American Towman Magazine - August 2014 by dortiz-towman

AT's Monster Academy Has Its Own Thrills in Baltimore, Page 46

UNDER PRESSURE Matthews Garage Cartersville, GA

Expand Flatbed Versatility No J-Hooks for Recovery Amazing Movie Wrecker

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towmantv.com

towweek.com

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First On The Scene

Since 1977

Departments Walkaround . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6 News Share . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8 Road Tools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12 Tow Engineer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18 Tow Boss . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26 AD Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .34

FEATURE CONTENTS

Repo Run . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .52 The Scoop . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .62

Beacons On! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .64

TRIP Wreck

Towman’s Market . . . . . . . . . . . .70

A new NRC slider was broken in on a semi recovery to clear a high-traffic Interstate. by Jim “Buck“ Sorrenti

My Baby. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .72 Low Down . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .74 Adventures of A.T. . . . . . . . . . . . .81 Final Solution lifts and separates the trailer from the tractor.

Monsters in Baltimore Get all the lowdown you need on the Beast in the East, the AT Expo in Baltimore.

Transporting Equipment Forklifts may have four wheels and need tie-downs, but they’re not the same as loading passenger vehicles. by Dave Lambert

COVER: NRC's sliding rotator at work

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Number 109 on Reader Card

Packed with Information

by Dennie Ortiz

First On The Scene! With each issue of American Towman magazine, we strive to provide you with editorial that informs and educates on top of being interesting to read. This issue is no different. Equipment is an integral part of the tow profession (no matter how big or how small). In the Tow Engineer department this month (page 19), Field Editor Terry Abejuela discusses tow dolly usage and safety. Then, Operations Editor Randy Resch goes deep with his focus on why J-hooks should not be used for recovery scenarios (page 64). Running a business is no simple feat and proactive owners are always on the lookout for ways to improve. Some towers have yet to embrace technology and its advantages, but

Hidden Gems

progressive owners have been reaping the benefits. Evaluating your return on investment with GPS (page 26) will help you to assess if investing in this technology can increase your operating profit. Another way to increase your bottom line is to cut back in some way. Do you regularly assess your spending? You could increase your revenue by cutting insurance costs, and we have some tips straight from the horse’s mouth (page 62). There is much to learn through reading AT, but for those that crave more there are the Tow Expos, like Tow Expo Int’l in San Antonio, Texas, this month from Aug. 7-9 or the American Towman Expo in Baltimore, Md., Nov. 21-23. Both can provide you with further opportunities to enhance your business with information and ideas that will help your business grow.

by Brendan Dooley

I think it’s those little unexpected things in life that make your day. I received a small local article from someone at Lynch Chicago recently about a female tower in the area he thought could be a “fun” item for American Towman’s readers. Freelance contributor Kristen Scheuing, however, dug past the profile of a single tower found the real story (page N76, S78, MW79) on a family business with seven children helping out, multiple locations and a fleet of around 50 vehicles. The story still spotlights 27-year-old Becky Aurenz and her heavy-duty work in her Peterbilt/Century 9055 “Princess Rebecca,” but the focus is on a family that works together in a demanding industry. That I didn’t expect when I first saw the original story.

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Dennie Ortiz Steve Calitri Brendan Dooley Charles Duke

Publisher Editor-In-Chief Editor Senior 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 Don Archer Roy Carlson Debbie Collins Belinda Harris Bill Johnson Ron Mislan Kurt Wilson

Dallas, Texas Jefferson City, Mo. St. Paul, Minn. Las Vegas, Nev. Greensboro, N.C. South Hadley, Mass. Warren, N.J. Creve Coeur, Ill.

American Towman Staff Ann Marie Nitti Dennie Ortiz Ellen Rosengart Norma Calitri Neila Smith Miriam Ortiz Henri Calitri Toni Vanderhorst William Burwell Peggy Calabrese Ryan Oser 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 Regional Advertising Sales iMarketing Manager 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 ©2014 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.American Towman Media does not test or review products submitted for inclusion in its publications. All included information, specifications and abilities are as claimed by the equipment manufacturer who is solely liable for any defects or misrepresentations in its products.

Number 164 on Reader Card

Roam Towing Rates Increase Gainesville, Fla., is famous for its strict parking regulations and roam towing. The Gainesville City Commission passed a resolution to increase the maximum fee roam towing companies can charge for trespass towing. The roam towing rate in the city has remained at $76 since 2003, and has only increased by $6 since 1994. Now, roam towing companies are allowed to charge up to $100 for light-duty vehicles. According to roam towing companies requesting the increase, the stagnant towing costs do not account for the increase in operation costs, such as gas, insurance and tires. Tow companies also argue permit fees, cost of living increases, and credit card fees justify the increase. While the majority of the Gainesville commission agreed and approved the measure, the mayor was one of the two votes in dissent. Source: www.mygtn.tv.

Murder Charges in Tower’s Death A woman in Louisville, Ky., is charged with murder after she hit and killed a tower who was assisting another vehicle, police said. Witnesses told police that the tower, Jewan Turner, was outside of his truck on the side of the road when he was hit. A car driven by Paula Oppel first hit the car Turner was assisting and then hit Turner, they said. The coroner said Turner, 35, died at the scene after suffering multiple blunt force injuries. Oppel, 53, faces charges of DUI and leaving the scene of an accident. Oppel left the scene but was arrested shortly thereafter. Her blood alcohol content was found to be .172, more than twice the legal limit. Source: www.wave3.com. 8 • August 2014 - TOWMAN.COM

Lambert Trains 5,000th Student Dave Lambert, light/medium for president of the PWOF, then develNorth American Towoped numerous NATA ing Academy, reached programs. a personal milestone “It’s been a wonafter 13 years of derful experience instructing light- and working with state medium-duty towing associations, private operators with 5,000 companies and municstudents certified. ipalities to provide Dave Lambert (left) presents Owen Bagaason Jr. student 5,000, Owen information to towers of Red’s OK Towing Bagaason Jr. of Red’s OK they may not otherTowing in Fort Myers, Fla., in Fort Myers, Fla., wise get through expewith his certificate following was No. 5,000, and a class in June. rience alone.” received his certificate Lambert readily following a class in June. admits he often learns safety tips “Not all the instruction was and techniques from his students. through NATA,” Lambert said. “I “We share information in class. It’s developed and taught a light-duty not just an instructor lecturing a program for AAA National; a group of towers.”

Towers Disagree

on New Fees In Mahwah, N.J., an ordinance amending the borough’s general licensing of towing companies was adopted unanimously after a public hearing. The ordinance is intended to update township regulations guiding the licensing, rotation, and fee charges for tow companies dispensed by its agencies. Tow owner James Venusti argued it was unnecessary for a towing company to own two regular-duty tow trucks because they can do very little, in his experience, compared to a mediumduty, a heavy-duty or a flatbed. “Fifteen or 20 years ago, I would have agreed with you, but with the types of cars out there today, in my experience, [regular duty tow trucks] are an ineffective piece of machinery. They’re dinosaurs,” said Venusti. Tom Locicero, owner of All Points Towing, countered that in his experience

there are a number of scenarios where a regular tow truck is a necessity for him, such as towing a vehicle from a parking garage. Venusti also objected to raising the towing storage fee from $25 to $40 per day. “You wouldn’t believe how much screaming people will do,” he said. “I think $40 a day is a fair price, considering those who have their car towed have a 24-hour grace period with no charge,” said Locicero. Source: www.northjersey.com.

. . . Tow America meets what law enforcement is looking for . . . Charges Dismissed Against Tower Washington, D.C., prosecutors recently dismissed charges against a D.C. tow-truck operator who police say hopped into his rig and fatally struck a man who pistol-whipped and robbed him in December. Prosecutors had originally charged Corey D. Stoddard, 35, with second-degree murder in the death of Kevin Lewis Crouch, 22. A judge later reduced that charge to voluntary manslaughter. Stoddard’s attorney argued his client was acting in self-defense. Prosecutors offered Stoddard a plea deal to involuntary manslaughter with no jail time. Stoddard rejected the offer. A spokesman for the U.S. Attorney’s Office said the charges were dropped for “insufficient evidence,” but added that the investigation into the case was “continuing.” Source: www.washingtonpost.com.

Murder Charges in Agent’s Death A special investigative grand jury recently indicted a Fauquier County, Va., man for first-degree murder for the alleged fatal shooting in June 2014 of a repossession agent attempting to repossess his vehicle. Carroll Edward Gregg Jr., 53, was also indicted for using a firearm in the commission of a felony and shooting at an occupied motor vehicle with death resulting. Junior Jordan Montero Sanchez, 23, was killed during a repossession attempt of the suspect’s 2004 GMC Sierra pickup truck. Gregg was previously charged with second-degree murder. “The commonwealth will strenuously oppose any motion for release on bail,” said Fauquier County Commonwealth’s Attorney Jim Fisher. Source: www.dailyprogress.com. Work the non-traffic Side–Stay Safe!

PTA Spawns Tow America With state and local government and law enforcement showing increased interest in third-party administrators to manage vehicle towing, Police Towers of America is offering tow providers a solution it says will not cost towers money but make them more. That solution is Tow America. “It seems law enforcement, state and local government are catching on to the idea of wanting an efficient tow management and tracking service, and that’s not going to change,” said John Borowski, president and founder of Police Towers of America (PoliceTowers.org). “[Tow America] is a service that is by towers, for towers, and meets what law enforcement is looking for. It is backed by efficient state-of-the-art software from Dispatch & Tracking Solutions as the backbone of our system.” Given that cities are showing real interest in third-party towing and rotation managers with the efficiency that hi-tech dispatch systems offer, Borowski believes it would be foolish to simply bad-mouth third-party managers or ignore law enforcement and municipal interest in them.

Tow America services include tow dispatch (voice or voiceless) or no tow dispatch while still offering an audit trail, real-time view into the tow process, web access for stakeholders, invoicing capabilities, automatic population and production of forms/letters/reports, reason codes for each jurisdiction, automatic notification to vehicle owners, abandoned vehicle lien processing and more. Which features are used is up to the tow providers and government agency. “With Tow America, towers provide a solution, which is the only way to save the non-consent and law enforcement impound industry,” Borowski said. Email Borowski at jborowski@policetowers.org. Check out DTS at DTSdispatch.com.

Tower’s Random Act of Kindness When a Hawaii tow truck owner known as “Towing Billy” was tagged in an ice bucket challenge video on Facebook, he headed to WalMart to buy a bag of ice to pour over himself for the sake of social media. But on his way to the store, he had a better idea. “I’m calling out everybody on Facebook,” Towing Billy said in a video on his Facebook page. “Instead of doing the ice challenge, make one difference in somebody’s life.” Instead of ice, he purchased a case

of bottled water, a propane stove, canned goods, toiletries and other living essentials and headed to a homeless encampment in Honolulu, known as “Tent City,” to give away the newly purchased goods. Billy hopes that his random act of kindness will inspire more people to do the same and that, one day, his Facebook newsfeed will be filled with “positive things like people helping other people, instead of half-naked girls shaking their butts,” he said. Source: www.huffingtonpost.com. TOWMAN.COM - August 2014 • 9

Number 159 on Reader Card

Check Out What’s NEW and HOT!

Fully Galvanized NRC

New Heavy Fleet Lubricants

Carrier Decks

Royal Purple said its new commercial lubricant product line, Duralec, has been specifically developed for the heavy-duty fleet markets to optimize equipment performance. Duralec commercial products include heavyduty motor oils, transmission fluids, gear oil, multi-purpose grease, coolant additive, tractor fluids, hydraulic fluids and diesel additives. The company said its Duralec additive packages will deliver ultimate protection and peak performance regardless of driving and operating conditions. Some of the new products include: Duralec Super motor oil (5W-30, 5W-40, 10W-30, 15W-40), Duralec Ultra (10W-30, 15W-40), Duralec ATF, Duralec MTF (10, 30, 50), and Duralec Gear Oil HD.

www.royalpurple.com Number 200 on Reader Card

SATA Compact Spray Gun The SATA minijet 4400 B compact spray gun specializes in finishes on areas of difficult access or on small panels. The special SR nozzles are suitable for spot repairs on vehicles. This spray gun allows the application of all modern paint systems, including waterborne paints. The company said its new, ergonomically shaped handle is perfectly balanced and all

controls can be easily operated even when wearing gloves. The spray gun is sturdy and long lasting. The spray gun body is equipped with a corrosion-resistant chrome surface. The air cap is made of chrome-plated brass; paint needle and fluid tip are made of tempered stainless steel. The trigger protects the paint needle from overspray during painting.

www.satausa.com Number 201 on Reader Card

Fast Four-Post HDC Lifts Rotary Lift said its new heavy-duty four-post vehicle lifts are both userfriendly and fast. The new HDC series four-post lifts are available in capacities of 50,000 lbs. and 60,000 lbs. for servicing a variety of heavyduty vehicles including trucks and buses. The HDC series lifts can be operated from any column; each post is equipped with Rotary Lift’s patented control system. Optional accessories include 25,000-lbs. capacity rolling bridge jacks that lift the vehicle off its wheels for tire, brake and suspension work, and high-efficiency LED lighting for improved visibility.

RC Industries recently introduced its corrosion-resistant, fully galvanized carrier decks. The company said the process follows two years of research and development and is available for its 10TB, 20TB, 30TB and 40TB series car carriers, in selected lengths of 19’, 21’, 22’, 24’ and 28’. The hot-dip galvanizing process provides steel components with high impact and improved corrosion resistance, as well as better durability. NRC said

it offers this type of protective coating on its rollback car carriers to show it focuses on developing long-lasting products with less maintenance and a lower environmental footprint. NRC said its team of engineers and the galvanizers worked together to find creative solutions and make sure the zinc coating evenly covers the entire top, bottom and inside surfaces of the deck. The NRC sub frame also is available as fully galvanized.

www.industriesnrc.com Number 203 on Reader Card

www.rotarylift.com Number 202 on Reader Card

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Work the non-traffic Side–Stay Safe!

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Tower Calls Association a ‘Cartel’ The Waterloo Region is home to a tow-truck monopoly endorsed by police, says a Kitchener, Ontario, Canada, tow-truck driver who got a ticket for trying to offer a tow at a crash scene recently. “All of the towing companies in the region got together and they’ve formed an organization. They set the rules, they do the price setting,” said Abstract Towing driver Chris Ragona. “They are the ones who are controlling all of the towing that’s going on in the region from accidents. It’s violating all the competition laws in Canada. It’s collusion. It’s a cartel in the truest sense of the word.” He’s referring to the Waterloo Regional Towing Association, made up of many of the largest towing companies in the region. When a car needs to be towed from a crash scene, Waterloo Regional Police officers call the towing association and it picks which member company to dispatch. Abstract Towing has just one truck. To belong to the association, a company needs at least three trucks, Ragona said. He said association members charge a set fee of $220. “It’s a monopoly,” and motorists are the losers, Ragona said. “It breaks competition laws in Canada and the police are allowing it to happen. They’re actually enforcing it.” “From our perspective, we want to ensure that there’s consistency,” a police spokesperson said. “So the towing association manages things like proper training, safety, expedient service, skilled drivers. He said it’s “convenient and efficient” to call the association. “Our concern is not so much how the business is distributed. We want to have quality drivers and tow truck operators at our scenes. That’s our priority.” Although police routinely call the towing association, motorists can specify which company they want to use, police said. Police have received no complaints from motorists who used an association tow truck.

Ragona got a ticket for soliciting recently after talking to a motorist in a collision in Kitchener. He said he asked a regional police officer on the scene if he could tow the car. “And he said, ‘No, we don’t need you.’ And I said, ‘Why is that, sir?’ He said, ‘We’re going to use the towing association. We don’t need you here.’ I said, ‘So you’re not going to give me a chance to see maybe if I can get a tow?’ He said, ‘No, we don’t need you. Just get out of here.’ ”

Ragona said the officer then asked the motorist if he wanted to use Ragona’s service. The man said he wasn’t sure. Ragona said he told the driver the officer would call a towing association company and the charge would be $220. Ragona said he could offer a better price. “The officer at that point said: ‘Enough of this. You get out of here now.’ ” Ragona was ticketed. Source: www.therecord.com.

Number 169 on Reader Card Work the non-traffic Side–Stay Safe!

TOWMAN.COM - August 2014 • 15

Digital Ally Cloud-Based Solution Digital Ally’s new cloud telematics system, FleetVu Manager, is automated and provides off-site backup, efficient analysis of fleet performance and driver behavior, customizable reporting, management and updating of Video Event Data Recorder equipment, control over alert triggers and geo-fencing, review of incident video and causality data with interactive route maps, and more to enhance driver safety, reduce fleet expenses, and improve performance. The company’s (www.digitalallyinc.com) Video Event Data Recorders improve vehicle visibility while automatically recording a constant loop and/or individual incidents from up to eight uniquely triggered cameras to supply proof against fraudulent claims; reduce vehicle damage, maintenance and insurance costs; and improve safety. Number 212 on Reader Card

Number 213 on Reader Card

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Tow Dolly Safety

owing dollies for passenger cars are an integral part of working from a light-duty wheel lift or conventional tow sling truck. Equipped with tow dollies, a tow operator in a wheel lift or sling truck can tow vehicles that may otherwise require a flatbed carrier, like vehicles with all-wheel-drive, missing wheels, multiple flats and low ground clearance. Most passenger car tow dollies that I have seen in the field did not have a ratings plate. Contact the manufacturer to determine what the working load limit is. If you are not able to determine the WLL from the manufacturer, use the rating of the tires. (Even if the limit of the tow dolly can be verified, it may be limited by the capacity of the tires.) Some tires are only rated at 520 lbs., limiting the dolly to 2,080 lbs. There are larger tires available that are rated at 745 lbs., providing a capacity of 2,980 lbs.

Dolly bunker storage on a car carrier.

Inspections Currently, the self-loading tow dollies are the most commonly used on light-duty tow trucks, though you may still see single- and dual-axle pan dollies. Towers must know how to inspect, maintain, and operate all of the tow dollies safely. A quick daily inspection of your tow dollies should be conducted at the start of each shift. On most trucks, this type of inspection can be done without removing the tow dollies from the truck. Check the air pressure in all of the dolly tires. Most dolly tires require 60 to 90 psi. Maintain the tire manufacturer’s recommended pressure. Check the tires for sidewall cracks, insufficient tread depth, and the condition of the valve stem. A daily inspection should also include a visual inspection of all of the dolly parts. Look for signs of overload18 • August 2014 - TOWMAN.COM

Rolling dolly wheel assembly beats carrying it.

Under-bed dolly storage.

by Terry Abejuela

Number 198 on Reader Card

ing and/or damage. Bent or missing parts, broken welds, and abrasion damage may render the tow dollies unsafe for use. Follow all manufacturer recommendations for daily inspections. Once a month, a more detailed inspection of the dollies should be performed. On some tow trucks, this type of inspection may require the tow dollies be removed from the truck. During this inspection you should perform the routine lubrication of moving parts and zerk fittings. Check that all moving parts move without restriction and operate correctly. Follow the manufacturer’s recommendations for monthly inspections and maintenance.

Using the wheel lift to extend and roll the flat tire into the rear axle tube; adjust front axle tube to tightest positioning slot.

Under-bed dolly bunker.

Check the condition of the wheel bearings by removing the wheel bearing caps to visually inspect them. Look for proper lubrication, and that there are no visible signs of overheating, abrasion, dirt, or rust. Spin the wheels to make sure they turn freely and smoothly. Grab the tires on each side and try to move the wheels to see if there is too much play in the bearings. Operate the ratchet mechanism, lockbars, and lock-bar safety locks to ensure they are in proper working order. Extend and retract the dolly axles to check for smooth operation, and lubricate if required. Check the dolly axles for broken welds and abrasion damage. Don’t forget to check the condition of the tie-down straps and ratchets used on the tow dollies.

Number 207 on Reader Card

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Storage There are many different options available for dolly storage. Bedmounted brackets, tunnel box storage, and under-bed dolly bunkers are some of the most common storage options in use. When choosing a storage option, consider security, protection from the elements, and operator safety and convenience. Dolly parts are heavy and should be stored in a location that allows the operator to remove and replace the parts with minimal exposure to traffic and possible lifting injuries. To reduce the potential for injuries, tow operators should avoid carrying the tow dollies. Instead, lift one end and leave the other end on the ground and roll it to the disabled vehicle. Be careful to grab a part of the dolly that won’t pinch your fingers—and always wear gloves. Most dolly manufacturers offer aluminum dolly axles. The extra expense to buy aluminum axles vs. steel axles may be warranted through fewer operator injuries from carrying the axles. Operators should practice proper lifting techniques when handling the tow dollies.

A light-duty 4x4 SUV strapped in properly for dolly transport.

In Use When you are going to install the tow dollies on a vehicle, first attach your truck’s towing device to the opposite end of the disabled vehicle to ensure it cannot roll away or move during the process. Don’t raise the towing device, as this will transfer weight to the axle you will be loading on the dolly. Adjust the dolly axle tubes to the proper width for the vehicle to be dollied. Use a screwdriver (not your finger!) to depress the axle-adjustment plunger pin. The axle tubes should be adjusted to extend just past the outside of the tires of the vehicle to be dollied. Place the dolly axle tubes under the vehicle on each side of the tires with the tire plates facing the tires. Lay the axle tubes flat on the ground when sliding them under the vehicle to avoid contacting low-clearance body or suspension parts. Place the dolly wheel assemblies Number 148 on Reader Card Work the non-traffic Side–Stay Safe!

TOWMAN.COM - August 2014 • 21

Vehicle wheel strapped to tow dolly.

Number 151 on Reader Card

on each side of the vehicle next to the axle tubes. Place the axle engagement tab on the front dolly axle tube, in the middle positioning slot on one side. Place the opposite end of the front dolly axle tube in the middle positioning slot on the other side. Move the dolly wheel assembly so the front dolly axle tube is in contact with the tire of the vehicle. Place the dolly axle engagement tab of the rear dolly axle tube in the dolly wheel assembly, positioning the slot on one side as close to the tire of the vehicle as possible without forcing it. If you force it into the tightest positioning slot, it will make it more difficult to insert the dolly’s axle engagement tabs on the opposite side. If the dolly is equipped with a ratchet system, turn the ratchets to the engaged position before using the dolly pry bar to lift the vehicle. The ratchet system is a safety feature that limits the travel of the pry bar if the operator lets go of it. (Even with the ratchet system on, the pry bar can still cause injuries if you let it go.)

Keep your body out of the path of the dolly pry bar.

continue to page 25 Number 132 on Reader Card

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TOW DOLLY SAFETY continued from page 22 As you use the pry bar to load the vehicle on the dolly, make sure you keep a firm grip on the pry bar with both hands. Do not place any part of your body in the path that the pry bar will travel. If the dolly is equipped with a ratchet mechanism—and it is properly engaged—you should hear it clicking. Once all four dolly wheels have been levered to the loaded position, engage the dolly wheel locks. When towing a vehicle with a flat tire on self-loading dollies, it is difficult to get the dolly axle tubes tight enough against the flat tire to lift it off the ground. One technique is to use the wheel lift to assist in adjusting the dolly’s axle tubes closer under the flat tire. Follow the normal loading procedure and then slightly raise the wheel lift and extend it until the flat tire rolls onto the rear axle tube. Adjust the front axle tube to the tightest positioning slot on the dolly wheel assembly on both sides of the vehicle. Retract the wheel lift until the flat tire rolls up onto the front axle tube. Adjust the rear axle tube to the tightest positioning slot on the dolly wheel assembly on both sides of the vehicle. Extend the wheel lift until the flat tire is centered on the dolly. Now follow normal procedure to finish loading the vehicle. If you use this technique to load the vehicle, you will need to do the same thing to unload the vehicle from the dolly. Once the vehicle is loaded on the tow dolly, secure the vehicle to it with wheel straps on both sides. When unloading the vehicle from the tow dolly, leave the opposite end of the vehicle attached to the towing device, but lower it to the ground. Remove the wheel straps, disengage the dolly wheel locks and disengage the ratchet system. Use the dolly pry bar to carefully lower one dolly wheel at a time. Remember to keep your head and all body parts clear of the pry bar’s path. Disassemble the tow dolly and return the parts to the storage location on the tow truck. These are general instructions for dolly use and maintenance; always read and follow the recommendations of the dolly manufacturer as well.

Aluminum axle tubes are much lighter than the steel axle tubes, but they do not extend as far.

Field Editor Terry Abejuela has 30plus years of light-duty towing-andrecovery experience. He is also a light-duty Level 1 instructor for the California Tow Truck Association.

Number 121 on Reader Card Work the non-traffic Side–Stay Safe!

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The ROI of GPS by Matt Gunzenhaeuser

he tow industry has always been an early adopter of technology, so GPS is nothing new. But the capabilities of GPS systems have increased dramatically in recent years, and with these advances come exciting new opportunities for increased return on investment and revenue generation. If you’re not realizing significant ROI from your GPS system, it’s time to either upgrade or start using it more aggressively. We’re all familiar with GPS for mileage tracking and location. What about next-generation GPS that can integrate with back-end software to save time, report on driver behavior to save maintenance costs and improve safety, and proactively monitor traffic and road conditions to improve ETAs? With a next-gen GPS system, towers can save an average of $200-$600 per month per truck. By streamlining operations and improving driver behavior, this integrated approach to GPS can cut monthly fuel costs by 15 percent, insurance by 10 percent, maintenance by 10 percent, and allow trucks to take on at least one more job per day.

Real Savings Fuel represents one of the industry’s largest costs—and one of the largest opportunities for savings. An integrated, proactive approach to using your GPS system can impact this expense in a major way. 26 • August 2014 - TOWMAN.COM

For example, eliminating idling alone can save your business big money. If your GPS system is giving you good intelligence on what your vehicles are doing, you can easily monitor idling, and reward drivers who minimize the practice. Reducing miles driven seems like a no-brainer, but can actually be hard to do unless your GPS and dispatching systems talk to each other. With an integrated system, you can find the best available operator, make better dispatching decisions based on a variety of factors, and then use trafficbased routing to get your truck there quickly and efficiently. And you can track and detect worst-case scenarios like unauthorized usage and theft. Another benefit comes from better understanding of what drivers and their vehicles are doing. Encouraging better driving habits and removing the use of handheld devices from the cab results in safer driving, as well as reduced fuel and maintenance costs that result from harsh braking, speeding, etc. This all reduces your liability. The benefits of integration can change your whole dispatch process. Suddenly, dispatchers have real-time and accurate visibility, not only into the location of all the trucks, but the location of all of the jobs and the current status. No more calling around to see if an operator is available. Dispatchers now can see the status

of each operator in seconds, drastically reducing the time to dispatch new calls to the best-available operator. Towing companies are now able to complete more jobs each day using the same amount of resources (dispatchers, operators and trucks). This is an opportunity game, which can bring thousands more dollars into an operation each week.

The Next Level While many towers are seeing the benefits of tracking mileage and the location of their vehicles, the technology and business practices exist today to make their investment in GPS pay off even more. In addition to hard savings, an integrated, next-gen approach to GPS is proven to make more efficient use of your resources, allowing you to do more with less, run additional jobs and make sure that you’re not leaving any money on the table. Take a look at your existing solution and look for ways to make it more strategic and proactive. Chances are there are savings and new revenue opportunities that can make a huge impact on your business quickly.

Matt Gunzenhaeuser is director of sales at TomTom Telematics, http://business.tomtom.com.

Foster Joins WCI Shane W. Foster joined Westgate Commercial Insurance’s risk management team as a leading consultant for compliance, marketing and new business development in the repossession industry. He has more than 26 years of experience in direct recovery operations. Through the addition of these consulting services, WCI (www.wciinsurance.com) said it has become the nation’s largest insurer of repossession companies. Prior to joining WCI, Foster was the National Recovery Program Manager for Hub International. WCI acquired the assets of that program. Foster transitioned into risk consulting for the recovery industry after owning and operating Federal Recovery in Boise, Idaho, for 23 years. Number 172 on Reader Card

Number 123 on Reader Card Work the non-traffic Side–Stay Safe!

TOWMAN.COM - August 2014 • 27

TRIP Wreck by Jim “Buck” Sorrenti Photos by Chantell Matthews

t was just about noon on Monday, April 14, 2014, when an accident resulted in a semitrailer blocking lanes on I-75 in Calhoun, Ga. Because the tractor-trailer was blocking lanes, state Department of Transportation officials “TRIP-ped” the wreck. TRIP, or Towing and Recovery Incentive Program, requires an accident to be cleared enough to have traffic significantly improved within 90 minutes of the towing company arriv-

28 • August 2014 - TOWMAN.COM

New Slider Broken in for GDOT

ing and being given notice to proceed. They must be on scene within 30 minutes in peak times, and 45 minutes in non-peak hours. (Most towing companies pass this requirement because of assistance from GDOT in getting to the scene.) This call went to Matthews Garage in Cartersville, Ga., and it was their first TRIP call. Matthews Garage has serviced northern Georgia for almost 60 years and is in its third generation.

Ricky Matthews and his son Jeremy run the business that Ricky’s dad, Mack, started in 1955. Ricky said his youngest daughter Chantell, 17, is currently the towing industry’s highest qualified female for her age. “This was our first TRIP wreck so you can imagine adrenaline was flowing! We had a supervisor on scene within 30 minutes—which is TRIP required—and two heavy wreckers on scene within 45 minutes,” said Jeremy.

The tractor-trailer was in a hard jack-knife, blocking lanes.

Staging the “Final Solution.”

“This was a little challenging for us, because we are about 23 miles from where the wreck was and it had been raining all morning, so the road conditions were pretty nasty.” Matthews Garage operates out of three shops with 22 employees, and cover light- through heavy-duty towing and recovery, air cushions, specialty hauling and recovery, load shifts and rotating crane service. They are a full-line distributor for NRC Industries, and their own fleet includes many NRC products. They have a fullservice body and mechanical repair shop. All of their drivers are WreckMaster certified. Jeremy drove out in their NRC 50/65 Sliding Rotator called “Final Solution.” This first TRIP call also was the first wreck for this truck. Ricky responded in their 40-ton NRC slider and Chantell went to the scene with Johnnie Hannah in a pick-up with signboard for road closure. Chantell also served as on-scene photographer for this wreck. Ron Dickerson was in Matthews’ rescue/recovery truck, which they needed for oil dry, brooms, signs, cones, etc. Later, Zach Widner, Casey Thacker, and Luke Southern brought out their F-450 to carry the debris back to Matthews shop and Jimmy Tilley Jr. was in their road tractor and lowboy. Work the non-traffic Side–Stay Safe!

Rigging Upon arrival and assessing the situation, they began by hooking two lines to the front of the trailer, which was jack-knifed. Once the trailer was rigged, they were able to lift the front

of the trailer and the rear of the tractor, backing the trailer up to take tension off the fifth wheel. The tractor was set back on the ground and they unlatched the fifth wheel and rotated the trailer around,

Lifting the tractor.

TOWMAN.COM - August 2014 • 29

Number 185 on Reader Card

The debris is cleaned from the road, shoulder, and median. Then it is placed in a Waste Management “Bagster” and lifted with the rotator onto Matthews’ F-450.

Final Solution swings the tractor for placement on the Landoll.

32 • August 2014 - TOWMAN.COM

lining the trailer up with the 40-ton slider for hook-up and transport back to their facility. “We then hooked two lines to the truck—one to the frame on the rear and the other to the frame below the engine. We were then ready to lift and rotate the tractor around and sit it on our lowboy for transport back to our shop,” Jeremy said. “We chained the truck down and secured the cab and fairings with straps for transport back to our lot.” The debris was cleaned from the road, shoulder and median and placed in a Waste Management “Bagster.” It was then lifted with the rotator onto the F-450. There was a fuel/oil spill in the median, which was cleaned up by an environmental company called out by the county. “Once we got the truck off the Interstate into a parking lot, we deflated the tires and pulled the top of the cab down with straps to get it low enough to clear the power lines on the way to our lot,” Jeremy said. “From the time we arrived to the time we left it was a total of 48 minutes.… We met (TRIP’s) requirements and received our bonus from the state.”

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. He writes weekly for TowIndustryWeek.com.

Number 194 on Reader Card

Number 177 on Reader Card

AD INDEX

Page # RS# Access Tools 55 102 Agero 24 114 Akins Body & Carrier Sales 69 126 Allstate Roadside Services 53 183 Atlantic Emergency Solutions N 75 153 Atlanta Wrecker & Carrier Sales S 77 179 Austin Hinds Motors S 75 184 Austin Insurance W 78 105 AutoReturn 15 169 B/A Products 61 108 B & Z Sales S 76 170 Century 2, 3 143 Chase Insurance Agency S 76 180 Chevron Commercial 60 154 Chrysler Fleet 30, 31 185 Crouch’s Wrecker & Equip. Sales 34 177 Custer Products 66 128 Dan-Am/Sata Spray Equipment 7 164 Donnie Cruse Award MW 76 206 Dual-Tech 23 192 Dynamic Towing Equipment & Mfg. 14 165 Eartec 67 133 Elizabeth Truck Center 27 123 Equipment Sales & Service N 77 152 Ginn Carrier & Wrecker Sales 63 125 Hanks Insurance Group W 76 218 IGTC 16 212 Insurance Auto Auctions (IAA) 63 110 Intek Truck Eq. Finance & Lease 66 145 Jerr-Dan Corp. 84 124 Jiffy Jump 59 127 Kavanaugh’s Towing Equipment MW 77 134 Loganville Ford 20 207 Lynch Chicago 17 149 MFR Express 16 213 Matheny Motors 33 194

34 • August 2014 - TOWMAN.COM

Fax to: 888-847-6035 Page #

Metro Tow Trucks N 75 New England Truckmaster N 77 Next Generation Tool Company 60 North American BanCard 5 Nussbaum Equipment N 79, W 76 OMG National 67 Pacific General Insurance Agency MW 77 Ramsey Winch 21 Recovery Billing Unlimited 68 R.P.M. Equipment W 79 Rush Towing Systems 19 Santander Bank 83 Santiam Enterprise W 77 Savatech 54 Synergy Truck Equipment W 80 Smyrna Truck Center S 75 Snappy Box 60 Sonetics Corporation 27 Steck Mfg. 22 The Order of Towman MW 75 TomTom Business Solutions 59 TowBook 14 Towman Hero Award N,S 80, MW 79 TowLot.com 10, 11 TowMate 61 TRAO 65 Twin Cities Wrecker Sales MW 75 TwinState Equipment W 75 VTS W 88 Vulcan 51 Wasatch Truck Equipment W 78 Western States Tow Show 57 Worldwide Equipment 22 WreckMaster 68 Zacklift International 25

August 2014

RS#

137 171 196 109 168 215 193 148 155 205 198 103 141 118 117 113 161 172 132 206 180 115 206 159 191 187 138 157 197 143 162 168 151 122 121

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REGISTER HERE: By advance-registering, the “Boss” and one guest are admitted free to Exhibit Hall. $5 fee applies to all others. Kids under 14 free. 1st Registered Name: | 2nd Registered Name: |

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Track 1: TOWING AND RECOVERY Roadside Safety Don't Get Left on the Side of the Road Scooby’s Mystery Theater Tower Care and Responsibilities Recovery Theater Safe Towing Capacity Bus and Coach Towing Carrier Loading & Preventing Damage Claims Overcoming Resistance Safely Transporting Lift Equipment Track 2: REVENUE OPPORTUNITIES 21st Century Rotation Repossess for Success! Private Property Impound Towing Realize the Value of Your Impound Assets Don’t Leave Money on the Ground! Don’t Crush Your Cash Track 3: OPERATIONS Telematics: Mitigate Liability, Maximize Safety Gas vs. Diesel Tracking Retail—Call Conversion Improving Your Customer Service NMVTIS Update: Your Obligation…Your Benefit Chassis Investment: Cost or Value Deriving a Profitable Business Five Google Techniques Towers Need to Know Track 4: MANAGEMENT Towing Metrics Recovery Billing Alumni Special Rear Bumpers Aren’t Hood Ornaments! Managing Drivers & Dispatchers…Anytime, Anywhere Keeping ’Em: Building a Long-Term Crew GPS Vehicle Tracking Ring the Register via Your Online Presence

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, 2-5 pm, ! , 11 am-6 pm • " , 10 am-4 pm, 11/21-11/23. Your badge is good for all days Yes, advance register me for the exhibit hall. 1st & 2nd registrants are free: addt’l $5 each. $5 PP...................$ _________ ❏ ACADEMY PASSPORT All Seminars, 11/21-11/23 (Includes breakfast Fri., Sat., & Sun.) $75 PP..............$ _________ ❏ 1st registrant ❏ 2nd registrant ❏ 3rd registrant ❏ 4th registrant Register now & save: fee is $150 on-site. ❏ RECOVERY BILLING COURSE Sat. & Sun. 8-12 noon, Rec. Billing Unlimited $1850 (2 people per co.) ....$ _________ ❏ ROTATOR TRAINING WreckMaster instructors, Thurs. 8-5 pm Fri. 8-noon $595 PP: fee is $695 onsite ....$ _________

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Recovery Billing Course and Rotator Training includes Academy Passport.

❏ AMERICAN WRECKER PAGEANT Fri.-Sun., 11/21-11/23

$100/$150.....................................................$ _________ One vehicle per class/three per company. Trucks enter Fri., stay in hall until Sun., 5 pm $100: ❏ Light (pre-2013)

❏ Light (2013-14) ❏ Med ❏ Vintage (Pre-1985) ❏ Service/Support Truck $150: ❏ HD Single Axle ❏ HD Tandem ❏ Rotator ❏ Carrier ❏ CAPTAINS OF INDUSTRY DINNER & CONFERENCE Thurs. 11/20, 6:30 pm. Sponsored by American Towman Magazine, Renaissance Hotel; Surf ‘n Turf Dinner & Legendary Captains Long Table Limit: 2 per co. # of People ___ $75 PP ...$________

❏ A.T. WELCOME CRUISE Thurs., 11/20, 6:30 pm Board, Cruise 7 pm, Dinner & Show. # of People ___ $75 PP .....$_________ ❏ TOWMAN SKEET SHOOT Fri., 9 am, 11/21. Includes fees, lunch & transp. # of People ___ $75 PP ..........$_________ ❏ RECOVERY CONFERENCE Balt. Conv. Ctr., Fri., 11/21, 12:00 noon, Donnie Cruse Awards Luncheon. All recovery specialists welcome. Co-Sponsored by B/A Products & AW Direct # of People ___ $35 per person ....$________ " ' # Sponsored by Savatech. Fri., 11/21: 9 pm # of People ___ $20 PP..$________

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___Renaissance Harborplace Hotel • $179 Sgl/Dbl AMERICAN TOWMAN HEADQUARTERS HOTEL, 4-Star, rooms w/harborview, fitness center, restaurant/bar, connected to Mall. Two blocks from Conv. Ctr. CAPTAINS OF INDUSTRY, FESTIVAL NIGHT AND TOWMAN ORDER CEREMONY TAKE PLACE HERE! GUESTS RECEIVE FREE INTERNET. SHOW YOUR BADGE AND RECEIVE 10% OFF FOOD / MEAL PURCHASES AT H OTEL RESTAURANTS AND ROOM SERVICE. ___Marriott Inner Harbor • $177 Sgl/Dbl One block from Conv. Ctr., fitness center, restaurant. ! & ! ! $ $ & " $& " ___Days Inn Inner Harbor • $127 Sgl/Dbl Across from Conv. Ctr., bar & grill, fitness ctr.

___Sheraton Inner Harbor • $175 Sgl/Dbl, $195 T/Q One block from Conv. Ctr. with a catwalk, indoor pool, fitness center.

___Holiday Inn Inner Harbor • $136 Sgl/Dbl One block from Conv. Ctr., indoor pool, fitness center.

___Lord Baltimore Hotel • $129 Sgl/Dbl Two blocks from Conv. Ctr., bar & grill, fitness center.

___Hilton Baltimore • $192 Sgl/Dbl, $209 T, $229 Q Next to Conv. Ctr. with a Catwalk, pool, fitness center.

___Hyatt Regency • $170 Sgl/Dbl, $195 T One block from Harbor and two blocks to Conv. Ctr., fitness center.

___Royal Sonesta Harbor Court • $169 Sgl/Dbl, $189 T 4-Star Hotel on Harbor. Two blocks to Conv. Ctr., fitness center, restaurants. Views of Inner Harbor from Light Street location.

Number 143 on Reader Card

ALPR Repossession Risks

by Mark Lacek

Stories of mistaken identities and unwarranted police actions due to incorrect LPR data are growing more and more frequent.

first met Paul Kulas, president of BellesLink.com, at the Repossessors Summit in Dallas, Texas, in April. He was speaking on topics ranging from Skip Tracing to Success. The advances in automatic license plate recognition technology have led to many questions in the industry. Kulas has blogged some thoughts on ALPR, (Automatic Licence Plate Recognition) which he allowed AT to excerpt parts of here: “ALPR technology has been a valuable recovery method, but ALPR is not without downsides. “The costs of operating and optimizing ALPR systems makes profitability a challenge (improbable?) for recovery professionals who, for years, have faced stagnant or declining fees. Pressure to keep the number of monthly plate scans high has recovery companies making increasing investments in dedicated spotter vehicles and staff. The increase in overhead vs. 52 • August 2014 - TOWMAN.COM

reduced recovery fees means the return on investment is too low to be sustainable. “Privacy concerns about the access, storage and use of license plate data, by both law enforcement and private companies, is putting ALPR in the headlines and on the legislative agenda in many cities and states. “License plate readers are used in a variety of non-law enforcement roles. Private companies use license plate readers to monitor airports, control access to gated communities, enforce payment in parking garages, and even help customers ﬁnd their cars in shopping mall parking lots. While these uses in and of themselves are not objectionable, private companies can scan thousands of plates each day and store information indeﬁnitely, creating huge databases of Americans’ movements. “In talking with industry experts, BellesLink learned that much of the risk for clients is passed through from

service providers—recovery companies that spot and repossess vehicles. The two areas of most concern are in business operations and business stability. “None of the ALPR systems are perfect. Anecdotally, though, there are higher rates of mistaken recoveries, errors and duplicate assignments with recoveries based on license plate scans vs. typical bank assignments. This leads to new operational and customer service processes that recovery companies must have to avoid worsening already costly mistakes. “Many recovery companies are discovering that ALPR systems are not the boon for business that they thought, or were possibly promised, they would be. Certainly, most companies using an ALPR system see an increase in monthly recoveries—spotted cars that would not have been found otherwise—but those cars are being recovered at a lower fee and

Number 183 on Reader Card

higher cost. One company we spoke with told BellesLink that its labor rate for a typical repossession is 22 percent. But for an ALPR repossession, it is 38 percent. “The added labor for the guys in the spotter cars was eating up the smaller profit. “With the current cost model of ALPR, it is difficult for some (most?) affiliated recovery companies to make their plate scanning operations profitable. In this example, we discussed labor costs. Other costs, such as a vehicle leases, fuel and LPR camera kits, put further profit pressure on these companies. “If ALPR systems are going to threaten the financial stability of recovery service providers, and right now it appears they are, clients are going to have a rapidly shrinking pool of fully qualified partners across the country. This also points to an emerging trend of consolidation within the recovery industry because of smaller operators’ inability to remain competitive in an ever more capital-intensive business. “Privacy advocates are closely monitoring the use of ALPR in law enforcement and the private sector. The ACLU summarized its watchdog report on LPR by saying, ‘There are too few rules in place to protect privacy.’ “Though much the ACLU’s position, and the positions of other privacy

advocates, is based on ALPR use in law enforcement, it is also closely looking at LPR data use by private companies.

Many recovery companies are discovering that ALPR systems are not the boon for business that they thought. “While APLR is a benefit for law enforcement agencies which should remain fully accessible to them, the ubiquity of license-plate readers on public and private fleet vehicles, and in public and private places, is raising awareness and concern among consumers. Stories of mistaken identities and unwarranted police actions due to incorrect LPR data are growing more and more frequent. “In the court of public opinion, the automobile finance industry is likely to be heavily criticized for participating in this surveillance. The recovery industry is also likely to be criticized for being a willing partner in the collection of location data for millions of Americans.

Number 118 on Reader Card

54 • August 2014 - TOWMAN.COM

“ALPR technology will continue to improve, reducing error rates, and license plate databases will continue to integrate with other public records to become an ever more powerful tool for identifying and locating vehicles. “Will recovery companies continue to be the low-paid foot soldiers of license plate data collection? We don’t see anything indicating otherwise. But even if the cost model for ALPR doesn’t improve for recovery companies, they could be displaced by other automated technologies, such as self-driven cars or self-identifying cars networked in the ‘Internet of Things.’ In the near future, locating a vehicle could become a machine’s job, not a human’s. This would not be good for clients. And it’s certainly not a good sign for our society.” If you have a chance to talk with Paul Kulas, it likely could be one of those talks that lasts for hours. Kulas is one of those honest-to-goodness guys that you would be lucky to do business with. Kulas is the founder of Belles Camp Communications and BellesLink.com.

Repo Editor Mark Lacek has more than 30 years of recovery experience and is the former editor of “Professional Repossessor” magazine. Email him at Mark@commercialassetsolutions.com

Number 102 on Reader Card

Transporting

Equipment

Expand the Versatility of Flatbeds

by David Lambert

ransporting forklifts, skidsteers, pallet jacks and other equipment using light-duty carriers can be financially rewarding, but moving a piece of machinery that may weigh upwards of 9,000 lbs. takes an extra measure of knowledge, safety and special equipment. The only thing similar between light-duty vehicles and many of the pieces of machinery is that they have wheels and require a four-point tiedown in most cases. When it comes to transporting equipment, especially securing it, there’s no “one size fits all.” Just like cars and trucks, some pieces have attachment points and other don’t. Here we will deal primarily with suggested procedures and precautions for loading, unloading and securing. Some of the suggestions may conflict with the recommendations of the wrecker manufacturers regarding how their equipment should be used during the loading process. Be sure to understand your company’s policy on what’s allowed with flatbeds. Always check the weight of the equipment before loading to ensure the bed’s rating is not exceeded. Electrical equipment generally outweighs gaspowered equipment, but either can easily overload the ratings of some flatbeds. When transporting electrical equipment, have a tarp and bungee cords available; this equipment can’t be transported in rainy conditions without a cover. In addition to the equipment normally found on flatbeds, the following list can help towers transport equipment safely: • Four 10’ to 15’ chains with grab hooks on both ends.

56 • August 2014 - TOWMAN.COM

It may be necessary to use a combination of chains and straps when suitable attachment points are not available for all four chains.

Number 168 on Reader Card

• Four chain tensioners or binders. • Minimum of four cargo straps with ratchets. • One 10’ to 15’ round strap/continuous loop. • 10’ x 10’ tarp and bungee cords. • Assorted rags.

Loading Docks Working with the bed in its locked position would be ideal, but loading docks often sit higher than a carrier’s bed. Even when the dock and the bed are at the same height, flatbeds with wheel lifts rarely have the ability to get close enough to leave the bed in its locks while loading. Some towers use cribbing under the rear tires to lift the bed higher, but it’s more common to raise the height of the bed by moving the wheel lift down. Some chassis designs may allow the operator to use cribbing under the boom of the wheel lift, near the cylinders, rather than putting all the pressure on the crossbar. Remember, the wheel lift is a lever whether lifting a vehicle (as intended) or pushing down to raise the bed. Using the cribbing near the cylinders will reduce the pressure on the wheel lift boom. There are several types of ramps that may be available on docks. If you don’t know how to use them, ask someone rather than risk damage or personal injury. When in place, the ramp should be nearly parallel to the ground with very little gap between the dock and the bed. The end of the bed should not rest on any bumpers/dock protectors as they can be damaged. Some docks without ramps or bumpers may allow the tower to place the edge of the bed on the dock that eliminates the pressure on the wheel lift, but this creates a lip for the load to climb over. Forklifts and most other equipment on a loading dock should be loaded backward on the bed with the counterweight or heaviest end closest to the headboard. This is beneficial with forklifts for the location of the loading pin, weight distribution and to prevent the forks from slicing through the cab should an incident occur. Driving equipment onto the bed from the dock allows the operator to engage the parking brake and lower the forks or bucket once it’s close to the headboard. Winching equipment off the dock onto the bed is acceptable, but the operator must ensure the equipment doesn’t roll into the headboard since it is usually in neutral. After loading onto the bed, the forks, bucket or shovel for the equipment should be placed in the down position on the bed. Regardless of how the equipment will be secured, the arm of the bucket or shovel should be strapped in place. The same applies to equipment that is tall and has a high center of gravity such as step-lifts. A strap should be placed over the top of the equipment and can be counted as one of the four tie-downs.

Positioning the flatbed deck at a loading dock.

A snatch block can be used whenever loading a forklift or other heavy equipment from ground level to reduce the amount of tension on the wire rope. The amount of resistance on some equipment can exceed the working load limit of 3/8” or even 7/16” cables, especially during that initial pull when the wheels climb onto the bed without using some type of ramping device. Equipment should be winched onto a tilted bed; however if the operator chooses to drive the equipment onto the bed, always engage the brake and secure the leading end of the equipment (closest to the headboard) before walking behind the bed or the equipment. The same four-point, federal requirement for tying down an automobile applies to securing most equipment with wheels. The operator must secure the load so it will not move forward, backward or laterally. Depending on the type of equipment being transported and the number of available attachment points, use chains and chain binders whenever possible. It may be necessary to use a combination of chains and straps when suitable attachment points are not available for all four chains. Where to attach tie-downs is critical, not only to ensure a stable load but also to prevent damage to equipment. Chains placed in the wrong locations or paint not being protected can translate into expensive repair bills for the tower. Whether

Ground Level Like loading from a dock, the heaviest end of the equipment should be loaded closest to the headboard. For forklifts, this allows the operator to use the loading pin to winch the equipment up the bed. Winching a piece of equipment onto the bed is generally safer than driving it up the bed. Brakes can be worn out or fail and heavy equipment can slide. 58 • August 2014 - TOWMAN.COM

Using the loading pin on a forklift.

equipment is new or old, using shop rags or other protection on the paint/finish is a good idea. Do not attach chains near hydraulic hoses and pistons. It is a dangerous practice. Hoses can be destroyed and cylinders bent regardless of the amount of pressure applied when using chains and/or binders. When chain tensioners are used on the lifting tower, the chains should not be over-tightened. Remove the slack and stop. Over-tightening can damage both the lifting tower and the tilt cylinders. If there is sufficient room, the recovery pin on the counterweight may hold two tie-down chains, one to each side of the bed. Driving or allowing the load to move towards the back of the bed once the first tie-downs have been attached will tighten these first two chains, eliminating the need for two of the chain binders or tensioners. When there is only enough room at the pin for a single chain to go through, run the chain from one key slot on the corner of the bed, through the pin, then to the other corner key slot. Remove the slack and place a cargo strap over the forklift at the motor, then attach the rear tie-downs. This allows the operator to be in compliance with the four-point tie-down requirement.

Pallet Jacks Pallet jacks often lack attachment points on the motor end of the unit for either loading or tying down. A round strap/continuous loop becomes a useful tool for loading without scratching the paint. Straps are generally used for tie-down

Number 180 on Reader Card Work the non-traffic Side–Stay Safe!

TOWMAN.COM - August 2014 • 59

A round strap/continuous loop becomes a useful tool for loading without scratching the paint.

Chains secure the lifting arms of a pallet jack.

Number 161 on Reader Card

Number 196 on Reader Card

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on the motor end and chains to secure each lifting arm. The brakes on pallet jacks are not as secure as the brakes on other pieces of equipment. If the tie-downs are released and the bed is then tilted, the pallet jack can easily unload itself if it is not secured prior to tilting. When transporting and unloading two pallet jacks, unload the first using the winch then re-attach the winch line

to the second before removing the securement devices on it.

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

Number 154 on Reader Card

Number 108 on Reader Card

Work the non-traffic Side–Stay Safe!

Number 191 on Reader Card

TOWMAN.COM - August 2014 • 61

Cut Your Insurance Costs by Bill Caudill

hen it comes to your bottom line, it makes sense to look at every aspect of your business for possible savings. Outside of employees and fleet costs, insurance is a good place to watch your spending. The first thing to consider is to search for discounts. Make sure you take advantage of any discounts your insurer offers. There are a large number of savings available you may not realize exist. For example, three years of business experience, paying your policy in full, and having continuous coverage under a Towing General Liability policy are all discount qualifications. Ask your insurer or independent agent plenty of questions to determine if you’re getting the most bang for your buck. You can also request a policy review. If you have the same auto insurance policy as you did three years ago, it would be beneficial to reach out to your agent or insurer to take a look at it. Their job is to help you review your premiums and coverage and make sure everything is up to date. Factors that shape the price of your policy, such as truck value, can come into play as the more time and use you get out of your rig, the less value it holds. That could lead to a generous price cut to your payments. You can save money by changing coverage for trucks in temporary stor62 • August 2014 - TOWMAN.COM

age. If any insured truck under your commercial insurance goes into storage, consider a comprehensive-only policy.

Comprehensive coverage will protect your truck from things like theft, vandalism, and fire while it’s in storage. It also allows you to keep continuous coverage (which there is often a discount for), which can keep your overall insurance bill lower when you renew your policy. Payment plans can help, but will depend on your company. Not all insurers are willing to be flexible with payment plan options. Search for

those companies that offer flexible pay plans including low initial payments and no finance charges. Rather than having to pay a policy premium in one annual payment or quarterly installments, some agencies are willing to spread your premium over monthly payments, helping your insurance bill fall in line with your budget plan. Be sure to find an insurer with heavy-truck expertise. Some insurers use third-party claims representatives who aren’t always specialized or trained in heavy-truck repair. If you find an insurer that knows and understands your business and fleet, it helps you get back on the road quicker. Time is money. Finally, talk to a local independent agent. Independent agents represent multiple companies and can offer multiple coverage packages, prices and service levels. They can build a customized package for your business and target any discounts and special offerings that fit your needs. While saving money is important, you should make sure you have an insurer you can trust that can deliver if you ever file a claim. Peace of mind will come from knowing you’re covered in the event of the unexpected. Editor”s Note Bill Caudill is a commercial auto product manager at Progressive Insurance, www.progressivecommercial.com.

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TOWMAN.COM - August 2014 • 63

J-hooks: Not for Recoveries by Randall C. Resch

rom my parked position inside a crash scene, I watched a veteran tower attack a half-rolled over Ford Excursion lying on its side blocking two freeway lanes. As he bounced out from the tow truck’s cab, he grabbed a J-hook and chain and headed to the casualty vehicle. With much enthusiasm, he tossed the J-hook into the big SUV’s open window frame, made a loop at the chain’s clevis end and attached it to the tow truck’s winch cable. The tower demonstrated reckless abandon minus much-needed finesse as he tightened the winch cable. The Jhook slid across the Excursion’s window frame and shortly thereafter snapped into pieces when the cable tightened and bent the hook’s shank. The casualty slammed back to the pavement and all mechanical advantage was lost. The loose end of the cable’s hook and broken shank launched back at the operator narrowly missing him. One of the most misunderstood techniques in the tower’s toolbox is proper use and appropriate application of a J-hook and its chain. Have you ever had a J-hook come apart during the process of recovery? Perhaps the better question is, why do towers use J-hooks for recovery in the first place? In today’s world of transport, J-hooks are commonly used as a hold-down device on flatbed carriers. Towers and business owners have individual preferences in choosing or upgrading to either straps or chain; either is effective. Although J-hooks themselves shouldn’t be used in recovery and rigging applications, the chain behind the “J” is usually rated chain, but is the chain’s rating sufficient for a hard pull in some applications? When recovery scenarios require changing cable direction, the right tool is a snatch block; J-hooks are not snatch blocks. This is another common occurrence among experienced carrier operators who will grab a J-hook and chain, toss it over the winch cable and proceed to winch in. The danger lies in tightening cable through the J-hook’s opened throat and across its flattened shank. Use of J-hooks for this procedure is choosing the wrong item of equipment for the job.

Liability Using underrated J-hooks and chain for recovery is the wrong tool and capable of causing great bodily injury or death. Operators—even if they attempt this process in the best interests of hurrying on accident scenes—are introducing huge liability in shredding the winch cable or losing the intended load. 64 • August 2014 - TOWMAN.COM

San Diego Towman Johnny Cortes demonstrates what not to do.

Towers oftentimes use the excuse that it’s faster to use (abuse) a J-hook than use a snatch block. Some towers flippantly say, “I’ve done it 1,000 times before and nothing happened.” What about that one time something does? If your wrongful actions cause injury or death, are you willing to be incarcerated because you were in a hurry or “because everyone else does it?” Some instructors suggest it’s OK to use J-hooks for heavy recoveries in straight-line pulls, yet an extreme pull could cause the loop-ring to separate from the hook, the hook’s throat to straighten, or break somewhere along it’s shank. A bent sports car hook (left), and a J-hook bent out of shape from a sideways pull (right).

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Any tower worth their salt knows and understands the incredible liability associated with towing and recovery procedures not considered standard to the industry. So, when working typical or usual recoveries,

safety demands that a standard of care is present in using the proper tools or equipment for the situation. If you need any further proof that J-hooks aren’t for every situation, check out a product catalog. You’ll

likely notice that the common J-hooks, with Grade 70 chain, are labeled “Not for Recovery.”

Carriers Now, aside from ratchets and straps, J-hooks are an important item of equipment used as tie-down/holddown equipment for securing vehicles to a carrier’s deck during transport. Jhooks were available long before carriers came into play. We remember them as being the quintessential attachment device for

This snapped J-hook was attached to the casualty vehicle’s window frame.

tow trucks commonly equipped with tow slings. Before tow slings, there were various attachment processes for recoveries requiring looping recovery Number 145 on Reader Card

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chain around a vehicle’s suspension … we really old towers remember when just the cable-end hook attached directly to the vehicle’s suspension, no loops, just to the frame. Even when used on tow trucks equipped with slings, Jhooks had to be attached correctly or they’d drop from places where they should have stayed attached. Slings have their place in the towing and recovery industry and they still prove their use valuable under the right circumstances and applications. J-hook V-bridles are commonly used during flatbed carrier operations. They also are not intended for recovery as their combination chain and J-hook is appropriately rated only for most winch-on applications and vehicle transport. Towers who use chain V-bridles to load heavier vehicles and pickup trucks can be more confident in choosing the stronger attachment device than nylon (bridle) straps. Old style J-hooks and sports-car hooks are made of cold rolled steel. Replace these with a set of new, higher-rated JNumber 133 on Reader Card

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TOWMAN.COM - August 2014 • 67

A selection of J-hooks and what happens as a result of improper use.

hooks and chain. Some states are particular about old school equipment where, if the item doesn’t have a safe working load limit rating stamped on its surface, it’s not acceptable. Old style J-hooks are usually coupled to Grade 40 chains with an approximate WLL of 3,000 lbs. Today’s newly designed J-hooks have thicker shafts and somewhat squared edges, and approximate WLL between 4,700 lbs. and 5,400 lbs. (Despite the greater weight, there is plenty of photo evidence that modern J-hooks still aren’t capable of extreme recovery.) I know there is a newer, longer Jhook sold specifically for light vehicle recoveries, but not for trucks. I don’t recommend their use and the planting of a seed that any J-hooks will work for that. Tower misuse has clearly established that J-hooks break, snap and stretch when used in recovery

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scenarios. My preference and recommendation is to use recovery chain in the manner it’s both rated and intended. When choosing the right tool for recovery work, the first considerations shouldn’t be speed and convenience over safety. Total and full control over the equipment with operational strength and integrity is paramount.

Operations Editor Randall C. Resch is a retired California police officer and has been in the towing and recovery industry for more than 40 years as an owner, manager, consultant and trainer. He writes weekly for TowIndustryWeek.com, and is a 2014 inductee into the International Towing & Recovery Hall of Fame. Email Randy at rreschran@aol.com.

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Amazing Movie Wrecker by Jim “Buck” Sorrenti

ost superhero tales are filled with double identities; Spider-Man is no different. In the “The Amazing Spider-Man 2,” released in May, the double identities abound with hero Spider-Man/Peter Parker, and villains like Harry Osborn/Green Goblin, Max Dillon/Electro and Aleksei Sytsevich/Rhino. Rhino’s Peterbilt 378/Century 50/30 heavy-duty wrecker has a twin, too. Columbia Pictures spared no expense in making this action-thriller sequel. The “beauty” and stunt-double wreckers are indistinguishable. Rhino uses the massive wrecker to steal an armored car and crash through police cars in a wild chase scene. The rig featured here is the stunt version used in those scenes. Columbia’s purchasing agent, Bob Griffin, was given the task of finding identical rigs. He contacted Roddy Pellow, president of Twin Cities Wrecker Sales in St Paul, Minn., and the search was on.

Nose view of the 1996 Peterbilt 378 Rhino wrecker.

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Miller Industries’ Randy Olson poses with the Rhino wrecker, with Twin Cities’ Troy Gilles’ son Blake dressed up in the Spider-Man outfit.

The business end is a Century 50/30 wrecker.

Interior view of the stunt rig sleeper showing the steering wheel and controls.

Twin Cities started in 1978 and is a full-line Miller Industries distributor, and also carry Jerr-Dan, Holmes and Nomar parts. They build and sell new wreckers and carriers as well as used vehicles and specialize in building and repairing wreckers and rollback tow trucks. “We purchased the twin version from Miller Towing out of Minneapolis. We did the build on it,” Pellow said. “My brother Randy at Purpose Wrecker got this stunt version in trade. Suburban Towing from Kentucky originally owned it. It was a factory-built unit from Miller Industries originally. The film bought both of them.” Randy Pellow is the district sales manager at Purpose Wrecker outside St. Louis, Mo. Purpose was founded in 1981 and is a Miller Industries distributor. They also sell new and used wreckers and car carriers. An N14 Cummins engine powers both rigs. The N14 was one of Cummins most popular engines. This stunt version is equipped with an Allison New World automatic transmission and the twin rig has a Fuller 13-speed. “From the outward appearance, both rigs are identical in every way … right down to the paint and graphics. Work the non-traffic Side–Stay Safe!

Even the dirt is painted on the same way. If one has a busted light so does the other,” Roddy said. “But there is one difference: One of these units is the stunt truck used in the chase scenes and the other is used in the regular shots. “Both are bullet-proofed with steel plate welded under them, skid plates and rigging for camera equipment, but the stunt truck has a steering wheel and pedal controls set up in the sleeper for the stunt double to operate.” Roddy made a deal with the film company and bought them back after filming was done. Twin Cities’ Sales Manager Troy Gilles has been working in truck sales since 1993. His son Blake dressed up in a Spider-Man outfit and posed with the Rhino wrecker at the Wisconsin Tow Show in June 2014. Miller Industries’ Randy Olson was at the show and couldn’t resist posing with the rig. “It’s a cool truck and was a big crowd-pleaser,” Olson said. Having a wrecker in a major motion picture is great public relations for our industry. This cool truck may pique the interest of some young people to become wrecker operators. One never knows. TOWMAN.COM - August 2014 • 73

When You Bring Back Someone

ow bosses always face the challenge of fielding the most professional team possible. Tow operators come and go. Good management knows how to keep the best around. Yet sometimes a good man leaves for greener pastures. In some instances that same individual comes back years later. The absence perhaps created the time to appreciate what was lost when he or she left and then what has been gained by the return. Such is the case with AT’s own Charles Duke. Charles served American Towman and the towing industry for ten years beginning in 1988, first working in advertising and exhibit sales, then as editor and publisher. Unfortunately for AT he and his wife Blanche caught an entrepreneurial bug and he left us to start their own business. Sixteen years have gone by and a lot of water under the bridge when we connected again recently. Those 16 years have seen a lot of evolution for American Towman. The magazine has increased its leadership position in the industry and spawned towing’s premier Internet news site in Tow Industry Week, including the industry’s exclusive video programming in American Towman TV. The American Towman Exposition now produces events in Las Vegas and San Antonio to give tow business owners the opportunity to experience a quality trade show if they can’t make it to “The Main Event” in Baltimore. Charles was with me for the first AT Expo in 1989 when we awarded the American Towman Medals to towers

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by Steve Calitri

who performed heroic acts. After he departed AT created the world’s first statue honoring the professional towman, the Towman Monument. Since then, the mural, “Lifelines”, the towing theme chopper, “Hero”, and the Towman Ballad, “The Road Calls” have since become part of AT Expo’s unique culture. So Charles Duke has come back to a more dynamic American Towman. Fortunately for us, Charles himself returns bigger and better than before, the beneficiary of more experience, more skills, and a personality that has aged like a fine wine. When I discussed with Charles the possibility of his rejoining us, I told him he wouldn’t be going backward by coming back to AT but forward in his lifejourney and with us, facing new challenges. While Charles weighs in on AT editorial as its Sr. Editor, he is now Editor of Tow Industry Week (towindustryweek.com) and Conference Manager for the American Towman shows. As a tow boss, it’s great to get back someone who can command the most difficult recovery scene. For American Towman, Duke’s return comes at an exciting time. Said AT Publisher Dennie Ortiz, “We know Charles will enhance the magazine’s editorial. We’re excited that he is now putting his leadership skills to bear on Tow Industry Week.” So if you have a good man or woman you have the opportunity to bring back, think on where that person’s experience and talents can fit in and contribute to today’s company. The years that person has been gone can be an asset for you now.

When American Towman spawned TowIndustryWeek.com we knew it had the potential to be as big as the magazine. In three years time it has come to rival AT in the diversity of its content and the faithfulness of its readers. New elements that have been added this year include: the Auction Block, Municipal Rates Index, Repo Times and Expo Spotlight (close up on a product being exhibited at an upcoming show).

Also new was bringing American Towman TV over to Tow Industry Week. In July Emily covered the humor of the web comedy series, Bill & Sons. Check it out and see if there is anything familiar or funny about this family-owned towing company. AT presents a feature on the show in its September issue. If you can’t wait, check it out on YouTube.

Bill & Sons cast

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Heavy-Duty

Princess A Auto-Truck Includes the Whole Family

Becky Aurenz, 27, works a 50-ton Century wrecker in her family’s business, A Auto-Truck Service.

by Kristen Scheuing

ecky Aurenz is known in suburban-Chicago towing circles as “the little blonde chick,” a nickname she finds somewhat perplexing. “I am 5’8”—I’m not sure where the ‘little’ part comes in,” she said, although she does concede it might have something to do with perspective. “When I hop out of my truck, I may look little standing next to a 50-ton wrecker.”

NORTH 76 • August 2014 - TOWMAN.COM

“I may look little standing next to a 50-ton wrecker.”

Becky’s wrecker is heavy duty—a 2000 Peterbilt with a Century 9055 body—with a very dainty name: “Princess Rebecca.” But Becky is more rugged than regal on the job. She says that most of her customers are surprised to see a woman show up on the scene, and then shocked to see her doing the rigging on her own. Having been involved with the towing industry for nearly 20 years,

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Becky is used to people’s reactions and the demands of the job. “It’s what I grew up doing,” she said. A third-generation tower, Becky said she has towing in her blood. Her parents, Jerry Sr. and Diane, have worked in towing for 40 years and their children—all seven of them—are involved in the family business at A Auto-Truck Service. In all, the Aurenzes own and operate four locations in Chicago’s western suburbs, servicing the state of Illinois and a dozen surrounding states with a fleet of 50 vehicles, many from Lynch Chicago. A Auto shares an additional location with its affiliate, Chariot Automotive. Out on the road, the two businesses work in tandem. When they get calls for wrecks or rollovers, A Auto and Chariot respond with various wreckers, rotators, lowboy transport, recovery vehicles and a Landoll trailer. The five oldest Aurenz children (Jerry Jr., 30; Andrew, 29; Becky, 27; Charlie, 24; Benjamin, 23) drive and operate trucks while the two younger siblings (Amber, 17; David, 16) help around the shop and co-pilot on runs when they’re not in school. All the Aurenzes got an early start in the business, going out on calls when they hit 10, the same age Jerry Sr. started going out with his dad, who owned a family tow company. Even before they could legally drive, Jerry Jr. and Andrew showed up for their first WreckMaster training class. “They looked at the boys and said, What are we going to do with them? They don’t even have their driver’s licenses,” Jerry Sr. remembers the instructor saying. The boys were allowed to take the class and then got their licenses when they turned 16. “When each of the kids turn 17, we get them a new vehicle that is theirs, but also has to be used for shop business,” said Jerry Sr. The boys all got a pickup; Becky wanted a Mustang. She now has two— a 2004 Ford Mustang Cobra convertible and a 2003 Ford Mustang Mach 1 that she and her brother Charlie just finished restoring and modifying.

“I’m fascinated by how stuff works,” said Becky. “When I’m not in the garage tinkering with my cars, I’m usually out at cruise nights or the drag strip.” After high school, Becky wanted to make sure the towing industry was the right fit for her. She added some general education courses to her automotive classes at a community college, but she soon realized she wasn’t going to leave towing behind. “I excelled more in my automotive classes, so I took it as a sign,” she said. “I’d like to stay involved in my parents’ company as long as I can. As A Auto-Truck continues to grow and expand, maybe one day I’ll have my own location to run.” Becky got her Class A Commercial Drivers License at 20 and has been driving a heavy-duty tow truck for eight years. In addition to her namesake wrecker, Becky drives the other vehicles in the fleet. With her CDL, Becky has doubles, triples, and tanker endorsements, and is WreckMaster 4/5 certified. “She has the experience and training to make her confident in what she does,” said Jerry Sr. In addition to her licenses and certifications, Becky brings sensitivity to her job.

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“I like to help people get their minds off of the bad day they are having,” she said. Jerry Sr. said that is a trait she picked up from her mom, who he said has a “unique way of calming people down.” Jerry Sr. said having seven kids in a tight-knit family has made the business stronger. “We care about each other and what we’re doing. Everyone watches out for each other,” he said. The customers always know who they are dealing with. The kids, particularly Becky with her blond hair and good looks, draw a lot of attention. Most of the time, it’s for their hard work. Jerry Sr. said that after a recent call for a tractor-trailer rollover, the owner of the tractortrailer called Jerry to ask “Who were those two girls?” “Those are my daughters, Becky and Amber,” Jerry told him. “Would they like to come work for me?” “I doubt it,” Jerry laughed. “But you can ask them.”

Becky Aurenz “grew up” in the towing industry and feels comfortable at the wheel of her heavy wrecker as well as at recovery scenes.

Zacklift Adds Distributor WestOz Phoenix, which is headed up by Rodney Davis, has added Zacklift (www.zacklift.com) to its line of equipment. WestOz (www.truckpartsphoenix.com) will sell, install and service the Zacklift FIFTHWHEELER and the Zacklift permanent mounts. Zacklifts are in stock in the WestOz showroom.

Santander Adds Industry Vets Santander Bank recently added industry veterans Charlie Shepherd, Scott Manning and Sondra Pelham to its Commercial Equipment and Vehicle Finance Division. As CEVF relationship managers at Santander (www.santanderbank.com), Shepherd and Manning will work closely with contractors, affinity partners and distributors to increase program awareness and utilization throughout the United States. Shepherd was a senior manager at AAA Northern California, Nevada and Utah and a territory manager for AAA National in Heathrow, Fla. He has more than 25 years of experience in the towing and recovery industry. With 15 years of related experience, Manning has served in a variety of roles in the retail and dealer ends of the industry, most recently as general manager for Marine Max in Chattanooga, Tenn. As a Santander CEVF business development officer, Pelham will work closely with contractors and distributors in select southeast markets to provide customized financing solutions. Pelham has more than 14 years of experience in the towing and recovery business. She joins Santander from Lee-Smith Inc. in Chattanooga where she was the fleet sales product manager.

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Offical Winch sponsor:

Send your thoughts/suggestions on the Adventures to scalitri@towman.com or American Towman, 7 West St, Warwick NY 10990

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TOWMAN.COM - August 2014 • SOUTH 75

Stertil-Koni Adds Director Stertil-Koni (www.stertil-koni.com) recently added Kevin Hymers as its Director of Operations. In his new post, Hymers brings more than 20 years of experience in warehouse management and order processing. Hymers also served in the U.S. Marine Corps, where he managed a multiple-warehouse facility and established new accounting procedures for a range of organizations. Hymers received his B.S. in Physical Sciences from the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md.

Fuso Promotes Fleet Director

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Mitsubishi Fuso Truck of America (www.mitfuso.com) promoted Larry Smith to Director of Fleet Operations to lead the company’s fleet sales efforts. For the past five years, Smith has held the position of district sales manager for the company, managing dealer operations and sales activities for the upper Midwest. Smith has more than 20 years of industry experience, including managing and directing a heavy- and medium-duty truck dealership as well as a Detroit Diesel-Allison distributor.

Man Assaults Tower Over Fee

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A Virginia man who got into a disagreement over payment for towing services will serve 90 days in jail for assaulting the tower. The man was arrested on aggravated assault charges in February after “a verbal dispute over a towing payment led to an altercation with a tow truck driver,” prosecutors said. The suspect allegedly struck the tower in the head with a socket wrench and caused significant injuries that required stitches. In addition to the 90 days, a judge sentenced the man to a term of probation and ordered him to reimburse the victim for medical expenses of $760. He was also ordered to attend an anger management program, to have no con-

tact with the victim, and to refrain from any social media references. Any violation of probation would result in up to five years in prison. Source: www.nj.com.

Gun Drawn, No Shots Fired A repossession agent called 911 about 2 a.m. recently to report that a man pointed a gun at him during a vehicle recovery in Frenchtown Township, Mich. The agent already had hooked up the 2007 Pontiac G6 to his tow truck when the owner of the vehicle, a woman, came out of the house and asked if she could retrieve her personal belongings first. The agent agreed, but then a man came out of the house and pointed a gun at the driver, also demanding that the personal items be collected. No shots were fired, the items were taken out of the car, and the vehicle was towed. When deputies contacted the man later and asked for his side of the story, he explained that it was dark and he was

concerned the repossession agent might have a gun of his own. The incident remains under investigation. Source: www.monroenews.com.

closely with contractors, affinity partners and distributors to increase program awareness and utilization throughout the United States. Shepherd was a senior manager at AAA Northern California, Nevada and Utah and a territory manager for AAA National in Heathrow, Fla. He has more than 25 years of experience in the towing and recovery industry. With 15 years of related experience, Manning has served in a variety of roles in the retail and dealer ends of the industry, most recently as general manager for Marine Max in Chattanooga, Tenn. As a Santander CEVF business development officer, Pelham will work closely with contractors and distributors in select southeast markets to provide customized financing solutions. Pelham has more than 14 years of experience in the towing and recovery business. She joins Santander from Lee-Smith Inc. in Chattanooga where she was the fleet sales product manager.

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Heavy-Duty

Princess A Auto-Truck Includes the Whole Family

Becky Aurenz, 27, works a 50-ton Century wrecker in her family’s business, A Auto-Truck Service.

by Kristen Scheuing

SOUTH 78 • August 2014 - TOWMAN.COM

“I may look little standing next to a 50-ton wrecker.”

hop out of my truck, I may look little standing next to a 50-ton wrecker.” Becky’s wrecker is heavy duty—a 2000 Peterbilt with a Century 9055 body—with a very dainty name: “Princess Rebecca.” But Becky is more rugged than regal on the job. She says that most of her customers are surprised to see a woman show up on the

scene, and then shocked to see her doing the rigging on her own. Having been involved with the towing industry for nearly 20 years, Becky is used to people’s reactions and the demands of the job. “It’s what I grew up doing,” she said. A third-generation tower, Becky said she has towing in her blood. Her parents, Jerry Sr. and Diane, have worked in towing for 40 years and their children—all seven of them—are involved in the family business at A Auto-Truck Service. In all, the Aurenzes own and operate four locations in Chicago’s western suburbs, servicing the state of Illinois and a dozen surrounding states with a fleet of 50 vehicles, many from Lynch Chicago. A Auto shares an additional location with its affiliate, Chariot Automotive. Out on the road, the two businesses work in tandem. When they get calls for wrecks or rollovers, A Auto and Chariot respond with various wreckers, rotators, lowboy transport, recovery vehicles and a Landoll trailer. The five oldest Aurenz children (Jerry Jr., 30; Andrew, 29; Becky, 27; Charlie, 24; Benjamin, 23) drive and operate trucks while the two younger siblings (Amber, 17; David, 16) help around the shop and co-pilot on runs when they’re not in school. All the Aurenzes got an early start in the business, going out on calls when they hit 10, the same age Jerry Sr. started going out with his dad, who owned a family tow company. Even before they could legally drive, Jerry Jr. and Andrew showed up for their first WreckMaster training class. “They looked at the boys and said, What are we going to do with them? They don’t even have their driver’s licenses,” Jerry Sr. remembers the instructor saying. The boys were allowed to take the class and then got their licenses when they turned 16. “When each of the kids turn 17, we get them a new vehicle that is theirs, but also has to be used for shop business,” said Jerry Sr. The boys all got a pickup; Becky wanted a Mustang. She now has two— Work the non-traffic Side–Stay Safe!

a 2004 Ford Mustang Cobra convertible and a 2003 Ford Mustang Mach 1 that she and her brother Charlie just finished restoring and modifying. “I’m fascinated by how stuff works,” said Becky. “When I’m not in the garage tinkering with my cars, I’m usually out at cruise nights or the drag strip.” After high school, Becky wanted to make sure the towing industry was the right fit for her. She added some general education courses to her automotive classes at a community college, but she soon realized she wasn’t going to leave towing behind. “I excelled more in my automotive classes, so I took it as a sign,” she said. “I’d like to stay involved in my parents’ company as long as I can. As A Auto-Truck continues to grow and expand, maybe one day I’ll have my own location to run.” Becky got her Class A Commercial Drivers License at 20 and has been driving a heavy-duty tow truck for eight years. In addition to her namesake wrecker, Becky drives the other vehicles in the fleet. With her CDL, Becky has doubles, triples, and tanker endorsements, and is WreckMaster 4/5 certified. “She has the experience and training to make her confident in what she does,” said Jerry Sr. In addition to her licenses and cer-

tifications, Becky brings sensitivity to her job. “I like to help people get their minds off of the bad day they are having,” she said. Jerry Sr. said that is a trait she picked up from her mom, who he said has a “unique way of calming people down.” Jerry Sr. said having seven kids in a tight-knit family has made the business stronger. “We care about each other and what we’re doing. Everyone watches out for each other,” he said. The customers always know who they are dealing with. The kids, particularly Becky with her blond hair and good looks, draw a lot of attention. Most of the time, it’s for their hard work. Jerry Sr. said that after a recent call for a tractor-trailer rollover, the owner of the tractortrailer called Jerry to ask “Who were those two girls?” “Those are my daughters, Becky and Amber,” Jerry told him. “Would they like to come work for me?” “I doubt it,” Jerry laughed. “But you can ask them.”

Becky Aurenz “grew up” in the towing industry and feels comfortable at the wheel of her heavy wrecker as well as at recovery scenes.

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As a Santander CEVF business development officer, Pelham will work closely with contractors and distributors in select southeast markets to provide customized financing solutions. Pelham has more than 14 years of experience in the towing and recovery business. She joins Santander from Lee-Smith Inc. in Chattanooga where she was the fleet sales product manager.

No shots were fired, the items were taken out of the car, and the vehicle was towed. When deputies contacted the man later and asked for his side of the story, he explained that it was dark and he was concerned the repossession agent might have a gun of his own. The incident remains under investigation. Source: www.monroenews.com.

Gun Drawn, No Shots Fired

Increasing Wrecks in Texas

More traffic in Odessa, Texas, with the oil boom means more wrecks and tow truck drivers say going to those crashes puts their lives at risk everyday. They’re asking other drivers to slow down and pay attention. For the last three years, Josh Minor has been driving tow trucks for Crash Masters towing. “Everybody down here for the most part is pretty friendly,” Josh said. The problem, he said, is “people not paying attention, texting on their cellphones.

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Everything but paying attention to the roads.” Minor keeps something in mind each time he goes out on a call. “First rule of driving a tow truck is do what you gotta do to get home to see your family,” he said. “Tow truck drivers have a higher death rate percentage than cops and fire department combined at a roadside accident,” Minor said. That’s why Minor and other truckers are asking drivers to stay focused when behind the wheel. Tow trucks are included as an authorized emergency vehicle in the state’s “Move Over” law. “I love my job. It’s something different everyday,” Minor said. “Well that’s what got me into this. I like helping people.” Minor is hoping people will help keep him safe. Source: www.newswest9.com.

Man Assaults Tower Over Fee A Virginia man who got into a disagreement over payment for towing services will serve 90 days in jail for assaulting the tower. The man was arrested on aggravated assault charges in February after “a verbal dispute over a towing payment led to an altercation with a tow truck driver,” prosecutors said. The suspect allegedly struck the tower in the head with a socket wrench and caused significant injuries that required stitches. In addition to the 90 days, a judge sentenced the man to a term of probation and ordered him to reimburse the victim for medical expenses of $760. He was also ordered to attend an anger management program, to have no contact with the victim, and to refrain from any social media references. Any violation of probation would result in up to five years in prison. Source: www.nj.com.

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Heavy-Duty

Princess A Auto-Truck Includes the Whole Family

Becky Aurenz, 27, works a 50-ton Century wrecker in her family’s business, A Auto-Truck Service.

by Kristen Scheuing

“I may look little

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standing next to a 50-ton wrecker.”

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In addition to her licenses and certifications, Becky brings sensitivity to her job. “I like to help people get their minds off of the bad day they are having,” she said. Jerry Sr. said that is a trait she picked up from her mom, who he said has a “unique way of calming people down.” Jerry Sr. said having seven kids in a tight-knit family has made the business stronger. “We care about each other and what we’re doing. Everyone watches out for each other,” he said. The customers always know who they are dealing with. The kids, particularly Becky with her blond hair and good looks, draw a lot of attention. Most of the time, it’s for their hard work. Jerry Sr. said that after a recent call for a tractor-trailer rollover, the owner of the tractortrailer called Jerry to ask “Who were those two girls?” “Those are my daughters, Becky and Amber,” Jerry told him. “Would they like to come work for me?” “I doubt it,” Jerry laughed. “But you can ask them.” Becky Aurenz “grew up” in the towing industry and feels comfortable at the wheel of her heavy wrecker as well as at recovery scenes.

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Santander Adds Industry Vets

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Santander Bank recently added industry veterans Charlie Shepherd, Scott Manning and Sondra Pelham to its Commercial Equipment and Vehicle Finance Division. As CEVF relationship managers at Santander (www.santanderbank.com), Shepherd and Manning will work closely with contractors, affinity partners and distributors to increase program awareness and utilization throughout the United States. Shepherd was a senior manager at AAA Northern California, Nevada and Utah and a territory manager for AAA National in Heathrow, Fla. He has more than 25 years of experience in the towing and recovery industry. With 15 years of related experience, Manning has served in a variety of roles in the retail and dealer ends of the industry, most recently as general manager for Marine Max in Chattanooga, Tenn. As a Santander CEVF business development officer, Pelham will work closely with contractors and distributors in select southeast markets to provide customized financing solutions. Pelham has more than 14 years of experience in the towing and recovery business. She joins Santander from Lee-Smith Inc. in Chattanooga where she was the fleet sales product manager.

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Gun Drawn, No Shots Fired

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A repossession agent called 911 about 2 a.m. recently to report that a man pointed a gun at him during a vehicle recovery in Frenchtown Township, Mich. The agent already had hooked up the 2007 Pontiac G6 to his tow truck when the owner of the vehicle, a woman, came out of the house and asked if she could retrieve her personal belongings first. The agent agreed, but then a man came out of the house and pointed a gun at the driver, also demanding that the personal items be collected. No shots were fired, the items were taken out of the car, and the vehicle was towed. When deputies contacted the man later and asked for his side of the story, he explained that it was dark and he was concerned the repossession agent might have a gun of his own. The incident remains under investigation. Source: www.monroenews.com.

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