2024 NEW PRODUCT SHOWCASE
The Road Calls
BRIDGE BUSTER
TAXING MATTERS
5 WAYS TO SAVE MONEY
HOLIDAY HAZARDS
FREE TOWS FOR PARTYGOERS?
WHEN YOU HOOK ‘EM UP
CALCULATE LINE TENSION
TowIndustryWeek.com
DECEMBER 2023
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Contents
Cover Feature
Volume 47 Issue 12
December
36
A Bridge Too Far by George Nitti
A wrong turn ends in a concrete mixer busting through an overloaded bridge. Miller Towing & Recovery calls on a crane operator to help with hoisting up the heavy truck.
2023 Departments 8
The Walkaround
10
News Share
12
Zoom In
14
Hands-On Tech
20
Beacons On!
14
28
Tow Boss
34
Ad Index
48
Case Closed
52
Tow Manager
Calculating Line Tension
60
Towman’s Market
62
My Baby
66
Lowdown
73
Adventures of A.T.
Features When You Hook ‘Em Up by Terry Abejuela
28
Holiday Hazards
Free Tows for Intoxicated Partygoers? by Randall C. Resch
48
Taxing Matters
5 Ways to Save You Money by Larry Oxenham
6 • December 2023 | Towman.com
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The Walkaround
New Products and Sharpening Skills
Time flies when you’re having fun, so 2023 must’ve been full of enjoyment for some as this year truly went by in a blur. In this December issue we look to the future in the Dennie Ortiz 2024 Product Showcase, a special section, where you may view new products and services that will be ofPublisher fered by suppliers in the coming year. We also have a strong line up of editorial that will keep your business strong and your operators skilled. Test your team’s technical knowledge with Terry Abejuela’s article on the very specific rigging calculations needed to complete a successful recovery. As they say there are only two certainties in life—death and taxes. While both are unavoidable, there are tactics you can implement to at least minimize your tax burden. Be sure to read Larry Oxenham’s piece in which he presents five concrete suggestions to help you navigate these waters. Today, tow companies employ aerial drones for various reasons in their operations. For commercial use, there are regulations and standards which legally must be adhered to when utilizing this technology. Brian Riker discusses in detail these requirements to ensure you are in compliance. Speaking of technology, EVs (electric vehicles) pose a number of challenges for tow operators, so Paul Stephens provides a number of practical tips for safe and efficient handling. And there’s a quick-reference website highlighted as well for sorting out all the different EVs on the market, and their unique features. Some heavy lifting is required in this month’s featured recovery, as a 50ton rotator and 120-ton crane team up to lift a cement mixer that had fallen through a bridge. I highlighted some of the editorials, please do read and enjoy the other articles in this issue. Happy holidays to all and as always—stay safe out there!
From SEMA to the American Towman Exposition As noted above, this year has been really busy, and the month of November in particular, after attending two large trade shows on opposite sides of the country. The SEMA (Specialty Equipment Market Association) show displays a massive amount of aftermarket prodSteve Temple ucts, and required quite a bit of legwork to find items Editor of specific interest to readers of American Towman. Plus, there were plenty of prospective body shop suppliers to track down for the new WreckWeek addition to our TowXpo event June 20-22 in Dallas/ Ft. Worth, Texas. Even so, as a result of our trudging through the miles of aisles, you’ll be seeing an even broader array of products of value to towmen in upcoming issues. In addition, the annual American Towman Exposition in Baltimore proved to be better than ever, with big boosts in attendance, exhibitors, and amazing tow trucks in the wrecker pageant. While it’s downright impossible to summarize the entire show in a few sentences, suffice it to say you’re in for a real treat in our upcoming feature coverage. Not only on the show floor, but also from the hard-working towers we were privileged to meet, and hear about their stirring recovery accounts. For us, that is the best takeaway of all, and we feel privileged to share their experiences. Happy and safe holidays to all!
8 • December 2023 | Towman.com
Dennie Ortiz Steve Calitri Steve Temple Randall Resch Terry Abejuela David Kolman John Borowski Mark Lacek Brian Riker George Nitti Henri “Doc” Calitri Paul Stephens
Publisher & President Editor-In-Chief Editor Operations Editor Field Editor, West Chassis Editor Safety Editor Repo Run Editor Contributing Editor Contributing Editor Contributing Editor Contributing Editor
Editorial Board Tommy Anderson Bill Johnson Kurt Wilson Tasha Mora Ron Meyers
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American Towman Staff President AT Expo Corp. Art Director Advertising Sales Mgr. Senior Account Exec. Regional Advertising Sales iMarketing Manager Finance Manager Conferences & Events Sr. Mgr. Events Manager Publisher’s Assistant Registration & Subscription Mgr. ATTV Producer Customer Service
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News Share PA Tow Companies Highlight Challenges Posed by EVs Pennsylvania towing companies are reporting that a shift to EVs is sparking new challenges for the industry that include acquiring new skills, added expenses, and dealing with safety issues. “It does require a different handling,” noted executive director of the PA Towing Association Brian Riker. Safety remains an issue with tow workers having to pick up electric vehicles. They aren’t all the same, so it takes time to figure out what you’re dealing with. “With a lack of standardization, meaning a common off-switch or a common disconnect location to de-energize the vehicle, our tow operators are faced with researching vehicles on the side of the road,” Riker said. Randall Geisler, President of Patriot-St. Denis Towing of Mountville, Pennsylvania, said he has had to buy new equipment, estimating his expenses at around $10,000 to $12,000 for creating isolation areas, and dealing with extra security steps. Batteries in an electric vehicle can become a serious hazard days or even weeks after an accident. “With these newer electric cars there’s a lot we don’t know,” admitted Randy Wilkinson, the vice president of Cocker’s Towing in Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania. “You’re gonna learn and figure it out as you get there.” Cocker’s Towing has multiple pieces of equipment that can help with electric vehicles, and they cost a large amount of money, which includes an $800 blanket that completely covers the car to try and keep a fire from spreading. Cocker’s also has a remotecontrolled piece of equipment that few companies have. Called a TowTrack, it’s designed to work in confined areas, and to avoid damaging cars low to the ground, or the battery of an EV as well. Source: fox43.com and energyportal.eu
10 • December 2023 | Towman.com
Maryland County
Overhauls Towing Policies
Lawmakers in Prince George’s County, Maryland are overhauling several key provisions in their towing policies. The new law mandates more minority business participation, and alters regulations on towing companies that employ former felons. The new rules recommend that at least 29 percent of towing funds are spent among minority vendors through their participation with police. The bill aims to give companies who employ convicted felons a pathway for reentry, an opportunity in the bidding process when previously denied access. According to Krystal Oriadha (D-District 7), the lead sponsor of the bill, the need to specify amounts was due to a lack of diversity among tow truck vendors servicing the county. Further, she noted some companies were prohibited from bidding on contracts with the county
Prince George’s County Council member Krystal Oriada (D) was the lead sponsor of a bill to reform tow contracting. because felons were part of the payroll. “That made no sense to me,” Oriadha said. “This notion of just because you have any type of criminal record that you’re a bad person, or you’re someone that people should be scared of, is part of the rhetoric that we have to be very thoughtful of changing.” Source: washingtonpost.com
First Responders and Towers Handle Huge Pileup First Responders were stunned by the magnitude of the 168-vehicle pileup in Louisiana on I-55 that killed 8 and injured more than 68 people on October 23. “I’ve been in the fire service for more than 20 years, and it was one of the biggest incidents I’ve ever had to manage,” Fire Chief Daniel Folks said. The pile-up was caused by a mix of fog and smoke from marsh and swamp fires that created near-zero visibility just before 9:00 a.m. Firefighters, covering several local districts, spent hours dealing with clusters
Tow truck companies were essential in removing and recovering vehicles from the pileup on a bridge near New Orleans.
of burning vehicles that included a tanker truck carrying hazardous materials, three other 18-wheelers, and about a dozen burning vehicles. “The fire was so intense, it was just melting each vehicle down,” Folks said. “A lot of things you just couldn’t recognize. You couldn’t tell what kind of vehicle it was.” Because there were no fire hydrants on the bridge, crews called in water tankers and used a siphon to pull water from under the bridge to tackle the fires. An ambulance service company dispatched 18 ambulances and four supervisor trucks to the scene, transporting 46 patients to local hospitals, company officials said. Local tow truck companies set up their operations 30 to 40 minutes after the crashes occurred, according to Aaron Campeaux of Aaron Campeaux Towing. “It was bad,” Campeaux said, describing the heartbreaking remnants of twisted vehicles that he knew belonged to the injured or departed. “I’ve been in business for 16 years and worked with State Police. I’ve never witnessed anything like this.” Source: nola.com
Tow Companies Support National Move Over Day Tow companies, in addition to EMS, police and firefighters, gathered throughout the country, along with their respective families and communities, to commemorate National Move Over Day. The towing community responded with tow truck processions, a plethora of events, and public announcements to remind the public to slow down and move over and give honor to towers who have lost their lives. In Montana, where a couple of tow operators were hit and killed in 2020, a news group rode with tow operator Jim Belanger from Hanser’s Towing to get a first-hand look at what he deals with on a daily basis. “Every time you’re out filming (accidents) or talking on your phone, you are putting all of us in danger and yourself," Belanger said. The Nevada State Tow Truck Association put on an event inviting local families to participate with local tow truck companies to compete in challenges, and participate in a tow truck show-and-shine. A North Carolina event focused on
An Arizona event held on October 21 brought out a wide selection of emergency responders to commemorate National Move Over Day. remembering motorists like Florida towman, Austin Gayne, through the sale of T-shirts. A group ensured that more than 35 locations would be lit in yellow, such as the NASCAR Hall of Fame, SkyWheel Myrtle Beach, SkyWheel Panama City Beach, and 35 other buildings and fountains in downtown Charlotte, NC. On an Arizona Facebook page, the Arizona State Tow Truck Association gave thanks to Towbook, Todd Equipment, Chergey Insurance, Santander Bank, Robertson Ryan, Kassel Benefits, Lubnau Insurance, and Priority Towing for sponsorship. Sources: 2news.com ktvq.com
Memphis Tow Company Sues City Over Discrimination A1 Towing and Hauling claims it was discriminated against and has filed a lawsuit against the city of Memphis, its Police Chief and multiple officers. The lawsuit comes on the heels of controversies involving truck drivers whose big rigs were towed by A1 and who have claimed excessive charges. When the city stepped in to investigate more than a dozen complaints, several A1 employees were arrested. A1’s Towing says that the Memphis Police Department is, “weaponizing a civil municipal ordinance to discriminate against a minority-owned company.” The lawsuit cites several instances where police officers conspired with truck drivers to manufacture
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A1 Towing is countering aggressive polices against its company with a lawsuit. charges against the A1’s employees to accomplish the City of Memphis’ discriminatory goals. A1’s Towing is seeking recovery of all damages from the City of Memphis, MPD Chief Davis, and several MPD officers for injuries and damages the tow business claims it has endured. Source: wreg.com
News Share Reckless Driving Restrictions Milwaukee Mayor, Cavalier Johnson signed a resolution on reckless driving, adding additional circumstances under which reckless drivers could have their vehicles towed. The Wisconsin Department of Transportation said reckless driving hurts roughly 3,000 people every year across the state. Data shows more than 100 people in Wisconsin died in 2022, caught in the crosshairs of careless driving. "We cannot, and we will not accept the current frequency of reckless driving that we’re seeing in our community," Johnson said. The resolution the mayor signed is legally non-binding and asks Wisconsin lawmakers to pass legislation that allows the city to tow any cars involved in reckless driving incidents. "Under current law, towing is limited to circumstances like when a car is being used to drive recklessly, and is unregistered," Johnson said. Drivers can face up to $400 in fines for a first reckless driving offense. However, if someone gets seriously hurt, the driver could face up to six years in prison and $10,000 in fines. Source: fox6now.com
Maine Expands Move Over Law Maine expanded its Move Over law to include all vehicles disabled roadside. The law went into effect October 25, 2023. “The operator shall move over as safely as possible,” said Senator Joe Baldacci in a press conference. “And if moving over to another lane is not an option or safe, then pass the stationary vehicle at a careful, safe speed.” Baldacci has been working alongside AAA Northern New England to introduce and pass legislation that enhances Maine’s Slow Down, Move Over law, which protects emergency crews and tow truck drivers. Drivers who violate the new law could be fined $275. “When you see somebody on the side of the road, it’s important to understand that they are in a risky situation,” said Pat Moody, Manager of Public Affairs, AAA Northern New England. “You need to do everything you can to reduce that risk.” AAA reports that nearly one person each day is struck and killed outside a disabled vehicle each year in the U.S. Source: wabi.tv
AmericanTowman.com | December 2023 • 11
Zoom In
Release Me! Tired of dealing with stretched, broken, or busted, cablehook tie-backs? Check out Zacklift International’s patentpending, Quick-Back tie-back system. This is a new, quickrelease component designed to ensure both safety and efficiency during vehicle recovery operations. The system is designed to keep your tow hooks stowed and controlled at all times, preventing them from becoming loose and causing potential hazards. Once you’re wrecker is on scene, the hooks can be released from the Quick-Back with a simple touch of a button, instantly ready to go to work. The Quick-Back is available in numerous configurations to fit any wrecker, not just Zacklift products. Changing out your old-school, antiquated tie-backs is easy, and typically takes just a few minutes to swap out. By keeping the hooks stowed and controlled, this system not only enhances the safety of your recovery operation, but also streamlines the process, saving valuable time and ensuring that the hooks are easily accessible when needed. Zacklift’s Quick-Back tie back system is a valuable innovation in the towing industry.
zacklift.com
12 • December 2023 | Towman.com
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Hands-On Tech
Load ‘Em Up! Calculating Tension on a Winch Line and Snatch Block By Terry Abejuela
S
afely and successfully completing a recovery without damage to the rigging critically depends on a tow operator’s calculation of the tension applied to the rigging. The winch line and/or snatch blocks used in your rigging must be of sufficient working load limit (WLL) to avoid overloading. That means a tow operator must first estimate how much tension will be applied to the winch line and snatch blocks to determine the WLL required of the equipment.
CASUALTY CALCULATIONS
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.
The first step is to determine the total amount of resistance to overcome in order to move the casualty from its current location to the location where you need it to be. Using the casualties estimated weight, calculate the total resistance created by the surface and slope, along with the rolling resistance. Note: To calculate the total amount of resistance you would need to use the
14 • December 2023 | Towman.com
This recovery photo shows increased line and block tension created by the load-to-sling angle. There are two traveling blocks, one at each corner of the container. The load-to-sling angle is 30 degrees, so the tension is much higher than with the two red lines from the boom to the container that have a 90-degree load-to-sling angle. To reduce line tension, keep the winch lines attached to the load as parallel as possible.
estimated weight of the casualty, and figure out how much of this weight you will need to overcome to get the casualty to move. The type of surface the casualty will traverse during the recovery will produce surface resistance. Also, the steeper the uphill slope or grade of the recovery path, the more resistance will increase. Each wheel that does not turn freely due to damage, brakes locked up, or flat tires will increase resistance as well. (Most of the resistance charts used in the towing and recovery industry evolved from the U.S. Army FM 20-22 Vehicle Recovery Operations manual published in the 1960s.) Once you have calculated the total amount of resistance, you can determine, based on the WLL of the winch line, how many parts of line are required to stay within the WLL of the winch line. For example, if the total amount of resistance is 14,000 pounds and the WLL of the winch line is 3,500 pounds you will need four parallel parts of line to move the casualty without overloading the winch line (14,000 divided by 3500 equals four).
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AmericanTowman.com | December 2023 • 15
MECHANICAL ADVANTAGES
This chart indicates that with a zero-degree angle, the line tension is reduced to half of the total load on each part of line. However, the greater the winch line angles, the higher the line tension.
16 • December 2023 | Towman.com
To accurately determine winch line and block loads, it is very important to understand the difference between a traveling block and a fixed block. A traveling block, also called a running or moving block, is attached to the load, will move with the load, and will reduce line tension. How much line tension is reduced is dependent on the angle between the two parts of winch line to the traveling block. Traveling blocks provide a mechanical advantage to move the load. In a simple system of rope and snatch blocks, you can determine mechanical advantage by counting the lines to the load. If there are four lines to the load, there is a 4:1 mechanical advantage, as long as the lines to the load are parallel. Winch line angles to a traveling block will affect how much tension is on each part of the winch line. When two lines are parallel, each part of line will support 50 percent of the load. When the winch line angles to a traveling block increase, the tension on each part of the line will increase. Using the winch line angle chart, you can see that with a zero-degree angle, the line tension is reduced to half of the total load on each part of line. But if the winch line angles change to 90 degrees, the line tension on each part of the line has increased to 70 percent. When the winch line angles to the traveling block reach 120 degrees, there is no longer a reduction in line tension, and there is
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AmericanTowman.com | December 2023 • 17
This rigging is attached to a Chevy Tahoe with the automatic transmission in park, the emergency brake set, and the all wheels chocked with lumber. The 5/16, grade 70 chain is rated at 4,700 pounds, and there’s a four-ton snatch block with a two-part line from the tow truck to the Tahoe and back to the tow truck boom. The Tahoe started to move and the load cell indicated it took 3,000 pounds of effort to get the SUV to start moving.
100 percent of the line load on each part of the line. If you continue to increase the winch line angles, you will add more tension on the winch line than the tension created by the load because you are pulling the tow truck and the anchor towards each other. If the line angles reach 175 degrees, the tension on the winch line will be 1,146 percent of the load. In order to reduce line tension most effectively, keep the winch lines attached to the load as parallel as possible.
NO TENSION REDUCTION
The dead end of the three-part line is attached to the other side of the Tahoe and is supporting one third of the load, or about 1,000 pounds, as indicated on the load cell.
In this image there are three lines to the load. Since the load is 3,000 pounds, each line will support 1,000 pounds. The snatch block has two lines running to it that each have 1,000 pounds on them, so the block has nearly 2,000 pounds on it as indicated on the load cell.
A fixed block is attached to an anchor and does not move with the load. A fixed block changes the direction of the pull or redirects the force applied by the winch, but does not reduce line tension. Changing the direction of the pull allows tow operators to move the load towards an anchor, to a point between the tow truck and the anchor, or make multiple changes in direction to maneuver a load around any obstacles. It is important to understand that fixed blocks are not reducing line tension because they are not attached to the load, but they are multiplying force on the anchor and chain attaching the snatch block to the anchor. Winch line angles to a fixed block will not change winch line tension, but will change the load on the fixed block and the anchor it is attached to. To determine how much tension is on a fixed block you would use an angle multiplier chart. First determine what the line load is, and then use the appropriate angle multiplier factor to establish the angle of the incoming and exiting winch lines to the fixed block. For example, if the line load is 1,000 pounds and the winch line angle is 90 degrees, you would multiply the 1,000 pounds of line load by 1.41 to determine that there is 1,410 pounds of tension on the fixed block and on the anchor. If the winch lines to a fixed block are parallel or zero degrees, then the multiplier is 2.0. If the line tension is 1,000 pounds, the fixed block load will be 2,000 pounds (1,000 X 2.0 = 2,000).
SIMPLE SUMMARY
Shown here is a four-part line to the load, with 750 pounds of tension on each line (3,000 pounds of total resistance divided by a four-part line with all lines parallel equals 750 pounds on each line). There are two lines going to the snatch block, and each line has 750 pounds of tension, so the block has 1,500 pounds of tension.
18 • December 2023 | Towman.com
It’s not necessary to memorize these charts, but it is imperative that you recognize when tension is increasing on the rigging, and ensure that the working load limit is not exceeded by any portion of the rigging. When developing your recovery plan, make sure you determine winch line load and snatch block loads. Then you can select properly rated snatch blocks and rig the appropriate number of lines to the load to reduce line tension enough to stay within the working load limits of the rigging.
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Beacons
On! surrounding new products. Tow operators will consistently lag behind in receiving new vehicle information, as towing is generally the last thing on an OEM’s mind. EVs are here to stay, so it will become more important than ever to become familiar with the variations of brands, and avoiding them will not be an option in the near future. Law enforcement tows, dealerships, repair facilities, motor clubs, accounts, retail, and municipalities are all seeing an uptick in volume related to towing and transport of EVs, despite many towers having limited knowledge of the technical aspects of these vehicles. The complexity of EVs is next-level technology, and operators are feeling some pressure to understand exactly how to safely tow and transport them.
TRUTH OR CONSEQUENCES Connecting towing attachments to an EV chassis should usually be at one of the most rigid points on the vehicle, either the lower control arms’ subframe, tow pin, or at the factory-designated locations. Also, use non-conductive tow equipment, such as soft slings and straps made of synthetic webbing.
Are You a Juice Master? Tips on Safely Handling Electric Vehicles By Paul Stephens
W 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.
ith the emergence of EVs (electric vehicles), we are in the midst of one of the largest automotive changes ever, and the towing industry needs to change with it. Expecting tow operators to just adapt on the fly isn’t reasonable though, as they need both the time and resources to self-educate on dealing with EVs safely and effectively. Throughout history, the tow industry has had to reinvent itself multiple times to keep pace with the changing new vehicle markets and OEM manufacturers. Typically, towing equipment manufacturers play catch up with car manufacturers due to the limited access during the development and secrecy
20 • December 2023 | Towman.com
Becoming familiar with the most important safety features, 12-volt accessibility, tow-attachment locations, emergency parking-brake releases, and so forth can minimize pre-call anxiety. There is an abundance of information available on the internet through educational seminars, and training classes. The most important thing is to ensure that the information you gather and use as your guide is accurate. Anyone can make a document, a video, or pass along information, but the accuracy of the material and how it applies to the towing industry must be verified. Although there is some valuable info being delivered, knowing what is right versus wrong is critical. The EV space is cluttered among major manufacturers, small startups, and mid-level brands that have one or two models in their portfolio. Exploring the commonality of these brands (note sidebar) will better equip tow operators to develop a safe procedure to follow, which in turn speeds up the tow or transport process, ultimately getting you off the side of road more quickly.
ROLLBACK BASICS
Most EV manufacturers require a flatbed for transport, though some
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AmericanTowman.com | December 2023 • 21
Become familiar with the proper 12-volt boost points.
allow the use of a wheel lift and/or dollies for short distances. OEM engineers have explained that the carrier requirement is related to the complexity of the vehicles high-voltage systems. Traditional towing methods are very risky for electric vehicles and can cause serious damage to the car. Using a hook and chain, dolly, or wheel-lift tow truck allows for two of an EV’s wheels spinning. When an EV’s wheels spin, they generate power to the battery. If that power is not being used it can damage the battery and motor. Some also specify that a flatbed is necessary due to the weight of the vehicle exceeding the dolly’s specifications. This makes the most sense as the dolly age, bearing care, tire pressure, and tire age can be overwhelmed by the additional weight of EVs. Also, you can never predict exactly how much weight will be on the wheel lift vs. dolly. If dollies are used, be sure to secure the wheels with soft straps.
VOLTAGE VARIATIONS
The two operating systems of EVs can be a bit baffling and create apprehension. The 12-volt system and the high-voltage system function separately. The 12-volt operates the safety and convenience features such as seatbelt sensors, headlights, and radio. In contrast, the high-voltage system provides vehicle propulsion. By understanding this basic difference, the 12-volt boost can ultimately become your best friend. Using a jump box to charge 12-volt power into the low-voltage system will usually allow the electronic parking brake to release, and the electronic
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22 • December 2023 | Towman.com
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AmericanTowman.com | December 2023 • 23
Using a car carrier is the best way to transport an EV. Do not transport an EV with any wheels on the ground. If possible, enable the Transport Mode to facilitate winching onto a flatbed, using the proper attachment points (not the highvoltage battery structure). Secure the EV with soft, synthetic straps that are non-conductive.
shifter to transfer to neutral. This process might take five to ten minutes, as the modules have to wake up as they receive power. The success rate of charging the low-voltage system is roughly 70 percent, so it’s a good idea to be prepared with a reliable jump box. The connection on every model can be different, so learn which models require battery-direct versus remote-jump points, along with knowing if you are using a lithium pack or a standard lead acid.
The boost needs to be done properly, which means understanding how to make a correct 12-volt battery direct attachment. If the 12-volt system has a lithium-ion battery, then it is better to disconnect the ground cable, and complete other ancillary steps as required.
FAIL ARMY
If this method is unsuccessful, then you will need to be prepared to use skates, ready jacks, or other towing devices to wheel the vehicle onto the carrier deck. Each one of these can assist with loading and unloading, but does require additional labor. For skates in particular, use a low attachment point, and place them as far under the tire as possible, so the head of the skate serves as a stopper. The more proficient you become in using these methods, the easier these jobs will be when encountering a compromised electrical system. Knowing the drivetrain type (AWD, RWD, or FWD) will help as well. Understanding the information center inside the vehicle, and whether or not it has power, can help decide if a boost is needed for powering the vehicle. Surfing through the settings to find tow mode or suspension mode (if so equipped) will also reduce time on the scene. For instance, if the 12V
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Due to the higher weights of EVs, medium- or heavy-duty carriers will likely be required.
24 • December 2023 | Towman.com
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AmericanTowman.com | December 2023 • 25
electrical system is flat, then the suspension will usually not selfadjust, and you can skip this step on air-suspension vehicles. These are simple tasks you can familiarize yourself with to reduce research time while the customer is on site. One serious caution: if an EV has been affected by water, fire, or other natural events that could have
compromised the electrical system, do not apply power to the casualty. Instead, use alternative methods to recover and transport the EV.
WEIGHTY CONSIDERATIONS
Connecting towing attachments to an EV chassis should usually be at one of the most rigid points on
Quick Reference Guide to EVs As mentioned in the main article, a number of references are available to become familiar with the unique features of EVs. For a quick and comprehensive EV reference, Agero, which provides roadside assistance and accident management, also has a EVs vary widely in technical aspects, so it’s helpful to training portal at https:// become familiar with the differences in their towing info.agero.com/blueprint. requirements. Since space doesn’t permit covering all the • Running out of charge accounts technical aspects and variations of for an average 2% of EV EVs in this article, this website can roadside events. be a handy resource when your tow • Electric vehicle roadside events dispatcher assigns an EV recovery. often take about 18% (about 12 It includes a library of tip sheets and minutes) longer to resolve. best practices for nearly two dozen • Agero EV service requests have different EV brands. Agero also spanned over 645 different highlights the following points about models and 24 different makes. EVs that relate to tow operators: • Agero has been working with EV manufacturers since GM’s • More than 85% of electric launch of the Chevy Volt in vehicle events require a tow. 2010, which included Agero’s • Flatbed tows are three times recommended structural more common for electric changes for proper handling vehicles. protocol. • Most electric vehicles don’t • Between 2021 and 2022, have a spare tire, but the Ford Agero saw a 2x increase in EV F-150 Lightning and GMC service volume. Hummer SUV are among • A report authored by the the few models to include a Edison Electric Institute standard spare. Others, like the and the Institute for Electric Jaguar I-PACE, GMC Hummer Innovation projects that EVs on Truck, Audi e-Tron, and Rivian the nation’s roads will number R1T and R1S, offer an optional approximately 18.7 million in spare tire. 2030, with EV sales accounting • Flat tire change is the most for nearly a quarter of all vehicle requested service for sales by then. electric vehicles.
26 • December 2023 | Towman.com
the vehicle, either the lower control arms’ subframe, tow pin, or ideally at the factory-designated locations. Keep in mind that the battery structure is located in the center of the vehicle, so attaching behind the front wheels or in front of the rear wheels (center of vehicle rocker panels) can result in damaging the battery structure. So, never use the battery case or subframe as a tow attachment point. Also, when securing an EV, use nonconductive tow equipment, such as soft slings and straps made of synthetic webbing. The higher weight of these vehicles can also trigger issues for transport. The further back the vehicle is from the carrier ’s cab, or even past the rear axle, the more it will have adverse effects. Of course, when loading any vehicles stuck in park, leaving them more to the rear of the deck can make
Work the non-traffic side - Stay Safe!
unloading easier. On the other hand, using this method on an EV can have adverse effects on a carrier due to the load distribution. The weight sitting further back can make steering and braking more difficult, along with causing the tow truck to sway. This is a primary concern when towing and transporting an EV, and should always be considered when
dispatching a truck to ensure that the proper equipment is sent for the weight of the vehicle. One final detail on storing EVs: They must be kept 50 feet or more away from other vehicles, combustibles and structures, due to the risk of fire. All told, keep these tips in mind when tackling an EV, and you’ll avoid any shocking issues.
AmericanTowman.com | December 2023 • 27
Tow Boss
Holiday Hazards Should You Provide Free Tows for Partygoers Under the Influence? By Randall C. Resch
I 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.
t’s that time of year again where “Don’t Drink and Drive” messages run roundthe-clock to caution holiday partygoers and revelers. Programs such as Holiday Safe Ride, Tipsy Tow, and others by the American Automobile Association are intended to prevent DUI-related crashes and fatalities. When the intent of these programs is admirable, these programs aren’t available year-round, nor are they available throughout America. In addition, they don’t include any mention of tow businesses and the safety of operators. As they stand now, programs like these can actually put tow truck operators in harm’s way.
28 • December 2023 | Towman.com
The admonishment that’s delivered to the motoring public, although well-intended, may result in tragic results should something drastic and unpreventable occur. While providing a free tow and delivery of intoxicated motorists to their residence, it’s important for tow owners to be aware of the risks involved. Have you considered the possible (negative) scenarios could occur when doing this good deed? One such tow industry-related video depicts a violent interaction between law enforcement and a motorist involved in a traffic collision. The video indicated a direct correlation between tow operator safety and the transport of very likely intoxicated motorists and/or their passengers. The video captures a motorist having his car transported as a result of a traffic accident. Cop-cam footage recorded the subject climbing onto a carrier’s deck and acting “differently.” Was he suffering from a concussion, having a seizure, or was something else going on? This footage smacked of sensationalism where police adversaries were quick to claim, “police brutality,” while ignoring the obvious conclusion that this individual was likely under the influence. As it relates to the tow industry, it delivers a clear message as to why tow companies
shouldn’t provide “taxi” services to motorists or customers, simply because it’s too dangerous.
DUI DEMEANORS
Typical to other cases of substance abuse, individuals display the same outward indicators: paranoia, jitters, fixated stares, twitchiness, eye-rolling, vomiting, biting, muscular vein distention, spitting and growling; all combined with seemingly superhuman strength. The tow and recovery industry provides no training in recognizing or dealing with those who are intoxicated or under the influence of mind-altering substances. After all, there’s no reasonable expectation that tow operators are required to transport them. That being the case, why are there formal holiday programs that request tow operators transport these individuals as passengers, and do so free of charge? Could a “holiday rider” be a quiet drunk who becomes violent once seated in the tow truck’s cab, or will they collapse deep in the middle of a drug-induced seizure? Are your operators trained to administer Narcan when a rider loses composure in your tow truck? I’ve experienced these exact scenarios where highlyintoxicated or drugged individuals seem quiet and timid initially, but go off in seconds minus the presence of the police. The video demonstrated the subject's behaviors were beyond normal. The subject in the video shoved his phone into his pocket as he readied himself to climb off the carrier’s deck. His physical manner suggested the possibility that the “Fight or Flight Syndrome” was ready to launch—and launch it did!
prevention tow programs? Are these actions similar to those that resulted in a tow operator, Jesse Martinez, being shot and killed in Riverside, California, in October 2019? Although this case wasn’t exactly holiday related, it involved a seemingly passive, intoxicated individual who climbed onto the carrier’s deck as a vehicle was being loaded. Martinez allegedly instructed the motorist to come down off the bed, who then shot Martinez at close range.
In another law enforcement video, one officer heard a subject tell him that he had ingested “Black Mamba,” a synthetic cannabis that overstimulates the nervous system. It can produce high fever, rapid pulse, sweating, agitation, confusion, convulsions, organ failure, coma and even death—symptoms similar to seizures. Persons under this or similar drugs are not only a threat to society in general, but potentially dangerous to tow operators who are requested to provide transport
◀
REASONABLE DOUBTS
This begs the question, should tow owners accept individuals as a participant of holiday DUIWork the non-traffic side - Stay Safe!
AmericanTowman.com | December 2023 • 29
services. Although a person may initially seem passive, there’s always the potential that they will become belligerent and develop “beer muscles” or even become violent as
the substance courses through their veins. It’s not your job to transport a potentially violent individual. When you elect to transport someone, what are you equipped to
do if they have a seizure in your tow truck or if they suddenly snap and go ballistic? What training, resources, or protection do you have in that immediate window of time?
◀
Warning Signs of DUI Riders What’s Your Risk versus Reward? Intoxicated motorists come in all sizes, shapes, and levels of intoxication. Although consumption of alcoholic beverages is deemed the “number one product” that’s ingested to reach intoxication, certain levels of controlled substances, medical marijuana and over-the-counter medications can lead to an inability to operate a motor vehicle safely. Especially true around the holidays, over consumption puts the entire motoring public in harm’s way should an inebriated motorist decide to drive. While the intent of “free tow” programs are well intended, there are hazards and cautions to be considered when tow companies take on the responsibility of towing and transporting a tipsy motorist and their vehicle. Towers should be alert to these situations and the risks involved. Unable to Follow Instructions: Often a result of intoxication, the ability to hear and comprehend directions is markedly diminished. An intoxicated motorist cannot or may not understand what’s being asked of them. Slip and Fall: It’s a fact that persons under the influence have difficulty conducting simple tasks when both motor skills and logical thinking are impaired. An inebriated motorist generally has difficulty walking a straight line or holding their balance. The normally simple task of climbing
30 • December 2023 | Towman.com
into the cab of a tall tow truck or carrier becomes one of monumental difficulty for a wasted reveler. The same caution exists as they attempt to climb out and down once arrived at the intended destination. Jumps from Moving Trucks: Because intoxicated motorists sometime react to sporadic impulses, a tower can’t anticipate what an intoxicated motorist might be thinking of doing. Should an anxious motorist exit a moving tow truck, a fall from the tow truck’s cab could result in being run over by the moving truck, and possibly even be fatal. Failure to Remain in the Tow Truck: Professional tow companies train their personnel to protect the safety of their roadside customer. The number one recommended location for roadside motorists is having them seated in the tow truck (with their seatbelt on) as the operator prepares the vehicle for tow or transport. Medical Aid Situations: Several years ago, one of my tow truck drivers transported a vehicle for a partygoer who didn’t want to chance getting a DUI. While en-route, the individual experienced a medical episode. Was it induced by heavy drinking? Luckily, my driver was able to bring the tow truck to a safe stop and initiated EMS. Because most tow operators have minimal or no medical training, they have no training or skills to participate in an alcohol or drug induced emergency.
Happy versus Mean: Not all intoxicated persons stay happy. There are plenty of reasons for a change in their demeanor that can make them go high-order. An intoxicated motorist may change their conduct once out of sight of the police. Because tow operators have no level of authority, an overserved motorist may not respond to directions given to them by a tow operator. Lasting Liability: Perhaps the biggest liability to understand is what happens after an intoxicated motorist is delivered to their destination, and grabs their keys, and zooms away. Are towers responsible to chase them down? What if the still intoxicated motorist gets involved in a fatal crash moments later? Are you no longer responsible? Regardless if you think you’re not responsible, an attorney will certainly drag you into any legal proceedings that subsequently occur. Right or wrong, the tow businesses owner will likely end up spending lots of hard-earned dollars fighting on the company’s behalf. So, there’s plenty to be concerned about when tow companies offer these kinds of services. Tow business owners are reminded to evaluate, “risk versus reward.” One good way to predetermine participation is to bring this topic to your insurance provider’s attention and ask if your existing policy covers an unexpected situation created during free-ride holiday programs.
Work the non-traffic side - Stay Safe!
AmericanTowman.com | December 2023 • 31
One tow operator I met at a tow show had a swollen and bruised face, with his left eye sporting a huge shiner. When I asked how he got injured, he related that two males beat him towards the end of a holiday tow. His story was that an intoxicated motorist was stopped by police a day after Thanksgiving, but wasn’t arrested for DUI at that time. Instead, the police officer asked the tower if he would take the vehicle to the motorist’s home. The tower reluctantly agreed, and loaded the vehicle onto his carrier and delivered it to the driver’s home. When it came time to collect payment for services rendered, he was assaulted. Fearing the bad guys would retaliate, he never reported the incident to the police. When dealing with intoxicated individuals, their altered state of mind limits their ability to make proper choices. Consider that their mental condition can’t and won’t tell you they’re about to become irrational. In general, it’s really not prudent to put your operators in harm’s way to transport intoxicated persons in the name of holiday spirit. This is a choice tow company owners must make, but should do so only after careful consideration. Given the lack of specialized training in handling inebriated persons, it’s wiser to leave that task up to someone else. To borrow an old phrase, you can “Just say, ‘No’!”
32 • December 2023 | Towman.com
Work the non-traffic side - Stay Safe!
AmericanTowman.com | December 2023 • 33
AD INDEX AAA...........................................................15 Access Tools..............................................33 Akins Body & Carrier Sales.........................57 All American Jerr-Dan..................... N,S,M 67 American Towman......................................65 Amerideck.................................................58 Atlanta Wrecker Sales................................59 Austin Insurance..................................... N68 Body Shop Excellence................................61 Captain Recovery....................................M70 Chevron Commercial..................................59 Command Light.........................................16 Copart Transportation.................................13 CrashFilm by Boxes 4 U.............................56 Crouch’s Wrecker & Equipment Sales.........55 Custer Products.........................................22 DriverLocate.com.................................... N71 Dual-Tech Wreckers & Carriers...................34 Dynamic Towing Equipment & Mfg.............23 East Penn Truck Equipment........................31 EdgeTech................................................W72 ELC Towing Dispatch Solutions...................53 Elizabeth Truck Center................................21 FCar Tech USA........................................ N72 G. Stone Commercial............................... N70 GM Consultants..........................................26 Guniwheel..................................................22
34 • December 2023 | Towman.com
December 2023
Guttman Energy...........................................9 Hale Trailer Brake & Wheel...................... N69 Hino Trucks.................................. Back Cover Intek Truck & Equipment............................51 ITI Skates .................................................49 Jump-N-Carry............................................29 Kalyn Siebert.............................................49 Khasim Insurance Agency.......................W70 Len Zermenos.......................................... 4-5 Lift Marketing.........................................W68 Lodar USA..................................................51 Lynch Truck Group.....................................47 Matjack.....................................................27 McMahon Truck Center...........................M69 Metrocom..................................................26 Mike Keith Insurance.................................51 MIller Industries................. Inside Front Cover Mobile Control Systems..............................32 New England Truckmaster....................... N71 No Cell Technologies..................................32 North American Bancard............................35 OMG Tow Marketing...................................31 Pacific General Insurance Agency............M68 Peak Wrecker Sales................................W69 Performance Advantage Company..............21 Progressive Commercial Insurance...............3 Quick Draw Tarpaulin System...................S69
RimSling....................................................50 SafeAll.......................................................24 Sea Crest Insurance Agency....................W68 Speak Easy Communication.......................53 Steck Mfg. Co............................................39 Talbert Manufacturing............................. N68 TDI Repair Facility......................................27 Tow Industries........................................W70 Tow Truck Wags Nottingham Insurance... N70 Towbook............................ Inside Back Cover TowMate....................................................19 Tracked Machines......................................54 Trail King Industries...................................50 Traxero North America................................58 USFT..........................................................56 Utility Trailer............................................W69 Warn Industries............................................7 We Buy Key Fobs.......................................19 West End Service.......................................53 Will-Burt Company.....................................54 Winches Inc............................................W72 Wreaths Across America.......................... N72 Wrecker Warehouse................................W67 Zacklift International..................................25 Zip’s AW Direct..........................................17
Work the non-traffic side - Stay Safe!
AmericanTowman.com | December 2023 • 35
A Bridge Too Far Pulling Together To Recover A Fallen Concrete Mixer By George L. Nitti
W 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.
ord got around real fast in the small town of Willis, Texas when a concrete mixer busted through a wooden bridge. “It’s a very dramatic thing in a little neighborhood,” said recovery specialist Charlie Miller of Miller Towing & Recovery, LLC. He learned of the incident early in the morning last September while sipping coffee in his home office. “Calls started trickling in. First it was thought that an 18-wheeler that had fallen through. It was all over our social media pages.”
36 • December 2023 | Towman.com
After the driver took a wrong turn onto an old wooden bridge, the heavy concrete mixer’s rear end broke through the wood planking.
‘How you gonna do that?’ I say, ‘I
don’t know yet. Give me a minute.’
The bridge signage clearly indicates a limit of four tons. The weight of a fully loaded concrete mixer can be as much as 70,000 pounds—nearly nine times more than the posted limit.
RESPONDING EQUIPMENT 2018 Peterbilt with Century 1150 50-ton rotator 120-ton Crane
Miller’s Century rotator and Gabby’s crane worked together to adjust the angle of the concrete mixer to raise it out of the hole in the bridge.
Work the non-traffic side - Stay Safe!
Miller, a long-time rotator operator, who had cashed in his retirement to start his tow company six years prior, was then contacted by Gabby’s Crane & Rigging out of Conroe, Texas. “Gabby Emmons, the owner, asked me to help with the job,” Miller said. “We refer each other work depending on the situation and what’s needed.” It wasn't until late afternoon when the two operators would get clearance to proceed. The first order of business was getting the machinery there, which included Miller’s 2018 Peterbilt with Century1150, a 50-ton rotator, and Gabby’s 120-ton crane. Easier said than done, though. “We had to navigate the low power lines and skinny streets before we could set up near the casualty,” Miller explained. The concrete mixer was sitting in a bad spot, its rear end having crashed through the bridge, the front perched at nearly a 90-degree angle. “Its nose was facing the sky,” Miller observed. “And the back end of the truck was firmly planted several feet into the mud and water in the canal under the bridge.” Fortunately, the driver was unscathed, but how did he end up in this precarious situation? “He got lost,” Miller explained. “He should never have crossed that bridge. It was clearly marked for four tons, the weight of a large pickup truck. A fully loaded concrete mixer weighs a good 70,000 pounds!” (That equates to 35 tons, nearly nine times the
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AmericanTowman.com | December 2023 • 37
The rotator held the mixer tight with its winch line while the crane lifted up on the back end of the mixer. The crane’s chain was wrapped around the drum to finally lift it up onto the roadway.
posted weight limit.) Miller sent his brother-in-law, tow operator Derrick Dolbee, and employee Dakota Cox, into the hole in the bridge to assess the situation and take pictures, while he and Gabby figured out the rigging setup. “I am a recovery guy,” Miller noted. “I enjoy figuring out how
RESPONDING PERSONNEL Charlie Miller, Miller Towing & Recovery, LLC, Conroe, Texas Derrick Dolbee Dakota Cox Gabby Emmons, Gabby's Crane & Rigging, Conroe, Texas Tow operators Derrick and Dakota assessed the rear end of the mixer that was mired in mud and water. They took pictures and relayed their findings to Charlie and Gabby to plan the rigging.
38 • December 2023 | Towman.com
The mixer was in bad shape, losing several tires and bending the rear axle.
to solve a problem. When you pull up on scene, everybody says, ‘How you gonna do that?’ I say ‘I don’t know yet. Give me a minute.’” After reviewing the pictures, they determined what was needed to pull the mixer closer to the bank in order to get to the drum and assess where to rig, and then get the truck back up onto the road. A main concern was their machines’ heavy weight near the bridge. “The hole was deep,” recalled Miller. “We didn’t want to get the crane or rotator too close to the edge for fear of the ground giving out. Nothing there was built to support the weight that we were working with.” The initial pick-and-pull on the mixer was handled by the Century rotator. Running the deck winch from the rotator to the mixer’s chassis, the rotator pulled it towards the road, while the crane hauled up on its rear end. Once the front end was up on the road, the operators re-hooked the crane to Work the non-traffic side - Stay Safe!
get a better bite on the mixer. Then they wrapped chains around the frame of the truck and the side of the drum. “Finally, we were able to pick it up properly and set it down onto the road, where it was placed on its side,” said Miller. The mixer was in bad shape, with several tires blown and the rear axle severely bent. This was yet another challenge to overcome, as they would have to haul the mangled mixer once it was uprighted. “It took four hours to get it back to the concrete plant, which was only six or seven miles away. It was a real pain,” Miller admitted. “I wish I had a set of dollies. That would have made a world of difference.” The recovery culminated close to midnight after the team had spent nearly 12 hours on the job. “I like to be cautious and take things step-by-step,” Miller points out. “Even if it takes a while. I don’t mind being methodical. First and foremost is safety.” AmericanTowman.com | December 2023 • 39
2024
SHOWCASE Check out what these participating suppliers have to offer in the coming year
Advertorial section includes participating display advertisers from this issue
See Page 15
AAA 800-592-5198
Networkofsavings.AAA.Biz
See Page 33
Access Tools 800-323-8324
AccessToolsUSA.com
AAA has assembled a network of industry-leading organizations offering unique benefits and savings for AAA affiliated service providers, visit NetworkofSavings.AAA.Biz.
Access Tools is the undisputed leader in the Specialty Tool industry. Since 1986 we have travelled the road to becoming the leading manufacturer of automotive lockout tools.
See Pages N,S,M 67
See Page 58
All American Jerr-Dan
All American Jerr-Dan in New Jersey is one of the largest distributorships in the country selling wreckers and carriers.
See Page N68
See Page 57
Akins Body & Carrier Sales 770-867-9136 AkinsOnline.com
We are a full line Miller distributor offering Chevron, Century, Holmes, and Vulcan products.
See Page 59
AmeriDeck 866-896-2311
Atlanta Wrecker Sales 888-432-0097
The AmeriDeck® in-bed hydraulic lift system is the smart bolt-on solution to increase the versatility and utilization of your full-size pick-up truck.
Jerr-Dan's #1 Sales Leader For Over 15 Years. We Carry All Brands of Trucks with Jerr-Dan Beds. We Specialize in Great Deals and Great Prices.
See Page 59
See Page 16
AmeriDeckProducts.com
AtlantaWrecker.com
Austin Insurance 270-444-6818
Chevron Commercial 800-443-5778
Command Light 800-797-7974
Specialist in towing and recovery industry. We provide our clients with the best coverage and most competitive rates possible.
Your one stop shop for Chevron and Vulcan Car Carriers, wreckers & parts. We are the eye candy of the Industry!
Looking for mobile lighting? Command Light is the market’s only tripod light that lets you choose first-responder-favorite LEDs with a DeWalt, Makita, Milwaukee or HURST battery.
WreckerIns.com
40 • December 2023 | Towman.com
ChevronCommercial.com
CommandLight.com
See Page 55 See Page 56
Copart Transportation
CrashFilm by Boxes 4 U 972-516-0002
Crouch’s Wrecker & Equipment Sales 800-628-5212
Start or grow your towing company with Truck in a Box. Lease a fully equipped roll-back truck. Transport vehicles for Copart and other clients.
A self-adhesive, clean release film with UV inhibitors. 200’ roll covers approximately 50 windows. Made in the USA. Free freight in the lower 48 states.
Crouch Tow Trucks is your trusted tow truck dealership, offering a wide selection of top-quality towing vehicles and equipment to meet your professional and personal towing needs!
See Page N71
See Page 34
See Page 13
Copart.com/TruckInABox
See Page 22
Custer Products 800-490-3158 CusterProducts.com
Lite-It-Wireless introduces the “External Power Pack” wireless light bars. Visit our website and see all of the new features offered.
See Page 23
CrashFilm.net
DriverLocate.com 623-267-6267
AffordableGPSTracking.com National distribution and installation of GPS Tracking, Dash Cams & RFID solutions. Free Towbook Link.
CrouchTowTrucks.com
Dual-Tech Wreckers & Carriers 800-852-0345 Dual-TechInc.com
Dual-Tech manufactures a full line of quality, low profile, towing and recovery equipment.
See Page 31
See Page W72
Dynamic Towing Equipment & Mfg. 800-831-9299
East Penn Truck Equipment 610-694-9234 Bethlehem 724-342-1800 Mercer
EdgeTech/Hooks 214-742-5221 Sales Cell 423-827-2901
The Python has a reach of 82”, 25” of power/neg tilt, 8,000 lb tow rating. Customers wanted a unit that lifts faster, higher & provides better weight transfer.
East Penn is a full line Miller Industries distributor including sales, service departments, refurbishment, paint, parts, accessories, and more! We are The Right Choice!
Full Service Miller Distributor offering sales, parts and service. Century, Holmes & Chevron wreckers & carriers including Holmes DTU (detachable towing units) available for delivery.
See Page 53
See Page 21
See Page N72
DynamicTow.com
ELC Solutions 888-460-8697 ELCsolutions.ca
ELC Provides Top-Tier Customer Service for Your Towing Logistics Including Comprehensive Appraisal Services.
Work the non-traffic side - Stay Safe!
EastPennTrucks.com
EdgetecTX.com
Elizabeth Truck Center 908-355-8800 ext. 424
FCar Tech USA 443-600-0268
A full line Miller Industries Dealer custom building you the best looking trucks in the towing industry. Call Jim and let’s make it happen!
The FCar Tech offers excellent truck scanners, shop equipment and Auto AC recovery machines for the towing industry.
ElizabethTruckCenter.com/Tow-Sales
fcarusa.com
AmericanTowman.com | December 2023 • 41
2024
SHOWCASE Check out what these participating suppliers have to offer in the coming year
Advertorial section includes participating display advertisers from this issue
See Page N70
G. Stone Commercial 802-388-9599 GStoneCommerical.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!
See Page 9
Guttman Energy 724-489-5199
See Page 22
See Page 26
GM Consultants 801-440-3716
BusinessBrokerGeorge.com Want to understand the value of your tow company, or want to sell it? Call George for a confidential and free discussion.
See Page N69
Guniwheel
Guniwheel.com This universal vehicle mounting system is designed to safely mount and move vehicles with missing or damaged tires and wheels.
See Page 51
guttmanenergy.com
Hale Trailer Brake & Wheel 800-232-6535
Guttman Energy’s Fleet Fuel Card. Accepted at more than 65,000 service stations, truck stops, and fueling centers around the country, so your drivers are never far from a participating location.
Intek Truck & Equipment Leasing/Financing 973-403-7788
FONTAINE TRAVERSE - The ultimate hydraulic ramp trailer! Upper deck ramp & 18k winch. Follow us on Facebook & Instagram @HaleTrailer
Financing new and used tow trucks and equipment since 1986. Home of the original 10-Year Lease Financing Program for rotators and heavy wreckers.
See Page 49
See Page 49
ITI Skates SkatesItI.com
Made from extruded recycled plastic, ITI Skates are designed to move heavy objects across most surfaces, including asphalt, concrete and gravel. See items in action at SkatesITI.com
42 • December 2023 | Towman.com
HaleTrailer.com
Kalyn Siebert 800-525-9689 KalynSiebert.com
The VersaMAXX™ and VersaMAXX-EXT™ are designed to deliver coast-to-coast versatility, performance and strength!
IntekLeasing.com
See Page W70
Khasim Insurance Agency 760-781-1555 KhasimInsurance.com
Expert Tow Truck Insurance agency - protecting tow operators with tailored coverage, ensuring peace of mind and compliance o the road.
Len Zermenos 330-696-3988 LenZermenos.com See Pages 4-5 KILAR Quick Pivot Side Puller: Pin release, easy recovery from either side. Self stowed pivoting boom. Galvanized, All function wireless remote, 10,000 Capacity planetary winch.
See Page 47
Lynch Truck Group 708-233-1112 LynchChicago.com
Lynch Chicago is your one stop for tow trucks, flat bed carriers and heavy duty wreckers. Lynch Chicago offers sales, service, body-shop and parts.
See Page W68
See Page 51
Lift Marketing Group 888-834-1123
Lodar USA 888-685-6327
Online Marketing Solutions - dominate Google rankings and get more cash calls. We’re towing marketing made simple: custom, fast & effective since 2009.
Industry leaders in wireless operation for 35+ years. High-quality products, first-class service, 5-year pro-rate warranty. Affordable pricing.
liftmarketinggroup.com
Lodarusa.com
See Page 27
Matjack 800-827-3755 Matjack.com
See Page M69
McMahon Truck Center 614-252-3111 McMahonTrucks.com/towing
Simply the best way to control EV and all potential car fires.
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.
See Page 51
See Inside Front Cover
See Page 26
Metrocom 212-532-7400
Mike Keith Insurance 800-862-6789
Miller Industries 800-292-0330
Connect drivers instantly using Motorola’s TLK series two-way radios, combining nationwide cellular coverage with the ease of push-to-talk. GPS and clear audio communication.
Years of Experience Providing Tow and Recovery Insurance that meets your growing needs. We Welcome Fleets of all sizes. A Long-Standing Tenured Staff.
World leader in towing & recovery equipment brands; Century, Vulcan, Chevron, Holmes. The most versatile lineup of light-duty, car carrier, and heavy-duty wreckers and rotators.
See Page 32
See Page N71
See Page 32
metrocomradio.com
MKIwheels.com
MillerInd.com
Mobile Control Systems 800-680-4455
New England Truckmaster 800-481-0501
NoCell Technologies 800-471-3752
Mobile Control Systems Provides Wireless Hydraulic Control for Many Platforms Including Tow Trucks, Cranes, Oil Pumps, and More. MADE IN THE USA!
Your source for the full line of Miller Industries towing and recovery equipment.
Limit smartphone interaction while the vehicle is motion with the NOCELL® Platform – a proactive approach to enforcing your company’s cell phone policy while protecting driver privacy.
MobileControlSystems.com
Work the non-traffic side - Stay Safe!
NETruckMaster.com
nocell.com
AmericanTowman.com | December 2023 • 43
2024
SHOWCASE Check out what these participating suppliers have to offer in the coming year
Advertorial section includes participating display advertisers from this issue
See Page 35
See Page 31
North American Bancard 866-481-4604
OMG Tow Marketing 800-789-4619
Reduce your credit card processing fees with rates as low as .05%. Free Terminal Placement Options. Grow Your Business Partner with NAB Today!
OMG Tow Marketing’s programs help you get more cash calls by getting your business found higher on Google. Call to learn more.
See Page W69
See Page 21
NYNab.com
Peak Wrecker Sales 855-600-6161 PeakWrecker.com
Offering a complete line of towing and recovery equipment from Miller Industries along with Trail-Eze Sliding Axle and RGN Bus Trailers.
OMGTowMarketing.com
Performance Advantage Company 888-514-0083 PacToolMounts.com
Visit our website to see PAC’s line of fire extinguisher mounts for all your other tool. mounting needs.
See Page M68
Pacific General Insurance Agency 800-888-0545
TowTruckInsuranceusa.com
Providing insurance for tow trucks, repair, salvage and repossession since 1977.
See Page S69
Quick Draw Tarpaulin System 877-945-8277 QuickDrawTarps.com
Industry Leader in retractable tarp covers. Quick & easy open & close. Protect and conceal contents. Customizable with Graphics & Logo.
See Page W68 See Page 24
See Page 50
RimSling
SafeAll
RimSling.com
SafeAllProducts.com
Lightweight, compact and flexible, RimSling synthetic slings have proven themselves superior to traditional lifting and rigging methods. Learn more at RimSling.com.
When safety matters most, choose SafeAll products for durability and reliability. We are committed to delivering innovative solutions to the towing industry. Learn more at SafeAllProducts.com.
44 • December 2023 | Towman.com
Sea Crest Insurance Agency 800-337-5900 SeaCrestInsurance.com
Sea Crest Insurance Agency has been in business for over 30 years, providing service for companies all over Southern California!
See Page 53
Speak Easy Communication 216-598-8733
SpeakEasyCommunications.com
Rely on Speak Easy’s revolutionary wireless radio system for clear, noise-canceling communication. No push-to -talk or base station necessary. Reasonable cost.
See Page 39
Steck Manufacturing 800-227-8325 Steckmfg.com
Steck Mfg.’s I-Bolt Universal Tow Eye for quicker, safer loading without damage. Provides universal hook up solution for 200+ vehicles. Certified to pull 1,500 lbs.
See Page 27
See Page W70
TDI Repair Facility 802-868-5270
Tow Industries 888-675-0364
Let us refurb your wrecker for you and make your dream become a reality! We customize from the paint color down to the stitching of the seat.
Southern California’s most reputable tow truck dealership offering new tow trucks from medium to heavy duty, preowned recovery trucks and parts and services.
TDIrepair.com
TowIndustries.com
See Inside Back Cover
See Page 19
See Page N68
Talbert Manufacturing 800-348-5232 TalbertMfg.com
Talbert builds world-class heavy-haul and specialized trailers. Offering complete lines of heavy-haul trailers and specialized transportation equipment for towing, commercial, industrial, and military sectors.
See Page N70
Tow Truck Wags Nottingham Insurance 610-283-2614 NottinghamInsurance.com
Towing insurance specialists licensed in every state available 24/7 just like you! Call us at 610-283-2614.
See Page 54
Towbook Management Software 810-320-5063
TowMate 800-680-4455
Tracked Machines 770-677-5766
The most trusted towing software, period! Towbook is proud to offer innovative software solutions for towing/roadside companies globally. Try it for 30-days, free! towbook.com
Towmate introduces new wireless Trailer Light Controller for Enhanced Roadside Safety. A wireless control of stop, tail, and turn signals for trailers.
Tow Track - radio controlled robot with caterpillars. The most advanced solution for vehicle recovery, handling and towing.
See Page 50
See Page 58
Towbook.com
TowMate.com
TrackedMachines.us
Trail King Industries 800-843-3324
Traxero North America 800-428-4715
FASTEST in the industry! Cycling from transport to loading and back in 61 seconds, the Trail King Sliding Axle is engineered for speed!
TRAXERO is the leader of innovative towing and roadside software. We’ve integrated the most trusted industry software to empower our clients to operate more profitably.
TrailKing.com
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Traxero.com
See Page 56
USFT 405-726-9900 USFT.com
US Fleet Tracking, Oklahoma has rebranded to USFT Technologies, reflecting the company’s evolution from GPS tracking, expanding into fleet services - live dispatch and service ticketing.
AmericanTowman.com | December 2023 • 45
2024
SHOWCASE Check out what these participating suppliers have to offer in the coming year
Advertorial section includes participating display advertisers from this issue
See Page W69
Utility Trailer Sales Southeast Texas 713-821-6300 UtilityTrailers.com
Utility Trailer Sales Southeast Texas, Inc. is proud to be an authorized dealer for all Landoll products. 10 locations in Texas.
See Page 53 See Page 7
See Page 19
Warn Industries 800-543-9276
We Buy Key Fobs 402-260-5889
West End Service All Road Trucks 410-465-4455
Warn Series G2 winches feature a robust serviceable design and efficient gear train for increased performance. Less maintenance means more productivity and profits for you.
Selling your unwanted key fobs is quick and easy. Call today for a free prepaid shipping label and ask about a $50 bonus offer.
Federal Signal Fireray Amber Warning Light with 13 selection flash patterns. 5" x 3" overall size and comes with a 5-Year warranty. Call for more details.
See Page 54
See Page W72
Warn.com
WeBuyKeyFobs.com
WestEndService.com
See Page N72
Will-Burt Company 330-684-4000
Winches Inc. 877-495-9721
Wreaths Across America sponsored by INA 877-385-9504
Night Scan HDT light towers turn night into day, keeping you safer, more efficient, and making you more money.
For 41+ years we have taken pride in after-the-sale superior customer service to ensure needs are met . Call us, we’ll be there for you.
Sponsor a wreath to remember our Fallen U.S. Veterans. When we lay a wreath on a veteran's graven, we say their name! Our Mission is to Remember, Honor & Teach.
NightScan.com
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See Page 25
See Pages 17
Wrecker Warehouse 972-303-0055
Zacklift International 509-674-4426 844-ZACKLIFT
Zip’s AW Direct 800-222-6047
Get all your truck accessories with us. Straps, ratchets, and chains sold daily! Dynamic and Dual-Tech dealer. We buy. sell, and service trucks.
Quick-Back Quick Release Tie Back System. Innovative stowing and quick-release features keep your tow hooks secured and under control at all times.
Find quality and value with Zip’s products. Our lineup caters to the towing and recovery, transportation, construction and municipality markets. Visit Zips.com to learn more
See Page W67
WreckerWarehouseofTexas.com
46 • December 2023 | Towman.com
Zacklift.com
Zips.com
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AmericanTowman.com | December 2023 • 47
Case Closed
Taxing Matters 5 Legal Strategies That Can Save You Money By Larry Oxenham
Larry Oxenham is a senior advisor with the American Society for Asset Protection and is one of America’s top asset protection experts.
Americans pay more in taxes each year than they spend on food, clothing, and housing combined, so reducing your taxes to the legal minimum can greatly increase your ability to build wealth. As Judge Learned Hand pointed out, “Anyone may so arrange his affairs that his taxes shall be as low as possible; he is not bound to choose that pattern which will best pay the treasury; there is not even a patriotic duty to increase one’s taxes.” To drive home the point even further, Supreme Court Justice Sutherland declared that, “The legal right of a taxpayer to decrease his taxes or altogether avoid them by means which the law permits cannot be doubted.” Given those reassurances, here are
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five strategies to reduce your taxes to the legal minimum:
STRATEGY #1: CREATE NON-TAXABLE INCOME
The IRS allows you to rent out your home for up to 14 days each year without having to declare the rent as income. When a business partner or client comes into town and stays at your home, you can charge your corporation rent for the room. You can also have a company party or training sessions in your home and rent it to your corporation for the day. The corporation deducts the rental expense, and you enjoy the rental income tax free.
STRATEGY #2: SPREAD INCOME
If you are in a federal tax bracket higher than 15%, you may be able to reduce your taxes by setting up a Nevada C corporation and have up to $50,000 of your income flow to this corporation. Nevada has no state income tax and has a federal tax rate of 15% on the first $50,000 of taxable income. Your corporation can retain these earnings so you are not double taxed. If you had a personal marginal federal income tax rate of 28% and
a state income tax rate of 7%, you would pay $17,500 in federal and state income tax on this $50,000. On the other hand, it this $50,000 flowed to a Nevada C corporation, you may only pay the federal corporate tax rate of 15% (depending on the activity of the corporation), or $7,500. That would save you $10,000 in taxes! Another application of this strategy is to spread income to your grown children (who are no longer in school but still dependents) in lower tax brackets. Instead of paying their expenses directly with aftertax dollars, hire your children and pay them for the work they do, and then have them to pay for their own clothes, food, school, etc. from the money they earn. You can deduct the wages as a business expense, and your children will pay taxes at their lower tax bracket.
STRATEGY #3: MAXIMIZE DEDUCTIONS
There are thousands of items that are allowed as business expenses. You want to make sure that as many of them as possible are deducted as business expenditures. Those which you may not be taking full advantage of as a business deduction include your medical expenses. Within a sole proprietorship or an S corporation, there is a limit on the medical expenses you can deduct. With the right provisions in a C
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corporation, you can deduct all medical insurance premiums, and all out-of-pocket medical expenses for co-pays, medications, first aid items, etc.
STRATEGY #W4: DEFER INCOME
One way the IRS allows you to defer income is by contributing to a retirement plan. A retirement plan that works well for a business with no employees (you may have another business with employees) is a SEP IRA (Simplified Employee Pension Individual Retirement Account). The IRS allows you to contribute 18.58% of net profit (maximum of $50,000 per year) to your SEP IRA for retirement. If you have $100,000 net profit in your business, you are able to contribute up to 18.587%, or $18,587, to your retirement account. This plan allows you to deduct the contribution, ultimately saving you thousands in federal and state taxes. Thus, money goes into your SEP IRA tax-free and grows taxfree. SEP IRA funds are taxed at ordinary income tax rates when qualified withdrawals are taken after 59.5 years of age.
STRATEGY #5: PROPER USE OF ENTITIES
The tax rules differ for S corporations, C corporations and Sole Proprietorships. Use the entity
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or entities which require you to pay the least amount of tax. For example, if you operate your business as a sole proprietor, all profit (up to the taxable maximum) is subject to Social Security and Medicare taxes. In an S corporation, profits are distributed through a K-1 and are not subject to Social Security and Medicare taxes. Having your profits flow to you as K-1 income, instead of as profit from a sole proprietorship, could save you thousands each year in Social Security and Medicare taxes. For example, if a sole proprietorship has a profit of $100,000, a 15.3% tax (12.4% Social Security tax and 2.9% Medicare tax) must be paid on the entire $100,000, totaling $15,300 ($100,000 x 15.3%). By comparison, if an S corporation has a profit of $100,000 and you pay yourself a reasonable salary of $40,000, the other $60,000 would flow to you as profit (K-1) and is not subject to Social Security and Medicare taxes. You only pay Social Security and Medicare tax on the $40,000 salary, for a tax of $6,120 ($40,000 x 15.3%). In this scenario, using an S corporation would save $9,180 ($15,300 minus $6,120) in taxes each year. While it would be nice to have the whole $100,000 excluded from Social Security and Medicare tax, the IRS requires that owner-employees of an S corporation be paid a salary that is a “reasonable amount” for the work being performed.
PROPER RETURNS
As a result of people not utilizing all the deductions and tax laws available, billions of dollars are overpaid in taxes. According to the IRS commissioner, millions of taxpayers are overpaying their taxes each year. So, use any or all of these five strategies to avoid paying more than your fair share in taxes.
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AmericanTowman.com | December 2023 • 51
Tow Manager
Flight Plans Is Your Drone Usage Legal? Brian J. Riker is a third-generation towman, with 26 years of experience in the ditch as a tow operator, and president of Fleet Compliance Solutions. He specializes in helping navigate the complex world of federal and state transportation regulatory compliance. He can be reached at brian.riker@fleetcompliancesolutions.net
By Brian J. Riker
U
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nmanned aircraft systems, usually called drones, have exploded in popularity. Tow operators use them in creative
This drone photo enabled Northwestern Towing & Recovery of Portland, Oregon to document a complicated recovery scene, and also demonstrate the company’s capabilities.
ways to promote their company, showcase towing capabilities, and document recovery jobs for invoicing purposes. As cool as this technology is, make sure you have the legal certifications required for the commercial operation of these drones and their resulting video footage. In an effort to protect American airspace, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has developed regulations and standards
for the use of model aircraft and other unmanned flight systems.
THE REGS
Typically, if you are not flying recreationally as a hobbyist under Section 336, your use requires certification by the FAA. What qualifies as recreational use? The FAA uses ordinary definitions of hobbyist, meaning it must be for relaxation and distinctly separate from your professional occupation. In either case,
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AmericanTowman.com | December 2023 • 53
your drone still must be registered with the FAA and comply with all applicable regulations. Let’s focus on commercial applications, since that is what flying a drone becomes once you use it to document your work, especially if you use the footage for promotion, training, or billing purposes. Typically, this type of flight requires compliance with Part 107 regulations including: • Registering a drone with the FAA if it weighs more than 55 pounds • UAS pilot certification or section 333 waiver • Notifying nearby airports and control towers (if within five miles of such) • Waivers to fly over or near emergency response scenes • Waivers to fly directly over people • Display registration number on drone and carry your certificate • Stay within Class G airspace (400-foot ceiling, maintain visual contact) • Fly only during daylight hours or civil twilight without a waiver
EMERGENCY RESTRICTIONS
Perhaps the most problematic for towers is the restrictions on flying near emergency-response scenes or over people. We usually have both conditions present in our daily work environments. Use of drones during poor weather is further complicated by the visual contact rule. The FAA has developed a free mobile app to help drone operators determine if they are in restricted airspace or are free to deploy their aircraft. An effective way to stay in compliance is to use the B4UFLY app. The FAA’s website shows recreational users who only only fly their drone for fun where they can and cannot fly with interactive maps. Note that almost all non-recreational drone flying is regulated by Part 107. This type of flying includes taking photos to help sell a property or service, roof inspections, or taking pictures of a high school football game for the school's website. Even goodwill can also be considered non-recreational. This would include things like volunteering to use your drone to survey coastlines on behalf of a nonprofit organization.
REGULATED AIRSPACE
The FAA restricts airspace near emergencies such as wildfires, hurricanes, and other emergency scenes where aircraft may be part of the response effort. To legally deploy drones over people or
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AmericanTowman.com | December 2023 • 55
at emergency scenes, you may be required to obtain waivers for use in temporarily restricted airspace. Depending on the Agency that is restricting the airspace, a UAS pilot may need to obtain permission from an Agency other that the FAA (such as local Parks & Recreation departments). There are other drone restrictions for purposes of national security. For example, Washington, D.C. has the most regulated airspace in the country, and all drone use is prohibited within the inner loop, a 15-mile radius. However, limited deployment of drones is permissible in the outer loop, a 30-mile radius around D.C. Other areas near military bases, some power plants and stadiums or sporting events are also restricted. Another consideration regarding aerial photography
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with drones is privacy. It is always a good idea to protect the identity of your tow customers, especially when their vehicles are found in a sketchy situation or possibly an illegal location. What about protecting the privacy of individuals that are merely bystanders to a crash scene? It may be permissible to capture video in public areas where there is no reasonable expectation of privacy, but audio may be restricted by various state laws. Obtaining signed waivers or model releases from anyone in a video that may be published is a surefire way to avoid personal breach of privacy lawsuits, especially if the individuals involved did not have direct knowledge of their participation prior to filming. Bottom line, drones can be a great new tool in a towman’s
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AmericanTowman.com | December 2023 • 57
toolbox. The video footage can be utilized as part of post-recovery briefing and operator training to help prevent future mistakes. It can also help justify invoice charges on complex recoveries, possibly avoid legal or insurance issues, and of course looks really cool when used as promotional material. One more caution though, which applies to both still photographs and video footage: Make sure what is released publicly depicts safe, proper procedures, and portrays a positive image (unless used in a training session). Keep in mind that regulatory agencies such as OSHA look at public forums and can initiate an investigation based off a news report or other public display of wrongdoing. In other words, your drone footage should be an asset, not a liability to your tow company.
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My Baby
Noble Knight A Rotator That Answers a Higher Calling By Steve Temple
S
tockton Towing, Inc.’s operations are based in the rich farmlands of the Midwest, with locations in Iowa and the Dakotas, so it doesn’t come as a surprise that the majority of the company’s tow jobs involve agricultural equipment. Rigs that are rescued include augur feed trucks, fertilizer spreaders, crop harvesters, livestock trailers and, “ahem”, manure-laden sidedump trailers. These humble, hard-working vehicles provide a valuable service by putting food on the tables of American families. So, when Stockton handles a recovery 62 • December 2023 | Towman.com
that ultimately helps farmers get back to working the fields, there’s no doubt this tow operation is serving a noble cause. This goodwill fits right in with owner Mark Stockton’s personal philosophy about King Arthur and the Knights of the Roundtable. Not only because young Arthur pulled the legendary Excalibur sword from a stone, but he also stood for something as a great servant warrior, adhering to a code of chivalry. To Arthur and his loyal knights, what mattered was brotherhood, valor and honor. Mark feels the same way, and
has demonstrated it in a number of ways as a strong supporter of first responders, military veterans, and the community in general. He donates time and funds to charities, and sponsors fundraisers and student scholarships. He also sponsors training for TIMS (Traffic Incident Management System) to promote roadway safety and quick-clearance procedures. In so doing, he’s received several local awards from public safety organizations. To graphically illustrate his commitment to noble causes, Mark wrapped his 60-ton Jerr-Dan
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This spreader had rolled over, and needed to be righted by Stockton’s rotator. Note the wrecker’s large cow catcher on the nose.
Stockton Towing’s Jerr-Dan 60-ton rotator regularly recovers agricultural equipment for farmers, such as this side-dump trailer.
TECH HIGHLIGHTS Truck: 2021 Kenworth W990 Dual Steer
Running lights change from amber to emerald by flicking a switch.
Engine: E Series Performance Cummins with 18-speed transmission Body: Jerr-Dan JD50/60 Rotator, HDR 1000, with five winches and 530 underlift Custom Features: “Knights of the Roundtable” wrap, JFB Gold Package, Stainless Dress Up Kit, Whelen LED Light Bars and Wing Lights (dual-color amber/green), fender trim, brush catcher on front end Graphics: Second Skin Wraps, Sioux City, Iowa Work the non-traffic side - Stay Safe!
The vinyl graphics from Second Skin Wraps depict dramatic renderings of dragons and the Knights of the Roundtable, an apt theme for Stockton’s “servant warriors.”
AmericanTowman.com | December 2023 • 63
After a feed augur caught fire, Stockton Towing was called to handle the recovery.
Stockton’s Jerr-Dan 60-ton rotator handles everything from a spreader box for dry fertilizer to relocating a drive-through bank office across town as a charity donation.
rotator with knightly images, skillfully designed and applied by Second Skin Wraps of Sioux City, Iowa. In addition, since green is his favorite color, he included lights that change from amber to emerald with the flick of a switch. Other personal touches include a windshield visor, fender trim, and a cow catcher on the front end. Mark’s tribute to the Knights of the Round Table includes an admirable company policy as well. After a young lady’s car was stolen, and then later found on the side of the road, police asked Stockton Towing to retrieve it. When the young woman came to the shop to pick it up, Mark told his office manager to waive the towing fee. “We have never and will never take any payment from the victim of a stolen vehicle.” Now that’s chivalry!
This walking-floor trailer, which has a belt underneath for sliding out its load, had landed in a ditch. Stockton can take on all sorts of jobs, with a fleet of 96 vehicles and 51 operators.
64 • December 2023 | Towman.com
From All of Us at
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AmericanTowman.com | December 2023 • 65
Lowdown
Giants in the Hall By Steve Calitri
T
Steve Calitri Editor-in-Chief scalitri@towman.com
hey are all shapes and sizes, and of Heroes and awarding of medals to those all ages. They roam the exhibit hall who risked their lives, and in a “simple act aisles, out of their element of the of bravery,” rescued lives. hard highways, yet walking by the How big is the American Towman shiny metal of new trucks and booms—the Exposition, the biggest of its kind in the same kind they operate when weathered by world? One might judge it by the number of dust, snow, and ice surrounded by zooming exhibitors and attendees. In both columns, automobiles and thundering eighteen- AT Expo far exceeds any other tow show wheelers. They fill the Exposition halls with worldwide. One may judge the show humility, far from the roaring roads that for its spirit and many special events, its make their home turf. educational forum, its festive atmosphere; They are the men and women who on all fronts there is no other towing upright trucks, sidle down slopes to crashed convention like it. The show indeed is bigger vehicles, navigate downed utility poles, than all its part altogether. Why is that? rescue trapped The Exposition drivers from mirrors each flaming vehicles. attendee, and They are the each towman on individuals who the floor is bigger aid you and me, than the show, as stranded by the the show is only side of roads not a manifestation meant to be lived of the towman’s on, but only to heart, dedication, pass over. and skill. The They are the American Towman Exposition on November 18th towman on the men and women exhibit floor can who help keep America moving. Without rightly open his arms to encompass the hall, them, we’d soon enough be existing in a and exclaim: “This is all me!” Mad Max world. Plainly put, AT Expo is the world’s The American Towman Exposition greatest exposition because it recognizes the XXXIV was filled with the world’s masters greatness of this industry and those who of chaos. In the orderly ambience of the hall make it work. were the champions who can handle any Yes, it was all there. Hundreds of calamity that most mortals are not able to, industry suppliers exhibiting their wares. not without the equipment and training, not The magnificent pageant wreckers. The without the unusual grit of character that rotator recovery training. The towman gets the towman through his day. ballads. The heroes. The Towman Order Drums beating, trumpets blaring, and the ACEs. The Towman Monument, the trombones and tubas playing, led these legendary hospitality. The marching band. guardians into the hall like they were And more. But none of it would have meant legionnaires returning to Rome victorious. anything without the great men and women That Saturday night was the feast, the March who were there.
66 • December 2023 | Towman.com
News Flash
The towing community came out on the same day Keagan Spencer was hit and killed trying to rescue a dog on a Michigan highway.
Tow Community Pays Tribute to Keagan Spencer
Family and friends of 25-year-old Keagan Spencer honored his life, filling a parking lot with tow trucks in Hastings, Michigan. Parked in the median, Spencer was killed after he was hit by a car rescuing a dog running loose on the highway. Matthew Spencer said his son Keagan was at work and driving his tow truck when he pulled over. “All he was doing was going to work today, and he’s not going home to his family,” Spencer said. Family and loved ones said Spencer was a great friend, someone they could always count on. “It didn’t matter what you needed,” said Blake Garver, a close friend. “Whatever the circumstances were, whatever the situation was, if you called him, he would drop anything to help anybody.” Spencer’s father, who owns Legacy Automotive and Towing, said becoming a tow truck driver was always in his son’s future. “Keagan was a third-generation tower,” Spencer said. “My dad was a tower, myself, and Keagan were in a tow truck from the moment he was born—he just got it in his blood.”
Towman Downed in Georgia
Towman Frank Ingram, owner of Ingram Towing and Impound Service, was struck and killed in the metro Atlanta area while operating a heavy-duty wrecker
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AmericanTowman.com | December 2023 • North 69
to pick up a dump truck on I-575. Angela Roper, a board member of The Towing and Recovery Association of Georgia, commented, "Ingram's death marks the 34th since January first for responders (hit and killed on roadways) nationwide. That is the 14th tow truck operator to be hit and killed this year.” Of those 14 deaths, three have been Frank Ingram across metro Atlanta. Toby Bowden and Troy Simon were the other two towmen struck and killed in the area. Sources: 11alive.com kfor.com
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Episode 32
Copyright©2021 American Towman Magazine. Characters and stories are fictitious; no resemblance to real life characters is intended.
Send your thoughts/suggestions on the Adventures to scalitri@towman.com or American Towman, 2 Overlook Dr #5, Warwick NY 10990
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AmericanTowman.com | December 2023 • South 67
News Flash born—he just got it in his blood.”
Towman Downed in Georgia
The towing community came out on the same day Keagan Spencer was hit and killed trying to rescue a dog on a Michigan highway.
Tow Community Pays Tribute to Keagan Spencer
Family and friends of 25-year-old Keagan Spencer honored his life, filling a parking lot with tow trucks in Hastings, Michigan. Parked in the median, Spencer was killed after he was hit by a car rescuing a dog running loose on the highway. Matthew Spencer said his son Keagan was at work and driving his tow truck when he pulled over. “All he was doing was going to work today, and he’s not going home to his family,” Spencer said. Family and loved ones said Spencer was a great friend, someone they could always count on. “It didn’t matter what you needed,” said Blake Garver, a close friend. “Whatever the circumstances were, whatever the situation was, if you called him, he would drop anything to help anybody.” Spencer’s father, who owns Legacy Automotive and Towing, said becoming a tow truck driver was always in his son’s future. “Keagan was a third-generation tower,” Spencer said. “My dad was a tower, myself, and Keagan were in a tow truck from the moment he was
Towman Frank Ingram, owner of Ingram Towing and Impound Service, was struck and killed in the metro Atlanta area while operating a heavy-duty wrecker to pick up a dump truck on I-575. Angela Roper, a board member of The Towing and Recovery Association of Georgia, commented, "Ingram's death marks the 34th since January first for responders (hit and killed on roadways) nationwide. That is the 14th tow truck operator to be hit and killed this year.” Of those 14 deaths, three have been across metro Atlanta. Toby Bowden and Troy Simon were the other two towmen struck and killed in the area. Sources: 11alive.com kfor.com
NYPD Tow Truck Driver Hits and Kills Young Boy
Frank Ingram
A tow operator, 54-year-old Stephanie Sharp who was driving an NYPD tow truck in Brooklyn, struck and killed a seven-year-old boy as he was traveling through a cross street with his mother on the way to school. One witness on scene said that the driver of the tow truck was trying to beat a yellow light when she hit the boy, Kamari Hughes, who was rid-
The NYPD tow truck that was involved in a collision and death of a seven-year old boy.
South 68 • December 2023 | Towman.com
ing a bright green scooter next to his mother, who was pushing a stroller. “She hit that little boy and kept going,” said another witness. “I had to tell the housing workers to stop her. The mother was screaming hysterically, 'They killed my baby!'" The operator of the tow truck was arrested. The boy was the 73rd pedestrian killed in a traffic collision this year, according to Transportation Alternatives, a safe-streets group. Sources: cbsnews.com and nytimes.com
Alabama Shooting Puts Repo Law in Focus
Alabama’s repossession law is under scrutiny after a shooting involving a police officer. The officer was called to a repo scene after a tow operator was threatened by a man that had pulled a gun on him. The man, Stephen Perkins, pointed the handgun at the officer and was subsequently shot and killed. Perkins’ family maintains the towing
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Veteran repo driver Steve Andrews gave his take on the repossession that led to a police officer shooting.
company was not at the right house because Perkins’ truck payments were current. Many questions remain unanswered in Perkins’ case; however, one area attorney says there are laws that must be followed during repo actions. According to Alabama Code § 7-9A-609, after a borrower defaults a lender can take possession of collateral or make that collateral unusable. The code section goes on to explain that a lender can accomplish a repossession with the court’s assis-
tance, or without the court if there is no “breach of the peace.” Attorney Mark McDaniel, who is not connected to this case, says the portion about a breach of peace is critical. “The person doing the repossession cannot make a threat. There can be no violence there at all. They certainly cannot go into your house or a locked garage,” McDaniel explained. Steve Andrews, who repossessed cars for more than a decade, weighed in on common practices for car repossessions in the state of Alabama. He pointed out that anyone who works in the industry should leave if somebody tries to stop a car repossession on their property. According to the law, if police show up during a repossession, then that repo is over. Sources: whnt.com waaytv.com
AmericanTowman.com | December 2023 • South 69
Supplier Scoop Cummins Profit Soars as Meritor Deal Boosts Revenue
Cummins, Inc. has posted a 64% year-over-year jump in profits in the third quarter of 2023, beating analyst revenue expectations, as the acquisition of axles and brakes specialist Meritor continued to boost the company’s bottom line. The company reported Q3 net income of $656 million, or $4.59 per diluted share, compared with a profit of $400 million, $2.82, in 2022. Cummins turned in third-quarter revenues of $8.431 billion, an increase of 15% from $7.333 billion in the same quarter in 2022. The company reported that sales in North America increased 16% and international revenues rose 13% due to the addition of Meritor, along with strong demand across most global markets. “We delivered solid profitability and record operating cashflow in the third quarter,” stated Cummins CEO Jennifer Rumsey “While full-year revenues are at the high end of our expectations, we are seeing signs of moderating demand in some markets, and are taking steps to reduce costs and position the company for success in 2024.” Cummins’ Engine unit posted sales of $2.931 billion in Q3, up 5% from $2.779 billion in the same period a year earlier. On-highway revenues rose 8% on the back of strong demand in the North American truck market and price increases, the company indicated, adding that overall Q3 segment sales increased 5% in North America and 7% in international markets. Of those engine sales, $1.116 billion were for heavy-duty trucks in the most recent quarter, up 15% compared with $972 million in the yearago period. An additional $931 million came in the medium-duty truck and bus sector, compared with $868 million a year earlier. Cummins shipped 36,300 heavy-duty engines in the most re-
cent quarter, compared with 30,200 in the year-ago period. Through the first three quarters of 2023, the company shipped 107,400 heavy-duty engines, compared with 89,700 units in the year-ago period. During the company’s quarterly earnings call, Rumsey said Cummins expects heavy-duty truck production to fall in Q4 compared with the third quarter, citing component supply shortages, inventory management issues, and fewer production days in the period. Still, Cummins raised its North American heavy-duty truck sales forecast to be between 280,000 and 300,000 as a result of a strong Q3, a range of flat to up 8% compared with 2022. Previously, the company had expected 270,000 to 290,000 in regional sales. Breaking down sales figures in Cummins’ Components unit, axles and brakes accounted for $1.177 billion in Q3 sales, compared with $732 million in the year-ago period. Emissions solutions sales totaled $893 million in Q3, compared with $853 million a year earlier. Engine component sales for Q3 totaled $532 million, compared with $509 million in Q3 2022. Automated transmission sales totaled $187 million in Q3, compared with $159 million a year earlier. The company’s sustainable energy business, Accelera, posted sales of $103 million in Q3, up 106% from $50 million in the year-ago period. Revenues increased due to higher demand for battery-electric systems, increased electrolyzer installations, and the additions of the Siemens Commercial Vehicle business and electric powertrain portion of the Meritor business, it said. However, costs associated with the development of electric powertrains, fuel cells and electrolyzers, as well as products to support battery-electric vehicles, saw an EBITDA loss of $114 million in Q3, compared with $95 million a year earlier. Cum-
South 70 • December 2023 | Towman.com
mins launched the Accelera brand in March. www.cummins.com
Hydrogen-Powered Ford Super Duty F-550
All-electric tow trucks are still a ways off, but in the meantime hydrogen-powered Ford trucks and vans are participating in several pilot programs to examine their potential viability. These include both Ford Super Duty F-550 and an E-Transit. While some Ford trucks are being equipped with a hydrogen fuel-cell powertrain from Ballard Power Systems, Ford has also signed a letter of intent with Quantron AG aimed at expanding this type of technology. Quantron AG specializes in sustainable passenger and freight transport. The company will supply The Blue Oval with a variety of components needed to equip those heavy-duty vehicles with hydrogen power, including Quantron AG’s e-axle, fuel cell, tank, energy management system, and customized high-power battery. Ford Trucks aims to shift completely to a zero-emissions fleet by 2040. As the first part of its collaboration with Ford, Quantron will also ensure that these heavy-duty hydrogen haulers are built in compliance with various government regulations. “This collaboration promises to yield substantial value in the times ahead,” said Ford Trucks Leader Emrah Duman. “Ford Trucks is committed to investing in innovative technologies that will shape the future of the heavy commercial vehicle industry while aligning with our sustainability goals. Our primary focus is on electrification, closely followed by advancements in hydrogen technology. With a diverse pool of promising technological talents and capabilities, our efforts are making rapid and successful strides.” www.Ford.com
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Episode 32
Copyright©2021 American Towman Magazine. Characters and stories are fictitious; no resemblance to real life characters is intended.
Send your thoughts/suggestions on the Adventures to scalitri@towman.com or American Towman, 2 Overlook Dr #5, Warwick NY 10990
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AmericanTowman.com | December 2023 • Midwest 67
News Flash Spencer was killed after he was hit by a car rescuing a dog running loose on the highway. Matthew Spencer said his son Keagan was at work and driving his tow truck when he pulled over. “All he was doing was going to work today, and he’s not going home to his family,” Spencer said. Family and loved ones said Spencer was a great friend, someone they could always count on. The towing community came out on the same day Keagan “It didn’t matter what you Spencer was hit and killed trying to rescue a dog on a needed,” said Blake Garver, Michigan highway. a close friend. “Whatever the circumstances were, Tow Community Pays whatever the situation was, if you Tribute to Keagan Spencer called him, he would drop anything to Family and friends of 25-year-old help anybody.” Keagan Spencer honored his life, filling Spencer’s father, who owns Legacy a parking lot with tow trucks in HastAutomotive and Towing, said becomings, Michigan. Parked in the median, ing a tow truck driver was always in his
son’s future. “Keagan was a third-generation tower,” Spencer said. “My dad was a tower, myself, and Keagan were in a tow truck from the moment he was born—he just got it in his blood.”
Towman Downed in Georgia
Towman Frank Ingram, owner of Ingram Towing and Impound Service, was struck and killed in the metro Atlanta area while operating a heavy-duty wrecker to pick up a dump truck on I-575. Angela Roper, a board member of The Towing and Recovery Association of Georgia, commented, "Ingram's death marks the 34th since January first for responders (hit and killed on roadways) nationwide. That is the 14th tow truck operator to be hit and killed this year.” Frank Ingram Of those 14 deaths, three have been across metro Atlanta. Toby Bowden and Troy Simon were the other two towmen struck and killed in the area. Sources: 11alive.com kfor.com
NYPD Tow Truck Driver Hits and Kills Young Boy
A tow operator, 54-year-old Stephanie Sharp who was driving an NYPD tow truck in Brooklyn, struck and killed a seven-year-old boy as he was traveling through a cross street with his mother on the way to school. One witness on scene said that the driver of the tow truck was trying to beat a yellow light when she hit the boy, Kamari Hughes, who was riding a bright green scooter next to his mother, who was pushing a stroller. “She hit that little boy and kept going,” said another witness. “I had to tell the housing workers to stop her. The mother was screaming hysterical-
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Midwest 68 • December 2023 | Towman.com
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AmericanTowman.com | December 2023 • Midwest 69
ly, 'They killed my baby!'" The operator of the tow truck was arrested. The boy was the 73rd pedestrian killed in a traffic collision this year, according to Transportation Alternatives, a safe-streets group. Sources: cbsnews.com and nytimes.com
Alabama Shooting Puts Repo Law in Focus
Alabama’s repossession law is under scrutiny after a shooting involving a police officer. The officer was called to a repo scene after a tow operator was threatened by a man that had pulled a gun on him. The man, Stephen Perkins, pointed the handgun at the officer and was subsequently shot and killed. Perkins’ family maintains the towing company was not at the right house because Perkins’ truck payments were current. Many questions remain unanswered in Perkins’ case; however, one area attorney says there are laws that
must be followed during repo actions. According to Alabama Code § 7-9A-609, after a borrower defaults a lender can take possession of collateral or make that collateral unusable. The code section goes on to explain that a lender can accomplish a repossession with the court’s assistance, or without the court if there is no “breach of the peace.” Attorney Mark McDaniel, who is not connected to this case, says the portion about a breach of peace is critical. “The person doing the repossession cannot make a threat. There can be no violence there at all. They cer-
tainly cannot go into your house or a locked garage,” McDaniel explained. Steve Andrews, who repossessed cars for more than a decade, weighed in on common practices for car repossessions in the state of Alabama. He pointed out that anyone who works in the industry should leave if somebody tries to stop a car repossession on their property. According to the law, if police show up during a repossession, then that repo is over. Sources: whnt.com waaytv.com
The NYPD tow truck that was involved in a collision and death of a seven-year old boy.
Midwest 70 • December 2023 | Towman.com
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Midwest 72 • December 2023 | Towman.com
Episode 32
Copyright©2021 American Towman Magazine. Characters and stories are fictitious; no resemblance to real life characters is intended.
Send your thoughts/suggestions on the Adventures to scalitri@towman.com or American Towman, 2 Overlook Dr #5, Warwick NY 10990
Work the non-traffic side - Stay Safe!
AmericanTowman.com | December 2023 • West 67
News Flash
The towing community came out on the same day Keagan Spencer was hit and killed trying to rescue a dog on a Michigan highway.
Tow Community Pays Tribute to Keagan Spencer
Family and friends of 25-year-old Keagan Spencer honored his life, filling a parking lot with tow trucks in Hastings, Michigan. Parked in the median, Spencer was killed after he was hit by a
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West 68 • December 2023 | Towman.com
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AmericanTowman.com | December 2023 • West 69
car rescuing a dog running loose on the highway. Matthew Spencer said his son Keagan was at work and driving his tow truck when he pulled over. “All he was doing was going to work today, and he’s not going home to his family,” Spencer said. Family and loved ones said Spencer was a great friend, someone they could always count on. “It didn’t matter what you needed,” said Blake Garver, a close friend. “Whatever the circumstances were, whatever the situation was, if you called him, he would drop anything to help anybody.” Spencer’s father, who owns Legacy Automotive and Towing, said becoming a tow truck driver was always in his son’s future. “Keagan was a third-generation tower,” Spencer said. “My dad was a tower, myself, and Keagan were in a tow truck from the moment he was born—he just got it in his blood.”
West 70 • December 2023 | Towman.com
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AmericanTowman.com | December 2023 • West 71
West 72 • December 2023 | Towman.com
Episode 32
Copyright©2021 American Towman Magazine. Characters and stories are fictitious; no resemblance to real life characters is intended.
Send your thoughts/suggestions on the Adventures to scalitri@towman.com or American Towman, 2 Overlook Dr #5, Warwick NY 10990
Work the non-traffic side - Stay Safe!
AmericanTowman.com | December 2023 • 3
4 • December 2023 | Towman.com