American Towman Magazine - August 2010 by dortiz-towman

Whether it’s recovering an overturned tractor-trailer or towing a truck across town, you’re in command with your Vulcan V-100. The Vulcan V-100 is the tool you need to accomplish any task – just ask loyal Vulcan users who always demand the best from their fleets.

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For versatility in light- and medium-duty towing and recovery, the Vulcan V-30 meets your demands. Available in an aluminum or composite modular body, this 16-ton powerhouse comes loaded with many features found on Vulcan’s heavy-duty units.

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Vulcan has led the industry in heavy-duty integrated towing and recovery units for 25 years. Available in 25-, 35- and 50-ton capacities, the Vulcan heavy-duty integrated series easily tackles the toughest jobs.

Vulcan’s L.C.G. (Low Center of Gravity) car carriers features a deck height that’s 5- to 8-inches lower, offering more stability during transport, a lower load angle and greater ease in securing loads. For recovery, Vulcan offers the SP8000 Sidepuller, the ultimate in car carrier versatility.

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The Vulcan Intruder leads the light-duty line-up with an autoload crossbar capable of picking up vehicles at a 90-degree angle and your choice of steel, aluminum or composite modular bodies. Other popular Vulcan light-duty units feature Vulcan’s strapless wheel-lift system.

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Departments Low Down . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7 News Share . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8 Road Tools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12 Work Horse . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14 Ad Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16 My Baby. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .56 Towman’s Market . . . . . . . . . .58 Adventures of A.T. . . . . . . . . . .61

Photo on Cover and Table of Contents: Century wreckers at work in the Mobile Crane Recovery

FEATURE CONTENTS

Mobile Crane Recovery In Lexington, Kentucky, Roberts Heavy Duty Towing & Recovery tackles a rolled-over crane. By Jim "Buck" Sorrenti

Freeway Service Patrol Service Patrols cover freeways in 38 states. Should you seek to contract with your state's DOT? By Terry Abejuela

Training In-House Whether or not you use outside professional trainers, on-going training in-house is a good practice. But there's a right way to approach it. By Dave Lambert

Photos by: Jim Buck, Terry Abejuela Cover Design by: Ann Marie Nitti

TOWMAN.COM - August 2010 • 5

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Number 109 on Reader Card

The Resourceful Tow Boss by Steve Calitri

he used wrecker market is hot, candidates in the pool, though the abilproviding tow fleet owners ity to pay rates that are competitive with more options. With with the trucking industry has not wrecker distributors confident improved. they can move used equipment today, One key to maintaining a quality they are more willing to take used team of tow operators lies in the trainequipment as trade-ins for new units, ing. This magazine has long promoted and the tow boss is better able to leverthe virtues of professional training, via age a good deal. This makes it the time the likes of WreckMaster, Tom Luciano, for upgrading one’s fleet. and other professional trainers serving On the other hand, many towers our industry. But towing is renowned today feel the need to downsize their for do-it-yourselfers and in-house fleet, like Budget Towing in Minneapotraining by the owner or manager can lis-St. Paul, Minnesota is doing. Budbe effective if approached in a dediget’s owner, Roy Carlson, is selling off cated and thorough manner. several wreckers and carriers from his On page 52, professional trainer, fleet. Dave Lambert, His current gives our readlevel of call volers a primer on ume does not warhow to prepare rant the fleet size to train one’s he has long mainown operators. tained and selling Training inoff unused equiphouse has its ment brings in benefits even if usable revenue. you send your Buying used drivers to a wreckers and carclass conducted riers from a towby a profesing operation that Budget Towing in Minnesota is downsizing by sional trainer. putting units up for sale in a hot used wrecker has maintained One benefit of market. Other tow bosses are finding the time their equipment is ripe to buy new by leveraging trade-ins. all training is well in their own less driver service bays is a sound purchasing turnover, a dynamic that saves the tow choice. Likewise, recognizing that boss time, money, and headaches. today’s economy provides a silver linAs you scan the towing landscape ing for new equipment purchases is the and consider where you would like to stuff of the savvy tow business owner. take your company, consider the article Meanwhile, the resourceful tow from Terry Abejuela on Service Patrols. boss is finding it more interesting than If you have been thinking of getting ever to hire and maintain a profesinvolved in your state’s highway prosional driver force. With unemploygram, this article is a must read. ment high, there are more types of job

***************************************************** Publisher Dennie Ortiz-Sorrenti Editor-In-Chief Steve Calitri Operations Editors Terry Abejuela Randall Resch Chassis Editor David Kolman Safety Editor Bill Simmons Contributing Editors Dave Lampert Jim “Buck” Sorrenti Carol Wasson Editorial Board Tommy Anderson, Dallas, Texas Roy Carlson; St. Paul, Minn. Gary Coe; Portland, Ore. Frank Child; Cody, Wyo. Belinda Harris; Greensboro, N.C. Amado Llorens; Hialeah, Fla. Ron Mislan; Warren, N.J. Chuck Swider; Chicopee, Mass. ********************************************************** Art Director/Production Manager Ann Marie Nitti Graphic Manager William Burwell Advertising Sales Manager Dennie Ortiz-Sorrenti Senior Account Executive Ellen Rosengart VP of Accounts Norma Calitri VP of Communications Neila Kennedy Internet Developer Henri Calitri ***************************************************** American Towman Network, Inc. President Steven Calitri ***************************************************** Headquarters 7 West Street, Warwick NY 10990 800-732-3869 or 845-986-4546 Fax: 845-986-5181 ***************************************************** E-mail: Publisher: dsorrenti@towman.com Editor-In-Chief: scalitri@towman.com AT’S Digital Edition: itowman.com Weekly Industry News: towman.com Copyright ©2010 American Towman Magazine is published 12 times a year by American Towman Network, Inc. U.S. Subscription: $50–1 yr; $95–2 yrs • US $65 and $105 • International Editorial Policy: the act of mailing or delivering a letter or article to American Towman Magazine, shall constitute permission to publish that letter or article or any portion thereof. American Towman Magazine reserves the right to edit any and all material submitted.

TOWMAN.COM - August 2010 • 7

Town Regulates Private Tows In response to complaints of excessive fees pertaining to private lot tows, Basking Ridge, N. J. has set stricter requirements for obtaining permission to tow, and placed regulations on fee amounts and storage practices. Under the law, only those registered with the township (to be completed annually with a $150 processing fee) will be allowed to tow. The towing companies must also provide information about the location and security of their vehicle storage sites as part of the application, as well as proof of adequate liability coverage. Also, the tower must have authority to tow from the property owner, and the property where the vehicle is parked must be clearly marked with a sign no smaller than 36x36 inches that states when parking is permitted or not permitted. The property owner does not need to be present at the time of removal, as long as the owner authorizes the towing company to remove the vehicle and notifies the police department about the operation. The new law also sets fee limits for towing companies at $100 for the basic towing fee, $30 for administrative fee, $35 per day for inside storage, $25 per day for outside storage and $25 for a decoupling fee. Source: baskingridge.patch.com

Towers Fight City Hall & Win In New Jersey, were able to conBridgewater vince the BridgeTownship officials water Township had proposed crecouncil that govating an impound ernment entering lot that would private sector generate $200,000 business and in revenue. The competing with municipality who local taxpaying needed money, businesses and they said, after residents was losing $1.9 million simply not a in state aid from good idea. Frank Sanchez of the township's $36 At the BridgeSomerset Hills Towing. million budget. water Township Frank Sanchez, a Somerset council meeting on June 7th, 2010, Hills Towing spokesman, questhe township council voted unantioned the township's math, conimously against the opening and cerned the impound lot will cost operation of a municipal storage the municipality money to operate yard, as well as rejecting the entire it, as well as towing companies' proposed amendment to the business. Township ordinance. Projections Sanchez and other tow comof impound revenues were found pany representatives in Bridgewato be exaggerated, and its plan to ter, along with help from the use existing personnel to operate Garden State Towman’s Associathe impound lot, wishful thinking. tion and John Glass, its president,

Virginia Moving Over On July 1st, the guys that tow wrecks off the interstate for Brown & Sons Towing will have a little more breathing room thanks to a new law that will force drivers, when possible, to move over a lane when passing a vehicle flashing amber lights. "While picking up a vehicle on the side of the interstate, they're sometimes not able to be attentive to oncoming traffic because they're working. This will give them a little more security with vehicles knowing they have to move over,” towing service operator Charles Brown said. The move over law currently just applies to emergency and law enforcement vehicles and will soon include tow trucks and maintenance vehicles as well. "Hopefully it will make the motoring public realize that anytime they see any types of lights along the interstate, not just blue and red but even the amber lights, they'll know to move over,” Brown said. Source: wset.com 8 • August 2010 - TOWMAN.COM

City Taking

Twenty Percent Three local towing companies have had their contracts extended by the city of Downey, Calif. The one-year contract extensions are with United Towing, Doug’s Tug and Titan Transportation. Under terms of the deal, the towing companies will remit 20 percent of gross fees received on all city and Downey Police Department-generated tows and services, in addition to 30-day impounds. The city has collected approximately $6,600 in fees from 30-day impounds over the last two years, data shows.

Speaking at a City Council meeting, council members Luis Marquez and Mario Guerra said they would like future towing contracts to be put out for bid. Guerra said three towing companies are excessive, and Marquez said Downey could potentially make more money by accepting bids. Source: thedowney patriot.com

. . . Towers dissuade one town from launching impound lot . . . Ramsey Winch Moves Forward

Training & Certification

The United States Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Oklahoma confirmed the Chapter 11 Plan of Reorganization for Ramsey Industries, Inc. and its operating subsidiaries: Auto Crane Company, Eskridge Inc., and Ramsey Winch Company. John Celoni, Jr., Ramsey Industries President & Chief Executive Officer stated, “the bankruptcy case has been successful in that it has enabled the company to restructure its balance sheet and obtain new financing that positions the company well and to continue to be an industry leader.” Celoni also commented, “Due to the support, efforts, loyalty, and commitment of our employees, channel partners, customers, and suppliers, we have been able to honor and exceed all forecasts that were projected throughout this challenging process.”

The West Virginia Towing & Recovery Association (WVTRA) and Matheny Motors will hold levels one and two TRAA certification classes, August 13-15 at the Matheny Motors, Mineral Wells location: 50 Matheny Lane, Mineral Wells, WV. Veteran trainer, Joe Sroga, will conduct light and medium duty classes and Veteran trainer, Joe Sroga. the certification testing. Classes will include hands-on towing and recovery demonstrations. All students will receive a comprehensive training manual, lunch, refreshments, and an opportunity to take the TRAA Certification exams from the Towing & Recovery Association of America. Matheny Motors is an authorized full-line Miller Industries distributor. “We look forward to hosting the WVTRA training schools,” said Tim Matheny, president of Matheny Motors. “I know firsthand the importance of education and training in our industry and am proud to participate in this important event.” In addition to Matheny Motors, the training is co-sponsored by Miller Industries, Hino, and Pifer BP & Service Center. For course fees, call WVTRA at 304-489-2010.

AutoReturn Seeking Towers AutoReturn, the towing management and logistics company, announced that it is leveraging its towing logistics and management platform into a significant new market segment–– the insurance industry. Insurance companies currently tow millions of accident vehicles each year, and AutoReturn believes it is ideally positioned to streamline this process, end-to-end, with its towing logistics solution and services which have been reliably deployed by municipalities for years. AutoReturn will help insurance companies reduce claims costs by providing a onestop solution for the towing of accident vehicles to direct repair facilities and salvage auction companies, using a nationwide network of local tow operators. AutoReturn is seeking high-quality, professional towing service providers to join its network. Unlike other national networks, AutoReturn does not focus on the crowded, low-paying, emergency towing market. According to AutoReturn, Network partners are paid competitive rates and are able to increase utilization of existing equipment and personnel by performing secondary tows within agreed-upon time frames. www.towvendor@autoreturn.com

Towing Scam Investigation

Criminal charges against a sixth Chicago Police Officer were unsealed in July as part of an ongoing investigation into bribes and extortion involving the automotive towing industry in Chicago. The 45-year old officer, who is an 11-year veteran of the CPD assigned to uniformed patrol duties in the 14th District, was arrested when he voluntarily surrendered to FBI special agents and officers assigned to the CPD, Internal Affairs Division. He was charged in a criminal complaint with three counts of attempted

extortion, which is a felony offense. According to the complaint, the officer is alleged to have solicited three separate payments totaling in excess of $1100 from a tow truck operator who, at the time, was secretly working for the FBI. The payments were made by the tow truck operator as the officer had allegedly provided to him the opportunity to tow automobiles involved in traffic accidents in the 14th police district on August 10, August 17, and October 12, all in the year 2006. The charges announced today are the result of a five-year multijurisdictional investigation, code named “Operation Tow Scam,” which is investigating allegations that CPD Officers were soliciting bribes and extorting cash and other payments from tow truck operators throughout the City of Chicago. Source: enewspf.com

TOWMAN.COM - August 2010 • 9

Jerr-Dan Will Shift Production to JLG Facilities Manufacturing operations at JerrDan Corporation will shift from Greencastle to McConnellsburg and Shippensburg, Pa., and the manufacturing facilties operated by JLG Industries. Both Jerr-Dan and JLG are Oshkosh corporations. Jerr-Dan will close its two plants in Greencastle by October. By integrating with JLG’s manufacturing capabilities, Jerr-Dan says it is upgrading its production capabilities and significantly reducing overhead costs. “By moving into plants that use modern, hi-tech, state-of-the-art equipment, the move quickly upgrades Jerr-

Dan’s capabilities,” says Joel Amsley, Jerr-Dan’s senior vice president. “We’ve upgraded our machinery in the Greencastle plants a lot over the past two decades. The JLG plants offer another move upward. We are looking forward to showing our distributors and our customers the two new sites.” As a manufacturer of wreckers and carriers, Jerr-Dan shares basic and specific manufacturing processes with the kind of equipment currently being produced in McConnellsburg and Shippensburg. JLG manufactures access equipment, such as aerial work plat-

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forms, telehandlers and stock pickers. JLG also manufactures drop-deck trailers. One common type of component with both Jerr-Dan and JLG equipment is the boom. Among Jerr-Dan’s 250 employees there could be a reduction of as many as 100 jobs in October as others transfer to the new sites for operations. The transition is scheduled to occur over the next couple of months, with Oct. 3 set as the date to finalize. According to Oshkosh, Jerr-Dan will continue to operate as a separate business, and the leadership team will continue to run the operations. Jerr-Dan’s sales management, customer support and human resources staff will shift to offices in Hagerstown, Md., a couple miles from the Greencastle location. The McConnelsburg and Shippensburg plants will be about 20 and 40 miles from Jerr-Dan’s new corporate offices.

The Professional Wreckers of Florida (PWOF) announced new heavy-duty wrecker overweight permits for Florida intrastate travel. PWOF executive director Mike Seamon stated that PWOF worked with the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) to develop one of the best overweight permit programs in the country. Heavy-duty tow operators in Florida will now be able to purchase a $360 annual permit that will allow them to legally tow overweight trucks. Check out www.fdotmaint.com/PermitNew/home.asp . PWOF and FDOT agreed upon routes that the permitted heavier loads can use. The routes are highlighted on two maps that are viewable on www3.dot.state.fl.us/OversizedVehiclePermitsGISpublic/MapPagePublic.aspx . Dispatchers can use the maps to efficiently plan the tow, relieving the driver of having to read printed maps. PWOF president Drew Zuccala said, “This beneficial program is a result of a great relationship between PWOF and FDOT and we thank FDOT for their support.”

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Check Out What’s NEW and HOT! Light Weight Spreader Bar The new spreader bar from Miller Industries works in conjunction with its full line of heavyduty products. Designed for use in all types of heavy through light-duty lifting applications, this unique spreader bar allows for executing straight vertical lifts without damaging or collapsing the sides of the casualty. The spreader bar has three easily adjustable width positions: 100” , 105” and 110” , and a load rating to 20 tons (40,000 lbs) for 40- to 60-degree inclination angles and to 15 tons (30,000 lbs) for 30- to 40-degree inclination angles. But the biggest advantage by far of the Miller design is the weight savings. Completely assembled, the spreader bar (minus screw pin shackles) weighs a mere 108 lbs. When broken down, the five-piece bar's heaviest part weighs just 37 lbs. No other spreader bar offers this type of capacity as well as the weight-savings advantage. This spreader bar meets all applicable ASME standards. This means each and every spreader bar was pre-tested to 125 percent of its rating capacity. In addition, the spreader bar satisfied all certification requirements and is totally compliant for lifting regulations. Miller Industries' new spreader bar is now available from your local Miller distributor.

www.millerind.com Number 200 on Reader Card

Hands-Free Light Accessory The new Helping Hand Lockout Accessory will become your favorite accessory. Made from a high impact poly-rubber, the Helping Hand comes with a lifetime warranty. Its suction cup design securely attaches to the vehicles glass and allows you to easily adjust a light beam anywhere inside or outside of the vehicles. This is a perfectly rugged, batter-free design, tow truck tuff, repo-man ready for your roadside and emergency uses. The Helping Hand fits your C&D battery mag-style flashlights. An adapter will be available shortly that fits smaller mag-style flashlights. Made in the USA.

www.miamirepo.com Number 201 on Reader Card

F-Series Repowering Kits Ford Super Duty owners who like their trucks except for the 6.0L and 6.4L Power Stroke engines now have the option of upgrading to the powerful and reliable Cummins 5.9L sixcylinder engine found in Dodge Rams. FordCummins.com has engineered and assembled kits for swapping in Cummins 12-valve, 24-valve, and Common Rail engines. This gives 2005newer Super Duty owners a more-affordable alternative to buying a new truck. Conversion components include transmission adapters, transmission controllers, bolt-in motormount sets, gauge adapters, and wiring-harness modifications. Cummins swap parts are also available for Ford Excursions, Broncos, E-series vans, and F-series trucks back to 1967 (gas and Navistar diesel) as well as for Hummers and select full-sized Chevy pickups and SUVs.

www.fordcummins.com Number 202 on Reader Card

12 • August 2010 - TOWMAN.COM

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Louisville Tower Goes Gooseneck to Expand His Heavy Haul Business

by Carol Wasson

rvin Johns is never afraid of a challenge. As the owner of Suburban Towing, his company recovers planes, trains, cranes, propane trucks, and more. Founded in 1969, the Louisville-based operation is Kentucky’s largest towing service, and the first in the region to have a heavy-duty underlift and rotator. Suburban currently maintains the latest 75-ton, 5winch, twin-steer model (Century) capable of rotating a full 360 degrees. This recovery specialist also hauls heavy equipment across town or across the country via a fleet of fully hydraulic flatbeds and lowboys. Johns’ recent challenge was selecting the right trailer to expand his heavy-haul business, a heavier-ton 14 • August 2010 - TOWMAN.COM

unit that would fit the top image of his fleet, he says, while delivering optimum flexibility. Ultimately, Johns decided upon a Talbert 55SA hydraulic detachable gooseneck trailer outfitted with The Equalizer™. The latter is Talbert’s new nitrogen-assisted dampening system, which hydraulically transfers loads in all terrains. “We chose this particular Talbert trailer as we need to haul into states that require the 4th axle to be at least 14’-1” from the spread on the last axle,” says Johns. “We also like the loading ease on this unit because of the way the rails are designed. And we like the flexibility as we can run it either as a four in a row, or we can put the stinger on it and run it as a 3 + 1.

This gives us the ability to permit for heavier loads through a greater number of states with varying regulations,” he adds. Suburban purchased the trailer from local Talbert dealer, Holt Equipment. Benjamin D. Holt is president of this family-owned company whose roots can be traced back to the early 1900s when Holt’s great grandfather invented the track-type tractor. Today, Holt Equipment boasts nine locations and more than a century of heavy equipment industry experience. To carefully specify and customize his new trailer, Johns consulted with Kent Able, sales manager for Holt

continue to page 18

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Equipment. “We have long-standing relationships with a number of Talbert trailer owners – many who are still operating the Talbert trailers they purchased more than 20 years ago,” says Able. According to the manufacturer, the Talbert 55SA is a hydraulic detachable gooseneck trailer that features a non-ground bearing hydraulic gooseneck design, a 108” swing radius, a 25’-0” deck length and 8’-6” deck width. When outfitted with The Equalizer™, Suburban Towing gains the benefits of a distinctive suspension system that oscillates around a central self-tracking pivot point to provide proportionate weight distribution in each axle grouping, regardless of varying road conditions. For Johns, image is also important – and that is why he specified the new trailer with custom paint, aluminum wheels and a chrome package. “When your equipment projects a good image, customers have a comfort level with your abilities and expertise. What we haul is valuable, and customers want to know that their equipment will get to its destination safely,” he says.

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Roberts owner, Lee D. Roberts, responded to the scene in his 2005 Peterbilt with a Century 1060 rotator and operator Roy Edington responded in their 2009 Peterbilt with a Century 1140 rotator.

Mobile Crane

by Jim “Buck” Sorrenti

Recovery

Two Century rotators work in tandem to recover a 97,000-lb mobile crane from a ditch in Kentucky. 20 • August 2010 - TOWMAN.COM

n May 21, 2009 Roberts Heavy Duty Towing & Recovery in Lexington, Kentucky received a call from Link-Belt Construction Equipment Company to recover one of their cranes that wound up in a ditch. The Link-Belt Construction Equipment Company manufactures and sells telescopic and lattice boom cranes, with headquarters not far from the Roberts operation.

After surveying the scene it was decided that they would rig the 1140 to the ring-gear in the cranes boom and rig the 1060 to the counterweights under the boom.

TOWMAN.COM - August 2010 • 21

With the crane back on its wheels they had to make a few adjustments before winching it back onto the road. First they had to deal with a powerline pole that was directly in the way of the crane’s path to the road.

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The crane was a Link-Belt HTT8690. It measured in at 8-feet 6inches wide, 23-feet 10-inches long, and weighed 97,000-pounds. This was a special design crane with a rear steer axle and not one of their standard units, so it could not be easily replaced and it was already paid for. Luckily, no one was hurt in the mishap. The Link-Belt factory test-drives the new units by driving them down the interstate and back. This time there was a wreck on the interstate so the driver took a country road, which was too narrow. The front wheel caught the edge and got sucked into a ditch where it came to rest on its right side. There was only about 15miles on the crane when it went into the ditch. Roberts owner, Lee D. Roberts, responded to the scene in his 2005 Peterbilt with a Century 1060 rotator and operator Roy Edington responded in their 2009 Peterbilt with a Century 1140 rotator. After surveying the scene it was decided that they would rig the 1140 to the ring-gear in the cranes boom and rig the 1060 to the counterweights under the boom. Lee informed, “We did it this way so we could have control as we uprighted the crane. The 1140 had most of the weight, but worked it effortlessly.” With the crane back on its wheels they had to make a few adjustments before winching it back onto the road. First they had to deal with a powerline pole that was directly in the way of the crane’s path to the road. Lee continued, “We had to take part of the crane cable guides off to be able to snake the unit past the pole.” They pulled the 1060 forward and rigged both lines to the tow rings on the front bumper of the crane. The 1140 was still rigged and they used it to follow the crane through sideways as they pulled it out. Working in tandem the rotators pulled the crane back onto the roadway. It was winched right up to the 1060 and hooked to it so that it could

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be towed back to Link-Belt. Lee said, “The job took four hours from the time we arrived till we towed the crane back to the Link-Belt factory ten miles away.” A Link-Belt factory rep took the photos of this recovery.

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Come into town Thursday or Friday and leave Sunday afternoon or Monday: Show hours are Saturday & Sunday and it takes both days to take in the entire show.

The American Towman Exposition is the world’s premier tow show! 200 Exhibiting Suppliers Come to Baltimore to Meet You! The manufacturers are here under one roof inside the Baltimore Convention Center. Your chance to meet the men and women behind the wreckers and carriers, service trucks, trailers, and chassis. Meet the people behind the insurance or finance companies who specialize in towing product. Pow wow with the folks who head the service networks for the motor clubs or the people who create dispatch, impound, and bookkeeping software for towing operations. Meet the towing parts and accessories manufacturers and resellers. Meet the industry’s trainers on the show floor and in the classrooms of the American Towman Academy. Allies are forged in what seems like a phantasmagoria of people and products as you explore the great halls. Admission is free to advance registrants.

Attendees will receive a free raffle ticket and a chance to win a Dynamic Slide-In, Self Loading Wheel Lift, sponsored by Dynamic Towing Equipment & Manufacturing

It’s a buyer’s market on the show floor where as much as $100 million in business is transacted each year!

Exhibit hours: Saturday, Nov. 20th, 11– 6 p.m., Sunday, Nov. 21st., 11– 5 p.m

Miller teams up with American Towman as towers take over the Hard Rock Cafe for the Friday Night Bull Roast. Sponsor: Miller Industries

Here’s a glimpse at the opportunities you’ll have to networrk with fellow towers, suppliers, and industry leaders. The Main Event – The Exhibit Hall Inside the world’s largest tow show, towers meet up with industry suppliers, from equipment manufacturers to motor club chiefs. Captains of Industry Legendary for its long table, this dinner has towers talking across the table and down it. Open to any tower who’s big enough to be there. American Towman Academy Passport holders gather in the hall at the breakfast tables, sharing notes on running a towing business. Passport includes breakfast.

“Donnie” Recovery Awards Luncheon Towers with recovery in their blood love the multi-media presentation of the award winning recoveries, and love talking war stories to their peers. Open to all. Towman Cruise Friday’s luncheon cruise throughout Baltmore’s Inner Harbor is nothing but magnificent scenery passing by and towers shootin’ the breeze.

Miller Rocks–The Bull Roast We’re turning down the music this year so all of towing’s tall tales can be told… Get down with Bill Miller, Jeff Badgley and Company. Get your free tickets to the Friday Night Bull Roast by advance registering. Tow 411 Hologram Hospitality Or are they actually real, three dimensional towers gathered high up in the Waterfront Marriott, where the tow411 faithful put faces to text, gazing down on the Harbor.

AT’s Captains of Industry Conference features its legendary Long Table in the

Calitri’s Cuba Up in the Havana Room, towing’s cigar aficionados are masters of their domain. Truth is, the talk is a little suspect. Fresh handrolled cigars.

American Wrecker Pageant This networking experience is priceless. The attendees get in on the excitement as they walk around with ballot cards, jawing with the equipment owners.

Order of Towman Rite of Passage These tow bosses, selected by the police chiefs of their towns, come together...linking arms.

ACE Awards Ceremony These award recipients are nominated by motor clubs. The ceremony, followed by cake and coffee, has towers comparing notes; which clubs are the best to work with and why. All the clubs are accessible on the exhibit floor.

Festival Night Towers gather for the industry’s greatest feast. With surf and turf on the plate, towers break bread and celebrate towing’s heroic spirit.

Towers Take Over The Harbor With over ten thousand towers in town, it’s almost impossible not to bump into another of your kind. But relax, he’s probably from another state or another county. Your competitors were either not smart enough to be here, or they’re keeping an eye out to avoid you.

“Recovery” Room at the Marriott Waterfront. Sponsor: Jerr-Dan Corporation

Calitri’s Cuba features a cigar roller in the Havana Room; cosponsored by Lift And Tow

Festival Night is for career towing professionals who takes pride in the unique work they do...the risks they must take..the indespensable role they play in the transportation industry and with the motoring public. Join the celebration as American Towman honors the heroic spirit and dedication of towers who risked their lives to save the lives of others.

Witness the spectacle: the March of the Heroes, the Salute from The Towman Order, the bequeathing of the American Towman Medal. Festival Night includes dinner by the Marriott Waterfront’s Master Chef and surprise entertainment. This is a moment you will never forget! Act now,tickets are limited!

Dragon slayer scene on the hood of an American Wrecker Pageant winner, J&L Towing from Southwick, Mass.

Lifelines, the Towingg Industry On Canvas, spanning 100 feet, will ggrace race Festival Night Hall!

The American Wrecker Pageant features the nation’s most amazing wreckers and carriers and their proud owners. Attendees walk the Pageant Hall with their ballot cards and vote their choice picks for each class. Pageant tow trucks have travelled to Baltimore from as far as Oregon and Texas! The American Wrecker Pageant is sponsored by Dynamic Towing Equipment & Manufacturing

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Special Event Sponsors CAPTAINS OF INDUSTRY

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DONNIE AWARDS

REGISTRATION COUNTER BADGE INSERT/LANYARDS HARLEY GIVEAWAY

The American Towman Medal is awarded to towing professionals who risked their lives to save others while on the job. You may nominate a “hero” for the Medal by writing American Towman, c/o Steve Calitri, at 7 West Street, Warwick, NY, 10990, or emailing scalitri@towman.com. Please include a decription of the incident, the nominee’s name, address and phone number, and your name and phone number. Nominations must be in by September 30th.

ACE AWARDS

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Corporate Sponsor

Supporting Sponsors

The Donnie Cruse Recovery Award, the “Donnie,” is given to tow companies who have performed a challenging recovery with excellence. The Donnie is awarded in three categories; light-, medium-, and heavy-duty recoveries. Deadline for applying is September 30th. Send photos of the recovery and essential details to the Donnie Award, American Towman Magazine, c/o WreckMaster, 4645 Witmer Industrial Estates, Niagara Falls, NY 14305. Phone 905-643-3503 The Donnie Awards are co-sponsored by Miller Industries and B/A Products.

Boost Three Key Business Sectors With Action on the Exhibit Hall & in the Classroom From the exhibit floor to the seminar rooms, American Towman gives you ideas, information, and proven practices to boost your business. AT Expo is more than the metal and booms; it’s also about managing your towing business and being successful.

Contracts With Town Authorities

Commercial Accounts

Motor Club Relations

Whether the town offers an exclusive contract or a rotation berth, towing for the police department is a critical call sector for towing businesses. AT Expo offers many towing-specific management seminars, including one on Municipal Contracts & Rotation and Building The Relationship With Your Police Chief... plus, a seminar on the tow business rating program through the American Towman Standards Authority; find out why Getting Rated* makes sense, how your police chief is notified on your rating achievement, and how you get prescreened for rating in just minutes right on the show floor.

The American Towman Academy at AT Expo also offers seminars to help you boost your business in the commercial sector. The seminar on Cultivating Commercial Accounts identifies opportunities that will have you applauding good old American ingenuity and you’ll learn creative approaches to the commercial sector – a seminar not just for the young turks, but for veteran tow bosses as well.

Make inroads and strengthen your ties with the motor clubs. Ten motor clubs exhibit in Baltimore, including the majors. Tow bosses will have the opportunity throughout the weekend to meet up with key club reps at various hospitality events and on the show floor. But don’t miss out on the American Towman Academy. You’ll get a lot of critical information in the seminar titled “Getting Paid By The Clubs.”

You’ll also want to check out the seminars that explore the ins and outs of Road Service and Battery Service...

color code: black denotes towing-specific managment topics; blue denotes equipment, towing & recovery, and road service topics

Cultivating Commercial Accounts

Incorporating a Battery Service

Googling For Tow Business

You’ll identify account opportunities that will have you applauding good old American ingenuity as you learn a veteran’s approach to the commercial sector for both light and heavy duty towing. This seminar is not just for the young turks, but for veteran tow bosses as well. John Borowski brings 40 years of industry experience to the table as a tow business owner and a commercial account rep for a national towing company. • Friday

Get a better understanding of battery failures, and recognizing the differences... techniques to maintain battery life, as well as keys to identifying a quality battery. By understanding the breakdown of batteries, you will be one step closer to incorporating a profitable mobile battery service to your business. Detailed information on adding this service will be provided. Roy Hellmund, Road America & Interstate Batteries • Friday

Discussions on how Google and other search engines can help draw business. How to work Google…understanding payper-click advertising... and why online is far more relevant than phone book advertising in today's internet age. Rony Mirzaians of Towing Guru • Friday PM

Credit Card Jackpot

Back to Basics: Lift & Tow

Bill Johnson shows you what you don’t know about your credit card bill and how the different methods of taking credit card payments can mean money in your bank or the credit card companies. Conducted by veteran tower, Bill Johnson, National Sales Director ofChoice Merchant Solutions .• Friday

WreckMaster trainer David Bouvia will start with the basics and cover towing capacity; secondary attachment chains; stop turn and running lights; tow height; tow depth; stopping distance; and following distance. • Friday

Big Issues: Discovery Workshop 1 Are the issues preventing you from running a smooth, profitable, customer oriented operation, the same as other big tow companies? Find out by participating in a workshop with other like-minded owners from across the country. Topics in this workshop: Investigate the top problems in the industry; Learn the top three causes of these issues; Discover solutions to your most pressing issues. James Weaver, Tracker Management • Friday

Big Issues: Discovery Workshop 2 This class will build on the discoveries of the first workshop. This 50 minute segment will demonstrate certain processes and technology that can help you achieve solutions to the key challenges facing your company. James Weaver, Tracker Management • Friday

Managing Your Fuel Expenses How to effectively manage your fuel expenses and protect your business from rising fuel costs. Hosted by Pricelock and 360FuelCard.com & Cross Country Automotive Services. • Friday

Coaching for Performance Coaching plays an important role in guiding and encouraging members of a team to work towards a common goal. This seminar will cover some basic coaching techniques geared to the towing and recovery industry that will help you improve employee performance and morale as well as create an atmosphere of teamwork and professionalism within your company. Terry Abejuela, American Towman • Friday PM

The Rated Tower The Tow Doctor, DJ Harrington, discusses the towing industry’s exclusive rating program administered through the American Towman Standards Authority, and how being rated can reduce your insurance premiums, earn commercial accounts, and help to stand out in the eyes of town and highway authorities. • Friday

Road Service - a Revenue Builder

Working with Air Cushions

Police-Tower Relationship

Join the team from Matjack/BTR as they review and discuss various air bag recovery jobs along with incident response trailers/units and the role of performing a professional image for your customer and rescue personnel. John Sweezy and Howard Eagan of Matjack. • Friday

Town rotation systems and the relationship you have with your Pollice Chief and the department go hand in hand. Industry leader John Borowski discusses how to cultivate your relationship with the Chief and how to use the National Standard For Rotation Systems to the benefit of the town and yourself. • Saturday

This one is for the tower considering road service. Different types of service trucks will be discussed and what tools and equipment you need to stock it with. Extend your revenue and fix the smaller repairs on site or ultimately get the tow. Jim Heward, Cumberland Towing • Saturday

Recoveries Around the World Tom Luciano of Miller Industries and Nick Ovenden of The Institute of Vehicle Recovery (IVR), based in the UK, will articulate their expert training techniques and concepts from around the world. • Friday PM

Finding Profit Killers Identify where the profit killers are in your facility: Operations (people and processes), Capital Assets (Trucks & Equipment), and Customers. Learn how to avoid and/or fix these profit killers now! Andrew de la Chapelle of USFleetTracking • Saturday

Dispatching

Performing Light-Duty Rollovers

This class got rave reviews in Texas at Tow Expo. It is packed full of ways to increase your business. Make good dispatchers even better. Those attending will learn ways to increase their skills. And you could leave with a 3-day/2-night Carribean vacation! Only 10 trips per class. DJ Harrington, Phone Logic • Saturday

Employees that have not been properly trained to perform rollovers effectively and safely put your company at risk each time they perform this type of work. Tow operators must possess the knowledge and skills to upright vehicles with little or no additional damage. This seminar will highlight proper techniques to perform three types of rollovers: The basic roll towards the tow truck, the reverse roll away from the tow truck and the single lane upright. Terry Abejuela, American Towman • Saturday

The Lowdown on "Overrides" Tow operators often respond to tow vehicles with the transmission locked in "park" and restoring power may not be the solution. Many of today's vehicles have an "override" switch which allows the operator to by-pass the electronics and shift the vehicle into neutral. Some "overrides” are both visible and accessible, while others are hidden and more complex. This seminar will help the tow operator locate these "overrides" on many vehicles. Conducted by Dave Lambert, North American Training • Saturday

Delegating Like A General Tow Boss and private lot tower guru, Dan Messina, discusses how to be a General in charge. According to Messina, there are ways to be in charge of your business and enjoy your life and he goes into detail about how to hold your people accountable, assigning responsibility, and measuring your business for success. Dan Messina, Southwest Auto • Sunday

Get Started in the Digital Age

Towers and Healthcare Reform:

Are you tired of hearing about all the benefits of "using technology" but don't know where to start? Then this seminar is for you. Al Stoeberl, SSCS-Digital Dispatch • Saturday

The healthcare reform bill was passed and signed into law in March, but new details are coming out daily. In a nutshell, costs will go up, and anyone who does not have an exemption will have to get health insurance. This seminar covers compliance issues, how to qualify for exemptions, tax credits, and some of the more favorable options available to towers. Ralph Weber, Route Three • Sunday

Getting Recovery Bills Paid Bob Foquette from Big Wheel and Recovery Billing Unlimited gives a primer of his famous course that details how to get those big tow bills paid; from the proper way of writing acceptable recovery invoices to obtaining payment from insurance companies. A must for tow business owners who bill out recovery work and those who manage the company’s billing process. • Saturday

Minimize Your Tire Cost This seminar will not only assist you in selecting the best tires for your towing equipment, but will present you with a better understanding of your tire costs per mile, extending the life of your tires with simple maintenance procedures, the makings of quality tires, along with purchasing tires at competitive prices. Steve Bass, Road America & Goodyear Tire & Rubber • Saturday

World Class Customer Service Start at the ground level to be a successful business. In this seminar, you'll take away specific tools for each person in your company (Operators, Dispatchers, Bookkeepers, Sales, and Owners) to enhance Customer Service and ultimately improve your bottom line. Don't miss this opportunity to take home new skills that will dramatically improve your business. Stacey Tucker, Chico Towing • Sunday

ort includes breakfast Friday through Sunday

Everyone Needs A Good Angle WreckMaster's senior lead instructor, Terry Humelsine will discuss playing with angles in recovery logistics. How to increase or concentrate the effort or pull where it needs to be: When to open-up an angle and when to close one up; Where to position your recovery vehicle. • Sunday

What is Your Life Worth? This seminar provides panelists to inform you about safety equipment and suggestions to keep towers safe and from getting injured. Moderator is Jim Caviglia of Safetyline. • Sunday

Getting Paid by the Clubs Either through towers’ negligence or stringent motor club requirements, a high percentage of towing fees hang in limbo, never paid, never collected. Todd Althouse of Beacon Software gives tow bosses a reality check on how they can best keep Clubs current in their payments. Automating and using the internet play a key role in the discussion. • Sunday

$75 Passport gets gets you all into all you into the the seminars seminars you’re you’re able toable to attend...includes breakfast Friday through Sunday All C lasse s

Fly into Baltimore at Reasonable Rates: Roundtrip from the west coast or southwest for $200 $300; from midwestern and eastern cities for as little as $125!

More towing professionals have visited Baltimore, Maryland’s Inner Harbor than any other site in the world. Home to the American Towman Exposition for 22 years, the Harbor has everything for celebrating life and industry. The Baltimore Convention Center is a block away, hotels are across the street or a block or two. Great restaurants and shops line the promenades around the Harbor, plus the National Aquarium, the Maryland Science Center, old ships and naval submarines for touring. Unique neighborhoods are close; Little Italy and Fells Point just a few blocks from the Marriott Waterfront, AT’s Headquarters.

Join A.T. on the Towman Cruise of the Harbor. Enjoy lunch and the camaraderie of towing professionals from around the nation and the world. See reg. form.

Baltimore’s Inner Harbor is full of mystery and discovery, even so for AT Expo fans who keep coming back. Whether you’re seeing the B&O Railroad Museum for the first time or finally making it to O’Brycki’s Crab House, anticipating the pleasures of the Harbor is part of the lure. The other part is hobnobbing with one’s peers. Over 10,000 towing professionals attend the Exposition and roam the Harbor, either by foot, by water taxi, or motor taxi. From the Marriott Waterfront, American Towman provides shuttle service to and from the Convention Center.

Baltimore’s Inner Harbor as seen from American Towman’s headquarters Hotel, the Marriott Waterfront. AT Expo attendees staying at the Marriott Waterfront receive 10% off food items in the hotel’s restaurants and room service.

Advance registrants receive a free raffle ticket, guaranteed, and the chance to win a Harley Sportster Nightster, presented and sponsored by Miller Industries. Must be present to win. m. Sunday, win. Drawing: 3 p. p.m. Sunday, Nov. Nov. 21st. 21st.

Don’t Miss Out On $avings on Special Events, Seminars & Hotels • Avoid On Site Lines! AT Expo: www.towman.com/expo • Fax to: 845-986-5181 • Mail to: 7 West Street, Warwick, NY 10990 • Phone: 800-732-3869 or 845-986-4546 x214

REGISTER HERE: By advance-registering, the “Boss” and one guest are admitted free to Exhibit Hall. $5 fee applies to all others. Kids under 14 free. 1st Registered Name: |

| |

Title

2nd Registered Name: |

| |

Title

| |

3rd Registered Name ($5): |

4th Registered Name ($5): | Company: |

| |

| Title

| | |

| Title |

| |

| Show Special

Address: City:

State:

Phone:

Zip:

Fax:

PLEASE CHECK BOXES BELOW

E-mail: First time at Expo: ❒ Yes ❒ No

2. Secondary business (check those that apply): ❏ Towing/Recovery ❏ Auto Repair/Serv. Ctr. ❏ Repossession ❏ Transport/Trailer Serv.

❏ Salv/Auto Parts ❏ Truck Repair ❏ Auto Body Shop ❏ Service Station

3. No. Employees: ❏ 1-5

EVENT SIGN-UP

Country:

❏ ❏ ❏ ❏

Auto/Truck Dealership Vehicle Leasing Distributor Equip Other______________

❏ 6-10 ❏ 11-20 ❏ 21-50 ❏ 51-100 ❏ 100+

1. Is your Primary business Towing/Recovery : ❏ Yes ❏ No

4. Check one that best describes your purchasing authority: ❏ I authorize/approve purchases ❏ No authority ❏ I recommend Add A.T. 5. No. tow trucks in fleet: ❏ 1-3 ❏ 4-7 ❏ 8-12 ❏ 13-16 ❏ 17+ Subscription: 6. Types of tow trucks in fleet (check those that apply): ____ 1 yr for $40 ❏ Light Duty Wrecker ❏ Heavy Duty Wrecker ❏ Transport/Trailers (save $10!) ❏ Medium Duty Wrec. ❏ Carriers ❏ Class 7/8 Tractor ____ 2 yrs for $65 ❏ Service Vehicle ❏ Rotators (save $10!)

AT EXPO: Friday through Sunday, Nov. 19-21 • Baltimore, MD

PRICING

FILL IN PRICE

EXHIBIT HALL Saturday, 11 am - 6 pm • Sunday, 11 am - 5 pm, Nov. 20-21. You’ll need both days to take in all exhibits & your badge is good for both days!

❏ Yes, please advance register me for the exhibit hall. 1st & 2nd registrants are free: addt’l $5 each. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$5 per person

$ ___________

SEMINAR PASSPORT! Fri.- Sun., Nov. 19-21 $95 on-site or register now at . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$75 per person

$ ___________

❏ 1st registrant ❏ 2nd registrant ❏ 3rd registrant ❏ 4th registrant (Includes breakfast Friday, Saturday, & Sunday) AMERICAN WRECKER PAGEANT Sponsor: Dynamic Towing Equipment and Mfg. Fri.-Sun., November 19-21 . . . . . . . . . . . . .$100/$150 Check class you will compete in - one vehicle per class and two per company. Trucks must enter Fri. and stay in hall until Sun., 5 pm $100:

❏ Light (pre-2009) ❏ Light (2009-10) ❏ Med ❏ Vintage (Pre-1985)

$150:

$ ___________

❏ HD Single Axle ❏ HD Tandem ❏ Rotator ❏ Carrier

CAPTAINS OF INDUSTRY DINNER CONFERENCE Sponsor: Jerr-Dan, Thurs. Nov. 18, 6:30 pm. Marriott Waterfront. # of People _____$75 per person

$ __________

TOWMAN HUNT-SKEET SHOOT Friday, 9 am, Nov. 19. Includes shooting fees, lunch and transportation. # of People _____ . . . .$75 per shooter

$ ___________

HARBOR LUNCH CRUISE Friday, 12:30 pm Board, Depart 1:00 pm, Nov. 19, # of People _____ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$45 per person

$ ___________

DONNIE CRUSE RECOVERY AWARDS LUNCHEON Awards Sponsor: Miller Industries and B/A Products, Marriott Waterfront Hotel Fri., Nov. 19, 12:30 pm. Honoring legendary trainer Donnie Cruse; features critiques of winning recoveries. # of People _____ . . . . . .$45 per person FESTIVAL NIGHT American Towman Presents: March of the Heroes, Towman Order Salute, American Towman Medal, Marriott Waterfront Hotel Saturday, Nov. 20, 7:30 pm Features Gourmet Dinner and Entertainment # of People _____ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$55 per person

TOTAL AMERICAN TOWMAN HOSPITALITIES (FREE with this Advance Registration)

$ __________ $ __________

$ __________

CHECK BOX

BULL & PIG ROAST AT THE HARD ROCK (Miller Rocks! at the Hard Rock Café) Sponsor: Miller Industries, Friday, Nov. 19: 7:30-10 pm. #_______ people. . . . . . . . .❏ CIGAR SMOKER (Calitri’s Cuba) Sponsor: Lift and Tow, Friday, Nov. 19: 9 pm., Havana Club #_______ people. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .❏

PAYMENT INFO:

❏ Credit Card#:

Exp. Date:

Name on credit card

Signature Required:

❏ Check(s) Enclosed $______ (Registration, Event & Item fees payable to AT Exposition)

HOTEL RESERVATION REQUEST

Make out separate check to hotel of your choice if not using credit card (1st night amount only)

❏ Hotel check enclosed $_____________ ❏ Guarantee reservation to credit card above

Arrival Date:______________, 2010 - Depart Date: _______________, 2010 Special Requests ____________________________________________________________________________ If reserving more than one room please list names for each room: # of Rooms __________ # of Guests in each room ___________ # of beds _________ Room #1___________________________________________ Room #2____________________________________________ Room #3__________________________________________ HOTEL CHOICE - Please write in your 1st, 2nd, & 3rd choice hotels below. You will be emailed your confirmation. MARRIOTT WATERFRONT

___Marriott Waterfront Hotel • $172 Sgl/Dbl AMERICAN TOWMAN HEADQUARTERS HOTEL, 4-Star, harborview, fitness center, restaurant/bar. Shuttle Service to Convention Center. Non-smoking hotel, CAPTAINS OF INDUSTRY, FESTIVAL NIGHT, TOWMAN MEDAL, TOWMAN ORDER CEREMONY, AND DONNIE AWARDS LUNCHEON TAKE PLACE HERE! GUESTS RECEIVE 10% OFF YOUR FOOD AT H OTEL R ESTAURANTS AND R OOM S ERVICE .

___Marriott Inner Harbor • $172 Sgl/Dbl One block from Conv. Ctr., fitness center, indoor pool, restaurant, non-smoking hotel.

___Renaissance Harborplace Hotel • $172 Sgl/Dbl Balt2010

4-Star, rooms with harborview, fitness center, restaurant/bar, connected to Mall. Three blocks from Conv. Ctr. Non-smoking hotel. ___Days Inn Inner Harbor • $122 Sgl/Dbl Across from Conv. Ctr., bar & grill, fitness ctr.

___Sheraton Inner Harbor • $159 Sgl/Dbl, $179 T

One block from Conv. Ctr. with a catwalk, indoor pool, fitness center.

___Hyatt Regency Hotel • $165 Sgl/Dbl, $190 T At Inner Harbor, 1st Class Hotel, health club.

___Holiday Inn Inner Harbor • $119 Sgl/Dbl, $154 T One block from Conv. Ctr., indoor pool, fitness center.

___Radisson Plaza Lord Baltimore • $119 Sgl/Dbl/T Three blocks from Conv. Ctr., bar & grill, fitness center.

___Hilton Baltimore • $189 Sgl/Dbl Next to Conv. Ctr. with a Catwalk, pool, fitness center.

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Se Habla Español

(800) 323-8324

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JACK SETS Separate the door from

1 the frame using the

One Hand Jack

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SUPER ONE HAND JACK ITEM #SOHJ SUPER ONE HAND JACK $29.95 ITEM #SOHJ

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Lightweight and yet hard to brake material ͖͘ ǯ LED bulbs last virtually forever

Replaceable cups mean longer life. As cups wear, just replace them (extra cups sold separately) 5HÀ HFWLYH VXUIDFH PDJQL¿ HV OLJKW Patent Pending

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SHIELDED QUICK MAX

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ITEM# SQM

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ȍ Ȏ Won’t slip off of door lock button Keep your One-Hand-Jack and Air Wedge in the bag (bag and tools available with Jack Kits) Patent Pending

Truck-n-Tow Southeast T. Supplies 888-918-8150 954-563-0158 Detroit, MI Oakland Park, FL truckntow.com salstowing.com House of Wreckers Casanova Towing 800-594-0005 800-746-8802 San Carlos, CA Compton, CA casanovatowequipment.com houseofwreckers.com SoCal Tow Equipment Robert Young’s 800-400-8085 800-246-4785 Anaheim, CA Roanoke, VA towequipments.com robertyoungparts.com Bliss Auto Supply Harding Parts 267-252-8554 800-931-3890 Quakertown, PA Rochester, NY Pennsylvania uneedmoreparts.com Washington Truck Equip. Golden West 206-364-1500 714-779-6000 Seatle, WA Anaheim, CA goldenwesttoweq.com Number 102 on Reader Card

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Hedinger Equip. 866-869-1717 Indianapolis, IN hedingers.com B & B Chain 866-799-5514 Milford, NH towtran.com Best Equipment 510-569-1288 Oakland, CA bestequipment.net Towtran USA 800-898-8777 Corona, CA towtran.com Security Plus 602-234-3883 Phoenix, AZ

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42 • August 2010 - TOWMAN.COM

Freeway

Service Patrol Metro FSP trucks must be identified on the front of the truck and if practical on the cab and chassis.

Magnetic Metro Freeway Service Patrol decal.

by Terry Abejuela

There are 38 states that have Freeway Service Patrol programs, servicing 2,323,624 motorists annually.

he idea of patrolling road service trucks has been around for over 80 years. In July of 1924 the Automobile Club of Southern California started a program known as the Highway Patrol Service. This fleet of 10 specially equipped trucks and trained drivers patrolled the highways of Southern California stopping and assisting stranded motorists, members and non-members alike. In 1929 the state of California started the California Highway Patrol and the Club’s Highway Patrol Service changed its name to Service Patrol but their mission continued. In the early days being stranded on a highway in the middle of nowhere

could be life threatening. There were no call boxes or cell phones so one would have to wait and hope someone came along to help. Today experiencing a breakdown on the freeway is life threatening for another reason. Being hit by passing traffic and secondary accidents caused by motorists distracted by an incident on the freeway are definite hazards when stopped along the side of the freeway. Incidents on the freeway also cost millions of dollars in traffic delays and generate tons of pollution in the air from idle vehicles delayed in traffic. The Freeway Service Patrol (FSP) also know as Courtesy Patrol, Motorist Assist Patrol, Safety Service Patrol and Roadway Service Patrol are

programs that combat these issues through one of the tools available to assist with traffic incident management. I believe the first continuous regular program in the United States was started in Chicago, Ill. with the Minutemen in 1960. In the same year Mexico started their version of FSP called the Green Angels. Many of the current FSP programs in the United States started in the 1990’s.

Current Programs A report published by TravelersMarketing in Wellesley, Mass. shows that currently there are 38 states that have Freeway Service Patrol programs covering an estimated 12,680 centerTOWMAN.COM - August 2010 • 43

Metro FSP Truck from Bob’s Towing in Rowland Heights, Calif.

line miles and servicing 2,323,624 motorists annually. Each programs’ scope in terms of size, hours, type of vehicles, and whether government owned or privately owned and contracted services varies widely. The common goal with all of these programs is to reduce traffic incident duration and secondary incidents through the rapid clearing of the roadway. FSP programs are also thought to be beneficial in quick detection of incidents and relieving law enforcement officers from some activities they may otherwise have to perform. Many states have specific names for their programs such as: •Colorado Mile High Courtesy Patrol. •Connecticut Highway Assistance Motorist Patrol (CHAMP). •Florida Road Rangers. •Georgia Highway Emergency Response Operations (HERO). •Illinois Minutemen. •Indiana Hoosier Helpers. •Minnesota Freeway Incident Response Safety Team (FIRST). •Pennsylvania State Farm Safety Patrol.

California FSP FSP programs vary so much I will outline the California program and in particular the Metro Freeway Service Patrol in Los Angeles which is the largest program in the nation as an example. 44 • August 2010 - TOWMAN.COM

The California FSP is a joint program provided by Caltrans, the California Highway Patrol and local transportation agencies. The California FSP program currently consists of seven CHP area programs with 300 trucks covering 1,400 miles of freeway system. These trucks service an average of 600,000 motorists annually.

Metro Freeway Service Patrol The Metro Freeway Service Patrol program in Los Angeles operates 40 beats covering approximately 450 miles of the freeway system in Los Angeles county. A total of 21 private towing companies are under contract with the Los Angeles Metropolitan Transportation Authority (METRO or MTA) to work FSP. The program operates 152 trucks and handles an average of 300,000 incidents annually. Funding for the program is provided through State Highway Funds and voter approved through a Los Angeles County sales tax. The Metro Los Angeles FSP program also operates heavy-duty trucks on the Long Beach Freeway (710) and Riverside Freeway (91) due to the large number of trucks that use those freeways.

Services provided by California FSP program include: •Changing flat tires •Jump starting batteries

•Providing a gallon of fuel •Fill radiators •If needed, towing to a CHP designated drop point •Removing debris from the roadway The Metro FSP program does not accept payment from motorists for their assistance, tow cars to private repair services or a residence, tow motorcycles or heavy vehicles (except on the 710 and 91 freeways.) Service is provided on almost all of the Los Angeles area freeways Monday through Friday during the peak traffic hours of 6am to 10am and 3pm to 7pm. Heavily congested freeways also have mid day service from 10am to 3pm and Saturday service from 10am to 6pm.

Driver Requirements In order to work in the program, drivers are required by law to get a tow truck driver endorsement to their drivers license from the California Department of Motor Vehicles. All drivers must pass a proficiency test administered by the CHP and attend a two-day training program before working in the program. Each year they are required to attend eight hours of refresher training. All drivers wear a specific type of uniform with safety vests with reflective material and steel toed boots that make them easily identifiable. They must wear a name tag on the vest. Drivers are required to complete a Scantron form for each incident they stop for and provide a response card to the motorist. The Scantron forms collect statistical data for the program. Drivers are provided a manual referred to as the Standard Operating Procedures manual or SOP. This manual covers the rules, policies and regulations of the Metro FSP program.

Truck Requirements Primary trucks used in the program are similar in the way they look and must display the Metro FSP logo decal on them. The trucks must be less than one year old and have less than 50,000 miles on them when the program term starts. These trucks are dedicated to the program and are parked

Grow your business with one of the world’s leading banks†. If you’re in the market to upgrade your ﬂeet, purchase additional equipment or improve your payment processing, come to Sovereign. With Sovereign, you can count on: Flexible ﬁnance programs Q Knowledgeable account representatives Q Customized payment schedules Q Convenient credit card acceptance programs Q

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Number 103 on Reader Card

Automatic Vehicle Locator (AVL)

Toplight

Mobile Data Terminal used by the Metro Freeway Service Patrol Drivers.

when not on the beat. Each beat is also required to have a back up truck that uses magnetic logos and can be used for other service but must be available to work the beat if needed. The FSP logos must be removed when the truck is used for service other than FSP deployment. Trucks are required to carry specific equipment and must be inspected before each shift. Trucks and drivers are subject to random inspections by a CHP FSP supervisor.

Communications Most of the communication between the FSP drivers and CHP dispatch is done through the use of a Mobile Data Terminal (MDT). Voice radio is also available. Trucks are tracked using an Automatic Vehicle Locator System (AVL). Most incidents handled by the FSP drivers are located by the drivers while patrolling their

beats. A small percentage of incidents are relayed via the MDT or voice radio when motorists call in by cell phone or a freeway callbox.

Supervision Tow companies and drivers involved in the program are trained, certified and supervised by CHP officers specifically dedicated to the program called David units. The David units conduct the mandatory proficiency testing, initial twoday training and the eight hours

of annual refresher training. They conduct ride along evaluations of drivers, background checks, complaint investigations, random inspections of the equipment and maintain the SOP.

Should you participate?

Terry Abejuela has 30+ years of experience in the light-duty towing and recovery industry. He has been a light-duty level 1 instructor for the California Tow Truck Association since 1998. As AT’s Field Editor, he reports on carrier, light, and medium-duty techniques.

Participation in a FSP program is of course a business decision each towing company owner must make for themselves. FSP programs can vary even within the same state so do your homework and research the program in your area. You must weigh the pros and cons, determine if this type of work fits with your business plan and decide if you have the resources. Many of these programs require substantial management support, dependable drivers, well maintained and equipped trucks, and dedicated equipment.

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Number 198 on Reader Card

Brad Jones

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FLORIDA continued JACKSONVILLE Rush Truck Center 813.361.1199 www.rushtruckcenter.com shafferd@rush-enterprises.com •Jerr-Dan

FLORIDA continued WEST PALM BEACH Tri-County Truck & Equipment 561.712.1190 www.tricountytruck.com trucksales@tricountytruck.com •Jerr-Dan

NEW HAMPSHIRE ROCHESTER Rochester Truck 800.335.2085 www.rochestertruck.com hulk@rochestertruck.com •Chevron, Jerr-Dan, NRC

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MIAMI TruckMax 305.777.9000 www.truckmax.com dshelow@truckmax.com •Century, Challenger, Champion, Vulcan, Holmes, Chevron, Eagle

MAINE PORTLAND O’Connor Motor Company 800.464.6225 www.oconnorwheels.com dan.doiron@oconnorwheels.com •Jerr-Dan, Century

NEW JERSEY ATLANTIC CITY Quality Truck Center 609.965.9200 www.qualitytruckcenter.com corinned@qualitytruckcenter.com •Jerr-Dan, Dynamic

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There are several resources for towing and recovery training in North America, but the need for education in the management of a towing operation has been addressed mainly by magazine articles and trade show seminars. One former tower has done something to add to the mix. Says Dennis Wencel, “When I first got into towing, few were willing to answer the questions I had about how to make my business more profitable. So after I sold my company, I decided to pour all the valuable secrets I learned over the years into a book and DVD set to help more independent tow companies thrive. After all, one of the greatest aspects of our industry is that it is filled with small, independent and family-owned businesses, and I want to help keep it that way.” Built by towers for towers, Wencel’s Black Book of Towing & DVD Set is a business tool he says can help tow bosses be more profitable. To check out the Black Book of Towing & DVD Set visit www.towprogram.com.

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Training

In-House

Part 1 of 2

by Dave Lambert

Training should begin by sitting down and going over a checklist of activities that will be covered during the training period.

52 • August 2010 - TOWMAN.COM

any of you reading this article have had the opportunity to train another driver. Depending on the experience level of the trainee assigned to you, you may have spent several days together or several weeks.

Whether you come across as a good trainer or a poor one, the operator you trained will always remember you, just like most of us remember the person who trained us. A part of you will be with them on every job they perform, for as long as they remain in the industry. That’s a pretty awesome statement and your responsibility to the new trainee is no less. Their future safety, their customers’ safety, the trucks they drive and the vehicles they service could depend on how serious you take your job as trainer and how well you do it. Training someone can either be a good experience or bad, both for the trainer and the trainee. The trainer, or more specifically, the trainer’s attitude and their knowledge of training will determine how well the training progresses. Regardless of the new employee’s experience level or their attitude, everything hinges on the quality of the trainer. There are a host of things the trainer must know in order to be effective, such as, what is training; what are the characteristics of a good trainer; what are the barriers to learning; how do you know if you’re accomplishing the task of teaching? In this two-part article, we will attempt to help you be an effective trainer, one-on-one.

What is training? In its simplest form, training is teaching a skill or changing a behavior. You can teach someone a new skill, expand on the skills they already have, or you change a behavior by changing the way they are performing a skill, especially when they are performing in an unsafe manner or in a manner that does not comply to company policy. During the training, a good trainer will consistently display all the characteristics they want to develop in the new operator. Translated that means, expect the operator to learn and display the professionalism you teach them, through your words and actions. One of the most important things you must realize as a trainer is the trainee only remembers about 20% of what they hear; they remember less than 30% of what they see; and, within 24 to 36 hours, 50% of what they have

learned will be forgotten if there is no “reinforcement.”

The Theory of Learning In every type of training, people can acquire three things: 1) Knowledge and facts that can be learned; 2) Attitudes that will affect motivation; and 3) Skills that can be applied. From the trainer’s view, the Theory of Learning means; Here is the knowledge and facts about towing and recovery; Here is why you must perform the task correctly; and, Here’s how to perform the tasks. From the student’s point of view that means, What am I suppose to learn; Why should I learn what you’re trying to teach me, or why should I do it your way; and, Show me what to do. The trainer must ensure the trainee understands the whats, the whys, and the hows.

Have a Training Plan Training a new employee shouldn’t be haphazard, it should be a step-bystep process. Whenever possible, training should begin by sitting down and going over a checklist of activities that will be covered during the training period such as, standard loading and unloading wheel lift, flatbed, and dollies; loading and unloading damaged vehicles. The checklist might include the use of skates and snatch blocks; using wood for ramping; proper hook placement in brackets and slots; overrides for transmissions; company policies and appropriate paperwork, to name a few. This checklist should become a permanent part of the new employee’s record. As the training progresses, the trainee should be required to sign-off on each procedure that was demonstrated and performed. The checklist could become valuable should liability issues arise later.

To the Yard Ideally, after going over the checklist, training should go straight to the yard to begin demonstrations and practice the basics of towing and recovery. Remember to include the what, why, and how.

NOTE: It may be better to save the rollovers and most difficult loading procedures for later in the training; otherwise, you may be wasting your time. When the trainee is new to the industry, there is a chance they will only last a few days, heading back to easier jobs. The trainer should demonstrate one piece of equipment at a time, stepby-step, never taking a “short cut” with safety or company policy. Let the student become somewhat proficient before moving on to another piece of equipment. This is the time to build the student’s confidence, not a time to yell and scream. Remember, the student will remember very little during the initial training phases. Hearing…seeing…and doing, then hearing…seeing…and doing again.

Barriers to Learning Not everyone has the ability to be an excellent trainee, no matter how hard they try or how great their desire. They may have a learning disability; that is, lack proficiency in reading, writing, remembering, or comprehending. You need to find out where a barrier may be hidden. It will make your job easier if you recognize a problem.

Most Tow Operators are Hands-on People As a trainer, you should understand that many towers in this industry learn by doing. Show them something, let them do it and they’ll remember. Anyone can demonstrate a procedure then watch the trainee perform it. The real trainer, shows what to do; explains why he’s doing it a particular way; watches the trainee perform; and listening to the trainee’s explanation of why he did it that way. An example: You instruct the trainee to never use mini-J hooks on the sides of frame rails, explaining that T-hooks or R-hooks are best suited for side rails; you identify the slots that are re-enforced and cut at the proper angle; you warn that mini-J hooks have a real possibility of pulling out of a slot on the side of a frame; the slot can tear if not reinforced; and the angle TOWMAN.COM - August 2010 • 53

will change as the vehicle is winched forward. You warn that towers have lost vehicles off the bed as they were being loaded because of improper placement of the proper hook. In the example, we went right back to the Theory of Learning. We presented the knowledge and facts; established or changed a behavior in the trainee by explaining the benefit/danger; and taught a skill.

Other barriers to learning may include: a poor previous training experience; a lack of confidence; fear of failure; old-dog syndrome; a belief that the trainer can’t teach them anything they don’t already know. A good trainer can overcome each of these barriers by showing patience; understanding questioning techniques; and being knowledgeable about equipment and procedures.

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In Part Two, we’ll cover how a good trainer can overcome the most common barriers to learning; how questions and answers are a key to training; how the senses affect learning; and, how to evaluate your effectiveness as a trainer.

David Lambert is president and leadinstructor for the North American Towing Academy, providing tow operator training and certification programs to state and national associations and individual towing companies. He assisted in editing TRAA’s Level I certification program; served as Chairman of the SAE Towability Committee; and past field editor for American Towman Magazine. He can be reached at 407-765-5149 or by visiting www.TheNATA.com.

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With the ever increasing cost of vehicle ownership and the difficult economic challenges facing professional towing and recovery operators, versatility in equipment has never been more important than it is today. That’s why you need a tough and versatile truck that works as hard and as smart as you do in meeting those daily challenges. The Jerr-Dan® MDL320/110 16 Ton Integrated Wrecker is a tough, reliable, and extremely versatile piece of equipment designed to safely and securely tow vehicles from sports cars and pickups to medium-dutyy trucks. The MDL320/110 comes well equipped with a low profile crossbar and wheel grids as well as a variety of frame forks and lifting attachments that enable damage free towing of most cars and medium-duty trucks. With increased towing capabilities, the available 7,500-lb. capacity mediumduty tire lift makes motor home towing and tractor swaps a breeze. In addition, a large selection of optional towing attaachmenttss are available for many vehicle and trailer towing applications. When it comes to recovery, the MDL320/110 provides the performance needed to complete the job and get the roadway open. With a fold-up underlift, 16 ton capacity wrecker boom, dual 15,000-lb. planetary winches, six sets of rear anchor points, and available hydraulic spades with new ground penetrating flip down spade feet – the MDL320/110 sets the industry staandard for medium-duttyy recoverryy capabilittyy and safety. Using advanced aerospace and automotive technologies, Jerr-Dan delivers a corrosion resistant, stress-free composite body with bonded aluminum substructure. This design minimizes weight, while providing superior fit, finish, and impact resistance when compared to similar steel, aluminum or stainless bodies. Plus, repair costs are easy on the wallet too. In addition to great looks and performance, the body features a 49” double door cross over storage

compartment for easy, convenient and weathertight storage. Here are the top ﬁve reasons to choose the versatile Jerr-Dan MDL 16 ton integrated wrecker: 1 err-Dan’s ccomposite omposite b odies aare re 1.. JJerr-Dan’s bodies llightweight, ightweight, rresist esist sstress tress ccracks racks ever rrust. ust. P lus, tthey hey h old aand nd n never Plus, hold onger tthan han w elded b odies. ttogether ogether llonger welded bodies. 2.. T The longest u underlifts nderlifts iin 2 he longest n eeach ach cclass lass llet et y you ou rreach each aalmost lmost aany ny vvehicle ehicle eeasily. asily. N No oh hassles. assles. N No op problems. roblems. 3 3.. JJerr-Dan’s err-Dan’s n negative-tilt egative-tilt crossbar crossbar aallows llows you you to to make make downhill downhill lifts lifts o other ther wreckers wreckers can’t can’t touch. touch. 4 4.. H High-performance, igh-performance, w weatherproof eatherproof ystems p provide rovide y years ears o off eelectrical lectrical ssystems rreliable eliable p performance, erformance, d day ay iin n aand nd d day ay o out. ut.

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“The versatility of our Jerr-Dan medium-duty wrecker is an incredible beneﬁt to our company. We can tow anything from a passenger car all the way up to a tandem axle trailer – or even a 26-foot box truck. It can handle just about anything. And there’s no trouble maneuvering in tight quarters with a unit on the hook. That versatility means more productivity for our operation. When we purchase another mediumduty wrecker, it’ll be a Jerr-Dan.” Clay Hunter Hunter Auto & Wrecker Service Charlotte, NC

5.. T The underreach boom 5 he u nderreach aand nd b oom aare re m mounted ounted d directly irectly tto o a cchassis hassis ssubframe, ubframe, ttransferring ransferring fforces orces aaway way from from tthe he b body ody ffor or wear aand nd ttear, ear, llonger rreduced educed wear onger outstanding llife ife aand nd o utstanding sstability. tability. Jerr-Dan vehicles are durable and reliable. They perform beyond expectations – no matter what the conditions. For more than 30 years, Jerr-Dan has redeﬁned the towing Number 124 on Reader Card

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The Old Girl - Truck #702

ichael Bessaparis started out in the automotive repair industry but saw a need for a reliable towing company in the area. To fill the need Bessaparis founded Somerset Hills Towing in Bridgewater, N.J. in 1989. The company has been servicing Somerset, Hunterdon and Middlesex counties ever since. Over the past 21 years the company has grown. Bessaparis has surrounded himself with quality people including; company General Manager Peter Schapley,

Director of Training Christopher Saxton, and Frank Sanchez, who heads up the sales and marketing department. They have 16 full-time employees and five part-timers and a fleet of 40 trucks, including the classic old Holmes featured here. This is their truck #702, a 1971 Chevrolet C-65 with a 1971 Holmes 600 split boom. It’s a 16-ton wrecker equipped with dual 25-ton Tulsa mechanical winches, each having 200feet of wire rope. The Holmes 600 is equipped with mechanical side outriggers on each side, for side winching applications. The truck is powered by a Chevy 396 big block gas engine mated to a 4-speed manual transmission.

by Jim “Buck” Sorrenti

Frank Sanchez explained that this truck was purchased from a local Exxon station in Pluckemin, N.J. almost 20 years ago, where it was being used as an everyday truck for their service station. When Somerset Hills purchased this truck, they were still a small towing company, and had the need for a heavier tow truck to accommodate the needs for some of the heavier towing requests and recoveries they were beginning to get. Since they were still growing and did not have a large volume of these calls at that time, this truck was a perfect fit. Somerset Hills Towing GM Peter Schapley, regularly used the Old Girl for moving box trucks, trailers, backhoes with our 20-ton "Eager Beaver" trailer. Peter said that even

though the truck did not go fast, it was a strong workhorse and stayed steady at 50 miles per hour, even when it was going uphill loaded. As their business grew and the demand for heavy-duty calls increased, they purchased a 1996 Freightliner FLD 120, with a Century 25-ton hydraulic wrecker with underreach, which was custom ordered and made by Miller Industries. Soon afterward they purchased a 1989 Ford LN900 with a 40-ton hydraulic wrecker back. At about that time they decided to take the Old Girl out of regular service and began to renovate and restore it back to its original condition. Peter Schapley supervised the project, outsourcing most of the major mechanical work to several local

repair shops in the area and completing some of the minor work himself. The body and paint work were done by Elizabeth Truck Center, in Elizabeth, N.J. All of the lettering and graphics were hand painted by Dennis Smith of Smith Lettering of Hampton, N.J. After the truck was completed, it looked so good that Pete decided it would not be put back into use in the regular fleet. The truck is now exclusively used for parades, shows and special events. The Old Girl has historic "QQ" plates on it, and gets a lot of attention wherever she goes. Even though Somerset Hills has plenty of other trucks, Pete still considers truck #702, the 1971 Chevy -C-65, his "Baby" and his personal favorite.

Somerset Hills Towing has a fleet of almost 40 vehicles ranging from light-duty wreckers and flatbeds to heavy-duty hydraulic wreckers with up to 50-ton capacities. They also have a fleet of tractors, specialized lowboys and trailers to move heavy and specialized equipment. One of their most unique pieces of equipment is their Speedcrane, which they use in situations when nothing else will do, including forensic recoveries. Somerset Hills Towing has locations in Bridgewater, Bernardsville and Lebanon, N.J. Somerset Hills Towing not only requires that all towing and recovery operators be trained and certified, but some are also A.S.E. certified as well.

Tech Highlights Chassis: 1971 Chevrolet C-65 Wrecker Body: 1971 Holmes 600, split boom Engine: Chevy 396 big block gas Trans: 4-speed manual Winches: Dual 25-ton Tulsa mechanical Built by: Holmes Truck Name: The Old Girl - Truck #702 Special Equipment: Mechanical side outriggers Paint by: Elizabeth Truck Center Graphics by: Dennis Smith of Smith Lettering

TOWMAN.COM - August 2010 • 57

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Miller Industries Receives Prestigious AAA Honor Miller Industries, the world leading manufacturer in towing and recovery equipment, has received AAA’s Five-Year Dedicated Automotive Preferred Supplier Award at the recent AAA/CAA Automotive Conference held in Orlando, Florida. “I’m pleased to present this award to Miller Industries for their strong brand and dedication to providing value and quality equipment to AAA/CAA fleets and contractors,” stated Vice President of AAA Automotive Marshall L. Doney, who was on hand to present the award to Miller Industries Vice President of Marketing Randy Olson. “I also want to congratulate Miller Industries on their 20-year anniversary.”

Pictured from left to right: Dawn Dobosh, Preferred Supplier Programs Manager; Clay Traylor, Miller Industries Vice President of Northeast Regional Sales; Randy Olson, Miller Industries Vice President of Marketing; and Marshall L. Doney, AAA Automotive Vice President.

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