Number 143 on Reader Card
Number 111 on Reader Card
FEATURE CONTENTS
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Mining the Gold Online auctions are the bread and butter of a small towing company in Overland Park, Kan. Now its owner is sharing the tool any tower can use to achieve the same success. by Steve Calitri
34
Three-Day Recovery Joe Richard at Pro-Tow's impound lot in Overland Park, Kan.
Departments Low Down . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6 News Share . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8 Road Tools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10 Letters to the Editor . . . . . . . . . . .12 Equipment Focus . . . . . . . . . . . . .14 AD Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16 Tow Boss . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20 On Screen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .54 My Baby. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .56 Towman’s Market . . . . . . . . . . . .58
It took three days and plenty of patience to get one big excavator out of a Michigan mud pit. by Harry Kocot
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Towing Ambulances When it comes to recovering these emergency vehicles, you need to know the types to send the right truck. by Randall Resch
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Jerr-Dan’s Road to Racing From NASCAR to NHRA to Mike Ryan Motorsports, the Jerr-Dan wrecker is on scene when things go fast. by Mickey Mills
Adventures of A.T. . . . . . . . . . . . .61 TOWMAN.COM - May 2012 • 5
The Rates Page On TIW by Steve Calitri
I
n March Tow Industry Week instituted a RATES Page to address specific aspects of tow rates, accompanied by a survey. So far, each article has struck a nerve and triggered response and opinions from tow bosses across the country. The surveys have been getting strong participation, providing a sampling that is representative of what the industry at large thinks on a given topic. I was most interested in the response to the survey titled, My Method For Setting Rates. It’s no secret that hook-up rates in this industry are all over the map. In this survey, one of the choices could be considered the most logical approach for setting one’s rates: “I figure all costs, decide on a desired profit margin, and set rates accordingly.” But 52% of respondents did not choose this answer. 34.3% of respondents instead chose this: “I charge what I think is fair for the motorist and commercial accounts.” There is no question in my mind that this should be one of the considerations when setting one’s rates. However, it should not be the primary consideration. “Fair” is a subjective term. A rate, or a number, should be a business calculation. What the tow boss thinks is fair, the customer may not. Worse, “fair” may be unprofitable. “Fair” should not enter into the initial calculation, in my humble opinion. 8% chose this answer: “I am the price leader and set my rates above all competitors at a level I think the market will bear.” And 6.6% chose: “I make sure my rates are lower than my competitors rates.” Unfortunately, it’s this 6.6% of the market that is influencing the rate-setting process of a large segment of the industry with the consequence of depressing the average rate. If more towers took the price-leader path, our industry would most likely be in better shape. There are many issues involving tow rates. I have created a list of 60 topics that 6 • May 2012 - TOWMAN.COM
address very specific areas. Start thinking about the issues yourself. I believe you’ll see that the list is never ending. First off, there are several different industry segments, each requiring a different set of rates; retail, commercial, recovery, private lot tows, transport. Then you have charging by the hook-up, by mileage, by time, by weight, by time of day, weather conditions, etc. There are rate issues unique to non-consent tows, the politics of the municipality, the bidding process with a highway authority, and other factors. The variables are numerous. A tower’s rate card is his most important document and tool. In that rate card is the blueprint for success or failure. A rate is the result of the business owner’s strategy and calculation, taking into consideration the entire business structure in dollars and cents, and if not, the owner is shooting in the dark. Note that I said the rate card is the owner’s most important tool with which to ply his trade. Without a rate sheet, you can’t do business. What customer is going to enter into business with you without knowing the cost to him or her? The rate sheet also is a statement on the worth or value of the services you offer. As such it is a sales tool. In this society people associate value with dollars. What value do you place on the towing services you bring to the table? If you don’t place a high value on these services, why should the motorist, or the decision-maker at the commercial account? I am writing the article each week for the Rates page on TowIndustryWeek.com. But I welcome anyone to be a guest author, anyone in this industry with a well-thought-out opinion, a presentation of a different perspective or a sharing of factual information that can be helpful to everyone. I color my last words here with a colorless statement. Stay in the black.
Publisher Dennie Ortiz Editor-In-Chief Steve Calitri Editor Brendan Dooley Operations Editor Randall Resch Field Editors Terry Abejuela Jim “Buck” Sorrenti Chassis Editor David Kolman Safety Editor Bill Simmons “On Screen” Editor Emily Oz Editorial Board Tommy Anderson; Dallas, Texas Roy Carlson; St. Paul, Minn. Gary Coe; Portland, Ore. Belinda Harris; Greensboro, N.C. Amado Llorens; Hialeah, Fla. Ron Mislan; Warren, N.J. Chuck Swider; Chicopee, Mass. Frank Sanchez; Bridgewater, N.J. Page Layout Artist Ann Marie Nitti Advertising Sales Manager Dennie Ortiz Senior Account Executive Ellen Rosengart VP of Accounts Norma Calitri VP of Communications Neila Smith Subscription Manager Miriam Ortiz Customer Service Henri Calitri Tow Industry Week Media Director William Burwell American Towman TV Program Director Emily Oz American Towman Media Headquarters 7 West Street, Warwick, NY 10990 800-732-3869 or 845-986-4546 President Steve Calitri E-mail: Publisher: dortiz@towman.com Editor-In-Chief: scalitri@towman.com Editor: bdooley@towman.com AT’S Digital Edition: itowman.com AT’S Website: towman.com AT’S Weekly: towindustryweek.com ATTV: americantowmantv.com Copyright ©2012 American Towman Magazine is published 12 times a year by American Towman Media, Inc. 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.
Number 109 on Reader Card
Recovery Billing Class June 9th Famous for pioneering education in all facets of getting paid on recovery bills, Bob Fouquette of Recovery Billing Unlimited keeps on rolling. His next class is June 9th, held at the Bob Fouquette Big Wheel Towing facility in East Freetown, Mass. The class tuition is good for two attendees from each company, the owner and bookkeeper or business manager. The class discusses all aspects of a recovery bill and collection process, including items of value often overlooked. Remediation of the accident scene is fully taken into account. Collecting from the insurance company is also a key aspect of the class. Recovery Billing Unlimited, founded by Fouquette, specializes in helping towing companies in the creation of the recovery bill and the collection process. Bob, and his son Eric, were selected as Towmen of the Year in 2010 for their work in educating the towing industry on this critical area of revenue generation. For more info on the class, call 508-763-5474.
Classes take place right above Fouquette's classic car showroom.
8 • May 2012 - TOWMAN.COM
Survey: 57% of Teens Text While Driving A new State Farm survey shows the majority of teens with driver’s licenses, 57 percent, admit to texting while driving, despite the widespread attention surrounding the dangers of this risky practice. Despite academic research indicating the consequences of texting while driving can be as severe as drunk driving, some teens still don’t see it that way. In the survey, fewer teens view texting while driving (63 percent) as leading to fatal consequences as compared to drinking while driving (83 percent). The survey affirms the vital role parents play in keeping their new drivers safe behind the wheel. Teens who refrain from texting while driving were much more likely to report having frequent talks with their parents about safe driving. Source: State Farm
TomTom Fleet Management
Now on Apps TomTom updated its WEBFLEET Mobile fleet management app, extending use to tablets and making fleet management more accessible for managers on the move. New functions allow users to view details for all current orders, manage workflow and meet service agreements. New jobs can be sent straight from the smartphone or tablet to a drivers’ TomTom PRO device, providing them with all critical information about the job. WEBFLEET Mobile displays an accurate time of arrival, which can be used to inform the customer. WEBFLEET Mobile 1.2 also displays tracks on the map for selected trips by date and vehicle. It is available in app stores for TomTom’s business customers. For more info Visit www.tomtom.com
. . . KC may share tow fees with private dispatcher. . . Tower Rescues Trapped Woman A tow truck operator in Alaska may have saved a woman’s life after falling ice crushed her pickup truck. The woman suffered head injuries. She was driving a Chevy S-10 toward Anchorage when a 30’ ice wall let loose. “There was a huge chunk of ice that hit her square on the top of the truck,” Fire Capt. Mike Melchert said. “It flattened the roof and it pushed her down, her face to her lap.” Tower Nick Webb, of Webb’s Towing & Recovery Service, was heading south when he came upon the scene, with some passersby already trying to help. “We saw crushed ice, just big chunks of ice all in the road, and this car right in the middle of it. It was just flat,” Webb said. They were unable to remove the crumpled door, so Webb rigged wire rope through the window areas and winched the roof up off of the woman. “We were just trying to relieve pressure,” he said. “She was squished.” What Webb and the others did may have saved her life, said Melchert, who wrote a letter praising Webb’s actions. Source: www.adn.com
KC to Contract with Private Dispatcher In Kansas City, Mo., the City Council recently approved a new approach that regulators say should reduce wreck chasing and price gouging when it is fully implemented later this year. The city currently contracts with one company that has fewer than 10 trucks to respond to about 14,000 city calls per year. Police can wait for up to an hour for an authorized tow, and that encourages unauthorized tow trucks to show up and take advantage of unsuspecting motorists. Under a new system, the city will contract with a private dispatcher and use a rotation system to send the closest truck from additional authorized tow companies. Those trucks should respond more quickly, cutting down on predatory tows. Prices for police-initiated tows will be regulated to ensure they’re reasonable. The city’s next step is to solicit proposals from dispatch logistics companies. The dispatch management fee would be part of the tow bill, but the council hopes it would not be more than $20 or $25 per tow. Source: www.kansascity.com
Arizona Kills Insurance Impounds Bill
Deadly Towing Mishap in Hong Kong
A runaway crane truck rolled down a steep hill in Hong Kong, killing an elderly woman and injuring two others. The crane truck was being towed up the hill. Unable to make it up the hill, the tower stopped and called for a larger truck to come to the scene. He then applied the handbrake, shifted it into gear and blocked the tires of the 5.5-ton crane truck before unhooking it from his wrecker while waiting. It was at this point that the crane truck rolled back down the slope and hit the victims on the pavement. Then it plowed into a grocery store. In addition to the fatality, two men were injured, one seriously. Source: www.thestandard.com.hk
A bill to let police tow and impound cars without insurance met a narrow defeat in Arizona recently, according to Online Auto Insurance News. Estimates from the Insurance Research Council put the number of uninsured drivers in Arizona at 12 percent, which is just below the U.S. average of 13.8 percent, according to 2009 data. Under the proposal, a police officer would have referred to an
electronic database that verifies a motorist’s car insurance online and be allowed to tow and impound the car if its policy showed up as being canceled or non-renewed. Dissenting lawmakers balked at the possibility that the law could unintentionally victimize up to 200,000 owners of vehicles with proper policies but incorrect data in the system. Source: Online Auto Insurance
TOWMAN.COM - May 2012 • 9
Check Out What’s NEW and HOT! Hands-Free Light for Lockouts Access Tools’ new Access Smart Light attaches to a vehicle’s windshield, leaving your hands free to work. It features 24 beams from high-powered LEDs that reflect off the built-in dome mirror. The LEDs are rated to last 11,000 hours. The impactresistant light attaches with four suction cups.
www.caropeningtools.com Number 200 on Reader Card
Jerr-Dan’s 50-ton Rotator
New Tools for HD Tire Service Ken-Tool’s new Heavy Duty Wheel Nut Removal Tool, No. 34420, has become a standard item in military motor pools. The tool features 700 ft./lbs. of torque capability and an integral handle extension for greater leverage on stubborn nuts. The company also expanded its line of double-ended truck wrenches. The new wrenches are made from forged carbon steel and are ideal for trucks, buses, agricultural and other on- and off-highway equipment.
www.kentool.com Number 201 on Reader Card
Software Makes Phones FMCSA-Compliant ZoomSafer’s FleetSafer Mobile safe-driving software is claimed to be in full compliance with the new Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s guidelines on hand-held mobile phone use while driving a commercial vehicle. FleetSafer Mobile with SafeDial enables companies to ensure that drivers’ cellphone usage is fully compatible with FMCSA. The software prevents texting and emailing while driving, and provides inbound and outbound call management that is compliant with the FMCSA’s requirement that any mobile phone calls made while driving be one-touch and hands-free.
www.zoomsafer.com Number 202 on Reader Card
10 • May 2012 - TOWMAN.COM
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n 2011, Jerr-Dan added a 50-ton rotator to its wrecker lineup. Shane Coleman, Jerr-Dan’s Heavy Duty Sales and Market Development Manager, said that the key feature of the 50-ton rotator is its torsion platform, which incorporates the stability application of the Jerr-Dan 70/85 unit in a more compact package. “Recovery operations don’t always afford the ability to use more expansive outrigger spreads,” Coleman said. “Jerr-Dan’s 50-ton rotator, set on the proven torsionframe outrigger platform, is the answer for incident management and rescue and extrication missions. This enables the 50-ton rotator to perform within a confined area—not obstructing fire or rescue work or the roadway for continued traffic.” The scissors-style outrigger system minimizes setup time. This outrigger system enables the operator to set the platform over “road crown” without using cribbing. The unit’s 27” of down-stroke and 17” of ground penetration enables operators to level the unit on a 6degree pitch, minimizing the need for additional ground support. This unit also opts to have a Pierce-built “fire-service” style body. This co-ventured body provides an additional 120 cubic feet of storage. The JerrDan/Pierce body answers the industry’s demand for
a rotator with storage space for tools and equipment required for incident management. Aluminum construction and innovative design bring features to make this the most functional body of any rotator in the industry. “The tool management system is what Jerr-Dan is most proud of with this body. It works with the operator to maximize function of the body, built to minimize fatigue and maximize organization,” he said. “There’s no need for an additional chase truck with additional scene-management supplies, the Jerr-Dan/Pierce body can have the required cache of equipment in one truck that responds to the scene.” Features include: • 100,000-lbs. capacity (boom retracted at 30 degrees). • 20,000-lbs. capacity (boom extended at 30 degrees). • Torsion box frame maximizes frame RBMs and minimizes tipping. • 41’ fixed boom reach. • Low-profile “scissors-style” outriggers. • Six-point outrigger platform. • Levels on up to degree incline. • Standard and heavy-duty options available.
www.jerrdan.com Number 203 on Reader Card
TOWMAN.COM - May 2012 • 11
Humbled by AT Award “The quality of a person’s life is in direct proportion to their commitment to excellence, regardless of their chosen field of endeavor.” —Vince Lombardi I want to express my heartfelt thanks for the honor that has been bestowed upon me by American Towman (Jan. 2012 issue). I am humbled by the award and consider this to be one of the highlights of my career as both a business owner and a towing operator. I am of the firm belief that no matter what choices a person makes in their life, they should always choose the path that will challenge them to grow and develop into the best person they can be in life. Being named the Towman of the Year by American Towman has reminded me that I have made the right decisions in my life. Thank you again for your consideration and for the award, it has brought me and my family great pride in ourselves and the commitment we have made to the towing industry. Sincerely, William J. Gratzianna President/CEO O’Hare Towing Service
Grateful for ‘Move Over’ Coverage I would like to thank you for your piece on the Slow Down, Move Over Law with Amanda (AmericanTowmanTV.com, March 23 episode). It is wonderful to see the media like yourselves getting involved in something so important. I have been towing for the past 16 years and have myself been hit more then once on the highways. (It hurts!) It’s scary out there, with people who think we are out there only to slow them down or get in their way when all we are trying to do is clear the roads so they can get moving again. If we can get the Slow Down, Move Over Law out there (and especially enforced), then my kids won’t have to be wondering if their
mommy is going to be making it home. My husband drives tow tucks as well and we are always worried about each other while we are out there. People see tow truck drivers as scum, accident chasers, underhanded money grabbers who will overcharge or steal your car or money. There are those of us trying to change that image, but it is difficult … people just don’t care if they see our flashing amber lights. We are people with families who enjoy helping people, often at their most difficult times, and we want to make it home alive! Holly Murphy
Clarification In the “Eye-Opening Bus Recovery” article (March 2012 issue), Bud’s Towing in Ruther Glen, Va., should have been credited as being on-scene and assisting Anytime Towing with the recovery lift of the passenger bus. The two companies worked together with Anytime’s 35ton Century and Bud’s 35-ton Vulcan wreckers to pull the overturned bus up the embankment, back to the roadway and uprighted for towing. 12 • May 2012 - TOWMAN.COM
Be Heard? Send your letters to the editor via email to:
bdooley@towman.com Be sure to include your name and location for publication consideration.
Number 194 on Reader Card
Math Advantages and Snatch Blocks
by Terry Abejuela
T
he pulley is one of six simple machines that man has used for centuries to make work easier by multiplying the amount of force used to move an object. The others include the lever, inclined plane, screw, wedge and wheel/axle. Ancient Greek mathematician Archytas of Tarentum is believed to be the inventor of the pulley some 2,400 years ago. The development of the pulley led to the block and tackle; this invention was credited to another Greek mathematician, Archimedes. A block and tackle is a series of pulleys and a rope used to lift or move a load. In this industry, of course, we call it snatch blocks and rigging. Snatch blocks differ from other blocks because they have a removable side plate 14 • May 2012 - TOWMAN.COM
In towing and recovery, snatch blocks and rigging can be used to redirect or multiply a force.
allowing the snatch block to bite—or snatch—the rope without having to remove the hook at the end to reeve the rope through the block. In towing, we commonly use single-sheave (pulley) snatch blocks.
Redirecting Force In towing and recovery, snatch blocks and rigging can be used to redirect or multiply a force. Redirection of force, or changing the direction of the pull, is useful in our industry. Without the ability to change the direction of the pull, we could only pull loads directly towards the tow truck. Using a snatch block attached to an anchor, we can pull a load towards the anchor. This is a redirection of force and a multiplication of
force, but the multiplication of force is applied to the anchor and not the load. Multiplication of force, or mechanical advantage, also is useful for towers. This is what allows us to perform more work with less effort by using snatch blocks and rigging to attach multiple lines to a load and reduce the line tension on each part of the line. We multiply the amount of force we are producing on the load, without increasing the effort of the winch or overloading lines. Gravity and friction oppose the movement of a load; you can’t change the amount of work required to move the load. You can change the amount of force needed to move the load by changing the distance. Work is force multiplied by distance. Pulling with a force of 100 lbs. for a distance of 10’ is equal to 1,000 ft./lbs. of work. Pulling with a force of 50 lbs. for a distance of 20’ also equals 1,000 ft./lbs. of work. It’s a trade-off of effort for distance. It requires less effort but for a longer distance. If you needed to lift a 100-lbs. weight 10’ off the ground, you could attach a fixed snatch block to an overhead beam. Attach one end of the rope to the weight and reeve the rope through the snatch block and back to the ground. When you pull down with 100 lbs. of force on the free end of the rope, the weight will be lifted off of the ground. If you pull down 10’ of the rope, the weight will lift 10’ up. How much force will be exerted on the snatch block and overhead beam? It’s 200 lbs., because the force multiplication is applied to the snatch block and overhead beam, not the 100-lbs. weight. Because there is 100 lbs. of force applied to the rope by the weight, and another 100 lbs. of pulling force, the two forces add up to the total load on the snatch block and overhead beam. Now, use two snatch blocks. Attach one end of the rope to the overhead beam and reeve the rope through a snatch block attached to the 100-lbs. weight, up through another snatch
Number 145 on Reader Card
Number 163 on Reader Card
continue to page 18 Number 175 on Reader Card
TOWMAN.COM - May 2009 • 15
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CALIFORNIA FONTANA Rush Truck Center 888.362.1133 www.rushtruckcenters.com/FontanaMD roblesr@rushenterprises.com
MIAMI Truckmax 305.777.9000 www.truckmax.com jonathan@truckmax.com • Dynamic
SHREWSBURY Schwartz Truck Center 877.540.6031 www.schwartztruckcenter.com cid@schwartztruckcenter.com • Jerr-Dan, Dual-Tech, Danco
SAN JOSE Monarch Truck Center 408.275.0500 www.monarchtruck.com sales@monarchtruck.com
NEW JERSEY ATLANTIC CITY Quality Truck Center 609.965.9200 www.qualitytruckcenter.com corinned@qualitytruckcenter.com • Jerr-Dan
TEXAS SAN ANTONIO Rush Towing Systems 877.5RUSHTOW www.rushtowingsystems.com wilkinsong@rush-enterprises.com • Jerr-Dan
LYNDHURST Frank’s Truck Center 201.939.7708 www.frankstruckcenter.com ckoumoulis@frankstruckcenter.com
VIRGINIA ROANOKE Truck Enterprises Roanoke 800.296.7447 www.truckenterprises.com fmalpass@truckenterprises.com
UNION CITY/HAYWARD Monarch Truck Center 510.476.0680 www.monarchtruck.com sales@monarchtruck.com FLORIDA JACKSONVILLE Rush Truck Center 813.361.1199 www.rushtruckcenters.com shafferd@rushenterprises.com • Jerr-Dan
TRENTON Bergey’s Truck Center 215.519.9555 www.bergeystruckcenter.com srybacki@bergeys.com
!
WOODBRIDGE Matheny Motors 866.499.9216 703.477.3235 www.mathenymotors.com jbarbour@mathenymotors.com • Vulcan, Century, Chevron, Holmes Challenger, Champion, Titan WEST VIRGINIA MINERAL WELLS Matheny Motors 800.284.4418 ext.563 304.488.4501 www.mathenymotors.com mrauh@mathenymotors.com • Vulcan, Century, Chevron, Holmes Challenger, Champion, Titan WISCONSIN WATERFORD Lynch Truck Center 262.514.4000 www.lynchtruckcenter.com • Century, Vulcan, Champion, Chevron, Challenger, Holmes, Miller Industries
SNATCH BLOCKS continued from page 15
A well used 4-ton snatch block.
This snatch block is open and ready to be rigged.
This ratings tag for a snatch block places it at 4 tons, and to be used with 3/4” or 1/2” wire rope.
18 • May 2012 - TOWMAN.COM
block attached to the overhead beam and back to the ground. With this rigging you have two lines attached to the load that will share the weight, so that each part of the line needs just 50 lbs. of force to pull the load. The second snatch block creates a force redirection allowing you to pull downward. Though you only have to exert 50 lbs. of force to raise the 100lbs. weight, you must pull 20’ of rope to raise the load 10’ up. You traded effort for distance. How much force is applied to the snatch block attached to the weight? How much force is applied to the snatch block attached to the overhead beam? How much force is applied to the overhead beam? There is 100 lbs. of force on the snatch block attached to the weight, 100 lbs. of force on the snatch block attached to the overhead beam, and 150 lbs. of force on the overhead beam. How can there be 150 lbs. applied to the overhead beam when the weight is only 100 lbs.? You can determine how much force is on each component of the snatch block and rigging by adding up the amount of force on each line attached to the component. There are three lines attached to the overhead beam, each with 50 lbs. of force. I did not address line angles or friction in the snatch-block sheaves. In the examples used here, all lines are parallel. When dealing with lines that are not parallel, the line tension will increase. Friction in the snatch-block sheaves will also create additional tension in the wire rope, however, the amount of increased tension is not enough to be concerned with when using only a few snatch blocks. The cumulative affect of friction from many snatch blocks may have to be taken into consideration on those lifts.
Terry Abejuela has 30 years of light-duty towing-and-recovery experience; he's also been a light-duty level 1 instructor for the California Tow Truck Association since 1998.
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$:6*2 +6+., *;44059 (;:6 :65 *,5:;8? # ' > 3) =05*/,9 (3;4 )6+? *(8 9305. (5+ */(059 (3;4 30./: 7?365 3,+ 30./: )(8 36=,8 =682 30./:9 *()3, :,59065,89 +6+., > *;44059 +0,9,3 (;:64(:0* :8(59 *8,= *() +668 76=,8 =05+6=9 76=,8 36*29 *8;09, *65:863 9:(053,99 =/,,3 9049
$:6*2 < +0,9,3 (;:6 *,5:;8? 9:,,3 3) =05*/ 8,46<()3, 8(039 3,+ 30./: )(8 +;(3 *65:8639 36=,8 =682 30./:9 0/ :,88(9:(8 9:,,3 *() 786:,*:68 .<= < +0,9,3 (;:64(:0* :8(59 76=,8 =05+6=9 76=,8 36*29 *8;09, *65:863 +80<,89 (08 9,(: 9:(053,99 =/,,3 9049
$:6*2 ) -8,0./:305,8 9,80,9 (;:64(:0* :65 564(8 3) =05*/,9 9:(., ;5+,830-: /?+8(;30* 8,(8 97(+,9 9:,9 (>3, -6829 97805. /(5.,8 (+(7:,89 :;55,3 :663 *647(8:4,5: /7 +,:860: (4),8 ,4,8.,5*? 30./:)(8 (;:64(:0* :8(59 (08 80+, 9;97,59065 403,9 ,5.05, )8(2,9 (08 *65+0:06505. 9;5 <0968 +80<,89 (08 9,(:
$:6*2 > -8,0./:305,8 9;7,8 *() 5,= *,5:;8? 3) +,*2 3) 73(5,:(8? =05*/ 8(+06 8,46:, *65:863 65 =05*/ 8,46<()3, 8(039 :663 )6>,9 *6+, 3,+ 30./: )(8 =05*/ -8,, 97663 8,3,(9, (08 )8(2,9 -8,0./:305,8 ,>:,5+,+ *() /7 4,8*,+,9 (;:6 :8(594099065 (08 80+, 9;97,59065 403,9 (3;4 =/,,39 9;5 <0968 3) .<=
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$:6*2 .4* */,<865 34+ */,<865 :=05 305, /?+8(;30* =8,*2,8 9=0:*/ 7(5,3 7:6 =682 30./:9 +;(3 *65:8639 :;55,3 )6> *6+, 30./:)(8 *(: ,5.05, 97,,+ 76=,8 =05+6=9 76=,8 36*29 9:(053,99 =/,,3 9049 9;5 <0968 +;(3 -;,3 :(529 ),5*/ 9,(:
$:6*2 -6 -8,0./:305,8 1,88 +(5 9:,,3 9/(82 :(03 3) =05*/ (4),8 30./: )(8 :663 )6>,9 =0:/ 9:(053,99 -865:9 =/,,3 30-: +;(3 *65:8639 ,>:,5+,+ *() /7 *(: 97,,+ :8(59 (08 )8(2,9 (08 80+, 9;97,59065 +;47 9;97,59065 403,9 (3;4 =/,,39
$:6*2 -68+ 3*. *,5:;8? 8,46<()3, 8(039 3) =05*/ 9:,,3 *() 786:,*:68 +;(3 *65:8639 =/,,3 30-: 36=,8 =682 30./:9 3,+ 30./: )(8 :663 )6> *;44059 +0,9,3 (;:64(:0* :8(59 97805. 9;97,59065 /?+8(;30* )8(2,9 9:(053,99 =/,,3 9049 76=,8 =05+6=9 76=,8 36*29 *8;09, *65:863
$:6*2 +6+., > *,5:;8? 9:,,3 8,46<()3, 8(039 +;(3 *65:8639 3) =05*/ =/,,3 30-: 36=,8 =682 30./:9 3,+ 30./: )(8 :663 )6>,9 +6+., > *;44059 +0,9,3 (;:64(:0* :8(59 9:(053,99 =/,,3 9049 (4 -4 *+ 9:,8,6 76=,8 =05+6=9+ 76=,8 36*29 *8;09, *65:863
$:6*2 +6+., > *;44059 (;:6 <;3*(5 9:,,3 88 =0+, 3) =05*/ 8,46<()3, 8(039 05+,7,5+,5: =/,,3 30-: :663 )6> = 9:(053,99 +668 +;(3 *65:8639 3,+ 30./: )(8 +6+., (;:64(:0* :8(59 76=,8 =05+6=9 > > 76=,8 36*29 *8;09, *65:863 (4 -4 *+ 9:,8,6 76=,8 9,(:9
$:6*2 .4* .,5,8(3 /634,9 -;33 /?+8(;30* )664 3) /?+ =05*/,9 /?+8(;30* 97(+,9 9:(., ;5+,830-: ,4,8.,5*? 30./: )(8 /,(<? +;:? :8;*2 /0:*/ /634,9 +,3;>, )6+? + 805.9 65 :(03.(:, (>3, -6829 .4* .,5,8(3 < +,:860: +0,9,3 97,,+ :8(59 97805. 9;97,59065 905.3, */864, ,>/(;9: ,>:,85(3 (08 *3,(5,8 (3;4 =/,,39 403,9
$:6*2 ( -68+ */,<865 (;:36(+ 3) =05*/ *3;:*/ 7;47 :663 *647(8:4,5:9 36=,8 =682 30./:9 ;77,8 -366+9 -,5+,8,::,9 < +0,9,3 (;:64(:0* :8(59 403,9 (08 *65+0:06505. 9:(053,99 =/,,3 9049 (4 -4 9:,8,6
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!
Towing Is a Risky Business-Don’t Get Blindsided by Michael Harding
Y
ou took a lot of risks to get to where you are today. In fact, your tow business probably wouldn’t exist if you hadn’t taken some of those risks. Now, as your company is established, business risks are more significant—there is just so much more to lose! Risks can be managed however. Whether your tow operation is small or large, you have a responsibility to your business, your employees, your clients and yourself to invest in risk management planning. Many only think about buying insurance when they think about risk management, but there are many risks businesses face. Some risks are random and unpredictable (weather and acts of nature), but others can be planned for, like costs of materials, overhead, new hires and equipment replacement. There are other kinds of events that can happen almost anytime and disrupt your operations, reserves and profits or destroy your business. Trying to get your arms around all risks and eliminate them is unrealistic; it would be expensive and burdensome. On the other hand, not paying enough attention to risks can leave you unprotected to a blindside hit. The big challenge in risk management RM is to find the proper balance between peace of mind and making a profit.
Management Is Key Your role as a leader is to help everyone generally understand risks and to make sure policies are in place to manage them. Your can create a culture of RM by: • Educating everyone how much risk is acceptable and that risk is part of every job. • Setting expectations for plans to deal with and reduce risk. • Making sure that everyone under20 • May 2012 - TOWMAN.COM
stands that risk is everyone’s business. • Holding everyone accountable. Simply stated, risk management is a discipline for dealing with uncertainty. It provides you with an approach to recognize and confront the threats you face. RM can be very complicated, but it doesn’t have to be. To get started every tow operation can begin with a simple, easyto-follow plan that can manage risks. If needed, you can expand from there.
Getting Started RM goes beyond just identifying risks; it is about learning to weigh your risks and making decisions about which risks deserve immediate attention. You can do this when you establish your goals for RM and identify and assess risks to your business. To establish a framework, ask, “What am I trying to accomplish by integrating RM into our operations?” Some goals might include reducing injuries, avoiding
costly claims or reducing insurance premiums. Next, you need to recognize and pinpoint risks (Risk Identification). Use a system that allows you to identify major risks facing your operation. Make a list and examine every risk, no matter how small. Small risks could develop into something more serious over time. Risk Assessment is the third step, where you evaluate and prioritize risks you’ve identified. RM is about learning to weigh risks and make decisions about which ones deserve immediate attention. You will often find that your operation’s vulnerability to a risk is often a function of profitability. What are the odds that a particular risk will materialize … and how much is it likely to cost? This helps quantify which risks are worth worrying about and which are not. A risk matrix is a valuable tool to help determine both the likelihood and the consequences of any particular risk. It helps you focus your attention on those issues that have higher consequences. In such a matrix, the likelihood is rated from “almost certain” to “unlikely” and the consequences are rated from “minimal” to “catastrophic.”
Prioritize Your List Once you’ve assessed your risks, you can begin to take steps to control them – giving priority to these with the greatest likelihood and/or biggest potential impact. Select appropriate risk management strategies and implement your plan. There are four basic RM techniques that can be used individually or in combination to address virtually every risk. 1. Avoid it. Whenever you can’t offer a service with a high degree of safety, you should choose avoidance as an RM technique. In some cases, avoidance is the best technique because many tow operations don’t have the financial resources
Five Key Questions on Risks • What can go wrong? • Why are you worried about it? • What will you do to keep something bad from happening? • What will you do to reduce the worry? • How will you pay for it?
Risks with Employment Policies/Procedures • Are policies clear and concise? • Do they apply equally to everyone? • How are they communicated? • Do we promote consistency? • Are managers trained to apply policies? • How is hiring implemented? • What are background checking policies? • Are policies consistent with laws? • What are our termination policies?
Safety Considerations and Risks • Seatbelt use for drivers and all passengers. • Working outside of the tow truck (as a pedestrian). • Driver responsibilities in protecting their roadside customer. • Transporting multiple passengers in towed and carried vehicles. • Drivers being robbed or truck-jacked. • Conducting complete and accurate daily equipment inspections. • Ongoing operator training. • Monthly safety meetings. • Dealing with an upset and/or violent customer. required to fund the training, supervision or other safety measures. Ask, “Is there something we could do to provide this service safely?” If the answer is “yes,” the next strategy may be for you. 2. Modification. Simply changing an activity or service to make it safer is a good way to go. Changing policies and procedures are examples of risk modification. A tow operation concerned about the risk of using unsafe drivers may add DMV record checks to its screening process. 3. Take it on yourself. A tow operation may decide that other techniques aren’t suitable and it will retain the risk of harm or loss. For example, when a tow boss purchases liability insurance and elects a $1,000 deductible, he’s retaining risk. Where bosses get into trouble is when risk is retained unintentionally, such as in the exclusions of an insurance policy. 4. Share it. Risk sharing typically involves a contract, like using insurance to share the financial impact of risks. Once you’ve gone through the steps of identifying and evaluating risks, it will probably become apparent that you’ll need to put together an RM plan to man-
age them all. Your goal may be to reduce the cost of insurance or to reduce the number of work-related injuries. By determining your intention before initiating RM planning, you can evaluate the results to determine the effectiveness. The ultimate goal for your tow operation regarding risk is to create a culture where risk is routinely examined and managed simply as part of the business process. Risk management starts at the highest levels of a tow operation. By operating in a transparent and ethical manner a lot of risks are mitigated by promoting a sense of accountability. We can’t know what lies ahead, but we do want to be prepared and respond to future events effectively and gracefully. Make a conscious effort to identify and manage your exposures.
Editor’s note: Mike Harding is a Senior Loss Control Specialist for Markel Insurance Corp. and has more than 20 years experience in risk management, safety management and fleet/driver safety consulting. He is responsible for providing educational services for clients and supporting related industry trade associations. He can be reached at mharding@markelcorp.com. Number 100 on Reader Card
left, Vulcan LCG, 21.5' carrier Pro-Tow operates Century and Vulcan equipment.
heavy duty units and an additional fleet of car haulers, he settled into a car towing company that is today on the rotation list in ten towns. Just before the turn of the new century he was beginning to sense the potential gold mine located within his impound lot, and this instinct encouraged him to purchase a one and one half acre lot in 1999. Came the new millennium, Joe and Pro-Tow were auctioning 60 to 70 cars a month, 60% of the cars from private lot tows, the others from police work. At this time, the Internet was kicking in with more and more of the public, and Joe started thinking… The tipping point occurred during one of his auctions, when he overheard two salvage yard owners colluding on bids. “I want that El Dorado,” said the one.” “If you want that one, I’ll back down on it. Do the same for me on the ‘95 Caddy.” “You got it.” This would not be happening, thought Joe, if the auction process was on the Internet. Joe had been looking closely at one well-known online auction site, and he thought he could create a friendlier system in more ways than one.
The tipping point occurred during one of his auctions, when he overheard two salvage yard owners colluding on bids.
Mining
Joe and Brandon Richard
Gold
Abandoned Pro-Tow Shares Its Auction Success Through Towlot.com 22 • May 2012 - TOWMAN.COM
by Steve Calitri
J
oe Richard began in the towing industry like so many others, as a tow operator, and one who worked for a tow company who did a lot of AAA work. Helping the stranded motorist, he said, got into his blood. He truly enjoyed the work.
Joe joined Pro-Tow in Overland Park, Kansas in 1985, the company he bought out the following year. In 1986, at age 26, he was the proud owner of a two-truck towing company, working out of his home; his wife, Thea, doing dispatch with their infant son, Jason, in her arms. At that moment in time, no one could have predicted that the fate of this one humble tower would fuel the success of other towers like himself around the nation. While Joe had his ups and downs building his towing company, growing his fleet at one point to ten trucks, including
“I would notice how a salvage guy who was physically imposing could intimidate another bidder to back down on a bid. This wasn’t good for the other bidder, nor for my auction. A live, lightning round auction on the Internet changes all that. All I needed to come up with was a system that was easy for both the bidder and the seller to use.” Joe hooked up with a programmer, a move that would turn into a $150,000 investment over several years. In 2005 towlot.com was born and Pro-Tow began doing online auctions. A few months later, neighboring Overland Towing came on board, and by year’s end there were six companies from his area doing auctions on towlot.com. “It was an exciting moment,” remembers Joe. “But it was also a tough one. I had to tell my auctioneer I would no longer be using him. He was an elderly man I had built a long-time business relationship with. I had first met him at a farm equipment auction. We eventually became good friends. But I knew the direction I wanted to go in. It was a business decision I had to make. TOWMAN.COM - May 2012 • 23
In the picture from left to right: Joe, Brandon, Brandon Jr., Trevon and Jason Richard.As the family patriarch Joe could not be more proud. Brandon heads up towlot.com; Trevon is involved with promoting customer auctions through the Internet and Jason manages the gas station and convenience store Joe owns in town. Here they enjoy a favorite spot at the family vacation home in Colorado.
“Once Pro-Tow’s auction revenue reached $5 million last year, I figured that doing our auctions on towlot.com had saved me $500,000 in auction fees. Not to mention other savings in advertising related costs.” Towlot.com has been the primary reason for Pro-Tow’s growth in auctions. With the wider geographical bidder base and larger bidder pool that the Internet can deliver, the prices of the bids quickly were higher than the bids that the on-site auctions brought. Today Pro-Tow auctions off 60 to 80 vehicles online every other week. In the process Joe has become more aggressive in buying cars to auction through towlot.com, using sources like Junk My Car, and buying out more accident vehicles. Today Pro-Tow’s auction business is grossing $1.25 million with a profit margin around 40%. His towing business grosses just under $1 million with a profit margin that struggles to reach 5%. With Pro-Tow doing so well with its online auctions, and towlot.com 24 • May 2012 - TOWMAN.COM
“Once Pro-Tow’s auction revenue reached $5 million last year, I figured that doing our auctions on towlot.com has saved me $500,000 in auction fees.” Joe Richard, Pro-Tow
customers are quite happy with their results, Joe knew he was onto something that could be a big boon for the towing industry and towers just like himself. Towlot.com worked. Towers in the Kansas City area were using it regularly and auctioning cars at prices double to triple what their on-site auctions used to bring.
“The question was,” said Joe, “How can I bring towlot.com to the thousands of towers who could benefit from the simplicity of this process. It’s a tough industry in the sense that we all work hard. Those running a towing business are totally focused on the day to day operations. I figured I would need to invest a lot more money to run towlot.com like the business it had become, and run it right. The first step was to bring my son, Brandon, in to run it.” Brandon, age 31, married and a father of two children, had been running the used car lot business Joe had set up in 2000. He knew car values, and he knew enough about the impound business to be able to be helpful to lot owners considering shifting their auctions online. “Getting new towers to try towlot,” says Brandon, “had been a slow process until this year, because so much of my time has been focused on customer service, administration and that few towers knew about us. I’m not a high-pressure kind of salesman. I try to be helpful. I figure a business owner has his own mind and will come around to doing an online auction when the time is right for him. The practical reasons to do so are all there, and our system is very user friendly. But a tower is going to be in the habit for years of disposing his abandoned cars a certain way, whether it’s been through one salvage yard or through an auctioneer. Now we’ve started the process to make them aware that there is a better option.” Brandon smiles when he relates his father’s recent investment that began in the latter part of 2011. “He came to the conclusion,” said Brandon, “that for towlot.com to catch on, it needed to be marketed, something we’ve never done, really. Our goal now is to build industry awareness about towlot.com and how towers are profiting from using it. Needless to say, only one industry publication can help us to make towlot.com a household name among towers. American Towman. In the short time since we’ve been advertising in AT there’s been a seismic shift
continue to page 25
Number 126 on Reader Card
MINING ABANDONED GOLD continued from page 24 in the awareness factor, and our customer base is growing.” Joe decided at the start that Towlot.com would get away from auction fees, a factor he feels traditionally favored the auctioneer, not the tower. “At the auction we held recently we sold a 1986 Buick Grand National for $8900. I would have had to pay an auctioneer his 10% or $890 on that car. Towlot.com receives just $30 for having the car posted on its system, what amounts to a virtual showroom fee. There is no auction fee.” The $30 vehicle posting fee that Towlot.com charges can even be recouped. The Towlot system allows for the seller to charge an auction fee and a fee for handling lien papers. Hampshire Towing in South Hadley, Mass., who has posted three auctions on Towlot.com this year, keys in a $30 auction fee the winning bidder must pay. Bill Johnson, Hampshire’s owner, says his most recent auction of 30 cars picked up an extra $4,000 compared to what he would have gotten dealing directly with a few salvage yards. All of the $30 fees for posting the cars into the virtual showroom, a total of $900
26 • May 2012 - TOWMAN.COM
paid to Towlot, was recovered in the “auction fee” he listed on the system, paid by the buyers. Both Joe and Brandon Richard believe that being an inexpensive option for impound lot owners is one of the keys to bringing towers online
Today Pro-Tow’s auction business is grossing $1.25 million with a profit margin around 40%. around the country. “We are extremely cost conscious as an industry,” Joe emphasized. “You have to be in this business to stay alive.” The other key to Towlot.com’s success has been its simplicity. Detailed auction reports and individual bills of sales are generated by the system with a click of the mouse. “Each bill of sale,” says Brandon, “Comes with a full
Number 108 on Reader Card
color photo of the vehicle. This is helpful to salvage yards and the guy off the street who takes the lien papers to the DMV and has the visual support behind the sale price being reported.” “The history of the auctions available on the towlot.com system is helpful when the police call months later with questions on certain details of a particular auction,” said Joe. “In fact, the records kept on an auction are immensely helpful in complying with today’s lien laws.” Hampshire Towing’s Bill Johnson concurs: “As far as lien laws in Massachusetts go, Towlot.com makes the process bulletproof. I used to have uneasy feelings on certain cars when selling them to a local salvage yard. Now, no one can come back in and say we didnt get the most we could for the cars. Instead of dealing with three local salvage yards there were 39 buyers and some were out of state.” The system is also easy as far as entering a vehicle’s information, such as vin number, year and make, etc. “There’s very little typing that one has
continue to page 28
MINING GOLD continued from page 26
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28 • May 2012 - TOWMAN.COM
Pro-Tow’s most recent auction through Towlot.com grossed $76,505, averaging $1,142 per vehicle.
to do,” said Brandon. “The system automatically fills in most of the information on a vehicle. It’s amazing how simple it is. Even the owner operator who has little or no office help can manage an online auction pretty easily. “As for photos of a vehicle, as an option, we’ll send out a photographer for the tower’s first auction. They can be uploaded into the system in a matter of seconds.” Aside from its first marketing thrust, Brandon says that Towlot.com has advanced its regional advertising methods to bring more bidders to auctions from anywhere in the country. “As we began serving towers located around the nation this year, it quickly became clear that these first auctions would not be able to rely on the great bidder pool that’s been built up in the Midwest around our original customer base. The first auction we held in the Southeast was good, we thought, for a first time auction online, but we didn’t feel it was as good as it could have been. So we looked into new ways to be able to build an instant bidder base with a first-time auction anywhere in the country, and what we’ve come up with has exceeded our expectations. We first tried the new method up in Massachusetts with Interstate Towing in Chicopee. Interstate’s owner, Jeremy Procon, was thrilled with the results.” Procon told AT: “We ran Towlot on February 24 with 30 cars. It was a huge success. It opened up our market … we pulled in people from Rhode Island and New York bidding in our auction. Scrap cars, that would normally sell for $325, went for upwards of $800. I averaged $1,100 per car. Brandon at Towlot was immediately available when I called and very helpful with my questions. This whole process keeps it fair and competitive for all my local salvage yards; instead of taking cars to one yard and then getting calls from another yard about why we didn’t take a car there, this gives them all an equal chance to bid. … I’ll be running auctions with them now about twice every quarter.” Indeed, a month later, Interstate ran its second auction on Towlot.com with just 18 vehicles. It averaged $986.67 with a total gross of $17,760.
continue to page 30
Number 207 on Reader Card
MINING GOLD cont. from pg 28 Another tower new to towlot.com is Knights Collision & Towing in Brooklyn, NY. Co-owner Adam Robles says the company used to run silent bids on-site, but he’s now entertaining bidders from Pennsylvania and as far away as Michigan through towlot. “The bidders are coming through and we’re getting higher bids on the junker cars than what we would get on our silent-bid auctions.”
“Scrap cars, that would normally sell for $325, went for upwards of $800. I averaged Number 153 on Reader Card
For advertising opportunities call 800-732-3869 Ellen Rosengart x203 erosengart@towman.com Dennie Ortiz x213 dortiz@towman.com
Number 216 on Reader Card
30 • May 2012 - TOWMAN.COM
Number 178 on Reader Card
$1,100 per car.” Jeremy Procon, Interstate Towing, Chicopee, Mass.
Pro-Tow’s most recent auction through Towlot.com, as of the time of this issue’s printing, grossed $76,505, averaging $1,142 per vehicle. According to Joe Richard, it was a typical auction for them.“I’m happy just with the success that Towlot has brought to Pro-Tow. It means I’ve got a nice mountain home in Colorado to escape to and I can go play in Vegas once in a while. But I always had in mind to bring Towlot to the towers. So it’s gratifying each time I see another tower around the country benefitting from our online auction system.” With most towers in America moving cars in and out of their impound lots, Towlot.com’s potential is tremendous. Does its founder think it can be as big as other on-line aucton companies one day? “Why not?” said Joe. “I’m a little guy who is using online auctions to be profitable. And there are thousands of little guys who can be doing the same. The beauty of the Towlot system is that it doesn’t matter whether you run an auction of 100 vehicles or ten. It treats them all the same, towing companies large and small.”
A stuck excavator was in mud with the consistency of quicksand. Even with the spades out, the pull was so hard on day one the wrecker sunk in far.
3 Day Recovery
2011 Heavy-Duty Donnie Award Winner
by Harry Kocot Sunrise Side Towing; Sterling, Mich.
The Donnie* is co-sponsored by Miller Industries and B/A Products
34 • May 2012 - TOWMAN.COM
*The Donnie Cruse Memorial Recovery Award is presented by American Towman Magazine and WreckMaster.
O
n an August evening in 2011, Sunrise Side Towing of Sterling, Mich., was called to recover a Caterpillar 321D Excavator that was stuck in mud. The area was the site of an old beaver dam that now had the consistency of quick sand. The excavator became stuck that morning; another excavator and a bulldozer at the scene had no luck in recovering the stuck excavator. We responded with a 1995 International single-axle truck with a Kemp-conversion Holmes 600, and a 1983 Ford LTL 9000 with an Ackerson Wrecker unit with a main winch rated at 60 tons and a second winch rated at 30 tons. We arrived at the scene at 7:30 p.m. and observed the stuck excavator was more than 350’ from any hard ground. We drove the Ford wrecker down the hill and into the very soft mud and muck about 40’ since we had another heavy wrecker on-scene.
Two heavies and an excavator weren’t enough. A third heavy wrecker assisted on the third afternoon. By day 3, the engine compartment was covered by water and mud
The Ford’s main winch had approximately 400’ of 3/4” wire rope and the other had about 300’ of wire rope. We ran the main winch out and back as far as we could and then married the secondary winch to the main winch for a two-part line layup. We attached a 1/2” Grade 120 alloy chain with foundry hooks to the bottom of the excavator and started to pull. Being so far from the excavator, we could not get the lift we wanted—it was going to be a hard, horizontal pull. It wound up being more difficult than we first thought. We moved the excavator about 80’, with the operator assisting in the pull by moving the excavator ’s tracks slowly in-tune with the winch speed. However, our Ford wrecker—with the spades fully extended—had sunk so deep into the muck that we could step right up onto the deck of the wrecker. The pull was great enough that we began lifting the front axle of our truck off of the ground. With help from the excavator operator moving some of the mud and muck from the path of the excavator, we were able to slowly move the excavator more. In part because of the
darkness and the late hour, we suspended the recovery until the next morning. We had moved the excavator about 200’.
Don’t Leave Yet We were back at about 9 a.m. the next day and were advised by a company representative that a much larger excavator with pads was on its way; it finally arrived about noon. The operator of this newly arrived excavator asked us to move our wrecker so he could pull the stuck excavator out himself. We used our Holmes wrecker to pull the Ford out of the mud, but one of the company’s representatives asked us not to leave the scene, just in case. After nearly 3 hours, the new excavator had moved the stuck excavator about 2’ forward … and about 5’ further down into the muck. We again rigged to the stuck excavator and together with the help of the much larger excavator lifting, we were finally able to make some real headway. At least for a while, until the stuck excavator started to sink lower and lower and lean sharply on its right
side as we pulled. To make matters worse, the hole it was in started to fill with water. It was 10 p.m. and now we needed to pump the water out before we could continue; total progress was only another 75’. We shut things down until the following morning.
One More Truck At 8 a.m. the next day, the engine compartment of the excavator was covered with water and mud. We rigged our Holmes wrecker from the top of the hill. We were still 175’ from the stuck excavator and with very little lift to help us. We got the excavator moving, slowly, but it was still doing a lot of plowing. At about noon, we called for a third heavy-duty wrecker. With the additional wrecker, we were finally able to pull the excavator to the edge of the hard surface. At this point, the top of the excavator was still 4’ below ground level. Finally we were able to get the excavator to the top of the second hill and onto a hard surface. At last, with the recovery complete, we were able to call it a day.
TOWMAN.COM - May 2012 • 35
Number 176 on Reader Card
Towing Fees Increase at Tower’s Request
email your nominations to scalitri@towman.com
American Towman Exposition, Baltimore MD, Nov. 16-18, 2012
Check out the Rates Page every week!
Towing charges in Fairhope, Ala., for calls initiated by police are going up, but will still be at or lower than what the state charges. The City Council approved the new rates recently after the only company in the city’s call rotation, Tony’s Towing, said it couldn’t continue to do business at the old rates. Standard towing fees are rising from $75 to $125 for vehicles under 10,000 lbs., and from $125 to $350 for vehicles over 10,000 lbs. The old fees had been in place since 2006. Other fee increases include: • $125 additional per hour after the first hour, up from $75, and $350 per additional hour for vehicles over 10,000 pounds. • $3.50 per mile towing outside the police jurisdiction, up from $2.50. • $25 per day storage for smaller vehicles and $40 for larger vehicles, up from $15 and $25, respectively. Source: http://blog.al.com
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Basini Named Tow Truck Sales Manager The Advantage Funding group of companies hired Peter Basini as sales manager for its newly established tow-truck division. He has extensive background in tow-truck and trailer financing and leasing spanning more than 30 years. “Tow truck financing fits easily into our fold, and I believe with Pete’s industry expertise and our funding platform independent towtruck operators will have a solid funding partner to turn to when they need to replace or add additional trucks,” said Donald J. Coolbaugh, Sales VP. “I am excited to bring a fresh and innovative funding source to the market,” Basini said. Learn more at www.advantagefund.com.
Number 147 on Reader Card
American Towman Magazine is on Facebook! Get the scoop, interact with us and share your stories and photos!
Number 191 on Reader Card
TOWMAN.COM - May 2012 • 39
Creating Recognition in Your Local Area Market American Towman's Empire Builders program is designed to boost recognition of your company's excellence to your local area market. Empire Builders An Empire Builder in the towing industry is a tower who has become a dominant force in his market area. Various factors may have contributed to this: growth
in call volume and fleet size, key commercial accounts, diversification in towing or automotive related fields, recognition of special achievements by sectors of the towing industry or the town, such as the police, motor clubs or trade media. Your company may be long established, playing a dominant role in towing in your locale, or you may be an Empire Builder if you’ve been in busi-
ness for just five years, and have shown significant growth and success. On companies identified as “Empire Builders,” American Towman will be sending a feature article to respective county and town newspapers. Newspapers like positive stories to help balance out all the negative ink in news coverage. If you apply for recognition as an Empire Builder, you may be contacted for more information and photographs of your operation. American Towman will also be recognizing Empire Builders through editorial coverage in the magazine and on the Internet via Tow Industry Week and American Towman TV, and will be showing recognition as well at one of the American Towman Expositions.
Please fill out and send to: Empire Builders/American Towman, 7 West Street, Warwick, NY 10990, or fax to: 845-986-5961, or email to scalitri@towman.com Awards Year Established: Founder of the company: Current owner: Year Current owner took over: ___ Number of tow trucks in first year: ___ Number of tow trucks in fleet today: ___ Fleet units include: ___ Light duty ___ Medium Duty ___ Heavy Duty ___ Key commercial accounts(list five top accounts, excluding motor clubs)
National trade awards/local commendations
Name: This information is considered confidential and will not be included in any writeups:
Call Volume, number tows/service calls dispatched annually: On Rotation for these municipalities:
Title: Co: Address:
Exclusive towing contract with the following municipalities: City:
Number of vehicles auctioned off monthly or sold to salvage: Diversification Business is diversified into other areas related in some fashion to the towing business(include name of business(es) and one or two word description of the nature of the business(es). If diversification falls under same company name as the towing company, use the term, Division, such as, the Equipment Rental Division, or Lien Services Division:
Name Description Name Description Name Description
State: Email: Phone:
Zip:
that work in today’s emergency response environments. Ambulance, paramedic and paratransit companies, fire departments and mobile intensive care hospitals employ ambulances of varying sizes, shapes and configurations. Typically, ambulances are sized accordingly in two-wheel or four-wheel drive, ranging from light to heavy Gross Vehicle Weight Ratings: • Type I ambulances are based on chassis-cabs of light-duty trucks. • Type II ambulances are based on modern passenger/cargo vans. • Type III ambulances are based on chassis-cabs of light-duty vans. Some of the best working relationships your company can build are with an agency’s fleet mechanics and supervisors. Regardless as to the type
Towing
Ambulances by Randall C. Resch
This Niche Can Lead to Bigger Business
42 • May 2012 - TOWMAN.COM
Y
ou see ‘em everywhere, day or night, rain or shine. Like any fleet vehicle, they’re subjected to extreme use and high mileage. Even the best-built ambulances are only as good as their maintenance program. One thing’s for sure, ambulance companies can’t risk the possibility of having a patient die during a high-speed, codethree run to a trauma center. I covered “Class B Tow Tucks for Your Fleet” (January 2012 AT) regarding buying a Class B tow truck for your fleet. Towing ambulances is a great niche for medium-duty
A missing oxygen tank in the patient's bay may mean it's stored in an exterior compartment.
Class B tow trucks. Class B tow trucks are designed to handle mid-size commercial vehicles while complying with law enforcement contracts for “upper class-size towed and impounded vehicles.” Using your smaller truck or Class B tow truck with your community’s ambulance and paramedic companies may put you into a position to bid for those attractive fire department accounts. But don’t rush out and buy a larger class tow truck or transport carrier without first doing your homework on the different ambulance types
of ambulances they run, it makes perfect sense to train with each other to determine the best product for the situation. Savvy tow owners take time to go to the ambulance company’s location to practice and discuss dry-run hookups, especially if the ambulance companies or fire departments have recently added new ambulances to their fleet.
Ambulance Towing 101 Ambulance bodies and running gear are constantly adapting to the needs and rigors of their own industry.
Accordingly, tow methods and applications must update continually. If you or your driver causes damage to an ambulance’s suspension or body components, chances are, the ambulance company’s administrators will seek another tow provider. Ambulance systems are often too mechanically complicated for those who don’t have familiarity or experience with such systems. When responding to calls of a disabled ambulance, tow operators shouldn’t try to start a disabled ambulance. It’s recommended they just load, tow or transport. Ambulance manufacturers and fleet maintenance personnel offer some points on towing and loading ambulances. First, know and understand the types of tow equipment authorized by the agencies you serve. You’ll only have one opportunity to bring the wrong tow truck and violate a contract. Before lift or load, always check the ambulance’s rear patient compartment to ensure that nothing, especially oxygen tanks and gurneys, are loose. Make sure doors are closed. Check foldaway or retractable stairs to be sure they too are tucked out of harm’s way. Battery systems should be turned off to avoid in-transport fires. Ambulances should be frame forked from the front, as the heavier suspension manages the weight of lifted vehicles better, necessitating removal of the driveshaft (if policy directs). Whenever possible, avoid towing or frame-forking ambulances from the rear as aluminum mounted bodies may tear as a result of side-toside movement. Smaller wheel-lift tow trucks may be wider than what can be safely retained within the tow truck’s wheellift due to the ambulance’s width and tire size. Use only chains or safety straps that are rated for such activities. Regardless as to the type of tow truck or wheel lift used, safety chains are required in the usual manner. Ambulances and Mobile Intensive Care Units with larger GVWR, may have air suspension. To avoid tearing the system’s air bags, these may TOWMAN.COM - May 2012 • 43
Carefully extend the wheel-lift or under-reach under the ambulance’s bumper (front or rear) to avoid striking lowend frame components. Be sure all forks have sufficient clearances around power-steering units, controls arms, hard and soft fluid lines or anywhere that conflicts with the vehicle’s suspension becoming fully seated into the frame forks. Ensure there is sufficient room between the ambulance’s rear bumper and the back end of the tow truck so turning movements won’t damage the rear corners of the ambulance’s body. This also helps avoid dragging the ambulance’s rear bumper in driveways or dips in the road. Make sweeping, wide turns when entering repair shops, fleet locations or the agency’s repair facility. It’s OK to enlist a spotter when parking these types of units.
What About Large Carriers? Many ambulances break down right at the station where access might be problematic.
require being chained securely to keep them from dropping, extending or tearing. Use caution when routing chains to avoid pinching lines or wires that may be routed in the same general area as air bag components. If towing from the unit’s rear, ensure attachment devices or equipment are located in an area strong enough to bear the weight of the unit and not cause understructure damage. Be sure that taller frame forks have sufficient clearances so they don’t poke through the unit’s floor.
As in any profession that requires the right tool for the job, just because your company has a larger two-axle flatbed carrier, there are important considerations whether a type of ambulance will fit on your carrier’s deck, like length, width and, most importantly, height. It’s not recommended that ambulances be loaded on standard flatbed carriers with side rails in a manner similar to transporting dually pickups. Avoid using tall-tire carriers as the load will likely violate state height laws and be at risk of tipping or not clearing bridge undersides. Sure, it would be great to have a new Peterbilt chassis with a 24’ flatbed, but would hauling a 10’ tall ambulance put you close to height violations? Try stuffing an ambulance into a low-bridge overhang and you’ll certainly be the laughing stock of your community. Loading ambulances onto tilt-bed carriers risks dragging rear aluminum tailboards and bumpers. Lifting by lightweight bumpers will certainly bend under the weight … these are expensive to replace. When loading onto a lowboy carrier, use lumber to gain additional height to avoid dragging and scraping. Check to see that the amount of overhang is within the limits of the law. If you’re too far beyond the end of the carrier’s superstructure, you could be in violation. In most states, load cannot be more than 4’.
Trailer It Tow companies that employ semi-trailers seem to have the better tool for the job and are most welcomed by fire administrators. Due to their low heights and wide platforms, they are the most efficient process of transporting ambulances where the entire unit is winched onto the semitrailer’s deck. One drawback in using semi-trailers is their accessibility to the casualty. In some locations, like apartment complex properties or shopping centers, the disabled ambulance may not be in a position where a semi unit can get a straight shot at loading. This is especially challenging if the ambulance to be transported is equipped with air brakes. Educate fire department personnel, ambulance com-
continue to page 48 Number 151 on Reader Card
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Number 165 on Reader Card
TOWMAN.COM - May 2012 • 45
As seen on:
Number 159 on Reader Card
TOWING AMBULANCES continued from page 44
Extension bumpers of this design often drag if not transported on Landoll-style carriers.
pany administrators and fleet maintenance supervisors by providing a “What if a break-down occurs?” scenario, and show what happens if their ambulance isn’t accessible to the semitrailer. If the fire administrator, department chief or ambulance company owner wants their ambulances transported on a semi-trailer, obviously first-responder personnel must learn that tow companies using large-size towing equipment are accessrestricted. Whenever possible, ambulance rigs should be parked in open territory, but we all know that that’s probably the last thing considered in life-and-death situations. Openly parking an ambulance should be the ambulance driver ’s responsibility, though “arrival assessment” is seldom taught in paramedic or EMT courses. To ensure accessibility, get fire department staff or fleet personnel to pledge that whenever their ambulance does go down, keys to the unit will be available. Sometimes in their haste to off-load medic gear into a spare ambulance, the unit’s keys end up going away in a paramedic’s pocket or duty bag. While anyone can crawl under an ambulance unit and remove the driveshaft, why subject your own personal safety under the vehicle unless it’s the very last resort. Many fleet policies request that driveshafts and axles not be pulled, and that fire equipment or ambulances be transported by heavy-flatbed equipment. 48 • May 2012 - TOWMAN.COM
If required by agency contract, disconnect or shut off system batteries to avoid accidental fires when transporting or towing.
Loading any vehicle onto a semitrailer is generally easier to steer when keys are available. Keeping the unit centered on the semi-trailer’s deck is critically important to accommodate the ambulance’s width.
Send the Right Truck Ambulances are not cars. By design, they’re larger and increasingly more complicated than an average pickup truck. Accordingly so, it requires the skills of a knowledgeable and competent tow operator who is familiar with their design, capabilities and those little nuances that tend to get inexperienced towers in trouble. When your dispatch office receives a request to tow an ambulance, unless your company has the experience to take on the call, you’re better off referring the caller to a company that has the equipment and personnel to handle it. Dispatchers and call-takers should understand that towing and transporting ambulance equipment is a specialty activity requiring accuracy with little margin for error. Asking the proper questions is most important when sending the right tow equipment the first time. Required information for dispatchers to get on ambulance requests should include: • Class/type of ambulance • Overall size, height, width, length • Unit number or license plate number • The vehicle’s GVWR
• Availability of keys • If anyone is with the vehicle • Exact cause of breakdown (engine, electrical, other?) • If the ambulance is parked in the open where a large tow truck or semi-trailer unit can easily get to it Some callers may get upset having to answer all these questions, especially when they don’t see the importance of the information. A calm and simple explanation will generally appease them and guarantees the right truck is dispatched the first time. Although handling ambulances isn’t a difficult niche to cover, any damage to your account’s vehicles can result in loss of their business. When you’ve accidentally damaged a vehicle and you’re removed from the “preferred list,” other agencies might also decline using your company for future business and contracts. Be smart and make wise choices when it comes to towing ambulance equipment. If you don’t yet tow fire equipment and you’re looking to grow your company’s government accounts, your success in the ambulance niche could lead you towards eventually bidding, towing and transporting fire apparatus—which is another story all its own. Randall C. Resch is a retired California police officer and has been in the towing and recovery industry for 40 years as a tow business owner, manager, consultant and lightduty trainer. Email Randy at rreschran@aol.com.
Five-time Sprint Cup champion Jimmie Johnson has a bang-up day at Bristol.
Jerr-Dan’s
Motorsports Relationships to NASCAR and Beyond
Road to Racing by Mickey Mills
Photos courtesy of Jerr-Dan
50 • May 2012 - TOWMAN.COM
B
aseball might be America’s favorite pastime, but auto racing is America’s high-octane, door-handle-to-door-handle obsession. You can trace the roots of auto racing to the rural areas of the Deep South and Midwest. The Jerr-Dan Corp. started rural too, and grew out of the Grove Manufacturing Co., building farm wagons in a rural Pennsylvania shop. Some of Jerr-Dan's main facilities are still in those rural communities in places like Pennsyl-
vania's McConnellsburg and Shippensburg. Jerr-Dan’s first foray into motorsports was their mid-’90s sponsorship deal with drag racer Carl Slagle. The deal ended in 1999, but by that time the racing bug was firmly established in the JerrDan mindset. In 2001, Jerr-Dan signed on as a track sponsor at the Las Vegas Speedway. That relationship transferred to Jerr-Dan’s local distributor, Twin State Equipment, in 2009. Along the way,
Jerr-Dan developed a relationshipwith the Vegas speedway parent company, Speedway Motorsports Inc., led by legendary race promoter Burton Smith. By cultivating that relationship, JerrDan has expanded its racetrack promotion program to other SMI facilities: Bristol Motor Speedway, Charlotte Motor Speedway, Texas Motor Speedway and the newest track on the NASCAR circuit, Kentucky Speedway. As part of the sponsorship agreement, Jerr-Dan provides equipment at TOWMAN.COM - May 2012 • 51
Jerr-Dan hooked up to Jeff Gordon’s “Drive to End Hunger” Chevrolet
each track based on requirements set by the sanctioning body. The biggest factor in determining what type of equipment is provided for each racetrack is size. (Bristol is a half-mile, compared to Charlotte, Texas, Las Vegas and Kentucky, which are all 1.5-mile tracks). To provide proper coverage, most tracks exceed NASCAR’s minimum requirements and use a mix of
52 • May 2012 - TOWMAN.COM
boom trucks and rollbacks for quick ontrack recoveries. The equipment stays at the racetracks year-round and is rotated with new units each year. The units are sold after the season ends in November. Each speedway is responsible for staffing the equipment with trained operators. Besides hosting NASCAR Sprint
Number 177 on Reader Card
Cup, Nationwide and National Camping World Truck Series races, Bristol and Charlotte both host NHRA Full Throttle National drag racing events. The Jerr-Dan units are brought over from the speedway to the dragstrip to provide recovery for those events. Charlotte and Texas Motor Speedways also supply the trucks to their Dirt Tracks.
Added Bonuses The SMI tracks use the vehicles for many other purposes, including recovery staff training, driving school support and other non-competition needs. For the period of time the Jerr-Dan units are on loan, the speedway safety team has wide latitude to use the equipment. For example, Bristol Motor Speedway’s annual December “Speedway in Lights” features more than 2 million Christmas lights resulting in a 4-mile driving route of holiday lights around and through the speedway. Jerr-Dan trucks take an active role in the lighting as each truck is strung with its own array of holiday lights and shown during the drive. Proceeds from the event benefit the Speedway Children’s Charities. Besides the SMI track sponsorships, Jerr-Dan joins Freightliner trucks as a sponsor for Mike Ryan Motorsports. Ryan is a veteran Hollywood stunt driver with 500-plus feature films on his resume, including “Herbie Fully Loaded,” “Swordfish,” “Fast Five” and “Terminator 2: Judgment Day.” In his career he has driven, crashed, rolled over or burned anything on two or four wheels, but is mostly known for his work with semis. In 1997, Ryan built a Mercedes-Benz powered Freightliner, Century Class S/T and began competing in the annual Pike’s Peak International Hill Climb in Colorado. For his effort, determination and skill behind the Freightliner steering wheel, Ryan is a 12-time PPIHC Big Rig Champion. When Freightliner launched their Cascadia line in 2007, Ryan wasted no time updating the old race truck and built bigger, better and faster on the Cascadia platform. In addition to his exhibition runs in formula drift competition using the big truck, Ryan is a popular safety and accident awareness speaker at trucking events across the country. The Mike Ryan Motorsports/JerrDan/Freightliner Cascadia race truck is often on display at various trade shows, including the The Mid-America Trucking Show in Louisville, Ken., and The Great American Truck Show in Dallas. Editor’s note:
Muni-Tow Conference and Police Contracts A key seminar during the Municipal Towing Conference in San Antonio will focus on towing ordinances, rotation plans, and exclusive City contracts. Attorney Mark Hull, presenting the seminar, is experienced in rotation disputes and has negotiated exclusive towing contracts. “I will discuss the various requirements I have seen, and discuss what companies have done to be awarded towing contracts,” said Hull. Hull is an attorney for the South-
west Tow Operators. The seminar takes place during Tow Expo Int’l on August 4th, 10 a.m. The Muni-Tow Mark Hull Conference features ten seminars on issues related to police towing, impounded vehicles, and accident remediation. The Conference is co-sponsored by TowLot.com and American Towman Magazine.
Mickey Mills is a freelance writer living in Oklahoma. He is a member of the National Motorsports Press Association and frequent contributor to TowIndustryWeek.com. He is the motorsports editor at Technorati.com. Number 139 on Reader Card
TOWMAN.COM - May 2012 • 53
A Taste of Texas
by Emily Oz
E
verything is bigger and better in Texas, right? You’ll soon have the chance to check out the towing industry’s big show in San Antonio on Aug. 2-4. I had a chance to get a sneak peak at the action when American Towman sent me to San Antonio to preview the upcoming Tow Expo International. The big draws in San Antonio are the Wild West feel of the historic Alamo, the beauty and charm of the River Walk. I was truly amazed by the River Walk’s extensive network of walkways for 5 miles along the banks of the San Antonio River, one story beneath downtown. Lined with shops, restaurants and bars, it’s fun central. There are also quiet spots to sit, look and enjoy nature. The Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center, home of Tow Expo International, is actually on the River Walk and just a couple of blocks from the Alamo. This is one of the only tow shows in the nation where experts are able to flip a vehicle entirely over inside a convention center. Saturday’s Recovery Show with Tom Luciano of Miller Industries will be quite a spectacle. The USA Wrecker Pageant is also a unique part of the Texas show. Some of the contestants stage live accident scenes around their wrecker. Crashed vehicles set the scene, complete with mannequins as victims; contestants go “all out” to create a jaw-dropping displays. Everything is bigger and better in Texas, right? I interviewed Jason Banis and J.R. Galvan, two tow bosses who enter the USA Wrecker Pageant every year. They both admit it’s a lot of work to coordinate and create the accident scene, but it’s worth it for the “wow” factor created for the crowds at Tow Expo International. There’s also a Texas-style Chili Cook Off, unique to this show. What a better way to meet and greet your industry peers than over chili and a cold beer? Galvan is one of the towmen who enters his chili in the competition. He doesn’t have a “secret recipe,” but his chili was good enough to place the last two years. When you go to the Southwest Chili Cook Off this year, you’ll be able to sample the chili and help decide which cook takes home the trophy. There’s also a barbecue class in the competition. Look for my stories filmed in Texas, already posted live on American Towman TV. I can’t say it’s as good as being there, but you’ll get the idea. And we’ll see you in the Lone Star State on Aug. 2-4.
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American Towman's Emily Oz before the Alamo in San Antonio, Texas, preparing for a feature now airing on towmantv.com.
Emily Oz is the anchor and producer for American Towman TV. You can email her at: oz@AmericanTowmanTV.com
Number 102 on Reader Card
The Big Red Side Puller by Jim “Buck” Sorrenti
Big Red 67 Side Winder towing a 74,000-lbs. drill rig.
H
ard work is the theme behind this American success story. John Wight, owner of Big Red Towing in Syracuse, N.Y., grew up in nearby Oswego, the son of a chicken farmer. His father owned Wight’s White Eggs and taught him the principles of hard work, honesty and customer service. Wight opened Gypsum Wholesalers in 1976 with a pickup truck and trailer. In 1979, he added Gypsum Express with a borrowed tractor and a flatbed trailer to meet demand. Wight’s love of trucks and determination to take control of the transportation needs of Gypsum Wholesalers lead to the incorporation of Gypsum Express Ltd. in 1985. Today, Gypsum Express Ltd. has terminals in seven states, 500-plus tractors and more than 650 employees. In the fall of 2002, Wight bought a 25-ton Century 925 wrecker from Miller Industries to handle the in-house towing of his growing fleet. On the rig’s doors it said “Gypsum Express,” but on the boom was painted “Larry’s Towing,” after his then 10-year-old son.
Recovery Training
Wight was approached by Ron Pullen, of Pullen’s Truck Center, to con56 • May 2012 - TOWMAN.COM
sider some WreckMaster training for his drivers to keep them safe and give them the knowledge they’d need to do the job right. Pullen has been in the towing industry since 1971 and owned light-, medium- and heavy-duty service stations. Ron is a WreckMaster 6/7A and was first exposed to recovery training in the late 1980s when he met Donnie Cruse at a tow show in Rockland County, N.Y. After that meeting, Pullen went to every training seminar that he could attend. In 1997, Pullen attended a Hauling a fire rescue truck that crashed at Syracuse Airport.
2/3 class in Syracuse and was named Student of the Class. In 1998, he was a Top Ten WreckMaster, and in 2006, he was the WreckMaster of the Year. Pullen and his wife, Doreen, have owned Pullen’s Truck Center in Weedsport, N.Y., for many years. After Wight and Pullen sat down to discuss driver training, in April 2003, they founded Big Red Towing. Big Red specializes in heavy-duty towing and recovery, rotator service, Landoll and lowboy service exclusively for commercial accounts.
67 Side Winder using all winches to upright a loaded rubbish truck during a blizzard in Cicero, N.Y.
Big Red Towing is managed by Pullen and his wife Doreen. Pullen is the Operations Manager and heavyduty recovery specialist. Big Red has grown to 10 employees with a variety of units in their fleet, including this beauty. “Within months of starting Big Red Towing, we bought this Century 9055 in June 2003 to increase our capabilities,” Pullen said. “It is officially the company’s first truck. We nicknamed it 67 Side Winder.”
The Side Winder The chassis is a 1999 International Paystar 5000 and a Cat 430 mated to an Eaton-Fuller 8LL transmission which powers this rig. The working end is a
Century 9055 with the SP-850 sidepuller setup. The SP-850 option, along with Century’s 9055, provides the operator with two DP 50,000-lbs. planetary winches on the main boom and two DP 35,000-lbs. planetary winches on the stiff legs. “The SP-850 option with a hydraulic pivoting stiff leg allows us to handle most any tough side-pull recovery without shutting down the highway,” Pullen said. Leaving nothing to chance, this rig also has the tri-axle body and front tunnel tool compartment. Extra equipment on the 67 Side Winder includes a full WreckMaster heavy-duty truck
package and MatJack high-pressure air bags. “The most important attribute this unit brings to our business is the size of the truck and the Side Winders being able to have multiple winches working,” Pullen said. “In the last eight years, it has never failed to complete the job.”
Should your truck be in AT? Email some details and interesting facts about your truck, along with some high-resolution photos, to bdooley@towman.com to be considered for a future 'My Baby' feature. Your submissions may also be considered for AT's online use.
Tech Highlights Chassis: 1999 International Paystar 5000 Wrecker Body: 2003 Century 9055 SP-850 Engine: Caterpillar 430 Trans: Eaton-Fuller 8LL Winches: Two DP 50,000-lbs. and two DP 35,000-lbs Built by: Miller Industries Equipment: Full WreckMaster heavy-duty truck package; MatJack high-pressure air bags Paint: In-house Lettering: Custom Signs in Auburn, N.Y.
TOWMAN.COM - May 2012 • 57
ROBERT YOUNGS
ORCED F N E G N I OW LL TIMES AT A
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ALL TYPE OF CUSTOM PRINTING FOR THE TOW INDUSTRY
Call & speak with one of our personlized service representativies today!!! www.AnchorGraphics.com )D[ info@anchorgraphics.com
SALES AND SERVICE 1-800-246-4785 540-982-3809 Sliding Rortators, Quick Swaps Sliders, Fixed Boom Rollbacks, Air Cushions We Buy Used Heavy Wreckers
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800-950-7911 210-366-0374 Commitment Service – Integrity info@towagent.com Visit us at www.towagent.com fax:
58 • May 2012 - TOWMAN.COM
750, 600, 500, 480 & MORE!
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WIRELESS LIGHTS Not all wireless lights are created equal. Make sure your lights have the Towmate name.
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USED TRUCKS FOR SALE 2011 Hino 258 with 2011 Century 21’ Steel Carrier. Low Mileage, 8,274. 2009 Ford Super Duty F-650 with 2009 Century 12 Ton Wrecker.
631-531-0608 for info please call Craig R Nadolny “CALL FOR DETAILS” on all units
To Advertise In Towman’s Market Call 800.732.3869 Ellen Rosengart x 203 erosengart@towman.com Dennie Ortiz x 213 dortiz@towman.com TOWMAN.COM - May 2012 • 59
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Copyright 2012 American Towman Magazine. Characters and stories are fictitious; no resemblance to real life characters is intended.
Send your thoughts/suggestions on the Adventures to scalitri@towman.com or American Towman, 7 West St, Warwick NY 10990
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