs, competitors and more— sometimes a “Hey, leave me alone, and I’ll leave you alone,” attitude takes over. Protecting your turf becomes foremost; however, that thinking leads to an insularity that hurts the towing industry. There is no consistent organized effort to match those outside influences. Oftentimes, regulations are imposed on the towing industry without any input from the industry itself. The result is a reactive, rather than a proactive, modus operandi that often ends up in unfavorable results for towers. The American Towman “Working With Legislators” conference that will take place at the American Towman Exposition in Baltimore on Nov. 17 targets one component of that for change. This conference will assemble three knowledgeable industry experts to break down to the industry what it takes to make a strong, unified showing to lawmakers. AutoReturn VP of Government Affairs Jay Atkins, Association of Professional Towers-Ohio lobbyist Joseph Hollabaugh and former Montana State Sen. Joanne Blyton of TRAA-LAN will present towers with the tools to effectively interact with state legislators that will help get laws passed that are favorable to the industry.

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Atkins wants attendees to realize that if the industry doesn’t learn how to engage the government when it comes to legislation, somebody else is going to set them for you—and it won’t be favorable.

We need to find a way to work together as a team to make life better for everybody. I think that’s the one thing the towers don’t do as well as they could. “It’s like learning to manage your money,” Atkins said. “It can seem overwhelming (with) a lot of moving parts. You’ve got two choices: you can either bury your head in the sand and hope for the best—which ends up making you go bankrupt; or you can learn to engage, set the rules and start making your money work for you. “Same thing with government. You can either avoid it and hide in the sand because you don’t feel like dealing with it, you don’t understand it … or you can grab the bull by the horns, go out there and do something about it, and make your world better. If you don’t do it for yourself, somebody is

going to do it for you—and that’s not going to end up well.” Atkins said the towing industry is missing a “team mentality.” It tends to take on an adversarial mindset with government and other industries, such as insurance, which it ends up attempting to fight alone. “If we can start having a little bit more of a team mentality (and realize) this is all one big environment and it’s not a zero-sum game,” Atkins said. “We need to find a way to work together as a team to make life better for everybody. I think that’s the one thing the towers don’t do as well as they could.” Blyton is quite the accomplished individual. A former Montana state senator and 2014 American Towman “Towman of the Year,” she is the chair of TRAA’s Legislative Advocacy Network. She feels that attendees to the “Working With Legislators” conference can expect to carry away ideas for working the grassroots of the legislative process. “The ‘Working With Legislators’ conference is so very important in our industry—everything is about timing, timing, timing!,” Blyton exclaimed. ”Waiting for an issue to rear up in a legislative arena is not the best way to handle it. Getting to know the legislator, or his or her staff, is so important to helping solve issues.” She said that the industry is missing the opportunity to engage and that it needs to learn how to work with local, state and federal lawmakers. Blyton mentioned that attendees will be exposed to simple easy steps to help them build relationships to the benefit of the towing industry.

“It is ever so important to understand the protocol of how to approach,” Blyton said. “How to greet, and how to make your concerns of issues known and generally just how to get started. “The most important thing for TRAA-LAN to express/impart to those who will attend the ‘Working With Legislators’ conference is the fact that opportunities exist for each of you to make a difference,” she said. “If you sit on the sideline and are a Monday morning quarterback, you are missing the point. You need to engage! There are so many great minds in our industry and we need them to be involved.” Attorney/lobbyist Hollabaugh, who works on behalf of the APTO, feels that educating legislators on the industry is a must, and tow associations may be best positioned to do just that. “Trade associations must tell the

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Getting to know the legislator, or his or her staff, is so important to helping solve issues. story of the industry and proactively define the industry to not be idle and let others define you,” Hollabaugh said. “Too often the industry finds itself playing defense and trying to respond to issues and an industry that is being defined by others. A strong, proactive voice needs to be created and maintained to ensure the industry is a part of any and all discussions that will impact our businesses.” He stressed the importance of the

industry to be represented and on the front lines at all times. In the last few years, he and APTO have dealt with “predatory towing,” insurance issues, PPI-rate increases for the first time in decades, title reform, safety rules and regulations in Ohio. He said each of those issues alone would have a major impact on towers’ businesses in Ohio. Building relationships with legislators on all levels is key to getting things done. “Legislators make decisions every day that impact the towing industry,” he said. ”It is vital to build and maintain strong relationships with both legislators and regulators in each state so the industry has a seat at the table regardless of the issue.”

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

AMERICANTOWMAN.COM - November 2018 • 25

New Warranties from Jerr-Dan Jerr-Dan is now offering a full one-year and five-year structural warranty on its entire product line of carriers, wreckers and rotators. The warranty is offered on new products purchased beginning Oct. 1. The program covers many critical areas, including the carrier’s deck and subframe weld, as well as the wrecker’s subframe, wrecker boom weldment and underlift weldments, among other items. “We understand that buying a Jerr-Dan product is a significant investment for the long haul,” said Richard Del Campo, vice president, general manager at Jerr-Dan. “As we continue to lead the industry with a new warranty offering, our customers should feel confident that they are getting top quality trucks that they can depend on, offering longevity and delivering overall value.” Source: jerrdan.com.

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FUSO Names CFO, Marketing Coordinator Mitsubishi Fuso Truck of America Inc. (mitfuso.com) recently named Gina Harlan as its new Chief Financial Officer. She replaces Michael Munz, who is returning to Germany to serve as Head of Controlling Operations for Daimler AG at its Gaggenau facility. “It’s always exciting when our MFTA colleagues are promoted within the organization,” said Justin Palmer, FUSO president/CEO. “In this case, the Daimler Finance and Controlling department was able to promote Gina to CFO, allowing her to advance her career while remaining with MFTA.” Harlan will continue to work at FUSO’s headquarters in Logan Township, New Jersey. *** FUSO also named Richard Johnstin as Marketing Coordinator at its Logan Township headquarters. This is a new position for FUSO and its marketing team. “Rich … will help us expand our strategic marketing efforts as we launch our new GAS truck, and continue to build sales for our diesel and all-electric trucks,” said Bryan C. Allen, FUSO’s marketing communications manager, noted,

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AMERICANTOWMAN.COM - November 2018 • 27

Bigg

Time Service Best-of-Show Support Truck Is a Study in Recovery Equipment

This 2014 Peterbilt 337/Hackney 30’ box support truck was Best of Show at the 2014 American Towman Expo’s wrecker pageant … with good reason. It’s outfitted for just about any scenario.

by Brendan Dooley Photos by Randy Olson

here are dozens of trucks on display in the American Wrecker Pageant every year at the American Towman Exposition at the Baltimore Convention Center. There’s enough trucks that you can spend an hour or more walking that section alone without feeling you’ve seen them all; it’s difficult with that kind of competition to stand out. Sometimes. Other times, people walk away from the show trucks and the conversation is dominated by one truck. That’s just what happened in 2014

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when the folks at Mickey Bigg Jr. Inc./Quality Auto Body, in Vail’s Gate, New York, brought their new support truck to the show. All weekend, attendees were talking about it … competitors were talking about it … vendors were talking about it … pageant judges were talking about it. It was the living embodiment of a “show stopper.” It was no surprise to the crowd assembled during the Pageant awards ceremony to close that Expo when the folks at Mickey Bigg were called up

for the coveted Best of Show trophy. That support truck, a 2014 Peterbilt 337 with a customized Hackney 30’ box, was a show stopper then and continues on as a template now for other companies looking to build similar support trucks for their recovery businesses. If it were up to John Ammirati, who chiefly designed and outfitted the truck, it wouldn’t even have been at the show. “I had kind of an argument with [owner Michael Bigg] about going to Baltimore with it,” John said. “Like, ‘I

This truck has everything, including an extra compressor for the air cushions and anything else so there’s always a backup just in case of problems.

Their Snap-on Tools distributor loves them. They keep the tool drawers fully stocked and ready to roll. Keeping everything neatly labeled and organized is an essential piece of the puzzle for a support truck this packed with tools and equipment.

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AMERICANTOWMAN.COM - November 2018 • 29

They thought the valve bank would fit no problem … but it didn’t (above). It took some retrofitting in the space after they had the truck to make the bay wide enough for the valve bank to pull in and out easy. Adding a Jaws of Life to their cutters (middle) is under consideration, especially since they do a lot of airport calls and they’ve seen how quickly firefighters can cut through a plane’s flat tire to get it off. Keeping the roof light was important for the top-heavy ride of this truck. It’s mainly spill kits and similar, and an inflatable boat (below).

don’t even want to go; everybody’s just going to call me drive me crazy over it.’ We did so much work on it.” To make matters worse, there was a problem with the truck en route to the AT Expo that year. After joking in the shop while prepping the truck about something going wrong … it did. One of the light posts fell off in transit, and the driver called John (near tears) to explain. “He said, ‘I don’t know how but one of the lights fell off,’ and so then I was scrambling to get a replacement before the show; I didn’t want something missing, you know … you always want to have something nice and that’s finished [in the pageant]. Even with all the work and customization they were able to do with the Hackney box, John said he felt like they should’ve done more, possibly even had some on-site visits to go over design. 30 • November 2018 - TOWMAN.COM

“If I would have known how involved we were going to get, I would have gone to the factory where they built these and definitely sat in [for some design time],” he said. “We had a pretty basic idea off our old truck what we needed, but we wanted to take it further; once we got it here then we could play with it. … But then you get the box done and think, ‘Oh, this is no good.’ Then you take it all back out and start over.” He said it was months of work trying to fit everything right and it did require a few breaks to walk away and then “come back with a refreshed mind to see, ‘Hey, this will fit better here.’ “There’s never enough space,” John said. “I don’t care what anybody says. I mean, it’s big—you think there’s enough room and you make do—but there’s never enough space for everything you want to do. … There’s always something more or a new idea after you get it back, so there are things that do pop up that you wish you’d done, but you find a place for it.” Even so, the accolades poured in for this support truck at that Expo in Baltimore, and they haven’t really stopped since. John said even last year there was a towman who made the drive from the Boston, Massachusetts, area “at least 25 times” to take pictures of the rig to firm up ideas in designing his own. (Regular phone calls are still coming in too, but John said he has to keep those short, but will spend more time with someone invested enough to see the unit in person.) The focus at Bigg is body repair and recovery work. From light- to heavy-duty, they’ve got wreckers, rotators, reefers, trailers, excavators, bulldozers and just about anything else to go out and do the recovery jobs they need

to do. That’s why a formidable support truck like this one was essential to the business. A lot of tow companies will outfit a cargo trailer for duty like this, but at Bigg they liked the added flexibility a fully contained rig would offer. “It’s easier to maneuver than as a trailer,” John said. “You can get the equipment right to the scene, and this has got a [Night Scan] light tower and everything else. So it really does work out well for us. We can get it down side streets easier, make U-turns.” For working on the highway too, they made sure to have roll-up doors for safer, closer access to the myriad of equipment inside. There’s an awning too on the passenger side to keep rain from getting in the compartments and ruining saw blades, tools and more during inclement weather. (Though next time they’ll add an awning on both sides to cover whether working the shoulder or median.)

There’s never enough space for everything you want to do. “The tool guy loves me,” John said regarding the tools outfitted on just this truck (not to mention the many other trucks at Bigg). “The Snap-on guy, he loves me to death.” When it comes to the truck, chassis, equipment, tools and everything else on this truck, lots of folks’ first question is, how much do they have invested in it? “We try not to think about that,” John laughed. (He also politely declined to be quoted on that for this article.) When it comes to the toolbox drawers and sliding platforms from SlideMaster and all the other little hidey-hole storage spots on this support truck, identifying items quickly is key. “We label everything to keep track of what is what and what is where. It just makes life so much easier,” John said.

Continued on p. 32... Work the non-traffic side–Stay Safe!

AMERICANTOWMAN.COM - November 2018 • 31

On big scenes like the ones this support truck will come out to, there are bound to be big cleanups. They are ready to shovel, absorb, sweep or whatever is needed.

... continued from p. 30 The Bigg support truck is clean, detailed, organized and packed with the tools of the trade from front to back and top to bottom. Up top, actually, was somewhat of a concern for them. “The big worry when we outfitted the roof was that whatever is up there has got to be lightweight because we don’t want the truck to drive any more top-heavy than it already is,” John said. “The truck is air ride, which is nice, but it’s definitely got good sway to it when you’re running it.” (John said they’d definitely switch to tandem rear axles if doing it again for more rigidity to the ride.) “So everything up there is light; more towards spill kits and stuff like that.” All the way around, this support truck is ready for duty and equipped to do the job … any job.

Editor Brendan Dooley joined AT in January 2011 after serving as the editor of two magazines covering the auto repair industry for shop owners, techs and tool distributors. His experience includes hard news on daily newspapers and editorial leadership at vintage motorcycle and car magazines. Brendan is WreckMaster 6/7A certified.

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AMERICANTOWMAN.COM - November 2018 • 33

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Gravity Payments 76 Hale Trailers Brake & Wheel N 83 Intek Truck Eq. Finance & Lease 33 Iron Horse Safety Specialties 52 Jerr-Dan Corp. 13 JP Rivard Trailer Sales N 86 Kenworth of South Florida 39 Lanair Waste Oil Heaters 31 Landoll Corp. 34 Legacy Plus Insurance 53 Len Zermenos 52 Lift and Tow 45 Manufacturer Express 55 Maryland Carrier N 85 Matjack Jumbo Safelifts 91 McMahon Truck Center M 87 Metro Tow Truck 20 Metro Tow Store 74 Miller Industries/Century 7 Mobile Create USA 77 New England Truckmaster N 91 New England Wrecker Sales N 92 North American BanCard 17 Northeast Wrecker Sales N 90, S 85 NRC Industries 47 Nussbaum Equipment N 88 Pacific General Insurance Agency M 85 Progressive Commercial 21 PWOF 67 OMG National N 91, S 88, M 85,W 86 Quest Towing Services 44 Ranger SST 38 Recovery Billing Unlimited 76 Renew Truck Body N 93 Rick's Truck & Equipment M 83 Ricky’s Sales & Services N 95

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92 55 69 85 84 84 84 88 86 57 66 40 15 31 35 85 64 20 21 54 74 85 27 53 51 87 43 85 87 87 73 83 93 2 37

Light-Duty Rollovers by Terry Abejuela

prighting an overturned automobile, van, pick-up truck or SUV is, usually, a simple process. However, when the vehicle is blocking traffic lanes and law enforcement is rushing you to clear the roadway, it’s easy to make simple mistakes that can cause additional damage, injuries or result in an unsuccessful recovery. The rollover technique employed should block as little traffic as possible for as short a time as possible, while also causing little or no additional damage. The goal is to clear the roadway safely and as quickly as possible. To accomplish this takes the right equipment, training and technique.

Rollover Equipment A properly equipped tow truck will make the uprighting process safer, more effective, more efficient and reduce the potential for additional damage. Carry the size and grade of chain that the manufacturer of the towing and recovery equipment recommends. The following is a partial list of light-duty rollover equipment you might carry on a light-duty tow truck: • 20’ length of chain with grab hooks at both ends. • 12’ x 4” recovery strap. • 20’ x 4” recovery strap. • A 4-ton snatch block. • Rollover stiff leg (lumber or PVC). • Lumber, four 5’ pieces of 4” x 4”. • Roll of duct tape. • Two shackles. • Extendable reach tool. • Four pieces of rubber, mud flaps or floor mats. Other equipment may include several different sizes of endless loops (round slings), a 20’ recovery chain bridle with a pear ring or slip hook in the middle and grab hooks, several smaller lengths of chains with grab hooks at each end, or pieces of chain with positive attachment hooks. This equipment is in addition to your personal safety equipment you would also employ during the uprighting process such as safety vests, gloves, safety glasses, safety tow boots, etc. If you anticipate overhead lifting, make sure you have the proper equipment to meet OSHA requirements. Depending on how often you work rollover scenes (and your budget), you may remove or add equipment to your list.

Training, Practice Tow truck operators should be trained, by a qualified source, on the proper procedures for performing a lightduty uprighting procedure. They should be trained on 36 • November 2018 - TOWMAN.COM

A standard rollover is prepped using a stiff leg.

The 20’ chain length hooks at each end of the undercarriage.

more than one technique and all techniques should be practiced extensively in the tow yard prior to any tow operator utilizing these techniques in the field. Practice is the best of all instructors. Tow truck operators should know and practice at least three basic rollover techniques that include a standard rollover, a reverse rollover and a California rollover (where you operate they may be referred to by different names). One of these techniques should work in most lightduty rollover incidents. I consider the standard rollover to be when the tow truck is parked perpendicular and the casualty vehicle is rolled towards the truck. A reverse roll is when the tow truck is parked perpendicular and the

Continued on p. 38

The tow truck is staged perpendicular to the wreck.

... continued from p. 36 casualty vehicle is rolled away from the truck. The California roll is when the tow truck is parked parallel and offset—forward of the casualty vehicle—and the casualty vehicle is rolled behind the truck.

Common Mistakes Take reasonable precautions to avoid causing additional damage to the casualty vehicle. Safety comes first though, and you should not risk your safety to avoid additional damage. However, you should also not cause damage that could have been avoided through reasonable precautions. For example, if a casualty vehicle rolled from its wheels to its roof damaging only one side of the vehicle, it might be a reasonable provision to roll the vehicle over on the same side that is already damaged. When performing a rollover technique, always try to roll the casualty vehicle uphill. You will have better control during the process and you won’t have to worry about momentum and gravity causing the casualty vehicle to roll over the other side. Protect against the casualty vehicle rolling after it is uprighted. While the casualty vehicle is on its roof, it may be possible to disconnect the transmission linkage and manually shift the automatic transmission into park gear. You may be able to use a strap and ratchet to apply the

Continued on p. 40

Some 4x4s are set to block the car when uprighted. 38 • November 2018 - TOWMAN.COM

Success.

... continued from p. 38 parking brake by attaching to an exposed parking brake cable and applying tension. Place 4x4 lumber where the casualty vehicle’s tires will land to block them from rolling.

Standard Rollovers The standard rollover technique will work in most rollover incidents. For this technique the truck is parked perpendicular and centered to the casualty vehicle with just enough room to allow the casualty vehicle to drop to the ground at least a few feet from the tow truck. Make sure the tow truck’s automatic transmission is in park, the parking brake is set, any supplemental brake system

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is set, the wheel lift lowered but not contacting the ground, and the recovery boom of the tow truck is at about cab height. Using a 20’ length of chain, attach one end of the chain to the far upper side of the front end and the other end of the chain to the far upper side of the rear end of the casualty vehicle. Route the chain around the selected attachment point and attach the grab hooks close to the middle of the chain to shorten the chain and make it easier to detach them after the upright. When choosing the component to attach chains to, make sure it is strong enough, and will not pinch the chain once the casualty vehicle is back on its wheels. Pull out enough wire rope from the winch to reach the chain on the casualty vehicle. Avoid pulling wire rope out across a traffic lane … even if traffic is stopped. If possible, park the truck and spin the vehicle so your rope is in line with traffic and not across the roadway. Winch in the wire rope to begin the upright process. Keep a close eye on the scene to ensure there are no bystanders in harm’s way and everything is going as planned. If the casualty vehicle begins to slide instead of roll, you may need to elevate the boom. Don’t forget to plan for those common mistakes mentioned previously.

Field Editor Terry Abejuela has 40-plus years of light-duty towing and recovery experience. He is also a light-duty Level 1 instructor for the California Tow Truck Association.

What Is Success for You? by Brian J. Riker

uccess. It is something we all strive for, but how do we define it? On a personal level, many look at the size of the house or type of car one drives. In towing and recovery, we could argue that success be measured by market share, revenue and/or fleet size. What if I challenged you to look beyond the traditional metrics of success and dive deeper into the issue? Obviously we are in business to make a profit; our employees are with us to provide a life for their families. These goals need not be at odds with each other. Happy employees are usually more productive and stay with the same employer for longer periods. Look at the overall health of your company, not just the bottom line on your profit-and-loss statement. I’m not discrediting the traditional means of monitoring a business. You cannot manage what you cannot measure. As a business owner, you need to know exactly where you sit financially and what your share of the available work in your market is. These are all important pieces of the puzzle, but they don’t show the whole picture.

and one was a national corporation. I bent over backwards for the familyrun place—even though I made about half what I made at the corporate company—simply because I felt appreciated. The national operation

You may be surprised at what your team sees that you do not What about the culture of your company? I know it sounds like a millennial buzzword, but culture always has been an important part of towing. Perhaps more important than top wages or superior benefits, culture will keep your team coming back to work day after day. If they truly love what they do, who they do it with and the mission of your company, they will give their best. Early in my career I worked for two different salvage auction companies. One was a small family-run place 42 • November 2018 - TOWMAN.COM

gave me more opportunities for advancement but it was a cold, heartless, numbers-driven organization. Does your company have a heart and soul, or is it just a J-O-B for your employees? Southwest Airlines is among the most successful airline carriers in the U.S. They consistently return a profit for their investors, have very little turnover among their team and have never had a layoff in the entire history of the airline. They also have the highest reported customer satisfaction rat-

ing, even after their recent fatal accident. No other major U.S. airline can say this. What do they do differently? Culture. Each of their employees is empowered to “make it right” for their customers and with that empowerment comes a sense of pride in their job. They have a management team that listens to, and acts upon, the suggestions of field employees.* Company culture is a two-way street. Many claim to be a family-oriented business or that they treat their team like family. I find this very misleading at many companies. Familyoriented does not mean you get to take advantage of your team; it means you take care of them as if they were your own brother or sister. You treat them fairly and always remember that they have their own life outside of their role at the company. If owners and managers remember to respect

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AMERICANTOWMAN.COM - November 2018 • 43

... continued from p. 42 employees’ home lives, they will return that respect by going above and beyond when it truly is needed. Remember, it is not their fault when you are short-staffed; forcing employees to work extra shifts when you are aware they have something important at home … you will lose them. I measure success by how management treats the team. Without them you have no one to serve your customers. Ask for and respond to their opinions. You may be surprised at what your team sees that you do not. Tell them the truth, even when it hurts; it is still better than having them react to unfounded rumors. Perhaps most important for building great culture is integrity. Say what you mean, mean what you say and never tolerate gossip or bad-mouthing. Gossip is a cancer that quickly destroys companies from within. It demoralizes and demotivates people faster than any other single factor.

Public perception is another way to measure overall success. Our industry has a public image problem, no doubt about it. We are usually the last person a motorist wants to see … simply because we are responding to an event that is out of their control and they feel helpless. How we respond to their request for service or treat them after a non-consent tow is important. If your team is not happy it will be apparent to the consumer and may result in a less-than-desirable outcome. Clean trucks and uniformed drivers help present a positive public image. Ask yourself—answer honestly—would you be comfortable with your mom, sister or daughter being serviced by your company if it was not your company? If you cannot honestly say yes, then you may have a public image problem. Look at the most successful tow companies across the nation and you will see they all have a clear brand image. Many don’t even have super

flashy paint jobs or stunning graphics; they just have consistency across their fleet. Clean trucks operated by skilled, presentable and uniformed drivers with support from a professional staff at the office. How are your phones answered? Have you ever called your own company from an unknown number just to see how your dispatch staff answers the phone? Does the caller know who they called and instantly get a feeling of support or empathy or assistance? It drives me nuts to call on a tower only to hear “towing” or “dispatch” when the phone is answered. Worse yet is when I hear “Yeah!” I understand some companies have multiple names or brands and share a call center, so they try to answer as generic as possible, but with modern telephone technology that is no longer a valid excuse. It is possible to have your phone system identify what number (company name) the caller is attempting to reach which allows you to answer with a personalized touch.

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How you answer the phone may sound trivial, but it contributes greatly to public perception. By not clearly identifying your company and the call taker by name to the customer immediately, it can feel, albeit subconsciously, like you have something to hide or are somehow trying to be dishonest. Proper phone techniques will lead to a greater callto-sale conversion rate. This is a good measure of success. You can also use the data gained from identifying the source of your incoming phone calls to measure the effectiveness of your marketing. Maybe one of your “brands” is underperforming to the point it is not worth keeping it as a separate entity. Success is measured in more ways than simply profit and fleet size. Success is providing good opportunities for your team to support their families, giving back to the community that supports your business, and contributing to the overall success of your industry by presenting a positive public image. * Southwest Airlines info according to interviews with Gary Kelly, CEO, and Ginger Hardage, former VP of Culture, on the Entreleadership podcast and materials at southwestairlinesinvestorrelations.com.

Visit us at booth 3510

Brian J. Riker is a third-generation towman, with 25 years of experience in the ditch as a tow operator, and president of Fleet Compliance Solutions. He specializes in helping navigate the complex world of federal and state transportation regulatory compliance. He can be reached at brian.riker@fleetcompliancesolutions.net

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Winning with Motor Clubs by Erin Berg

et’s face it: Not many people are hitting the phone book anymore to find a tow provider. There is a general tendency for people to work with a motor club when needing roadside assistance, even if they do not realize it. It may be through their vehicle manufacturer, or it may be through an organization they belong to that has a contractual relationship with a motor club. Even tech-savvy millennials, many of whom would never consider getting a motor club membership, are still working with motor clubs every time they tap a roadside app on their mobile device. All in all, motor clubs now account for a large percentage of all towing and roadside assistance calls in America. Given this, how can you get a piece of the action? Look no further. We’ve consulted experts, including motor club network managers and tow company owners, for their tips to succeed with club work whether you’re a large company or a one-truck operation. Motor clubs are a mainstay in the industry, and it’s good to be aligned with them, said Raj Mane, network manager for Allstate Roadside Services. Mane has more than 18 years of motor club experience. “We have over a million vehicles per month being sold in this country,” Mane said. “Those auto manufacturers contract with motor clubs to serve their customers. Even if a small percentage of those customers need to be towed to the dealership every month, that’s a lot of volume that goes to the motor clubs. That’s why it’s good to have a solid motor club affiliation. “Some owners say if their truck’s not running, they’re not losing money. That’s not true. You’re still paying a

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Motor clubs can offer many free resources (like training) to their tow network members.

driver, insurance and license fees. Motor club work will help cover your baseline costs of doing business so that you can make more profit on your call-ins off the street, your police rotations, or even your other motor clubs.” Abdul Mansour, owner of Loyal Towing in San Diego, California, agreed. “A lot of companies wait for that high-dollar call, but rather than wait, run motor club work and keep your trucks running,” Mansour said. “When your wheels are not turning, you’re not making money. … I like to take up as much of the marketplace as I can to prevent competitors from coming in. If you leave yourself exposed, you allow others to come into the market. … “I want to make sure whatever is in my area is coming to me, not someone else. I’m going after that business because I want to keep the competition on their toes. … Being with a motor club adds value to your business. If you decide to sell, you have a

customer base that buyers want to invest in.”

Pricing In the motor-club world, volume— not price—is the name of the game. To become a key player, you need to first be realistic about what your market is worth, said Rodi Mikha, owner of Quality Towing in San Diego. “A while back, my network manager told me, ‘I have thousands of calls available to you, but we will need to lower your rates,’ ” Mikha said. “I decided to listen to him. My call volume skyrocketed. I started to make more money because I agreed to a lower rate.” “Eventually, you can work on [improving your rates] once you show what you’ve got,” Mansour advised. “It all comes down the line.”

Customer Experience A key thing that providers tend to overlook with motor-club work is that

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... continued from p. 46 it’s all about the customer, Mane said. “The bottom line is, motor clubs maintain their relationships with vendors/clients by providing an outstanding experience for their customers. So that’s what we are looking for—someone ready to provide that outstanding experience at the roadside. … I think that sometimes gets lost in talks about rates and performance. It’s a relationship built around customer service,” Mane said. “Every week, I change the air fresheners in all my trucks. Every week, I get my trucks detailed. Nothing makes me feel better than when a customer says, ‘Wow! Your truck smells great! Wow, it looks beautiful,’ ” Mansour said. While such high professional standards are admirable, most motor clubs simply expect tow companies in their network to have a solid grasp of the basics. “All motor clubs mystery shop to see how you serve customers on a day-to-day basis. We look for a clean uniform; we look for a clean truck; we inspect the trucks to be sure you have all the proper equipment to service all the different vehicles. We evaluate customer service skills,” said John McGinnis, a former network manager with 20 years of experience in multiple motor clubs.

Mane agrees, and says great service starts with a great first impression. “I’ve seen drivers show up on mystery shops looking a mess,” Mane said. “They were very nice and provided good service, but when you talk to the customer afterward, they’re like, ‘I didn’t know what to expect with this guy. I mean, his truck looked OK, but he kind of looked unkempt.’ Then you compare that to a situation where the driver had a clean uniform and truck; he reviews his notes about the call prior to getting out of the truck; he greets the customer and explains the service. You talk to that customer later and they’re like, ‘That was awesome!’ It’s a totally different experience.”

Accurate ETAs Along with providing great service comes setting the right expectations for the customer up front. That means being accurate when it comes to quoting ETAs, Mane said. “One thing I’ve seen in my career is providers giving 60-minute ETAs, knowing full-well they were going to be there in 35 minutes,” Mane said. “They get there 30 minutes later, and what happens is the customer is in the shower or indisposed somehow. They never hear the doorbell; never hear the phone ring. Then later, they’re calling back going, ‘What hap-

Loyal Towing owner Abdul Mansour (left) and operations manager Kevin Mansour have built a successful towing business working with motor clubs.

pened to my service?’ We see the call was canceled because nobody answered. That customer has now had a bad experience, all because the right expectations were not set on the front end.”

Go Digital All the network managers and tow company owners we spoke to agree that digital dispatching is essential to succeeding with motor clubs. “Digital makes you more efficient and organized,” said Mikha. “My staff only needs to do 20 percent what we used to do because all details are already in the dispatch. It’s the best thing ever invented in the motor clubs. There is truly a night-and-day difference.” Digital efficiency also can improve customer satisfaction. “For one thing, you don’t need to keep as many phone lines because you’re not tying up your phones as much,” Mane said. “All the information is on screen. All you do is assign a driver to it, call your customer to confirm everything that is on the dispatch, provide an ETA and go. It all takes about a minute versus several minutes doing it all manually. The efficiencies gained and the expectations set are what ultimately ends up becoming the great roadside experience. Half the battle is won before the driver even gets there.” These days, you don’t need to be a big company to enjoy the benefits of digital. “Even a small operation can find something that works for them,” Mansour said. “It will save them money because you are not paying someone to manually input all this information. Sometimes you have to take a chance, but it’s a sure thing if you work to learn it.” “When you’re contracting with a one- or two-truck operation or rural tow company, owners can function as dispatchers, drivers and bookkeeper all in one,” Mane said. “For these owners, a mobile dispatch application … might be more appropriate than a desktop digital setup. So, they can still adopt a digital platform and have

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... continued from p. 48 a more robust mobile setup to it versus a fixed-location computer terminal. I think everyone can take advantage of the digital platform option.” Many motor clubs offer a free dispatching platform. Check with your motor club for more information.

Coverage ‘Sweet Spot’ OK, so let’s say you’re doing well with your motor-club work. Your ETAs are accurate, and you’re getting good customer reviews. Should you talk to your network manager about expanding your coverage area? Before you do, take a moment to consider whether your team can handle a major increase in business. “Providers will always tell you they can take on more work because they want to make more money,” Mane said, “but the question then becomes, can they handle the additional volume? If they can’t handle it due to a lack of equipment or manpower, are they willing to get what is needed to make it work? If they’re not willing, then who’s taking the gamble at that point?” McGinnis agrees. “It’s important to keep your trucks busy, but not so busy that you start to show degradation in performance,” McGinnis said. “When you’re spread too thin, your ETAs go up and your accuracy goes down. Both are going to lead to decreased customer satis-

faction scores. You want to find that happy middle ground of ‘this is my sweet spot; this is where I can keep my trucks busy all day long and still keep my hands around it.’ ” Still, being willing to take calculated risks can pay off for savvy owners. Those with strong customer satisfaction scores who are willing to invest in their business could be considered for a “primary” designation within the motor club. Becoming a primary provider in certain ZIP codes typically means receiving significantly more business from the motor club in those areas. However, achieving a primary designation has its own set of challenges. “When you’re in a primary position like that, consistency of service is key. Everyone is going to have a bad week or a bad month, but we look for consistent outcomes as a motor club. If we’re going to guarantee you X number of calls a month, then you need to guarantee us something in return, and that ‘something’ is service,” McGinnis said. Growing pains are common for tow companies. Mansour recalls a moment when he had to make some adjustments to his coverage area to maintain his service levels. “When I took over the San Diego marketplace for Allstate, I bit off more than I could chew. I was handling it, but it was costing me a lot of money,” he said. “So, I went back to the draw-

ing board, and told my network manager that I needed to make some changes. Now we talk once or twice a week. It’s important to build that relationship,” he said.

Be Proactive Be proactive in managing your performance. Most motor clubs, including Allstate, have a provider scorecard that you can access to review your performance metrics. “Check your scorecard at least once a week to see where your misses are,” McGinnis said. “Work with your network manager to understand which ZIP codes you’re weak in; what time of day are you weak? Be proactive in understanding your volume by ZIP code and by time of day, so you can put your trucks in the right locations at the right times. “Or maybe you’re missing a particular kind of call in a particular area. Is it a lack of equipment? Are you missing skates, dollies or something that is needed for this type of call? Understand the nature of the acceptance and rejection to further your business. Be proactive in looking at your performance. It can’t always be the performance manager who’s bringing this information to you.” “The people who are proactively chasing you down for information and advice are the ones who stay front and center in your mind as a network manager,” Mane said. “These are the folks seeking to overcome performance hurdles. You want to see that they’re implementing what you discuss, and if they are, they will show you the results you seek. They become the ones you’ll reach out to for new opportunities when the time is right. About the author

Because digital dispatching saves time and improves the customer experience, it has become almost a necessity for working with motor clubs.

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Erin Berg is a communications specialist with Allstate Roadside Services. The Allstate Roadside Services procurement team continuously sources roadside relationships with providers within the light-, medium- and heavy-duty space, servicing both tows and non-tows, including mobile mechanics for medium- and heavy-duty vehicles. For more information about joining the ARS provider network, email beaprovider@allstate.com.

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Zacklift Gets New Owner As Zacklift (zacklift.com) Heads into its 36th anniversary, it does so with a new owner at the helm. Matthew Freeborn acquired the company in April and comes with 25-plus years in engineering and hands-on manufacturing business ownership experience. A statement from the company said Freeborn “has big ideas for Zacklift and will focus on customer service, quality, and new product development,” and that the company will “look forward to your feedback, new product input, and continued support.”

NSD Training for Mercedes C Class During the American Towman Expo in Baltimore, Nation Safe Drivers (nationsafedrivers.com) will be conducting training in its booth on the show floor. The training for Mercedes Benz "C" class vehicles will cover tire changes and lug-nut issues, jumpstarts, eight-point tie-downs and releasing vehicles that are locked in gear.

GPS Insight Names New CEO GPS Insight (gpsinsight.com) recently announced the promotion of Gary Fitzgerald to Chief Executive

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Officer. Former CEO and Founder, Rob Donat, will remain with the company as Chairman of the Board. Wayne Holder, the company’s Controller, moves to the Chief Financial Officer role and Jason Walker, VP of Sales, becomes Chief Revenue Officer. Fitzgerald joined GPS Insight in 2016 from GE, where he served as an enterprise architect for 10 years. Holder served as the company’s Controller since 2013, joining from the Arizona Commerce Authority where he was Chief Financial Officer. Walker has been with GPS Insight since 2010 and leads the company’s sales efforts; he will take an expanded role in marketing and indirect sales.

LSI Adds Marketing Help (lubricationspecialties.com) Lubrication Specialties Inc., manufacturer of Hot Shot’s Secret fuel and oil additives, recently added to the company’s marketing team. Eric Trimble joined as the company’s marketing coordinator to support all marketing endeavors including trade show support, media buys, public relations, advertising, social media and ecommerce. “It was great to work from within to find the ideal candidate that already had the product knowledge and

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... continued from p. 53 a good grasp of what it takes to promote and sell our products,” said Kyle Fischer, LSI’s director of marketing. “This combined with his marketing skills, project management and ability to write for multiple platforms, has allowed him to step into the position seamlessly.”

NTDA Raises Nearly $14K for Scholarships The National Trailer Dealers Association (ntda.org) raised $13,905 toward student scholarships at its annual golf tournament and through two silent auctions. The events were part of the NTDA’s 28th Annual Convention. “Our members always have a great time at the golf tournament and convention and once again they really came through in support of the NTDA Scholarship Fund,” said Gwendolyn Brown, NTDA president. Since 1998, the NTDA has awarded $152,000 in scholarships to 41 children of NTDA member employees.

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Navistar Top Techs Recognized Navistar (navistar.com) technicians from Florida, West Virginia and Arizona took home first place in the three categories of the 2018 Technician Rodeo, a competition recently hosted at the company’s Woodridge, Illinois, facility that tests the skills and speed of service professionals from throughout its dealer networks. Michael Irvin of Sun State International in Florida took home the “Top Service Technician” Award for Truck and Ben Bird of Worldwide Equipment in West Virginia earned the same recognition for Bus. New this year, the company also brought its Global Technician Competition into the same event, which brings all the regional winners throughout the world together to compete for top bragging rights. Nathan Reed of RWC Group in Arizona earned first place. The technicians were scored on how quickly and effec-

tively they navigated their way through various stations, diagnosing and fixing simulated problems.

Charlotte Is Freightliner’s ‘Hardest Working City’ Charlotte, North Carolina, recently was selected as Freightliner Trucks’ “Hardest Working City,” which recognizes cities fueling economic growth and job creation in the U.S. and Canada. Freightliner (freightliner.com) will deliver food and gifts to job sites around the city to thank workers for their contributions. Work site visits will include the Charlotte Department of Transportation and K&S Sanitation Service. Prior to Hurricane Florence, Freightliner visited The Building Center, a regional lumber and building products dealer, to honor their hard work in helping keep the Charlotte region going strong. To learn more, visit HardestWorkingCities.com.

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Kids and Spirit Rides became a family affair

by Steve Calitri

This little guy rolled into Litchfield, Illinois for the Ride led by Brian's Auto Service.

hen the Spirit Ride was conceived with a symbolic casket to draw the media’s attention, one mother in the know voiced her objection. As a protective parent, she was concerned how her child and others might be impacted by the sight of a casket, normally associated with the grim reaper. I didn’t feel the same way; maybe I was insensitive. As a child who pulled through many a nightmare and had to overcome spooky wallpaper images, I know children see things differently than adults. Whether or not children should be shielded from images that reflect the harsh realities of life, I knew that this casket would inspire more than haunt.

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As it turned out, the Spirit Ride has been an event drawing families and young children. The Spirit casket seemed to be more of a curiosity item for the younger children than a dreadful coffin. The ease with which children took to Spirit had a lot to do with how chil-

dren are brought up in towing families. Many are accompanying their dads and moms on calls and during hook-ups. By age 12, many are already driving a wrecker, if only around the tow yard. Towing’s children probably learn more about death than the average child, as their parents are dealing with it all too often on the road. The Spirit Ride may have taught many of the kids attending the ceremonies over the past two years something about the afterlife, beyond the question of its existence. These kids witnessed a blessing for the fallen towmen and other first responders. While there was certainly no corpse inside this casket, there seemed to be a lot of spirit inside, judging from the reverence shown this hollow crate.

Ceremonial verse referred to “the road on the other side” and “the spirits who ride among us,” and a song was sung, “Bless the Spirit Riders.” At Spirit Ride ceremonies, Cub Scouts and Brownies have marched in with the flag for the Pledge of Allegiance; Boy Scouts also. Young girls have sung the national anthem. Toddlers carried by their parents were perched behind the casket as songs were sung and words were spoken. During the many barbecue and dessert hospitalities preceding the ceremonies, children ate and romped about. Children also rode in the processions with their fathers and mothers. One of these processions saw little leaguers kneeling as the trucks passed them, their ball caps held over their hearts.

Towing is a family affair and this was evident from most Spirit Ride ceremonies. Children and teens participated in color guards, the passing of the Spirit Baton, singing the national anthem and pledging allegiance to the flag. Their curiosity and young ways brought smiles to solemn ceremonies.

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AMERICAN TOWMAN

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The Basics in Off-Road Recovery by Randall C. Resch

n the military’s mobility environment, taking a vehicle off-road into enemy territory is dangerous. A responding vehicle is considered the first lifeline in driving to the mission and its eventual safe return. It’s the same in this industry when taking tow vehicles into off-road environments … considering any number of hazards, obstacles and conditions that easily can incapacitate a tow truck, its equipment and its operator. For obvious reasons, towers must understand that the act of haphazard driving and off-road response can cause damage to a wrecker or carrier even before it reaches the recovery location. As an off-road recovery specialist for the military, I’ve learned firsthand that the world is full of “off-road experts;” they start out with good intentions, but wind up creating a far more dangerous recovery situation. (This also goes for tow operators who think they’re experienced in off-road operations.) Working off-road recoveries is risky business. Knowledge of mechanical advantage and creative off-road recovery techniques is necessary before attempting off-road extractions. Winching vehicles from the mud to solid ground is not off-road experience, though some operators feel it’s enough to think they know what they’re doing off-road. Safety factor No. 1: Dispatchers should send only experienced operators to off-road recoveries. Sure, anyone can drive to the off-road site, but once a tow vehicle leaves the pavement, the percentage of risk and danger increases 100 fold. A flatbed carrier isn’t a recovery truck suitable to most off-road situations. Even the California Highway Patrol’s Tow Service Agreement states, “The car carrier is an additional unit and shall not be used for recovery.”

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Although carriers may be equipped with side-pulling devices and systems, their low profile, lowslung fuel tanks, steps and understructures make it difficult for them to avoid road obstacles, potholes, ruts, even some sloped ground surfaces. If a carrier makes it to the recovery site, once loaded its top-heavy center of gravity drastically increases the chance of tip over on return.

The potential for disaster happens at the slightest miscalculation, so having a solid recovery plan is paramount before recovery takes place. When it comes to off-road recoveries, no two are the same. The potential for disaster happens at the slightest miscalculation, so having a solid recovery plan is paramount before recovery takes place. Because off-road recovery is much more than a load-and-go scenario, consider these 12 guidelines pertinent to all off-road environments. 1. Have a GOAL. Entering an offroad recovery scenario and not being aware of the challenging environment is a deadly combination. Get Out (of your truck) And Look. Be sure that the path you’ve chosen is capable of allowing your tow or 4x4 truck to drive over and through sand, mud, ice, water, utilities, sidewalks, bridges, railroad tracks, etc. Just because a

vehicle is 4x4-equipped doesn’t mean complete access is 100-percent certain. 2. Know When to Say NO! Perhaps the biggest downfall to a nonsmart tower is the ability to identify when they’re getting into something far more difficult than what they’re trained or equipped for. While it’s easy to get caught up in bragging rights or a high-dollar recovery bill, towers must know their limits. If that means calling another company with the proper skills and equipment, know when to say no. 3. One Recovery Boss. Every participant with a 4x4 and a winch thinks they’re an expert. While experts come in all shapes, sizes and experience levels, once a recovery plan is determined, recovery operations should have one individual designated as “Recovery Boss.” When recovery commences, the Recovery Boss shall ensure that all persons are removed from the recovery scene by the “Double-Distance Rule.” That is, when 200’ of cable is deployed, all persons are moved beyond 400’. 4. Drive In, Back In? Once GOAL is determined, recovery assessment should be, “What’s the best way to access the recovery?” Driving tow trucks to an inaccessible location isn’t smart when other on-scene obstacles won’t allow the wrecker or winch truck to turn around cleanly. There are plenty of recovery stories where towers attempted to turn around only to find themselves tipped over or stuck with no way to get themselves out. YouTube videos can be found that show towers driving to a casualty and winching over the top of the tow truck—pulling backwards against the tow truck’s winching capability. When it comes to vehicle access, drive to a location in the forward direction, make

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... continued from p. 62 a calculated three-point turn, and then back to the casualty’s location. Be aware of the total environment during initial assessment to ensure that an escape path is identified. 5. Preventing Tip Over. Perhaps one of the most dangerous situations towers find themselves in is driving on a moderately sloped hillside. All tow trucks and 4x4 vehicles are subject to potential tip over. Never drive any path where tipping is possible. Be aware of loose road edges and shoulders. 6. Avoid Road Hazards. Offroad access is typically littered with rocks, deep and wide potholes, sand pots, cactus beds, or ridges that easily “high center” rendering the truck stuck and unable to move. Gain access by slow crawling in lower gears and limit spinning of tires. Approach ridge paths at calculated angles … not straight on. Where situations dictate, tires can be deflated to allow a better footprint for travel and traction. Regarding steep trails or hill climbs, anything that requires a running start increases risk. Attempting to turn around could result in rollover or, when attempting to back down the hill, the truck could lose traction based on rocks or shale surfaces (leading to runaway and rollover). Be aware of railroad rights of way and always the next train. 7. Momentum. When casualty vehicles are situated higher than access to the tow truck, the greatest danger is losing control trying to winch a vehicle from uphill to downhill; this should be a last resort considered only if the winching vehicle can be placed far enough from the rollaway zone. When weight combines with momentum, runaway potential of slide away is possible. Some scenarios will require winching the casualty vehicle in gear with the e-brake on to limit rollaway potential. When considering winching downhill, a casualty vehicle’s tires can be deflated

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... continued from p. 64 and/or use lengths of 4x4 or 6x6 beams to be placed in front of the casualty vehicle’s tires to provide resistance to the pull. 8. Deadman. Hardline pull is required for extraction of a mired or stuck vehicle. Keeping the winch vehicle steady is a requirement of successful extraction. Tow operators can (manually) dig a large, deep, crosswise ditch behind or in front of the winch truck’s tires providing extra hold. Situated in this manner, winch trucks gain mechanical advantage by not sliding during difficult pulls. The safety caveat here is to be sure the winch, cables and other recovery attachment equipment aren’t working beyond rated capacities. If the recovery involves using rocks or trees to help change direction via snatch blocks, be sure that said rocks or trees are capable of holding the weight. 9. Zip Line. Difficult recoveries can be lifted and “zipped” from ground surfaces, and then winched from one location to another in true zip-line manner. By creatively rigging wire rope and snatch blocks from one heavy wrecker’s boom to the other, a casualty vehicle can be lifted and rolled on snatch blocks. When the

recovery site is clearly rutted or crossing a flowing stream, this technique is usually successful … but requires access on both sides. 10. Splinter Theory. There’s an old military expression regarding recovery ease and common sense called “The Splinter Theory.” As it regards recovering vehicles that have left the roadway and gone into the trees, over an embankment, in the sand or other hard pull, removing the casualty vehicle in reverse to the way it went in—like pulling a splinter out of your hand. 11. Drag It. Upside-down recoveries can be problematic, especially when wheels or tires are flattened during impact and travel. When recovering stolen and burned vehicles far from hard pack, their location makes them problematic in getting them back to the main road. If the recovery truck is a 4x4 pickup truck and minus wheel lift or boom capability, a vehicle that’s landed on its roof can be chained tight and slid, on its roof, to an accessible loading spot. If the location of recovery is on government or protected lands, consider this the last resort. Obtain signed authorization before doing so. 12. Site Cleanup. For vehicle crashes creating large debris fields,

Visit Us @ AT Expo Booth # 812

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towers are tasked with cleanup and removal of as much debris as possible. Smart tow companies prepare for this task by building a custom skid box to collect debris. When winching the casualty vehicle up the embankment, attach the debris skid to the casualty and winch it along with the casualty to eliminate those labor intensive trips back and forth. (A torn-off upsidedown hood serves the same purpose.) There are other techniques to consider when working off-road. While the military have their protocol to follow, we towers can adapt to military methods to build a solid platform of off-road knowledge. Never accept or initiate any off-road recovery that’s beyond your ability or the capability of your towing and recovery equipment. Author’s Note This narrative is a basis of training only; tow operators must receive appropriate off-road training before conducting difficult extractions or recoveries beyond the norm.

Operations Editor Randall C. Resch is a retired California police officer and veteran tow business owner, manager, consultant and trainer. He writes for TowIndustryWeek.com and American Towman, is a member of the International Towing & Recovery Hall of Fame and recipient of the Dave Jones Leadership Award. Email Randy at rreschran@gmail.com.

Knowledge is Power

Some towers initially attend the shows, like the American Towman Expo above, and may just think of it as a vacation, but before long they realize the true value in attending. by John Borowski

omewhere back in the 1970s when it became perfectly clear to me that towing was going to be my life’s profession, I wanted to learn as much as I could. I wanted to be the best I could be. My dad’s experience and knowledge, even though he had a five-year head start on me, couldn’t satisfy my hunger. I was able to observe some of the known names near me; guys like Harold Willard, Bernie Brunelle, Buddy Roy, Red Sheehan and Peter Aspesi helped me try to understand this business of towing. I was seriously disappointed that there was only one publication printed from Joe Gibney in my state of Massachusetts called the “STA Station Phantom,” along with the association newsletter (also done by Joe) in the

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late 1970s. Then in the early 1980s, I learned of a newsletter called “American Towman” published by a tower in New Jersey. Then, suddenly, that “American Towman” newsletter became a real magazine after being purchased by the Calitri brothers in New Jersey. Some of my thirst for more knowledge was finally getting quenched. I looked forward to every month’s edition (as I still do today). In early 1989, I started receiving information about an industry trade show being conducted by the first industry trade magazine. There was something new every week leading up to the show. I remember a picture of Gary Coe who appeared to be flying like Superman, saying that he was heading to Baltimore. Well, I

didn’t know who Gary Coe was, but I definitely was going to Baltimore myself and find who this Gary guy was and why he thought the show in Baltimore was so important. (At that time, Gary ran one of the largest tow businesses in the country.) I can’t explain how happy and captivated I was to attend the very first American Towman Expo. I have since attended every AT Expo with the exception of two shows. I’ve learned from each and every one of them. I eventually met this Gary guy and today I can say we have been friends ever since. Can you imagine being able to meet and learn from somebody like that, a little guy like me from a small community in Massachusetts?

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... continued from p. 68 Today, that very same show is now the largest towing exposition and conference in the world. (American Towman also now has two more Expos, in Dallas, Texas, and Las Vegas, Nevada.) I think some towers initially attend the shows and really just think

offering of educational seminars ever. They are scheduled in such a way that operators, owners and office staff should be able to attend all of the topics pertinent to their position within the company. The American Towman Academy is by far the best deal you will get when it comes to the presen-

Some of my thirst for more knowledge was finally getting quenched. I looked forward to every month’s edition (as I still do today). of it as a vacation, but before long they realize the true value of such a great opportunity. First up is the latest and greatest products offered to our industry by the manufacturers themselves. You can actually explain your opinions about their product. There are offerings there that can and will make your job easier; things that you may not have ever thought existed. The seminar programs are second to none. There has never been a better

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tation of information and experience in this industry. These seminars have helped businesses to become the very best in their communities. Then we have the hospitalities and networking. There has never been any show or conference in our industry that offers more than American Towman. The true value of networking is something that you will have to realize for yourself. From my perspective, I have family at home and I have family at these shows.

It amazes me that there are some towers that say they have never gone to a show before. Why? Do you think you can learn best practices on your own? Attending these shows is professional development. This type of practice is a typical allowable business expenditure; a tax-deductible item. This is the best way to improve your business. I don’t care who you are, but every time you attend these shows you will go home having learned something new that you can apply to your day-to-day operations. I look forward to seeing you in the near future at any or all of the American Towman Expos; you will wonder why you did not do it sooner.

John Borowski, Vice President of Tow Industry Programs at AutoReturn, is a two time recipient of the American Towman Medal for heroism, an inductee in the Int'l Towing & Recovery Hall of Fame, a past president of the Statewide Towing Association of Massachusetts, a veteran tow business owner and manager, and a former towing equipment sales specialist for two wrecker manufacturers. John was Towman of the Year in 2005.

Detroit Muscle Nabs Italian Stallion by Mark Lacek

iami has always been a tough town to be a repossessor. In the 1980s, it was extra tough. Drug gangs were laundering money by the duffle bag and every bank had an undercover DEA agent working as a teller. No kidding! Just like in the movie “Scarface” with Al Pacino, South American drug cartels literally worked out their territorial differences in the streets. South Florida was a battlefield and those who worked there had to know how to play the game just to try to stay away from the bad guys. I worked for an investigation agency right in the heart of “Little Havana” on NW 7th Street. The small office was on the top floor of a twostory building with a balcony overlooking the street; across the street was a Cuban bakery. The day I was hired, I was informed I was the “token gringo.” I realized then just how far I’d come from Fayette County, Pennsylvania. I figured the advantage in being the token gringo would be the opportunity to learn more tricks of the trade … from the inside. On my second day as the manager of the repossession department, I was asked to walk across the street to the Cuban bakery and pick up the morning pastries and Cuban coffee called, cafe con leche. (For the record, if you haven’t, you must try this delicious brew.) Knowing that I didn’t speak Spanish, my supervisor wrote out the order on a piece of paper for me to hand to the counter person. The very large Cuban guy at the counter looked deep into my eyes as he threw the note back at me; he was almost over the counter before another large Cuban guy next to him stopped him. By the time I was out the door and halfway across the street, I noticed

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all of my co-workers standing on the second floor balcony laughing and cheering. As it turns out, the day’s order was actually a note that read, “I think your sister is beautiful and I think I’m in love with her.” I appreciated the joke; luckily I’m pretty quick on my feet.

Ferrari 308GT I received a repossession assignment on a 1985 Ferrari 308GT belonging to a “businessman” who lived in a very wealthy area of Miami Beach. I was familiar with the 308GT for two reasons: the first, of course, was that the most famous television P.I., Thomas Magnum, drove a red one; secondly, so did my company’s owner (also red). My first encounter with my boss’s 308GT was when he left his lights on all day and killed his battery. I had to jump-start it with my 1971 Oldsmobile Cutlass. My Cutlass was a very sunbleached pale blue with some surface

I heard the Ferrari’s motor roar as the smoke from the spinning tires bellowed out from under the rear of the 308GT, the smoke rising high into the Miami Beach air

rust and a peeling dark-blue vinyl top. I bought the car from a local dealer for $750. I wish I had photo of that moment of battery service. If I had a choice between those two cars today, it would be a tough decision. I had spent a boatload of money under the hood on that Cutlass. The 308GT belonging to the Miami businessman was sitting in the valet parking area of a trendy Miami Beach nightclub, the type that’s popular with the pretty people—models, movie stars, athletes—not repo guys. My first idea was to hang around the valet stand until the key box was left unattended, but I was asked to leave the area after about two minutes. Enter Plan B.

Olds Cutlass My 1971 Cutlass was pale blue, dirty with stock hubcaps. Hidden under the hood and out of sight was a high performance deluxe 350-cid V-8 built to the rafters. But as I intentionally stalled my Cutlass directly in front of the nightclub, nobody could see what was under the hood. When I flipped the cut-off switch just under the steering column, everything went dead. It didn’t take long for the manager to step out from in front of the club and start giving me the business about having such an ugly car broke down in front of his nightclub. My helper with me at the time was a guy who went on to become a pretty famous Hollywood actor. (You’ve likely seen him many times in movies and TV shows.) I’ll call him “Julio.” As the nightclub manager was sitting in the ugly Olds, turning the key trying to start the engine, the commotion in front of the nightclub was becoming a real traffic problem …

fancy, expensive cars loaded with beautiful Miami Beach people were being delayed from pulling up to the front of the club. Julio slowly made his way to the valet key box while all three attendants were giving me and my ugly Cutlass the business. Just as Julio pulled the Ferrari 308GT out of the nightclub’s parking lot in front of me, he made a right turn and stopped the car. I saw him smile at me through his rear view mirror. I heard the Ferrari’s motor roar as the smoke from the spinning tires bellowed out from under the rear of the 308GT, the smoke rising high. The Ferrari seemed to sit there for an eternity before the rear wheels dug into the pavement; in just a second, the Ferrari was gone. Neither the manager nor any of the attendants noticed me slip into the driver’s seat of my ugly Cutlass. I am fairly certain they didn’t hear the sound of the toggle switch flipping back that unleashed the power of the batteries to the high-performance V-8 of the ugly Oldsmobile.

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While they were all still watching the smoke from the 308GT climb into the Miami Beach sky, I pushed my right foot down to the floorboards and the Cutlass began to hop up and down spinning its own tires. Burning rubber turned into a thick cloud of blue smoke. Blue and white clouds of smoke seemed to cover the entire city block. I smiled from a mile away when “the objects in my mirror were further away than they appeared.” I met with Julio about a half hour later across the bay from Miami Beach. We both stood there and laughed, looking east across the water at a cloud of smoke still hovering in South Beach. Miami was a great city to work in and I have a long list of old friends who still live there. Be safe.

Repo Editor Mark Lacek authored the Certified Commercial Recovery Agent certification program and has more than 30 years of recovery experience. He is the former editor of “Professional Repossessor” magazine. Email him at Mark@commercialassetsolutions.com.

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New York Reins In Kill Switches New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed into law legislation limiting the use of remote disabling devices by automobile lenders. New York Senate Bill 2484, which took effect in October, imposes new disclosure requirements on auto lenders before they can use the devices, colloquially known as “kill switches,” to repossess vehicles from defaulted borrowers. In recent years, some auto lenders have endeavored to use kill switches to expedite the repossession process. Lenders have increasingly relied on the switches and GPS devices to track the vehicles to remotely disable these cars in lieu of, or in anticipation of, repossession. These methods have stirred controversy, as New York legislators pointed to the safety implications of disabling cars while they are in motion or when they are needed in a medical emergency, for instance. Consumer groups also criticize GPS tracking and

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remote disabling as invasive. Auto lenders argue that these safeguards expand access to credit for consumers who may otherwise be regarded as unacceptable credit risks. The passage of SB 2484 may have significant consequences for auto finance industry practices, says the law firm Mayer Brown, a global legal services provider. Source: mondaq.com.

Location Services Acquires Other Agencies Location Services recently announced the acquisition of Auto Approve and four industry-recognized recovery agencies. The agencies are Repossessors Inc., CARS Recovery Inc., Digital Dog Auto Recovery and American Recovery Specialists of Florida. The company said that acquisition of these companies establishes Location Services as a vertically integrated, national, direct-loss-mitigation service provider.

The services provided by Locations Services give credit unions, banks, captive finance companies and other financial institutions the ability to have one company manage the entire loss-mitigation outsource process including auto refinance, recovery, skip-locate, account administration, license plate digital technology, transportation and remarketing. “Our purchase of Auto Approve uniquely positions us to provide auto refinance services and the purchase of the repossession agencies expands our reach and ability to support the boots on the ground, our valued repossession agency partners,” said Lee McCarty, CEO, Location Services. Source: Location Services.

Florida Investigating Marlin Financial A customer needed $10,000, and didn’t have much time to get it. The quickest way was to take out a loan against his car, and Marlin Financial, an online auto loan company, helped him do that, wiring the cash within a few hours. What the customer didn’t know was that something he’d felt forced to agree to as part of the loan cost $25,000, making his debt more than $35,000. He defaulted on the loan when his monthly payments ballooned because of the extra charge, and his Jaguar was repossessed within a few weeks. As a result of this and similar cases, Marlin Financial is the subject of a consumer protection investigation by the Florida Attorney General’s office. The company is accused of saddling desperate consumers with much more debt than expected, apparently breaking the law in the process, according to an investigation by a local newspaper. Marlin has approved loans that are larger than it is licensed to make. Its debt cancellation policy can push its interest rates over Florida state limits. It has failed to give customers an opportunity to take belongings from repossessed cars.

The Florida Office of Financial Regulation, which licenses lenders, said it received 12 complaints against the company in the past four years. The Florida Attorney General’s office received 19. The Better Business Bureau recorded 32 complaints against Marlin’s Florida operation. Source: tampabay.com.

Man Steals Tow Truck During Repo Police say a man who was upset about his car being repossessed recently decided to take matters into his own hands in Huber Heights, Ohio. Police say just before noon, a company was repossessing the man’s car in North Heights Shopping Plaza. The repo agent told police while hooking the man’s car up to his truck, the man jumped into the driver’s seat of the tow truck and took off. The man didn’t get very far and when he stopped, jumped out of the tow truck and took the agent’s cellphone with him. Officers chased after the suspect who they say tried to hide. Police ended up catching up to the man, whose identity had not been released at press time. Source: abc22now.com.

dez purchased a 2013 Hyundai Elantra through a retail installment sales contract with Own a Car Fresno. She alleges under the terms of the contract, the seller's right to rescind expired on Aug. 28, 2017, but she told the defendant she was happy with the contract and would not be signing another.

Her car was repossessed a few days later despite that she was current on all payments. She alleges she tried to pay her last down payment on Sept. 22, 2017, but the defendant refused it and her car was repossessed a few days later despite that she was current on all payments. The plaintiff holds Own a Car Fresno responsible because the defendant allegedly refused to turn over the vehicle despite having no right to repossess the vehicle as per the contract. The plaintiff seeks injunctive relief, attorney's fees, civil penalties, actual and punitive damages, costs, and for such and further relief as the court deem just and proper. Source: norcalrecord.com.

Agents Arrested for Alleged Assault Two Sussex County, Delaware, men were arrested recently after they allegedly assaulted a man whose vehicle they were attempting to repossess. The 37-year-old victim said two men backed a truck with a vehicle lift into his driveway. The men got out and told the victim they were there to repossess his 2002 Dodge Caravan. The victim laid on the lift in an attempt to stop the men, but they began trying to pull him off. One of them sprayed the victim in the face with a chemical stun spray, pulled him from the lift and they left with the Caravan. Two children witnessed the incident, state police said. Both men turned themselves in later. They were charged with second-degree assault using a disabling chemical spray, second-degree conspiracy, and two counts of endangering the welfare of a child. They were later released from custody on $7,000 secured bonds. Source: milfordbeacon.com.

Dealership Wrongfully Repo’d Car, Allegedly A Fresno, California, woman alleged her car was wrongfully repossessed. Isabel Hernandez filed a complaint recently in the Fresno County Superior Court against Own a Car Fresno over alleged violation of the Rosenthal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act and Consumers Legal Remedies Act. According to the complaint, on Aug. 18, 2017, HernanWork the non-traffic side–Stay Safe!

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It’s A Family Tradition

ill McAdoo Sr., Bill McAdoo Jr. and Scott McAdoo are the owners of McAdoo’s Towing & Crane Service in West Alexander, Pennsylvania. It has been a family business ever since Bill Sr. opened McAdoo’s Auto Wrecking in 1965. This third-generation company is highly specialized in the oil and gas industries, and handles all facets of hauling, towing, recovery and crane services within those industries. All of their crane operators are trained, certified and licensed by the National Commission Certification of Crane Operators. They also have NCCCOtrained/certified riggers. McAdoo’s has locations in West Alexander and Claysville and has grown to 30 employees with a fleet of 41 vehicles. They have 15 cranes ranging from 40-ton to 165-ton, and light-, medium- and heavy-duty tow trucks

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ranging from 12-ton to 50-ton, as well as an 80-ton sliding rotator (Heavy Incident Manager). They also have a variety of forklifts, bobcats, loaders, 4x4 telescopic forklifts and numerous flatbeds, winch trucks, winch trailers, detach lowboys, tilt trailers, flat decks and an air cushion recovery trailer. To this extensive fleet of equipment they recently added this remarkable 2019 Peterbilt 567 twin-steer/2019 Century 1075 75-ton rotator. This rig is Kyle McAdoo’s baby. Kyle was born and raised in his family’s business and is a heavy recovery specialist for the company. It is in his blood, heart and soul and he is quite proud to carry on the family legacy. As it says on this rotator, “It’s A Family Tradition.” Miller Industries and Robert Woodrick of Matheny Motor Truck Co. built this beauty. “Matheny equipped this rig with

by Jim “Buck” Sorrenti

a double-rigging package, 12 snatch blocks, numerous assorted chains and cables, slings, straps, two spreader bars, tools and wheel slings,” said Kyle. The Cummins X15 turbo-diesel engine with an Eaton Fuller 18-speed transmission provides plenty of power to keep this massive unit in motion. To handle the lifting and pulling duties, it is equipped with two 60,000lbs. main winches, two 22,000-lbs. auxiliary winches and two 35,000-lbs. drag winches. “The clean factory paint was done by Miller Industries,” Kyle said. “We have a Century 1150 50-ton rotator that has the same paint job.”

Jim “Buck” Sorrenti, a longtime editor of American Towman, has been our field editor for the past few years. He is a freelance writer and photographer with more than 40 years of experience covering motorcycle, hot rod, truck and towing culture. He writes weekly for TowIndustryWeek.com.

Tech Highlights

Chassis: 2019 Peterbilt 567 twin-steer. Wrecker 2019 Century 1075 rotator. Engine: Cummins X15 turbodiesel. Engine: Eaton Fuller 18-speed. Winches: 60,000-lbs. main, 22,000-lbs. auxiliary, 35,000-lbs. drag. Builder: Matheny Motor Truck Co./Miller Industries. Equipment: Double rigging package, 12 snatch blocks, two spreader bars and more. Paint: Miller Industries.

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Towmen, Old Glory and Apple Pie by Steve Calitri

owmen are natural patriots. They keep the roads clear allowing commerce to flow and people to get to where they’re going. They work hard to keep the country intact. They take offense when they hear someone badmouth the nation or the flag. Like sailors keeping a ship afloat would take offense to someone denigrating that ship, the keepers of our roads know better than most, this is the only country we have. The patriotic feelings of towmen and tow-women are easily detected. Just walk through the American Wrecker Pageant in Baltimore and you’ll see wreckers painted with a swaying Old Glory or the Twin Towers or the Statue of Liberty. All the wrecker graphics indeed celebrate a slice of Americana, be it an American landscape, cartoon character or comic book hero. Then there’s that portrayal of Marilyn Monroe’s dress blown upward revealing those iconic legs painted on wreckers in the Pageant. You can’t get more patriotic than that! There are all sorts of ways one can express patriotism on one’s truck, or in one’s dress. The American Flag is often sewn onto the towman’s sleeve at the shoulder. The American Towman Spirit Ride has shown many expressions of patriotism. Old Glory often is raised by wrecker booms high above the ceremony honoring fallen first responders. Before each ceremony, everyone removes their hats and recites the Pledge of Allegiance. Color guards often march in. There have been buglers playing “Taps” and soldiers

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punctuating the air with a multi-gun salute. The ceremonial gathering in and of itself portrays the fabric of our nation’s patriotic roots; the coming together of men and women of the

police, fire, emergency medical and towing services … those who fight for us at home while soldiers deploy overseas. The Spirit casket, of course, is basked in patriotic hues, designed in part with a likeness of the American Flag; it’s one of the reasons that first responders embrace it. At the Grand Opening of the American Towman Exposition, the Star Spangled Banner is sung on the show floor while the lights are

dimmed and emergency lights sparkle throughout the grand hall. The Ride’s anthem, “Booms in the Sky,” evokes a patriotic mood. When towmen are called to a scene to join the response team of police, firemen, and EMS technicians, their patriotic blood stirs. Official America is calling them to duty in their towns. Those first-responder brothers are calling them. They do the thankless work that no one else can do. Like soldiers they do this work more out of pride than for pay. People don’t choose this trade and keep at it for the pay alone. Once on the job they sense they are among a rare breed. The very name of this publication and the industry’s Main Event evokes patriotic feelings. Certainly it was not surprising in election year 2016, that more than 80 percent of towers surveyed by AT supported Donald Trump, the candidate who literally embraced the U.S. flag at rallies. Towers and this magazine and its Exposition are as American as apple pie. You sense this, whether at the show Friday or Saturday, or on the floor for Sunday Pie that last hour. Yes, eating the free pie at AT Expo is not just a stomach thing. It’s an American thing.

‘Reasonable’ Towing and Storage Fees Bill Signed California Gov. Jerry Brown recently signed AB 2392 by Assembly Member Miguel Santiago into law. The bill, co-sponsored by the California Tow Truck Association, sets “reasonable” towing and storage fees” for California tow companies. The bill was originally introduced this year by the insurance industry to curb perceived “unreasonable” fees in the towing industry; but through the guidance of CTTA’s Towing Regulatory Oversight Council, the bill was negotiated to a place where CTTA ultimately signed on as a cosponsor. Aside from fee guidelines, AB 2392 also stipulates that a storage facility must provide a telephone number that permits the caller to leave a message outside of normal business hours. Calls to that number must be returned no later than six business hours after the message has been left. The bill will go into effect on Jan. 1, 2019. Source: CTTA.

Controversy on Proposed Ordinance Cumberland, Rhode Island, Town Council President Peter Bradley’s effort to create standards for how companies get on the town’s tow list appears no closer to a resolution after hours of debate between council members and tow companies. At the crux of this matter is whether the town will create a tow ordinance and whether that ordinance will include four companies, as has long been done, or allow a fifth company, Miller’s Auto Body & Sales, to join the list or replace an existing member. The sides failed to reach a compromise at a recent workshop Sept. 26, and the matter was to be taken up again at press time. Councilor Scott Schmitt says he sees a compromise available in allowing all five companies to be on the list as long as they meet the many NORTH 84 • November 2018 - TOWMAN.COM

requirements of the ordinance, saying it’s better for the companies that they take a small hit on their towing revenue from being on a five-week rotation than for one company, King’s Service Center and Towing of Central Falls, to be kicked off after many years of service. “If you’re unified, I can predict an outcome, if you’re not unified, I have no idea,” he told the tow companies. Schmitt said he sees far more likelihood of a council vote in favor of the ordinance if the sides can reach consensus than if they’re still divided. He said he doesn’t believe it’s right to kick King’s off the list after so many years of service just because the company isn’t paying taxes to Cumberland. “I believe there’s a compromise,” he said. Thomas Mellen, of King’s, said his company has been providing service to Cumberland for 25 years with no problems. He said all the company

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... continued from p. N 85 wants to do is continue taking care of customers. Bradley wants to stick to a fourweek rotation, saying the town should be partnering with companies that have invested in Cumberland and are paying taxes to the town, including Miller’s and three existing company partners, Shea’s Towing, Cumberland Auto Body, and Blackstone Auto Sales & Body. Source: valleybreeze.com.

Police Assume Some Detroit Tows Police in Detroit, Michigan, took over a chunk of the city’s police towing operations recently. The Detroit Board of Police Commissioners recently passed a resolution allowing Detroit Police to provide towing service, which the board will oversee. The department has purchased six tow trucks at $575,000, and has allocated four city-owned lots where impounded vehicles will be stored, Detroit Police Assistant Chief James White told the police commissioners. Towing and storage fees, set by the City Council, will not change, White said. Detroit Police Chief James Craig told “The Detroit News” that the decision to take over part of the towing operation was made in large part because of rampant towing problems that go back years, including lawsuits, federal corruption probes and allegations of cronyism. “It’s no secret we’ve had towing challenges that predate me, as evidenced by indictments by the FBI,” Craig said. White said 15 civilians will be hired to drive the trucks and run the impound lots, with 12 people already hired, 10 of whom are Detroit residents. Drivers will be required to hold a commercial driver’s license, White said. In addition to the six trucks recently purchased, the department already had three other tow trucks,

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... continued from p. N 86 bringing the department’s fleet to nine trucks. The new trucks were bought with money in the police department budget allocated for its fleet. “We looked at 23 biggest cities in the United States and found 20 of them operated tow trucks and impound lots,” White said during a standing room-only board meeting at police headquarters. Source: detroitnews.com.

Longtime NHTA President Fortin Passes Longtime New Hampshire Towing Association President Rene R. Fortin passed away recently. He was 75. Fortin dedicated most of his career to the auto body and towing industry. Joining the New Hampshire Towing Association in 1972, he served 43 years as its president. He also served as president of Conference of Northeast Towing Association and was a board member of TRAA. Last month, Fortin was inducted into the International Towing & Recovery Hall of Fame. He was employed most recently with National Wrecker Service in Portsmouth. In addition to his wife of 55 years, family members include a son, Roger Fortin of Brewer, Maine; a daughter, Barbara Richard and her husband Rob of Bangor, Maine; four grandchildren, a brother, several other relatives and many friends. He was predeceased by his parents and a sister. Source: STA.

Towman Recognized for Saving Trapped Man A Diamond, Missouri, man was recently recognized for saving a man who was trapped underneath a car after a jack fell over. Ron Riediger of Riediger Antique Auto & Towing received an Honorary Trooper Certificate from the Missouri State Highway Patrol for his quick response back in May. Riediger heard about the incident

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... continued from p. N 88 over a scanner and responded immediately, using his own tow truck to lift the truck off of the trapped man, who escaped with minor injuries. Highway Patrol officials say he responded without being asked, and was nominated for performing “in an exemplary manner, and under dangerous conditions, to aid another person.”

Riediger says he was shocked to receive an award for his actions. Riediger says he was shocked to receive an award for his actions, and just felt it was a natural response to help a fellow citizen in need. He even stayed while the man was getting checked out by EMT’s to finish safely changing the tire for him. Source: fourstateshomepage.com.

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City Council Targets Predatory Towing The Boulder City (Colorado) Council wants to look at ways to curb so-called predatory towing they said targets lower-income residents, costing them hundreds of dollars or leaving them without a car. Councilwoman Mary Young brought the idea forward after hearing of minority residents being “targeted” by towing companies at San Juan Del Centro Apartments. The city’s mobile home parks are often singled out as well, she said. “The stories I’ve heard is that tow trucks were coming in during the night, turning off their lights and just towing vehicles, (or) towing vehicles while people were pulling out their children to go somewhere,” she said. “(Residents) were paying $300 to get cars out. One family lost their car.” Source: dailycamera.com.

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Auto Body Shop Has Tow License Revoked The city of Maspeth, New York, has revoked an auto body shop’s towing license. City Council Member Robert Holden announced recently that All American Auto Body Inc. had its towing license revoked by the Department of Consumer Affairs as a result of inspections that took place during the summer. The 104th Precinct has been towing vehicles left behind by All American Auto Body for several years, with crackdowns reported in 2011, 2015 and 2017. The auto shop had its towing license suspended previously in 2011, but even that didn’t seem to change activities once the suspension was lifted.

“I have been fighting for two decades against the crooked practices of All American Auto Body,” Finally, after numerous police reports and at Holden’s request, in February, the DCA began an investigation into American Auto Body. “I have been fighting for two decades against the crooked practices of All American Auto Body,” said Holden, who previously sought action against the auto body shop while he served as president of the Juniper Park Civic Association. “They have caused constant headaches for my constituents, operated the business under false addresses and they deserve to be shut down.” The DCA informed All American Auto Body of the revocation via letter. Salvatore Abate, owner of All American Auto Body, also had his personal towing license revoked. Source: qns.com. Work the non-traffic side–Stay Safe!

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Topeka Rotation Rules Sought One or more towing companies in Topeka, Kansas, have been charging unfair prices after acquiring customers by bypassing the arrangement local officials have in place for situations where drivers involved in crashes have no preference as to who tows their vehicle. Angel Van Horn, owner of A&R Towing, and Darrel Arredondo, owner of Capital Towing, made that assertion recently. They said other tow service companies are joining them in asking Topeka’s governing body to put an end to those practices. Councilman Tony Emerson said he is considering sponsoring an ordinance aimed at doing that. He wants more information before he decides whether to put the matter before the city’s governing body. Van Horn and Arredondo noted that Shawnee County in 2015 put specific rules in place for situations where motorists have no preference about which company tows their vehicle.

Commissioners required companies to enter into a contract with the county before they could be placed on a list of companies that law enforcement dispatchers call whenever someone is needed to tow non-preference vehicles from crash scenes. Dispatchers telephone whichever company’s name is next on that list, which contains about a dozen businesses. The county requires companies on the list to observe various maximum fees for towing, storage and related services. Topeka city manager Brent Trout wrote that Shawnee County code prohibits “any provider who is on the non-preference list from stopping, standing or parking a tow truck at or near the scene of an accident or disabled vehicle for the purpose of soliciting an agreement for towing services unless that provider has been called to the scene by dispatch, the sheriff’s office, another law enforcement agency or the owner (or their representative) of the vehicle.” Violation of the rule against solici-

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tation is grounds for removal from the non-preference list, Trout wrote. However, he added: “The prohibition against solicitation does not apply to tow providers which are NOT on the non-preference list. City ordinance also does not prohibit this. Therefore, if a tow provider is not on the list, they are free to show up on their own initiative at accident scenes and may solicit their services to drivers.” Van Horn and Arredondo said one or more towing companies that aren’t on the non-preference list have been going to crash scenes within Topeka city limits, soliciting business from owners of crashed vehicles before companies on the non-preference list get there, then charging the customers unfair prices. They wouldn’t share any names. Arredondo said he doesn’t think Shawnee County needs to make any revisions to its rules regarding nonpreference towing, as the sheriff’s office does a good job preventing solicitation at scenes of crashes that occur outside Topeka city limits. But Van Horn and Arredondo said

they hope to see the city take action to protect towing companies and customers. Van Horn shared wording the city attorney’s office crafted for a potential ordinance that would ban companies from soliciting towing business at crash scenes, except when the tow truck owner or operator has been requested by law enforcement officers, dispatchers or the owner or operator of the vehicle involved. The measure would make violations punishable by a fine of between $250 and $499 and/or as many as 180 days in jail. Emerson said local law enforcement officials told him they would support the passage of such an ordinance. Still, he said, he needs more information before he will feel comfortable putting such a proposal before the city’s governing body. He said that while he has talked to three or four tow service owners, who all voiced support for such an ordinance, he would like to speak to more. Source: cjonline.com.

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... continued from p. S 83 many requirements of the ordinance, saying it’s better for the companies that they take a small hit on their towing revenue from being on a fiveweek rotation than for one company, King’s Service Center and Towing of Central Falls, to be kicked off after many years of service.

“If you’re unified, I can predict an outcome.” “If you’re unified, I can predict an outcome, if you’re not unified, I have no idea,” he told the tow companies. Schmitt said he sees far more likelihood of a council vote in favor of the ordinance if the sides can reach consensus than if they’re still divided. He said he doesn’t believe it’s right to kick King’s off the list after so many years of service just because the com-

pany isn’t paying taxes to Cumberland. “I believe there’s a compromise,” he said. Thomas Mellen, of King’s, said his company has been providing service to Cumberland for 25 years with no problems. He said all the company wants to do is continue taking care of customers. Bradley wants to stick to a fourweek rotation, saying the town should be partnering with companies that have invested in Cumberland and are paying taxes to the town, including Miller’s and three existing company partners, Shea’s Towing, Cumberland Auto Body, and Blackstone Auto Sales & Body. Source: valleybreeze.com.

Longtime NHTA President Fortin Passes

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Longtime New Hampshire Towing

Association President Rene R. Fortin passed away recently. He was 75. Fortin dedicated most of his career to the auto body and towing industry. Joining the New Hampshire Towing Association in 1972, he served 43 years as its president. He also served as president of Conference of Northeast Towing Association and was a board member of TRAA. Last month, Fortin was inducted into the International Towing & Recovery Hall of Fame. He was employed most recently with National Wrecker Service in Portsmouth. In addition to his wife of 55 years, family members include a son, Roger Fortin of Brewer, Maine; a daughter, Barbara Richard and her husband Rob of Bangor, Maine; four grandchildren, a brother, several other relatives and many friends. He was predeceased by his parents and a sister. Source: STA.

Work the non-traffic side–Stay Safe!

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“It’s no secret we’ve had towing challenges that predate me, as evidenced by indictments by the FBI,” Craig said. White said 15 civilians will be hired to drive the trucks and run the impound lots, with 12 people already hired, 10 of whom are Detroit residents. Drivers will be required to hold a commercial driver’s license, White said. In addition to the six trucks recently purchased, the department already had three other tow trucks, bringing the department’s fleet to nine trucks. The new trucks were bought with money in the police department budget allocated for its fleet. “We looked at 23 biggest cities in the United States and found 20 of them operated tow trucks and impound lots,” White said during a standing room-only board meeting at police headquarters. Source: detroitnews.com.

Work the non-traffic side–Stay Safe!

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Work the non-traffic side–Stay Safe!

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ments of the ordinance, saying it’s better for the companies that they take a small hit on their towing revenue from being on a five-week rotation than for one company, King’s Service Center and Towing of Central Falls, to be kicked off after many years of service.

If you’re unified, I can predict an outcome, if you’re not unified, I have no idea. “If you’re unified, I can predict an outcome, if you’re not unified, I have no idea,” he told the tow companies. Schmitt said he sees far more like-

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lihood of a council vote in favor of the ordinance if the sides can reach consensus than if they’re still divided. He said he doesn’t believe it’s right to kick King’s off the list after so many years of service just because the company isn’t paying taxes to Cumberland. “I believe there’s a compromise,” he said. Thomas Mellen, of King’s, said his company has been providing service to Cumberland for 25 years with no problems. He said all the company wants to do is continue taking care of customers. Bradley wants to stick to a fourweek rotation, saying the town should be partnering with companies that have invested in Cumberland and are paying taxes to the town, including Miller’s and three existing company partners, Shea’s Towing, Cumberland Auto Body, and Blackstone Auto Sales & Body. Source: valleybreeze.com.

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Work the Passenger side–Stay Safe!

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‘Reasonable’ Towing and Storage Fees Bill Signed California Gov. Jerry Brown recently signed AB 2392 by Assembly Member Miguel Santiago into law. The bill, co-sponsored by the California Tow Truck Association, sets “reasonable” towing and storage fees” for California tow companies. The bill was originally introduced this year by the insurance industry to curb perceived “unreasonable” fees in the towing industry; but through the guidance of CTTA’s Towing Regulatory Oversight Council, the bill was negotiated to a place where CTTA ultimately signed on as a co-sponsor. Aside from fee guidelines, AB 2392 also stipulates that a storage facility must provide a telephone number that permits the caller to leave a message outside of normal business hours. Calls to that number must be returned no later than six business hours after the message has been left. The bill will go into effect on Jan. 1, 2019. Source: CTTA.

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Work the Passenger side–Stay Safe!

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