American Towman Magazine - September 2010 by dortiz-towman

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8503 Hilltop Drive • Ooltewah, Tennessee 37363

www.millerind.com • 800-292-0330 Number 143 on Reader Card

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FEATURE CONTENTS

Towing Museum Celebrates 15 Years From a humble beginning, the International Towing & Recovery Hall of Fame and Museum has flourished into quite a destination site. by Steve Calitri

Guarding the Gate The tower’s livelihood is being threatened by the same agency that dispatches him business. How one town council was dissuaded from getting into the impound business. by Steve Calitri and Frank Sanchez

Departments Low Down . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7 News Share . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8 Road Tools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12 Tow Boss . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14 Ad Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16 Beacons On! . . . . . . . . . . . . .20 My Baby. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .56 Towman’s Market . . . . . . . . . .58 Adventures of A.T. . . . . . . . . . .61

Int’l Towing & Recovery Hall of Fame and Museum

Attachment Hooks All towers know a hook is not just a hook. Here are a few things you may not know about their application. by Terry Abejuela

Photos by: Int’l Towing & Recovery Hall of Fame and Museum, courtesy of the Museum, Terry Abejuela, Frank Sanchez Cover Design by: Ann Marie Nitti

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Number 109 on Reader Card

Don’t Give An Inch! by Steve Calitri

ow business owners grow into a system of red tape and regulations, going along with the way it is, never having experienced the freedom of free enterprise that most industries enjoy. As a result, he’s an accomplice to his own extortion by government bodies, usually town councils that have identified the tower as an easy mark. The attitude of police departments is often one of false entitlement; “We’re giving you the business off the accidents, the incidents we manage, the cars we ticket, and we should be getting a commission on this work for the role we play.” Hold it a moment. The police are funded by the taxes paid by the citizens of that municipality and income from the tickets they write. Do they have a right to get a piece of the action from private enterprise, engaged in a necessary service––indeed, called upon by the police department to clear the roads for them, do they? Do they have a right to control a tower’s rates just because police have dispatched the call? And then take a piece of the fee to boot? Is this a history of politicians simply muscling in on businessmen and women who don’t fight back? Or is it the way it is, has been, and will always be when dealing with City Hall? Last month AT reported on how one group of towers fought back against a town board that had decided to start its own impound business. In the same ordinance that would wipe away a critical revenue center for most towers, rates were also being restricted. The Sanchez Paper (page 42) is what got that same board to take a step back and use its common sense to decide that running its own storage lot wasn’t such a good idea after all.

The Sanchez Paper can be a tremendous tool for towers around the nation to employ when faced with similar issues with their town boards. Still, the battle needs to begin in the tower’s mindset. There is only one way to successfully fight against towns encroaching on the towing business, and that’s to unite the towers of that municipality, and never give an inch! Regardless of whether or not the constitutionality of such municipal actions would side with or against the tower’s interest, towers have the ability to leverage or initiate political action against government officials who are pulling the levers. In the case of this one New Jersey town that backed down on its ordinance that would have started a municipal owned and operated tow lot, the message got across that the town board would be creating enemies in the business community, a source of their political support. Not only would they make the towers their enemies, but also the businesses that towers feed in the town; repair shops, body shops, tire and parts businesses, insurance companies, glass businesses, hazmat services, etc. The smart city councilman also inferred that, according to the facts and numbers presented by the Sanchez Paper, the town might be digging its own snake pit that would turn into a financial disaster and embarrassment to those who voted for it. The long and the short of this tale; the Sanchez Paper had one truth going for it. People are foolish, but not crazy. Towers grow into this business, either through their family, or as an offshoot to their repair business. Few outsiders taking a close look at this industry are game enough to get into it. It’s that tough.

***************************************************** 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 Lambert Dave Bouvia Jim “Buck” Sorrenti 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. Frank Sanchez; Somerset, 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 - September 2010 • 7

Towers Say No to Jackson In Jackson Miss., tow truck operators angry about Jackson's proposed wrecker service agreement say they want no part of it. Owners of several towing companies attended the City of Jackson planning meeting which outlined the new wrecker rotation agreement. Following the meeting the majority of the owners voted to no longer tow vehicles for the City of Jackson. Officials said 15 companies are currently in the rotation. It boils down to an issue of money for the towing companies. Trey Ward, owner of Ward's Wrecker Service in Jackson, said his company and others charge $125 for towing. The city agreement will only increase the towing fee from $65 to $75. Wrecker companies complain that there has been no increase in fees for 13 years. Other owners, like Ernest Stanton of Stanton Body Shop and Wrecker Service, said the current proposal will be detrimental to small towing companies. "We're gonna lose employees. Our employees can't work for this small pay. This is an old pay back in '76. This administration, what it just has done to small business people is gonna put us back 30 years," said Stanton. Source: wlbt.com

Handcuffed Illinois House Bill 4860 prohibits towtruck operators from stopping at the scene of a motor vehicle accident to solicit towing services. The new law requires that towtruck operators must be called to action by a law enforcement officer, the owner, or operator of the vehicle. Currently, tow truck owners and operators are allowed to solicit damaged and disabled vehicles along the roadside. Obvious question: is there a provision in this bill that allows for the tower to act when coming along by happenstance and finding the victims in a precarious situation? Many lives have been saved by towers who were first on the scene. Now, would 4860 hold a tower back from helping, even if common sense says he should? 8 • September 2010 - TOWMAN.COM

San Bernardino Plans Impound Lot San Bernardino Calif. Police Chief, Keith Kilmer, told the council that operating the department's own impound lot rather than contracting with six of the city's 30 towing companies would better ensure the protection of evidence and allow the city to recover some of the cost of enforcing traffic laws. The council voted 4-2 to authorize the chief and City Manager Charles McNeely to develop a business plan for the impound lot. Police impounded as many as 4,000 vehicles last year alone.

Deborah Salazar, a single mother who works at a tow yard, said she fears she will lose her job if the city operates its own impound lot “I have three children and a grandson to support,” she said. "I don't want my grandson to be raised by welfare." John Vach, who owns one of the tow companies, said the city's impound business represents 40 percent of his revenue. "Today we are faced with the loss of 70 jobs, maybe more," he said. "We didn't create this deficit ... You lose 40 percent of your business, you're done." Source: the Press-Enterprise

LA Hotline

“Which Tower Did What?” The Los Angeles Police Commission has set up a hotline for complaints about tow truck operators. The goal is to reduce the number of bandit towing companies. People who feel they have been victimized by unethical and illegal tow business practices can call the hotline at (323) 680-4-TOW (4869). An investigator from Commission Investigation Division, the arm of the police commission that regulates permits throughout Los Angeles, will be assigned to look into the complaints. Police say bandit tow operators illegally monitor police and fire department radio frequencies and unlawfully respond to the scene of traffic collisions. They often work in partnership with unscrupulous

repair shops, attorneys and medical practitioners, or stake out private parking lots in order to tow away vehicles whose owners are not patrons of the businesses associated with that lot. Police are now dispatching officers to accident scenes over the computers in patrol cars instead of police radio.

...More and more towns encroaching on tow industry turf... Another Town Eyes Impound Lot

Wreck Chasing Blues

About 20 owners and employees from 11 tow companies shook their heads in disagreement as Hemet (California) Police Chief Richard Dana gave an overview of the proposed cityowned impound yard. If approved, the program would allow police to impound cars for 30 days if a driver is stopped and is found to be driving without a license or with an expired license. The proposal for a city-owned impound lot is a threat challenging tow business owners currently in many U.S. cities. City officials are studying ways to bring in more revenue to make up a $5 million budget shortfall. The Hemet Police Department researched city-owned tow lots in Colton and Upland, and found that the average net income is $714 per towed car. Eric Gosch, of Gosch Towing and Recovery, told the council: "Are you going to take jobs away from people so the city can make up its deficit?" Gosch then told Dana it would be a mistake to go into competition with the taxpayers. "My personal belief is no, we shouldn't have it," Dana said. "We're a police department, not a business, and it will be hard to run a business right now when we're really stretched on staffing." Source: The Press-Enterprise

Philadelphia City Councilman Frank Rizzo and AAA Mid-Atlantic said that the violent confrontation in July between two rival towtruck drivers might have been avoided if police were adhering to the rotational towing system that's been a city law for two years now. The incident, in which a tower was shot (Angel Carrera of Mystical Towing) and a fire was set at J & Son’s Towing destroying a dozen vehicles, has Philadelphia politicians taking a critical look at the wreck chasing practices the city has allowed. Rizzo, who sponsored the rotational-towing legislation, said he was tired of seeing "wreck chasers" speed to accident scenes and take advantage of unsuspecting victims. The law was designed to put a rotational system in place, but Jana Tidwell, AAA spokeswoman, said that in the two years that AAA has been signed up for the rotation in five districts, the company has

Police Must Be Called Tow companies in East Lansdowne, Pa. will be prohibited from removing cars from public and private property unless the police department is notified in advance. Borough Manager Marius Russo informed the town council of the problem at the mini-mall lot at Wildwood Avenue and Baltimore Pike. “It’s a very bad situation,” Russo said. “It’s a situation of entrapment. A towing company waits for people to park and when they cross the street, the car is towed off the lot. There is no sign warning that cars will be towed. The owner comes back and calls police to report his car was stolen. It costs $200 to get their car back.” Officials approved an ordinance providing for towing companies to notify East Lansdowne police before vehicles are towed from public or private property without consent of the owner to avoid erroneous reports of stolen vehicles. Source: delcotimes.com

received only one rotation call. "From the information we've received from our tow truck and fleet drivers, the law is on the books but it's not implemented as it should be," she said. "We're baffled." Lt. Frank Vanore, police spokesman, said at the time that if a tow truck operator arrives at the scene before police and makes an agreement with a motorist to tow a car, police do not override that agreement. Sources: philadelphiainquirer, cbs3.com

Change in Dispatch Protocol Since all the hoopla over the violent wreck-chasing incident, Philadelphia police are now dispatching officers to accident scenes over the computers in patrol cars instead of police radio. "Racing to the scene, we believe police and fire are the emergency operations vehicles. Tow trucks, while they're important, there's no reason for them to be going 70 miles per hour or blowing through red lights," Deputy Commissioner John Gaittens said. Until now it was a free-for-all with tow trucks converging on accident scenes, and sometimes fight-

ing over the job. Now, with radio silence, the dispatcher determines if a vehicle needs a tow. "And, if that is the case, then, immediately, the next person on the list in the rotation towing program is notified. So, they're basically getting notified at the same time as the officer," Gaittens said. The tow operators say the war between just two rivals is ruining a system that has worked for decades. They often make good money by getting accident victims to sign agreements before they talk to their insurance companies. Source: 6abc.com

TOWMAN.COM - September 2010 • 9

9LVLW RQH RI WKHVH SDUWLFLSDWLQJ +LQR GHDOHUV WR OHDUQ PRUH DERXW WKHVH DZDUG ZLQQLQJ WUXFNV CALIFORNIA FONTANA Rush Truck Center 888.362.1133 www.rushtruckcenter.com roblesr@rushenterprises.com

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

UNION CITY/HAYWARD Monarch Truck Center 510.476.0680 www.monarchtruck.com sales@monarchtruck.com

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

FLORIDA FT. MYERS Tri-County Truck & Equipment 239.690.4900 www.tricountytruck.com trucksales@tricountytruck.com •Jerr-Dan

LYNDHURST Frank’s Truck Center 201.939.7708 www.frankstruckcenter.com ckoumoulis@frankstruckcenter.com

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

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POMPANO BEACH Tri-County Truck & Equipment 954.971.4022 www.tricountytruck.com trucksales@tricountytruck.com •Jerr-Dan

TRENTON Bergey’s Truck Center 609.586.3333 www.bergeystruckcenter.com trenton@bergeys.com TEXAS SAN ANTONIO Rush Towing Systems 877.5RUSHTOW www.rushtowingsystems.com wilkinsong@rush-enterprises.com •Jerr-Dan

INDIANA INDIANAPOLIS Circle City Truck Center 317.784.3740 www.circlecitytrucks.com mdawson@circlecitygmc.com MAINE PORTLAND O’Connor Motor Company 800.464.6225 www.oconnorwheels.com dan.doiron@oconnorwheels.com •Jerr-Dan, Century

VIRGINIA WOODBRIDGE Matheny Motors 866.499.9216 www.mathenymotors.com mmessier@mathenymotors.com •Vulcan, Century, Chevron, Holmes Challenger, Champion, Titan

MISSOURI JOPLIN 800.677.7075 www.hinoofjoplin.com clawrence@joplinhino.com •Jerr-Dan, Miller

WEST VIRGINIA MINERIAL WELLS Matheny Motors 800.284.4418 www.mathenymotors.com dthornberry@mathenymotors.com •Vulcan, Century, Chevron, Holmes Challenger, Champion, Titan

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New Low Profile Carrier From Jerr-Dan

Motorcycle Towing Gets A Lift

The AmeriDeck Loading System will lift up to 2,500 lbs and can haul two full dressed motorcycles or a trike on a full-size pickup truck. With push-button operation and the ability to load at ground level, the AmeriDeck system is making it safer and easier than ever for one person to load and unload motorcycles.

www.powerdecks.com Number 200 on Reader Card

The Tower’s Camera Night or day, this new camera from tisfleet.com offers towers the best solution for documenting victim vehicles. This new High Definition camera provides both HD still and video and high intensity LED lighting for night recording. The camera provides true 1080i quality video that records on an SD chip. Each still and video clip is date and time stamped for easy identification. A 32GB SD chip can record about 13 continuous hours of HD video or up 25,000 still images. That means that you can record hundreds of incidents on a single chip. You can save yourself many hours of aggravation and thousands of dollars with a quality prevention program by recording the condition of the vehicles, before they are towed. The camera sells for under $160. This camera is a TIS exclusive and is not available in stores.

www.tisfleet.com Number 201 on Reader Card

The Road Strobe The Road Strobe is an innovative device designed to supplement traffic control. The portable, lightweight and affordable Gen III LED lights emit brilliant beams that can be seen from long distances even in daylight conditions. With its built-in handle and stable base, the Road Strobe stays put when placed on the ground. The Road Strobe is available in many color combinations to suit your requirements as well as a white light that can be used for area lighting. You can rely on run times of up to 24 hours then recharge with a standard 120vac 3 stage charger and car charger. The Road Strobe is an electronic alternative to a phosphorus road flare. Benefits include: 19 selectable flash patterns or a demo mode which cycles through each pattern, rechargeable, much safer than a flare, abundant brightness even in direct sunlight, portable, the power of a light bar in a compact, portable use anywhere box, sets up in seconds, approximately 24 hours run time between charges, cost effective, user friendly.

err-Dan introduced its new XLP-6® series of low profile carriers, answering market demand for a high quality, low profile, and lower load angle carrier. “Our customers asked us to build a premium carrier that provided an enhanced payload, a lower deck height, and a superior load angle,” said Joel Amsley, Jerr-Dan Corporation senior vice president. “We started with the key components of our very successful 6 Ton Premium model and incorporated a number of innovations that allowed us to lower the deck height and improve the load angle without sacrificing strength or reliability.” The XLP-6® series is available with 21-foot and 22foot steel and aluminum decks, including the dual angle “Shark” models. The XLP-6® models all include a low profile sub-frame that lowers the deck height to approximately 8 3/4 inches above the frame rail and provides greatly improved load angles. When

installed on a chassis with a 32-inch deck height, a “conventional” deck produces a load angle of 10.5 degrees, while a dual angle deck has a load angle of only 8 degrees. All XLP-6® models have a 12,000lb deck capacity and can be equipped with a new 3,500lb wheel-lift. In addition the XLP-6® utilizes innovative features like a nylon carrier tracking system for hoses and wiring harness, No-Lube™ pivot joints and slide pads, and automotive type weather resistant wiring harness. Equally impressive, the XLP-6® delivers all of the features and enhanced performance without requiring significant chassis modifications. Since all components are above or outside the frame rails there is no need to relocate suspension components or chassis cross members. The XLP-6® is suitable for air ride or spring ride chassis; however for optimum load angles an air ride chassis with a dump valve should be used.

www.jerr-dan.com Number 203 on Reader Card

www.gandwsolutions.com Number 202 on Reader Card

12 • September 2010 - TOWMAN.COM

TOWMAN.COM - September 2010 • 13

Training In-House Part 2 by Dave Lambert

n Part 1, we laid the groundwork for being a good trainer. We discussed the value of having a checklist to record and document the training provided; training should begin in the yard with old junk cars, a day of “ride-along” to see the job requirements and, both new towers or the “old pro” should be shown the most common towing procedures that comply with standard safety practices and company policies. We stressed that the trainer must understand that, without re-enforcement, very little of the information they’re providing is actually absorbed by the new employee; that in every industry, there are barriers to learning; and, there are those who may have learning disabilities which makes the trainer’s job more difficult.

Involving the Senses in Training As was discussed in Part 1, the trainee only remembers about 20% of what you say to them; less than 30% of what they see; and, within 24 to 36 hours, 50% of what they have learned can be forgotten. To enhance the learning experience and help the tower retain the information, trainers must bring as many of the trainee’s senses into the training as possible; that is, hearing the trainer speak, seeing the trainer perform, and touch or feel by performing the tasks themselves. The more the senses are involved, the better the trainee will retain the information.

Questions & Answers are Vital A key training tool is asking questions and listening to the answers. The answers you get let you know how well the operator is picking up on the information you’re providing and is an indicator of how well you’re doing 14 • September 2010 - TOWMAN.COM

If the operator provides an answer that is partially correct, reward the correct portion of the answer and dig for the rest of the answer. Early in the training, how you respond to their answers will set the stage for all the training to follow. The time to get tough will come, but not too quickly.

Dealing with Old Dog Syndrome

as a trainer. Question and answering should be used throughout the training process with both the trainer and trainee asking and answering questions. Expect wrong answers or complete silence when the answer is unknown. You can’t expect anyone to remember everything you’re telling them. There’s a lot to know and that’s true for both the new operator and the seasoned pro. Be very careful how you respond to wrong answers, especially in the early stages of training. If you are too hard on them, they may be intimidated and will be hesitant to respond to any later questions. If the answer is wrong, rather than provide the correct answer or get upset, you may want to ask a second question that could lead to the answer for the first. This is a common training technique used by instructors. Be careful though, if you have to ask too many questions to get to the answer of the original question, it could be discouraging to the operator.

Often, the new employee will be an experienced tower, who could have more experience than you do. Do not be intimidated by the old dogs and do not confuse an old dog with an old pro. One believes they know everything about towing and they doubt you’ll provide anything new. The other understands there is always something else to learn and you may have something to say that might make their transition into the company a little easier. The first old dog will constantly tell you how they did it at the last 3 places they worked. They’re too busy telling war stories to listen to you. Before this situation gets out of hand, you need to let the new employee know your job is to ensure they know and understand safe towing and recovery procedures and approved company policies. It doesn’t matter how they did it before, this is how it needs to be done now and why. At the same time, the old dog may indeed have some very good experience to share with you too. If it’s safe and it doesn’t go against company policy, listen and learn.

Evaluation of Training Is the trainee learning? Does the trainee understand the reasons behind the concepts, facts and

continue to page 18

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16 • September 2010 - TOWMAN.COM

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continued from page 14 -

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Ultimately, all aspects of safety fall onto the trainer. An important message for trainers to remember: whether the person you’re training is new to the industry or experienced, assume nothing and watch every move they make until they are no longer your trainee. It only takes one mistake for things to turn deadly. No matter how long the training period, you will not have the opportunity to show the new employee everything they need to know or identify every situation they will encounter. Your job is to build self-confidence in the new operator so that when a new situation does arise, they can make the right decisions regarding safety and efficiency.

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David Lambert is president and lead-instructor 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 former field editor for American Towman Magazine. He can be reached at 407-765-5149 or by visiting www.TheNATA.com.

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WreckMaster Discipline Unveiled

By Dave Bouvia

ver the past 20 years WreckMaster has established itself as a leading training entity within the towing and recovery community. We have broken through the barriers of the publics interest within the roadway incident responders of government and municipalities. We have provided training for law enforcement agencies, fire fighting companies, DOT, and all 4 branches of the US military. Towing, recovery and “Roadway Vehicle Incident Management” are inherently dangerous. It is a very risky activity filled with the chances of injury, damage, or loss. While an operator does have some control over their level of RISK there are situations that arise that are often not anticipated. Circumstances and conditions affect the type and level of risk at any given time, especially participating in recovery which can be a very dynamic fluid activity. Dealing with the victims, the casualties, the loads, the environments, the trucks, the rigging, the other responders sharing the scene, oh, and let’s not forget the traffic. These are all factors and elements that must be managed to minimize the risk associated with the activity. Changes in the circumstances and conditions can and do present themselves without notice throughout the course of the scene management and all too often lead to disaster. This is not an activity for the light hearted. A quality operator must be capable of meeting the demands of these probabilities. One must be quick in their thinking and sound in their judgment, 20 • September 2010 - TOWMAN.COM

and able to predict, anticipate, and act in a timely manner with the appropriate response to the changes that can occur. WreckMaster trains towing and recovery operators and roadway vehicle incident responders to employ a routine that minimizes their risk and increases efficiencies and effectiveness. It’s all about getting the most result from the least amount of effort while minimizing the chance of injury, damage, or loss. We refer to this routine as the Discipline. Simply put, the discipline is the word SCENE. It is an acronym and each letter has its own meaning. S stands for SURVEY C stands for CALCULATE E stands for EXPLAIN N stands for NO’S E stands for EXECUTE

SURVEY Upon arrival – responding to a roadway vehicle incident there are many considerations that must be addressed. The first is to remain calm. One must be calm to effectively gather and process all the information necessary to form a plan. Parking out of the way and addressing the other scene responders to identify who is in charge and inform them a survey of the scene will first be conducted to ascertain equipment and personnel needs, as well as time frame projections. Many elements are often present that can effect the outcome of successful vehicle incident management such as the time of day, victims, traffic, weather, visibility, surface environments, con-

dition of the casualty and the load if present. With all this going on it is imperative one remains calm and focused while conducting a survey. A clip board with a note pad is a good idea for a record of the survey so nothing is overlooked or forgotten, and a digital camera for photo reference. Both would also be useful in the event there is any litigation involved. Once all the pertinent information is collected it could then be categorized into sub categories,i.e. •Traffic Control •Establish Required Recovery Technique •Equipment, Rigging, Trucks, & Personnel Needs •Preparing The Casualty For Recovery •Preparing the Casualty For Towing or Transport •Load & Debris Removal •Placement of Recovery Units There is an awful lot to be considered to conduct a responsible survey. It requires undivided attention to detail – searching for anything and everything and identifying what could affect the outcome of the job. Making predictions and determining the execution tactics to achieve success takes sound judgment, a vast amount of knowledge and years of experience. Welcome to the first step of the WreckMaster Discipline! Look for next month’s article on the second step CALCULATE Editor’s note: Dave Bouvia is a lead instructor for WreckMaster.

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Old Chevy with a Holmes 515

Towing’s Museum Celebrates

15 Years By Steve Calitri Cheryl Mish, the Museum’s executive director.

“My favorite truck in the Museum is the 1913 Locomobile with a Holmes 485 wrecker. The details of that era, the woodwork, the brass, are really something.” 22 • September 2010 - TOWMAN.COM

owing’s Museum may be the most unique place one can visit in Chattanooga, Tenn., where today out-oftowners come for good eating, shopping, entertainment, professional baseball, museums and festivals. According to the museum’s executive director, Cheryl Mish, about 10,000 visitors stop in annually. A pretty good figure considering the competition for visitors’ attention, like the Civil War Museum atop Lookout Mountain, is only a short drive from the Towing Museum’s doors.

The Museum is a great place for tow families. This towing family came across Bill Gratzianna, the veteran tower who stars in the cable reality show, WRECKED. Bill sits on the Museum's Board of Directors.

“There is a lot of diversity among the visitors to the Museum,“ says Mish. “Many families, seniors, military groups and car clubs come. Probably 90% of our visitors aren't even in the towing industry.” The International Towing & Recovery Hall of Fame and Museum is celebrating its 15th anniversary. This writer remembers the Museum’s nascent moments when it started out as a trailer that founding fathers John Hawkins, Harry Zipse and others would take around the country to various tow shows; at that time carrying smaller industry relics of the past that the trailer could hold.

In 1996 a permanent home was found in downtown Chattanooga, the original home of Ernest Holmes Wreckers, generally credited as the father of the wrecker. Today Holmes is part of the Miller Industries product line, still manufactured within Chattanooga City limits at the Miller Ooltewah plant. The Museum then started out housing several antique tow trucks and the International Towing Hall of Fame, with portraits on the wall of its inductees, one of the rare times you ever see towers in suits and ties. Then in 2005, through the dedication of many towing professionals, led by then Museum President, George

Diamond T with a 6 Cylinder Gas engine and a Holmes W-45

Connolly, and former president, Jerry Bullock, the Museum moved a mile or so outside of the downtown business sector into a much larger building that at one time housed a supermarket. Now the Museum had more room to strut its stuff and a parking lot to boot. And all just a short drive to Chattanooga’s downtown attractions: the Tennessee Aquarium (featuring hundreds of fresh water species of fish), the Chattanooga Lookouts baseball stadium, and many pubs and restaurants and other museums all in walking distance to the Chattanooga River. Today the Museum is chock full of towing’s past reflected in the make of many wreckers from yesteryear. But before even entering, you’re struck by the majesty of the Wall of the Fallen Monument out in front of the museum. The Monument, donated to the Museum by the Miller Family Foundation, features a statue of a tower cast in a heroic scene and the Wall listing towing professionals who were killed by the roadside in the act of performing a tow or a recovery. The Wall was the inspiration of Bill Miller, chairman of the board and coCEO of Miller Industries. If fire departments have their walls commemorating the fallen in stations in towns all around the country, then the towing industry should have its Wall, he thought. Each year the names of towing professionals are added to the Wall in a ceremony commemorating their sacrifice. This year’s ceremony, along with the Towing Hall of Fame induction dinner later that evening, takes place September 18th. Rolfe Johnson, a tow business owner out of Seattle, Wash. is the current president of the Museum. A veteran tower of forty years, Rolfe always thrills to the moment when he visits the Museum. “For me, the old memorabilia, the artifacts from when the industry operated years ago, such as old wooden snatch blocks, old patterns for casting parts and components of old Holmes models, and old blueprints of their engineering , I love examining this stuff!” “My favorite truck in the Museum is the 1913 Locomobile with a Holmes 485 wrecker. The details of that era, the woodwork, the brass, are really something.” TOWMAN.COM - September 2010 • 23

Rolfe wants to see the day when every towing professional has it set in their mind to visit the Museum at least once in his/her lifetime. “You get a picture and an understanding of our industry heritage here. You realize that what you do has a colorful history and it’s a grand story.” Towing’s museum is more than a place where tow equipment from yesteryear sits on display, and it’s more than the Museum’s fabulous gift shop that features towing oriented gifts and apparel, and it’s more than the Wall. It’s a place where towers can meet and

The Wall of the Fallen remembers those professionals who lost their lives in the line of service, performing towing and recovery.

Miller Industries hosts a Rotator class periodically throughout the year at the Museum.

learn. The site often plays host to seminars and training events. Miller Industries often hosts rotator schools at the Museum grounds and inside the Museum’s classroom. WreckMaster has also held schools there. When you think about it, where else, at any moment during the year, can you pick up and take off to enjoy the best of the towing industry without having to do the work. The classroom hosts industry related seminars and is located in the rear of the Museum. 24 • September 2010 - TOWMAN.COM

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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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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.

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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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(800) 323-8324

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Keeping Police Out Of The Impound Business

Guarding the

Gate by Steve Calitri and Frank Sanchez

ever before has the towing industry been as beleaguered as it is now battling municipalities trying to encroach on its business. The battle is not new, as any tower who has been around the past forty or fifty years can tell you. But there are more battles in more places and the problem appears to be spreading. This magazine is regularly posting and printing news items on towns tacking on municipal fees per non-consensual tow, towns mandating a commission to be paid to them on such tows, and towns getting into the impound business. These issues have towers and towing association leaders running ragged trying to dissuade town boards and police departments that they need to be careful where they tread, for their own sake as well as the sake of small businesses in their towns. John Glass, the president of the Garden State Towman’s Association (GSTA) and several towers recently dissuaded one New Jersey town from mak-

42 • September 2010 - TOWMAN.COM

ing the expensive mistake of starting their own impound business. No sooner was that battle won, when Glass turned around to help fight a similar battle with another New Jersey town. “It’s spreading across the state and across the country, municipalities trying to find new revenue sources at the expense of the towers.” Glass and GSTA are putting out papers dealing with these issues that could guide towers in their battles with the towns, including information to present to town authorities. The man who started that ball rolling was New Jersey tower, Frank Sanchez, who authored the following argument, point by point. The case made was used to turn around a town board that was on the verge of passing an initiative to create a city-ownedand-operated impound lot. According to tow business owner, Rick Malanga, one of the directors of GSTA, the biggest hurdle that towers face in discussing such issues with a town

board is the town administrator who is likely to slant the facts and inflate the numbers to support the case the town is proposing. The towers, says Malanga, have to bring pertinent facts and real numbers before a board, if they expect to be effective in making their case. The following article is as interesting as it is thorough in enlightening any government official of what towing and impound is all about and the true costs involved. The paper also includes points related to the regulation of tow rates that the township was including in its ordinance. These points alone will be helpful to any towers trying to get towns to raise the rates on non-consensual tows. *Note, the name of the municipality has been removed, as well as the name of the state, so that the reader can more easily see how this paper can be used in his/ her town. The paper has been submitted to A.T. by Frank Sanchez in the hope it may help other towers around the country facing similar battles.

The Sanchez Paper Key Points Against the Ordinance Authorizing a Municipal Impound Lot and Restrictive Tow Rates. 1. The revised ordinance sets guidelines and restricts the business of local towing businesses in the township. The township or it's committee never once asked the opinion, or asked any input from it's current providers of towing services in regard to this ordinance, even though it will restrict their business as well as cause financial harm and hardships to each of the businesses. 2. The proposed ordinance will not only create harm and financial hardship to the local towing businesses, but will also create harm and financial hardship to the employees of the local businesses, by the reduction of hours, overtime and possible layoffs created by the loss of revenues that the new ordinance will create. 3. The proposed rates for towing services, as well as storage rates are below industry standards as well as current and revised standards of other local municipalities in the State. 4. The proposed towing rate structure does not adequately allow for additional labor functions, such as clean up of fluids and debris, and absorbents, utilized to clean up spills at an accident site. 5. The proposed ordinance does not allow for any additional mileage fees going to or from the scene when a vehicle is towed within the township, even though the township is 34 square miles. 6. The rate structure in the proposed ordinance for heavy duty towing, falls well below the actual costs of providing the services, and does not allow for any of the additional services and labor that are required when performing a heavy duty tow service, or recovery. 7. The storage rate structure for vehicles over 12,500 G.V.W. of a $1.50 per foot, is below the industry standard, as well as current and revised standards of other local municipalities in the State. 8. The proposed ordinance fails to provide proper and sufficient guide lines for the requirement of certain equipment that is required to provide proper and safe services that are required by the Township, such as the amount and type of tow vehicles that a licensee needs to have and it's minimum specifications, as

well as the standards of heavy duty towing equipment. This is important to insure that any and all tow vehicles utilized have the proper rating and meet minimum standards to provide safe service to the township and it's residents. For example, the ordinance should state clearly that each licensee should have a minimum of 2 rollbacks/flatbeds with a G.V.W. of 25,500 or greater (which is the industry standard), as well as 1 wrecker with a G.V.W of 14,500 equipped with a wheel lift and recovery boom rated for 8 tons or greater, and a winch rated at 8,000 lbs. or greater with 100' of wire rope, and 1 heavy duty tow truck with rear tandem axles (2 rear axles), with a minimum G.V.W. of 80,000 pounds, a hydraulic extendable boom of 35 tons or greater and an under reach/wheel lift rated at 35,000 lbs or greater. 9. The proposed ordinance fails to address the tow operators qualifications and capabilities and knowledge, and certifications to be able to perform the services required by the Township in a safe, competent manner. 10. The proposed revision of the Township’s towing ordinance fails to properly address the "predatory tow act", as required by N.J.A.C, 13;45A-31, and its proper inclusion in the Townships towing ordinance. 11. The proposed plan in the ordinance of operating a municipal storage yard is fundamentally wrong for the township to compete with local tax paying businesses. 12. The operation of a municipally run tow yard would create financial harm and hardships to the local towing businesses and it's employees. 13. A municipality has an obligation to serve the community, it's residents and local businesses. By taking away much needed revenues of the local towing companies, the township is not only hurting the local tow businesses, but their employees that are township residents, as well as the other local businesses, the local tow companies buy their supplies and fuel, as well as other goods and services. 14. The local towing business has served the township in good faith for many years, and have purchased or rented property and equipment to service the Township. By taking away the

additional much needed revenues of the storage fees, the Township will be causing additional financial harm to the local towing businesses by leaving them with additional property and rents as well as equipment that have been purchased that will not be needed. 15. The operation of a municipal tow yard, will create additional harm to the local towing companies, by taking away the customers interactions, and not allowing the customers to be served by the local tow companies, thus taking away further possible revenues. 16. The operation of a municipal tow yard would also hurt other local businesses such as the local body shops, repair shops, transmission shops, where the local tow companies refer this business from the vehicles that are towed in to other local businesses. This will also have a detrimental effect on other local business communities. 17. The Township has not calculated many of the additional costs and expenses that will go into running their own storage yard, and this will be ultimately at the cost of the local residents and tax payers. 18. In opening, and operating a municipal tow yard, has the additional expense of leasing or purchasing the land been considered, as well as the additional expenses of fencing, lighting, paving and cameras been considered, where will those monies come from? •Employees - What will be the additional payroll expense including taxes and benefits that will have to be paid out to support the municipal tow yard? How many additional employees will be needed to run the yard, will they need to have someone accept vehicles and check them in, and inventory their contents? • Someone will be needed to answer and address all the phone calls of the owners of the cars that call and have questions (where is the vehicle, how much is the cost, how do we pay, directions, etc.). •There will be needed to have someone calculate the bills accurately and generate invoices, check credentials, release vehicles. •There will be someone at the yard to release the vehicles, after payment. •Who will move the cars in the yard, if one is blocked in by another? TOWMAN.COM - September 2010 • 43

•Who will jump-start or change a flat tire on a vehicle in the yard that has been released? •There will be someone needed to administer and supervise the program. •There will be someone needed to keep track of all the records. •Who will keep track and account for the revenues (as well as expenses)? •Who will keep track of sales tax collected and file sales tax reports, as well as additional record keeping for State and Federal tax reporting? •The additional employees expenses needed to operate the municipal tow yard, alone, may far exceed any revenues collected. 19. The expense of additional computers, phones, copy machines, faxes, consumable goods, supplies to support the municipal tow yard, have those expenses been calculated? 20. The police department and its dispatchers will be required to field phone calls in regards to the vehicles that have been towed taking away from the focus of the police dispatchers and the police departments of emergency situations and possibly delaying their response of emergency situations putting the Township and it's residents in harms way. 21. How about the credit card machine needed to process payments? Has the cost of the rental of the machines or the processing fees been calculated as part of the cost of operation? 22. Will there be a place at the municipal tow yard to accept the debris and hazardous materials that are collected and swept up from the scene of accidents and some impounded vehicles which have leaked fluids such as oil, antifreeze, transmission fluid on the roadway? If there will be, how will the township dispose of the debris and hazardous materials? Will the additional cost be passed along to the tax payers? 23. In the event a vehicle leaks hazardous fluids in the municipal storage yard, who will be required to clean up the spill? Once the spill is cleaned up, how will the hazardous materials be disposed of? Who will pay for that additional expense? 24. Who will be responsible for any vehicles damaged in the storage yard, or when a person claims a vehicle has been damaged? 44 • September 2010 - TOWMAN.COM

25. Who will be responsible to any vandalism to any of the vehicles while they are in the municipal tow yard? 26. Who will be responsible for all personal items in the vehicle or when a vehicle owner claims that something is missing from a vehicle? 27. Who will escort vehicle owners to get personal items from vehicles such as credentials needed to obtain a release, keys, cells phones, etc.? Who, and how will these visits be documented? 28. How will all the vehicles in the municipal storage yard be safeguarded? 29. Who will be responsible for the keys to the vehicles once they are towed into the lot, who will the licensees be required to give the keys to? 30. In the event of snow fall, who will be responsible to plow the lot so that vehicles are accessible, and who will uncover and remove the snow from the vehicles so the vehicle owners can claim and remove their vehicles from the municipal storage yard. 31. In the event of snow fall, who will insure that lot is plowed and clear of snow, so that the licensees can enter the yard to drop the towed vehicles safely. 32. In the event of snow and ice, and a vehicle owner can not drive their car out because it is stuck in either ice or snow, who will move the vehicle for them and get it unstuck? 33. What if a vehicle owner falls, or gets injured in the municipal tow yard, (and access to the vehicle by the vehicle owner will be required)? Has anyone thought of the additional exposure and liability to the Township? 34. Will the Township be responsible for care and custody of the vehicle, while at the impound yard at the taxpayers’ expense? 35. Will there be an additional insurance expense from the Township’s insurance carrier? 36. Will the Townships insurance carrier even allow the operation of a municipal tow yard in its current policy? 37. How will the Township address abandoned vehicles? •Have they considered how to dispose of the unwanted vehicles? •Who will process the abandoned vehicles? •Who will tow them out? •Has the Township calculated the

cost of abandoned vehicles? 38. Often, the local tow companies work with the local residents, and at times give reductions on fees or payments plans to allow the residents to get their vehicles and be able to go to work, or care for their children, will the Township provide the same services to the residents and community? 39. When vehicles become abandoned at the municipal tow yard, and no monies have been received for the towing and storage of the vehicle, the Township will still have the obligation to pay the licensee for the initial service, this will be another expense the Township has not considered. 40. How will the Township pay the towing vendors for the towing services they perform? Who will be responsible for that additional administrative time that will be required to keep track and generate the payments to the towing companies for their services? 41. The Township’s towing licensees will now have to wait a minimum of 30 days to receive monies from the work they have performed, instead of getting paid when the vehicle is released. The delay in cash flow from this business will create an additional financial hardship to the Township’s towing licensees. 42. There is no place in the proposed ordinance where it states that the township will have the obligation to collect the tow fees from the vehicle owners. If the Township does not have the obligation to collect the tow fees from the vehicle owners, how will they be collected? 43. The opening and operation of a municipal tow yard will cause financial harm and hardship on the local tow companies, which may also effect the level of service the Township is currently receiving, thus creating an additional hardship for the Township, and it's residents. This may include businesses deciding to close, stop towing for the Township because it is economically unfeasible to do so…cutbacks and layoffs and reductions in staff. Editor’s notes: Frank Sanchez may have missed his calling by becoming a towing professional instead of a lawyer, but the towing industry can be thankful he’s among our ranks.

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Round shank J-hook rated at 3,500 pounds

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By Terry Abejuela

When choosing an attachment hook make sure that you know the manufacturers intended and proper use as well as the working load limit. 46 • September 2010 - TOWMAN.COM

ow operators have a variety of hooks to choose from when attaching a chain or strap to vehicles for towing, securing, or recoveries. The decision to use a specific hook in a specific application should only be made when the tow operator knows the working load limit and the hook manufacturers proper and intended use.

J-Hook contacting the axle boot on front wheel drive.

Purchasing Hooks When purchasing attachment hooks look for those that the manufacturer provides instructions for their intended and proper use. Using hooks in a way that the manufacturer did not intend may relieve the manufacturer from product liability. Buy hooks from a reputable manufacturer that is known for good quality. I am a firm believer that you get what you pay for. Heat treatment of hooks greatly enhances the strength, ductility and resilience of the steel used in the hook. Ductility is the ability of the steel to deform when overloaded providing a warning before failure. The more information a manufacturer provides on the use, inspection, and working load limit of their equipment the better the odds are that you are getting quality equipment.

Inspection Tow operators are responsible for inspecting attachment hooks prior to each use. Look for excessive wear, abrasion damage, deformation, gouges, cracks and signs of overload-

T-hook used in a T-hook slot.

ing. Never repair, alter, rework or reshape a hook by heating, welding or bending. Hooks that are designed with a latch must have a properly functioning latch. Replace damaged or missing latches immediately. Make sure that the hook supports the load and not the latch. Make sure the link that connects the hook to the chain or strap is rated at least as high as the strap or chain.

Markings Hooks should be marked with the size and grade of the hook at a minimum. Some quality manufacturers even mark hooks with hash marks used for inspection purposes allowing the user to quickly measure hook openings for deformation. Some hooks may have angle indicator marks that show the maximum included angle which is allowed between two sling legs and allows the user to approximate angles between sling legs. Hooks that are marked with only the size and grade requires the tow operator to be familiar with what the working load limit (WLL) is for that

size and grade. Some hooks will actually have the WLL marked on the hook.

Proper Use Make sure you are familiar with and follow all of the manufacturers recommendations for the proper use of the hook. Most hooks are designed to support the load in the throat and centerline of the hook. The WLL is substantially reduced the more the load is placed away from the centerline of the hook. Do not tip load hooks.

J-hooks J-hooks have been around for a long time and are still being used by some tow operators for towing with a conventional tow sling or transporting on a car carrier for attachment, tie down and loading. Passenger vehicle towing J-hooks were not intended to be used for recovery work or with secondary attachment (safety) chains. There are several different types of Jhooks available including the old style round shank, I-beam and the short or long shank. Most round shank JTOWMAN.COM - September 2010 • 47

hooks, whether long or short shank, have a WLL of about 3500 pounds unless otherwise marked. I have never seen a round shank J-hook in the field that was marked with its WLL. The IBeam style J-hooks whether short or long shank have a WLL of about 5,400 pounds and are usually marked with their WLL. When using J-hooks on a conventional tow sling make sure there are at least 5 links of chain between the end of the J-hooks shank and the grab hook on the tow bar. If there is less than 5 links of chain between the J-hook shank and the tow bar the hook can be pushed off of the attachment point in a hard stop. The load should be supported in the throat of the hook. Tip loading a Jhook will cause it to drop off the attachment point and can permanently deform and damage the hook. The only correct way to use the J-hooks is with the open side of the hook facing up. Some tow operators turn the Jhooks so the open side of the hook is

facing down to avoid damaging front wheel drive axle boots. Instead of turning the hook up side down use a different hook on front wheel drive vehicles. Some J-hooks have too small of an opening to work on large rear axle housings. Be careful when using Jhooks not to make contact with fuel tanks, shock absorbers, tie rods, and front wheel drive or independent rear suspension axle boots.

T-hooks T-hooks have been around since about the mid 1970’s. Mercedes Benz was one of the first auto manufacturers to use T-hook slots for rear towing their vehicles. They were often covered with a rubber grommet which made them difficult to locate. Most tow operators didn’t start to use T-hooks until the Japanese auto manufacturers started using them on their vehicles because they were plainly visible under the front or rear of their vehicles. Unfortunately these T-hook slots were

primarily designed as tie downs for shipping by sea or rail. When tow operators started using them for conventional sling towing they would loose their hook up because the T-hooks were at the wrong angle. Most T-hooks are marked with their size and grade. A 5/16 grade 7 transport grade T-hook has a WLL of about 4,700 pounds. They are commonly used in conventional sling towing and car carrier transport for attachment, tie down and loading. Thooks were not intended to be used for recovery work or with secondary attachment (safety) chains. When choosing to use T-hooks for attachment make sure that the T-hooks slots on the vehicle is in double reinforced steel. Some holes that are shaped like T-hook slots are not double reinforced and will not support the load. Make sure that the T-hooks shank is at the proper angle to the slot when the vehicle is lifted for a conventional sling tow or being tied down or loaded on a car carrier. The

Celebr år te Dur Indus r succeddd,. Honor uff ' Edkk September 17- 19;, 2010 0 Chat tanooga, Tennessee

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inviter you to a weekend celebrating our industry. Saturday,Sept.18, 100 am .

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gious event and enjoy spending time with old friepds ahtl making new. Class .. I`nduc iees: Ronald F. Bauman; Riverside,Calif. Steve M.BQw.,man,Burlington, N.C. ;;chårles i.Geccarel li III ,Mounta in Home ,idaho Edw in J. .Kingsmill , Metairie , La. ' 'Jimmy A. Schlier, Tannersville, Pa. Gordon Simmons,Clinton,Wash. James A. Stewart ; Bradenton,Flå. Jam es Williams , iäastoniå, N.C.

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Mini J-hook used in a T-hook slot and is rated at 4,700 pounds.

shank of the T-hook should be straight in line with the slot and the ears of the T should be perpendicular to the slot.

Mini J-hooks Mini J-hooks are primarily used in loading and as tie downs on a car carrier. They were not intended to be used

R-hook rated at 4,700 pounds.

for recovery work or with secondary attachment (safety) chains. Most Mini J-hooks are marked with their size and grade. A 5/16 grade 7 transport grade Mini J-hook has a WLL of about 4,700 pounds. Mini Jhooks work in many different holes. They will often work in T-hook slots as

well as round holes and the angle of the hook is less critical than with a Thook. When using Mini J-hooks with a bridle on a car carrier to load a vehicle avoid using the slots on the outside of the frame. Because the bridle comes together in a V shape the Mini J-hooks

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have a tendency to pull out of the holes on the outside of the frame.

R-hooks R-hooks are primarily used for loading or tie down when transporting with a car carrier. They were not intended to be used for recovery work or with secondary (safety) chains. Most R-hooks are marked with their size and grade. A 5/16 grade 7 R-hook has a WLL of about 4,700 pounds. R-hooks work in many of the same holes a T-hook or Mini J-hook would work in and the angle of the hook is less critical.

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Pass the Grab hook over the attachment point and back under the attachment point. Then attach the hook to the non welded side of the chain link.

Grab hooks are commonly used for conventional sling towing, tie downs and recovery work. They are sometimes used for secondary (safety) chains. Some grab hooks can be used for two different sizes of chain. They should be marked for both sizes. If they are marked with only one size then they are not designed for

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more than one size. A 5/16 grade 7 transport grade grab hooks has a WLL of 4,700 pounds. When a Grab hook is used to attach to a vehicle for a conventional sling tow or for recovery work the hook should be passed over the top of the attachment point and back under then attached back to the chain on the non welded side of the chain link. They can sometimes be used by directly attaching the hook to the attachment point as long as the load is supported in the throat of the hook and not tip loaded. When using a grab hook as an attachment hook for recovery work or as a secondary (safety) chain I recommend that the hook be secured with duct tape to make it a positive attachment. This is required for a safety chain in some states. There are grab hooks available with latches so they are positive attachment.

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Hoist hooks are commonly used as attachment hooks in the towing industry for recovery work or secondary attachment (safety) chains because they have a latch and make a positive attachment. Most hoist hooks are marked with their size and WLL. They are designed to support the load in the throat of the hook. They should not be tip loaded. When choosing an attachment hook make sure that you know the manufacturers intended and proper use as well as the working load limit. Choose the most appropriate and safest hook for the application.

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Visit www.towman.com everyday for towing news you can use. 52 • September 2010 - TOWMAN.COM

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’sField Editor, he reports on carrier, light, and medium-duty techniques.

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Coach-Net, a leading provider of 24/7 emergency roadside assistance and other services for RV owners and manufacturers, autos and commercial vehicles, recently announced plans to relocate its call center operations from Lake Havasu City, Ariz. to the Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas area over the next nine months. The relocation takes place as part of an initiative by the National Motor Club, Coach-Net’s Irving, Texas-based parent company, to implement its strategic growth plan and better align several closely related sister companies. The vast majority of Coach-Net’s Lake Havasu City employees will have an opportunity to relocate to call center operations in the Dallas area, ensuring a continuity in quality service. CoachNet’s DFW-based call center operations will be managed by National Motor Club’s sister company, Stellar, which will leverage its global expertise in call center management for the benefit of CoachNet’s valued customers. Stellar employs over 5,000 people across 17 centers, managing over 300 million customer interactions on behalf of its clients every year. The process of transitioning calls will begin in October 2010, and the process is expected to be completed by March 2011. “As we transition these operations to the Dallas area, where our corporate headquarters and accounting functions are already based, we are pleased to be keeping these critical jobs in the U.S. and offering an opportunity to keep much of our outstanding team intact,” said Matt Krzysiak, Chief Operations Officer. “As a consequence of this expected employee retention and our phased transition plan, our service network will experience no disruption to service or payments over the coming months. Ultimately, this relocation will position us for positive growth and allow Coach-Net to be even stronger in delivering outstanding customer service, drawing on our employees’ deep knowledge base and the geographic advantages, telecom technology, network infrastructure and business resources available in the Dallas/Fort Worth area.”

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Hulkamania

icolette Auto Body and Towing of Belleville, N.J. has been in business serving New Jersey since 1943. They are the Official Police Contractor for the Townships of Belleville and Nutley, I-280, I-78, State Highway Route 24 N.J. Turnpike and are Garden State Parkway Certified. Company owner Nicholas Nicolette now has twenty employees and a fleet of thirteen vehicles including; three light-duty units, five carriers, two service trucks, an air cushion recovery unit with air cushions and four heavy-duty units , one of which you see featured here. The chassis is a 2007 Peterbilt tri-axle with Century 1075S 75-ton rotator with under reach. Built by Miller Industries, this beauty is aptly called The Hulk.

56 • September 2010 - TOWMAN.COM

by Jim “Buck” Sorrenti

The Hulk is powered by a 475 horsepower Caterpillar engine mated to an 18speed transmission and is equipped with two 75,000-pound DP winches on top and a 150,000-pound drag winch on the bottom. Special equipment on this unit includes; a generator, plasma cutter, cutting torches, snatch blocks, and endless loop straps, along with everything else needed for heavy recovery work. Elizabeth Truck Center did the paint and Paul Weisgerber did the amazing graphics. Nicolette informed, “Blue and yellow have always been our colors since 1943 when we did stock cars, but the reason we used the hulk is because the Hulk is a symbol of strength, as you can see in the painting he is holding a bus and pulling a tractor-trailer. The truck is this massive piece of equipment that does

some amazing things so we thought the Hulk best fit it. From start to finish the paint took about a month and a half.” As striking as this truck is to look at there is no question that this is a working unit. This rig has performed many rollovers and heavy recoveries. The Hulk took 1st Place in the rotator class at American Towman Expo in 2008, 2nd Place at the AT Expo in 2009, 1st Place for best paint and best wrecker in 2008 in Englishtown, NJ and 1st and 2nd place at the Richard Crawford show in 2008 and 2009. Nicolette stated, “The most important attribute this unit brings to our business is that it enables us to do a lot of things. This truck can perform any service on any vehicle on the road today. It also brings advertisement.”

Tech Highlights Chassis: 2007 Peterbilt tri-axle Wrecker Body: Century 1075S 75-ton rotator Engine: 475 horsepower Caterpillar Trans: 18-Speed Winches: 2-75,000 lb D/P winches on top and 150,000 lb drag winch Built by: Miller Industries Truck Name: The Hulk Equipment: Generator, plasma cutter, cutting torches, snatch blocks, endless loop straps Paint by: Elizabeth Truck Center Graphics and Striping by: Paul Weissgerber

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To Advertise In Towman’s Market Call 800-732-3869 Ellen Rosengart x203 erosengart@towman.com Dennie Sorrenti x213 dsorrenti@towman.com TOWMAN.COM - September 2010 • 59

Deadline: October 7th

You may know a tower who risked his or her life to save the life of another human being while on the job. To nominate a towing professional for the American Towman Medal, write a description of the incident and send with any corroborative material you may have, such as police reports, letters or newspaper reports. Include the nominee's name, company, city, state and phone, and your name and phone, and mail to:

Steve Calitri American Towman 7 West Street Warwick, NY, 10990 scalitri@towman.com

American Towman Exposition, Baltimore MD, November 19-21, 2010 RAM is the Official Truck Chassis of the Towman Medal Dynamic Towing Equipment & Mfg. is the Official Tow Truck of the Towman Medal NRC Industries is the Official Heavy-Duty Wrecker/Rotator of the Towman Medal

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www .nrc-industrie l .cour Number 111 on Reader Card