CHECK OUT ALL THE NEW EQUIPMENT! PRODUCT GATEWAY, PGS 44-53
THE ROAD CALLS
Through
the
Roof
Using Multi-Car Carriers AmericanTowman.com
Enjoy your coffee at TowIndustryWeek.com DECEMBER 2019 / $10
Dangers of Split-Rims Fighting Distracted Driving
december
Volume: 43 Issue: 12 2019
2020 Product Gateway Pgs. 44-53 Departments
The Walkaround . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 News Share . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Road Tools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Zoom In . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Tow Boss . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Ad Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34 Beacons On!. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36 Tow Engineer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60
On the cover: Dewey’s Towing got the call in Beloit, Wisconsin, when an airborne truck landed in a residential garage.
FEATURE CONTENTS
14
Put an End to Distracted Driving Recent event in California draws attention to inattentive driving and offers tips to prevent it. by Terry Abejuela
28
Heads Up
Repo Times. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74
When a truck landed in a garage through the roof, the tow company had to get it out without any inside access.
Towman’s Market . . . . . . . . . . . . 78
by Josh Wedel
Repo Run. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68
My Baby.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80 Low Down . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82 Adventures of A.T. . . N93, M, S, W89
Tow Bosses are attending the AT Expo in Atlantic City, December 4-7 4 • December 2019 - TOWMAN.COM
54
A Hot Mess When a trash truck caught fire, the situation was just around the corner from the shop. by Jim “Buck” Sorrenti
This page: It was a quick response for Battelini’s Garage when the burning casualty was behind the shop.
Seasons Greetings, Gratitude and Great Reading By Dennie Ortiz
Seasoned towman and trainer Many people get sentimental during Paul Stephens marked his second the holidays. During year writing for AT, and along with these moments it is his informative monthly articles, I important not only suggest you go back and read his to be grateful for what standout feature in February on how we have, but also to show incident management vehicles can give you a new profit center. appreciation to those around you. Knowing how important towing So as the year comes to a close, I reflect back on the last 12 months of vehicles are to this business and magazine issues and some standout the great pride they elicit in their pieces come to mind that I’d like to owners and operators, Field Editor Jim “Buck” Sorrenti highlight. continues to honor In January, we and showcase these honored all the towbeauties in our My ers that participated You will literally Baby department. in the Spirit Ride So, as American “Move Over” initiabe laughing out Towman magazine tive as the Towmen delivers importof the Year! Editor loud at many of ant information to Brendan Dooley’s his encounters! you each month, introspective article our man on the on these Spirit Riders was an in-depth overview of the con- daily scene, Senior Editor Charles tributions they made and the success Duke, brings you crucial daily and weekly news on the towing indusof the mission. The emergency lighting article in try’s most visited website: TowInthe May issue, by regulation compli- dustryWeek.com. ance specialist Brian Riker, provided If at any time of the day or the most comprehensive report on night you want to read something state-by-state regulations and codes entertaining, which happens to be for tow truck beacon use. (We even educational too, a must-read is our received kudos from our main com- Repo Run department by repo vetpetitor on this article.) eran Mark Lacek. You will literally Operations Editor Randall Resch be laughing out loud at many of his is a dedicated towing historian encounters! who dug deep to find the story of In this vein of appreciation, I’d a forgotten Canadian tower who like to add many thanks to Gina was killed in the line of duty some Johnson, who joined the staff this 65 years ago. Read about this in the year and designs the great graphics September issue. you see throughout each issue, and There are also many technical to Toni Vanderhorst and Ellen Rosenpieces throughout the year, authored gart, both wearers of many hats, who by Terry Abejuela, that have been help proof each page and make sure applauded by our readers for edu- the issues get out to you each month. cating them on many items from Of course we also offer the determining block and line tension to greatest gratitude to you, our loyal light-duty equipment ratings (Febru- readers! Safe and happy holidays ary and March issues). to all.
‘‘
6 • December 2019 - TOWMAN.COM
Dennie Ortiz Steve Calitri Brendan Dooley Charles Duke Randall Resch Terry Abejuela Jim “Buck” Sorrenti David Kolman Bill Simmons Mark Lacek Brian Riker
Publisher Editor-In-Chief Editor Senior Editor Operations Editor Field Editor, West Field Editor, Northeast Chassis Editor Safety Editor Repo Run Editor Contributing Editor
Editorial Board Tommy Anderson Roy Carlson Debbie Collins Belinda Harris Bill Johnson Ron Mislan Kurt Wilson
Dallas, Texas Saint Paul, Minn. Las Vegas, Nev. Greensboro, N.C. South Hadley, Mass. Warren, N.J. Creve Coeur, Ill.
American Towman Media Staff Gina Johnson Dennie Ortiz Ellen Rosengart Norma Calitri Jimmy Santos Toni Vanderhorst Henri Calitri Patrice Gesner William Burwell Peggy Calabrese Ryan Oser Emily Oz Steve Calitri
Page Layout Artist Advertising Sales Mgr. Senior Account Exec. VP of Accounts General Manager Publisher’s Assistant Customer Service Subscription Manager TIW Media Director Regional Advertising Sales iMarketing Manager ATTV Producer President
American Towman Media Headquarters 2 Overlook Drive, Suite 5, Warwick, NY 10990 800-732-3869 or 845-986-4546 E-mail: Publisher: dortiz@towman.com Editor-In-Chief: scalitri@towman.com Editor: bdooley@towman.com AT’S Digital Edition: itowman.com AT’S Website: americantowman.com AT’S Weekly: towindustryweek.com ATTV: americantowmantv.com Copyright ©2019 American Towman Magazine is published 12 times a year by American Towman Media, Inc. Subscription: Single Copy: $10 1 yr: $60 – 2 yrs: $110 International: $75 & $135 All material published through American Towman Media (AT), to include American Towman Magazine, iTowman.com and TowIndustryWeek. com, including advertisements, editorials, articles and all other content is published in good faith. However, AT accepts no liability for any errors or omissions, and does not endorse any companies, products or services that appear. AT does not test or review products submitted for inclusion in its publications. AT does not accept responsibility for the accuracy of content, warranties or claims made or implied by its advertisers. The views expressed are the authors’ alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of AT. The act of mailing or delivering a letter, email or article to AT shall constitute permission to publish that letter or article or any portion thereof. AT reserves the right to edit any and all material submitted. No part of the magazine or websites may be reproduced without prior written consent of AT.
Maryland Tower Struck, Killed
A vehicle struck and killed a tower who was assisting with a disabled vehicle in Temple Hills, Maryland, on Nov. 6. Police believe David Reinerio Pineda Alvarez, 63, had arrived on the scene to help a vehicle with a flat tire when he was struck and left on the shoulder of the road, the report stated. “Investigators believe Alvarez exited his vehicle and began walking up the driver side on the shoulder of the road,” police reported. “The suspect vehicle struck the disabled vehicle on the driver-side mirror before striking the victim and possibly the tow truck.” Police believe the suspect vehicle is a white or beige Cadillac Escalade. The tow truck had its flashing yellow lights on and was on the shoulder of the road. Alvarez was declared dead at the scene. Source: patch.com.
Towman Saves Car That Went in Creek Bobby Rhodes, an R&A Towing driver, said he saw a car go on the grass and disappear between the bridges during the afternoon of Oct. 29. That’s when he turned around and joined another towman in getting the car out of Bear Creek in Dothan, Alabama. “I didn’t know anybody there. I didn’t even know the lady (in the vehicle). That’s somebody’s grandma and I don’t want to see nobody lose nobody. So I did what I had to do. I ain’t no hero,” said Rhodes. Some observers at the accident site said the car was completely underwater at one point. Once they got it up far enough,
8 • December 2019 - TOWMAN.COM
another person removed the woman from the car, and she was transported to the hospital with what authorities describe as critical injuries. Troopers were still investigating the crash at press time. Source: wtvy.com.
ITRHFM Adds 28 to Wall,
Increases Survivor Fund At the Wall of the Fallen ceremony in October. Operations Editor Randall Resch (from left), sits with members of Edgar Pilon’s family, Gisele (Pilon) Bertrand (Edgar’s daughter), and Suzanne and Richard Pilon (Edgar’s son). Randall Resch image.
Canadian Towman Killed by Skidding Car
A 56-year-old Oshawa, Canada, towman was killed Nov. 7 after he was struck by a vehicle skidding out of control while helping another motorist out of a ditch. Ontario Provincial Police identified Beverly Todd Burgess as the towman killed. “He’s the unofficial ‘Mayor of Port Perry;’ he knew what was going on and who was who and the local news and who moved into town. He knew everything,” said Brad Fenney, a fellow towman. Fenney described his friend as someone with a “big heart, he’d help anybody out, no matter who they are. He was just genuine and he would talk to anyone.” A large turnout of trucks, possibly in the hundreds, was expected to turnout for his graveside service as of press time. Source: durhamregion.com.
Towman Bobby Rhodes declared he “ain’t no hero” after he and another towman rescued a motorist who drove into Bear Creek in Dothan, Alabama. wtvy. com image.
The International Towing & Recovery Hall of Fame and Museum added 28 new names to the Wall of the Fallen during its annual ceremony in October honoring towing and road service operators who have died in the line of service. The Wall of the Fallen now has more than 450 names of men and women who have lost their lives while serving the motoring public in the towing and road service industry. Among the fallen towmen added was Edgar Pilon, a Canadian towman who was murdered in 1954 and whose story was featured in American Towman’s September 2019 issue. “Despite the tragedy represented,
we do find comfort in honoring our fallen operators and in serving their families in their time of loss,” said Jeffrey Godwin, Wall of the Fallen and ITRHFM Survivor Fund co-chairman. The ITRHFM board also recently announced an increase in the death benefit available to families when industry tragedy occurs, from $5,000 per incident to $7,000 per incident. If the deceased was employed by a company who was a member in good standing of the museum at the time of the incident, or if the deceased was a member in good standing, the benefit increases to $9,500, up from $7,500. Source: towingmuseum.com.
… the flames were rising from the engine … No Extension for ELD Deadline
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration recently dismissed any chance it will extend the compliance deadline for the Electronic Logging Device rule past Dec. 16, 2019. In December 2018, the agency granted carriers an extension for ELD compliance to April 2019, at which time carriers and drivers would be placed out of service if they did not use approved logging devices that met the Automatic Onboard Recording Device or the new ELD spec. On Dec. 16, any carriers that use non-compliant logging software will be placed out of service. The violation will be treated the same as failure to have a record of duty status, which carries a 10-hour OOS penalty. Source: ccjdigital.com.
Fraud Case Sent to Grand Jury
A Mobile, Alabama, judge sent a case against two tow company owners to a grand jury recently after calling the allegations against the suspects “very weak” and expressed doubts about whether the case could make it to a full trial. The preliminary hearing was the first major hurdle faced by Gary Lamar Smith Sr. and Gary Lamar Smith Jr., who are each accused of insurance fraud. The charges stem from a months-long probe by the Mobile Police Department into five local towing companies. Investigators contend the two men overcharged the public for towing services over what is allowed by a city towing ordinance. So far the only charges filed have been against the Smiths, owners of SOS Towing. Source: al.com.
Work the non-traffic side–Stay Safe!
Towman, Officer Pull Man from Car Fire Towman Ryan Hysell and a police officer possibly saved a young man’s life after they pulled him out of the wreckage of a car fire in McHenry, Illinois, on Nov. 8. Hysell said he heard a loud crash as two cars collided, with one likely going well above the speed limit. “The car was upside down … the flames were rising from the engine,” Hysell said, who was afraid the car was going to blow up. He got an extinguisher from a nearby Dunkin’ Donuts and had the flames out in a matter of minutes. After returning the extinguisher, two people approached Hysell, telling him that a person was trapped in the wreckage. That’s when a McHenry police officer showed up and sprang into action by freeing the 20-year-old driver’s foot.
Towman Ryan Hysell helped rescue a motorist from a burning car. chicago. cbslocal.com image.
“It was hard, his foot was actually caught, wedged in the dashboard. The officer had to reach all the way in and un-wedge his foot,” Hysell said. “It was difficult to tell if he was actually alive.” Hysell and the officer freed the driver and brought him away from the accident to be flown to a nearby hospital for treatment. Source: chicago.cbslocal.com.
TRPM Marks SDMO Day
with Training, Spirit Casket The Towing and Recovery Professionals of Maryland held a “Slow Down/Move Over and Family Fun Day” event Oct. 19. During the event, state staffer Alex Choi (from left) presented the TRPM with a proclamation accepted by Betty Cornwell, Wayne Sullivan, Jeff Hurley, Vinny Flook, Steve Palmer, Ted Dent, Barbara Beatty, Mark Sylver and Will Cain. TRPM image.
The Towing and Recovery Professionals of Maryland held a “Slow Down/Move Over and Family Fun Day” event at the Maryland State Highway Administration in Hanover, Maryland, in observance of the national Slow Down/Move Over day on Oct. 19. Training sessions were conducted during the day for drivers. The Maryland State Police conducted site tours of their Incident Response Center and
Maryland Motor Carrier was on location to answer any questions regarding weights and transporting. TRPM held a Spirit Ride ceremony featuring the Spirit casket honoring fallen towmen who’ve been killed roadside. Alex Choi, policy advisor to Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan’s Chief of Staff, presented TRPM’s board with a proclamation marking the day as well. Source: TRPM.
AMERICANTOWMAN.COM - December 2019 • 9
Check Out What’s NEW and HOT! Dash Cam Plus Fleet Tracking Planet Halo’s tow truck camera also provides fleet management, offering GPS tracking solutions via date, time and driver point of location, speed and historical route. The self-contained six-channel, all-inclusive system tracks vehicles in real time to send remote alerts, PTO and other event alerts; it records continuously with live video stream in HD quality.
planethalocameras.com
All-Weather Dexterous Gloves Pirtek USA’s new 2121P Hex1 Series glove provides protection from hand injuries while maintaining a high degree of dexterity. The glove is designed for easy on and off, while providing a solid grip in dry or light-oil situations. Hex1 gloves work for impact protection, wet or dry grip, cold weather or simply as a shop glove. Features include: • SlipFit cuff. • Synthetic leather palm. • High dexterity. • Form-fitting. • Launderable. • Reinforced index finger and thumb saddle.
pirtekusa.com
10 • December 2019 - TOWMAN.COM
Lightweight Powertrain Expands Availability Cummins Inc. recently announced its X12+Endurant powertrain, from its Integrated Power portfolio, is now available in regional haul applications. It can be ordered in Freightliner’s brand new Cascadia 116” BBC Day Cab. This is a new market for the X12 engine, which had been exclusive to vocational and refuse trucks. The X12 paired with the Eaton Cummins Endurant transmission is expected to be the lightest powertrain available for the Class 8 on-highway market, well-suited for weight-sensitive markets like regional haul applications. Optimized Urge to Move and Creep Mode make maneuvering in low-speed environments easier. Oil-drain intervals up to 75,000 miles (Cummins OilGuard customers may see extensions of up to 100,000 miles).
cummins.com
Easy, Adjustable Phone Holder The RAM Quick-Grip XL is a universal phone holder for large phones with a spring-loaded secure fit for a variety of large smartphones and other devices. Users can insert and remove their phone with one hand; adjustable side support arms keep devices firmly in place in rugged environments. Backed by a lifetime warranty. Accommodates a variety of Apple, Google, Samsung and other phones. Device compatibility ranges: • Height range: 5.75” to 7.25”. • Width range: 2.625” to 3.625”. • Max depth: 0.72”.
rammount.com
Work Light, Flood Light Ecco’s new white lighting solutions for work trucks include the EW2530 with six 10-watt LEDs. This light functions as both a work light and flood light, with a unique 120-degree diffused beam pattern and shines over 290’. The EW2530 is weather resistant and built to last with a lifespan of 50,000-plus hours.
eccoesg.com
Work the non-traffic side–Stay Safe!
AMERICANTOWMAN.COM - December 2019 • 11
Put an End to
Distracted Driving By Terry Abejuela A display of 1,009 pairs of shoes represent those injured and killed each day as a result of distracted driving.
DON’T operate while hands off, eyes off or mind off the task
D
istracted driving is a result of any activity that directs your attention away from the task of driving. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, there were 3,166 fatalities in motor vehicle collisions involving distracted drivers in 2017. This is an average of nine fatalities each day. Employers have an obligation to provide a safe work environment for their employees; in the case of the towing and recovery industry that also includes others who share the roads with their employees. Drivers of commercial vehicles are often held to a higher standard of safety when operating a commercial vehicle. Employers and employees must do everything they can to avoid distracted driving. There are three types of distractions: • Eyes off the road. • Hands off the wheel. • Mind off of driving. Most think of cellphone use when they think of distracted driving, but eating, talking, adjusting controls, grooming, using a navigation or infotainment system or reaching for objects are also common sources of distracted driving.
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14 • December 2019 - TOWMAN.COM
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Driving is a task that involves some juggling of tasks to perform safely. Control of the vehicle, monitoring traffic, scanning the roadway, monitoring your mirrors, watching for pedestrians, reacting to conditions and negotiating streets are all things you have to do to operate the vehicle safely. Adding distractions that are unnecessary to the safe operation of the vehicle increase the chances of a collision. Distracted drivers develop what the National Safety Council refers to as “inattention blindness.” Because they shift their focus from driving to attend to something that is unrelated, they won’t be taking in and processing all of the information relative to safe operation of the vehicle. For example, a person talking on a cellphone, whether
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During the recent Walk to End Distracted Driving in Long Beach, California, the California Highway Patrol was handing out these distraction calculators.
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TIPS TO PREVENT DISTRACTED DRIVING: • Make all adjustments before starting to drive. • Store all objects to prevent them moving and avoid temptation to readjust. • Put away your cellphone to reduce the temptation to use it. • Use automatic instant messaging to notify callers you are driving and will call back. • Eat before or after, not during, your drive. • If you must eat while driving, choose snacks that are easy to manage. • Focus 100 percent on driving when behind the wheel. • If something requires your attention, pull over safely and stop the vehicle first. • Develop a system, using particular ringtones or alerts, to indicate a pull over and call ASAP or at the next scheduled stop. • Don’t focus on looking for an address while the truck is moving. hands-free or not, may not see a red light ahead of them in time to react. Their reaction time will be deferred by the time it takes for their brain to switch its focus from talking or listening to a conversation to focusing on the red light. Employees driving company vehicles or personal vehicles on company business have a responsibility to operate the vehicle safely. Does the employer have any responsibility to ensure their employee operates vehicles safely? Tow companies should have a clearly written cellphone-use policy that prohibits hand-held or hands-free cellphone use while driving. A NHTSA survey found that drivers list work-related communications as a reason to use a cellphone while driving. Expecting or allowing the use of a cellphone, while driving, by any employee in any company vehicle to conduct company business puts the employee, the towing company and others who shared the roadway with
18 • December 2019 - TOWMAN.COM
your employees at risk. Even allowing an employee to conduct company business on their own personal cellphone or in their own personal vehicle could result in liability for the tow company. In addition to a written policy, employers should educate employees, enforce the policy and monitor for compliance. According to the National Safety Council, auto insurers report that the number of claims for incidents in parking lots spike on Black Friday and remain above normal throughout the holiday shopping season. We often don’t think of parking lots as a dangerous place but tens of thousands of collisions occur in parking lots every year that result in injuries and fatalities. Allowing yourself to become distracted while driving in a parking lot increases your chances of hitting a pedestrian or vehicle backing out of a parking space. The Automobile Club of Southern California held it’s second annual Walk to End Distracted Driving in
‘‘
Don’t drive
intoxicated, don’t drive
intexticated.’
October in Long Beach. This was the second year of an initiative to bring awareness to the dangers of distracted driving, with the tagline “Don’t drive intoxicated, don’t drive intexticated.” Most responsible people wouldn’t drive intoxicated, but likely do drive and use their phone. The result is the same. Put down your phone. Lives depend on it. A display of 1,009 pairs of shoes represented the 1,000 people injured and nine people killed, on average, each day in an incident that involved distracted driving. The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety conducts a national telephone survey each year and has found that drivers seem to feel that the dangers of distracted driving apply to other drivers and not so much to them. It is a “do as I say and not as I do” attitude. Most motorists feel that they are a better driver than others on the road and can safely handle driving while carrying on a conversation on a cellphone. As professional drivers we are all responsible for operating our vehicles safely. Professional and safe drivers do not allow distractions to divert their attention away from the task of driving when the vehicle is in motion. Check out distracteddriving.nsc. org for more information.
Field Editor Terry Abejuela has 40-plus years of light-duty towing and recovery experience. He is also a light-duty Level 1 instructor for the California Tow Truck Association.
Know your business costs when considering adding a multi-car carrier or trailer.
Is It Time to Add a Multi-Car Carrier? By Paul Stephens
M
ost business decisions are either client- or profit-driven. There are often times when a customer’s volume dictates what equipment you purchase, such as a low-boy trailer or other specialty item. The more you know about your business, the easier it is to decide when to purchase that specialty item. Many companies base their purchases purely off the budgetary end of the spectrum while others purchase for long-term goals and get the best available equipment that fits their needs. When evolving into the multi-transport world, a lot of companies get started with auto or salvage auction hauling. This is usually a steady business that keeps the flatbed loaded with two vehicles for several loads a day of stable income. The companies that handle large transport contracts, multi-vehicle shipments and multi-state transports use the types of equipment where they can usually maximize their loads or transports for a larger return on the
20 • December 2019 - TOWMAN.COM
mileage. Often, companies in this business will network or seek out other companies that handle this type of multi-vehicle transport to coordinate loads and fill trucks.
‘‘
When you run a four-car carrier
it’s more about
profitability and
tougher to take the good with the bad.
This can increase business and end up adding a few more trucks to the fleet and account if desired. This is where some companies branch out and purchase a four-car carrier or a three-car trailer. Jumping into the larger transporters can be more than just purchasing
a larger truck. With the increase in hauling comes more expense. The truck can cost much more due to the heavier spec … then you have the body and of course that’s more. The drivers usually cost more due to experience and licensing. The truck expenses can fluctuate depending on fuel and insurance costs vs. the income. The overall maintenance can cost more, but usually isn’t a substantial increase. The hardest part once you decide to move into these purchases is picking the right piece of equipment, as some of the used equipment that is affordable might also be expensive to maintain … age isn’t usually a friend to these units.
New Income
So, you made the purchase and you want to maximize the earning potential. However, you need to minimize cost, so each pick up and its location play into the profitability of each run. The ideal situation would have the vehicles in the same area to cut down on travel, idle and load times.
The other aspect of a four-car carrier or three-car trailer is load space. The larger the vehicle to haul, the less space available for other vehicles which in turn usually means less revenue for that haul. The interesting item about some of the transport contracts is they will pay one fee no matter what size the vehicle is—in theory, a motorcycle may pay the same as a four-door long-bed pickup truck. This works well if you can get 10 motorcycle pick-ups on one trip vs. two large trucks. Some may play “win some-lose some” gambling that it all evens out, but when you run a four-car carrier it’s more about profitability and tougher to take the good with the bad. Some business owners realize early on that the unit must maintain its profit margin; while a regular flatbed can have slow days, a four-car carrier on a string of slow days hurts more on the bottom line. There are a lot of uses for multicar transporters, however the road
Work the non-traffic side–Stay Safe!
to profitability comes from paying close attention to the daily loads and income. I have known a lot of business owners who get an account, they start doing some work and see greener pastures by adding trucks and multi-car transporters only to learn later that the volume did not pay dividends and simply increased their expenses. So, if you’re wondering when the right time may be to buy a multi-car
transporter, be sure you have a complete understanding of your profits and loss to help decide if its right for your business.
Paul Stephens is a towing industry trainer with more than 34 years of towing experience. He has served as a consultant for many automobile manufacturers, equipment manufacturers, and companies for service provider education, towability and road service procedures.
AMERICANTOWMAN.COM - December 2019 • 21
Jerr-Dan Promotes Fassnacht to Director of Sales
Jerr-Dan Corp. (jerrdan.com) promoted Heath Fassnacht to Director of Sales. Previously, he had been district sales manager for the southern region. Fassnacht joined Jerr-Dan in 2015 as a national accounts manager before being named district sales manager. “I’m humbled to have the opportunity to continue being a catalyst for Jerr-Dan’s growth in the towing and recovery equipment industry,” said Fassnacht. “I’ve been working in this business since graduating from college in 1996, and I’m proud to be representing the single-brand leader in the industry.” In his new role, Fassnacht’s primary responsibilities will include sales growth strategy, sales team management and expansion into new markets. Source: jerrdan.com.
Kapnick Insurance Sponsors Museum’s Welcome Video
Kapnick Insurance Group recently donated $10,000 to sponsor the International Towing and Recovery Hall of Fame and Museum’s new welcome video. The video highlights the history of towing and recovery and the various initiatives of ITRHFM (towingmuseum.com). “The museum is excited about the new welcome video in our theater and the ability to keep it updated going
22 • December 2019 - TOWMAN.COM
forward,” said Jeffrey Godwin, ITRHFAM’s first vice president. “Having the strong support of Kapnick Insurance has allowed us to modernize our approach and to tell more of the story of this industry whose heritage we preserve. It is our honor to work with Kapnick to bring a fresh look at the industry to all of those who visit our museum each day.” “At Kapnick, we know how important great employees are to the success of a company, and what a tragedy it is to lose someone in a work-related fatality,” said Jim Kapnick, CEO of Kapnick Insurance Group. “We’re proud to sponsor an organization which supports such a great cause.”
the addition of 275 new jobs at its contact center in Clarksville, representing a 42-percent increase of the site’s employee base. The personnel growth, which is sup-
ported by a physical facility expansion, is anticipated to bring Agero’s statewide workforce, across both Clarksville and the company’s Tri-Cities location, to more than 1,500. In addition, 200
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Agero Adding 275 Jobs to Tennessee Site
Agero (agero.com) announced plans to significantly strengthen its presence in Tennessee with
Work the non-traffic side–Stay Safe!
AMERICANTOWMAN.COM - December 2019 • 23
other jobs are being planned to add across Agero’s three U.S. facilities over the next few months. “The Clarksville contact center truly represents all that Agero has to offer: from our enhanced digital capabilities, to our unique hands-on approach to escalations, to our extensive provider network management experience,” said George Horvat, Agero COO. “Expanding this facility is a vastly important part of Agero’s delivery of exceptional service to millions of consumers annually.”
Stertil-Koni VP Jim Sylvester Retires
Stertil-Koni USA (stertil-koni. com) announced that VP of Sales Jim Sylvester has retired after 21 years of record performance in sales and distributor support. A release from the company stated that Sylvester leveraged his vast knowledge of the vehicle lift industry to achieve significant account development and
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24 • December 2019 - TOWMAN.COM
Work the non-traffic side–Stay Safe!
AMERICANTOWMAN.COM - December 2019 • 25
26 • December 2019 - TOWMAN.COM
sales activities with a broad customer base. Sylvester joined Stertil-Koni in 1998 and worked with Stertil-Koni’s exclusive distributorships in the Midwest, New England and Eastern Canada. He also developed and built new customer relationships to the benefit of both his distributors and Stertil-Koni. Stertil-Koni President Dr. Jean DellAmore said, “Jim has been a key driver in our ongoing success. He is an exceedingly dedicated professional with a remarkable ability to supervise a diverse group of distributorships in the U.S. and Canada. Jim’s intense commitment to serving Stertil-Koni and our customer base has made us a better company today and we are very grateful for his contributions.”
Birmingham Freightliner Becomes Mitsubishi Authorized Dealership
Mitsubishi Fuso Truck of America (mitfuso.com) announced its newest Fuso sales, service and parts center is at Birmingham Freightliner in Birmingham, Alabama. This is the second Fuso franchise in the state. “We are very excited that another Peach State Truck Center location is adding the Fuso brand,” said Fuso’s Peter Young. “Birmingham Freightliner is an outstanding champion of Daimler truck brands, and we are confident new Fuso customers will see superior customer service from this Birmingham location.”
Work the non-traffic side–Stay Safe!
AMERICANTOWMAN.COM - December 2019 • 27
Heads Up Airborne pickup falls through garage roof 28 • December 2019 - TOWMAN.COM
Dewey’s Towing successfully fished a Dodge Ram 1500 from a garage in Beloit, Wisconsin.
by Josh Wedel Dewey’s Towing & Recovery; Beloit, Wisconsin
O
n Oct. 12, 2019, at approximately 4:45 p.m., Rock County Communications requested that we respond immediately with our heavy-duty rotator for a pick-up truck that was in the roof of a garage. Once on scene, our recovery crew found a 2013 Dodge Ram 1500 truck resting through the top of the garage. The driver had lost control, driven through a ditch, over a decorative berm and launched the truck under a power line to get there. The homeowner was in the garage at the time of the incident watching a football game only 12 feet from where the truck landed! The driver was uninjured, but he needed the assistance of the fire department to exit the vehicle.
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Work the non-traffic side–Stay Safe!
They couldn’t do any rigging inside the compromised building. AMERICANTOWMAN.COM - December 2019 • 29
Once power and gas were turned off, we were given the go-ahead to lift the truck out of the garage. The challenge was that the only access to the casualty was through the opening in the roof that the vehicle created.
‘‘
The challenge was that the
only access to the casualty
was through
the opening in
the roof that the vehicle created.
A ladder was used to access the opening and a driver was sent up to do the rigging. We were not allowed to go in the garage because of stability concerns with the walls and the garage door; there was also a large amount of debris inside.
30 • December 2019 - TOWMAN.COM
They lifted the Dodge truck up out of the garage through the same hole it created (above). The damage to the walls made the interior structurally unsafe for access (below).
We positioned our Century 1075 75-ton rotator in the driveway and set up for a vertical lift of the Dodge 1500. We rigged two 3/8” Grade 100 chains with positive lock hooks and a control rope was placed on the truck. Once the truck was rigged, the operator then began to lift the truck out of the jagged hole, like a giant game of “Operation.” When the truck was successfully lifted out of the garage, we began to set up for lowering it. The truck’s front wheels were set back on the ground and two 4’ 4x6 boards were put in place to chock the tires to keep it from rolling. The rear end of the truck was then slowly lowered to the ground. Next the police and fire departments inspected and inventoried the vehicle. Once they were done with the investigation, the truck was loaded onto our waiting flatbed and transported to our impound lot.
Work the non-traffic side–Stay Safe!
AMERICANTOWMAN.COM - December 2019 • 31
The wrecked Dodge’s front end (above) and the damage done (below).
32 • December 2019 - TOWMAN.COM
ITD X-Series Dolly Recall
In The Ditch Towing Products recently issued Service Bulletin ITD0726 regarding its X-Series Dollies due to a potential that some welds may not be within specifications; X-Series XD Dollies are not affected. Affected products are: • ITD1778 XL-SD (No. ITD2778), powdercoated finish, serial nos. 900052900159, produced between March 18-April 24, 2019. • ITD1778 XL-SD-P (No. ITD2778-P), plated finish, serial nos. 900154-900243, produced between April 22-June 13, 2019. • ITD1878 SLX-SD (No. ITD2878), powdercoated finish, serial nos. 700218700750, produced between March 18-April 24, 2019. • ITD1878 SLX-SD-P (No. ITD2878-P), plated finish, serial nos. 700658-701037, produced between April 22-June 13, 2019. Contact ITD for details directly at 208587-7960 or sales@intheditch.com. More recall and inspection information also available at intheditch.com/FW2_Product_Bulletin_ITD0726.php.
Work the non-traffic side–Stay Safe!
AMERICANTOWMAN.COM - December 2019 • 33
AD INDEX December 2019
Page #
Access Tools 77 Agero 35 Akins Body & Carrier Sales 61 All American Auto Group N 83 American Safety & Supply 70 American Towman Expos 67 AmeriDeck West 70 Atlanta Wrecker Sales 62 Atlantic Emergency Solutions N 87 AT ShowPlace - Las Vegas 65 Austin Insurance M 85 AutoReturn 21, 43 Beacon Funding 22 Beacon Software 26 Captain Recovery M, W 86, S 85 Chelsea Products Div. of Parker 23 Chevron Commercial 59 Crawford Truck Sales N 85 Crouch’s Wrecker & Equip. Sales 63 Custer Products 23 Deep South Wrecker 59 Driveline Buddy W 84 Dual-Tech Wreckers & Carriers 34 Dynamic Towing Equipment & Mfg. 33 Elizabeth Truck Center 66 Environmental Chemical Solutions 27 EZ Spare Wheel N 84 First Business 33 G. Stone Commerical N 86
34 • December 2019 - TOWMAN.COM
To receive free information on products and services from our advertisers go to www.TowExtra.com
Page #
Hale Trailer Brake & Wheel N 89 Hino Trucks 92 INA/Wreaths Across America 41 Insurancehub 24 Intek Leasing 24 Isuzu Commerical Truck of America 7 Jerr-Dan Corporation 2, 3 Kenworth of South Florida N 84 Lanair Waste Oil Heaters 38 Legacy Plus Insurance 31 Len Zermenos 75 Lodar USA 21 Lynch Truck Centers 37 Manufacturer Express 41 Maryland Carrier & Wrecker N 92 Matheny Towing Equipment 39 Matjack Jumbo Safelift 15 McMahon Truck Center M 83 Metro Tow Store 24 Metro Tow Trucks 69 Miller Industries 12, 13 Mobile Create USA 25 Mobile Video Computing Sol. 22 New England Truckmaster N 90 North American Bancard 19 Northeast Wrecker Sales N 88 OMG Tow Marketing M, W 84, N 92, S 88 Pacific General Insurance M 87 Peak Wrecker Sales 27
Page #
PWOF 71 Ramsey Winch 17 Rick’s Truck & Equipment M 85 Ricky’s Sales & Service N 90 Sanderson Truck Equipment 73 Sea Crest Insurance Agency W 83 Select Truck & Equipment M 87 Sepson US 64 Sierra Pacific Insurance W 85 Spill Tackle N 86 Steck Mfg. Co. 58 Sterling National Bank 74 Talbert Mfg. 33 Teufelberger Fiber Rope 25 TFR Fabrication & Mfg. N 91 TLC Truck & Equip. 25 Towbook Management Software 91 Tow Industries W 85 TowMate 38, 69 TowTruckLocator.com N 88 TruckMax 42 Utility Trailer Sales S.E. TX W 83 Warn Industries 5 We Buy Key Fobs 26 West End Services 73 Will-Burt Company 31 Winches Inc. W 87 Witzco Trailers S 83 Worldwide Equipment Sales 57 Zellner Insurance Agency S 83
Changing split-rim tires is always a dangerous proposition, no matter how many times you’ve done it.
Shop Danger: Truck Tires with Split Rims By Randall C. Resch
W
hile I was researching tow-related topics recently, I discovered various investigative, military and OSHA websites listing hundreds of incidents where employees and soldiers were changing tires on commercial and military vehicles that resulted in wounds and fatal injuries. Because there are plenty of split-rim wreckers out there in wrecker-land, we’ll start with a couple of attention-getting events. Event 1: A tow company worker in Washington State was installing a multi-piece, old-style split-rim on a tire he laid flat on the ground. As he
36 • December 2019 - TOWMAN.COM
attempted to fill the tire with air, without notice or indication, the tire blew up and literally hurled him to the roof of the workshop before he slammed back to the pavement. Although the worker survived the explosion, the split-rim left a permanent impression in his back and neck. His face and skull were permanently disfigured and a brain injury left him needing 24/7 care for the rest of his life. His injuries were so critical that he never worked again. Event 2: In July 1976, Eric Ehmann, 18, was killed when a mounted truck tire he worked on exploded. Parts of the wheel’s split-rim struck him in the head and chest, causing massive
fatal injuries. Although authorities allegedly reported that the exploding tire was the product of a “freak accident,” his mother, Mary Ehmann Auger learned of numerous other split-rim incidents near the location of her residence. She sought federal legislation to ban and recall dangerous split-rims for truck tires. Through Mary Auger ’s persistence, legislation by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration ultimately helped to develop a standard, “that would, in effect, outlaw the manufacture of such wheels, by imposing on all truck wheels a requirement that under blow-out and run-flat
➢
conditions, they stay together and retain their tires rather than flying apart.” Eric Ehmann’s accident above is
only one example of hundreds that entailed an employee’s demise while conducting the not-so-simple process of changing truck tires mounted
on split-rims. Though the ordinary task of changing truck tires has been repeated a million times before, there’s much more to know about the dangers associated with changing truck tires. Complacency has no place here.
Flat-out Dangerous
Although removing tires from truck rims is always a sweat-worthy task, it’s thought of as a relatively safe process except maybe when changing tires on monster tractors and earthmovers. Think again. Gigantic tires represent fall and crushing dangers should one tip over when being mounted. When new tires are installed on a truck’s rim and soon after the steel ring has been hammered into place, the moment the tire is aired; explosion danger becomes a right-now proposition.
‘‘
Those tasked with changing tow
truck tires should understand the
dangerous nature involved in the
mechanical process of split-rim changes.
As a teen working in my family’s tow business, one of my jobs was changing old and worn tires on the company’s wreckers. From that early age, my dad spoke about the dangers of changing truck tires, especially those with rims that required removing and installing split rings. And, for added safety, he built a safety cage that we used to help contain the violent reaction of an exploding tire. I benefited being thoroughly trained from the beginning and it gave me a safety mindset.
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38 • December 2019 - TOWMAN.COM
It’s easy to follow the manufacturer’s recommendations for mounting tires by using traditional safety techniques and devices. Yet there still are ill-informed folks who think dangerously beyond the box in using unsafe, dangerous techniques like fire beading: Attempting to fill a tire’s interior with propane/acetylene/ether and igniting it to pop-the-bead onto the rim. Somewhere out there, you might hear “I’ve seen it done. How else do you think they seat beads on giant tractor tires?” Just because you’ve seen it done doesn’t make it safe or proper!
Inspect closely before beginning work on split-rims, looking for incorrect fitments, damage and more.
Danger Still Exists
There likely still are thousands of working tow trucks of vintage nature in today’s towing and recovery industry. So, the danger of exploding tires still exists when tires must be changed should flat tires occur or tires have reached the end of their mileage. Those tasked with changing tow truck tires should understand the dangerous nature involved in the mechanical process of split-rim changes. Because the process of re-airing the tire is part of mounting, it’s necessary to know the amount of PSI that can be applied to the new tire. The most prevalent causes for explosion injuries came during inflation, being over-inflated, when the split-ring was not fully seated or damaged, and when no cage or safety device was employed during mounting. When removing split-rims or multi-piece wheels from your commercial vehicle, the Health and Safety Authority recommends the following procedures: • Always use an explosion-safe retention system while working. • Before beginning work on multipiece rims, inspect tire and wheel assemblies for damage or incorrectly fitted parts. If there
40 • December 2019 - TOWMAN.COM
is damage or incorrectly fitted parts, it may be necessary to have additional control measures in place. • Divided or split-rims should always be fully deflated before being removed from the vehicle. Deflate pneumatic tires before beginning removal of the wheels from the vehicle in order to reduce or eliminate risk of explosion. • D eflate both tires in a dual assembly by removing valve cores. Ensure tires are completely deflated before removing wheels from the axle. • Limit personal exposure by standing away from the danger/ trajectory zone until each tire is deflated.
Smart and Alive
The scariest moment working the entire tire change process happens when the tire is being aired. An oldschool type might simply turn the tire and rim upside down and air away, thinking, “If the rim lets loose, the rim won’t go anywhere.” Not. An uncaged, unrestrained tire and rim can fiercely lift from the pavement in a violent reaction to ring explosion.
‘‘
It’s not out of
line to be a little
apprehensive or
slightly fearful of
a tire or split-ring letting go.
Fire beading is incredibly dangerous, especially when using acetylene. The only manner for safe mounting I choose for tow truck tires is using a safety cage and mounting techniques intended to keep the employee safely away from the explosion zone and out of harm’s way. If the tow truck’s tire and split-rim is caged and ready for air, never forget that the rim and tire can still explode with minimal pressure. When returning a large-sized rim and tire to the disabled vehicle’s location, always walk behind the tire and never alongside it as you roll it forward. A commercial vehicle tire typically has more than 75,000 lbs. of force pushing on the interior sidewalls. Two procedures are recommended for safety when air is applied. One, if the rim is off the truck, employ a tire cage. Two, if the rim is on the tow
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Work the non-traffic side–Stay Safe!
AMERICANTOWMAN.COM - December 2019 • 41
truck, attach a lengthy, quick-detach air chuck to the valve stem and stand well away as air is pumped into the tire. In the same manner towers work extreme recoveries, all persons, including you, should never stand in a work zone where a tire and rim is being inflated.
‘‘
Just because
you’ve seen it done doesn’t make it safe or proper!
Truck and large-tire changing is a scary activity. Much like the towing and recovery industry, if you’re involved as the individual working on a commercial-size tire change always think safety first. It’s not out of line
42 • December 2019 - TOWMAN.COM
OSHA Online
If you’ve never witnessed an exploding tire or steel rim, it’s a frightening experience. Check out some (vintage) footage from OSHA that clearly demonstrates the dangers of split-rim tire changes.
• youtube.com/watch?v=s2exMOT0-9M to be a little apprehensive or slightly fearful of a tire or split ring letting go. “I’ve been working around tires for 40 years and every time I inflate a tire, I fear it,” one tire technician told me. Those are words to live by. Unfortunately, the Internet is full of comments by those who were trained in “The Not-So-Safe School of Stupid Tire Changers.” I can’t even give ink to their ignorant comments here. This article is a basis of training only. Because of the extreme potential danger of truck tire explosions, hiring a professional tire-changing service is a safe alternative to getting your
own employees injured or worse. Tow operators, support mechanics and employees involved in split-rim and tire removal practices do so at their own risk. Always seek competent topic-specific training that’s commercial grade and use appropriately related safety procedures.
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.
Product GATEWAY 2020 The Ultimate Long Reach Kit has virtually every tool you will need to open any vehicle on the road.
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Akins Body & Carrier Sales 770-867-9136
Access Tools 800-323-8324
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AccessToolsUSA.com
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All American Jerr-Dan offers the largest selection of tow trucks in NJ. We stock a 50+ variety of Jerr-Dan rollbacks/carriers and wreckers on various OEMs.
We sell Miller products on Ford, Ram, Peterbilt, Freightliner, Kenworth, Hino, International and Chevy Chassis.
Pa See ge 70 Come to our booth and see our combo deals — Jacket and pants at great savings!
All American Jerr-Dan 732-212-6260
AAfordjerrdan.worktrucksolutions.com
The Chevrolet 5500 is the best value of 2019! With a 21 ft. bed it’s closely priced to a Dodge or Ford with only a 20 ft. bed.
American Safety & Supply 413-732-4173 AmericanSafetySupply.com
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Atlanta Wrecker 888-432-0097
Atlantic Emergency Solutions 800-442-9700 or 703-789-7332
AtlantaWrecker.com
AtlanticEmergency.com
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Haul motorcycles safe and easy. Authorized Dealer of AmeriDeck Lift System, utilize the in-bed lift system with a 2,500 lb. load capacity to haul your motorcycles with ease.
Delivering nationwide, we offer a full line of Jerr-Dan towing and recovery vehicles. Large inventory of new and used! Sales, service and parts.
We provide our customers with great customer service and the best coverage possible at the most competitive rates.
Aumsville Equipment Sales 503-749-1601 AmeriDeck.pro
44 • December 2019 - TOWMAN.COM
Austin Insurance 270-548-7538 WreckersIns.com
Check out what these participating suppliers have to offer in the coming year Advertorial section includes participating display advertisers from this issue
Imagine a world where law enforcement tows are distributed fairly between professional companies who meet service standards.
Pa
3
AutoReturn 413-575-9333
BeaconFunding.com
Towing and Roadside Management Software Fastest dispatch on the planet! Over 50 integrations including QuickBooks, GPS companies and 18+ motor clubs. Phone apps for driver productivity.
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Beacon Software 866-437-6653 BeaconSoftCo.com
Your one stop shop for Chevron and Vulcan Car Carriers, wreckers & parts. We are the eye candy of the Industry!
At Beacon, we offer best in class financing options that are customizable to all business and credit profiles with no age or mileage restrictions!
Beacon Funding 847-897-2499
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Pa See ge 23
ChevronCommercial.com
Since its founding in 1945, the Chelsea Products Division of Parker Hannifin has helped its customers by designing superior Power Take-Off solutions.
Chelsea Products Division of Parker Hannifin Parker.com/Chelsea
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Chevron Commercial 800-443-5778
Full line Miller Industries distributor. Wide variety of new and used equipment in stock. Parts/ Service. Serving Tennessee and Florida.
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Jerr-Dan’s largest single location distributor, we are large enough to support all your needs, but small enough to care.
Crawford Truck Sales 800-427-7404 4JERRDAN.com
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New 8-watt LED amber strobe with a built-in 5-watt flood work light also available in amber/ white combo.
Crouch’s Wrecker & Equipment Sales 800-628-5212
Custer Products 800-490-3158 CusterProducts.com
CrouchTowTrucks.com
Work the non-traffic side–Stay Safe!
AMERICANTOWMAN.COM - December 2019 • 45
Full Line distributor of Dynamic and Dual-Tech products.
Pa Se ge e W 84
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Deep South Wrecker Sales 404-569-4723 DeepSouthWreckerSales.com
Driveline Buddy 209-401-0069
info@DrivelineBuddy.com
Pa See ge 33
Pa See ge 34 Dual-Tech manufactures a full line of quality, low profile, towing and recovery equipment.
Dual-Tech Wreckers & Carriers 800-852-0345 Dual-TechInc.com
These labels leave NO sticky residue, They stick on windows, steering wheels, or dashboards. Great when dropping at shops!
The Python has a reach of 82”, 25” of power/neg tilt 8,000 lb tow rating. Customers asked for a unit that lifts faster, higher & provides better weight transfer.
Dynamic Tow Equipment & Mfg. 800-831-9299 DynamicTow.com
Product GATEWAY 2020 Impact your bottom line and help the environment. Your responsibility as a tower includes removing vehicle operating fluids from the scene, a billable action. Booth 583
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ECS 877-253-2665
Elizabeth Truck Center 908-355-8800
ECSchem.com
A “road ready” universal spare wheel that fits most vehicles. We have a 17” and a 20” alloy wheel for 4 and 5 lug vehicles with 3 tire sizes which makes towing and roadside assistance much more efficient. Our wheels fit on most vehicles and are a good tool for theft recovery as well. New booth location #108.
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ElizabethTruckCenter.com/tow-sales
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2020 Freightliner M2 w/22’ Century 16 Series & SP9K Side Puller Tow Truck 250HP/Allison, AB/ AR/AW, 21K rear, extra hood & firewall liner, two 50 gallon fuel tanks, non-CDL 26k lb GVW. On an aluminum carrier w/ blade rails, 70” 26 head LED light bar, two 65” aluminum tool boxes, galvanized subframe, wireless remote winches.
Pa See ge 33 Providing bank financing for all new and used towing and recovery equipment with rates as low as 4.9%.
EZ Spare Wheel 404-277-8160 EZSpareWheel.com
46 • December 2019 - TOWMAN.COM
First Business 884-840-1515 FirstBusiness.com
Full line of Century and Kilar wreckers and rollbacks in stock. We also offer a great selection of used trucks. We take anything in trade!
Pa Se ge e N 89
Pa Se ge e N 86
G. Stone Commercial 802-388-9599 GStoneCommercial.com
Hale Trailer Brake & Wheel 800-232-6535 HaleTrailer.com
Pa See ge 41
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National Wreaths Across America Day; to remember, honor, teach by wreathlaying ceremonies.
INA/Wreaths Across America 877-385-9504 WreathsAcrossAmerica.org
First Faymonville MegaMax with steerable axles built for the US market. 50-Ton trailer extends to 42’ and has a deck height of 14”.
InsuranceHub’s tow truck insurance experts help towing businesses get the coverage they need to protect themselves from the risks they face on the road.
Insurancehub 678-805-0080
Insurancehub.com/towing
Product GATEWAY 2020 Financing new and used tow trucks and equipment since 1986. Home of the original 10-Year Lease Financing program for Rotators and heavy wreckers.
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Intek Truck & Equipment Leasing 973-403-7788 IntekLeasing.com
Tow life is hard — financing it shouldn’t be. JDFS is your one stop shop when it comes to financing the equipment needed to run your business.
Jerr-Dan Corp. 800-926-9666
Isuzu is the #1 selling LCF truck in America since 1986. Isuzu offers commerical trucks in classes 3-6, a diesel and gas engine that also CNG/LPG capable, and multiole wheelbases 10’ to 30’ long.
Isuzu Commercial Truck of America 866-441-9638 Isuzucv.com
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JerrDan.com
Work the non-traffic side–Stay Safe!
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Kenworth of South Florida 833-884-6739
Take your business to new heights at Kenworth of South Florida. With six convenient locations, we are proud to be the region’s authorized dealer for Kenworth, Hino, Fuso, and Isuzu commercial trucks. We Ship Worldwide.
KenworthSF.com
AMERICANTOWMAN.COM - December 2019 • 47
Lanair Waste Oil Fired Heaters and Boilers provide alternatives to the disposal of used motor oil, lubricants, and fluids, by burning these products for heat.
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Specializing in Towing, Transport and Repossession insurance for over 35 years. Give us a call 90 days prior to your renewal for a free no obligation quote.”
Legacy Plus 818-865-8867
Lanair Products 800-562-5504
LegacyPlusIns.com
Lanair.com
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Pa See ge 75 New 2019 F5550 V-10 Gas 4x2 $59,900 Same Spec. Truck in 4x4 $3,000 more. Wheel lift & side rails optional.
Lodar is the towing industry’s preferred wireless solution. Wirelessly control up to 10 hand levers on your air-powered wrecker.
Len Zermenos 330-323-5165
LodarUSA 888-685-6327
LenZermenos.com
LodarUSA.com
Product GATEWAY 2020 Miller Industries and Talbert Trailers dealer. Lynch Chicago has a large inventory of light, medium and heavy wreckers and carriers available and on order.
Lynch Chicago 708-233-1112
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Maryland Carrier & Wrecker Sales 410-291-1739 MDCarrierWrecker.com
48 • December 2019 - TOWMAN.COM
Manufacturer of all high-quality towing products. Check-out our 4 & 8-point kits. Zinc or Stainless Steel. Any combination! With us...you are not just a number. Personalized attention is our key focus!
Manufacturer Express 201-754-1010
LynchChicago.com
Your one-stop shop for Jerr-Dan parts along with quality lighting from TowMate, Federal Signal, and Maxxima, and equipment from All-Grip, B/A Products and Access Tools.
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Matheny Motor Truck Co. 855-484-4350 MathenyMotorTrucks.com
An extensive selection of Miller Industries Equipment and a family owned legacy of customer service. Come see the Matheny difference!
Matjack’s helmets and headsets are raising the bar for quality and affordability in safety equipment.
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Exclusive from MTC, Beautiful, aerodynamic Volvo VNR64300 teamed w/rugged Jerr-Dan 15 ton LPT perfect combination of driver friendly operation, best in class safety w/48” deck height.
McMahon Truck Centers Columbus 614-252-3111
MatJack 317-359-3078 MatJack.com
MTCColumbus.com
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22 Piece Axle Cap Set This set includes 22 pieces for the most popular style of axle caps. First 10 orders include a free wheel pan for catching oil.
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Built by towers, for towers.
Metro Tow Store 613-299-4376
Metro Tow Trucks 613-862-1625
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Product GATEWAY 2020 The Century 1150 rotator with kneeboom underlift is the ultimate addition to your fleet. The knee-boom adds of -23˚ to +16˚ of tilt, and along with the Coach Low Rider option, is capable of supporting 18,000 lbs. fully extended to 173”
ge See 12 ,1
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Mobile Create USA 408-933-9588 MCUSAInc.com
Work the non-traffic side–Stay Safe!
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Our CruiseCam™ solutions enhance tow truck and driver safety, reduces false claims and managerial risk and improves productivity. Mobile Video is a National Sprint Mobility Partner.
Miller Industries News.MillerInd.com
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Go Mobile Create! Instant 2-way communication from coast to coast. GPS tracker built into the radios. We offer affordable rental packages for any size company.
The Century 12-Series LCG™ with Right Approach option brings a new approach to the tow industry. The patented LCG (Low Center of Gravity) carrier lowers the deck height 5”— 6” over conventional carriers and the patented Right Approach option improves load angle to 6˚ making the use of wood or ramps obsolete
3
3
Miller Industries
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Pa
Mobile Video Computing Sol. 248-817-6720 MVCsol.com
AMERICANTOWMAN.COM - December 2019 • 49
Your full service towing equipment distributor for light, medium, and large carrier and wreckers.
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New England Truckmaster 800-481-0501 NETruckmaster.com
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Full Line Miller Industries Dealer offering Century, Chevron & Vulcan. We will custom build your carrier on any chassis.
Northeast Wrecker Sales 518-573-8232 NortheastWreckersales.com
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Powerful marketing solutions for Tow Bosses, that keep the calls coming. -Reviews, Google Ads, Websites.
Providing insurance for tow truck;repair, salvage and repossession since 1977.
OMG 800-789-4619
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Pacific General Insurance Agency 800-888-0545
TowTruckInsuranceusa.com
Product GATEWAY 2020
Stocking distributor for Miller Industries’ Century, Vulcan and Holmes equipment along with Trail-Eze trailers. Complete in-house parts, service and financing.
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Peak Wrecker 210-661-4592
Ramsey Winch 800-777-2760
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Ramsey.com
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Hi-Viz apparel, embroidery, printing, vehice wraps and decals, straps, chains, lights, tow equipment and more!
Ricky’s Sales & Service 978-534-0120 RickysApparel.com
50 • December 2019 - TOWMAN.COM
This SAE0J706 compliant 25K or 50K winch maintains its new design, superior cable/rope management and an amazing 200lb weight reduction over the competition (reduction without cable/rope).
Rick’s Truck Equipment 800-639-4573 RicksRollbacks.com
A Jerr-Dan distributor located in NW Ohio but serving ALL of the country! Always trucks in stock, ready to go! Trades Welcome! Financing with same day approval.
2019 Peterbilt 337, 300HP, 22’ Jerr-Dan Steel XLP 70” ITD tool boxes including fully loaded on passenger side.
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Sanderson Truck Equipment 623-842-8787 SandersonTruckEquip.com
Sea Crest Insurance Agency 800-337-5900 SeaCrestInsurance.com
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2020 int ext cab, 300hp Cummins, 5yr 250k warranty, Auto, Ab/ar, 22.5, Jerr-dan, 22x102, 12k deck, 10k winch, 3 year warranty on bed, All stainless steel boxes.
Select Truck & Equipment 573-886-7886 TowTrucksmo.com
Pa See ge 64
Sepson US / Patterson Mfg 412-444-5409
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Sierra Pacific Insurance Services 800-520-1641 SierraPacificAgency.com
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Steck Manufacturing Co. 937-222-0062 SteckMfg.com
Work the non-traffic side–Stay Safe!
Spill Tackle is a superior performing absorbent, proven and tested by towers, and the perfect addition to any fleet responding to vehicle crashes and recoveries.
Spill Tackle 228-206-1449 SpillTackle.com
Pa See ge 58
4th Wheel Loader allows drivers to safely load & secure vehicles up to 5 tons with busted ball joints, lost or locked wheels on their roll back wreckers.
Military Grade Winches: Reliable, dependable, uncomplicated, and safer with true free spooling drums and automatic 2-speed on high capacity winches.
Sepson-usa.com
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Best in class tow insurance brokers. Established 2008. 11 years strong.
Sea Crest Insurance Agency has been in business for over 30 years, providing service for companies all over Southern California!
Pa See ge 74 Advantage Funding has joined Sterling National Bank. Great new solutions for your transportation financing and more.
Sterling National Bank 516-327-3000 SNB.com
AMERICANTOWMAN.COM - December 2019 • 51
Talbert Manufacturing’s 60CC/55SA-LD with a 60-ton rating in half the deck length has an 18” loaded deck heigh – two inches lower than competitive lowboys.
Pa See ge 33
Product GATEWAY 2020 New from TEUFELBERGER Fiber Rope: Endura 12 HMPE 2-color, twistindication synthetic winch line.
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Talbert Manufacturing 800-348-5232 TalbertMfg.com
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Specializing in custom metal fabrication of wrecker & rollbacks, parts & repairs. Steel, aluminum & stainless.
Teufelberger Fiber Rope Corp. 508-730-4524 Teufelberger.com
TFR Fabrication & Mfg. 856-352-0475
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TFRFabrication.com
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Southern California’s most reputable tow truck deaership offering new tow trucks from medium to heavy duty, preowned recovery trucks and parts and services.
Various Options Available: strobe packages, fender options, paints, chrome packages, custom light bars, bumpers, visors, remote winches, 5 phase remotes, and side pullers.
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Tow Industries 323-660-4866 TowIndustries.com
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ge See 38 ,6
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9
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Buying or selling a tow truck? Provide products/services to the tow truck industry? Have miscellaneous tow equipment around your shop/yard you’d like to turn into cash?
Towtrucklocator.com 702-333-3004 TowTruckLocator.com
52 • December 2019 - TOWMAN.COM
TM-FLUX32 - Super fast charging wireless light. 8 minute charge time. 4 hour runtime. No battery to ever replace. Made in USA. Lifetime warranty.
TruckMax 305-777-9000 TruckMax.com
For over 23 years TruckMax has led the market becoming South Florida’s largest commercial truck dealer. We can build trucks to meet your exact specifications. We will not be undersold.
Product GATEWAY 2020 Utility Trailer Sales Southeast Texas, Inc. is proud to be an authorized dealer for ALL Landoll products. 10 locations in Texas.
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Warn Industries 720-387-0076 Warn.com
Pa See ge 73 Utility Trailer 713-821-6300 UtilityTrailers.com
Pa See ge 26 We Buy Key Fobs is an industry leader in key fob refurbushing and recycling, paying you cash for key fobs. We are proud TRAA members.
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We have over 30 years of experience with three locations in Oklahoma and Texas. Our staff provides complete solutions for all of your winch needs. Fast, reliable service and sales. Winches Inc. is your winch authority.
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Nightscan.com
Winches Inc. 918-893-3700
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Will-Burt’s Night Scan HDT light towers are now available with the brightest lights in the industry-Sirione 220,000 lumens to light up the night.
Will-Burt Company 330-684-4000
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WinchesInc.com
2020 Pete 389XD Tri-Axle, 18 speed, 20X Frint 46KRecr, 52K susp., 20K Pusher, 3-stage boom, daul winches, coach, low rider, wheel lift 9055 50 ton wrecker.
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The leading dealer of new and used tow trucks, self loaders, wreckers, flat beds, car carriers, and equipment trailers. 200+ units in stock!
Warn Industries increases Hydraulic Series Winches’ performance and durability allowing for increased productivity and more money in workers’ pockets.
With 80 years of experience, We are committed to manufacturing a full line of the highest quality trailers. Witzco Challenger Trailers: Affordable. Dependable. Quality. Value.
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Work the non-traffic side–Stay Safe!
Zellner 904-356-1492 | 888-208-8119
Insurance and Risk Management Captive Program for AAA Clubowned fleets, PSPs, and independent contractors.
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AMERICANTOWMAN.COM - December 2019 • 53
A Hot Mess A Hot Mess S Mess ‘‘ by Jim “Buck” Sorrenti
ome days you don’t have to go too far looking for a little excitement. Some days it can be found right in your own backyard. On April 18, 2019, Battelini’s Garage was contacted by the owner of a trash truck that was ablaze … behind their shop.
The trash truck was loaded
with cardboard
recycling, so the truck burned very hot.
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“They are a regular customer. For unknown reasons, one of their trash trucks caught fire behind our shop … in Landisville, New Jersey,” said Albert Battelini, president/co-owner of Battelini’s. Well they get the call about a trash truck on fire and Albert mounts up and heads out with operators Anthony Battelini, Matt Williams and Josh Paneleone. On this job, they brought out some vintage iron to work alongside some new tech. Al responded with Unit No. 8212, his “Ole12” wrecker, a 1982 Western Star/1986 NRC 3500 heavy. Besides Ole12, they brought their 2015 Kenworth T880/NRC 40/50 CSR, their Ford backhoe and their Bobcat skid-steer with grapple attachment. This NRC composite sliding rotator has a three-stage boom with a 50-ton
Sometimes your next call is just around the corner They used a skid-loader to help unload what didn’t burn up.
A load of cardboard tha t ignited made it hotter for Battelini’s Garage in Lan disville, New Jersey (ab ove).
capacity and dual 40,000-lbs. planetary winches. “We bought the 3500 NRC new in 1986 from NRC. It’s a 40-ton unit with a three-stage fixed boom and a 35,000-pound under reach,” Al said. “It also has a 60,000-pound Braden drag winch. The Ole12 is the best unit we have ever owned and it still works every day. Very strong!” Family patriarch Dominick Battelini was on scene with a ringside seat in his wheelchair keeping an eye on things. The trash truck was loaded with cardboard recycling, so the truck burned very hot. “Once the fire was out, the pins on the rear door were removed and it was lifted with our NRC 40/50 to gain access to the load,” Al said. The load was removed with a backhoe and the skid-steer with the grapple attachment and loaded into a roll-off.
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They used some new and old tech to move the scorched trash hulk around.
Work the non-traffic side–Stay Safe!
AMERICANTOWMAN.COM - December 2019 • 55
Their NRC rotator was rigged to work the back end of the casualty (above), and their NRC 3500 worked the front (below).
With the trash truck emptied, the crew rigged Ole12 in the front of the trash truck with two 1/2” chains and a two-part line with the boom fully extended and the NRC 40/50 rotator in the rear with 1/2” chain around the frame and body. Once lifted, the boom on the rotator was spun to the left and the boom on Ole12 was retracted and the trash truck was lifted and positioned onto the roadway away from the debris. “Once the trash truck was back on the road, Ole12 was hooked to the front with its under reach and the rear was hooked with the under reach of the 40/50,” Al said. “Once the entire truck was lifted, Ole12 pulled ahead 100 yards onto Route 40, pulling the trash truck and the rotator. “Once on Route 40 the rotator pulled forward pulling the trash truck and Ole12 backwards and carried it to our yard about a quarter mile.”
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ABOUT BATTELINI’S Albert Battelini is the president of Battelini’s Garage (Battelini Transport & Towing Service) in Landisville, New Jersey. The company is co-owned by Albert, his brother Anthony and their father Dominick. This has been a family built, owned and operated business since grandpa Alesio Battelini started Battelini’s Garage in the heart of South Jersey on Route 40 in Landisville in
1921. There are four generations of Battelini boys that have become men in their family business and a fifth generation waiting to come of age. It all started with a one-bay facility and one home-built unit on the back of a Model A and has continued to grow from there. They now operate out of a five-bay facility, run 30 tractor-trailers, have 20 employees and a fleet of more than 20 wreckers. Besides their state-of-the-art equipment, they have a collection of
some awesome vintage iron that represents their many years of service excellence. This family is towing history with a fleet that does them and all of us proud.
Jim “Buck” Sorrenti, a longtime editor of American Towman, has been our field editor for the past 10 years. He is a freelance writer and photographer with more than 40 years of experience covering motorcycle, hot rod, truck and towing culture. He writes weekly for TowIndustryWeek.com.
Family patriarch Dominick was on-hand to keep things cool.
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Work the non-traffic side–Stay Safe!
AMERICANTOWMAN.COM - December 2019 • 59
Equipment Maintenance: A Different Perspective By Brian J. Riker
E
verything we use wears and requires some form of repair. Our tow trucks and the components that make them must function safely and efficiently with no exception. When something breaks it may cause service issues with customers or perhaps it may cause a major injury. Most equipment failure is avoidable with just a little foresight and a dedication to a solid program of routine inspection and service.
‘‘
You can never
inspect something too often.
It is your duty as a professional tow operator to ensure the equipment you use every day is in safe working order. The last line of defense against a failure ruining your day is a thorough preuse inspection at the beginning of the day. If nothing else, this inspection will confirm that the first line of defense—a thorough post-use inspection—was properly completed. In addition to the pre- and postuse inspections, please don’t forget to walk around and look at your equipment every time you stop or otherwise change what you are doing. You can never inspect something too often. It is easy to overlook things, too easy. (I was recently almost 100 miles into a road trip when I noticed a severe cut in a steer tire on a truck I was driving. It just happened to be exposed in the position I parked for a quick pit stop; the cut had obviously been there for
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Daily inspections and reports are key to a maintenance plan.
a long time. It was not fresh from the trip, but it was on a portion of the tire that was hidden from view when I began the trip.) Outside of the operator making inspections and having a solid program in place to address reported deficiencies, there are other ways to minimize maintenance and repair related disruptions to your business. Knowing that everything we use in our daily lives will require service at some point, we must plan for making this service available with the least possible disruptions. I believe that a robust preventative maintenance and service plan begins with selecting the proper equipment for the job.
We all have our favorite brands for whatever reason, but does that brand have a quality service network available within a reasonable distance? Any OEM chassis has good and notso-good qualities, leaving it up to the commitment of the local dealerships to play a major role in determining which brands you include in your fleet. What about off-peak hours? Being able to drop a unit off for service outside your peak demand time is valuable, especially if the service center can have it repaired and back in service while you have little or no need for that specific piece of equipment. This is something to think hard about when choosing truck chassis. Heavy-duty
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Getting to know your parts personnel at the dealership and distributor goes a long way in keeping trucks running.
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truck dealers often have extended parts and service hours, some even have 24-hour operations available. Do you have those options available in your area, and does that availability make a difference in your ability to keep your fleet working? I suggest thinking critically about the relationships you have with the local truck chassis dealerships, keeping in mind the feedback you get from regular customers as well as what you observe on your own. You may not want to purchase exclusively from one chassis OEM if your only dealer service option takes weeks to get many repairs completed. Wrecker or carrier equipment parts availability and support response are also important factors. The good part about the tow bodies and their accessories is that most of the routine service issues use common parts that can easily be sourced locally. Hydraulic hoses, lights, wire rope and such are not proprietary and therefore easy to get. Staying brand and model loyal for your bodies and accessories may make economic sense as well. Besides being safer for your operators if they have similar equipment
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for greater familiarity across the fleet, your mechanics will also become more efficient and you will not need to stock too vast a variety of spare parts. Another issue to consider when developing a long-term service and maintenance plan is the relationship that you can build with your distributor. Are you someone that buys on price alone without thinking about the extra value of having a real relationship with a single source? Given a choice between shipping a long-term regular customer the last widget in stock or someone that has no brand loyalty, what do you think the dealer or distributor is going to do? Serve the customer with the existing relationship! (We do the same thing when servicing our own regular customers. They get the priority ETAs and a higher level of service even if we do not consciously do it.) Bouncing around among dealers or distributors based on purchase price of a single piece of equipment most likely will cost you more in the long
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run. You end up with a mixed fleet or waiting longer than necessary for parts or other support. It’s hard for one distributor to be a single source for all your needs; finding the right few to be part of your team is important.
‘‘
A robust
preventative
maintenance and
service plan begins with selecting the
proper equipment for the job.
When selecting equipment from an up-time or utilization perspective, it is critical to evaluate how complex the piece of equipment is. Do you really need all the extras or are they going
to cause burdensome issues for the service technicians when that piece of equipment reaches mid-life? Are you specifying or selecting the proper components for the environment you will most often operate in. Towers have an advantage over long-haul trucking operations in that we generally stay within a small geographic area where we can better understand the demands placed on our equipment. What about service life? There are numerous studies, even technical recommendations, based on millions of hours or miles of use reported by hundreds of fleets on the average life of specific components such as starters, alternators and other serviceable components. Major trucking fleets typically use recommended best practices that have their mechanics replacing components based on service life—rather than waiting for a failure—to maximize the availability of their trucks. The data becomes scarce for less common components such as tow-specific parts like crossbar bushings,
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wire rope and wear pads. For those items we must draw from our personal experiences. The best way to do this is to keep detailed records on all repairs, including the time the failed component was in service and why it failed. This will expose shortcomings in your operator-training program as well as help guide changes to your preventative maintenance program. By studying your specific fleet’s pattern of failures you will be better able to decide what replacement parts are critical to always have on hand, which will save hours or even days of waiting time on out-of-service equipment. Replacement part stock should be considered less as a cost but rather more as a simple insurance plan that pays you back with decreased dwell time when a breakdown or failure does occur. With good recordkeeping and periodic review to identify trends in equipment failures, you will also be able to make changes, perhaps increasing or decreasing the frequency of when you grease or clean an item. Maybe some
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items need to move from a mileage or elapsed-hour interval to a duty-cycle interval. Keep in mind, the manufacturer’s recommended service intervals are set for average use, your patterns will vary from the average. It may be time for you to add a digital preventative maintenance solution to your operation. Nothing beats the abilities of a well-designed software program to pick out patterns and details that we simply overlook. Think back to the efficiency improvements you gained when you first switched to digital dispatch software, especially if you integrated GPS location services. There are many great options to choose from today for fleet management. The technology is there to monitor everything from how many cycles your wheel-lift was used in any given period of time to sending an automated alert to your fleet manager when the truck generates a diagnostic trouble code. These types of technologies make it simple to plan for needed service rather than having a failure
plan the service for you. These programs will even track parts and labor costs to help you gain a better overall picture of where you are spending money, perhaps even identifying areas that can be better budgeted. Preventative maintenance often goes unnoticed, even unappreciated, although that does not make it any less important than any other segment of the business. For many towers across North America the busy season is just beginning. Imagine a busy season with significantly less delays or lost revenue due to equipment breakdowns or other maintenance related failures. Cool, shiny trucks with awesome graphics aren’t helping the business when they’re sitting in the repair bay.
Brian J. Riker is a third-generation towman, with 25 years of experience in the ditch as a tow operator, and president of Fleet Compliance Solutions. He specializes in helping navigate the complex world of federal and state transportation regulatory compliance. He can be reached at brian.riker@fleetcompliancesolutions.net
With agricultural repos, verify any equipment attached to the collateral is part of the assignment. Kubota image.
Commercial Repo Primer By Mark Lacek
T
his year at the American Towman Expo in Atlantic City, New Jersey, I will be presenting on Commercial Repossessions. I believe when a repossessor or a towman attends a conference, they must leave with something more than a refrigerator magnet or a new pen. I will be there to show you how to increase your bottom line with less overhead cost involved. A few tips from my conference follow. A commercial loan is completely different than a consumer loan and
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must be treated differently than the standard automobile repossession. First you must understand that the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act does not apply to a commercial account or to commercial debt collectors. This is not to say, however, that the activities of commercial debt collection agents are not subject to regulation. You are still going to be dealing with consumers and all breach of peace rules still apply. A repossession agency can choose to work directly with the lender or
work indirectly through an assignment forwarding company. There are a number of commercial forwarders out there now. Many of you are working with them. They have been force-feeding commercial accounts to automobile repossessors for about 10 years. This has given the auto repossessor the ability to gain some experience into the commercial world. If you want to begin a relationship with a commercial assignment forwarder, call all of them—apply to be considered as an agent. Tell them
your fees or agree to theirs … after you prove yourself, tell them your payment terms. Believe me, they want to do business with you. The commercial client does not require the same constant updates of auto lenders. They just want you to work the account and create a resolution or repossession. Either way, you make money.
Just Knock
Years ago I would beat an assignment to death by actually searching every shopping center and truck stop. The way I operate now, unless I have a lead, I’m knocking on the door and asking for the collateral. Through the door knock, I have found that the customer will do one of three things. 1. Tell me to “mind my own business” … or words to that effect. 2. Turn over the collateral. 3. Call the client and make payments. With numbers 2 and 3, you make money. With number 1, they will either make a payment or give up the collateral at a later time. A door knock also gives you the opportunity to gather information on who the collateral is working for, where it parks and if it is broke down or in a repair shop somewhere. Don’t get into the habit of spending hours searching for collateral without a valuable clue. Before you hit the streets, you must verify the information received or perform a skip-trace to locate the asset … and determine if there are other lenders who are looking for the same debtor. For example, a debtor may go to a Freightliner dealer and buy four trucks. The dealer will send the application to four different commercial lenders. Subprime lenders are standing in line to buy paper. One of the biggest reasons a customer falls behind on his payments is because he grows too fast. The information you uncover could provide you with multiple recovery assignments on the same debtor.
Work the non-traffic side–Stay Safe!
On the Scene
When walking up to a truck about to be repossessed, it is important to do a walkaround pre-trip inspection. Federal law states you must conduct a pre-trip inspection, but the repossession process doesn’t always allow sufficient time to perform a complete pre-trip inspection. Following is a recommended procedure for conducting a quick inspection—not intended to satisfy federal safety guidelines—
to suffice until a complete pre-trip inspection can be accomplished. (It is advised to always complete a DOT-approved pre-trip inspection prior to moving any commercial vehicle.) • On your approach to the truck, visualize the top, bottom, sides, front and back of the truck. This will require a complete walkaround of the truck. Identify where the battery box is located, as you will need to
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AMERICANTOWMAN.COM - December 2019 • 69
refer back to the battery location later. • Look up at the height and confirm neither the asset nor any loaded items are over the legal limit. Next, look under the asset to confirm there is nothing hanging, dragging or leaking. • Look at the tires to determine if any are flat or missing. Look at the amount of tread and give the tire a kick to determine if the tire is separated from the rim. • Look at the rear of the asset and check for an open or unlatched door. Look at the rear lights, license plate and mud flaps. Make certain the asset is not attached to any objects with a chain, cable or rope. • If there is a rear, or side door, check for a lock or a seal. A sealed door usually represents something is inside the compartment. Look for stickers or placards on the exterior walls of
70 • December 2019 - TOWMAN.COM
the asset to determine if the asset contains hazardous materials. Everyone always shows fear about repossessing a commercial truck loaded with bananas or tomatoes or some other perishable. Unless it’s a refrigerated trailer, it will not be loaded with perishables! Seldom will you be repossessing a loaded trailer. If you do, you have to notify the shipper first. DOT rules stipulate there must be a bill of lading within reach of the driver and attached to the load. If you end up with freight, notify the shipper and explain how he can come and get the load or pay you to deliver it. I try not to end up with any freight … it is a pain in the butt.
Ag Equipment
There are many small businesses that utilize equipment categorized under farm and agriculture equipment. Landscape professionals, golf courses, tree service companies as well as farming. When a client purchases
an asset from a dealer of this type of equipment, often there are implements and attachments that are included in the sale. When financing such equipment a lender will often refer to a “Schedule A,” which is an itemized list of all assets included in the loan documents. Always include serial numbers of every attachment on the repossession documents. When accepting an assignment from the ag lender, always check for a complete list of collateral. It is important to determine the selling dealer of the equipment, also referred to as the vendor. The commercial agent might feel the need to visit the selling dealer at a later time to gain information. Once the repossession assignment has been received, study the sales contract and loan documents carefully. When a customer makes a purchase at an equipment dealer such as John Deere or Kubota, unlike an automobile, the customer does not drive
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the equipment away. The salesman will be involved in the delivery of the equipment. In most cases the equipment dealer will have the delivery location of the collateral on file. Remember to make note of the name of the salesman, as he may become your source of information at a later time. Service departments of dealerships will become a vital source of information. Getting to know the service manager of the local dealer will be a plus in the efforts of the commercial recovery agent in accomplishing successful repossession assignments. In many instances, the service manager can search his computer using the collateral serial number to determine if the customer’s unit has been in for service. It is also a possibility the dealer has sent a mobile repairman to a remote location to service or repair the collateral. It is important for the commercial recovery agent to become familiar with all of the equipment dealers in his coverage area. Having the ability to call and speak to the service departments and sales staff is an advantage when searching for the location of assets and also for soliciting additional repossession assignments. The commercial recovery agent must know what he is searching for. One of the best ways to determine specific information on farm and ag equipment is to utilize search engines to determine specifics such as size, weight and serial number locations. There are many different types of equipment and attachments, and serial numbers are in different areas depending upon the manufacturer. When searching the model number and manufacturer information online, the search engine will offer information on the collateral. This information is critical if the assets are large and transport must be scheduled with the local transport provider. Load and size restrictions are important in determining when the asset could be moved. Many assets can only be moved during certain hours of the day or certain days of the week.
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One of the biggest mistakes a commercial recovery agent makes is to assume equipment at the recovery location is what he is there to recover. It is important to understand that the farming or commercial user of equipment will often have multiple pieces of the same type of equipment. It is critical that the agent check all serial numbers to assure the correct equipment is recovered.
‘‘
If you end up with freight, notify the
shipper and explain how he can come
and get the load or
pay you to deliver it. I
try not to end up with any freight … it is a pain in the butt.
Never repossess any collateral that does not have a serial or vehicle identification number that matches the loan documents. In some situations, multiple assets will be hooked together. A good example is a farm tractor may be located with a loader attachment and also hooked to a box blade or other attachment. The tractor, loader and box blade may be three separate pieces listed on the contract. When the location of the collateral has been determined, recovery of the collateral must be properly executed. Unlike an automobile, the agent cannot back into the asset with his tow truck, hook up and tow the asset away. In some situations, the asset will require a trailer—in those situations the recovery agent should double-check the sales contract to determine if a trailer was also a part of the sales agreement.
Let’s Talk
In some situations the asset will be visible but not approachable. It is important to understand in many situations the repossession of these types of recoveries will be the result of a voluntary surrender. A commercial recovery agent should visit every equipment dealer in his coverage area and build his collection of keys. When repossessing any type of collateral it is important for the recovery agent to understand getting caught in the act of repossessing will often result in a dangerous situation. The safest repossession is where no contact is made with the customer or third party. Confrontations with a debtor or third party should be avoided whenever possible. If the recovery agent knows he will be approached by the debtor or a third party during the loading or hooking up of collateral, the agent should wait for an opportunity to return at a time when a confrontation can be avoided. In some situations the recovery agent may feel comfortable in making contact with the debtor and use his communication skills to convince the debtor to surrender the collateral. With farm and/or agricultural equipment, the agent will often locate the collateral fenced in or locked behind a gate. The Certified Commercial Recovery Agent should have the communications skills to make contact with the debtor and convince the debtor to surrender the collateral. The art of communication is the most useful tool the commercial recovery specialist has to work with. Knowing how to communicate with a delinquent customer will be the difference between a successful recovery and a failed attempt. The complete Certified Commercial Recovery Agent certification program can be taken online at riscus.com. Good hunting and be safe!
Repo Editor Mark Lacek authored the Certified Commercial Recovery Agent certification program and has more than 30 years of recovery experience. He is the former editor of “Professional Repossessor” magazine. Email him at Mark@ commercialassetsolutions.com.
Work the non-traffic side–Stay Safe!
AMERICANTOWMAN.COM - December 2019 • 73
Woman Caught Months After Taking Back Car
A woman accused of taking back a vehicle that had been repossessed and almost running down a recovery yard employee was tracked to Oklahoma and brought back to Bell County, Texas, to face charges. Bond was set at $150,000 for 40-yearold Kaskia Jackson, who was being held on a charge of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. Jackson was arrested by the Muskogee (Okla.) Police Department after she was found Oct. 23. The case goes back to April 4 after the vehicle had been repo’d and taken to the yard of BAT Recovery in Temple, Texas. Officers were called to that location and told that a woman, who police believe was Jackson, had come to pick up some personal belongings from a repossessed vehicle. However, once she got into the car, she started it up and drove away, nearly striking an employee of the business.
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Police had obtained a warrant for her arrest in April and it was believed that Jackson was spotted in Oklahoma where she was held after Muskogee officers determined that she was named in an arrest warrant from Temple. She was transported back to Bell County and booked into the jail on Nov. 7. Source: fox44news.com.
Repo Agents Threatened with Hatchet
Police say a Union, Missouri, man displayed a tomahawk in a threatening manner while trying to prevent his car from being repossessed. Daniel J. Jones, 31, was charged Oct. 29 in Franklin County Associate Circuit Court with one count of unlawful use of a weapon. The charge stems from a May 6 incident when a man arrived at Jones’ residence to repossess his vehicle. The man told police Jones exited the house yelling, according to a probable
cause statement filed by Union police with the Franklin County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office. The man said Jones was yelling and swinging a hatchet or tomahawk. He alleged Jones took a swing at his property. According to police, the victim stated Jones told him he was not going to let him take his car. The man told police he was scared for his life. Jones told police he saw the man repossessing his car and went outside to try and stop it from happening. He said he got the hatchet out from under the passenger seat of the car. Jones stated he only was trying to cut the straps to free his car and never intended to hurt the man. Source: emissourian.com.
McCook: Repo Agents Face ‘Dire Straits’
In reporting on remarks made by Les McCook of the American Recovery Association, autoremarketing. com stated that “the dire straits
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repo agents now are encountering are unprecedented and could make the prospect of getting your collateral back all the more challenging.” The article cited that the industry itself is down to two insurance providers for liability insurance—with one of those providers seriously considering leaving the market altogether. Another problem facing repo agents is the condition of vehicles themselves. “Spoiled food, illegal drug paraphernalia, soiled hygiene products and containers of elements likely from the entire periodic table,” the article said, “were just some of visible material” from photos requested by McCook of ARA members. “Repo agents are mandated by federal and state regulations either to store or appropriately dispose of that property,” he said. “And, oftentimes, agents must do it without much compensation, if any at all,” he continued. “This is a cost burden that I don’t think being
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considered into a marketplace. … If you want to keep the viability of the business model that we’re in today, someone has to stop and pay attention to what’s happening on the other side of the fence, that what hardship are you putting on them, what burden you are putting on them that they cannot have a sustainable relationship with your company long term.” Source: autoremarketing.com.
Shots Fired Repo’ing Wrong SUV
Two men attempting to repossess a Jeep outside a home in San Antonio, Texas, were shot at by the vehicle’s owner the morning of Oct. 21, San Antonio police said. According to police, the men were not hit by the gunfire, but were shaken up. Police said the men were repossessing the wrong vehicle. They said the owner actually had two Jeeps and had switched the license plates on them. The one that was supposed to be
repossessed is locked up where they couldn’t get to it, authorities said. Police said the SUV’s owner will be charged with discharging a firearm in a municipality. He told police he was angry because the men were taking the wrong vehicle. Source: ksat.com.
Shot Fired on Repo Agent
A Jefferson County, Pennsylvania, man is facing charges after firing a gun during a vehicle repossession. Brandon Huffman, 29, is charged with attempted homicide and aggravated assault. According to the criminal complaint, two men with a towing company went to repossess Huffman’s vehicle from his house on Halloween. Police say as the men drove away, Huffman ran out of his house and fired a gun in the direction of the driver. Police say they found the handgun and a casing where witnesses say Huffman fired the gun. Source: wearecentralpa.com.
To Advertise In Towman’s Market CALL
800-732-3869 Ellen Rosengart x 203 erosengart@towman.com
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CALIFORNIA TOW TRUCK ASSOCIATION INTRO TO TOWING The California Tow Truck Assn. presents INTRO TO TOWING. A new 5-part online course for towing beginners and new hires! Through five videos and corresponding quizzes, operators will learn the basics of towing. Students will receive a certificate of completion, and company owners are able to track their progress! Available now at: ctta@ctta.com Work the non-traffic Side–Stay Safe!
AMERICANTOWMAN.COM - December 2019 • 79
Pink-Ribboned Camouflage By George L. Nitti
O
f the many causes that tow companies support, breast cancer awareness is high on the list. At Tri-City Towing in Pflugerville, Texas, the company has again devoted a truck to the cause. “We did one five years ago,” said owner Mark Chapla, “when my mother-in-law had breast cancer; but we wanted to do it on a larger scale and therefore decided to do it on our biggest rollback.” At this year ’s American Wrecker Pageant during the Tow Expo-Dallas, Tri-City’s new super-sized rollback stood out: a 2019 Peterbilt 389 with NRC 40TB 28’ carrier bed. “We specialize in equipment hauling,” Chapla said. “This rollback is so versatile. Although it will handle medium-duty tows, we tow anything from cars to backhoes to semi-tractors.”
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Design-wise, its large breast cancer ribbon, pink camouflage background and sparkling logo are its stellar features.
‘‘
I wanted it to
stand out, but not scream out.
The “can’t miss” mega-sized pink breast cancer awareness ribbon on both sides of the unit serves as the centerpiece, flowing from front to back and continuing all the way to the toolbox. Enhancing that design is its camo background in pink, white, gray and black. “In the past we did pink flames; but wanted something different,” Chapla said. “I thought the camouflage provided a subtle balance. I wanted it to stand out, but not scream out.”
Included in the sparkling logo consisting is a cityscape that has been recently revamped to include some new skyscrapers. “Pflugerville is just north of Austin, Texas. We like to say that we are stuck between a rock (Round Rock) and a weird place (Austin),” Chapla said. The final touch on the back of the cabin is signage that reminds motorists to “Slow Down, Move Over, It’s the Law.” Larry Perez of Larry Perez Signs and Graphics executed this truck’s wraps; he’s done several for the company. “We give him free reign,” said Chapla. “Each one is better than the next. I’m more than proud of how it turned out.” Editor’s note: This story originally ran on AT’s sister site, towindustryweek. com, which features industry news, training, recoveries, new products, events and more. Don’t miss out— make sure to read it each week.
George L. Nitti has written for American Towman since 2009. He started out as a news writer and now writes a weekly feature on TowIndustryWeek.com, Tow Illustrated, which spotlights the tow truck graphics. Work the non-traffic side–Stay Safe!
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Thousands of tow bosses will be in Atlantic City for the American Towman Exposition, December 4-7.
Crème de la Crème with AT By Steve Calitri
Everywhere one turns at an American Towman event, or in its pages, one sees the crème de la crème of the towing world. The industry’s top suppliers with their product and service experts are there on the showfloor. Towing’s most dynamic seminar presenters are there sharing critical information and proven tow-management practices. Big Wheel’s Bob and Eric Fouquette, WreckMaster’s Bruce Campbell and other WM core instructors, Police Towers of America’s Ron Meyers, AT’s Randall Resch, Terry Abejuela, Brian Riker and Mark Lacek, plus many others are there in Atlantic City, as well as other American Towman shows. The most progressive and success-
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ful tow business owners are drawn to American Towman because they realize what a tremendous resource AT is for their business operations. In short, everybody who is anybody in the towing industry is in Atlantic City this Dec. 4-7 and next year in the four cities where American Towman is producing shows. The best of the best are drawn to American Towman and they in turn draw ambitious tow bosses wanting to be among them, wanting to pick up information that can help them run their operations more successfully … wanting to pick up on their winning ways. For many attendees, the most valuable experience comes in one of the seminar sessions; for others it’s the conversation had with another tow boss at one of the many networking events or in the show café.
For many more, the pages of American Towman or online at TowIndustryWeek.com or the show events are affirmation of the greatness of our industry, filling us all with pride and inspiration, two strengths that are much needed in this challenging trade. Of course one doesn’t have to step far to be inspired by the face of things, the awesome equipment inside the American Towman Exposition, the largest tow show in the world. Whether the exhibitor be a manufacturer or a distributor, or a wrecker owner competing in AT’s Pageant, the view from the showfloor gets the adrenaline flowing. One doesn’t come down from an American Towman event, but continues to soar for months afterward, renewed in the striving to be the most profitable operation possible.
‘Parking Protection Act’ Being Considered
New York state lawmakers are considering a Parking Protection Act, legislation to restrict ambiguous rules and towing fees at private parking lots. The proposal would impose new sign requirements at private lots to ensure people understand where and when parking is allowed and how much it will cost. It also would regulate the practices of towing companies, including limiting how much they can charge and when vehicles can be towed or immobilized. The legislation would require applicable parking hours and fees be clearly displayed, prohibit advertising prices as a range and restrict private lots from towing or immobilizing an improperly parked vehicle unless there have been previous violations. The cost of a towed vehicle would be capped at $125 and operators could only charge $15 for the first three days of storing a vehicle. Additionally, if drivers return to a vehicle while it is being towed, the company is required to release the vehicle at
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that location for a fee at no more than half the towing charge. Source: timesunion.com.
Preliminary Injunction Relief Regarding MSP RFR
The Statewide Towing Association of Massachusetts, along with several Massachusetts towing companies and the Towing and Recovery Association of America, recently filed a request in Federal District Court seeking preliminary injunctive relief regarding the Massachusetts State Police Request For Response, No. SP20TOW-X81. STA said in a release that the association made numerous attempts to reach out to the MSP for inclusion in the process and provide input; however, they were never formally included by the MSP in the drafting process. According to STA President Bill Johnson, the RFR “goes far beyond the scope of the current tow service agreement, and well beyond any authority granted by the Massachusetts Legislature” to regulate in the state. Johnson added the
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RFR “blatantly usurps the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities authority to regulate towing and violates the Federal Aviation Administration Authorization Act preemption.” A hearing date was scheduled as of press time. Source: STA.
Council Updates Towing Fees
The Newton (New Jersey) Town Council updated its towing ordinance, amending the charges for towing, at a recent meeting. The ordinance states, in section 2894.A, updated charges include: light-duty towing (up to 10,000 lbs.) hookup is $150; medium-duty towing is (10,001 lbs.-16,000 lbs.) $250/ hour; and heavy-duty towing fee (16,001 lbs. and above) is $500/hour. The decoupling fee (if tow is not performed) is 50 percent of the basic rate. Road service call charges are cars (light) at $125/hour plus parts, and trucks (medium/heavy) at $175/hour plus parts. Source: tapinto.net.
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Company Seeks Restraining Orders
The owner of SOS Towing in Mobile, Alabama, recently filed for a temporary restraining order against the district attorney’s office and the Mobile Police Department in an attempt to gain back four tow trucks taken under controversial asset forfeiture laws. The request is part of a long-running insurance fraud investigation that has pitted city law enforcement against some tow truck operators in the city. The restraining order, sought on behalf of SOS Towing owner Gary Lamar Smith Jr., claims the seizure of the trucks not only places the business at risk of closure, it grossly outweighs the value of the insurance fraud that he and his father, Gary Lamar Smith Sr., are accused of. The initial seizure warrant set the amount of insurance fraud at $337.50, whereas the value of the trucks is estimated to be at $220,000, according to
court documents. A later complaint said that the value of insurance fraud was now $13,000, but no documentation or explanation was provided in court. Prosecutors argued in court earlier this month that Smith Jr. could get the trucks back under a bond. However, under forfeiture laws that bond would be double the value of the trucks, some $440,000, according to the restraining order. Source: al.com.
Company Suspended for Drugged Driver
A Chattanooga, Tennessee, towing company on Thursday had its permit to answer police calls in the city suspended for a month after it failed to provide a background check on a driver who had a medical emergency due to an opioid overdose. The Chattanooga Beer and Wrecker Board suspended the permit of S&S Towing.
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Chattanooga police said that it received seven calls from citizens about a wrecker weaving on Highway 58 on Oct. 19. Police said the wrecker almost hit three vehicles. After the tow truck was stopped, it was determined by police the driver was suffering the effects of an opioid overdose; three hits of Narcan were given to the driver. Police said they also found a bag of methamphetamine in the truck. Scott Summey of S&S Towing said the man, who wasn’t on a call, had worked for him in Florida; however was operating the truck without a background check. The board said S&S Towing can continue to answer private calls. Source: timesfreepress.com.
Riverside Declines Contract Extension
The city of Riverside, California, will continue negotiating with tow operators rather than approving a
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proposed five-year extension to a contract that former Police Chief Sergio Diaz called “corrupt” and “toothless.” “This would lock in the current, toothless contract for an absurdly long period of time—five years, that’s what this says, five years,” Diaz said, referring to the proposal in the council agenda. “That is ridiculous and stinks of venal corruption.” After the city council’s recent unanimous vote, the public safety committee will keep discussing the proposed new agreement, which Diaz and some city officials said should include stiffer penalties for tow operators who fail to tow a vehicle when they’re called to do so. The existing contract can be extended for one more year with council approval after its Dec. 31 expiration, a timeline that received more support than the five years that two councilmen had proposed. Tow operators pointed to the dangerous nature of their job and said they
took ethics seriously. “Be careful throwing us under the bus,” said Desi Peterson of Riverside-based Exclusive Towing, one of the companies that contract with the city. “You will need us to clean up the accident scene afterward.” Source: pe.com.
YVTTA Builds Move Over Awareness
The Yellowstone Valley Tow Truck Association held a first responders awareness program at the Rimrock Mall parking lot in Billings, Montana, on Oct. 27. Towers are considered first responders alongside the emergency crews. “Move Over” also helps law enforcement, fire and ambulance crews. “Sometimes you almost feel them brushing against your back if you’re not paying attention,” said Don Blyton, president of the YVTTA. “We’ve had operators here that have been hit
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in the back by mirrors. They’ve gone home with no injuries but they felt it. “‘Tow Truck Ahead,’ ‘Accident Ahead,’ ‘Emergency Scene Ahead.’ They’re all related,” Blyton said. “That means there’s somebody up there working. “If you can’t change lanes, then that’s when we really appreciate the slowdown because it gives us time to react. It gives you time to react.” Source: ktvq.com.
Committee Targets ‘Scam’ Tows
Milwaukee, Wisconsin’s Public Safety and Health Committee wants more transparency from towing companies when they perform so-called “non-consensual” tows of unauthorized vehicles off of private property. The legislation was prompted by a local news investigation that found a local company was routinely charging an extra $125 for the use of “special equipment,” even when hidden cam-
eras showed no such equipment was used to haul a car away. Over a handful of objections, the committee voted unanimously on a proposal to require towing companies to submit “itemized receipts” within 60 days of a private property tow “in order to ensure that people aren’t getting scammed,” said alderman Nik Kovac. Of the 13 towing companies the city talked to about the plan, they said seven were in favor, with six against. Representatives of one company testified briefly about concerns that the ordinance, as written, could inadvertently apply to some repossession cases. The proposal was scheduled to go before the full Milwaukee Common Council, as of press time. Source: fox6now.com.
Preliminary Injunction Relief Regarding MSP RFR
The Statewide Towing Association of Massachusetts, along with several Massachusetts towing companies and the Towing and Recovery Association of America, recently filed a request in Federal District Court seeking preliminary injunctive relief regarding the Massachusetts State Police Request For Response, No. SP20-TOW-X81. STA said in a release that the association made numerous attempts to reach out to the MSP for inclusion in the process and provide input; however, they were never formally included by the MSP in the drafting process. According to STA President Bill Johnson, the RFR “goes far beyond the scope of the current tow service agreement, and well beyond any authority granted by the Massachusetts Legislature” to regulate in the state. Johnson added the RFR “blatantly usurps the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities authority to regulate towing and violates the Federal Aviation Administration Authorization Act preemption.” A hearing date was scheduled as of press time. Source: STA.
Work the non-traffic side–Stay Safe!
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Committee Targets ‘Scam’ Tows
Milwaukee, Wisconsin’s Public Safety and Health Committee wants more transparency from towing companies when they perform so-called “non-consensual” tows of unauthorized vehicles off of private property. The legislation was prompted by a local news investigation that found a local company was routinely charging an extra $125 for the use of “special equipment,” even when hidden cameras showed no such equipment was used to haul a car away. Over a handful of objections, the committee voted unanimously on a proposal to require towing companies to submit “itemized receipts” within 60 days of a private property tow “in order to ensure that people aren’t getting scammed,” said alderman Nik Kovac. Of the 13 towing companies the city talked to about the plan, they said seven were in favor, with six against. Representatives of one company testified briefly about concerns
that the ordinance, as written, could inadvertently apply to some repossession cases. The proposal was scheduled to go before the full Milwaukee Common Council, as of press time. Source: fox6now.com.
‘Parking Protection Act’ Being Considered
New York state lawmakers are considering a Parking Protection Act, legislation to restrict ambiguous rules and towing fees at private parking lots. The proposal would impose new sign requirements at private lots to ensure people understand where and when parking is allowed and how much it will cost. It also would regulate the practices of towing companies, including limiting how much they can charge and when vehicles can be towed or immobilized. The legislation would require applicable parking hours and fees be clearly displayed, prohibit advertising
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prices as a range and restrict private lots from towing or immobilizing an improperly parked vehicle unless there have been previous violations. The cost of a towed vehicle would be capped at $125 and operators could only charge $15 for the first three days of storing a vehicle. Additionally, if drivers return to a vehicle while it is being towed, the company is required to release the vehicle at that location for a fee at no more than half the towing charge. Source: timesunion.com.
Preliminary Injunction Relief Regarding MSP RFR
The Statewide Towing Association of Massachusetts, along with several Massachusetts towing companies and the Towing and Recovery Association of America, recently filed a request in Federal District Court seeking preliminary injunctive relief regarding the Massachusetts State Police Request For Response, No. SP20-TOW-X81. STA said in a release that the association made numerous attempts
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Work the non-traffic side–Stay Safe!
AMERICANTOWMAN.COM - December 2019 • MIDWEST 85
to reach out to the MSP for inclusion in the process and provide input; however, they were never formally included by the MSP in the drafting process. According to STA President Bill Johnson, the RFR “goes far beyond the scope of the current tow service agreement, and well beyond any authority granted by the Massachusetts Legislature” to regulate in the state. Johnson added the RFR “blatantly usurps the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities authority to regulate towing and violates the Federal Aviation Administration Authorization Act preemption.” A hearing date was scheduled as of press time. Source: STA.
Riverside Declines Contract Extension
The city of Riverside, California, will continue negotiating with tow operators rather than approving a proposed five-year extension to a contract that former Police Chief Sergio Diaz called “corrupt” and “toothless.” “This would lock in the current, toothless contract for an absurdly long period of time—five years, that’s what this says, five years,” Diaz said, referring to the proposal in the council agenda. “That is ridiculous and stinks of venal corruption.” After the city council’s recent unanimous vote, the public safety committee will keep discussing the proposed new agreement, which Diaz and some city officials said should include stiffer penalties for tow operators who fail to tow a vehicle when they’re called to do so. The existing contract can be extended for one more year with council approval after its Dec. 31 expiration, a timeline that received more support than the five years that two councilmen had proposed. Tow operators pointed to the dangerous nature of their job and said they took ethics seriously. “Be careful throwing us under the bus,” said Desi Peterson of Riverside-based Exclusive Towing, one of the companies that contract with the city. “You will need us to clean up the accident scene afterward.” Source: pe.com. Work the non-traffic side–Stay Safe!
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Riverside Declines Contract Extension
The city of Riverside, California, will continue negotiating with tow operators rather than approving a proposed five-year extension to a contract that former Police Chief Sergio Diaz called “corrupt” and “toothless.” “This would lock in the current, toothless contract for an absurdly long period of time—five years, that’s what this says, five years,” Diaz said, referring to the proposal in the council agenda. “That is ridiculous and stinks of venal corruption.” After the city council’s recent unanimous vote, the public safety committee will keep discussing the proposed new agreement, which Diaz and some city officials said should include stiffer penalties for tow operators who fail to tow a vehicle when they’re called to do so. The existing contract can be extended for one more year with council approval after its Dec. 31 expiration, a timeline that received more support
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than the five years that two councilmen had proposed. Tow operators pointed to the dangerous nature of their job and said they took ethics seriously. “Be careful throwing us under the bus,” said Desi Peterson of Riverside-based Exclusive Towing, one of the companies that contract with the city. “You will need us to clean up the accident scene afterward.” Source: pe.com.
YVTTA Builds Move Over Awareness
The Yellowstone Valley Tow Truck Association held a first responders awareness program at the Rimrock Mall parking lot in Billings, Montana, on Oct. 27. Towers are considered first responders alongside the emergency crews. “Move Over” also helps law enforcement, fire and ambulance crews. “Sometimes you almost feel them brushing against your back if you’re not paying attention,” said Don Blyton, president of the YVTTA. “We’ve had operators here that have been hit in the back by mirrors. They’ve gone home with no injuries but they felt it. “‘Tow Truck Ahead,’ ‘Accident Ahead,’ ‘Emergency Scene Ahead.’ They’re all related,” Blyton said. “That means there’s somebody up there working. “If you can’t change lanes, then that’s when we really appreciate the slowdown because it gives us time to react. It gives you time to react.” Source: ktvq.com.
Company Seeks Restraining Orders
The owner of SOS Towing in Mobile, Alabama, recently filed for a temporary restraining order against the district attorney’s office and the Mobile Police Department in an attempt to gain back four tow trucks taken under controversial asset forfeiture laws. The request is part of a long-running insurance fraud inves-
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Work the non-traffic side–Stay Safe!
AMERICANTOWMAN.COM - December 2019 • WEST 85
tigation that has pitted city law enforcement against some tow truck operators in the city. The restraining order, sought on behalf of SOS Towing owner Gary Lamar Smith Jr., claims the seizure of the trucks not only places the business at risk of closure, it grossly outweighs the value of the insurance fraud that he and his father, Gary Lamar Smith Sr., are accused of. The initial seizure warrant set the amount of insurance fraud at $337.50, whereas the value of the trucks is estimated to be at $220,000, according to court documents. A later complaint said that the value of insurance fraud was now $13,000, but no documentation or explanation was provided in court. Prosecutors argued in court earlier this month that Smith Jr. could get the trucks back under a bond. However, under forfeiture laws that bond would be double the value of the trucks, some $440,000, according to the restraining order. Source: al.com.
Work the non-traffic side–Stay Safe!
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CopyrightŠ2019 American Towman Magazine. Characters and stories are fictitious; no resemblance to real life characters is intended.
Send your thoughts/suggestions on the Adventures to scalitri@towman.com or American Towman, 2 Overlook Dr #5, Warwick NY 10990