American Towman Magazine - July 2013

AT Expo Plans 25th Anniversary Bash! November 14–17, Register Inside!

When Car Owners Plead Poverty

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towweek.com

Number 143 on Reader Card

Departments Walkaround . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6 News Share . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8 Road Tools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10 Tow Boss . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12

FEATURE CONTENTS

Tow Engineer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14 AD Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16

22

Repo Run . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26

Emotions Churn in Bus Rollover

The Scoop . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .48 My Baby. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .54 Towman’s Market . . . . . . . . . . . .56 Low Down . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .60 Adventures of A.T. . . . . . . . . . . . .61

A school bus rolled over after being involved in an accident near Zion, Ill., in April; Roger's Auto responded with two heavy wreckers and two rollbacks to clear the scene.

Roger's Auto was first on the scene when a school bus rolled over that sent 35 children to the hospital.

by Jim “Buck” Sorrenti

38

At the Crossing Every company can take easy steps for railroad safety with regular SOP training on precautions and procedures.

by Randall Resch

50

The Trade Show Allure What happens under one roof that brings thousands of towing professionals together is nothing short of an adventure.

by Brendan Dooley

4 • July 2013 - TOWMAN.COM

Number 210 on Reader Card

Heroes Walk Among Us When I think about the unique spirit of the towing professional, there’s one distinctive trait that shines bright to me—the unadorned individual willing to risk their own life to help another while working in this sometimes inglorious profession. This aspect of towing doesn’t receive much attention.

Over the years I’ve been privy to stories of heroism demonstrated by towers and dramatic tales of towers putting themselves at personal risk while rescuing others. Acting with valor oblivious to the weight of their potential sacrifice.

For 25 years, American Towman has recognized the courage and selflessness of these individuals during our flagship event in Baltimore at The American Towman Medal Ceremony during Festival Night. I’ve had the privilege to bestow the Towman Medal by placing it around the necks of these heroic towers as part of the somber, yet uplifting, ceremony.

The most common response when I’ve thanked these men and women on

by Dennie Ortiz

their deeds is, “I’m no hero, anyone else would’ve done the same thing.” The inscription on the Towman Medal reverberates this sentiment: “For the Simple Act Of Bravery.”

The truth is not everyone would act in such a manner, to place the value of a stranger’s life over their own. It takes a courageous spirit; one we see in many a Towman and Tow Woman.

Not everyone wants to be in the spotlight or receive accolades for what they believe was done in the course of duty. If you know someone within the industry, possibly in your own company, who risked their own life while on the job to save someone else, please let us know.

I think all of the towing professionals that fit these criteria, and help take this industry to a higher level, should be honored. That’s exactly what American Towman will do again this year on Nov. 16 during the 25th Anniversary of the American Towman Exposition.

Please share with us the real heroes in your life and allow AT, and the industry, to pay tribute to their acts. Find a nomination form on page 53 of this issue.

Nice Guys Don’t Always Finish Last

by Brendan Dooley

When it comes to books and movies, I tend towards bleak fare in movies like “Drugstore Cowboy” and “Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels,” or books like “Blood Meridian” and “Rum Punch.” I don’t root for the bad guys (usually), but I prefer the murkiness of character and anti-hero plotlines—in fiction.

In real life, it’s nicer to find black-and-white issues and avoid the gray areas. It’s always re-affirming to watch the “good guys” win. There are a lot of murky issues in the towing industry, but sometimes a good idea shines through.

In this month’s Tow Boss column (page 50, Good Guys Can Win Too) by Bill Johnson, owner of Hampshire Towing, he seems to have found a “good guy” idea that helps his business. He’s created a Financial Hardship Policy for customers who would like a discount on services.

The application makes it easier for office staff who get these requests, and gives the public a different take on what they’re really asking. In fact, he said the policy helps their reputation of being “professional, compassionate and caring.”

That’s not too bleak of a reputation to have at all.

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First On The Scene!

Dennie Ortiz Steve Calitri Brendan Dooley

Publisher Editor-In-Chief Editor

Randall Resch

Operations Editor

Terry Abejuela

Field Editor, West

Jim “Buck” Sorrenti David Kolman Bill Simmons

Field Editor, Northeast Chassis Editor Safety Editor

Emily Oz

On Screen Editor

Mark Lacek

Repo Run Editor

Editorial Board Tommy Anderson Roy Carlson Gary Coe Belinda Harris Amado Llorens Ron Mislan Chuck Swider Frank Sanchez

Dallas, Texas St. Paul, Minn.

Portland, Ore. Greensboro, N.C. Hialeah, Fla. Warren, N.J. Chicopee, Mass.

Bridgewater, N.J.

American Towman Staff Ann Marie Nitti Dennie Ortiz Ellen Rosengart Norma Calitri Neila Smith Miriam Ortiz Henri Calitri Toni Vanderhorst William Burwell Emily Oz Steve Calitri

Page Layout Artist Advertising Sales Mgr. Senior Account Exec.

VP of Accounts VP Communications Subscription Manager Customer Service Publisher’s Assistant TIW Media Director ATTV Producer President

American Towman Media Headquarters 7 West Street, Warwick, NY 10990 800-732-3869 or 845-986-4546 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 ©2013 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 173 on Reader Card

City to Fine Towers up to $15k Tow truck drivers who break the rules in Sunrise, Fla., against “predatory towing” would face fines up to $15,000 under a new ordinance proposed by the commission that was projected to become law June 25, after press time.

“To the best of my knowledge, this is the most severe system meant to discourage unscrupulous behavior and with the greatest consequences for violations,” said Sunrise’s mayor.

The mayor suggested first-time violators receive a mandatory fine of $1,000. Repeat violators could see fines of $2,500 to $5,000. And those with violations determined by the city’s special magistrate to be irreversible or irreparable would be fined up to $15,000. City leaders are also looking at ways to make sure victims of illegal towing are paid restitution.

“The scammers make it tough for the guys who do it the right way,” said Art Gaetano, owner of APE Towing in Coral Springs. “They shouldn’t be towing cars illegally anyway. It just gives a bad rap for the other guys.”

Sunrise plans to issue violations through its code enforcement division rather than the court system. Source: www.articles.sun-sentinel.com.

Fishing for a Cause Over 10 years ago, Tom Luciano began to help kids in need by taking them fishing; at the end of the day, he lets them keep the “borrowed” fishing pole and tackle box. He is always in need of donated equipment that he and his friends can restore. In this industry, you could be checking the back of trucks and trunks of cars of abandoned vehicles on your lot for any used fishing equipment.

For questions or to ship any fishing gear, contact D.J. Harrington at 770-301-4122

8 • July 2013 - TOWMAN.COM

Tower Called by Burgler Tower Greg Banks was summoned to a Foxboro, Mass., home by a man who claimed his pickup got stuck in the muddy grass as he was helping his aunt move.

“He didn’t give me any inclination that he was there robbing the place,” Banks said. “He made it out to be he actually lived there, you know?”

The pickup was loaded with TVs, electronics, cameras and jewelry he had just swiped from a house where he’d parked in the backyard and climbed in through a window.

The burglar’s escape didn’t go very well because it had rained hard overnight.

Just moments after Banks

winched the burglar’s pickup from the mud, he sped off through the front yard.

Banks quickly called the burglar’s license plate in to police who traced it to a man who just finished serving a prison sentence. Source: www.boston.cbslocal.com.

Deadly

Crash in L.A. A tower involved in a deadly crash in downtown Los Angeles in early June had a lengthy criminal history, according to reports. The tower sped through a red light on June 12 around 5 a.m. and crashed into a Metro bus.

The bus sheared off a fire hydrant, and the tow truck smashed into a 7Eleven. The bus driver died later that day at a hospital.

The tower, who may have been DUI at the time of the crash, does not have a current driver’s license. He appears to own the tow truck company, which does not have a permit to legally operate in the state. His license has been suspended four times since 2009. He also had run-ins with police, including a high-speed chase in Ohio in 2008.

An unlicensed tower may have been DUI at the time of a fatal crash with a bus in Los Angeles in June. NBC Los Angeles photo.

Surveillance video showed the speeding tow truck run a red light and slam into the bus. The tower was listed in grave condition at press time.

Sources: www.laist.com, www.abclocal.go.com.

. . . It just gives a bad rap for the other guys. . .

Tower Hailed for Saving Teen In Battle Ground, Wash., the community is thanking tow operator Charlie Barrett and crediting him with saving a teen hit by a car.

Barrett was working a crash scene when he heard 16-year-old Justin Carey crying for help from the brush nearby.

Carey had been badly injured and was stranded for 90 minutes; police didn’t know anybody had been hit.

Barrett called 911 and Carey was taken to a nearby hospital … both of his femurs were broken. The boy’s parents said Barrett saved Carey’s life.

Kids and adults in the community have since stopped Barrett to give him thanks, hugs and a poster-size thankyou card “He saved my son’s life,” said Carey’s mom, Janette Chumley. “There is no amount of thanks in the world that could cover what he did for us.”Source: www.kgw.com.

City Open to More Towers A proposed ordinance in Pomona, Calif., would make it possible for more towing companies to tow vehicles for the city.

The proposal calls for reducing the number of vehicles a company must be able to accommodate in its storage yard from 200 to 100. Three companies meet the city’s current requirements. In February, council members asked city administrators to determine if it were possible to increase the number of tow franchises.

The proposal would leave in place all other requirements, including those related to storage yard security, response times, service hours, number of tow trucks and police inspections of the companies. Source: www.dailybulletin.com.

Tower Knocked Off the Highway Baltimore (Md.) Police said a tow operator was thrown off an elevated highway into rushing waters below.

“I saw a body basically flop in the air, you know? It looked like a rag doll,” a man said.

Police said the tower and a police officer were responding to an accident during rush hour. A second A tower was knocked from the roadway and fell about 25’ vehicle struck the disinto rushing water in Baltimore, Md., in June. WUSA-TV image. abled vehicle the tower was working on.

A police officer on-scene was struck, and the tower flew over the Jersey Wall from I-83 and fell about 25’ into Jones Falls. He was rescued from a small island in the marshy area. Both were recovering in the hospital with non-life threatening injuries. Source: www.baltimore.cbslocal.com.

Tow Company to Reimburse 23 Drivers A Redwood City, Calif., towing company charged with illegally hauling away hundreds of vehicles throughout San Mateo County was ordered to pay $42,330 in penalties.

The judgment will distribute $22,330 to the 283 consumers who were identified as having been charged unlawful fees.

Prosecutors filed a complaint that the defendants towed cars without the property owner or motorist present, as required by state vehicle code.

They reportedly also didn’t provide motorists written authorization for the tow when they showed up to pick up their cars.

And when motorists arrived at the scene before their cars were hauled away, according to prosecutors, the company allegedly refused to allow motorists to pay half the regular towing charge to have it released—also a violation of California law.

The judgment didn’t include an admission of guilt; the company owner said any mistakes made were unintentional. Source: www.sfexaminer.com.

TOWMAN.COM - July 2013 • 9

Check Out What’s NEW and HOT! Multiple Lengths for Soft Axle Tie Downs B/A Products’ new Soft Axle Tie Downs are available in multiple sizes at 30”, 36” or 42”. The 20” Velcro Fleece Pad works well with all sizes and are just long enough to protect rims and axles and short enough to keep out of road dirt. Shorter Axle Straps are perfect for painted axles; longer Axle Straps are great for going through wheels. The kit includes a carrying bag for easy transport. Other Tie Down Kits are available.

www.baprod.com Number 200 on Reader Card

AmeriCam C2 Bierley Electronics’ AmeriCam C2 back-up camera is now available in the U.S. The C2 allows drivers to see the bumper when reversing. This new position enables the driver to view the bumper while at the same time maintaining a wide-angle view of the blind zone. The C2 camera is rated at IP68, which means it is impervious to dust and water. A single connection is made to the backup lamp circuit and ground.

When the vehicle is put into reverse gear, a color image is instantly displayed on the 3.5” screen.

The camera mounts above the rear bumper.

New Medium-Duty from Dual-Tech

D

ual-Tech’s newest addition, the DSP-1212, is a 12-ton wrecker that features a modular aluminum body, boom constructed with hightensile material, 4,800-psi hoses, dual controls and ample storage on a minimum 84” CA chassis.

Standard equipment includes dual 12,000-lbs. planetary winches, wireless remote, axle forks and spring-lift attachments. Boom has a rating of 24,000 lbs. (10,000 lbs. extended), and a wheel-lift rating of 8,000 lbs. extended with forks or 6,500 lbs. with Larms.

Unit shown includes several options, including Dual-Tech’s unique catwalk design. The low-profile body allows for maximum visibility from the driver’s seat. The hand-built quality and craftsmanship of our wreckers is our trademark to long lasting service and reliability.

This purple Freightliner unit was unveiled in spring; it’s purple because it represents all cancer as a tribute to the American Cancer Society. Dual-Tech, a family-owned and operated company, wanted a unit to show its support to ACS and its fight against cancer. To learn more about ACS, visit www.cancer.org or www.relayforlife.org.

www.dual-techinc.com

www.americam.co

Number 203 on Reader Card

Number 201 on Reader Card

The view on the LCD screen in the cab.

Alcoa Adds Medium-Duty Wheels Alcoa introduced its M-Series line of forged-aluminum wheels for medium-duty truck segments in Classes 3-6.

M-Series wheels resist corrosion and maintain the clean bright look that fleets deserve. At nearly half the weight of a steel wheel, Alcoa M-Series wheels improve fuel economy, reduce carbon emissions and are recyclable.

The wheels are manufactured to fit Dodge, Ford, Freightliner, Fuso, General Motors, Hino, International, Isuzu, Kenworth, Peterbilt, Smith and Sprinter vehicles.

www.alcoawheels.com Number 202 on Reader Card

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TOWMAN.COM - July 2013 • 11

Good Guys Can Win, Too

by Bill Johnson and John Borowski

A

s a company owner or driver, do you feel that you work hard for your money? Well, I know I do; towing is seven days a week, 365 days a year work. You miss family events, leave your dinner on the table and head out to that call. You invest in yourself by going to training and spending a lot of money to have the proper equipment to tow and recover vehicles. Your storage yard is fenced, well lit and has surveillance cameras.

You are a professional wrecker operator; what about professional business owner or manger? Do you have policies and procedures for your office? Do you invest in your dispatch and office staff as well as you do with your tow operators?

Over the years, we have put many policies and procedures in place; beginning in 2013, we added a new one that is working out great. Imagine this scenario: It’s Monday morning, and Mr. and Mrs. Crash come in to ask about their car that was wrecked over the weekend. They are a very nice couple and it’s an older car—the only vehicle they own. They explain the car only had minimal insurance on it and they need to pay for the bill out of their own pocket. You present your bill with the storage and recovery because the vehicle was on its roof. Then, Mr. and Mrs. Crash ask, “Since we’re paying out of our own pocket, what can you do?”

What would you do?

I know what I used to do: I would say give me $xx amount and the title, then I’ll zero out the balance of the bill. Without giving it much thought or consideration, we would discount our services. Who else does that?

New Policy Then we came up with the Financial Hardship Policy that we started using this year. Now when a customer states they are paying out of pocket and cannot afford the bill, they need to fill out an application form to be granted a discount.

The application states in part: “Purpose: Hampshire Towing hereinafter referred to as ‘HT’ has established 12 • July 2013 - TOWMAN.COM

this policy in an order to maintain consistency in assisting uninsured and indigent applicants who request a reduction or waiver of certain charges. This application needs to be received within fourteen (14) days of the incurred charges.

“This policy outlines HT policies and procedures in relationship to the application and approval process for indigent person(s). HT will take into account the overall financial circumstances of the applicant and apply this policy consistently.

“If approved, HT may elect to reduce or waive certain amounts which are due, if the applicant can successfully demonstrate that paying towing, storage, and other ancillary charges would cause significant financial hardship.”

The application is four pages with a fifth page if needed for more financial detail. I have been using this since the beginning of 2013 and it works … very well!

The dispatchers love it because it diffuses the whole issue of bill paying. When a customer states that they need consideration on a bill, they are handed the application. At that point, most people just pay the bill.

One guy said he was out of work for eight months and said it was too much work to fill out the forms … his dad came in five days later and paid the $800 bill in full.

Another couple asked for a break because they were paying out of pocket, but when they read the form and it said, “indigent applicant,” the lady said she was not poor. I asked why did she ask for any consideration on the bill, and she said because she was paying the $600 out of her pocket. I replied, “You know what, that’s how I have to pay my bills too!”

continue to page 34

Number 194 on Reader Card

Wire Rope Terminations Impact Load Limits

by Terry Abejuela

W

hen you reach the end of your (wire) rope, what you find there has a potentially huge impact on your safe working environment. Some wire rope terminations are not rated to retain the Minimum Breaking Strength of the wire rope.

The Minimum Breaking Strength, or Ultimate Load Limit, of the wire rope and termination is not entirely dependent on the termination used; therefore, the ULL of the termination is expressed as a percentage of the wire rope’s ULL. It is important for tow operators to know how to identify different wirerope terminations and how much of the wire rope’s ULL is retained in a particular application.

One of the common ways to terminate a wire rope used in towing and recovery is with a Flemish Eye splice.

This is a heavy-duty thimble and is cold-press-swaged in a 500-ton press.

The end of the wire rope is separated into two body parts and looping them back and laying the two parts together to form the “eye.” A heavy-duty thimble is inserted into the eye and a swaged metal sleeve completes the termination. The Flemish Eye splice retains 90 to 100 percent of the wire rope’s ULL. A Flemish Eye normally is identified by a metal sleeve that is tapered at one end.

A fold-back mechanical splice, known as a Turnback Eye, is another common wire rope termination in towing. This type is made by forming a loop at the end of the wire rope and swaging a metal sleeve to attach the dead end of the rope to the live end next to the loop and thimble. The Turnback Eye also retains 90 to 100 percent of the wire rope’s ULL. This splice is normally identified by a metal sleeve that is not tapered.

14 • July 2013 - TOWMAN.COM

The Fold Back splice can retain 100 percent of the wire rope’s ULL.

An open socket allows bridles to be changed easily and offers lower clearance. Utilizing an open socket reduces the profile of the attachment to the bridle by approximately 2” vs. a slip hook. When loading low-clearance vehicles on a car carrier, that 2” can make a big difference. The Open Swage Socket retains 100 percent of the wire rope’s ULL. An Open Spelter Socket looks similar to an Open Swage Socket, but it is attached to the end of the wire rope with a different technique. A spelter socket is attached to the wire rope by inserting the end of the wire rope through the socket and splaying the wires to form a broom shape. The broom of wire rope is pulled down into the bowl of the socket and either molten steel, epoxy or resin is poured into the cone of the socket. Once completed, this type of wire rope termination retains 100 percent of the wire rope’s ULL.

Field Repair

The popular Open Swage Socket offers 100 percent of ULL and lower clearance.

The Open Swage Socket is becoming more popular with tow operators, especially for car-carrier application.

Each of the above splices and sockets must be installed by a qualified person and cannot be done in the field.

However, there are several terminations that can be applied in the field as an emergency repair. I recommend that temporary emergency wire rope repairs only be installed when no other option is available—and the wire rope did not fail due to overloading.

Emergency termination should only be installed when the damage to the wire rope is limited to a specific area and there’s no damage to the rest of the wire rope. Cut wires or kinks due to sharp turns are examples of when it may be safe to utilize an emergency repair. I recommend you consult a qualified person to determine if it is appropriate to use one of the following

techniques to repair your wire rope in the field.

• A Safe-Line Clamp is a twopiece plug-and-socket wire rope termination that retains 90 percent of the wire rope’s ULL. It is designed for use on 6x19 Independent Wire Rope Core right regular lay wire rope.

• A Wire Rope Wedge Socket retains approximately 80 percent of the wire rope’s ULL. This socket must be installed properly to achieve this rating. Follow all instructions of the manufacturer of the wire rope wedge socket.

Number 145 on Reader Card

A Wedge Socket retains approximately 80 percent of the wire rope’s ULL. This is a good field repair option.

• U-Bolt Wire Rope Clips used to be common in towing. I do not recommend the use of wire rope clips; even if they are installed properly, they will only obtain approximately 75 percent of the wire rope’s ULL. Most of the applications of wire rope clips that I have seen in the towing and recovery industry were installed incorrectly, so they were rated less than 75 percent of the ULL. • A Fist Grip Wire Rope Clip is another type of wire rope clip that has a saddle on both sides to prevent the damage to the wire rope. Properly installed Fist Grips will retain approximately 75 percent of the wire rope’s ULL.

Number 121 on Reader Card

continue to page 20 Number 213 on Reader Card

TOWMAN.COM - July 2013 • 15

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TOW ENGINEER continued from page 15

U-Bolt Wire Rope Clips retain only 75 percent of the Ultimate Load Limit. This picture shows the kink in the wire rope where the U-Bolt makes contact.

Number 164 on Reader Card

Fist Grip Wire Rope Clips retain only 75 percent of the wire ropes Ultimate Load Limit. I do not recommend the use of Fist Grip Wire Rope Clips in the towing and recovery industry.

• Combination Clamp and Thimble is another wire rope termination that retains 75 percent of the wire rope’s ULL and can be easily installed in the field with minimal tools.

• A heavy-duty thimble must be used to avoid damage to the wire rope. The loop termination on the wire rope must not bend too sharply. A thimble retains the shape of the loop to avoid a sharp bend in the rope.

• Inspect wire rope terminations prior to each use to ensure they are safe. Look for signs of overloading or other damage. Some terminations may not be approved for use on some towing programs; make sure you check with the towing program administrator before utilizing a temporary wire rope termination.

This article doesn’t cover all of the terminations available; some of the terminations mentioned here are designed for specific sizes and types of wire rope. I recommend that you consult a qualified, trained person when deciding on a permanent or temporary wire rope termination.

Terry Abejuela has 30+ years of light-duty towing-and-recovery experience. He is also a lightduty level 1 instructor for the California Tow Truck Association since 1998.

Number 206 on Reader Card

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Number 207 on Reader Card

Emotions Churn in

Roger's Auto in Zion, Ill., responded with two heavy wreckers and two rollbacks to clear the scene of the morning accident.

by Jim “Buck” Sorrenti

Bus Rollover Recovery Tough with Personal Connections

R

oger’s Auto Service in Zion, Ill., is a family-run repair shop owned and operated by Roger and Kathy Whitmore that serves northern Lake County and southeastern Wisconsin.

“I’ve spent 42 years in the industry, starting right out of high school with a two-bay shop,”said Roger proudly.

After graduating from Zion Benton High School in 1971, Roger and his family opened a service station at the corner of Highway 173 and Lewis Avenue. Since many cars broke down on the highway, Roger traded his 1968 Dodge Dart for a 1959 Chevrolet Apache with a wrecker so that disabled cars could be towed in for repairs.

Roger’s operated from this location for 11 years until land was purchased near Kenosha Road and 173

and construction of a larger facility began to serve their expanding clientele list.

At about 8 a.m. on April 5, a school bus carrying 35 children was involved in an accident with two other vehicles resulting in a rollover of the bus. The crash happened at 173 and Kilbourne Road in Wadsworth, just one mile from Newport Grade School and Roger’s shop. The bus was traveling westbound to Newport School, a Jeep Wrangler was traveling southbound and a Jeep Cherokee was eastbound.

Roger was the first on the scene, as it occurred a half mile from his house.

“I was there at 8:15 with fire personnel,” Roger said. “The kids were still on the bus as it was lying sideways. I heard the call come over the scanner from fire personnel for the

‘Box,’ which means ‘send as many ambulances as possible to the scene.’

No less than 18 different fire departments responded with ambulances to help with the transport of the victims.

“Firefighters frantically worked on the driver of the Wrangler to remove him from the vehicle. Children were filing out of the bus with the help of motorists and paramedics. Parents began showing up to check on their children and were held back from the scene.

“Unfortunately, the driver of the Wrangler did not survive. He was a friend I had gone to school with,” Roger said.

All of the 35 children on the bus were sent to the hospital, along with their driver and the two occupants of the Jeep Cherokee. Of them, 23 chil-

dren were treated for minor cuts and bruises; one child with a slight skull fracture was the only student to remain in the hospital overnight.

The crew from Roger’s was called in to clear the accident scene. Jeff Rissell responded in their 1998 Peterbilt 378 with Century 9055 twin-line 50-

ton hydraulic wrecker with underlift, Tony Rzdok in a 2006 Kenworth T-800 with a Century 5130 twin-line 30-ton hydraulic wrecker with underlift, Shane O’Brian in a 2007 Ford F-650 with a 21’ Century steel bed, and Reade Whitmore in a 2009 Peterbilt 337 with a 23’ Century steel bed.

Operators Jason Peet and Rob Hanson also were dispatched.

“Jeff is my longest-serving employee. He is the trainer for all of my operators and my lead recovery guy,” Roger said. “All are trained paramedics as well.”

The 9055 is Century’s largest

Kids were still in the school bus as it lay on its side in rural Illinois after a three-vehicle crash. All 35 were sent to hospital, but only one remained overnight.

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TOWMAN.COM - July 2013 • 23

The shop did a "controlled reverse roll" to get the bus back on its wheels.

capacity integrated towing and recovery unit with a 50-ton recovery boom and dual 50,000-lbs. winches. The 9055 has 136” of underlift reach with the ability to tow a wide variety of vehicles. The 5130 is an integrated towing and recovery unit with 113” of underlift reach and a 25-ton recovery boom with 25,000-lbs. winches.

Once the intersection was cleared, the Century 9055 and 5130 were utilized to roll the bus back onto its wheels and out of the ditch line. Roger supervised the recovery.

24 • July 2013 - TOWMAN.COM

“We executed a controlled reverse roll,” Roger said. “A strap was run around the belly of the bus as it lay on its side; we had to dig a trench for the line to pass through and around. That was hooked to the 9055, which was positioned with its back end to the middle of the bus on the roof side, with both lines to the strap.

“The 5130 was positioned to the back end of the bus with a snatch block to its outrigger and rigged to the rear frame of the bus, pulling in a downward position.”

Number 157 on Reader Card

Once on its wheels, the bus was set on the underlift of the Century 5130.

The Wrangler was placed on the 21’ Century and the Cherokee was placed on the 23’ Century and removed from the roadway.

It took nearly three hours with six operators on the scene to clean the debris from the intersection. All three vehicles were towed to the Lake County Sheriff’s Impound for further investigation.

“We ducked a big one today,” said Newport Fire Chief Mark Kirschhoffer at the end of the recovery.

“Having been in this area my whole life and towing for 42 years, many of the accidents that occur are people I know,” Roger said. “This one was especially emotional with the injured young children and the loss of a good friend.”

Editor’s Note Jim “Buck” Sorrenti, a longtime editor of American Towman, has been our field editor for the past few years.

He is a freelance writer and photographer with more than 40 years of experience covering motorcycle, hot rod, truck and towing culture.

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Knock Knock; Who’s There?

by Mark Lacek

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ies, every day more lies. It drives all of us crazy. People who lie are one of the most frustrating aspects of this job. Sometimes it makes us want to go home, hook up the bass boat and just go fishing.

Here is the scenario: You have driven by the debtor’s home address and work place several times and the car or truck you need to repossess has not showed at either location. It is time to knock on the door and demand the asset. This is when your skills as a professional recovery agent will be put to the test. (Knock knock.)

In a recent column, I explained the art of walking up to the door and knocking or ringing the bell. The first step for approaching the house is to slam the door on your car or truck loudly as you exit your vehicle, then wave at the window while walking up the driveway or sidewalk. This is so the person inside watching you through the blinds will think you saw them, whether you did or not. If the person inside thinks they’ve been spotted, they are more likely to answer the door.

Knock knock. “Hello Mrs. Motherof-debtor, my name is Johnny Transport and I represent ABC bank. I would like to speak to Mr. I’m-late-onmy-car-payment. I am here to pick up the car.”

This is where the protective mother instinct kicks in. Mother Theresa responds with a very sincere, “He moved, I don’t know where he moved to, I don’t know his girlfriend’s name, I don’t know where he works, I don’t remember the last time when I spoke to him.” (OK, clearly this woman is not Mother Theresa.)

I don’t think there is a mother in this world who does not know where her son, husband, daughter, father, sister, brother or mother is living, working, sleeping or drinking. With this said, let us begin trying to determine if

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I would like to speak to Mr. I’m-late-on-my-car-payment.

I am here to pick up the car. a person is lying or telling the truth.

Try to make the subject feel comfortable enough to tell the truth.

Detecting deception is no easy task. Ask any seasoned professional investigator and they will tell you it is never easy. There is no miracle method, no machine, no test which is 100-percent accurate in detecting deceit. In fact, studies show that a polygraph test is accurate only 60 percent to 80 percent of the time.

Most people are honest, most of the time. When you ask the stock clerk which aisle the corn flakes are in, the clerk will no doubt lead you to the correct aisle. When asking for directions, most people will do their best to guide you to your destination. But when you knock on the debtor’s door and ask where little Johnny parks his car, now you have to have some sort of plan to seek the truth.

When you ask your questions, be prepared. Have a list of truths you have already proved to be true on your notepad. If you don’t use a notepad when you do interviews, get one. Take notes! The liar won’t remember the lies he has said to you, so you need to remember it!

If you feel you are being lied to, ask a question you know the answer to.

For example, if you know Johnny is married to Suzy, ask if Johnny is married. Then ask if he is married to Suzy.

Be careful, just because you were told the truth on a couple of your questions, does not mean your subject is being truthful. Most people will mix some truth in with the lies.

Something very important to remember is that it is much easier to remember the truth than to remember a lie. A professional investigator will often over a period of time ask the sus-

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pect the same questions over and over. If the suspect is lying, he/she will seldom repeat the lie the same way. Because your conversation at the door will often be very short, ask a question near the end of the conversation that you had asked at the beginning when your subject first answered the door.

If and when you determine your subject is not being truthful, do not let on that you know he is lying. A person does not all of a sudden start being truthful because they have been caught in a lie. I’ve found when the subject is caught in a lie that a bigger lie is used to help get out of the previous lie.

Remember your objective is to make the subject comfortable enough with you to tell the truth.

It is important to get more experienced with your communication skills and develop the ability to move the conversation in any direction you need it to go. For example, if the subject is becoming irritated or is about to cut the conversation short, change the

subject by complimenting the lawn or garden, or maybe you spotted a Pittsburgh Steelers bumper sticker. Let him know you also are a Steelers fan.

When the time is right and your subject is more relaxed, throw in a question that will help you reach your objective.

The more relaxed your subject is, the easier it is to get true answers. Do not stand too close to the subject; I’ve determined anything closer than six feet is intimidating. The person you are talking to must be comfortable.

Once you have the subject feeling comfortable, ask them to clarify some things for you. Try being sympathetic to the situation; let them know you are there to help.

I try never to use the word “repossess,” it has such a negative connotation. A better choice is “transport.”

Many times the subject will ask me if I am the “repoman,” a word I dislike. I will answer with a very decisive, “No, I am not the repoman.” I make it clear I am just there as an officer of the bank, or I will show my recovery agent

Number 152 on Reader Card

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license issued by the state of Florida; offer some form of ID showing you are a professional. If you present yourself with respect, you will often receive the same in return.

In my experience in field interviews, talking to a person in an aggressive or suspicious manner will influence how a person reacts to your questions. If the subject feels threatened or if he feels your questions are aggressive, he will most likely have a desire to cut the conversation short and slam the door shut.

Never should you have an aggressive posture, raise your voice or threaten anyone when trying to ascertain information. In this situation, it pays to be the nice guy.

Be safe.

Author Mark Lacek is a 30-year recovery industry veteran and former editor of Professional Repossessor magazine.

Mark@commercialassetsolutions.com

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TOWMAN.COM - July 2013 • 29

expected to repeatedly perform tests that can compress 10 years of daily driving abuse into courses just a few hundred yards long, with surfaces that include broken concrete, cobblestones, metal grates, rough gravel, mud pits and oversized speed bumps.

Source: www.ford.com.

AmeriDeck Rebranded

Ford Testing Trucks with Robots Ford engineers have developed a robotic test-driving program to meet demands that Ford trucks undergo more strenuous Built Ford Tough testing.

The pilot program has been used for durability testing of Ford’s all-new Transit van that is due out in 2014.

“Some of the tests we do on our commercial trucks for North America are so strenuous that we limit the exposure time for human drivers,” said Dave Payne, manager of vehicle development operations. “We accelerate durability testing while simultaneously increasing the productivity of our other programs.”

The robotically driven vehicles are

Number 123 on Reader Card

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Deist Industries Inc. developed new logos in conjunction with a rebranding of its properties, including AmeriDeck and Switch-N-Go. AmeriDeck is a hydraulic loading system for full-size pick-up trucks that serves the motorcycle towing and delivery industries (www.powerdecks.com).

Switch-N-Go is a detachable truck body system for medium-duty work trucks that allows one truck chassis to be used for multiple applications (www.switchngo.com).

Matjack Training for Sept. 7-8

Lynch Launches New Website

Matjack’s Official 2013 Factory Training Class is scheduled for Sept. 78 in Plainfield, Ind. The two-day class offers classroom time and in-depth practical use of air bags and landing cushions by factory-certified trainers Howard Eagan and Jeff Martin. The class will cover ins and outs of using air bags/cushions, regardless of brand.

The training class also will cover the Big Truck Rescue classroom curriculum (www.bigtruckrescue.com).

This information is great to bring back to your community and share with your local emergency services.

This will be the only factory training class for 2013. For more information or to register, go to www.matjack.com.

Lynch Truck Center and Lynch Towing and Recovery launched a new website, www.lynchtruckcenter.com, for improved inventory searching.

“We’re a small family owned business that’s been in business for three generations and 50-plus years. It’s very difficult to communicate core values and business operations to a customer across the country,” said owner Michael Lynch. “We spent a lot of time asking what our customers were looking for and our new site and our videos are a reflection of their answers.”

The site features videos of inventory, service, parts and sales departments.

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TOWMAN.COM - July 2013 • 31

You May Make the Cut

by Steve Calitri

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t was a magical moment in 1989 at Baltimore’s Inner Harbor when the 500 oldest towing companies met to celebrate. The oldest dated back to the turn of the century, that is, 1900. The company was Cheever’s garage out of DeMotte, Ind. It actually started out with horse-drawn power.

It will be interesting to see how many of the original 500 are still around. A lot happens in a quarter-century. Survival is the ultimate measure of any business’ success, as it is with any individual life. So they were in some ways a diverse group; tow companies large and small, some lucrative, some just making a living.

The towers that gather in Baltimore 25 years ago were feeling so high with pride. They all could have danced on air. Certainly it was something being recognized by American Towman Magazine as “The Most Experienced Towmen in America,” but there was something indefinable just being there among the others who ranked among the 500. To say it was a special moment for them is an understatement.

In 1989, members of the Towman 500 who attended the celebratory luncheon at the Sheraton Inner Harbor received the coveted Towman 500 Plaque. At the 25th Anniversary Towman

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500 luncheon that will be held at the Baltimore Convention Center, the 500 members will receive a very special and very cool, commemorative belt buckle as a gift from American Towman Magazine. There will also be a plaque created that members will have the option to receive.

There are approximately 40,000 U.S. towers, so to rank in the top 500 longest established tow companies is quite a feat. It was quite an honor being there among them 25 years ago. It will be quite an honor being there this year.

All members of the new Towman 500 will also receive a Towman 500 crest, or patch, and a press release on their achievement will be sent to their county newspapers. American Towman will print the 500 on an upcoming celebratory issue.

25 years ago the cut off year for being ranked in the Towman 500 was 1974. As of this moment, I have no clue as to what the cut-off year will be. I would suggest that if your company was established anytime before the turn of this century, i.e., on or before 2000, maybe later, you should apply by either filling out the form that’s glued onto this issue’s cover, or by going to www.atexpostion.com/500.

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TOW BOSS continued from page 12 Since we have put the Financial Hardship Policy in place, we have discounted one bill by 50 percent, which was paid and the person was very thankful. The hardship policy has been a wonderful tool for our company.

Customers view us as professional, compassionate and caring.

That’s why we say nice guys can win, if they have the correct policy in place.

Bill Johnson, owner of Hampshire Towing, and John Borowski are the creators of Amber Scene Clean, an accident remediation service that has changed the way business is done for municipal towers. They also own JB Consulting Associates that provides industry insights and education.

Contact them at 413-519-1471.

Towing Stalwart Washam Dies William “Bill” Washam, 80, died June 7 at his home in Greensboro, N.C. He founded Gate City Towing, and was a founding member of the Interstate Towing and Recovery Professionals of N.C. and served as president from 1980-’83.

Washam was inducted into the International Towing Recovery Hall of Fame in 1987 and was a TRAA board member.

Golfing for Move Over

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Emerald Towing in Pompano Beach, Fla., held its inaugural Move Over Law Golf Tournament on June 1, and raised more than $8,000 towards a billboard and awareness campaign. Golfers from law enforcement, fire/rescue, towing, DOT and more participated in the event that included a raffle, silent auction and dinner.

Emerald Towing has been featured in American Towman in the past, and lost operator Joe Ricciardelli a few years ago when he died working the white line.

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*

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A $30 charge to post a vehicle onto one's virtual showroom is recouped by posting a buyer's fee.

Number 159 on Reader Card

At the

Crossing Simple Steps to Stay Safe in Railroad Incidents

by Randall C. Resch

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n AT’s September 1997 issue, I wrote on the dangers of working recoveries on or near rail crossings. Now, some 15 years later, another generation of towers has evolved requiring this topic resurface.

On March 13, 2013, a flatbed operator in Texas was killed when a freight train struck his carrier. Witnesses said that crossing warnings were operating when impact occurred.

Three months earlier, an Amtrak train killed a California tower while he was assisting a motorist. That operator situated his carrier atop the tracks in the loading position. The southbound Surfliner broadsided the carrier and deposited truck and driver hundreds of feet down the line.

I don’t want to assign blame; accidents happen. However, are there better ways to conduct rail-located scenarios without placing a driver’s life in harm’s way? Railroad crossings are serious business; rail safety isn’t a common topic at safety meetings, but perhaps it should be. The Federal Railroad Administration says there

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The Emergency Notification Sign located at or near every crossing is the first number to call if stuck on the tracks

are approximately 211,000 public and private highway-rail and pathway grade crossings in America.

According to Operation Lifesaver (a national organization dedicated to rail safety education): • A fully loaded freight train moving 55 mph requires more than a mile to stop.

• Approximately every three hours, pedestrians or vehicles are struck by trains or light-rail commuters.

• Motorists are 20-times more likely to die in train collisions vs. with another vehicle.

• Nearly 50 percent of highwayrail crashes at public intersections occur where active warning devices are installed and work properly.

The media quickly blames the railroad as being at fault, however, subsequent investigations determine that, in most cases, motor vehicles were on the tracks, some where drivers were committing suicide or attempting to beat the train. In nearly all past train vs.

Number 206 on Reader Card

Always obey the visual and audible warnings at railroad crossings.

tow truck collisions, tow trucks or carriers were dangerously close to the tracks.

Danger Zones On March 22, 2012, a Missouri tower responded to a police call of a vehicle stuck on a crossing. With carrier in position, the operator was allegedly winching the vehicle when warning lights and crossing gates activated.

When the train reached the winching scenario, the train was too close for emergency braking to be effective and struck the disabled vehicle. Because the carrier’s cable was connected and not in free-spool mode, the carrier was dragged into the train’s following cars—resulting in catastrophic impact.

When working near railroad locations, remember, the train’s body has an approximate overhang of 3’ … beyond the rail itself.

Other extreme dangers, common to inner-city metro trains, are highly charged electrically powered tracks and overhead power lines. Always be aware of overhead power lines when elevating your tow truck’s boom to prevent electrocution.

In our haste to be rescuers, we overlook railway dangers.

It doesn’t matter if law enforcement is on-scene—impact dangers are always probable.

If you’re called to extricate a vehicle on or near railroad tracks, don’t think there’s ample time to get out of a train’s way. It’s difficult, if not impossible, to determine an accurate rate of the train’s speed. For tow operator Shaun Riddle in Carlsbad, Calif., who was killed by the Amtrak train, witnesses alleged he saw the train and thought there was enough time to drive out of the train’s path.

On Jan. 24, 2012, a Kent, Wash., tower suffered injuries when his truck was hit by an Amtrak train after allegedly trying to beat the train across the tracks, even though crossing gates were working at the time.

In April 2006, a Genoa, Ohio, tow operator was towing a boat and trailer with his passenger in the truck. Some witnesses said the tower failed to stop for an approaching train; other witnesses said the tower was stuck on the tracks when traffic in front stopped. The tow truck was struck on its passenger side and pushed an estimated 75’, killing driver and passenger. Authorities reported that crossing lights and cross-bucks were operating.

Train Safety Operation Lifesaver offers these general instructions for railcrossing safety: • Always expect a train.

• Never stand in the middle of the tracks to signal the train’s operator; remain off to the side.

• The Emergency Notification Sign located at or near every crossing is the first number to call if stuck on the tracks; if it’s missing, call 9-1-1 to provide location, landmarks and DOT Crossing Number (should be located on the crossing sign).

• Never ground by connecting jumper cables to tracks. Doing so may cause nearby rail-switching mechanisms to activate and cause an accidental derailing of another train.

At the Crossing

Light rail offers the added caution of being aware of overhead power lines.

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Flashing lights, signal bells and gates are used to warn drivers and pedestrians that trains are approaching. A driver who knowingly ignores warning devices and drives around closed or closing gates are liable for deaths, injuries or damage to property if a collision occurs.

When trains are approaching, wait behind the tracks when lights and signals are activated. Proceed only when trains aren’t visible, while remembering that another train could be coming from the opposite direction.

Throughout America, thousands of rail crossings don’t have flashing signals, gates or arms that drop down at tracks. Because they don’t have visual or audible indicators, consider them most dangerous.

Don’t get stuck on the tracks by not anticipating your truck’s length and that of the towed vehicle.

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Rural identifiers give DOT crossing info and number to call.

Much of the responsibility for waiting for an approaching train to pass is that of the tow truck’s driver. Attempting to outrun an approaching train is unacceptable. Your best choice in all situations is to stop, look, listen … wait.

Make a Policy While you wouldn’t think it’s necessary to remind drivers that trains and tow trucks don’t mix, check your company’s employee handbook and you’ll probably find there’s nothing specific on railroad crossings.

There is huge vicarious liability regarding your employees’ actions. Your employee handbook should specifically address rail crossings and your safety meetings should include rail crossings in the rotation of topics. If an employee or customer is killed during rail-related recoveries or incidents, your company could shoulder responsibility.

On multi-track crossings, as one train passes, be aware of a second train.

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Operation Lifesaver recommendations on a general protocol include: • Companies should develop pre-incident protocol with local emergency numbers to rail police and rail dispatchers in their area.

• Tow operators should receive periodic topic-specific training.

• Never assume approaching trains have been notified with sufficient time to stop.

• Never place yourself in harms way for persons or vehicles stuck on the tracks.

• Company dispatch shall advise supervisors prior to dispatching drivers. A company supervisor, trained in railroad right-of-ways, will respond.

• Responding personnel will not drive around active or inactive rail controls or cross-bucks in lowered or closing positions.

• Responding personnel will arrive on-scene and park tow trucks safely away from the impact location to determine best course of action.

• Remove persons from impact area; direct them to a safe location far from impact debris.

• Never allow a vehicle’s driver or its occupants to return to their vehicle.

• Tow trucks, carriers, or recovery equipment will not be positioned atop rails during recovery procedures.

• Winch cables shall not be run between or under railroad ties.

• On multi-track crossings, as one train passes, be aware of a second train.

• Recoveries shouldn’t begin until law enforcement or rail police arrive, unless determined there is sufficient room to conduct recovery safely.

• Where cable is attached to stuck vehicles, and impact is imminent, free-spool winch and evacuate impact area.

• If impact is iminent, run towards the train, yet away from the tracks. Do not return to the impact area.

The scenarios here depict deadly realities of how much we towers are at risk when responding to rail incidents. I’ve determined there’s no specific training for the towing and recovery industry, however, Operation Lifesaver has an outstanding (and free) rail crossing training guide for professional truck drivers available at oli.org.

I recommend every company make rail crossings the first topic for your next safety meeting and require drivers to sign a safety statement for their file. Initiate new procedures as an entry to your current employee handbook or as an addendum that all drivers sign. You should agree that it’s a policy we can all live with.

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.

Exhibit hours: August 9–10 Friday & Saturday noon–6 pm

Number 206 on Reader Card

REGISTER NOW BEFORE JULY 29 & $AVE!

San Antonio, Texas August 8-11, 2013

2013 Attendee Registration Mail to: 7 West Street, Warwick, NY 10990

1. REGISTER HERE — RE QU IRE D INFORMAT ION —

• Fax to 845-986-5181 Phone: 800-732-3869

By advance-registering, the company “Boss” and one guest are admitted free to Exhibit Hall.

A $5 fee applies to all others. Kids under 14 free.

Produced by AT Expo Corp.

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2. PLEASE CHECK BOXES BELOW

First time at Expo: ❒ Yes ❒ No

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

Zip:

E-mail:

2. Secondary Business (check those that apply):

1a. If NO check your primary business: ❏ Towing/Recovery ❏ Service Station ❏ Auto Repair/Serv. Ctr. ❏ Auto/Truck Dealership ❏ Repossession ❏ Vehicle Leasing ❏ Transport/Trailer Serv. ❏ Distributor Equip ❏ Salv/Autoparts ❏ Lockout ❏ Truck Repair ❏ Other______________ ❏ Auto Body Shop

Country:

❏ Towing/Recovery ❏ Auto Repair/Serv. Ctr. ❏ Repossession ❏ Transport/Trailer Serv. ❏ Salv/Autoparts ❏ Truck Repair ❏ Auto Body Shop

❏ Service Station ❏ Auto/Truck Dealership ❏ Vehicle Leasing ❏ Distributor Equip ❏ Lockout ❏ Other______________

3. # Employees: ❏ 1-5 ❏ 6-10 ❏ 11-20 ❏ 21-50 ❏ 51-100 ❏ 100+ 4. Check one that best describes your purchasing authority: ❏ I authorize/approve purchases ❏ No authority ❏ I recommend 5. # tow trucks in fleet: ❏ 1-3 ❏ 4-7 ❏ 8-12 ❏ 13-16 ❏ 17+ 6. Types of trucks in fleet (check those that apply): ❏ Light Duty ❏ Carriers ❏ Class 7/8 Tractors ❏ Medium Duty ❏ Transport ❏ Rotators ❏ Heavy Duty 7. Number of unclaimed vehicles sold to salvage or auctioned each month:

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3. EVENT REGISTRATION – Exhibit Hall Open Fri. & Sat. 12:00 Noon - 6:00 PM

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Please Check the Events You Wish to Attend Lien Back Preserving Evidence at the Scene Turning Clean-up Into a Revenue Source U.S. Supreme Court Case: Dan’s Auto Body Rotation and City Contracts Don’t Crush Your Cash Compliance & Profits: Online Auctions, The Police-Tower Relationship Famous Impounds Hiring & Retaining Key Employees Using Video to Get Contracts and More Using Smart Phone Apps in Your Business Positive Employees, Positive Customers On Scene Safety Awareness Your On-Line Reputation Protect Your Business and Your Assets

EXHIBIT HALL • Fri. & Sat.: 12 noon - 6 pm, August 9 & 10. • 1st & 2nd registrants are free: addt’l $5 each. ❏ Yes, please advance register me for exhibit hall. Badge is good for both exhibit hall days!......$5 pp _____ ❏ American Towman Conferences • Fri., Sat. & Sun., Aug 9-11; Sponsored by American Towman $75 advance registration fee; $125 on site – Save $50 & register now................................................$75 pp ______ ❏ 1st registrant ❏ 2nd registrant ❏ 3rd registrant ❏ 4th registrant ❏ USA Wrecker Pageant • One vehicle per class & three per company.................................................$75/$100 ______ Trucks must enter Thurs. and stay in hall until Sat., 6 pm • $75: ❏ Light (pre-2012) ❏ Light (2012-2013) ❏ Medium ❏ Vintage (Pre-1985) $100: ❏ HD Single Axle ❏ HD Tandem ❏ Carrier ❏ Rotator ❏ Theme Display ❏ Rotator Training/Two-Day Class • Sat. Aug. 10, 8 am to 12 pm and 5 pm to 9 pm, Sun. Aug. 11, 8 am to 5 pm.

Includes: OSHA Qualified Rigger Certification, breakfasts & lunches, transportation to outdoor training site, & Passport to Friday Conferences/Seminars........................$525 when registering now or before July 15; $575 after ______ ❏ 1st registrant ❏ 2nd registrant ❏ 3rd registrant ❏ 4th registrant ❏ Casino Night • Fri. Aug. 9: 6 to 9 pm; Co-Sponsored by Towlot.com...................# attending: __________ N/C

Southwest Tow Operators, Sunday, 9 a.m. - 1 p.m., Grand Hyatt

❏ The Big Smoke at the Historic Menger Hotel • Fri. Aug. 9: 9 to 11 pm ................# attending: __________ N/C

Contact Southwest Tow Operators (STO) directly to sign up: 972-247-9454 TDLR 4- & 8-Hour IM Training Course TDLR Hybrid Safety Awareness Course TDLR IM Certification Testing

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Premium cigars provided to advance registrants only. Hosted by American Towman.

Chili Cookoff • Hosted by STO with American Towman, Sat., Aug. 10: 6-9 pm. ...................... # attending: __________ N/C ❏ Yes I am interested in entering the Chili Cookoff contest, please contact me.

Subscribe to ❏ 1 yr. $40 (save $10) • ❏ 2 yrs. $65 (save $30) .....................................______

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Grand Hyatt San Antonio • Tow Expo Headquarters Hotel On the River Walk, 600 East Market Street · • $159 S/D, $184 T, $209 Q Fitness center, indoor pool, restaurant. Connected to convention center.

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Historic Menger Hotel By the River Walk, 204 Alamo Plaza • $99 S/D/T/Q Next to Alamo, two blocks to CC. AT Big Smoke event here.

Number 126 on Reader Card

Missouri: State Patrol in ‘Chaos’?

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ave strained to read the street address, “3212 … what?,” on the tea-splashed manifest. All he could tell for sure was that it was somewhere in Columbia, Mo..

“I don’t know where I’m going; I’ll have to make a call,” he said to no one in particular.

Right then he heard a high-pitched noise coming from behind his semitrailer.

“Damn BMWs,” he said, and zeroed in on the source in the truck’s mirror. “He’s going to get someone killed.” The dark blue sports car slipped past him in a shot, honking and flashing its lights as it went.

Disgusted and shaking his head, he set upon the road once more and in an instant was beset by a sea of brake lights. He immediately braked and tried to steer into anything but the cars in front of him; he struggled to control the 70,000-lbs. semi. His hands proved useless on the steering wheel, as the truck was going to do whatever it was going to do—he was just along for the ride.

As the loaded trailer shoved and twisted the tractor forward mercilessly, silence surrounded him, and then—thunk—he was on his side. Suddenly sounds rushed back, of twisting metal and breaking glass as the cedarridden barbed-wire fence alongside the highway peeled the trailer open like a sardine tin.

In Missouri, if you have an accident within the jurisdiction of the Missouri State Highway Patrol and don’t know what towing company to call, the trooper on the scene has the authority to call whomever he favors that day. While most of the Show-Me state’s townships and municipalities outside the jurisdiction of the patrol refer to a rotation list of qualified and vetted companies, the patrol does not.

And they like it that way. Instead of

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by Don Archer

instead of reinstating him, the patrol chose to suspend him indefinitely, with reasons ranging from minor safety concerns to Robbins’ use of vulgar language in addressing a female trooper.

He filed a suit against the Missouri State Highway Patrol, stating that they unfairly removed his company from their list. Robbins argued that he had remedied their safety concerns and wanted to be put back on the list. One troop captain kept moving the bar, providing additional rationale for his removal whenever the previous infractions were corrected. allowing competition to flourish, they pick one or two wrecker companies to use and rarely stray.

Before 2006, the highway patrol did use a list. In 2005, though, Missouri tower Mark Robbins was acquitted of a felony drive-by shooting and everything changed.

Robbins owned I-44 Truck Center in St. Clair and was accused of shooting up a competitor’s truck in drive-by fashion. He was removed from two Troop rotation lists. He was acquitted of all charges on the defense that the arresting state trooper, who happened to be friends with the competitor, set him up.

With the case behind him, Robbins hoped to get back on the list. But

What List?

Cole County Circuit Judge Richard Callahan heard the case and found that there was no statute that authorized the highway patrol to maintain a rotation list of qualified towing companies.

This meant that the patrol had no authority to remove a towing company from their list, because they weren’t authorized to have a list in the first place.

From that point on, the patrol stopped using towing lists and chose to leave the decision of who to call to the discretion of the individual officer on the scene.

“The irony was clear,” wrote Nicholas Phillips in The Riverfront Times. “The judge prohibited the patrol from picking winners and losers—while granting them the leeway to do exactly that.”

Since that ruling, Jared Innis, president of the Missouri Tow Truck Association, has led the charge to enact a law that establishes the authority the Patrol needs to, once again, use a rotation. During the last six legislative sessions, Innis has spent hours promoting a bill that would encourage competition, raise towing standards statewide and take the responsibility off the

shoulders of Missouri’s overworked state troopers.

Each year he’s met with stiff opposition from … the highway patrol itself.

Innis, who owns and operates All-Star Towing in Platte City, said the legislation he’s suggesting would grant all motorists the ability to call whomever they want. Trucking company owners large and small also would have the ability to call whatever towing service they choose.

“If the towing company they want can respond within a reasonable amount of time, they should have the right to choose,” Innis said. “With the current system, troopers often dictate who will be performing the towing services because there are no rules. As it is there are no policies or guidelines that towers or troopers must follow.”

Without some sort of system or policy in place, the door is left wide open for the possibility of wrongdoing and scandal like kickbacks and bribes.

zone system or whoever is next on the list, this type of approach has been working for decades in some cases.

“It’s not perfect by any means, but without it there’s chaos,” one tower said.

But the Missouri State Patrol believes there are no problems with its current situation. They argue that the opportunity to choose already exists.

When a motorist needs a tow truck the responding Trooper’s standard operating procedure is to ask if the motorist has a towing preference.

But the likeliness of the average motorist, who doesn’t get into an accident often to know what tow company they might call is extremely low.

When they tell the patrolman that they don’t know what towing company to call, then the trooper chooses.

The patrol says the trooper on scene will use past performance with an eye toward competition to decide. But there are no specific guidelines for them to use.

What Problem?

A 2013 Towing & Recovery Association of America survey of the individual state towing associations revealed that more than 90 percent of states patrols operated with some form of rotation list. Whether it’s a

Editor”s Note: Don Archer lives and works in Jefferson City, Mo., where he and his wife, Brenda, own and operate Broadway Wrecker, a 12-truck operation that’s been in business since the 1950s. Email him at don@broadwaywrecker.com.

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TOWMAN.COM - July 2013 • 49

Juggler on the exhibit floor during AT ShowPlace.

Turnout in Las Vegas Validates Need to Get Away

The

by Brendan Dooley

Trade Show

Adventure

50 • July 2013 - TOWMAN.COM

W

hen you run a 24/7 business, it’s often difficult to see the forest through the trees.

For the savvy business owner, that’s a primary reason for taking time out for an industry convention and trade show, which is what several thousand towing professionals did in May. Towers from all 50 states and 10 foreign countries flocked to Tow Industry Week events and the American Towman ShowPlace in Las Vegas.

At a tow industry convention and trade show, tow business owners have the opportunity to consider the value of new products, compare equipment in the marketplace, discover new allies to their towing operation, and network with business educators and peers who can share a wealth of experience. In essence, you get to do what online interactions just can’t: meet

people face to face—people who can be key allies to success.

See It, Touch It At the inaugural American Towman ShowPlace-Las Vegas on May 16-19, tow business owners welcomed the opportunity to touch and learn about the hundreds of products on display at vendor booths. Aside from interacting among the manufacturers of wreckers, carriers, trailers and chassis exhibiting on the show floor, tow bosses found 10 motor clubs and call suppliers among the 130 exhibiting companies.

Motor Club reps came eager to meet new service providers as well as touch base with those with whom they’ve had long-standing relationships.

Studies have shown that more than 90 percent of attendees use a trade show to meet with current suppliers. Nearly 80

percent find at least one new supplier at trade shows. It’s much easier to expand your horizons when so many products and services are all gathered under one roof right there before you.

Education and Training An important complement to a trade show’s exhibit hall is the availability of training. Taking time away to visit the expo hall is great, but add in the chance to learn more in classroom and hands-on settings, and you’ve added to the value of your show experience.

Tow Industry Week, which featured the American Towman ShowPlace–Las Vegas, offered up six educational conferences (15 seminars) and two training courses (Rotator Training and Recovery Billing), covering critical areas of operating a towing business.

The Conferences were nothing short

of a revelation to the hundreds of towers who participated in them. For example, WreckMaster’s Bruce Campbell and John Borowski of the Police Towers of America introduced a new concept to the business of recovery; incident classification and and correlating billing guidelines.

Back in 1989, American Towman first tapped into the industry’s need for education with its “Academy;” AT has hosted 30,000 towing professionals since that time. This year, jumping off from the Las Vegas event, tow bosses will be able to find valuable seminars and training courses at Tow Expo Int’l in San Antonio (Aug. 8-11) and during AT Expo in Baltimore (Nov. 14-17).

Networking Participating in an educational venue isn’t the only way to exchange ideas with other tow bosses. At a good trade show,

you’ll have plenty of opportunities to network with peers before the trade show opens, during exhibit hours and afterwards.

At the recent Las Vegas show, there was the AT Open golf outing, a Ribs Fest, Desert Smoke (cigar smoker), and a welcome reception for towers to meet and greet with each other.

“The biggest resource any large convention has are the attendees themselves,” said Steve Calitri, AT’s editorin-chief and founder of the American Towman Exposition in Baltimore. “For example, just meandering through the wrecker pageant trucks and talking with the truck owners is an education in equipment care, graphic presentation and marketing, not to mention what else can be gotten out of the war stories that towers tell one another.”

For example, in Vegas, Consolidated Towing owner Mike Wildman almost lost his voice explaining to multiple towers about the unique and innovative storage ideas he’d put to use on his bright orange wrecker that was in the American Towman Cup wrecker pageant.

On his 2013 Kenworth T800 with 2013 Jerr-Dan 50ton tri-axle HDUL 565 retriever, he added plenty of personal touches that caught the judge’s eyes and towers alike.

“I liked that the control compartments were clearly lighted and controls were labeled and they also had wireless controls,” said Randall Resch, AT’s operations editor and a pageant judge. “In storage, he had all his hand tools separate from straps, which were separate Vegas seminar presenters who will be in San from hooks, etc.”

Antonio and Baltimore: Todd Althouse of Another standout item to Resch, and many other Beacon Software on the Smartphone, Bruce towers on the show floor checking out the pageant Campbell of WreckMaster on Recovery and Rotators, and Tom Luciano of Miller Industries, trucks, was the round PVC tubing mounted crossways bottom photo, on Recovery "At the Movies." on the frame just aft of the cab. It was the perfect place to TOWMAN.COM - July 2013 • 51

store long straps, broom handles and other long tools out of the way, cleanly, with easy access from either side through snap-on caps Wildman fabricated to fit snugly over the tubing.

Towers took note of details like those for use back home. They didn’t expect to find that kind of info when they came to Vegas; it’s definitely something they would have missed by just surfing online for the business.

Wildman’s wrecker even won first place in the HeavyDuty Tandem class in the American Towman Cup. … In San Antonio, towers will compete in the USA Wrecker Pageant, and in Baltimore, for the Silver Trophies at the American Wrecker Pageant.

It also helps to get away when you’re getting away to a destination like Las Vegas, the world’s place to play, or San Antonio, which features the unique and

beautiful River Walk, or Baltimore’s magnificent Inner Harbor, which has been a favorite destination site for towers for the past quarter century. Indeed, more towing professionals have visited Baltimore, and the Inner Harbor, than any other city in the world, thanks to the American Towman Exposition.

Moving clockwise: Patrick Zozaya, above, at his Rotator Training Class in Vegas; he brings the class to San Antonio in August. WreckMaster will conduct Rotator Training in Baltimore during AT Expo. To right, Vegas aisles were full. Ron Pullen demonstrates Sonetics headphones on the floor at AT ShowPlace. Tow bosses watch a GPS demonstration at the Tom Tom booth. Consolidated Towing created a buzz during the competition for the American Towman Cup in Vegas while T&M Towing wowed the crowd with its vintage Chevy. The Towing Industry On Canvas was on the show floor in Vegas, as it will be in San Antonio and Baltimore. AT Open fielded 70 golfers on the greens in the Desert.

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

From the Eye of a Hurricane

M

arty’s City Auto Inc. in Galveston, Texas, was established in 1989 with two trucks, two drivers and an office in a trailer. Gregory “Marty” Sendejas is the owner/president of the company and has been in towing since 1979.

Marty’s offers 24-hour towing service, rescues vehicles stuck in sand and other service calls. They offer a mechanic on-site, body shop, rental cars, salvage yard, buy junk cars, sell used and new auto parts and have a notary public available.

This family-run company tows vehicles on the island as well as all of the metro area of Harris and Galveston counties.

Marty’s now has 10 employees and a fleet of eight trucks, including this beautiful rig, a 2005 GMC C7500 with a 1999 Century 612 set up with a Formula 1 wheel lift. Powered is sup-

54 • July 2013 - TOWMAN.COM

plied by a Caterpillar diesel mated to an Allison automatic transmission.

The Century 612 has a boom structural rating of 24,000-lbs. retracted and 8,000-lbs. extended and is equipped with dual 12,000-lbs. worm winches.

Building this truck became a necessity after the devastation wreaked by Hurricane Ike in September 2008. Hurricane Ike was a monstrous Category 4 storm with winds that peaked above 140 mph and

Tech Highlights Chassis: 2005 GMC C-7500.

Wrecker: 1999 Century 612 w/Formula 1 wheel lift.

Engine: Caterpillar Diesel.

Trans: Allison automatic.

Winches: Dual 12,000-lbs. worm.

Builder: Marty’s City Auto.

Graphics/Paint: Marty’s City Auto.

by Jim “Buck” Sorrenti

reached from the Bahamas to Texas.

Marty’s fleet was one of the many casualties of the storm.

“We built [this truck] here at Marty’s City Auto after Hurricane Ike,” Marty said. “We lost two of our units, so we used the Century 612 bed from a 1999 Chevy C6500, which was one of the units lost in Ike.” They also did all of the paint and bodywork on this rig in house.

“We did the paint job in a couple of weeks in between other jobs,” Marty said.

“All jobs are memorable and each one is unique; you never know what you’re gonna see or find until you arrive on a job, whether it be an accident, a police pickup, a ‘sand stuck,’ or a lock out,” Marty said. “One very memorable moment was when we were very honored to receive the Order of Towman from American Towman magazine this past year.”

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Bolstering Towing’s Economy Impounded-car auctions through TowLot.com have tripled in two years since the company started promoting its services to towers outside of Kansas, its home state. According to company president Brandon Richard, TowLot.com’s growth bodes well for the towing industry as more and more tow business owners change their habits from selling off to salvage yards to try the online auction process.

“Generally speaking,” said Richard, “the average vehicle selling for $250 to salvage yards pulls in anywhere from $500 to $800 through TowLot.com’s online auctions.

“The tower who turns over 100 cars a year adds anywhere from $25,000 to $50,000 in revenue above what he or she pulls in by dealing directly with salvage yards. Several of our customers turn over 500 or more vehicles annually, adding another $125,000 to $250,000 of revenue

58 • July 2013 - TOWMAN.COM

Joe Richard, TowLot.com founder.

to their bottom line above the average take when dealing with salvage yards.

“This is not only new or additional revenue to these companies but for the towing industry at large, as the largest

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portion of these revenues goes back into the business, improving operations, adding equipment, updating facilities, etc.”

TowLot.com’s business model does not capitalize on the differentiation of values between unclaimed vehicles, though the seller (tower) does cash in on these differences. The tow business owner pays $30 per vehicle to post it into one’s “virtual showroom” and there are no additional “auction fees.”

Moreover the seller can recoup that $30 fee by transparently tacking on a buyer’s fee of $30 or more per vehicle.

“Our company’s profit-destiny is tied to the big picture of how much new revenue our online auctions bring to the towing industry.” Richard said. “When 2,000 towing companies are regularly auctioning off their unclaimed vehicles through Towlot.com, it begins to have a significant effect on the entire towing industry.”

Indianapolis Falls to AutoReturn

by Steve Calitri

A

t the midnight hour, John Borowski of the Police Towers of America sent an email to a city councilman warning of the downside of a corporate middleman controlling towing rotation in the city of Indianapolis.

That councilman bemoaned the way the city’s mayor pushed through the contract without input from the city council and that a company outside the state of Indiana received the business.

By that time it was a done deal: another five-year contract for AutoReturn with in a U.S. city.

In Las Vegas, Borowski held PTA’s first meeting and spoke at length about what AutoReturn is up to. He reported to me that many towers had no idea.

This of course does not bode well for all of us—towers and suppliers alike.

The net result is that this San Franciscobased corporation is inserting itself into municipal politics to control rotation systems across the county, and towing companies are deriving less revenue from police towing.

We will give Borowski another platform to speak from in San Antonio during Tow Expo Int’l. One city in Texas has already been taken over by AutoReturn. Southwest towers may be interested to learn more from Borowski at the August show. He also is slated to speak in Baltimore for AT’s 25th anniversary Exposition.

There is, of course, more than politics that one can learn at a trade show.

In Baltimore, on Nov. 14, WreckMaster will inaugurate their Rotator Training with an indoor/outdoor class led by Bruce Campbell. Recovery Billing Unlimited President Bob Fouquette will bring his eight-hour course on recovery billing down from Massachusetts and into the Baltimore Conven-

60 • July 2013 - TOWMAN.COM

tion Center. And Borowski, aside from his address to police towers, will be conducting a groundbreaking seminar on Incident Classification and Billing Guidelines.

Back to AutoReturn. From a revenue perspective, tow business owners should be alert to what is going on.

From an objective perspective, one has to respect what AutoReturn is offering municipalities: more revenue in city coffers, less headaches on tow-related issues and more efficient service (at least that is what is promised).

The problem for towers is that they individually have no leverage in the matter, no say-so, and diminished voice with city officials … if any at all.

Before AutoReturn, towers could find an audience with police and city officials. Now, the five-year contract shifts management of rotation over to AutoReturn.

The big question: does AutoReturn have an Achilles heel? Is there a flaw in their character or a chink in their armor?

Reports coming in are that the GPS-driven dispatch system AutoReturn runs unintentionally foments wreck chasing. Have these cities signed up for more grief and headaches they thought they were escaping? Will any crimps in their program get ironed out through a fiveyear term? Will tow companies survive AutoReturn’s reign?

You can show your concern, interest, and support by signing up with the Police Towers of America at www.policetowers.org. Sign-up is free as of press time. You can also show up in San Antonio or Baltimore to keep abreast of what’s happening.

That’s the lowdown.

For American Towman Magazine, keeping tow business owners abreast of industry news has never been more exciting. The Internet has helped us to pull in relevant and often critical news and information, and has also helped us distribute news and features via our Internet Media, at the same time helping AT to attract more towing professionals to events where face-to-face dynamics prove so valuable. Indeed, in the Internet age, a face-to-face event is news in itself, now more than ever, particularly annual events that AT readers have only one opportunity, or date, to attend.

Occasionally we’ll get a comment from a reader not thrilled to see “negative” news about tow operators or owners in AT Media. In June TowmanTV.com and Emily Oz featured the news and video about one tower who ran a red light right into a crossing bus, killing the bus driver.

We often print this kind of news as well because we believe that both owners and operators need to clearly see what the consequences are of bad practices.

TowIndustryWeek.com continues to provide a platform to get the word out on new products, like the new I-Bolt Universal Tow Eye with Safety Strap from Steck Manufacturing. Each week features a new product introduction and much more, although we’re sure Boomer Hayes would like to keep all the attention to himself.

RepoTimes.com also covers news about bad deeds, particularly about those men and women being shot at or killed in their line of work, because repo specialists can never let their guard down.

Copyright 2013 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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