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AT Expo’s Grand Opening showed exhibitors and attendees what had been promised all along: The Greatest Show of All Time.

The American Towman Exposition was a buyers’ market inside the Baltimore Convention Center. 14,000 attendees (American Towman Legion’aires) engaged with a record number 255 exhibitors.

Packed with wreckers, carriers, trailers and truck chassis, AT Expo was where you shopped for primary equipment and all the accessories needed to be in the towing business. More than 50 equipment manufacturers exhibited; plus major equipment distributors.

Towmen packed the aisles engaging with every sector of supplier, a record 21 motor clubs and call providers. more than $100 million was transacted, from tow equipment to dispatch systems to towing business.

2016 American Towman Medal Recipients

Nick Muzzy, Tailhook Towing; Hinesburg, Vt. As Brian Clark was rigging and doing what he could at that scene with the 70,000 lbs. of garbage truck laying on top of the sedan, Nick Muzzy arrived after also being called out by the trucking company. “The truck was completely on top of her,” Nick said. “I set up on the back of the garbage truck … but there wasn’t enough room to stand it up.” Nick took a line from his drag winch and crawled under the suspended garbage truck. “I started working under the truck to hook to the dash and column to pull the pieces off of her.” This gave rescue personnel enough safe access to get her out. She lived, but spent months in hospital and rehab. Nick and Brian met her this spring.

Ed Kammerer, A-1 Towing; Strafford, Mo. On December 26, 2015, tow owner Ed Kammerer received a nighttime call from a motorist in a vehicle on top of live wires after hitting a power pole off Highway 125 in Greene County, Missouri. He unequivocally instructed the motorist and his pregnant fiancée to stay inside their vehicle, call 911 and said he was on his way. In the wind, rain and darkness, he didn’t know the carrier’s lightbar snagged low-hanging wires. When he exited his truck, he was electrocuted. His wife, Betty, heard all the details via scanner. Ed’s explicit instructions saved the lives of that trapped couple.

Dain Null, Null’s Towing; Cochranville, Pa. On May 26, 2016, Dain Null was southbound on Delaware Route 1 near Cheswold, Delaware, and saw an oncoming vehicle suddenly cross the grassy median, causing chaos that resulted in multiple collisions and five vehicle casualties. Dain swerved off to the side of the road, set his parking brake, grabbed his gloves and ran to help. An unconscious female in one car was in close proximity to a Jeep that was on fire. He ran back to his truck for a pry bar, ran back to the car, and forced the door open to pull the woman out of the car and drag her far enough from the fire to begin CPR. He made sure no other people were trapped in vehicles and that bystanders stayed safe while they waited for fire American Towman Medal and EMS to arrive. Trevor Oliver,Bacchus Marsh Towing, Victoria, Australia In April 2002, Trevor’s company was called out for a moving van that was in an accident; on-scene he found a trapped driver in a truck cabin that was on fire. He needed to get the driver out before flames spread. With his pocketknife, Trevor cut off the man’s leg at the knee to pull him to safety. The driver visited Trevor since expressing his gratitude for saving his life. … Six years later in April 2007, he helped rescue two men from more burning wreckage—a scene for which he was awarded the Australian Bravery Medal. A VW van was hit by a painter’s truck, flipping the VW van and sparking a fire. Trevor climbed through the window and cut the driver from his seat-

American Towman Medal

belt to drag him out. Next, the painters van was filled with flammable chemicals. He and another rescuer hooked to the panel van and dragged it down the road, away from the other victim. He stayed at the scene to reassure and comfort the trapped driver. Trevor was reunited with the man who had been trapped in the panel van through the Australian TV show “Medical Emergency,” which profiled the rescue.

Darryl Poe, Moises Reyes; Palace Garage; San Leandro, Calif. Two weeks ago on November 3, Darryl was quickly on the scene in Oakland, California, where a woman lost control of her Mini Cooper, knocked over a sign, hit a concrete wall, barreled into a tree and caught fire. He sprang out, grabbed his fire extinguisher and rushed over to help. He saw the driver was barely conscious. Co-worker Moises Reyes had pulled up, along with a waste management worker. All three worked to remove the trapped driver, but the door was jammed. They cut the seat belt and pulled her out through the window; just seconds later the car blew up and flames consumed the tree. We were “trying to help somebody,” Poe said. “You know, that's what we're out here for.”

Micah Wenger, Auto House Towing; Galva, Kan. On August 3, 2016, Micah responded to a call for an SUV on its side and embedded in a power pole after it was struck by a tractor-trailer in Salina, Kansas. He quickly worked with the fire department to roll the SUV— with the driver still heavily entrapped— away from the power pole so rescuers could gain safe access to the critically injured driver. Fire Captain Keith Lindenmann said, “His quick response, specialized equipment and valuable expertise played a vital role in completing a highly technical vehicle rescue.”

Brian Clark, Clark’s Truck Center; Jericho, Vt. On September 28, 2015, Brian Clark responded to a twovehicle crash on Route 128 in Essex, Vermont, where a loaded garbage truck, later estimated at 70,000 lbs., had tipped going around a curve pushing an oncoming sedan into the ditch and landed partially on the road and partially on top of the sedan, trapping its driver. “She could not be extricated without lifting the back of the garbage truck,” Brian said. “I’d never come across something like this in 25 years and everyone was looking at us on a tough pick. I commenced doing what we could to move it.”

Chris Haley, Redman Fleet Services; Lorton, Va. On November 17, 2015, Chris saw a vehicle veer off road and roll several times on I-81 in Rockingham County, Virginia. He turned on his lights and pulled over to help. He immediately worked to comfort victims, direct bystanders and assist the arriving EMS crew. EMTs on-scene said Chris “was stabilizing one victim and controlling bleeding while directing others how to help. ... Chris went above and beyond. … We cannot express enough gratitude for the help.”

Jay Marek, Rich’s Towing & Service; Middleburg Hts, Ohio On June 21, 2012, Jay heard a scanner call for a one-car rollover on Shepard Road in Twinsburg, Ohio, where the driver was ejected and trapped underneath her car. “The scanner said they needed a tow truck quickly,” Jay said. “I rushed out, and parked on a lawn, jumped out and ran lines to the car and worked with firefighters to crib and lift a bit at a time. … If the car had rolled at all, it would have crushed her legs and waist.” Firefighters made a successful rescue. After the driver was out, the rotation tower arrived and Jay didn’t even get the tow!

Kevin Long, Joe’s Towing & Recovery; Bloomington, Ill. On September 14, 2016, Joe’s Towing was called for a tractor-dump trailer that rolled over with driver entrapment near State Route 40 in Lawn Ridge, Illinois. Joe’s dispatched Kevin Long in a 60-ton rotator to the scene. The cab was pushed back by impact, causing the entrapment. Kevin saw the tractor needed to be picked up straight to free the driver. He quickly rigged the sideways tractor and picked it up slow enough to be cribbed until the driver could be removed. He was extracted in time to the awaiting Life Flight helicopter.

Charles Harrell, Tex-Star Towing; Fort Worth, Tex. On June 21, 2013, Charles was on I-35 near Alliance Airport in Fort Worth, Texas, during the morning rush hour and noticed a car driving erratically. He pulled behind it when it pulled off the road. The passenger was in labor and stepped out of the car cradling her belly. Charles helped deliver the baby safely on the side of the road, using fresh towels and water he had in his tow truck. “I did what I had to do,” Charles said. “I help everyone, that’s why I started the business, so I could help people.”

American Towman Medal

Darryl Poe Moises Reyes

American Towman Medal

American Towman Commendation American Towman Commendation

American Towman Commendation

American Towman Commendation

Mike Corbin’s band performs ‘100 Years.’

Industry pride soared throughout the four-day event and the Centennial Celebration on Festival Night was the proudest moment. Aerialists took to the air and the American Towman Medal was bestowed upon the chests of towing’s bravest.

AT Editor Brendan Dooley lays Towman Medal upon Trevor Oliver.

Ceremonial Lone Drummer William Burwell.

The March of the Heroes climaxed with the Towman Order saluting our bravest. One American Towman Medal recipient flew in from Australia to receive his honor. All told, towers came from all 50 states of the Union and 21 nations.

AT Expo once again provided tow business owners with the industry's greatest resources for learning about products and equipment on the marketplace. The expertise on the show floor among 255 exhibitors was mind boggling.

Mark Your Calendar for AT EXPO XXIX Nov. 17-19, 2017

4 State Trucks

AAA pg. 67

AASP/PA

Access Tools pg. 69

Actus Manufacturing

Advantage Funding pg. 18 Agero pg. 33

Agilis Systems

Akins Body & Carrier Sales pg. 44

all-Grip Vehicle Recovery Systems

Allstate Roadside Serv. pg. 17

Amdor American Express Open

American Safety & Supply pg. 21

American Towman Magazine

Anchor Graphics pg. 21

ApartmentPermits.com ARI Hetra

Atlanta Wrecker Sales pg. S83

Auto Data Direct Automotive Recyclers Association Automotive Training Institute/ ATI

AutoReturn pg. 70 AW Direct pg. 25 B/A Products pg. 57

B&B Industries Bad Dog Tools Badger Glove & Safety BBSI Beacon Funding

Beacon Software pg. 3

Best Tools Better World Club Bobee Tech C&G Development C3LS Capital One Services Car-Part.com Castrol North America

Century pg. 7, 45

CermaLube Challenger Lifts ChargePass Chesapeake Automotive Equipment Chevron

Chevron Commercial pg. 73

Coco Products COMEUP Industries Commercial Fleet Financing Copart Auto Auctions

CRASHFILM pg. 26 Creative Solutions Group

Crouch's Wrecker & Equip. pg. 79

Custer Products Custom Radio Corp. Dangelo's Custom Built DAO-P

Detroit Wrecker Sales pg. 68

DewEze Mfg. DK2 Warrior Winches Dom's Wrap-A-Wreck DOT Tie Down Double M Productions DPF Remedy

Driveline Buddy pg. 18 Dual-Tech pg. 21

Dynamic Tow. Equip. & Mfg. EAST COAST Truck & Trailer Sales East Penn Truck Equipment ECCO eComply Enovative Technologies Excel Sportswear Exide Technologies ExxonMobil Eye3Data FCar Tech USA Federal Signal Feniex Industries Find Truck Service FleetComplete Fleetmatics FleetNet America Fleetway Capital Corp. Flitz International Flow Stop Force America Ford Commercial Vehicles Free State Nam Knights GEICO Globe Trailers GM Chevy Commercial GPS Insight GPS Pro GSS Safety Hale Trailer Brake & Wheel Hino Trucks Holmes Honk Technologies Hooks Towing & Recovery Supplies HUB International Hunter Enginering Company I Tow In IAA IGTC INA Towing Network Int'l Tow/Rec. Hall of Fame & Museum Integrated Vehicle & Equip. Leasing

Intek Truck Leasing pg. 25 Jerr-Dan Corp. pg. 92

Landoll Corporation LED Lights Leedall Metal Co. Lift And Tow

*Suppliers names in bold display advertisers in this issue with their ad page number cross-referenced.

Lodar USA pg. 26

Lynch Chicago Magic Masseuse Magnet Works / Stamp Works Main Street Hub

Manufacturer Express pg. 76

Marlow Ropes Martens Johnson Insur. Maryland Carrier & Wrkr. Sales/ Beltway Massage Corner

Matheny Motor Truck Co. pg. 19 Matjack Jumbo Safelift pg. 31

MercurySend.com Metro Tow Trucks Midwest Keyless Inc. Mile Marker

Miller Industries pg. 7, 45

Millner-Haufen Tool Co. Minimizer Mobile Video Computing Solutions Mr. Key Tags Muncie Power Products Myers, Benner Corp. Nanjing Miao Run Sen Nanjing Pangu Rigging Nation Safe Drivers (NSD) National Alternative Fuels Training Consortium National Automobile Club National Purchasing Partners NH Solutions Nite Beam Ningbo Beyong Development Ningbo Jingyi Machinery Manufacturing Ningbo Snowaves Mechanical Equip. NRC Industries Olson & Company Omadi

OMG National pg. N88, W88, S85, M86

OnlineParkingPass.com OPS Wireless Optimo Electronics Chelsea Products div. of Parker Industries Penny Pockets Penske Truck Leasing Service People's United Equipment Finance Corp

Performance Advantage Co. pg. N83

Phoenix USA Photo Card Specialists Pinnacle Motor Club Pneu-Tek Tire Tools Pop - A - Lock

PowerBilt Wreckers pg. 17

Powerhouse Industries Premier Waste Pro Spot Welding Systems Pro-Vision Video Systems

Progressive Commercial Insurance Prolift ProLine Tool & Supply Prospect Genius Purpose Wrecker Qingdao X & H Webbing Co. QuakeLED Quest Towing Serv. R-O-M Corp. Ram Mounts Ramsey Winch Ranger SST RC Industries, Inc. RealWheels Corporation

Recovery Billing Unlimited pg. 78 Renew Truck Body pg. N84

Ricky's Sales & Service Road America Roadside Protect Robert Young's NRC Sales & Service Rotary Lift RP Recovery Consulting

Santander Bank pg. 5 Savatech Corp. pg. 43

Secure Streets Sky Patrol SEFAC Sosmetal Specialty Vehicle Funding Group SpeedTech Lights

Spill Tackle pg. N86 SpillVak pg. 27

Square Star Headlight

Steck Mfg. Co. pg. 20

Stertil-Koni, USA SuperSprings Int'l Superwinch SwoopMe T-Max Hangzhou Technology T.R.P. Maryland Talbert Mfg. TCF Equipment Finance

The Tow Academy S86, M88, W88

TOMAR Electronics TomTom Telematics Tow Canada Tow Life

Towbook Management Software pg. 91

Towing & Recovery Association of America Towing.com towPartners TowProgram.com TowTrax towXchange-TOPS Tracker Management Systems Trail-Eze Trailers Transit Pros Travis Barlow Insurance Traxxis GPS Solutions Trinity Transport. Serv. Truck Crane Solutions TruckClaws TTN Fleet Solutions TWG–Tulsa & DP Winch United Plastic Fabricating United Propane AutoGas Sol. Grp (UPAS) United Road Towing

Urgent.ly pg. 34

US Fleet Tracking

USAC / MD pg. 24

Vulcan Warn Industries

WeldBuilt Wreckers & Carriers pg. 68

West End Service Whelen Engineering Will-Burt Company

Worldwide Equipment Sales pg. 71

WreckMaster XG Industries Xpress Pay

Zacklift International pg. 2

Zhejiang Runva Mechanical & Electrical Co. Zip's Truck Equipment

Light-Duty 2015-2016

Baltimore Towing Company Baltimore, Md. 2015 Ford F-550/Jerr-Dan HDL 60

Pinehill Towing & Automotive King George, Va. 2017 Dodge 5500/Jerr-Dan HPL 60

Light-Duty PRE-2015 Class

K & S Towing; Haverton, Pa. 2007 International 4300/Jerr-Dan Cougar H-60

3rd

J & J Towing & Recovery Staten Island, N.Y. 2016 Ram 5500/Chevron 410

The American Towman Academy fielded 35 seminars on tow management and operations; 1,000 tow business owners bought in.

Right, the Captains of Industry Conference was held at the Marriott Waterfront and featured its legendary Long Table. AT Operations Editor Randall Resch addresses the Captains on the Spirit Ride planned to launch in the Spring of this year.

2nd

Morgan’s Towing & Recovery King George, Va. 2012 Dodge 5500/Jerr-Dan MPL 40

Edward “Eric” Luchini of Las Cruces, N.M., received the American Towman Silver Star, the Joe Doblmeier Memorial Award for “overcoming adversity and inspiring an industry.”

Non-Stop Towing & Recovery Freeport, N.Y. 2007 Ford F-550/2007 Vulcan 810

Medium-Duty Class 1st

Bill’s Service Stamford, Conn. 2015 Freightliner M2 Chevron 12-ton

3rd

2nd

Redman Fleet Services Larton, Va. Peterbilt 337/Jerr-Dan Battlefield Towing & Storage Chantilly, Va. Ford F-750/Jerr-Dan MDL 320/110

Pageant judge Mike Sklarski with his Miller Rocks shirt.

The American Towman Exposition’s popularity can be attributed to its venues of celebration, none more popular than the Bull & Pig Roast, a.k.a. Miller Rocks, at the Hard Rock Cafe, sponsored by Miller Industries. At waterside, attendees wait to receive the customary Miller Rocks t-shirts.

Carrier Class

1st

Waggy’s Towing Manassas, Va. 2017 Peterbilt 337/22’ Chevron

Non-Stop Towing & Recovery Freeport, N.Y. 2016 Hino 258/Vulcan SST

3rd

2nd

Pinehill Towing & Automotive King George, Va. 2016 Kenworth T-270/Jerr-Dan bed

Towman learn about the intricacies of towing exotic cars at the Luxury Vehicle Education seminar on the show floor, conducted by Allstate Roadside Services.

Service/Support Truck

1st

Nelcon Service Center North Haven, Conn. 2016 Ram 5500 Service Truck Tauber’s Service Lithicum, Md. 1944 Ward LaFrance/Garwood M1A1

2nd

Wayne’s Towing & Recovery East Petersburg, Pa. 2006 Ford F-550/Swab Utility Truck

The Exposition offers so much diversity of suppliers that attendees plan their time inside the Baltimore Convention Center like war generals plotting their attack on a theater of operations. Many are on the show floor all three days, scouting and cultivating allies to their business goals.

2nd

Parke’s Auto Repair Elverson, Pa. 1986 Chevy C-30/Jerr-Dan WLT-60

Rob’s Auto & Collision Center Bristol, Pa. 1929 Ford Model A/Weaver Crane

Heavy-Duty Tandem Class 1st

Magill’s Auto Service Monroeville, Pa. 2016 Peterbilt 567/Jerr-Dan 50-ton Integrated

2nd

Redman Fleet Services Larton, Va. 2015 Peterbilt 389/Vulcan V-103 3rd

Morton’s Towing & Recovery Clarksburg, Md. 2017 Peterbilt 388/Century 9055

The Expo’s Satyr Hill Bluegrass band entertained on Saturday and Sunday at the American Towman Café. Their music wafted through the exhibit halls helping to create the festive mood the American Towman Exposition is known for.

Heavy-Duty Single-Axle Class

Breen Brothers Towing Staten Island, N.Y. 2017 Freightliner Century 20-ton

2nd

Morton’s Towing & Recovery Clarksburg, Md. 2014 Kenworth T800/Century 5130 3rd

Risoldi’s Auto Mount Holly, N.J. Kenworth T800/Century 2024

American Towman is famous for its networking events, none more effective than Calitri’s Cuba, where hundreds enjoy premium cigars and great conversation, sponsored by Savatech and AutoReturn.

Rotator 1st

J.R. Kemp Enterprises Newton, N.H. Peterbilt 389/Century 1075 S

2nd

Risoldi’s Auto Mount Holly, N.J. 2016 Kenworth T880W/NRC 608 Slider

3rd

Coleman Motor Company Fredericksburg, Va. 2015 Peterbilt 389/ Century 1150

Captains of the Towman Order salute new Captains being inducted, to be pinned with the Cross of the Order. Police and Fire Chiefs play the primary role in nominating towmen for the award.

Best of Show

All Duty Repairs; Millersville, Md. Freightliner M2/Dual-Tech 1035 HJ Towing & Recovery Carlisle, Pa. 1994 Peterbilt/Century 5130

Best Theme/Presentation

The Towman ACE Awards featured the 2016 custom buckle to those receiving the award in Baltimore. Motor clubs nominate towers for their proven record of service reliability. The ACE Awards were sponsored by GEICO, NSD and Pinnacle Motor Club. Twenty-one motor clubs and service providers exhibited on the Expo floor.

Best of Show Working Class

Loyal Tire & Auto Service Monroe, N.Y. 1994 GMC/Challenger Wrecker

AT Expo fielded a wide range of carriers.

Rotator HD Recovery Training is a staple of AT Expo, conducted by WreckMaster at the M&T Bank Stadium parking lot across from the Convention Center.

Towman Chopper

It’s the biggest and greatest tow show in the world. For career towing professionals, the American Towman Exposition is nirvana; or a state of perfect happiness. Like a kid in a candy store or awakening Christmas morning, one couldn’t be more excited than the big kids on AT Expo’s show floor.

From the Expo’s sights and sounds to its legendary hospitality, culminating with Sunday Pie, the American Towman Exposition puts a smile on everyone’s face.

Trumpeteer Jay added to the hall’s exotic mood.

Miller Rocks was one of several venues to feature a live band.

The Garage District at AT Expo featured suppliers to mechanical repair and body repair; 60 percent of towers attending also own repair shops.

With 16 wrecker, carrier and trailer manufacturers on the show floor, the American Towman Exposition is all about learning about new products, purchasing, researching equipment, and building relationshships with those who build and sell the equipment.

The Greatest Show of All Time is as much about people, energy and expertise as it is about the beautiful and amazing equipment on display and for sale. Those who come to see it know that all the promotion leading up to the Expostion isn’t hype, just fact–– the real deal.

Dynamic Adds Casanova as Dealer

Dynamic Towing Equipment & Manufacturing (dynamicmfg.com) has added Casanova Towing Equipment of Compton, Calif., as a dealer. Casanova (casanovatowequipment.com) is a family-owned and operated towing company that now offers Dynamic towing equipment, service and parts in southern California. They employ a staff that is experienced in the towing and vehicle transportation industry.

Vanair Acquires Goodall Mfg.

Vanair Manufacturing (vanair.com), provider of mobile power solutions, recently acquired Goodall Mfg., a leader in jump-starting and battery-charging technology. Vanair will offer Start-All and Boost-All products and related accessories under the Goodall brand. Goodall products will continue to be available through Goodall’s existing distribution network and will also be available through Vanair’s distribution channels in the near future. *** Vanair also added Tim Worman as product manager. He has almost 30 years of market experience with roles in engineering, product management, marketing and business development. Worman’s responsibilities include market research, “Voice of the Customer” data, product requirements and

Urgent.ly Adds Three to Senior Team

Urgent.ly roadside assistance (geturgently.com) recently expanded its senior team with three new members: • Alan Holman joins as VP of Sales. He brings more than 10 years of experience in building and leading sales organizations, including Allstate Roadside Services and GE Partnership Marketing Group/Roadside Assistance Division. Holman has a successful track record in establishing long-term contracts with auto manufacturers and building marketshare in the connected car, telematics and public sectors. • Bill Maddox joins as National Service Director. He will be responsible for developing and managing the company’s national service network of more than 50,000 independent roadside assistance professionals. He has 25-plus years of experience in service network and operations management. • Joe Ryan joins as an independent director on Urgent.ly’s board. An advisor to several technology and consumer-facing start-ups, Ryan has deep experience in the service industry and is currently chairman/CEO of Ryan Investments, a private firm with investments in hospitality, alternative energy and private banking.

From left, Bill’s Towing co-owner Chad Coulson, towman Don Wensyl, Ohio Trooper Michael Corey and Lt. James M. Faunda. Timesleaderonline. com image.

Trooper Honored for Saving Towman’s Life

Towman Don Wensyl is alive today because of the quick reaction and training of Ohio State Highway Patrol Trooper Michael Corey, who rendered aid during a freak accident. Corey was honored Jan. 6 with a certificate of recognition from the superintendent of the Ohio State Highway Patrol. On the evening of Sept. 17, Wensyl, a tower with Bill’s Towing in Bridgeport, was called to a one-vehicle crash to recover a car that had gone over an embankment and into a creek. “I’ve done this numerous times over the last 40 years. I was winching a car up out of the creek,” Wensyl said, but this time the frame of the car broke, the tow hook snapped loose and caused the cable to slingshot back and strike Wensyl across the face, resulting in severe lacerations. Corey, who is also a medic with the patrol’s Mobile Field Force, retrieved his first aid equipment from his patrol car and applied pressure to Wensyl’s wounds in an effort to stop the bleeding. Wensyl lost 2 liters of blood during the incident. Wensyl does not believe he would have survived without Corey’s help. “The surgeons did a pretty good job on it, but I had 150 stitches inside my eye socket,” Wensyl said. “The trooper had enough gauze in his car to treat eight gunshot wounds—that didn’t stop it, but it slowed it down. If it hadn’t been for him, I would have bled to death because we were in a remote area. … He did a fantastic job—over and above.” “It’s just another day at work,” Corey said. “It’s not something you really expect to do at work in law enforcement, but you have to be prepared for anything.” Chad and Ty Coulson, co-owners of Bill’s Towing, thanked Corey for his expertise and dedication. Source: timesleaderonline.com.

Dynamic Key to RABF Fundraising

by Mark Lacek

At the American Towman Expo last November in Baltimore, The Recovery Agent Benefit Fund picked a raffle winner of a Dynamic Slide-In Unit donated by Dynamic Towing Equipment and Manufacturing owner Anthony Gentile. Michael Hayes, of Hayes Auto Recovery in Chesapeake, Va., won the Dynamic bed. Hayes entered the drawing when he purchased one lucky raffle ticket and his number was drawn on Saturday afternoon. RABF would like to thank both Dynamic and American Towman for their support; I want to personally thank Anthony for his generosity. RABF disbursed more than $52,000 in 2016 to 11 families, and more than $330,000 since it was founded. Without Dynamic’s generous donation each year, the RABF would not be able to help as many families as we do. Valued at over $10,000, the donated unit raises thousands of dollars annually that contribute to the RABF. Years ago, when word of a repossessor’s injury or

Dynamic Towing Equipment & Manufacturing annual donation of a Slide-In Unit to the Recovery Agents Benefits Fund is a major fundraiser for the organization. Dynamic Mfg. image. continue to page 76

death occurred, donations quickly followed. Then, with the turn in the economy and the slow recovery, those donations slowed and essentially stopped. The Dynamic Slide-In bed raffles have been essential to the fund. Dynamic has a big following and presence in the repossession industry going back many years; 2017 raffle tickets are available at recoveryagentsbenefitfund.org. In 2015 and 2016, more lenders began donating to the fund. The fund also collected more than $20,000 from donations and an auction held at the RSIG/Allied Finance Adjusters annual meeting and almost $10,000 was collected at the Primeritus meeting in Nashville in 2015. (Thanks to Martin Giles of Atlantic Wrecker Sales who donated several pieces of sports memorabilia to the RABF auction that helped drive donations.) More individuals are beginning to make regular monthly contributions and several have pledged larger annual contributions. In an industry that continues to be fragmented, the RABF is one place where repossessors can show support for one another. The RABF has an advisory committee with a representative from each national trade association as well as state associations. Supporting the RABF should not be left solely in the hands of repossessors. Vendors, service providers, clients and lenders should also step up and support this industry. Repossessors serve a vital role in the financial adjustment industry. If you’re an employer of someone who received assistance from the fund, we ask you to remember how much help the funds were to that family and pay it forward. The Recovery Agents Benefit Fund is a recognized 501(c)3 charitable organization. Approximately 96 percent of donations directly benefit members and their families of the repossession industry, with no director or advisory committee member receiving any sort of salary or compensation from the fund—each serves as a volunteer. The remaining 4 percent goes to administrative costs like state filing fees, shipping, printing and more. The costs of repossessing an automobile continue to rise, while clients continue to demand lower fees. The process of lowering fees results in repossession companies cutting back on necessary maintenance and safety procedures. Until all repossession companies realize the value in providing a professional service and stop undercutting fees, shortcuts in safety and performance will cause injury and death. Loss of life is an ongoing tragedy in the repossession and towing industry. The decisions you make today will absolutely reflect on your tomorrow. Be safe.

Repo Editor Mark Lacek authored the Certified Commercial Recovery Agent certification program and has more than 30 years of recovery experience. He is the former editor of “Professional Repossessor” magazine. Email him at Mark@commercialassetsolutions.com.

Who Monitors the Towman’s Sleep in Ohio?

A Cleveland, Ohio, news broadcast looked into how dangerous lack of adequate sleep can be for truck drivers. Those most likely to experience drowsiness behind the wheel are commercial vehicles like tow truck drivers. “The guys work long hours, they have to,” said Michael Tomasko, President of Rich’s Towing & Service. And once the snowfall hits, his employee David Lewis knows he’ll be spending more and more time away from his bed. “Business does spike,” Lewis said. “Sometimes it’s easier for us timeframe-wise to get more sleep to just sleep in the car, or in the truck than to go home and waste time.” “It’s vital that the company monitors what type of hours their employees are putting in,” said Lt. Marvin Hill from the Ohio State Highway Patrol. So who is monitoring their workto-sleep ratio? There are rules set by the Public Utilities of Commission of Ohio where drivers are only allowed to work 11hour shifts, unless they go on a police call, and are exempt.

But the main way they’d even find out about violations is on the off chance a highway patrol officer pulls them over. “My employees can go out and stop these tow truck drivers and ensure that they’re not sleepy drivers,” Lt. Hill said. If a tower takes a call in a different state, like Pennsylvania, they are subject to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, where the work hours are more stringent. There are currently groups lobbying to get Ohio legislators on board with a uniform set of rules for towers across the state. Source: newsnet5.com.

It’s vital that

the company

monitors what

type of hours their

employees are

putting in.