American Towman Magazine - December 2010 by dortiz-towman

4HE INDUSTRY LEADER FOR MORE THAN YEARS NEW NEW

High-Vis Safety

Hi-Visibility Insulated Jum per One-the-job comfo rt and safety s 3COTCHLITE REFLECTIVE MATERIAL s 4HINSULATE LINING TO PROTECT FROM COLD AND RAIN s $ETACHABLE HOOD 4HIS COVERALL HAS REFLECT MATERIAL ON SLEEVES IVE TORSO AND LEGS :IPPER CLOSURE STORM FLAP #HEST AND AND POCKETS WITH ZIP CLOSURESIDE "ACK POCKETS WITH HOOK AND LOOP CLOSURE )NSIDE PHONE POCKET )MPORTED Specify size (M - 4XL).

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Hi-Visibility Insulated Jump er ITEM# PRICE WT. OXIC $165.99 7 lbs.

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WT. .5 lbs. 1.1 lbs. .8 lbs.

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FEATURE CONTENTS

WreckMaster Discipline The fourth in a series of articles which unveils the basic tenets of the famed WreckMaster Discipline. This one’s all about the No’s involved in setting up a recovery. By David Bouvia

Recover it Without a Wrecker Park ground management won’t let you bring in a wrecker to recover this vehicle. Put your thinking caps on! By Nick Schade

Departments Low Down . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7 News Share . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8 Road Tools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14 AD Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16 Beacons On! . . . . . . . . . . . . .18 Work Horse . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20 Tow Boss . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24 Tow Safety . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30 My Baby. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .56 Towman’s Market . . . . . . . . . .58 Adventures of A.T. . . . . . . . . . .61

Marina Forklift Takes a Dive Time to go fishing for one whopper of a forklift submerged in marina waters. By Jim “Buck” Sorrenti Recovery at a WreckMaster training session.

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

TOWMAN.COM - December 2010 • 5

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Number 109 on Reader Card

How We Rate by Steve Calitri

an a tow boss or any businessman help steer its industry? That is the question! In this business there seem to be many elements outside of the tower’s control. Towns and police departments control non-consensual towing. DOTs regulate road clearance on the freeways. Motor clubs control the majority of the calls phoned in by motorists. These factors tend to make our industry more reactive than proactive. Perhaps we should look first and foremost at the elements we can control. Maybe down this road lies greater control of our destiny. For example, a tow boss can control who he or she hires to become a tow operator. This statement will shock some readers who probably feel the arena of hiring qualified people is way out of control. True, these white water rapids may be challenging to navigate, but they can be slipped through without tipping over. In the search for qualified candidates for tow operators, the tow boss can control the recruitment and inteview process such as the methodology for hiring and maintaining a professional driver force. Their own discipline and efforts in finding qualified people is in their own hands. Indeed, how the industry as a whole is able to attract good job candidates is influenced by the steps taken by individual tow bosses. Tow bosses can control the appearance of their trucks and drivers, fostering the utmost professionalism in their crew that operates the details of the business. Tow bosses can greatly influence the relationship their company has with police, commercial accounts, motorists, and motor clubs. They can help to have tomorrow work in their favor. The tow boss can do a lot to control costs and raise revenue. How he or she sets rates and goes after the business will

decide the success, mediocrity or failure of the business. The tow boss can be a business person steering their company or a tower steered mercilessly by their own business. He or she can be a boss who delegates responsibility to others or one who bears the total burden alone. They can be a boss who suffers from chronic burnout, or one who wisely sets time aside for fun outside the business now and then, which serves to rejuvenate one’s senses, reenergize those batteries. I have seen companies, close up, that operated with the utmost professionalism, tow bosses who understood what they could control in the running of their business. They were true captains of the industry, because their leadership within their companies was helping to steer their industry’s path, helping to influence outside forces that interacted with them. These were companies who gained the respect of other agencies on behalf of towing as a profession. These were the companies who forged successful alliances with police and fire departments and DOTs. These were the towers that educated officials on the value of the work this industry performs. Today, independent towers face serious challenges from towns, police departments, state governments, and other forces. The industry’s ability to gain control over its own business will be influenced by how it rates in the eyes of those who seek to control it. If it appears unprofessional and divided, others will brazenly try to take advantage of this weakness. If it rates strong and united, it will lead the way in all issues of its expertise. How the industry rates starts with how each towing operation rates. As a tow business owner you can control how you rate in the eyes of others.

***************************************************** 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 Jim “Buck” Sorrenti Nick Schade Editorial Board Tommy Anderson, Dallas, Texas Roy Carlson; St. Paul, Minn. Gary Coe; Portland, Ore. Frank Child; Cody, Wyo. Belinda Harris; Greensboro, N.C. Amado Llorens; Hialeah, Fla. Ron Mislan; Warren, N.J. Chuck Swider; Chicopee, Mass. Frank Sanchez; Bridgewater, N.J. ********************************************************** 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 -December 2010 • 7

Auto Transport Co Partners with AAA Beginning in September, 51 million AAA members can Show Your Card & Save at Carmoza, a premier auto transport company. Carmoza is led by former Philadelphia 76ers President and entrepreneur Pat Croce. Automotive industry powerhouse Peter Fong, Chrysler Brand’s ex-president and CEO, serves as company president. The strategic partnership inked with AAA MidAtlantic offers an exclusive 5 percent discount on Carmoza vehicle shipping to AAA members across the country. “AAA is committed to providing our members with valuable resources when it comes to their automotive needs and our relationship with Carmoza now offers our members a reliable resource in the auto transport arena,” said Brian St. Leger, Show Your Card & Save Director for AAA MidAtlantic. Carmoza is a full service Auto Transport Company operating in all 50 States and Puerto Rico. AAA Mid-Atlantic serves nearly four million members in New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia and the District of Columbia, with personal insurance, financial, automotive and travel services through 54 retail branches, regional operations centers and the Internet, at AAA.com/community.

QCSA Acquires ISR QCSA Holdings, Inc., a leading Vehicle Remarketing and Total Loss Claims Management company announced it has acquired and will be uniting forces with Insurance Salvage Recovery, a full-service salvage auction facility based in Ham Lake, Minn. An independently owned and operated company since 2001, ISR provides its customers with personalized salvage management and top-notch customer service, and will continue to do so as part of the QCSA Holdings family of companies. ISR’s facility in Ham Lake, Minn. will become part of the QCSA’s salvage vehicle remarketing network, joining over 80 locations that re-market more than 120,000 vehicles annually. 8 • December 2010 - TOWMAN.COM

STO Shows Off Towing Skills Alamo, Texas, Southwest Tow Operators Region 4 put on their 1st Annual Pachanga that promoted the newly formed T.O.A.D.D. (Tow Operators Against Drinking & Driving). The event was a smashing success as it had an official head count of over 500 people in attendance that enjoyed live music, food, games and activities for the kids, Towers Jail Fund-raiser, a parade of tow trucks, and a demonstration with fire, police and tow operators. The Parade of Tow Trucks was an amazing site as 65 tow trucks were escorted by Hidalgo County Constable Precinct 1 deputies on a trip through McAllen, Pharr, Welsaco, and Alamo areas. There was quite a buzz amongst the locals and tourists there as they were bewildered by this monstrous parade of tow trucks, small and large, all over the area, promoting their “Don’t Drink & Drive” campaign. The live demonstration involved a school bus rolled over on top of a smashed car. This gave the crowd

quite the show as fire, police, and tow operators worked hand in hand from beginning to end to quickly respond, remove, and clear the scene, all while saving lives. The demo was perfectly executed as the towers, using air bags and a combination of light to heavy duty tow trucks raised the vehicle, allowing the fire department to cut the vehicle apart to save the occupants inside, all while being protected from oncoming dangers by the local police. The event team organizers of STO 2nd VP, Ramiro Sanchez, and Region 4 Director, David Escalara, were led by the Region 4 Representative and Events Coordinator, Fidel Cortez.

Tow Woman

Fights Mulish Dismissal Sunshine Towing Service owner Tonnie Nordmeyer filed suit in United States District Court in Benton, Ill. against a sheriff and former sheriff and the Williamson County Sheriff’s Department. Nordmeyer claims the sheriff’s department wrongfully dropped the Johnston City company from the county’s towing service rotation after a Sept. 2009 incident between Mrs. Nordmeyer’s husband, Chris Nordmeyer, and deputies. According to the lawsuit, a deputy seized a donkey kept at Nordmeyer’s residence after complaints of animal abuse or neglect. The lawsuit claims by early Oct. 2009 Johnston City police were told to not use the towing com-

pany and the company was dropped from the county’s rotation. “They made us lose hundreds of thousands of dollars, over a donkey?” Mrs. Nordmeyer said. “Or is it because I’m the only woman in Williamson County to own a towing company. I’m not a sue-happy person. I went through every chain of command to not file a suit, but they left me with no option.” The donkey, Mrs. Nordmeyer said, was her granddaughter’s. In addition to the sheriff’s department refusing to call Sunshine, the lawsuit also alleges motorists were told Sunshine no longer was in business. Gender discrimination is also cited. Source: dailyrepublicannews.com

. . . STO in Texas Wows Public...

Choice of Towers

Tower Lifts Truck, Woman Extricated

Canadian motorists involved in collisions on Lanark County roads will be given a card by police officers listing various area towing companies to help them move their vehicle. That person can choose whoever they want to tow them, said Insp. Gerry Salisbury, the detachment commander for the Lanark County OPP. Salisbury had been responding to complaints from a delegation of tow truck operators who charged that the police dispatchers were showing favoritism towards one operator over the rest. “You don’t call for a tow from Ottawa to tow a car in Almont. It’s just not cost effective,” said Glenn Morrow of Carleton Automotive towing. “It’s something that’s in public safety. We don’t need to be waiting 30 minutes for a specific tow truck.” Morrow indicated he favors a system where the tow operator closest to the accident gets the call. “I would like to see more fairness,” agreed fellow operator John Poole of A1 Towing. “I have noticed some favoritism.” Source: yourottawaregion.com

Robert Schear, 26, of Mackey Towing in Hightstown, New Jersey, lifted a tractor-trailer off a woman’s car allowing her to be extricated and rushed to the hospital. As luck would have it, the crash occurred across the street from Mackey Towing, a heavy-duty towing company used by Robbinsville police and New Jersey State Police on the turnpike to tow and remove tractor-trailers. Schear, driver Rob Yasuk and others at Mackeys rushed out to assist township firefighters and EMS to complete the extrication of the woman which took about 20 minutes, reported Robbinsville police Lt. Michael Polaski. The victim, Donnalee Reynolds, was carefully handed over by Robbinsville EMS and Paramedics and rushed to Capital Health Regional Medical Center’s trauma unit in Trenton. Patrolman Tom Paglione reported that a tractor-trailer heading north on US highway 130 struck a second tractor-trailer before lurching across the median and stopping across all southbound lanes. The second truck slammed into the back of Reynolds’ 1987 Chevrolet Monte Carlo, crushing the car up to the back of her seat and driving it into a third tractortrailer in front of her car.

San Antonio Will Host Tow Expo International

Towman of the year, given annually, is awarded to a GSTA member or employee of a GSTA Member Company based on heroism, community service, extreme recovery, or industry accomplishments that benefit the towing industry. This year marks Don’s 40th anniversary not only as an owner but tow operator as well. Over his forty years Don has always given back to the community. He has hosted many First Aid and Fire Department extrication trainings, providing vehicles as well as location. He donates his flatbed truck to local youth sports, and church groups to be used as floats in parades. He supplies the local high school with a wrecked vehicle to display during prom season to deter drinking and driving in addition to supporting numerous community events and

Tow Expo Int’l is back in San Antonio in 2011, one of the nation’s most unique destination sites. “When you think of San Antonio,” said show founder Tommy Anderson, “you think of Venice with its canals and gondolas. It’s the only city that compares to it.” A network of canals run through San Antonio below street level, lined with shops, restaurants and hotels. The Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center, where Tow Expo Int’l is held, is located on the River Walk. The show has been held in three major Texas cities over the years; San Antonio, Dallas/Ft. Worth, and Houston, which has helped to build its audience of professional towers. Tow Expo Int’l, like the American Towman Exposition, is a manufacturer’s show with major wrecker and carrier builders and chassis manufacturers exhibiting. The show’s attendance has ranked number three in the industry and number one among shows west of the Mississippi. Tow Expo Int'l takes place May 12–14. Visit towshow.com for more information.

Garden State Towing Association’s 2010 Towman of the Year

fundraisers throughout the years. When a local First Aid Department had a fire at their building, Don willingly assisted them by storing their ambulances while repairs were made to the building. Don is a Silver Life Member of the Sayreville Policemen’s Benevolent Association, a member of the GSTA, president of the Sayreville Wrecker Association. He is both a member of American Towman’s Order of Towman and the Towman 500 – which recognizes his company as one of the oldest towing companies in the United States.

TOWMAN.COM - December 2010 • 9

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Anatomy of the Midwest Tow Show The Towing & Recovery Assn of Ohio, Towing and Recovery Assn Kentucky and West Virginia Towing and Recovery Assn. are all associated with what is nicknamed the Ohio Show. Here’s what this past September’s show was all about: There were 90 exhibitors; an Antique Truck/Recovery Display; and the Great Wolf Lodge sold out. Training included TRAA Certification, Incident Traffic Control and equipment demos. Thursday night featured a celebrity auction to benefit TRAO’s Injured Driver’s Fund, items included; lunch with the Gratzianna’s of Wrecked fame, autographed items from celebrities such as Larry the Cable Guy, Lady Antebellum, John Cougar Mellencamp, Ken Schrader, the Dallas Cowboys, and Dale Jarrett. This event was sponsored by Payne and Brown Insurance. Jerr-Dan Customer Appreciation

with demonstrations and food took place on Friday night. Seminars included; Three Generations of Towing; Integrity in Towing; How to Conduct a Safety Meeting that Matters; Ask the Experts by Special Permits Division; Photo Documentation @ the Scene; Automated Motor Club Billing; WreckMaster; BWC Claim and Safety Basics; and Employment Laws. Beacon Software/TRAXXIS GPS and Tow411 hosted Meet and Greets. Other events were Lil Towers Fun Night,

Kids Pizza Party and adult competitions: Recovery Challenge, Beauty Competition, Driving Competition. Kids competitions were the Teen Golf Cart Challenge and Kids’ Mini Rodeo. Plus Light it Up… a light show and a VIP reception. Saturday Night Miller Industries hosted a ‘Customer Appreciation’ celebrating their 20 year anniversary included were demos, food and door prizes. 2011 Show Dates: Sept 22 thru 25. Contact: Donna Brock-Mesaros, dbrock@trao.org.

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13 • December 2010 - TOWMAN.COM

Check Out What’s NEW and HOT! Chevron Debuts New 40 Series LCG Carrier Miller Industries announced that Chevron has just introduced another unit in the popular line of LCG carriers. In this case, it’s the new Chevron 40 Series LCG Carrier. This impressive new carrier has a remarkable 40,000-pound deck capacity and is designed for a chassis that utilizes super single rear tires. The deck height is a mere 6 3/4 inches over the chassis frame, making it more than 6 inches lower then comparable carriers. This low height is ideal for hauling tall equipment and machinery, while simultaneously mak-

ing the operators job easier for loading and unloading with the low load angle. The operator can also more easily and safely secure a load from ground level rather then climbing up on the deck. The Chevron 40 Series LCG is available in lengths ranging from 26 to 30 feet, and comes standard with a 20,000pound planetary winch. An optional 30,000-pound, two-speed winch package is also available. Other options include a hydraulic dock stabilizer and a 10,000-pound under-lift with spade attachments for recovery.

Freightliner Teams with Walmart on Hybrid

www.millerind.com Number 200 on Reader Card

Storage Baskets for LCG Carriers For increased storage and to supply you with the equipment you need on your carriers, Miller Industries has developed an LCG basket kit. The kit contains two wire baskets that fit behind the 48” tool compartments that are common on most carriers. One basket comes with a shovel and broom that secures on brackets in the basket to allow for room to carry your other equipment, wood blocks or boards. The opposite basket comes with one metal liquid can and two utility cans that can be used to haul floor

dry or be used for debris when cleaning up at an accident scene. With the deck lowered, the baskets are secure from someone being able to remove any of your equipment. The complete kit comes with two black, powder-coated wire baskets, shovel, shovel bracket, broom, broom-handle bracket, two removable utility cans and one metal liquid can. The kit is also available with galvanized baskets, in lieu of the black, powder-coated version.

www.millerind.com Number 201 on Reader Card

New Nitrogen Tire Inflation Wand Parker Hannifin Corporation has introduced the TireSaver TS018-Wand, a manual nitrogen tire inflator which may revolutionize nitrogen tire filling in the automotive industry. The TireSaver TS018-Wand is a robust, lightweight, portable nitrogen tire inflator that can be used to inflate the tires on a wide variety of vehicles, including cars and light trucks, motorcycles, power sports and trailers. When connected to your existing compressed air line, it will continuously produce an on-demand nitrogen supply. The exchangeable membrane cartridge technology, developed by Parker Hannifin (patent pending), is designed to service approximately 10,000 tires (1,000 vehicles) with nitrogen. It is also used as a top off tool for tires already filled with nitrogen thereby enhancing a dealership’s nitrogen inflation program. 14 • December 2010 - TOWMAN.COM

Daimler Trucks North America LLC (DTNA) and Walmart have collaborated to build the first-ever hybrid electric Freightliner Cascadia®. This truck also marks the beginning of a long-term strategic partnership between DTNA and Walmart to develop innovative, green technologies. Developed based on a Walmart spec’d truck, the 72-inch raised roof Detroit Diesel DD15®-equipped Cascadia features a parallel

hybrid system based on an electrically-driven second drive axle. The system uses an advanced lithium-ion-based energy storage and advanced electronic control algorithms that were developed in collaboration with the Daimler Trucks Global Hybrid Center in Japan. With this advanced hybrid technology, the conventional drivetrain remains completely intact, allowing for high system reliability from the very beginning.

www.freightlinertrucks.com Number 203 on Reader Card

Century 4024 Re-Engineered The Century 4024/T has continued its evolutionary process since its initial introduction in the early 1990s. This integrated towing and recovery unit was originally designed for versatility and weight savings in single-axle applications. Most recently, to even further enhance this tough, field-proven unit, engineers totally redesigned the 4024’s inner and outer recov-

ery boom with a deep “U” design and flat floor similar to what is used on Century’s 5230, 7035 and 9055 units. The 4024/T is also equipped with 20,000pound planetary winches, 103 inches of reach on the underlift and a 138-inch CA, lightweight, aluminum body for a great combination in a single-axle unit.

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TOWMAN.COM - December 2010 • 15

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Page # RS# 1800 I’m stuck 22 Access Tools 47 Akins Body & Carrier Sales 17 Allstate Roadside Services 63 Atlantic Braids/TowWithRope.com 50 Atlas Flashers 36 AW Direct 2 B/A Products 23 Century 32, 33 Copart 49 Cross Country Auto Service 37 Custer Products 48 Dynamic Towing Eq. & Mfg. 12 Equipment Sales & Service 46 Equipment Sales & Service 60 Finex Group 28 Ford Commercial Truck 10, 11 Hino Motor Sales USA, Inc. 54, 55 Hy-Tech Recovery Equipment 31 Intek Truck Eq. Finance & Lease 22 Jerr-Dan Corp. 64

213 102 126 183 214 184 209 108 143 101 114 128 165 150 152 207 176 142 153 145 124

16 • December 2010 - TOWMAN.COM

Page # RS# Landoll Corp. Lift and Tow Matheny Motors Matjack/International Wreckers Minute Man Mfg., Inc. New England Truckmaster North American BanCard NRC Industries Nussbaum Equipment Purpose Wrecker Sales Ramsey Winch Recovery Billing Unlimited Road America Rush Towing Systems Sovereign/Santander Steck Mfg. Superior Signals towxchange/USFleetTracking Whelen Engineering Worldwide Equipment

50 4 45 27 28 25 6 29 22 50 13 60 48 21 3 49 49 23 26 36

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December 2010 For more product info, go to www.towman.com and click on the FREE Product info icon. Or circle the corresponding reader service number on the Action Card to the right, and send it in. Form is valid for three months

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WreckMaster Discipline: No’s by David Bouvia

reckMaster trains towing and recovery operators and roadway vehicle incident responders to employ a routine that minimizes their risk and increases efficiency 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 – an acronym in which each letter has its own meaning: S stands for SURVEY C stands for CALCULATE 18 • December 2010 - TOWMAN.COM

E stands for EXPLAIN N stands for NO’S E stands for EXECUTE

SCENE Checking the NO’S Following the survey, the necessary calculations, and an explanation of intentions to the officials, customer, victim, and other responders, the next step in the discipline is to check what is referred to as the No’s. After managing the traffic, securing the scene, performing any off loading or debris cleanup and/or tending to hazmat issues, then begins the rigging of the casualty, placing and stabilizing the recovery

units, and marrying the winch lines to the rigging on the casualty. Once everything is set up for recovery, the lines are then loaded to the point that the casualty slightly moves. At this point everything stops and a final inspection is performed…checking the casualty, the terrain, the rigging, and the recovery units for any possible problems that may interfere with a successful recovery. Some things to inspect would include ground stability, gradients, or obstacles, such as tree stumps, fence posts, or sign posts. Be sure the rigging is attached to components on the casualty that have the integrity to with-

Photo, above WreckMaster trained operators checking the NO'S before engaging the winches.

Photo, left WreckMaster Field Instructor pointing out necessary corrections to be considered before uprighting of the recovery.

stand the forces of the recovery; this helps to avoid secondary damage and shock loads caused by failed rigging points. Also chains, straps, hooks, and wire should be inspected for travel path to ensure nothing can slide or reposition throughout the recovery process, causing an unexpected shock load or a damaging effect on the casualty or the rigging. Make sure the hooks are properly positioned and loaded correctly, avoiding tip loading and side loading. Secure hooks with latches fully closed or mouse hooks without provisions for latches with mechanic’s wire or duct tape. The wire rope should always be in a straight

line from the boom head to the casualty, or the snatch blocks and the only contact at the termination device and sheaves. Take a step back to get the big picture. Look to make sure the boom heights are sufficient. Be sure truck placements and truck stabilities are adequate for anchor ability. This is also the view that will allow one to ensure wire rope length to the rigging is sufficient to exceed balance points for any uprighting procedures, and that wire departure angles off the boom head are not too sharp. Check anything and everything to ensure a successful recovery outcome. If there are any

problems or issues that jump out at you and say NO, this is the time to address them. Release tension on the wire, and make any and all corrections necessary for a successful recovery. This step leads to the final letter in the WreckMaster discipline SCENE which is E and stands for Execute. This will be highlighted and featured in the January 2011 issue of American Towman Magazine.

Editor’s note: David Bouvia is a lead instructor for WreckMaster. TOWMAN.COM - December 2010 • 19

Hino Scores With JD Power

ino Trucks ranks highest among conventional medium-duty trucks in the 2010 J.D. Power and Associates Medium-Duty Truck Customer Satisfaction Study, topping the rankings for the second time in the past three years in this segment. The study, now in its 18th year, was developed to provide manufacturers with a comprehensive and objective measure of customer satisfaction with products, dealer service and parts in the Class 5-7 commercial vehicle market. Based on the 2009 model year, Hino Trucks scored highest in each of the six factors used to determine overall satisfaction: warranty; engine; cost of operation; ride/handling/braking; cab and body; and transmission. The study was fielded between June and July, 2010 and

based on responses from over 1,200 primary maintainers of 2009 model-year Class 5, 6 and 7 conventional cab medium-duty trucks. “We are honored to receive this prestigious recognition from our customers with this award from J.D. Power and Associates,” said Glenn Ellis, Vice President of Marketing and Dealer Operations for Hino. “We understand the value of a satisfied customer and are proud to be meeting and exceeding these high expectations. Our goal is to continue to set the industry standard in producing a worldclass vehicle.” He added, “Year after year, J.D. Power and Associates defines the standard for excellence, and this recognition demonstrates our commitment to deliver the most durable, reliable and cost effective trucks possible to our customers.”

Hino Trucks is using Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) to meet the 2010 EPA emissions requirement. The truck manufacturer announced it is the only medium duty conventional truck to meet the 2010 EPA emissions requirement without the use of credits. Looking to the future, Hino Trucks continues to plan for new technologies and models that meet and exceed both environmental and customer needs. In 2011 Hino will introduce its next generation proprietary hybrid system in a newly designed class 4 and 5 cab over specifically designed to meet the needs of the U.S. market. Hino Trucks, a Toyota Group Company, assembles, sells and services class 4-7 commercial trucks through its network of over 180 dealers across the country. Hino is headquartered in Novi, Michigan.

CC Industries Announces Acquisition of Trail King CC Industries, Inc. announced its acquisition of Trail King Industries, Inc., manufacturer of open deck and material hauling trailers. This acquisition continues CC Industries’ efforts to expand its portfolio of leading industrial manufacturers and transportation equipment companies. “Trail King is an exceptional company with a long history of excellence,” said Bill Crown, President and CEO of CC Industries. “We are delighted to add Trail King to the Crown family’s portfolio of transportation equipment companies.” Trail King with manufacturing facilities in Mitchell, S.D. and West Fargo, N.D., will operate as a stand-alone entity and continue to provide dealers and customers preferred solutions for

20 • December 2010 - TOWMAN.COM

the heavy-haul transportation market. Carol Lowe will continue in her role as the company’s president. “Carol Lowe and the entire management team have fostered a culture of continuous improvement while manufacturing the highest quality solutions in the specialized trailer industry,” Mr. Crown said, “and we are excited about working with them in the future.” Trail King was also optimistic about the opportunities the acquisition provides. “We are very excited to join CC Industries whose proven success and management expertise will support and enhance Trail King’s long-term strategic growth,” said Ms. Lowe. “Trail King has been, and will continue to be, the North American leader in the specialized trailer

industry.” Headquartered in Chicago, Ill., CC Industries, Inc., operates under the umbrella of Henry Crown & Company and is the holding and management company for the Crown family’s privately held operating companies, including Crown Community Development; Great Dane Trailers; Provisur Technologies; and Gillig Corporation. Trail King manufactures over 40 different types of trailers, with load capacities ranging from 6,000 lbs. to 1,000,000 lbs. Trail King is supported by a network of over 300 dealers across the U.S. and Canada, in addition to marketing and selling its products to customers in South America, Europe, Asia, and other places around the globe.

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TOWMAN.COM - December 2010 • 23

The Crash Tax You And Your Operators Can Avoid It By Randall C. Resch

t’s not that your company hasn’t enough liability to deal with. Within the past few years a new strain on towing businesses and the motoring public has reared its ugly head with direct correlation to your company’s insurance rates. Because tow businesses are based on fleet operations, whether your company is a one truck operation, or you run many trucks, the narrative herein could have a direct impact on your businesses insurance costs. Should you or one of your employees have an accident (outside your community), you could be required to pay a crash tax for services rendered by first responders and/or other entities.

Here’s the Scoop Every time your tow truck(s), flatbed carrier(s), service van(s), and/or delivery vehicle(s) leaves your facility, there’s huge potential that you or your employees could have an accident. During the course of travel where services or deliveries takes you into another city, county or state area, should you or your employee be involved in any crash-type incident, many state and municipalities entities are now billing all drivers for first responder services that respond. The crash tax is simply another way to subsidize emergency services by charging accident victims who don’t reside in specific areas and don’t pay taxes there. Some think the crash tax rips-off small businesses and the motoring public while some community leaders think that it’s reasonable, justified, and timely, as a means to keep their own entities operating. However, not all politicians agree with the tax. Illinois State Representative, Karen Yarborough – 7th District, “This is another way to reach into the con24 • December 2010 - TOWMAN.COM

sumer’s pocket, it’s a very bad bill.” While you may think that you’re a good driver and nothing’s going to happen to you, you never know when an accident strikes simply because

Having to pay a Crash Tax should not merely be the cost of doing business. they’re a product of the unknown. But, when that accident does occur and you’re in another city, county or state area, by legislation, you could be liable and required to repay services rendered.

Enter The Crash Tax Beginning January 2008, states initiated and adopted legislation allowing city, county, and or local entities to charge “menu rates” for services like police, fire, and paramedic personnel, state Department of Transportation units, county cleanup services, and even the coroner in fatality incidents. Fees for paramedic services could be as high as $1,500 for ambulance transport to area hospitals, or fees ranging from $1,000 to $2,500 (per incident) for air ambulances (helicopters). In most cases fault doesn’t linger. It’s simply a matter of recording your information on an accident report

where personal and insurance information is listed. Accordingly, your insurance company could be billed without you even being aware of it. You could also be billed for services rendered to another party if you were at fault. You can almost be sure that these are fees that drivers and business owners don’t know about, so it makes perfect sense that you’re wise as to what could be the future in funding first responder services. Now, here’s the kicker, don’t you already pay county and state business taxes along with homeowner taxes? Shouldn’t they pay for these services? And, since you do pay for the likes of these services, the real question should be, isn’t it double dipping for services already paid for? Isn’t double dipping illegal? Isn’t it safe to say that you’re already paying an annual tax assessment as well as municipal taxes which should cover these services? How can the crash tax be remotely legal?

Twice Paid While we argue that double taxation, double payment, double billing, etc., is all the same as double dipping, specific wording of creative legislation says the process is justified and here’s why. When hard times cause economic down-turn, cities, counties, municipalities, even state entities realize that they are affected by the economy. And, as a business entity of their own, they are subject to financial hardships. Accordingly, they need some sort of financial support in order to pay their own operating costs and overhead. Elected officials, politicians and bean counters alike constantly look for ways to acquire resources to fund

operations by looking to the general public for either donations or increased taxes. Entity executives and leaders oftentimes cite economic hardships as the basis of obtaining more dollars for their operating costs. Therefore, an easy way to raise dollars is to enhance operating costs through billing or tax base by increasing existing and new services like water delivery, trash collection, public transportation, business & building licenses, and or property taxes. I’m sure you feel it at the pumps for both your business and personal vehicles. Shouldn’t fuel and road taxes cover first-responder activities regardless as to where it occurs, especially if you live in the same state where the accident occurred? Perhaps it’s easier to levy charges against at-fault drivers for causing an accident and requiring first responder services. But, big business mentalities suggest that it’s too obvious that businesses and vehicle operator’s bear responsibility of services rendered no matter where they

live and no matter who’s at fault. It’s been said that municipalities now request responsible drivers and businesses carry increased limit coverages on their insurance policies to pay for budget deficits or provide communities with additional revenue streams without their knowledge or input.

Common Tow Related Causes When an accident occurs and law enforcement responds to take an accident report, the person who most likely caused the accident is recorded as the party at fault or P-1 (party-one) on the accident report. While multivehicle accidents may involve a percentage of fault, municipalities or entities sometimes bill all participants to generate monies back into their coffers regardless of who the at-fault party was. I don’t believe that it is anyone’s choice to get into a traffic accident or have their vehicle run off the roadway for any reason, but accidents do happen without explanation. Obviously,

the more trucks your company operates, the greater the accident or incident percentage. According to the Department of Transportation, commercial vehicle accidents are common occurrences due to the following reasons: Commercial drivers generally haven’t had formalized training outside what their company provides, so, drivers generally have bad driving behaviors, use poor techniques, demonstrate limited safety concerns, and have no real concept of defensive driving. A three-day orientation period (during new hire orientation) does not instill good driving practices. Unrealistic ETA’s encourage drivers to hurry, despite safety risks involved, especially where law enforcement or entities mandate arrival times. Although contracts call for expedited arrival times, arrival times must be reasonable based on traffic congestion, peak traffic hours, inclement weather conditions, as well as day versus night responses. Faster

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TOWMAN.COM - December 2010 • 25

isn’t safer when employees drive faster to get there. Commission pay encourages faster driving speeds and more hours of consecutive vehicle operations. Drivers paid by commission are more likely to have an accident rushing to an accident scene, or hurrying to get back into service for the next call. Because tow truck collisions are common, tow business management should understand the dynamics behind offensive and defensive driving. Management should hold regular safety meetings to discuss reasons

for combating poor driving techniques or habits that involve driver related scenarios. Consider the following: Some over-zealous tow operators disregard safe driving practices thinking they’re an emergency vehicle responding outside of the law. Tow trucks aren’t generally considered emergency vehicles. Tow operators commonly tailgate. A loaded tow truck or flatbed carrier, requires increased stopping distances. Running into the rear end of another usually guarantees fault. Tow operators commonly make

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unsafe lane changes forcing another vehicle to take evasive action. Although the at-fault driver claims they didn’t make an illegal lane change, witnesses to the accident provide a more honest and accurate version to the reporting officer. Anything that flies out of the back of a towed or transported vehicle must be secured and it is the operator’s responsibility to secure all items. Generally, anything coming off of a tow truck or flatbed carrier is deemed the operator’s fault for failing to secure items on or within. Loose bumper covers are a frequent cause of accidents where following vehicles play “dodge the bumper” and crash into others. Where you or your operators fail to set the tow truck’s e-brake and the tow vehicle rolls away. A runaway vehicle is generally deemed at-fault and the end result is property damage from impact regardless if the e-brake was mechanically defective. Tires on commercial trucks commonly blow out sending trucks out-ofcontrol. Although a blown tire isn’t a calculated scenario, the cause of the collision may be recorded as the operator not being in control of the vehicle. If operators work long, extended, and exhausting hours, there’s a chance they’ll fall asleep at the wheel and crash.

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26 • December 2010 - TOWMAN.COM

Twenty-four states have enacted some form of crash tax either for or against the accident participant whether or not at fault. Currently, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Louisiana, Missouri, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania and Tennessee are the only states that aren’t currently charging a crash tax, California charges the highest fees. Other states have enacted legislation as their means to collect monies from unsuspecting tow companies and the motoring public. By enacting a crash tax, law provides the catalyst for emergency service providers to go after fees from crash participants, while other entities and or municipalities do everything they can to cease the practice of imposing increased accident response fees.

It’s Not My Fault If you receive a billing statement as a result of a police or fire department response to your accident, contact your insurance agent immediately. They should be able to inform you of your obligations. Do note that you have the right to contest creative billing. If you receive a bill, consider the following: Contact the Billing Department and contest the bill. Be prepared to submit reasons why with appropriate evidence to discord the bill amount. Compare what’s written on the bill to your recall of the accident versus what’s being billed. Ask the billing agency simple questions like, did medical services respond, in how many rigs? Were medical services administered? How were they administered? What other on-scene services were provided? Were responding services necessary and the same as noted on the billing statement? Are you billed for

Tow operators commonly tailgate. A loaded tow truck or flatbed carrier, requires increased stopping distances. Running into the rear end of another usually guarantees fault.

them for just showing up? If you feel you’re being billed in excess or the billing company cannot justify the exact services provided, seek a cost reduction or zero balance.

If sent to collections consider filing an official complaint with the entity and seek mediation in regards to the pending balance. Nearly all states have a consumer

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protection department to answer questions regarding fraud or unscrupulous business practices. This includes threats and harassment by collection companies. The Consumer Protection Section enforces statutes regulating consumer complaints, mediates settlements, and in some cases, initiates litigation against billing

entities accused of unfair, deceptive or unconscionable practices.

Knowledge is Power Understanding the crash tax is important enough to justify research on your part. For further information, Google crash tax with your city and or state’s name to see what the

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current status of crash tax is where you live. Contact your agent to see if your business policy covers a crash tax in the event of an accident or incident outside your business or residential area. While a crash tax may seem unfair and uncalled for, charging for emergency services is a thing of the future. And, where your business takes you out-and-about into other communities; be prepared either to pay for services rendered or, if necessary, contest billing in the small claims arena. Whatever your reasons are for not paying an unreasonable bill, contact your agent to see if existing coverages are up to date, even if it means increasing current coverages to cover a crash tax. And, if you receive billing as the result of any driver related crash, you may want your agent to represent you asking them to handle the claim. Having to pay a crash tax should not merely be the cost of doing business. Remember, it takes only one driver related accident to wind up costing you hundreds, thousands, perhaps tens-of-thousands for an uncovered accident or incident. If the crash tax is enacted in your state or city, rest assured, your insurance rates will go up one day if you like it or not. At the very least, being informed is smart business.

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28 • December 2010 - TOWMAN.COM

Randall C. Resch is a retired California police officer and has been involved in the towing and recovery industry for 40 years as a tow business owner, consultant, and manager. He is a freelance writer/photographer and is American Towman’s Operation’s Editor. Email Randy at rreschran@aol.com.

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Wheel Lift Operation 101

By Terry Abejuela

here are many different makes and models of wheel lifts on the market today. The general guidelines I will cover in this article apply to the operation of most models, however, it is important for the tow operator to be be familiar with and understand the manufacturer’s operating instructions for the specific wheel lift tow truck they are using. If the equipment manufacturers operating instructions differ from the guidelines I have provided in this article the tow operator must follow the equipment manufacturer’s instructions. Before backing up a wheel lift tow truck to a vehicle make sure that the vehicle to be towed has the emergency brake applied and automatic transmission is in park or standard transmission is in gear. When backing up a wheel lift tow truck to a vehicle for towing try to back up straight in line and centered with the vehicle. If backing up to the vehicle at an angle, center the wheel lift on the axle of the vehicle not the center of the bumper. Some wheel lifts are capable of performing a 90 degree angled hook up. This should be practiced in the tow yard before attempting to perform a 90 degree angled hook up on a customers vehicle. Before backing up the wheel lift tow truck to the vehicle to be towed lower and extend the wheel lift. Lower the wheel lift boom so that it is parallel with the ground and about an inch off of the ground. Extend the wheel lift all the way out and then retract it a few inches so that you will still have a little more extension adjustment if you need it. Make sure the wheel lift boom and crossbar will fit between the ground and the undercarriage of the vehicle to be towed. When using an L-arm style wheel lift it is important to adjust the wheel lift boom so that it is parallel with the ground. If the boom is angled towards the ground it will make it difficult to 30 • December 2010 - TOWMAN.COM

Elevate the wheel lift boom to raise the towed vehicle. The tilt up function can be used first if there is an under carriage clearance problem.

insert the L-arm into the receiver on the crossbar. Most wheel lifts that utilize a spoon type wheel retainer have the spoon receiver mounted above the crossbar. The tow operator must ensure that it will fit under the vehicle to be towed or the crossbar will have to be adjusted wider so the spoon receiver will be out away from the body of the vehicle to be towed. Once the wheel lift boom is adjusted to fit under the vehicle to be towed back up the tow truck until the tires contact the crossbar. Once the wheel lift crossbar is in position attach the wheel retainers. Adjustment of the wheel retainers

L-Arm Wheel Lift

depends on how much under carriage clearance the vehicle has. Vehicles that are low to the ground will need to have the wheel retainers adjusted tight under the tires so the vehicle will ride high on the wheel lift to create enough space between the crossbar and the under carriage of the vehicle. This will allow the towed vehicle to ride on it’s own suspension and not make contact with the crossbar. If there is not sufficient space the crossbar may contact and damage oil pans or other parts of the towed vehicle. If the vehicles to be towed have sufficient under carriage clearance the wheel retainer can be adjusted wider allowing the tire to sit deeper in the L-

Swivel pad receivers for wheel lift.

arm and still maintain enough space between the under carriage and the crossbar. When the tires sit deeper in the wheel retainer they are less likely to roll out off the wheel lift grid in a panic stop or accident. Once the wheel retainers have been installed and adjusted properly place the Hydraulic Auto-Loader transmission of the vehicle to be towed in neutral and release the emergency brake. Elevate the wheel lift boom to raise the towed vehicle. The tilt up function can be used first if there is an under carriage clearance problem. Raise the towed vehicle slightly off of the ground and install the wheel retaining straps. Make sure to follow the manufacturers instructions for the installation of the wheel retaining straps. Use wheel straps on both sides. Raise the towed vehicle to the desired towing height. Check the ground clearance at the opposite end of the towed vehicle. Retract the wheel lift boom to reduce the overhang and transfer as much weight back to the front axle of the tow truck as possible. Make sure to leave the wheel lift boom extended enough to allow turning without making contact between the tow truck body and the towed vehicle’s body. Secure the steering wheel, attach secondary attachment chains (safety chains), and attach tow lights before proceeding with the wheel lift tow. As I mentioned before make Terry Abejuela has 30 years of experisure you are familiar with all of the ence in the light-duty towing and recovmanufacturer’s operating instrucery industry. He has been a light-duty tions for the wheel lift tow truck level 1 instructor for the California Tow you are operating, including the Truck Association since 1998. As AT’s tow and lift ratings, proper instalField Editor, he reports on carrier, light, lation of wheel restraints and secand medium-duty techniques. ondary attachment chains.

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The side-mounted winch option allows you to easily adjust the cable pulley to maintain a straight-line pull on the tow eyes that have become popular on many automobiles.

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responded to the preserve. We met with the vehicle owner and preserve officials and hiked to the casualty approximately a mile from the parking lot. The casualty was off a walking trail up against a small tree overlooking a cliff that went about 200 feet down. The Chevy Blazer had sustained two flat tires, a busted windshield and had a dead battery. The vehicle rested at a six degree angle with the trail sloping 16 degrees toward the cliff. The young 4-wheeler had been trespassing on the grounds and while not paying attention he got himself into a position from which he couldn’t recover. The nature preserve official explained to us that they would not like to have wreckers do the recovery

The nature preserve was adamant that they did not want large vehicles on their property to recover this vehicle.

Recover It

since the total distance from the entry point of the preserve to the vehicle was a total of 2,408 feet. The trails there are just nature trails and are not wide enough for a small tow truck. We also discussed using bobcats, but again they didn’t want any more ruts created than those which were already made by this young man. Naturally, always up for a challenge, we accepted the job. We would devise a recovery plan and call back in a couple of days to set up a meeting to discuss it. We went back and used our knowledge from WreckMaster training to calculate the resistance needed to recover this casualty. We had all types of resistance to contend with – rolling, soft terrain, damage and a small grade to overcome to get this casualty back on the trail. The static weight of the

anchorability for each cart. Altogether we had 1,464 lbs. of anchorability. We got out our 2,000 lb. electric portable winch with 3/16” aircraft line. The distance from the casualty to the golf carts was 45’ so we would need to purchase additional wire and snatch blocks for this recovery. Our supplier was able to provide the ultimate load for the wire. We divided the ultimate load by four to give us a working load limit of 1,050 lbs. with a 4:1 margin of safety. The plan was to have two lines to the load with a running snatch block at the casualty with the line returning to the second golf cart. It was now coming together. With our plan ready we met with the preserve officials to discuss it again. We explained the cost to the owner and that we would need the

Without A Wrecker by Nick Schade

This recovery was not about using the biggest tow truck, or having the most tow trucks on the scene. It was about making the customer, and the nature preserve, comfortable with our plan...

34 • December 2010 - TOWMAN.COM

ony’s Wrecker Service from Louisville, Ky., received a call before Christmas about a vehicle stuck approximately one mile off of a paved surface. We quoted a price and the young man said he would think about it. After Christmas the young man called back and requested our services. It was then that we learned the truck was stuck on a historical nature preserve, Creason Mahan Nature Preserve, about 15 miles from our office. Contact was made with an employee at the preserve and they asked us to meet with them to survey the scene. WreckMaster 6/7 operator Nick Schade, and 4/5 operator, Duane Redmon

Blazer was 3,300 lbs., and the rolling resistance in soft terrain equaled 495 lbs. The gradient factor was reduced to 12.5% for a six degree grade using a Craftsman digital angle factor. The damage resistance could be overcome by placing inflated tires on the casualty before the recovery. A total resistance of 908 lbs. was calculated to move the casualty back toward the trail. How were we going to get this casualty out? After figuring the resistance I knew whatever would be used would need to weigh 1,362 lbs. I researched 4-wheel drive golf carts. We calculated that two golf carts could support the resistance. We decided upon two XRT 1500 4-wheel drive golf carts already outfitted with a 2” drawbar receiver and 4-wheel brakes. The carts weighed 1,100 lbs. each. With all four wheels locked we had 732 lbs. of

keys, a battery and two tires for the Blazer. They accepted our plan and work would commence depending on the weather – preferably a cold, dry January morning. The equipment was loaded into the golf carts (see equipment list - page 60). We responded with a service truck, four operators and a 21’ rollback carrying the golf carts. We left our office at 6:30 a.m. on recovery day. When we arrived at the preservation we met with the officials. We unloaded our equipment and made our way to the Blazer. We changed the tires and installed the new battery. We used two ¼” x 18” grade 8 chains with a 4” x 30’ Cruse loop and attached it to the frame behind the front suspension and installed a floating buckle with a screw pin shackle to accept the smaller snatch block hook. We inserted a load TOWMAN.COM - December 2010 • 35

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cell at the snatch block. It read within 20 lbs. of the calculated resistance. To increase the anchorability on the carts 2x4 blocks were used behind the rear wheels. We returned to our storage lot with the casualty at 9:00 a.m. The recovery went extremely well and as planned. The owner paid $1,500 by credit card and picked up his truck that afternoon. The key to this successful recovery was planning, including coordinating with the preservation overseers to avoid damaging the historic grounds. Our recovery plan was on paper and each operator was briefed on his responsibilities before recovery day. We also devised a plan “B” and had additional equipment on hand if more resistance had been encountered and another anchor was needed. From the initial meeting to the execution, every aspect of this recovery was planned for an error-free precision recovery. The only disappointment was that we couldn’t drive the golf carts any longer.

For more information on Tony’s Wrecker Service and the equipment used in this recovery, go to page 60.

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Dynamic Towing Eq. & Mfg.

Equipment Sales & Service

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Dynamic’s new “Fusion Integrated Wheel Lift Wrecker” features a 5,000 lb. wheel lift capacity, Power Tilt, storage for Tow Dollies, Dollie Bars, Go-Jaks, small tools and overall the greatest amount of storage area of any light duty wrecker in the market.

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Miller Industries

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The Minute Man HDH slide in wheel lift turns your short or long bed 1-ton pickup into a light duty, auto loading wrecker. Simple installation.

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Heavy Duty Planetary

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Ramsey Winch

Rush Towing Systems

Sovereign Bank

Ramsey Winch, Tulsa, Oklahoma is a manufacturer of Industrial Worm Gear and Planetary Hydraulic and Electric winches aimed at the towing and recovery market.

Rush Towing Systems is the premier Jerr-Dan dealer in Texas, Oklahoma, and New Mexico. We offer Peterbilt, Hino, Ford, Isuzu, UD, and more.

Call 918-438-2760 or visit www.ramsey.com

Call 877-5RUSH-TOW or visit www.rushtowingsystems.com

Sovereign Bank’s Commercial Vehicle Finance Group is a national lender specializing in custom financing programs for new and used towing and recovery vehicles.

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At The Museum Kids Can Tow

TowXchange TowXchange customers use our integrated tools to dispatch, track assets, invoice and collect fees, measure productivity, process releases/lien/auction activities, and secure customer loyalty. Call today for a personal demonstration.

Call 866-800-8677 or visit www.towXchange.net

Whelen Engineering PAR-36 Super-LED worklights are rated to last 50,000 hours and provide remarkably bright light. Available in either spot or flood beam pattern, these versatile work lights feature stainless steel mounting hardware.

The International Towing & Recovery Hall of Fame & Museum in Chattanooga, Tenn. announced its newest arrival, an interactive exhibit for children. “Tator Tot” is a fully functional rotator with “real” life buttons to turn on the flashers. It also has a remote control with toggle switches which are easily functional for children which can raise, lower and rotate the boom 180° from side to side. Built out of a golf cart with 12 new tires and steering wheel to help the children simulate a cool driving

experience. The engine has been removed to help ward off any speeding tickets within the museum! It proudly hosts a complete set of safety gear for the kids which include gloves, hard hat and a safety vest. This important equipment helps put the kids into the “real life” of their imagination and into driving a real towing “rotator.” Tator Tot was “born and built” in Sierra Vista, Arizona and has been graciously donated to the Museum by Barnett’s Towing.

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Call 815-725-4400 or visit www.newtowtrucks.com TOWMAN.COM - December 2010 • 41

The recovery took place in May 2010, at the Marathon Marina and Boat Yard located on Marathon Key, 48 miles north of Key West, Florida.

Marina Forklift Takes A

DIVE Two Florida tow companies join forces to recover a submerged monster marine forklift from a marina in the Keys. by Jim “Buck” Sorrenti

ike Cammarata of J&J Towing & Transportation in Margate, Florida, received a call from an insurance company to recover a marine forklift that had toppled into the water at Marathon Marina. Cammarata initially drove down to Marathon Marina to assess the situation and take pictures. After surveying the scene he called Mike Scheidt of Kauff’s Towing in Ft. Pierce, Florida for assistance. Kauff’s fleet of 50 tow trucks has been recovering vehicles and equipment from all kinds of situations

43 • December 2010 - TOWMAN.COM

in South Florida for over 35 years, including complicated underwater recoveries such as the one featured here. Scheidt has recovered four of these forklifts and Kauff’s is on a first call list for these types of recoveries. He said, “We even recovered one forklift twice in two weeks within a few feet of the last time it had gone in.” Cammarata had informed Scheidt that a Wiggins Marina Bull marine forklift had fallen into the water at Marathon Marina due to a washout underneath

the dock. The weight of the forklift caused everything to collapse. The Wiggins Marina Bull is used for dry-stack storage. Wiggins Lift Co. Inc. of Oxnard, California, is one of the earliest manufactures to design forklifts specifically for the dry-stack industry. In the late 70’s Wiggins introduced its Marina Bull‚ that would handle boats as heavy as 20,000 pounds and could lift smaller boats to the unheard of height of 40 feet. The heavier boats led Wiggins‚ to design a Marina Bull, thought to be the world’s largest boat handling forklift, with a lift capacity of 37,500 pounds and a lift height of as high as 54 feet. Wiggins most recent effort has produced a Marina Bull‚ that will lift 52,000 pounds. These are massive units. Scheidt explained, “This Marina Bull weighed in at 87,000-pounds. The insurance company was originally going to hire cranes to do this job, but it wasn’t cost effective due to the amount of space the cranes would need to operate. They would have to barge them in and then hire a separate dive team to rig and we explained that we were able to do the whole thing. It

would be too much for one or even two units to bring up the big forklift in this situation. We decided that we needed three rotator units to keep it safe.” The incident happened on a Friday, Kauff’s got the call on Saturday and did the job on the following Wednesday. Mike and his father Joseph Cammarata of J&J had their 2007 Peterbilt 379 with a Century 1075 S2 75-ton rota-

tor on the scene. Mike Scheidt and Ivan Delphino of Kauff’s responded with their 2007 and 2008 Kenworth T800B’s both are 5-axle units set up with Century 1075 SWP20 75-ton rotators. Scheidt was in the 2007 and Delphino in the 2008. Structural engineers told the recovery crew the wreckers would have to stay back 10-feet from the dock area due to the unstable nature of the landing.

The Marina Bull fell in forward then rolled over. The mast was fully extended at 43 feet in 45 feet of water in a washout.

44 • December 2010 - TOWMAN.COM

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Scheidt did all the diving and rigging on this recovery.

Scheidt got into his wet suit and diving gear to get a better look at how to rig the submerged forklift. The Marina Bull fell in forward

then rolled over. The mast was fully extended at 43 feet in 45 feet of water in a washout. Once Scheidt had gotten an up-close look it was decided that

they also had to remove two sections of wooden dock using the wreckers and chain saws so they would be able to bring the forklift up without obstruction. Scheidt explained, “It had to be uprighted in the water. We had to lay it on its side then back on its wheels and collapse the mast so it wouldn’t be top heavy and unstable while we were bringing it up.” Scheidt got back into the water, rigged and cut the wooden docks, section by section and the rotators hauled them out. Once the area was clear he went back in and rigged the forklift. There were also containment barriers floating in the area that had been put in place by a private spill response team hired by the marina. Scheidt in Kauff’s 2007 was staged in the middle and took the bulk of the weight. The other two units, staged on either side, were rigged so they could bring the forklift up in a “V” configuration. Scheidt added, “Once the forklift was up behind me I lifted up with my outriggers giving just enough clearance for the other two rotators to

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Scheidt in Kauff’s 2007 was staged in the middle and took the bulk of the weight. The other two units, staged on either side were rigged so they could bring the forklift up in a “V” configuration.

be able to rotate the forklift and set it down away from the washed out dock area and back onto its wheels on solid ground. These types of recoveries are common in Florida due to the many marinas and dry-storage locations on both coasts. Just another day at the office.”

Emergency Personnel On Scene: Mike and Joseph Cammarata of J&J Mike Scheidt and Ivan Delphino of Kauff’s Reps from Marathon Marina Private spill response company Structural engineers

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48 • December 2010 - TOWMAN.COM

J&J’s 2007 Peterbilt 379 with Century 1075 S2 75-ton rotator Kauff’s 2007 Kenworth T800B with Century 1075 SWP20 75-ton rotator Kauff’s 2008 Kenworth T800B with Century 1075 SWP20 75-ton rotator

Mike Scheidt is the Commercial Services Manager for Kauff’s Towing in Ft. Pierce, Florida. He is also a certified diver and heavy recovery specialist. From Kauff’s beginning in 1969, they have grown to be one of the Southeastern USA’s largest full service providers of towing, recovery and specialized transportation. They are committed to ongoing rigorous technical training for all of their staff to provide the highest level of expertise whether it is a service call or underwater recovery. Mike Cammarata is the President of J&J Towing & Transportation in Margate, Florida. J&J is a family owned and operated business that has specialized in towing and heavy hauling transportation for over 20 years. Joseph Cammarata founded the company, his wife Judith Cammarata is the CEO. As President, Mike is bringing this business into its second generation. Their team members are qualified and certified experts, each having a minimum of 10 years of experience in the industry.

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Alba Southwest Towing in Far East El Paso, Texas for years has towed cars for the El Paso County Sheriff's Office, but not anymore. "I'm going to go fire a bunch of people right now," said Ray Apodaca with Alba Southwest Towing. His company was one of seven tow truck companies on the call list for the sheriff's office. The sheriff's office wanted to make the towing process more official. They asked for towing companies to submit their bids for an exclusive contract, which went to AD Wrecker. Sheriff Richard Wiles said the contract will benefit El Paso County residents and the county. "These seven companies were all charging different fees, anywhere I believe from $80-$90 to $180$190," said Wiles. Wiles said all the fees are now set in stone in the contract. For example, a flat tow for light duty vehicles is $39.95, and a tow with a dolly costs an extra $17.50. Wait time, work time and winch recovery work costs 99 cents a minute. The fees go up in price for medium and heavy duty vehicles.

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nterstate Towing Inc. of South Hadley, Massachusetts is a professionally operated, full service towing, recovery and road service company. Company owner Jeremy Procon started from the ground up in 1999 and in partnership with AAA Pioneer Valley. Interstate Towing is the largest AAA provider in Western Massachusetts and also operates as the primary towing service for several area police departments and the Massachusetts State Police. Combined, Interstate Towing serviced over 34,000 vehicles in 2009. Interstate is committed to the community it serves, as a sponsor for numerous charities and organizations.

Eager to be helpful in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, Jeremy Procon sent a caravan of trucks with a crew of five to New Orleans. Procon had arranged this with AAA Southern, working through roadside assistance director Carol Mauer and the Louisiana State Police. They have a dedicated staff of 26 professionally trained, licensed and uniformed personnel and 21 units in the fleet. The GPS tracked state-of-theart fleet of new car carriers, wreckers, 60-ton rotator, 25-ton heavy wreckers, Low Boy/Landoll flatbed trailers, tractors, service trucks, air cushion recovery and support vehicles are expertly maintained and ready to respond with highly certified personnel. Their busi-

by Jim “Buck” Sorrenti

ness lines and high-tech call dispatch center directs calls over an MDT (Mobile Data Terminal) in each vehicle, ensuring fast accurate service to their customers. The carrier featured here is Interstate’s 2009 International Durastar 4400 set up with a 2009 Jerr-Dan 10-ton Transporter with a 10,000-pound planetary winch. The deck on this carrier is 102” wide with SRS-10 Side Recovery System allowing it to recover as well as transport vehicles. A Maxxforce 9 engine mated to an Allison automatic transmission powers the unit. It is also equipped with Wireless remote, GPS with MDT (mobile data terminal). Kyle Jendrysik #115 is the driver of this rig.

Jeremy Procon

Rochester International in Syracuse, N.Y. built this unit and A-Truck Collision in East Longmeadow, Mass did the paint job. “The paint job is part of our original fleet design,” said Procon. “This unit serves us well since we are so diversified. We use it for moving cars and equipment, with the ability to recover vehicles. The most important attribute this unit brings to our business is its versatility.”

Tech Highlights Chassis: 2009 International Durastar 4400 Wrecker Body: 2009 Jerr-Dan 10-Ton Transporter Engine: Maxxforce 9 Trans: Allison Automatic Winches: 10,000lb Planetary Built by: Rochester International (Syracuse, N.Y.) Extras: Wireless remote, GPS with MDT (mobile data terminal) Equipment: SRS-10 Side Recovery System Paint by: A-Truck Collision in East Longmeadow, Mass

56 • December 2010 - TOWMAN.COM

TOWMAN.COM - December 2010 • 57

USED TRUCKS FOR SALE 2010 Int'l 4400 w/ a Century 3 Car Carrier 133,000 miles 2007 Ford F-450 6.0 Motor w/ 110,000 miles w/ a Jerr-Dan MPL Wrecker 2008 Ford F-750 w/ 181,000 miles no Body 2007 ford F-450 4x4 6.0 120,000 miles Auto w/ a Chevron 408 Wrecker 2007 Isuzu NPR White w/ 101,000 miles a 19' Aluminum Century Carrier No wheel lift

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TOWMAN.COM - December 2010 • 59

WITHOUT A WRECKER continued from page 36

The Equipment Used 2 4 1 2 1 2 2 1

¼” x 14’ Chains Grade 80 S280’s Shovel XHD Batteries 850 CCA Load Cell Scotch Blocks Air Tanks Floor Jack

Company Profile:

2 Pins & Buckle 3 Snatch Blocks 2 x 4 Blocks Plywood

The Recovery Team: Nick Schade WM6/7A#040123 Lee Schade WM6/7A#070160 Duane Redmon WM4/5#070159 James Harvey WM2/3#100165

Doublo Your lamwe Linsi ! l t.w Bol Ot her 6alnin y h,stilueb ns t.ach you how to and de rxo vanos the prope r way; taoh you how to bo mor . proR t.bl e ueing flre t.eh npueayvi# v ..cqu red by harteg tlr. . biit y to bi ter yow servi ces. We are aa eryavation dedi esked to tachirg fd l.w tow ers hmw to beoowe mara proril.6 le et the v rak they doI

aonlhiy Cl.eaes ae unite d Cell Nowi We Teach i Building the proper tebo busine ss f ro m the ground up p Tra ining empl oyees sa they prej ad a mor a professio nal

image for your comparIy y Proper bosy of wri t ing acceptable reco very inv ekes s Bilbog on liability ina uran s coverage endy

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William H. (Tony) Voelker started in the towing industry in 1937. He established Tony’s Wrecker Service in 1956, in St. Matthews. Tony’s Wrecker Service has been serving Eastern Jefferson County since that time; under continuous ownership. At the death of Mr. Voelker the business was passed to his grandson Jerry Schade and is now in it’s 5th generation of operation. They operate 12 trucks and perform light, medium, heavy duty towing and recovery, truck and roadside repair, equipment transport, air cushion recovery, rotator and crane service. The employees are WreckMaster trained and certified, with many years of experience. They are proud members of the Towing & Recovery Association of Kentucky and Towing & Recovery Association of America.

Number 155 on Reader Card

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60 • December 2010 - TOWMAN.COM

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Number 124 on Reader Card