It was, “The Recovery of a lifetime!” exclaimed Chris Nieman. His tow operators had practiced clothesline-style recoveries in class, but never over this distance or in water. Read the exciting account of how they handled this difficult job and assisted first-responders in the rescue of a Park Ranger.
Photo courtesy of Nieman’s Towing & Recovery
Dennie Ortiz Publisher
Fall has arrived in most of our country and with it brings another contentious presidential election. Societal norms once dictated that we refrain from discussing religion and politics. That logic certainly facilitated a more civil discourse among the people of our nation.
As in the towing industry, I have always advocated that pulling together will allow for greater advances, whether it’s regarding legislation, fair towing rates, or safer roadways—we accomplish more with cooperation.
So, I will express this same sentiment when it comes to our country: In unity there is strength and our country will benefit by recognizing that we have much more in common than that which sets us apart.
Towers possess a natural empathy and generosity of heart that is evident in the care and dedication they bring to every job they tackle. Helping others is a calling that is to be commended.
During the AT Exposition in Baltimore, we do our best to recognize these noble efforts for those I call, “”the unsung heroes of the road.” From the ACE Awards recognizing service excellence, and the prestigious Towman Order nominated by fire and police chiefs for serving the community, to the Towman Hero award for “The Simple Act of Bravery” honoring towers who risked their life to save another, American Towman pays tribute to towers for their achievements.
At the show, we also seek to praise the beauties and the beasts, which is the remarkable equipment that makes this vocation so unique, through the American Wrecker Pageant. On pages 48-50 our Editor, Steve Temple, provides a sneak peak of what you can expect to be a feast for the eyes at this year’s competition.
Enjoy the many articles in this issue. Hope to see you in Baltimore, and as always, stay safe out there!
Steve Temple Editor
I couldn’t agree more with Dennie’s comments above that we, “accomplish more with cooperation.” Several of the features in this issue drive home that point.
Our recovery article on the cover involved a Park Ranger getting washed downstream in a flash flood, and towers worked closely and in concert with both fire and police departments to rescue him, along with retrieving his vehicle from the river.
Disaster relief has become a recurring theme, and
George Nitti’s article highlights the selfless assistance provided by towers to hurricane victims after recent hurricanes Helene and Milton, among others.
These high-risk rescue efforts can potentially result in injuries for both tow operators and the people they help, posing a dire need to administer first aid in the field. Terry Abejuela has almost 30 years of experience with the Auto Club’s Emergency Task Force. Along with first aid and CPR training every two years, Terry’s advice on both first aid kits and emergency preparedness is invaluable. And, the article’s accompanying sidebar about equipping tow trucks with NARCAN has become an alarming necessity for protecting operators from accidental exposure to opioids, and even preventing the death of people due to overdoses.
Handling outriggers is another potentially hazardous endeavor, and Brian Riker’s recommendations for a secure setup with spotters can help to avoid dangerous mishaps.
Randall Resch’s article on dealing with damage claims also has some advice about being cooperative when resolving disputes.
While this issue includes other types of informative articles, the main point is to encourage teamwork for the safety and well being of all involved.
Lastly, along the lines of “accomplishing more with cooperation,” we’re looking ahead to planning articles for our 2025 editorial calendar, and welcome input from readers on ideas for towing articles. Please feel free to email: stemple@towman.com
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A fleet of 25 tow operators from south suburban Chicago headed to Florida to assist with recovery efforts after Hurricane Milton. Vehicle Management Solutions (VMS), the parent company of local towing firms E&R and W&W, responded to partner agencies’ requests for help.
“Our trucks will be crucial for moving debris and aiding rescue teams,” said Early Walker, VMS senior vice president of governmental affairs. “Flatbeds can winch out trees, cars, and heavy equipment.”
“We’re ready to move water, food, or other supplies as needed,” added VMS CEO Kevin Corcoran. Some VMS drivers are already in Florida, managing the aftermath of Hurricane Helene.
Source: youtube.com
At an October meeting, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) will address concerns over Governor Gavin Newsom’s Advanced Clean Trucks (ACT) regulations. Tow truck companies are seeking relief from regulations that have led to a shortage of medium to heavy truck chassis.
The ACT and the Heavy-Duty Omnibus regulations, which restrict the availability of trucks with internal-combustion engines, have outpaced the development of electric alternatives capable of meeting the performance and safety standards required for towing. Additionally, a malfunctioning credit trading market has failed to incentivize manufacturers to meet demand for combustion engines as electric models are not yet widely available.
Small businesses like Truck Body Sales, a Sacramento company that assembles tow trucks, are feeling the impact. Owner Brandon Neal warned that without access to truck chassis, they will soon be out of business, leaving fewer tow trucks to assist stranded motorists.
With tow trucks comprising less than 1% of California’s commercial truck market, manufacturers de-prioritized their production. Towing industry leaders are calling for emergency-vehicle classification of tow trucks to ensure the continuation of roadside assistance services, as more states consider adopting similar regulations.
Source: River City Communications
The International Towing & Recovery Museum’s annual auction raised $155,000, highlighted by the sale of a special edition Hino L6 Series truck with a Century 12 Series LCG bed, donated by both Hino Trucks and Miller Industries. The winning bid came from Crystal Griffin of Sheehan’s Towing in West Palm Beach, FL. Griffin, a 29-year industry veteran, expressed her appreciation for the donation and the museum’s mission.
Crystal Griffin of Sheehan’s Towing wins a special-edition Hino L6 Series truck.
“It’s about more than just a truck,” said Griffin. “It’s about supporting the museum.” Proceeds from the auction will help the museum enhance its exhibits, preserving the history of the
towing industry while educating future generations about the essential work of towing professionals.
Source: The International Towing & Recovery Museum
Towman Troy Caldwell, who was remembered for his safety consciousness on the job, was killed while working along Interstate 64 in Bath County, Kentucky. Caldwell, 54, was struck by a commercial vehicle near mile marker 124 while loading a vehicle onto a rollback. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Authorities have arrested the driver of the commercial vehicle, 29-yearold Shodmon Yuldashev of Brooklyn, New York, and charged him with tampering with physical evidence.
According to Kentucky State Police, Yuldashev was allegedly watching YouTube on a tablet at the time of the crash and attempted to turn off and conceal the device when troopers arrived.
Fellow tower Bubba Johnson, and longtime friend at Jerry’s Towing where Caldwell worked, remembered him
for his friendliness, passion and safety consciousness. “You never passed him on the road without him waving at you, and a few minutes later he’d be calling you,” said Johnson. “He was just a really upstanding guy, and he loved what he did.” Johnson shared that Caldwell had a reputation within the industry for always prioritizing safety. Known as “Mr. Safety,” Caldwell was meticulous about wearing fluorescent gear and double-checking every detail while on the job.
“He was the one you’d want to lead your safety meeting,” Johnson added. “Troy was always willing to go above and beyond at accident scenes. It’s just a tough loss for everybody. It makes it harder as a tow operator to go out on the next call when you know a friend of yours lost their life doing the exact same thing.”
Source: wkyt.com
Towing Miami Express, a small towing business run by Daiana Maza and her father Ernesto, faced a major setback when their Google business profile disappeared. The family-owned company relied heavily on its online presence to attract customers over the last four years.
“Google is the most powerful engine in the world right now,” Daiana said,
explaining how critical the platform is for small businesses like theirs to stay visible.
But a month ago, their profile was unexpectedly shut down, with Google stating the business didn’t meet profile requirements. As a result, Towing Miami Express lost nearly all of its customers. Despite the tower appealing and providing necessary paperwork, weeks passed with no resolution.
On the verge of financial collapse, the Mazas reached out to NBC6 Responds in south Florida. Following media involvement, Google reinstated the profile, though they never clarified why it was removed. However, the business still lacks its customer reviews. Google states that business profiles must meet specific guidelines, which are enforced through automated systems, human reviews, and user feedback.
Source: msn.com
A tow truck driver was intentionally struck outside his workplace on September 23, according to his employer, Suburban Towing. The incident occurred around 1 a.m. when Chris Skaggs returned to the Suburban Towing lot in Louisville, KY. Skaggs noticed someone rummaging through his co-worker’s personal vehicle and immediately attempted to intervene, the towing company stated in a Facebook post.
During the confrontation, Skaggs was involved in an altercation with the suspect, who then fled the scene with a female accomplice. As they made their escape, the driver of the truck intentionally swerved towards Skaggs, striking him before fleeing the scene, the company reported.
Skaggs was not only hit by the truck but also by a trailer it was pulling, according to WLKY. Suburban Towing’s safety manager, Kyle Goff, told WDRB that the driver deliberately aimed the vehicle at Skaggs, calling it an intentional act.
A fellow tow operator arrived shortly after the incident and called for help, potentially saving Skaggs’ life. Skaggs expressed his gratitude, stating he “would’ve been dead” without his colleague’s quick response. He suffered a broken nose, a broken bone behind his ear, and multiple scratches, but is expected to recover.
Source: newsobserver.com
Fairfax County, Virginia, officials are proposing new towing regulations for multi-family dwellings targeting vehicles with expired registrations or inspection stickers.
The proposal requires tow companies to post written notices on vehicles 48 hours before removal and notify landlords. Non-compliance would result in reimbursing vehicle owners for towing and storage fees, plus a $100 fine.
Prompted by Virginia’s House Bill 925, the regulations could increase the administrative burden on tow companies, requiring enhanced documentation and compliance systems. Violations could lead to financial penalties and damaged client relationships, though proper compliance may boost trust with residents and landlords.
The county’s Trespass Towing Advisory Board has raised no objections to the proposal. Tow companies are advised to prepare for potential changes.
Source: gazetteleader.com
President Joe Biden signed into law the Veteran Improvement Commercial Driver License Act on Oct. 1, aimed at expediting veterans’ access to commercial driver licenses at newly established driving schools. The bipartisan bill, co-sponsored by Sen. Deb Fischer (R-Neb.) and Sen. Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), passed the House in September after gaining Senate approval a year prior.
The law removes a two-year waiting period for veterans’ benefits at new branches of CDL schools, provided their primary institutions are already approved by the Department of Veterans Affairs. This move addresses workforce shortages in the trucking industry while offering veterans quicker pathways to high-paying jobs.
“America is duty-bound to care for our veterans when they return home,” said Fischer. “I’m grateful my bill enabling veterans to get CDL licenses more easily was signed into law.”
Source: ttnews.com
Keeping people and cars away from a towman’s work scene is an obvious safety precaution. To fence off the recovery of a casualty vehicle from pedestrians and traffic, the SafetyRail is a continuous, interlocking barricade. It adheres to ADA guidelines and MUTCD 2009 Edition Standards as a sidewalk closure that provides a longitudinal channel pathway, and meets MASH eligibility.
In addition, the SafetyRail is designed for use with the PSS Wave Guide Rail, especially for protecting those with limited vision. The upper Wave Guide Rail is smooth, continuous, and safe for trailing of pedestrian hands. The Wave’s notch shape keeps guide rails securely in bushings. Available in four-foot or six-foot lengths, the rail has encapsulated ends to eliminate cane or hand snagging hazards. Made of high-density polyethylene plastic with UV inhibitors, SafetyRail’s retroreflective sheeting meets all state and federal specifications. and is available in Engineer, Hi-Intensity, and Diamond grades. The Wave also accepts sheeting on either one or both sides.
Lite It Wireless introduces the new Mini-4, an economical wireless light bar. This low-profile, light-duty tow bar has the same powerful circuitry standard in all Lite-It wireless products. The easy to handle, 17-inch light bar features 11 bright red diodes, with stop, tail, and turn-signal functions, along with magnetic mounts that are rubber-coated scratch resistant. The Mini-4 is available with a 4-pin, 7-pin or 7-blade transmitter. Each bar is made with a readily accessible 2.3 AH (Ampere Hour) rechargeable battery, the same type used in Lite-It’s larger bars. This ensures longer run times between charging, and a charger is included for added convenience. The unit’s strong polyethylene black case won’t warp or crack.
The CruiseCam CC4-AI from Mobile Video Computing Solutions is a highly integrated Dashcam + 2 cameras that has one forwardfacing camera and one rear-facing camera, plus two eyeball sideview cameras. Each camera records full-frame videos, ideal for safety measures and insurance claims. This AI-powered dash cam combines active anti-collision and alarm systems for abnormal driver behavior, with both alarm prompts and mobile DVR functions. The device detects and recognizes vehicles, lanes and traffic scenarios through cameras and AI algorithms. It can effectively forecast risks such as forward collisions and lane departures, according to analysis of vehicle motion and driver behavior. It also tracks illegal driver behavior such as smoking, cellphone calls, fatigued driving and distraction which can cause traffic incidents.
Mack Trucks recently announced a significant refresh of its MD Series diesel and electric medium-duty trucks. These models now feature a larger cab that improves the driver environment and incorporates new safety features in order to meet evolving customer needs and applications. The Mack MD Series is available with either diesel or electric drivetrain options in the MD6, a Class 6 model with a Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) of 25,995 pounds. The diesel and electric drivetrains are also offered in the MD7, a Class 7 model with a GVWR of 33,000 pounds. Both models are exempt from the 12% Federal Excise Tax (FET).
These key interior and safety updates— now standard on the MD without raising its price—also improve ease of installation for body builders. The biggest change is that the MD’s cab is now four inches longer than the previous version, which gives drivers more seat-recline capability and leg room. This larger cab further shows how the Mack Anthem cab influenced the MD cab design, and many of the shared driver-comfort features, such as an overhead console for additional storage. The interior boasts premium satin aluminum trim, improved seating with lumbar support, and enhanced LED lighting. New steering wheel controls for cruise control, telephone and audio functions have been added, increasing driver convenience and safety. All of these are proven to be popular with Mack’s Class 8 customers.
The trucks now come standard with several enhanced safety features including new ABS (Anti-Lock Braking System)
with ATC (Automatic Traction Control), radio mute in reverse, and a parkingbrake alarm. The pre-wired body-builder connections, a relocated air dryer, and updated wheelbases to industry-standard Cab to Axle (CA) dimensions, making for an easier and wider array of body installations.
“The MD Series continues to build on the success of our initial mediumduty offering,” stated Jonathan Randall, president of Mack Trucks North America. “Built with Mack’s heritage of reliability, these enhancements will provide a more versatile and efficient truck, across a wide range of applications.”
The MD Series is a leading choice for various applications, including dry van/ refrigerated, stake/flatbed, dump and tank truck vocations. The MD6 model does not require a Commercial Driver’s
License (CDL) to operate for nonhazardous payloads.
Dedicated to durability, reliability and meeting the needs of customers, Mack Trucks has been providing purpose-built transportation solutions for more than a century. Today, Mack is one of North America’s largest producers of heavyduty trucks, and Mack trucks are sold and serviced through an extensive distribution network in more than 45 countries. Mack trucks, diesel engines and transmissions sold in North America are assembled in the United States. Mack is also a proud sponsor of Share the Road, the American Trucking Associations’ public information campaign aimed at enhancing the safety of our nation’s roadways.
By Terry Abejuela
WMost if not all states have some form of the Good Samaritan law. In some states the laws only cover medically trained rescuers. Whenever possible, tow operators should obtain consent from the individual before rendering first aid.
hile a tow truck’s first aid kit is primarily for use when an operator is injured on the job, with some training it can also be used to render aid to customers and other motorists. A well-stocked first aid kit and a trained tow truck operator may be able to help in treating minor injuries and provide critical emergency supplies while awaiting the arrival of professional medical assistance.
Are there any liability concerns when treating customer injuries? The Good Samaritan law is designed to protect individuals who render reasonable assistance to someone who is injured or in peril during an emergency. The laws are designed to encourage people to intervene in emergencies without fear of being sued for unintentional harm or injuries sustained as a result of the assistance provided.
Laws differs from state to state, so tow operators who may feel compelled to render assistance should do the research into their particular state and local laws. Generally, the law offers immunity from civil liability to an individual who renders aid in good faith, without expectation of compensation and within the scope of their training or abilities.
These laws may not provide protection against gross negligence such as willful, wanton, or malicious actions. In most instances, a person cannot be held liable for not providing medical assistance.
Completing a certified CPR and first aid class is the best protection from liability. And, don’t do something not included in that training. Get professional help for an injured person, adhere to approved training procedures, and last but not least, follow company policy.
The most common type of first aid
kit carried on a tow truck is a Class A Kit. It contains a basic range of items intended to treat common injuries such as abrasions, minor burns, and small cuts. They will often include hand sanitizer, over-the-counter painkillers, instant hot or cold packs, nitrile gloves, and basic medical tools such as tweezers and scissors. These kits work best for treating a small number of people.
A Class B first aid kit contains a broader range of items and a larger number of supplies to render assistance to a larger number of people. Class B kits are more suitable for the office, shop, or garage. Tow trucks should also be equipped with eyewash since operators are vulnerable to flying irritants such as automotive fluids, dust, and dirt.
For towers handling off-road recoveries, consider adding a snake bite kit or other items specific to a geographic area. Operators with CPR training should have kits that include some type of breathing barrier to protect the victim and the towman from germs or foreign bodily fluids. The kit should also include a booklet or pamphlet with basic CPR and first aid instructions.
When selecting a first aid kit, it’s important to consult a qualified professional to ensure it meets the particular needs and safety requirements for the specific
environment. Tow truck operators who have more extensive training may decide to carry more specialized first aid supplies such as splints, coagulants, ace wraps, trauma pads, or tourniquets. (Even NARCAN as noted in the sidebar.)
There are different types of containers for first aid kits. A Class IV first aid kit container is recommended for tow trucks. These containers are designed for outdoor settings and are waterproof, along with being corrosion- and impactresistant. They have options for mounting or carrying, and are intended for environments where damage is likely, such as in a tow truck tool compartment.
Always include the first aid kit on daily or monthly inspection checklists to ensure that supplies are replaced when depleted or expired.
While on the subject of first aid emergencies, let’s focus on emergency preparedness as well. The recent devastation caused by hurricanes Helene and Milton brings to light the need for being ready to handle emergencies.
Is there a company Emergency Preparedness Plan? Are the tow company’s operators and office staff trained and prepared in the event of an emergency? Are there sufficient survival supplies and equipment in both tow trucks and office or shop facilities? Is there a plan to continue operations in the event a tow facility is impacted by an emergency?
These are all questions that must be considered now to minimize the impact an emergency might have on your employees, business, customers, and the community.
Fires, earthquakes, hurricanes, tornadoes, extreme heat, extreme cold, power outages, and a
multitude of other unanticipated emergency events can create havoc and life-threatening hazards. Develop a plan in advance to minimize damages, hazards, and disruptions to business operations, and also ensure employee safety. This includes having employees be familiar with office facilities, and knowing how to shut off water, electricity, and gas if needed. ◀
is a non-profit organization based in Philadelphia that provides drug treatment information to the local community, along with NARCAN (a medication used to reverse opioid overdoses) and fentanyl testing strips.
Lisa Tennyson, who has a background with a number of towing businesses, and is the owner of Impact Towing, approached Noreen Lyons, the head of the Young Lady Butterflies, about putting NARCAN in tow trucks. Lisa pointed to the risk of tow truck drivers coming in contact with fentanyl or other opiate-like substances which puts them in danger.
Noreen agreed, and a number of tow companies are getting involved with this program. Several towers report having to administer NARCAN in the field. In addition, it’s even gotten the attention of the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, which liked the idea so much it’s equipping some 40 or more PENNDot trucks in the region with NARCAN.
Provide training on the use of a fire extinguisher and ensure that everyone knows where they are located. If there’s a backup generator on site, verify that employees understand how to safely utilize it.
Hand warmers are appreciated by a tow customer suffering from hypothermia, or an operator doing a recovery in cold weather.
If a tow facility needs to be evacuated, make sure employees know where to meet and how to account for everyone. For disabled employees who require assistance in an emergency, make sure there’s a plan for them as well. If there’s more than one facility, develop a plan to switch operations from the main facility to a second facility that is not affected by the emergency.
Maintain an emergency survival kit in either tow trucks or facilities with enough supplies to last for at least three days. Food, water, medications, blankets, batteries, a portable battery or hand-crank operated radio. If employees keep medications that must be kept cold, make sure there’s a backup plan to keep them cold when the power is out. Ice chests and an ample supply of ice on-site may be needed.
Establish a communications plan so employees are able to reach out to their families and tow managers during an emergency. Having a designated check-in person that employees can contact if needed is a good idea. Employees should have a list of important contact numbers available in a hard copy and on their phone.
After ensuring employees, equipment and facilities are safe, then it might be possible to provide assistance in your community. Coordinate with local emergency-response agencies so they are familiar with the tow company’s capabilities. Equipment that tow companies use on a daily basis is often useful in an emergency.
As an example, car carriers could be useful for quickly loading and delivering life-saving equipment and supplies such as food, water, and first aid supplies to impacted communities. Moving generators, forklifts, portable lighting equipment, or excavators are all helpful things that can be delivered with lowboy, car carriers and tow trucks. In addition, recent responses to hurricanes involved using car carriers to remove debris and damaged vehicles.
Emergencies are inevitable, and being prepared in advance will help save lives and minimize, damage, injuries, and disruptions to a tow business and its employees.
There is a lot of good information available at www. ready.gov to help develop a plan and prepare for the next emergency.
By Randall C. Resch
Let’s face it, damages will happen. While some claims may absolve the initial tow operator of damages, blame is often passed to the company’s yard worker, forklift operator, or even a second towman. Regardless of who caused the damage, if provable damage did occur during “Care, Custody and Control,” the tow company is liable for repairs.
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.
Of course, some vehicle owners will use a ploy, asserting that, “My car wasn’t like that before you towed it.” They might try to hoodwink a tow company in a deceptive effort to recoup monies paid to get their vehicle from storage. Even if this is the case, a verbal confrontation won’t end well, especially if the process eventually leads to court action.
Towers often get hammered when judges favor claimants who sue tow companies that have gone out of their way to avoid claims. A judge’s concluding statements declaring that a company was, “unprofessional, incompetent, and dishonest” can be both hard to swallow, and damaging to a business’s reputation.
When a tow company avoids a damage claim, it virtually guarantees that the
vehicle owner will quickly become frustrated and angered. When their case doesn’t receive full attention, claims seemingly morph into spiteful revenge quests against the tow company.
Even so, “Reimbursement for Damages”, can be a confusing process for vehicle owners and tow companies alike. As an example of an inconsistency, in May 2021, the U.S. PIRG (Public Interest Research Group) Education Fund, reported that, “If your vehicle is damaged during towing or storage processes, the towing company must reimburse the owner for damages in 23 states.”
When vehicle owners read this sort of statement, they can innocently conclude it applies to all states, and won’t bother to research further into the jurisdiction where their vehicle was towed.
With respect to the industry, accepting customer claims has never been its strong suit. Tow companies typically take the path of least resistance by ignoring claims, hoping they’ll just go away. While it’s a fairly common practice for tow companies to evade customer anger and confrontation, they fail to recognize that ignoring claims only fuels the customer’s irritation.
Which raises a valid question: What are the best practices for handling damage claims with proper intent? Any lack of contact by the company suggests the company’s poor intent. Courts are hugely sympathetic to claimants and vehicle owners. How a company handles complaints may result in customers being awarded the total amount of the lawsuit.
At the mention of damage or theft, should the tow company’s first reaction to a claim be that they didn’t do it? Or, instead of defensive and evasive comments, shouldn’t a company give claimants the benefit of the doubt and listen to their claims?
A vehicle owner might act more reasonably if tow management acknowledges them. When a company’s representative doesn’t listen or conduct a follow-up investigation into their claim, customers may push complaints to their lawyers, local law enforcement, the BBB, and even the mayor’s office.
In these situations, claimants often find the perfect shoulder to cry on, revealing a company’s objectionable customer service, and broadcast the news and post damaging reviews on social media.
While it might seem easier
to avoid customer complaints, “ghosting” them is simply not good business practice. Imagine if somebody damaged a tower’s vehicle, wouldn’t it be appropriate to demand reasonable and timely interaction with the responsible party? Consider the following actions related to damage claims:
-Include a Prosecutable Statement: Making false claims is a commission of fraud. Claim forms should include a statement signed by the customer where an intentional filing of a false claim may lead to prosecution. No signature, no claim.
-Accepting Claims: Best practices indicate that accepting claims is the responsible thing to do. This is not an admission of guilt or accepted responsibility, but simply recognition that a claim was filed.
-Conduct an Investigation: Downplaying damages or theft claims does not serve a company’s interests when defending against
them. Thorough investigations should begin with discussing the details with the claimant. Secondly, review these details with tow operators, office staff, and facility personnel who had any discussion or contact with the claimant. Investigations must include reading documents and impound reports, reviewing photos taken prior to the tow, examining facility cameras, etc. Consider whether the damage could possibly have happened during the vehicle’s “Care, Custody and Control.
-Inspect the Vehicle: It’s not reasonable for a company to claim it didn’t inflict damage when it hasn’t personally examined the vehicle. Why not invite claimants to return to the tow facility to inspect the alleged damage.
-Demonstrate the Obvious: If damage doesn’t match the method of towing, the case is stronger in the tow company’s favor. But, if the operator J-hooked a rear end in the process of loading, where the car’s rear wheels steer themselves down the carrier’s deck, that constitutes operator-inflicted damage.
-Photo Evidence: The best defense against accusations of damages and theft are photographs that are, “worth a thousand words.” Require that tow operators take photos of vehicles prior to towing, especially at locations on the vehicle where tow damages often occur (bumpers, valances, CV Boots, rim scrapes, tailpipes, and windshield cracks).
-Contract Required: Some law enforcement, government, and motor club contracts require that damage claims are investigated by the tow company.
-Preventive Action: Angry vehicle owners will solicit revenge upon a company when ignored, especially when they believe their vehicle was wrongfully impounded by “predatory towing practices.”
No company wants an illegal towing claim referred to the District Attorney’s Predatory Task Unit for review. Given that the DA’s office doesn’t take kindly to predatory tow companies, it’s best to ensure these complaints never reach their hands.
-Defend Your Ratings: Since it’s reported that 89 percent of consumers believe online reviews, it stands to reason that bad reviews can significantly impact a business in a negative way. It’s recommended that a company representative is
tasked to “review and respond” to online reviews.
-Honest and Truthful: When a tow company is known for telling tall tales, a claimant can use such false statements in their court claims. If however, management promises or arranges to fix or pay for damages, honoring these assurances is the most favorable way to keep a company’s reputation intact.
-Clear Documentation: A company’s best defenses are photos, the original driver’s report and/ ◀
or impound report. It’s the tow operator’s responsibility to ensure damages are documented in the impounding officer’s inventory, and also on the tow invoice. Damages must be clearly defined.
-Be Informed: Private-Property Impounds (PPI), when tow companies impound by patrolling, it’s likely there’s no additional party present to: a) sign the impound slip in-person, and, b) witness priortow damages. Across America, jurisdictions recognize patrolling as potentially deceptive, illegal, and prosecutable—it pays to know local limits and responsibilities.
The burden-of-proof that a tow company caused damages or removed items from the vehicle falls on the plaintiff. Playing dodgeball by not accepting signed claims, the
impound report, tow operator’s invoice and most specifically, photographs of damaged areas considered best evidence leave the company vulnerable.
Conversely, the more proof the company garners may result in the company not having to pay the claim. If the company recognizes operator or facility personnel did inflict damages, or removed items, it’s best to diplomatically accept fault and quickly negotiate the best deal. Ultimately, it will be far less expensive to satisfy a damage than to be sued for the total amount. Repairing the damage in-house or sending it to a shop should be offered as an act of good will.
A company should always be selective about submitting claims to their insurance provider. Insurance claims will most always result in rate increases.
Take reasonable efforts to accept,
investigate, determine and resolve complaints. It is recommended that companies conduct periodic “damage avoidance training” classes for tow operators and personnel to ensure that the handling of customer complaints is current and understood.
In the long run, where a “proactive damage claim” is handled according to best practices, it may result in earning the customer’s respect, or avoiding a costly lawsuit. Lawsuits are an incredible waste of time and company resources.
By George L. Nitti
When natural disasters strike, tow companies often play a critical role in recovery efforts. From transporting essential equipment to recovering vehicles, towers provide vital support to communities in distress. Following are a few prime examples of how towers assisted those in need, and overcame inevitable difficulties.
During Hurricane Ian two years ago, Texas-based company Crawley’s Services collaborated with Houston tow company On Site Towing to move generators crucial to keeping essential businesses such as Walgreens operational in the aftermath of the storm.
"We were hired by Walgreens to transport generators from Houston to Florida,” recalled Joe Crawley, owner of Crawley’s Services. “We took them all over the state, even down to the islands, moving them from one store to another. We would swap out units that were low on fuel and bring in freshly fueled ones.”
In addition to the emotional toll of leaving their homes and families, Crawley noted other challenges—fuel
shortages, road closures, and an unpredictable landscape.
“Some of the local stations that did have fuel were affected by the storm which left water in the tanks or were price-gouging,” Crawley noted. As a result, it required that
his team work with a fuel truck from Houston to ensure the generators stay powered.
Crawley’s and On Site have handled similar missions in other regions. After Hurricane Laura in 2020, they were tasked with
delivering fuel to essential services in Louisiana.
“We were working for a fuel company, and our flatbeds essentially became mobile fuel trucks,” he related. “We were filling up generators and delivering fuel
to grocery stores, retirement homes, and even hospitals.”
The workload was unrelenting, yet satisfying at the same time. “We worked nonstop for two-anda-half weeks,” Crawley recounted. “Although it was exhausting, it felt good knowing we were helping so many people.”
More recently, in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, Crawley’s and On Site were at it again, heading to Florida to deliver essential lighting equipment.
Guardian Fleet Services has been deeply involved in disaster relief, most recently as a result of Hurricane Helene. The company mobilized a fleet of heavy-duty trucks and rotators to assist with vehicle recovery, utility restoration, and delivery of equipment across Florida, Georgia, and North Carolina.
“We started deploying assets four days before the storm hit and have been working non-stop since,” stated Tom Tedford, CEO of Guardian. "Our network of operations allows us to respond
quickly and efficiently across a wide area.”
Guardian was tasked with delivering equipment such as generators and pumps for FEMA, as well as other essential items like construction equipment used to rebuild and clear infrastructures.
The company also plays a role in supporting utilities by setting up temporary staging areas for utility companies to begin restoring power and services.
"Our long-term relationships with these customers allow us to respond in times like these,” explains
Tedford, “Offering the same high level of service they receive from us day-to-day.”
The 67 rotators in Guardian’s fleet have been indispensable for setting up temporary command centers and housing. With over 500 assets and 640 employees,
Guardian remains a vital resource in the ongoing efforts to restore normalcy to the areas affected by the hurricane, particularly in the Southeastern states.
Auer’s Towing & Recovery of Ashland, Ohio took a hands-on approach in their disaster relief work, combining community donations with vehicle recovery. Owners Megan and Chad Auer sent a team of operators and several units to deliver aid to North Carolina and Tampa following hurricane Helene.
“We had so much local support,” Megan pointed out. “We actually had to cut off the donations because we couldn’t take any more.”
After delivering supplies to a ministry in Jonesboro, North Carolina, they partnered with Rebuilding Together Tampa Bay in order to provide supplies like nails, screws, and other construction materials necessary for repairing
homes damaged by the storm. The tow company then moved onto vehicle recovery operations in Tampa, where Auer’s team was dispatched to assist Copart, under the direction of Sandy’s Towing. Tampa had been hit hard by storm surges, and the recovery efforts were both intensive and exhausting.
"Our drivers were running like crazy nonstop,” Megan said, recounting how her team had to adjust their operations when a second storm approached, forcing them to temporarily pull ◀
drivers back. Anyone involved in disaster relief is very aware that the logistical challenges of working in disaster zones can be overwhelming.
"Operators are pulling four to six vehicles a day, but the trips are long, sometimes three hours one-way,” she added.
Megan’s team coordinated closely with Sandy's Towing to ensure they could meet the high demand for vehicle recoveries, even while facing the additional hurdles of finding fuel and accommodations. Auer’s operators were able to secure temporary housing at an Airbnb, though it was located three hours from some of their job sites.
Disaster relief presents both challenges and opportunities for tow companies. The work can be physically demanding and
emotionally taxing at the same time. Crawley, Tedford, and Auer all noted the difficulties of operating in disaster zones—ranging from fuel shortages and long hours to the emotional toll of witnessing widespread devastation. However, the rewards go far beyond financial compensation when assisting so many people.
From moving essential equipment to recovering vehicles and delivering community donations, tow companies like Crawley’s Services, On Site Towing, Guardian Fleet Services, and Auer’s Towing and Recovery are crucial to disaster recovery efforts. Their specialized skills and equipment, combined with a commitment to helping others, make them indispensable partners in the aftermath of natural disasters.
Auer reflected on the importance of their work: “It sticks with you—the devastation we’ve seen firsthand motivates us to keep helping however we can.”
By Steve Temple
park ranger was trying to protect others from danger, but ended up needing help himself. During flash-flood warnings for the North Wood County Park in Pittsville, Wisconsin, a 64-year-old park employee drove his van across a bridge to close an entrance gate. The rushing waters rose extremely fast, four feet in all, and swept his van off the bridge and down the river. A scary but successful rescue was performed by the local Pittsville fire department and volunteer rescue crews. The ranger was understandably shaken by the ordeal, but unhurt.
A few days later on August 4 of this year, when the water was back down to a safe level, Nieman's Towing & Recovery, Inc. from Wisconsin Rapids performed a
NRC 65T
NRC 50T
Hino 268 NRC 10TB rollback
challenging recovery of the van. The ranger’s vehicle had washed 300 yards further down the river from its location on the night of the rescue.
“Recovery of a lifetime!” exclaimed Chris Nieman. “We have done this clothesline-style recovery in class, but never this distance or in water.”
Nieman’s tow operators talked about various
Cale
Joe
Steve
options for this difficult situation, and this approach seemed like the best way to safely recover it from the Yellow River (rather than dragging the van across the large rocks which would add more resistance).
“We ran a rope along the bridge, tied to the auxiliary winch line on the 50-ton NRC rotator on the west side of the riverbank,” Chris explained. “So, we could winch the two main lines from the 65-ton across the river.”
They didn’t have quite enough length, though, and had to join the two main lines of each rotator together with Crosby Master Links. The crew then boomed down to rig the NRC spreader bar to the 65-ton wrecker’s winch lines. Operators next attached rim slings to the spreader bar to connect the auxiliary line from the 65 ton for a control line.
“We then free-spooled the auxiliary, and then began to raise the 65 ton's boom to get the spreader bar and B/A Latta loops down to the van,” Chris related, “Joe and Rico rigged the van using the Latta loops.”
Once the vehicle was rigged, area
fire department members cleared the bridge and riverbanks of bystanders. Then Nieman’s operators boomed up and in, while tightening the main lines. Operators communicated with the towing crews watching the footings of the rotators by using Sonetics headsets. Once the van was suspended in the air, the towmen slowly let the water drain out, and then used the auxiliary control line to bring the van up to the east side of the riverbank where it was set down.
“We then broke the rigging down and set up the van for a mid-air roll to upright it, and then swung and set it onto a waiting rollback.” But
Neiman’s doesn’t take all the credit for this hazardous job.
“I want to thank local agencies for the strong work during the swiftwater, life-saving operation,” Chris noted. “You ladies and gentlemen came together in a timely manner and got the driver to safety and no one got hurt.”
The chief of Pittsville fire department was the one responsible for requesting response from Nieman’s company.
“We do a lot of training with them, and they knew if they needed the assistance of a tow truck that night, we were the best call,” Chris points out. He also thanked his crew for coming in on a Sunday morning to get this done. Especially some of their fill-in help for support jobs, and the rest for staying behind handling the normal everyday work. Obviously, this recovery displayed a great team effort by everyone involved.
Exhibitor Roster as of 10/21/24
*Supplier names in bold are display advertisers in this issue with their ad page number cross-referenced
360 Payments
5Star Specialty Programs
AAA
AC RadioCom
Access Tools pg.67 booth# 1318
Acrisure
Agero powered by Swoop
All American Jerr-Dan in Old Bridge pg.N,S,M75 booth# 1514 & 1519
All Roads Trucks pg.56 booth# 616, 5120
Alliance Funding Group
Allstate Roadside pg. 29 booth# 2415 & 753
Alpha HD Trailers
American Key Supply
American Safety & Supply Inc
American Towman Magazine booth# 1141
American Towman TV booth# 1141
AmeriDeck
Amur Equipment Finance
AP Equipment Financing
Apache 2 Way
APR Plastic Fabricating
ARI-HETRA
Arro-Mark
Ascentium Capital
AT&T Business
Atlanta Wrecker Sales
Aurora Payments
Aussie Rimshine
Austin Insurance pg.N84
booth# 800
Auto Data Direct
Autogod
Azuga, A Bridgestone Company
B/A Products Co.
Bad Dog Tools
Battelini Wrecker Sales
BBSI
Beacon Funding
Benchmark Payment
Big D’s Fabrication pg.N78 booth# 1435
Breg Environmental
Brown & Brown Insurance Services pg.56 booth# 112
Car-Part.com
CDL Book Club
Century p.35 booth# 223
Chevron
Chevron Commercial pg.64 booth# 1230
Coast Pay
Collins Dollies
Comeup USA
ConsumerPay
Copart Auto Auctions pg.3 booth# 3408
Crouch’s Wrecker & Equipment Sales pg.49 booth# 1118
Cruzen
CSTH/Dynamic
Curbside SOS
Custer Products Limited pg.42 booth# 1337
Custom Built MFG
Cutco
D.O.T. Tiedown
DeFalco’s Services
Deloupe Inc
Delta Absorbents of America
DewEze Mfg.
Doepker Trailers
DRIVE
Dual-Tech pg.27 booth# 2601
East Coast Truck & Trailer Sales
East Penn Truck Equipment
ECS
EdgeTec/Hooks pg.W76 booth# 202
Edin”Burg” Truck, ETS Hobby Shop
Emergency Responder Safety
Institute/CVVFA
Emergency Road Service Coalition of America / ERSCA
Energy Security Agency
Excel Sportswear
FCar Tech USA
Federal Signal
First Business Bank
FleetNet America
Flitz International
Florida Brand
Fullbay
Garden State Towing Association
GEICO
Gray Manufacturing Co.
Guttman Energy
HAAS Alert Safety Cloud
Hale Trailer Brake & Wheel pg.N79 booth# 948
HD Trailers
Highway Angels
Hino Trucks
Holly’s Towing Dispatch
Holmes
Horizon Motor
Hunter Engineering
Huntington National Bank
IAA Holdings
ICW Group pg.33 booth# 3007
Illusions Wraps
In The Ditch
Towing Products pg.53 booth# 114
Infinity Massage Chairs
Int’l Towing & Recovery
Hall of Fame & Museum pg.43 booth# 5305
Integrated Vehicle Leasing & Equip. Leasing
Intek Truck & Equipment Leasing
International Recovery Systems Inc.
Isuzu Commercial Truck of America pg.9 booth# 3411
iTow
JB Tow Accessories
Jerr-Dan pg.Inside Front Cover booth# 1505
JRDG Towing and Trucking Supplies
Kalyn Siebert pg.63 booth# 1745
KJ Chain Co.
Konnectronix
Landoll Company pg.Inside Back Cover booth# 430
Lift And Tow
Lift Marketing Group pg.N76 booth# 1213
Lighthouse Insurance Services
Link2Pump
Lodar USA
Lokithor
Lucky’s Trailer Sales
Lynch Group
Marlow Ropes
Marshall & Sterling Insurance
Matheny Towing Equipment pg.39 booth# 914
Matjack
Matthews Garage
MD Carrier Wrecker
Metro Tow Trucks
Metrocom 40
Miller Industries pg.17, 35 booth# 223
Mobile Road Service Solutions (MRSS)
Myers Benner Corp.
Mytee Products
Nation Safe Drivers
National Automobile Club
National Open Commerce Safer
Highways Coalition
National Recovery USA
Nite Beams Products
NRC Industries pg.19 booth# 1425
NSM Insurance brokers pg.N80 booth# 1801
Nussbaum Automotive Lifts
OMG Tow Marketing pg.31 booth# 1304
On the Scene Supply
OnCallGPS Video
Paccar Winch
Parkva
Peak Auto Auctions
Peddle
Penny Pockets
Penske Truck Leasing
Phoenix USA
Pinnacle Trailer Sales
PipeBreak USA
Pop - A - Lock
Portwest
Powertrain Truck
Parts and Service pg.N77 booth# 5015
Pruuvn
Purpose Wrecker
QuakeLED
Quarles
Quick Cash for Remotes
R&A Insurance
Rage LED
Ramsey Winch
Ranger SST
Razor Wraps
RC Industries
REAL Mobile pg.N80 booth# 2720
Recovery Solutions and Tit
Repair Aces
RimSling pg.23 booth# 602
Rivian Automotive
Roadside Protect
RoadSync
Robert Young’s NRC Sales & Service
Royal Truck & Equipment
RP Recovery
RRA Tow Truck Insurance
SafeAll p.28 booth# 602
Safety Vision pg.34 booth# 1326
SaleQuick
Santander Bank, N.A. pgs.22, Back Cover booth# 1323
SDMO Nation
Sepson US pg.25 booth# 2816
Service Member Data
Sierra Fleet intel
South Shore Jerr-Dan
Spill Tackle
Stamp Works
Star Blink Products
Steck Mfg. Co. by Milton Industries
Stertil-Koni
StreetGlow
Swivel Storage Solutions
Talbert Manufacturing pg.N76 booth# 945
TecNiq
The Exchange | 24/7 Dispatch
The Hilb Group
The Pain Helper
TJR Equipment and Controls
TNR Group - Ultraband USA
TOPDON USA
Tow Truck Wags
Tow4Tech
TowIndustryWeek.com booth# 1141
Towbook Management Software pg.5 booth# 3212
Towing and Recovery Association of America
Towing Forward Company
Towing.com pg.47 booth# 1702
TowingWebsites.com
Towmark
TowMate pg.39 booth# 3309
TowToolz pg.18 booth# 1341
Trail King Industries pg.66 booth# 952
Transit Pros
TransUnion
TRAXERO pg.40 booth# 1115
Truck Crane Solutions
Truck In A Box pg.3 booth# 3201
TruckMax
Trux Accessories
TrxNow
TW Products
TWG / DP Winch
Two Way Radio Gear
UHS Hardware
Urgently
US FLEET TRACKING (USFT) pg.60 booth# 1432
Verdant Commercial Capital
Vestige View
Vulcan
Warn Industries pg.7 booth# 1403
Warrior Winches
Wellnex Group
Whelen Engineering Co.
Will-Burt pg.66 booth# 350
Worldwide
WreckMaster
Xpress-pay
Ynot Services
Zacklift International
Zellner Insurance Agency
Zhengde Breake
Zip’s AW Direct pg.41 booth# 602
By Larry Oxenham
Tow operators have unique legal challenges because of the nature of the business. Operating on public highways, facing constant hazards, and dealing with stressed individuals means a towman’s liability starts the minute the phone rings.
In addition, tow company owners throughout the country agree that the business climate has changed dramatically in recent years. As a result of technology, higher capital costs, difficulties in finding qualified employees with a solid work ethic, and customers who rely heavily on apps and consequently expect an immediate response—and attorneys who are relentless in finding ways to sue.
Rightfully so, towers need to be just as relentless in preventing lawsuits. Most small businesses retain insurance to absorb costs incurred when their cases are lost in court, thereby making insurance a critical part of a tow business plan. But how much insurance is enough?
With too much insurance, a company can unknowingly become a target. Conversely, not enough insurance and an entire business is at risk.
A smarter idea is learning how to prevent lawsuits in the first place. This is part of a process that can be described as, “brushing your teeth legally.” For anybody who’s ever had a toothache, it’s hard to think of anything else until it is taken care of. A summons to court is like a toothache in that as soon as it’s received, the focus becomes saving the company, not managing it.
Continuing with the dental analogy, dentists will advise to do a better job of brushing and flossing to prevent a toothache. Likewise, tow business owners need to brush and floss legally to prevent lawsuits. In other words, practice the prevention of lawsuits, rather than worrying about fighting them.
With today’s unfriendly-to-business courts in so many cities, compounded by excessive injury awards, going to court is a terrifying proposition for small business owners. Probably scarier than a root canal!
However, liability is more than just a business issue. It extends to those personal luxury items that a business helped to purchase. This includes boats, airplanes, classic cars, motor homes, vacation properties, and more. For some business owners, these personal items are more important than the business assets. In other words, as a towman’s success grows, so does their personal wealth— and with it, their liability.
Tow owners with the most experience, the ones who have built their business over the years, are more concerned with lawsuits because, in many cases, they are too old or just don’t have the energy to start over.
As a case in point, In the late 1990s, a business owner in San Diego loaned three of his jet skis to friends who were traveling to Lake Mead, near Las Vegas. He did not join them on the trip.
On the second day of their vacation, his friends loaned the water toys to friends
who were vacationing with them, and after a day of partying, one of the riders hit a fallen skier resulting in her serious injury. The owner of the jet ski suddenly found himself in a long, expensive court battle to protect and save his business and personal assets. Although he was not with his friends on vacation, he was sued because he was the owner of the jet skis.
The case was eventually settled, but he said, “It never occurred to me that I would be sued for doing a favor for friends. It cost me a lot of money and time away from my business. I don’t think I will ever fully recover.”
In keeping with this object lesson, there is an adage that should be on the wall in every small business: “You must control everything, but you can’t afford to own anything.”
When an attorney sees an opportunity to sue somebody, the first thing they’ll do is a public
record search to determine whether the defendant owns their assets, and establish if it is actually worth suing them. The legal search looks for any protections that may be built into legal documents, as well as the amount of insurance coverage that’s in place.
If a company’s legal documents include bulletproof lawsuit protection, the attorney will most likely advise the client that a lawsuit is not worth it. Strictly speaking, the best idea is to prevent lawsuits rather than fight them.
Following are two steps to bulletproof a business from lawsuits:
1. Ensure that the company has the appropriate legal documents to operate a business.
2. Ensure that the company has the appropriate legal document to protect a business.
Most small business owners likely have either a C Corp, or an S
Corp (most common), and/or an LLC. An attorney generally chooses legal documents based on taxes, not always based on protection.
Protecting assets is a matter of taking equity, a company’s value, and putting it where it is protected. For today’s small business the document of choice is a carefully crafted LLC, recorded in one of the two states that offers premier lawsuit protection for a small business, Alaska or Nevada.
This is a brief yet essential overview of how simple and important it is to protect the business, and personal assets that a tow company owner has worked so hard to build. So, whenever a call is received from a stranded motorist, ensure that call is a business opportunity and not a potential lawsuit.
By Steve Temple
“Eager anticipation!” That sums up the feelings of the entrants to the impressive Wrecker Pageant at the American Towman Exposition. Craftsmanship, pride, and innovation will take center stage in
Baltimore, MD on November 21 to 23, and promises to showcase the finest tow trucks on the planet, all bedecked with vivid graphics and striking images.
Seasoned judges scrutinize every detail in determining trophy winners, and the competition is fierce. Wrecker owners not only
appreciate national recognition, but also reap numerous benefits long after the event concludes, enhancing both their reputation and business opportunities. What follows are some personal expressions from enthusiastic entrants to this year’s pageant about their design themes and what inspired them.
Towman Hero recipient in 2023, likes red. So they each had their sayso on the hues of the sharp-edged,
on emergency vehicles. Alex admits that the latter aspect can be a little controversial at times, though.
2025 Kenworth T880 Miller Industries 30 series Century LCG Industrial Carrier with under-lift Jinks, President Jinks Motor Carriers Heavy Towing & Recovery Inc. Midlothian, Virginia
“It makes us stand out,” explains Alexander. “Some people laugh, saying we’re trying to be a firetruck. But public safety officials approve. We’re being seen on scene.”
The results of all these design efforts prove their worth in a practical way as well.
“It impresses customers,” Alexander notes. “So, we showcase it to get more business.”
2022 Freightliner M2 106
Miller Industries Century 16-ton
Benjamin Smith, Operations Manager
Minnicks Auto Repair & Towing
Winchester, Virginia
The puzzle pieces and colorful ribbons on the vinyl wrap of Minnicks’ tow truck are immediately recognizable to anyone familiar with the symbols used by the autism community. Benjamin Smith of Minnicks has a nine-year-old nephew, Sawyer David, who is afflicted with this neurological disorder. To provide support, Benjamin is active in fundraising efforts, using his Century wrecker at “Touch-aTruck” events in his local community.
Entering this tow truck in the Wrecker
Pageant, however, is not part of his charity work, he’s been a regular participant and winner of multiple trophies in previous years.
“It’s nice when we win,” Benjamin smiles. “We like to be involved with the tow community.”
Indeed, in 2021, the company’s rotator, emblazoned with police, firefighter, and
The name Cecil Burroughs should sound familiar to pageant participants, as his artistic talents have been instrumental in many award-winning tow trucks at the Wrecker Pageant. Paul Gutman worked with Cecil on a pageant truck at another tow company before striking out on his own about a year ago to manage Master Collision Concepts. While handling a new venture hasn’t been easy, adding a Star Wars theme, developed in concert with Cecil and Paul’s brother Joseph, really helped the company stand out.
“We are big Star Wars fans,”
characters. And the pearls and metallic flakes really pop when the sun hits.” In true Star Wars fashion, “This is where the fun begins.”
No surprise that onlookers honk when they see this sensational sci-fi movie themed wrecker.
“One time a guy pulled over and got out of his car to check it out,” Paul relates. “It’s a good mobile ad.”
2023 Dodge Ram
5500 Laramie
Jerr-Dan MPL-40
Paul Gutman
Master Collision Concepts, LLC
Rockville Centre, New York
He feels that if people see how well he takes care of his equipment, they’ll expect Master Collision to take good
that if people see how well he maintains his equipment, they’ll trust Master Collision to
A well-equipped Roadside Assistance vehicle can open up a number of other business opportunities, such as servicing or repairing dropped trailers and tractors.
By Jim Figueira
Many tow companies view roadside services as only a small fraction of their business. They pay little attention to fixing flat tires, providing fuel, or handling lockouts, since they are usually done for a fixed or discounted fee paid by auto clubs and insurers.
This view was shared by Action Towing of California—that is, until they decided to explore this area further. After just a few years, providing RA (Roadside Assistance) developed into a substantial part of the company’s revenues. Equally important, Action Towing found that going beyond the immediate RA needs that had been called in built stronger customer loyalty. As a result, RA has become an integral part of its business.
“Using smaller, more nimble vans and service trucks are far less expensive to insure and operate,” explains Action Towing’s Brian Banks. “And they significantly contribute to the bottom line.” He points out that they are perfect for
responding in a high-density area, making it far easier to get into the lower levels of parking garages, and working in a more vertical, inner-city district.
Increased safety is another benefit. Action Towing uses these smaller vehicles for traffic control, and when there is a larger incident, RA vehicles are dispatched to create a safe barrier for workers’ protection. While not all RA vehicles can support an arrow board, they still provide some protection, ultimately serving as a tremendous asset.
RA comes in many levels, with the most basic being motor club calls. While this is a great place for operators to “get their feet wet,” there are other opportunities to thrive with a mobile repair segment in a tow business.
For example, what about all those dropped trailers sitting at warehouses? Imagine providing preventative maintenance or emergency repair service to them when they are between duty cycles.
Also, What about all the tractors sitting overnight or over the weekend? Trucking fleets prefer to have this work contracted out, and it is great filler work that can fit into a flexible schedule.
RA, and other support services, such as traffic control and site remediation, are excellent revenue streams. In some areas they can be shared in a cooperative manner with other tow companies that don’t have the ability, or interest, to offer these services. As always, check your local and state regulations to be sure you can offer them, and get the proper training or certifications necessary.
A well-stocked RA vehicle is a basic necessity. It should project to the motorist a clean and professional appearance, and have all the necessary equipment to assist in responding to most motoring issues. That means fixing everything from a flat tire to a dead battery, from supplying various vehicle operating fluids to handling a lockout. Or even a simple repair like a hose mending or a fuse replacement.
In addition, a properly stocked RA vehicle should have a jack for changing tires,
along with a universal wheel and tire for getting the disabled vehicle on the road to a service center, or onto a car carrier if necessary. Additional recommendations include an air compressor for inflating flat tires or running pneumatic tools, a funnel, and the fluids necessary to manage any of the vehicle requirements such as oil, fuel, hydraulic fluid, AC refrigerant, transmission fluid, and brake fluid.
For lockout services, make sure the RA vehicle carries all the devices necessary for opening a stranded motorist’s doors. Items for minor repairs are also a good idea, such as electrical tape, duct tape, and various connectors and fuses.
In the summer months, carrying water is a welcome relief for stranded and parched motorists. This simple
gesture has lasting effects. Ditto for providing a warm blanket in cold weather. Some roadside assistance vehicles carry small stuffed animals or toys to comfort any kids who may be traumatized by a vehicle breakdown in the middle of nowhere, during a storm, or in the middle of the night.
These personal touches create lasting impressions and a positive reputation that builds your business. Word-of-mouth recommendations are some of the strongest and most sought-after forms of free advertising. Roadside manners and thoughtfulness are equally as important as a well-equipped response vehicle.
Providing the services in a friendly and humane manner is critical to building client/business loyalty. Long after the RA is completed, your response actions, either good or bad, can linger. People tend not to forget either especially bad or especially
spill response cleanup.
good encounters! Try to direct the driver’s focus toward the positive image of your company, not the club or travel association to which they may belong. When the motorist feels that their personal well-being is the priority, a status far beyond a company just providing roadside services is established.
First impressions are lasting impressions, and all towers’ vehicles should be clean, professional looking, and well organized. While many customers might think a tow company, “Only cares about the service, and not roadside manners”, studies show that the details have influence. An RA vehicle might be the only visual the customer has of a business. It portrays a clear statement about the image a company strives to project.
In addition, well-trained responders create confidence in a company’s abilities. How many opportunities for a positive response does RA provide on a weekly and monthly basis? Each and every encounter is an opportunity to help grow a business.
Roadside assistance can mean so much more than just getting the vehicle back on the road. A notable example of this was evident in Illinois this past year when Classic Tow responded to
a stranded 18-wheeler in the dead of winter. The driver was from California and the transport company did not have the driver properly equipped for an Illinois winter. The weather was below freezing, and the driver was without power for several hours. Classic Tow had hot coffee and provided warmth that may well have saved that driver’s life.
When providing roadside assistance, there are basic safety precautions that must always be employed. PPE is essential. In studies conducted by NHTSA and other safety organizations involving high-visibility gear, it has been noted that black (or dark colors) pose a serious problem.
Highway service attire typically incorporates reflective strips into shirts, pants, and jackets. The principle is that those two-inch strips add to the tower’s safety. However, the strips are typically applied on dark blue or black clothing. Those dark colors are considered “invisible” in safety-wear studies, and during daylight hours those 2-inch stripes provide little to no reflective advantage.
Conversely, the high-visibility green safety vests can be seen from more than 750 feet away. When working in high-traffic areas, a brightly colored reflective shirt or a reflective safety vest is necessary— see and be seen.
Another safety must, critical to performing RA, is the standard orange reflective traffic cone. These cones create a thin orange line that helps function as a marker for motorists to slow down and move over. Always follow the safety standards as supplied by TIMS training.
A properly stocked roadside assistance vehicle takes planning, but there is help out there. Companies such as Mobile Road Service Solutions and Worldwide Equipment Sales (note sidebar) can design and supply
Recoveries often require removing debris and vehicle fluids after the casualty vehicle has been towed from the scene. A small, maneuverable, and well equipped spill-response vehicle can respond with an environmentally correct process. Here’s a list of typical equipment that might be required for a thorough cleanup:
1. 300 gallon pressure washer
2. 10 gallons of Gold Crew SW and 20 gallons of Gold Crew TC (EPAapproved surface-washing agents)
3. 2 battery-operated power broom
4. 6 brooms
5. 6 shovels
6. 2 boxes of 100 white oil-only pads
7. 2 boxes of 100 gray absorbent pads
8. 10 4 x 10” boom socks
9. 10 8 x 10” boom socks
10. 6 mop handles
11. 2 boxes of 12 mop heads
12. Pneumatic pump vacuum
13. Backup electric pump
14. Plug and dike
15. Gas driven trash pump
16. Box of 100 orange disposal bags
17. 10 orange cones
18. PPE
19. Eyewash kit
a vehicle with everything from environmental cleanup to roadside services, along with battery changes, including emergency charging for stranded EVs.
One way to expand revenue from RA vehicles is to include equipment specifically for handling stranded EVs. But it shouldn’t be limited to that particular type of work.
For example, the EV Van by Worldwide Equipment Sales has features for servicing most vehicles safely and efficiently. Scene-safety lighting and a message board ensures this RA vehicle is visible. Inside, the van’s modular design allows for various shelving configurations to stock common service parts such as tires, 12-volt batteries, hand tools, and an electric air compressor for impact tools and inflating tires.
There’s also a Van Air EPEQ power system and EliMENT battery packs which store enough power for the Goodall 12/24-volt, heavy-duty jump starter. These units can also put a charge into an EV so they can be driven to the next charging station for a full charge.
With planning and linking with auto clubs, associations and insurers, RA can become a sizable part of a business plan for growth. Building a
Designed for a good return on investment, this compact and fuel-efficient van weighs less than 10,000 pounds. No special license or medical certification is required for entrylevel service technicians to drive it.
local reputation for this service will ultimately help build the towing and recovery side of a business.
By Steve Temple
Pop Quiz: Back in the early 1930s, what was the most popular car in America? Up until then, Ford’s Model A, powered by an inline four-cylinder engine, enjoyed that distinction. Chevrolet sought to overcome this lead by introducing a six-cylinder “cast iron wonder.” It performed much better than its fourcylinder rivals, inspiring the catchy slogan, “Get a Six for the price of a Four.”
This inline-six, integral to Chevrolet’s best-selling success of
its ’31 and ’32 models, featured an advanced overhead-valve design, debuting at a time when Ford flatheads ruled. Displacing 194 cubic inches, with a 5.02:1 compression ratio, it initially ran with a Carter one-barrel, updraft carburetor. This new engine delivered 50hp at 2600 rpm and 122 lb/ft of torque at 1800 rpm. In 1932, the engine was fitted with a Carter downdraft carb, and the rating upped to 60 horses.
The nicely balanced engine was also upgraded in 1931 with a stronger engine block, sturdier crankshaft, and a redesigned harmonic balancer
for markedly smooth operation, and its torquey nature and flexible powerband meant that fewer shifts of the unsynchronized three-speed manual gearbox were needed.
This sturdy workhorse, along with the later addition of a “Silent Syncro-Mesh” on second and third gears, explains the appeal and application of ’32 Chevy as the Auto Club’s wrecker of choice. Outfitted with a Marquette hand-crank
Chevrolet car bodies were made with hardwood framework, reinforced and overlaid with steel panels.
wrecker body and modified bed, the setup was typical of tow trucks used for roadside service in the 1930s. Hydraulic winches were not yet available back then, so employing the “Armstrong” method was the order of the day for tow operators.
The hand-crank Marquette crane (the manufacturer’s terminology, rather than referring to it as a boom) and modified bed were common on roadside service rigs used by the Auto Club’s in the 1930s.
In addition to the two extra cylinders in the engine, Chevrolet also differed from Ford “A-bones” (a hot rodder’s expression) in the way the bodies were built. While Ford bodies were constructed primarily of steel, Chevrolet car bodies were made with a large proportion of wood in their composite construction. A hardwood framework was reinforced at stress areas with steel bracing. Over this framework were mounted steel panels, so that they strengthened each other. Even so, this old-school coachwork was susceptible to moisture damage, and ultimately proved to be a drawback for long-term durability, compared
with Ford’s all-steel approach.
The Auto Club towers didn’t benefit from air conditioning either, but instead featured a “VV” (Vision-Ventilation) windshield, which cranked into the header for additional airflow. All ’32 Chevy models shared a new three-spoke steering wheel, along with a few basic gauges mounted to the right in the center of the dashboard.
Running gear consisted of Lovejoy hydraulic shocks and four longitudinal semi-elliptic springs. The four-wheel, 11.5-inch mechanical drum brakes were fully enclosed for weather protection behind stylish 19-inch steel-spoke wheels, steered via worm and sector gearing. At the rear were dually rims for more loadbearing capability.
For all its virtues, the ’32 Chevy would eventually be outpaced by Ford’s then-new V8 engine, but that’s a story for another day.
The surface the outriggers are setting on is critical, especially at a cliffside, as every type has a specific amount of force it can support before yielding.
Brian J. Riker is a thirdgeneration towman, with 30 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
By Brian J. Riker
Even though outriggers are an integral part of modern wreckers, when not operated properly they can lead to catastrophic injuries and failures. Whether the tow truck is a rotator or straight stick, there are some universal safety precautions to follow. Most failures result from operator error, such as not having a complete view of what’s being lifted, and/or whether the wrecker is properly positioned.
This article is most certainly not intended to contradict anything in an operator’s manual, or any information provided by qualified
sources such as manufacturer training or other competent sources. It is recommended that a recovery is verified to be within the design capacity of the tow equipment, along with the environmental conditions, before initiating any recovery operation.
An outrigger is considered a structural part of a lifting platform designed to stabilize the boom and keep a tow truck anchored while lifting or winching. Understanding how the specific manufacturer intended their equipment to be used will help an operator stay well within design limitations. Each brand has unique strengths and weaknesses which must be taken into consideration before executing any job.
The outriggers transfer the weight to the ground of the tow truck, as well as the object being lifted or pulled, via the contact patches (aka, the “feet”). Exactly how these forces are transferred, and how much force is applied, is a topic for a different article, as each manufacturer, and each model of wrecker, has some variations.
As with any tool, knowing its intended use is critical. Always, consult the operator’s manual to understand what a specific unit is designed to do. Some outriggers can be tiedback to, allowing for another winch anchor point, while others are not designed to be pulled against. Sometimes it is okay, ideal even, to allow the foot to sink into the ground for better anchoring, while other times sinking even a tiny bit can spell disaster.
There are two critical ratings to know about an outrigger system. The first is its ground pressure, expressed in pounds per square inch, which will be discussed shortly. More important is knowing the number. Secondly, and equally important, is the angle pulled on the outrigger, and the force that can be applied. This will prevent bending or breaking the leg while winching.
Whenever a tow truck is being positioned to lift or winch, correct placement is critical to a successful outcome. If it’s too close there will be nowhere for the casualty to land, too far and there’s the risk of breaking or bending the boom due to exceeding its safe working
load limit. Also critical is the type of surface the outriggers are setting on.
Although each design will have a different ground pressure (psi), the concept is the same. A large contact patch will spread this ground pressure over a greater area, allowing the force to be distributed better, ultimately preventing the outrigger from sinking into the ground.
Every surface being set upon has a specific amount of force it can support
before yielding (note the Soil Bearing Capacity Chart - see page 69). Seemingly solid surfaces like asphalt, concrete, or crushed rock, have their limits. Even without a catastrophic failure, it can be very expensive to repair or replace a section of asphalt or concrete on a roadway or in a parking lot.
Knowing the allowable groundbearing pressure each surface can support is the responsibility of the tow operator which will ensure that the equipment, as deployed, remains stable throughout the entire lifting job. Ground pressure can be affected by an improper platform setup, dynamic forces while slewing a load, and even wind-shear forces on the load as it’s being lifted or rotated.
There are many different charts to help determine the capacity of different surfaces. Use one that is easily understood, and keep a copy on hand for quick reference.
When working on bridge decks or other elevated surfaces, or some indoor areas, consult with a qualified professional engineer to determine the allowable force for that specific location and structure. Elevated structures can more easily be damaged, and punching through a parking deck or bridge likely will result in an overturned truck and severe injury or even death.
Remaining within the capacities of the surface being worked upon on may require deploying mats, cribbing, or even steel plates to properly distribute the force from both the truck and the load. Use caution when deploying these items, though. They may effectively decrease ground ◀
pressure, but some material types such as wood or plastic can also reduce the coefficient of friction, allowing a tow truck to slide very easily.
For comparison, note how a skate works to easily move a locked-up wheel onto a car carrier deck. This same reduction in friction could happen to an outrigger platform with the wrong material, unless you add something to increase the friction, such as an old tire mudflap or piece of rubber mat.
Whenever
Tow operators are usually tempted to rush procedures, often because they are being pressured to get the roadway reopened. However, setting up a stable platform is not the time to be hasty. It is better to recognize any hazards, including physical objects that may be in the path of the outriggers as they are deployed. Also, consider underground utilities such as gas or electric lines, water lines and other structures. Thoroughly examine the area for clearance alongside and below where the legs will be dropped.
Note things like manhole covers or access plates for underground utilities. These are not acceptable places to set up a platform, even if the force is spread out with a big load of lumber.
Consider visibility for others on scene or passing through. It is strongly recommended to deploy enhanced visibility markers such as reflective chevrons, strobe lights or even just
a simple traffic cone, on and around the outriggers. Imagine working on an active roadway with just one lane closed, and a passing semi catches an outrigger while there’s a heavy object getting hoisted by the boom. The results would be deadly.
Whenever possible, use a spotter when setting up a platform. Having a second set of eyes to verify clearance can very effectively avoid a great deal of trouble.
There is a time and place for short jacking—when outriggers are not fully deployed for any aerial equipment that rotates, such as a crane, fire ladder or even a rotator. This is a dangerous, but often necessary, practice that allows setting up in confined spaces.
The number one rule of short jacking is never do it on the side that an operator is rotating to/from. When not fully on an outrigger platform, there is no stability, and only a very limited
amount of safe swing radius. A load chart is based on a properly deployed, level platform on stable ground.
Even if the legs cannot be extended on the short side, place them on the ground to help stabilize the unit. Keep in mind that ground surface conditions may require some cribbing or other protection, since there’s force exerted on the shortjacked side.
Despite common perceptions, floating is not recommended. Once you have an outrigger even slightly off the ground, the platform becomes unstable, as forces are being transferred to the other legs in an unintended manner, and there’s an extreme risk of tipping, losing traction, and sliding, along with a structural failure of the outrigger platform, the ground surface below, or any combination of these failures.
Unlike the days when a truck wasn’t considered actually working until the front axle came off the ground, there’s no advantage to floating the legs even a little. A truly stable platform will barely move from side to side, let alone come off the ground, as a load swings, (provided a tower is operating within the design limits of the equipment and has set up the platform correctly).
When used properly, the stiff legs found on many straight-stick wreckers will provide great stability and increased anchoring for winching. Always use extreme caution when pulling against these legs. Putting too much side pressure on them can result in failure, so be sure to design the pull to be straight in-line with the stance of the legs.
Just like the feet on a rotator leg, stiff legs also have a ground pressure rating and will easily dig into the surface. Many have spades designed just for this purpose, which is great unless the ground surface must not be damaged.
Rear-mounted stiff legs also provide stability when doing vertical lifting. ◀
Ensure that the ground can support the weight being transferred, and that the leg is deployed as intended by the manufacturer. Some designs require cribbing the entire leg since they have multiple contact patches with the ground. Improper cribbing can result in bending the leg because of a load-bearing portion not being supported properly.
Once a lift or winching is completed, it is important to pack up everything properly. When lifting up outriggers, be aware that the wrecker may shift, especially if the ground was disturbed during the operation.
Check for clearances before moving the legs, including under the wrecker or rotator for anything that may have become lodged under the tires. Also, examine any of the body panels that will move as the truck is lowered back onto its tires.
Check that dirt and debris, especially rocks or other objects that could bounce out and damage a following vehicle, are removed from the feet or legs. Some designs are sensitive to dirt and debris becoming trapped in the extension tubes, so be sure to keep them clean when retracting the legs to avoid binding up and damaging your equipment.
In summary, follow these procedures for outriggers, and they’ll ensure that a tower’s pulling and recovery efforts are both safe and secure.
Autura, a provider of government towing management software, and Traxero, which provides private towing solutions, announced the merger of the two platforms. This combination advances their shared vision for a fully integrated towing software platform that optimizes every stage of the tow lifecycle. The combined platform, which will serve over 3,000 customers and manage more than 50,000 daily tows nationwide, will streamline customer operations for both public and private towing operators, while improving safety and efficiency.
The newly merged platform offers an array of services: towing dispatch, impound lot management, embedded payments, lien notifications, vehicle auctions, and fleet tracking. By uniting the public and private towing systems, this new platform will also save time and money for operators, along with enhancing communication with law enforcement and other
stakeholders. Government agencies will see smoother workflows, thanks to cutting-edge features like automated lien notifications and embedded payments, while towing operators can expect faster operations and fewer bottlenecks. The elimination of redundant tasks and better communication with law enforcement will help ensure operators spend less time on paperwork and more time delivering high-quality service.
Sources: autura.com, traxero.com
Sidney Wolk, a visionary entrepreneur who founded Agero (formerly Cross Country Motor Club), passed away recently at 89. His pioneering work reshaped roadside assistance in America, expanding services to more than 120 million motorists and partnering with most leading automotive manufacturers. He leaves a legacy of innovation, optimism,
and generosity.
In 1972, Sid saw an opportunity to offer "peace of mind" through 24/7 roadside assistance. Starting with Toyota, his company soon gained other major clients like Isuzu, Hyundai, and Honda Motorcycles. Today, Agero supports over 12 million drivers annually and has become a cornerstone of The Cross Country Group, one of the largest family-owned businesses in Massachusetts.
Sid was known for his relentless optimism, quick humor, and genuine concern for others. His leadership style will have a lasting impact, not only on the towing industry but also on the people who knew him. Even in his 80s, he remained actively involved in his company, often saying, “I would rather be lucky than smart.”
A devoted family man and philanthropist, Sidney is survived by his wife Deanna, their three children, and eight grandchildren. His contributions to the towing industry and beyond will be remembered for generations.
By Joyce Powers with Steve Temple
Steve Flanagan was 17 years old when he began his towing career. Hitting the bricks running, on the day he got his license, he went out on his first official tow. From that day forward, he dove into the towing industry full tilt, moving from his family’s business to opening up his own company, Steve Flanagan’s Auto & Truck Service, more than 30 years
Engine: Cummins X15 Performance Series, 605 hp, with an Allison automatic transmission
Chassis: 2023 Kenworth W990, twin steer
Wrecker: Century 1075 rotator, 75-ton, five winches with dual H-beam
Custom Features: twotone paint (metallic gray and Kawasaki green), threecolor splatter paint inside toolbox compartments to enhance the boom’s painted features; Whelen lighting, spreader bars, snatch blocks, recovery shackles, recovery nylons, outrigger pads, onboard power inverter, golden shovel
Graphics: lettering by Dendy Hill Graphics, LaFayette, GA
ago. He’s been a fixture in the South Jersey and Philadelphia area towing scene ever since.
Steve has worked hard over the past 50-plus years, and continued to keep growing the business, eventually adding two auto body facilities for both cars and big trucks, and a transportation/hauling division as well. He has four, two facilities in Pennsylvania; one in Maple Shade, one in Cinnaminson, and two in Pennsauken, New Jersey.
The Flanagan fleet is more than 35 wreckers strong, and the newest addition to the fleet is this 2023 Kenworth W990 on a Century 1075 rotator. This 75-ton truck was three years in the making, custom-built just for Steve.
Originally it was his dream to have a pair of 75-ton rotators (he’s had one since 2010), but that desire was hampered by some of the Covid issues that many faced. But the wait was worth it. Steve worked hand-inhand with Jim Powers from Elizabeth Truck Center to custom-build this unit to his exact specifications. These included a Kenworth truck with an Allison automatic transmission, and a twin-steer setup.
Steve has worked with Jim
over the last 15 years, building all his trucks, and trusts his expertise to build out the entire unit. The fleet includes everything needed to handle any type of recovery, from a car pivoting over a guardrail to a multiple tractor-trailer rollover.
The list of rigging equipment in the splatter-painted toolboxes is extensive, and Whelen provided custom exterior lights. One personal touch is a golden shovel, fittingly engraved with the words “I Did It My Way,” (which also appears on the
back of the cab).
“That’s my favorite Frank Sinatra song,” Steve explains. As a fellow New Jersey native, he feels it aptly sums up his fortitude and dedication as a longtime towman. But why a golden shovel? Turns out that there’s an inside joke between Steve and Jim that the best accessory on any tow truck is the broom and shovel. Jim special-ordered a shovel and mounted it inside the toolbox.
After delivery, the truck was put to use within the first week, handling an overturned tractor-trailer loaded with beer. Since then, it’s also participated in a multi-agency recovery of a missing woman from the Cooper River, a SeaBox recovery, and a 60-foot aerial lift.
Steve is blessed to work with his family, and especially enjoys it when his two young grandsons come out with their dad to participate. Spending time with Steve you’ll hear the best stories from his decades of being in this industry. Speak with anyone who knows Steve and they’ll say he’s generous, an excellent businessman, and extremely hard working. He’s an absolute ace in this industry and now he has a truck to match his personality.
By Steve Calitri
You may think this headline refers to Donald Trump. You’re right, only in so much that it’s used to draw you into one of the many great seminars being conducted in Baltimore during the American Towman Academy at AT Expo. The session on leadership, A Dictator or a Leader, is presented by David Saline of DRIVE, the towing industry’s foremost consulting firm.
One tow boss out of Michigan told me he keeps coming back because the Academy, “helps me keep a leg up on my competitors.”
Steve Calitri Editor-in-Chief scalitri@towman.com
Through 35 years of the Academy’s existence, I can honestly say without exaggerating, that this year’s lineup of seminars are the most exciting AT has hosted. Much credit goes to Ilce Negri, who produces the educational program for all our shows. The expertise she rounded up for this one is astounding. Those of you who have taken a moment to look over the seminar topics and the presenters, are probably planning to be there. If you haven’t taken a look, do so at atexposition.com. Participating in the Academy will be the best business decision you will have made all year.
I am tempted to launch into the program titles and presenters right here, but the program is so intensive, the subject matter so critical, that glossing over these 25 seminars wouldn’t do justice to their value. If you do go to the show website to check it out, you will thank me for steering you there.
The Academy has been a shining star of the Exposition since its inception in 1989, when we first pioneered education for tow business owners, management, and recovery specialists. The very first year, there were 1,000 individual towing professionals in those classrooms. Since then, some 30,000 have participated in the Academy. For most of them, it has been a transformative experience that led to improvements and upgrades in their towing businesses and operations.
The session on Dictator or Leader resonates with anyone who has ever been in a position to manage people. I think most of us know what the ideal situation is: honest, hardworking, and smart employees. Good and able people gives a boss the confidence to delegate responsibilities. This is a must in the towing business. After all, the towman is out on his own with the company wrecker doing the most critical work. On the job, he is essentially his own manager, trusted with the equipment and duties the boss has given him.
Some of the most inspiring tow companies I’ve seen are those that the boss treats like his own family. I know tow bosses who take their team members to baseball games, picnics, and hikes.
Apropos to this point is a family I knew growing up. There were ten children. Each one was delegated a duty. Each child was taught to respect the father and mother. While we all can imagine that a household with ten children could be a wild place, this one functioned with the discipline of a marine barracks. The father marched them all off to church on Sunday morning.
It was a happy family.
I suppose it might be nice to be a dictator who gives orders for one henchman to carry out, by whatever means necessary. But that might lead to boredom and illusions of conquest.
BodyShop Business and American Towman magazines will expand their partnership in 2025 to include ShopOwner magazine for promoting ShopXpo, a trade show for bodyshop and auto repair owners. Following a successful launch in June, ShopXpo will return June 26-28, 2025, at the Fort Worth Convention Center.
ShopXpo will feature a larger Garage Legends Auto Showcase, exhibiting restored and classic cars, and expanded academy conferences covering EV (Electric Vehicle) maintenance and ADAS recalibration. The event will also honor BodyShop Business 1000 members, recognizing their longevity in collision repair, and present ShopOwner Trust Awards for excellence in customer relationships.
Mike Maleski, VP of Babcox Media, said the partnership continues after this year’s success, while publisher Dean Martin highlighted the expansion of the Body Shop 500 program to honor the 1000 longest-serving shop owners.
ShopXpo will be co-located with TowXpo Dallas/Fort Worth, American Towman’s trade show. According to Henri "Doc" Calitri, president of AT Expo Corp, attendees can easily access both shows, enhancing the experience.
Source: bodyshopbusiness.com
Indiana firefighters faced significant challenges when an EV caught fire
inside a car dealership, a situation officials described as “nearly impossible” to extinguish.
The incident occurred at an Audi dealership in Carmel, where the EV ignited on a lift in the maintenance area. The fire filled the garage with heavy smoke, according to the Carmel Fire Department. Lithium-ion batteries in EVs are prone to “thermal runaway”— an uncontrollable rise in temperature that can make fires difficult to extinguish.
Although the dealership’s sprinkler system slowed the spread, it wasn’t enough to put the fire out, explained Carmel Fire Department spokesperson Tim Griffin. “It took the firefighters getting hoses in there to cool it off enough to move it,” Griffin told WISH-TV.
The car reignited several times after being moved, forcing crews to continue dousing it until it could be safely transported to a salvage yard. Firefighters followed the vehicle to monitor for flareups.
The cause of the fire is under in - ◀
vestigation, but officials confirmed the car was not being charged. For tow operators, the incident underscores the complexities of handling EV fires, especially in confined environments like garages, where the risks are sig -
nificantly heightened.
Source: local.newsbreak.com
Essence Jackson, one of two people charged in the fatal shooting of Steve Hughes, a Lexington County, South Carolina repo man, was granted a $75,000 bond on Wednesday after nearly three months in jail. Jackson, 19, will be under house arrest with electronic monitoring, except for work and medical appointments.
Jackson and her brother, Raheem DeAngelo Jackson, 20, were arrested in connection to Hughes’ death during a June repossession. Hughes, wellknown in local Facebook groups, was found shot in his tow truck.
Jackson’s attorney, state representative Seth Rose, argued that she did not pull the trigger and had no prior record, describing her as an “impeccable person.” However, Hughes’ daughter, Stephanie, accused Jackson of walking past her dying father without helping.
Judge Thomas Cooper grant- ◀
ed bond, emphasizing the need to weigh both sides. Raheem Jackson remains in custody without bond.
Source msn.com
Hurricane Helene has left the Southeastern U.S. facing a long-lasting humanitarian, economic, and environmental crisis. The storm ravaged key industries, including cotton, pecans, poultry, and timber. Cotton losses could reach up to 800,000 bales, or 5.5% of U.S. production. More than 100 poultry facilities were destroyed, and North Carolina’s quartz mining operations, crucial for semiconductor manufacturing, remain shut down.
Agricultural officials are concerned about the future. “The future of hundreds of agricultural operations across Georgia is uncertain,” said Tyler Harper, Georgia’s Agriculture Commissioner. Poultry production was also hit hard, with Georgia Governor Brian Kemp reporting that “107 poultry facilities had been damaged or totally destroyed by the storm.”
Environmental damage is widespread, with millions of gallons
of sewage and hazardous chemicals flooding rivers. “We are seeing just catastrophic flooding,” said Gray Jernigan of MountainTrue, after witnessing the French Broad River flood Asheville.
As floodwaters recede, recovery begins, but the damage to agriculture, industry, and infrastructure could take years to overcome, with many farms and businesses facing an uncertain future.
Source: ttnews.com
BodyShop Business and American Towman magazines will expand their partnership in 2025 to include ShopOwner magazine for promoting ShopXpo, a trade show for bodyshop and auto repair owners. Following a successful launch in June, ShopXpo will return June 26-28, 2025, at the Fort Worth Convention Center.
ShopXpo will feature a larger Garage Legends Auto Showcase, exhibiting restored and classic cars, and expanded academy conferences covering EV (Electric Vehicle) maintenance and ADAS recalibration. The event will also honor BodyShop Business 1000 members, recognizing their longevity in collision repair, and present ShopOwner Trust Awards for excellence in customer relationships.
Mike Maleski, VP of Babcox Media, said the partnership continues after this year’s success, while publisher Dean Martin highlighted the expansion of the Body Shop 500 program to honor the 1000 longest-serving shop owners.
ShopXpo will be co-located with TowXpo Dallas/Fort Worth, American Towman’s trade show. According to Henri “Doc” Calitri, president of AT Expo Corp, attendees can easily
access both shows, enhancing the experience.
Source: bodyshopbusiness.com
Indiana firefighters faced significant challenges when an EV caught fire inside a car dealership, a situation officials described as “nearly impossible” to extinguish.
The incident occurred at an Audi dealership in Carmel, where the EV ignited on a lift in the maintenance area. The fire filled the garage with heavy smoke, according to the Carmel Fire Department. Lithium-ion batteries in EVs are prone to “thermal runaway”—an uncontrollable rise in temperature that can make fires difficult to extinguish.
Although the dealership’s sprinkler system slowed the spread, it wasn’t enough to put the fire out, explained Carmel Fire Department spokesperson Tim Griffin. “It took the firefighters getting hoses in there to cool it off enough to move it,” Griffin told WISH-TV.
The car reignited several times after being moved, forcing crews to continue dousing it until it could be safely transported to a salvage yard. Firefighters followed the vehicle to monitor for flareups.
Suspect in murder of repo man set free on a $75,000 bond.
The cause of the fire is under investigation, but officials confirmed the car was not being charged. For tow operators, the incident underscores the complexities of handling EV fires, especially in confined environments like garages, where the risks are significantly heightened.
Source: local.newsbreak.com
Essence Jackson, one of two people charged in the fatal shooting of Steve Hughes, a Lexington County, South Carolina repo man, was granted a $75,000 bond on Wednesday after nearly three months in jail. Jackson, 19, will be under house arrest with electronic monitoring, except for work and medical appointments.
Jackson and her brother, Raheem DeAngelo Jackson, 20, were arrested in connection to Hughes’ death during a June repossession. Hughes, well-known in local Facebook groups, was found shot in his tow truck.
Jackson’s attorney, state representative Seth Rose, argued that she did not pull the trigger and had no prior record, describing her as an “impeccable person.” However, Hughes’ daughter, Stephanie, accused Jackson of walking past her dying father without helping.
Judge Thomas Cooper granted bond, emphasizing the need to weigh both sides. Raheem Jackson remains in custody without bond.
Source msn.com
◀
Hurricane Helene has left the Southeastern U.S. facing a long-lasting humanitarian, economic, and environmental crisis. The storm
ravaged key industries, including cotton, pecans, poultry, and timber. Cotton losses could reach up to 800,000 bales, or 5.5% of U.S. production. More than 100 poultry facilities were destroyed, and North Carolina’s quartz mining operations, crucial for semiconductor manufac-
turing, remain shut down.
Agricultural officials are concerned about the future. “The future of hundreds of agricultural operations across Georgia is uncertain,” said Tyler Harper, Georgia’s Agriculture Commissioner. Poultry production was also hit hard, with Georgia Governor Brian Kemp reporting that “107 poultry facilities had been damaged or totally destroyed by the storm.”
Environmental damage is widespread, with millions of gallons of sewage and hazardous chemicals flooding rivers. “We are seeing just catastrophic flooding,” said Gray Jernigan of MountainTrue, after witnessing the French Broad River flood Asheville.
As floodwaters recede, recovery begins, but the damage to agriculture, industry, and infrastructure could take years to overcome, with many farms and businesses facing an uncertain future.
Source: ttnews.com
BodyShop Business and American Towman magazines will expand their partnership in 2025 to include ShopOwner magazine for promoting ShopXpo, a trade show for bodyshop and auto repair owners. Following a successful launch in June, ShopXpo will return June 26-28, 2025, at the Fort Worth Convention Center.
ShopXpo will feature a larger Garage Legends Auto Showcase, exhibiting restored and classic cars, and expanded academy conferences covering EV (Electric Vehicle) maintenance and ADAS recalibration. The event will also honor BodyShop Business 1000 members, recognizing their longevity in collision repair, and present ShopOwner Trust Awards for excellence in customer relationships.
Mike Maleski, VP of Babcox Media, said the partnership continues
after this year’s success, while publisher Dean Martin highlighted the expansion of the Body Shop 500 program to honor the 1000 longest-serving shop owners.
ShopXpo will be co-located with TowXpo Dallas/Fort Worth, American Towman’s trade show. According to Henri “Doc” Calitri, president of AT Expo Corp, attendees can easily access both shows, enhancing the experience.
Source: bodyshopbusiness.com
Indiana firefighters faced significant challenges when an EV caught fire inside a car dealership, a situation officials described as “nearly impossible” to extinguish.
The incident occurred at an Audi dealership in Carmel, where the EV ignited on a lift in the maintenance area. The fire filled the garage with
heavy smoke, according to the Carmel Fire Department. Lithium-ion batteries in EVs are prone to “thermal runaway”—an uncontrollable rise in temperature that can make fires difficult to extinguish.
Although the dealership’s sprinkler system slowed the spread, it wasn’t enough to put the fire out, explained Carmel Fire Department spokesperson Tim Griffin. “It took the firefighters getting hoses in there to cool it off enough to move it,” Griffin told WISH-TV.
The car reignited several times after being moved, forcing crews to continue dousing it until it could be safely transported to a salvage yard. Firefighters followed the vehicle to monitor for flareups.
The cause of the fire is under investigation, but officials confirmed the car was not being charged. For tow operators, the incident underscores the complexities of handling EV fires, especially in confined environments like garages, where the risks are significantly heightened.
Source: local.newsbreak.com
Essence Jackson, one of two people charged in the fatal shooting of Steve Hughes, a Lexington County, South Carolina repo man, was granted a $75,000 bond on Wednesday after nearly three months in jail. Jackson, 19, will be under house arrest with electronic monitoring, except for work and medical appointments.
◀
Jackson and her brother, Raheem DeAngelo Jackson, 20, were arrested in connection to Hughes’ death during a June repossession. Hughes, well-known in local Facebook groups, was found shot in his tow truck.
Jackson’s attorney, state representative Seth Rose, argued that she did not pull the trigger and had no prior record, describing her as an “impeccable person.” However, Hughes’ daughter, Stephanie, accused Jackson of walking past her
dying father without helping.
Judge Thomas Cooper granted bond, emphasizing the need to weigh both sides. Raheem Jackson remains in custody without bond.
Source msn.com
Hurricane Helene has left the Southeastern U.S. facing a long-lasting humanitarian, economic, and environmental crisis. The storm ravaged key industries, including cotton, pecans, poultry, and timber. Cotton losses could reach up to 800,000 bales, or 5.5% of U.S. production. More than 100 poultry facilities were destroyed, and North Carolina’s quartz mining operations, crucial for semiconductor manufacturing, remain shut down.
Agricultural officials are con-
cerned about the future. “The future of hundreds of agricultural operations across Georgia is uncertain,” said Tyler Harper, Georgia’s Agriculture Commissioner. Poultry production was also hit hard, with Georgia Governor Brian Kemp reporting that “107 poultry facilities had been damaged or totally destroyed by the storm.”
Environmental damage is widespread, with millions of gallons of sewage and hazardous chemicals flooding rivers. “We are seeing just catastrophic flooding,” said Gray Jernigan of MountainTrue, after witnessing the French Broad River flood Asheville.
As floodwaters recede, recovery begins, but the damage to agriculture, industry, and infrastructure could take years to overcome, with many farms and businesses facing an uncertain future.
Source: ttnews.com
BodyShop Business and American Towman magazines will expand their partnership in 2025 to include ShopOwner magazine for promoting ShopXpo, a trade show for bodyshop and auto repair owners. Following a successful launch in June, ShopXpo will return June 26-28, 2025, at the Fort Worth Convention Center.
ShopXpo will feature a larger Garage Legends Auto Showcase, exhibiting restored and classic cars, and expanded academy conferences covering EV (Electric Vehicle) maintenance and ADAS recalibration. The event will also honor BodyShop Business 1000 members, recognizing their longevity in collision repair, and present ShopOwner Trust Awards for excellence in customer relationships.
Mike Maleski, VP of Babcox Me-
dia, said the partnership continues after this year’s success, while publisher Dean Martin highlighted the expansion of the Body Shop 500 program to honor the 1000 longest-serving shop owners.
ShopXpo will be co-located with TowXpo Dallas/Fort Worth, American Towman’s trade show. According to Henri “Doc” Calitri, president of AT Expo Corp, attendees can easily access both shows, enhancing the experience.
Source: bodyshopbusiness.com
Indiana firefighters faced significant challenges when an EV caught fire inside a car dealership, a situation officials described as “nearly impossible” to extinguish.
The incident occurred at an Audi
dealership in Carmel, where the EV ignited on a lift in the maintenance area. The fire filled the garage with heavy smoke, according to the Carmel Fire Department. Lithium-ion batteries in EVs are prone to “thermal runaway”—an uncontrollable rise in temperature that can make fires difficult to extinguish.
Although the dealership’s sprinkler system slowed the spread, it wasn’t enough to put the fire
out, explained Carmel Fire Department spokesperson Tim Griffin. “It took the firefighters getting hoses in there to cool it off enough to move it,” Griffin told WISH-TV.
The car reignited several times after being moved, forcing crews to continue dousing it until it could be safely transported to a salvage yard. Firefighters followed the vehicle to monitor for flareups.
The cause of the fire is under investigation, but officials confirmed the car was not being charged. For tow operators, the incident underscores the complexities of handling EV fires, especially in confined environments like garages, where the risks are significantly heightened.
Source: local.newsbreak.com
