American Towman - November 2017

EXHIBITORS PACK BALTIMORE CONVENTION CENTER FOR AT EXPO, NOV. 17-19

TOWING’S PR BONANZA Triumphant T Tr riumphant Pro Procession r cession into Baltimore r and AT EX E EXPO XPO

Hurricane Duty Our Man in St. John The Men in Texas

Enjoy your coffee at To TTowIndustryWeek.com wIInd dusttryW yWeek k com

Diesel Prep for Winter Regular Truck Inspections Trapped Semi Driver in Fla.

On the cover: Nick's Towing leads Spirit Ride through Northern New Jersey.

FEATURE CONTENTS White’s Gulf County Wrecker Service in Florida’s Panhandle responded when a truck driver became trapped in his cab after a rollover.

12

Preventative Maintenance Winter Diesel Preventative maintenance is now in preparation for colder temps.

by Chris Gabrelcik

Departments

28

The Walkaround . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6

In the Eye of the Storm

News Share . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8 Road Tools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10 Tow Boss . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18

It takes a Herculean effort by towers to cleanup damaged vehicles after a hurricane.

by Sean Bell

Tow Engineer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24

30

Ad Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .34

In the Eye of the Storm II

Letters to the Editor . . . . . . . . . . .36 Beacons On! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .50 Repo Run . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .72 Towman’s Market . . . . . . . . . . . .78 My Baby. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .80 Low Down . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .82 Adventures of A.T. . . . . . . . 89, N 97

Hurricanes Irma and Maria devastated the Caribbean where cleanup efforts will be lengthy.

by George Lane Nitti

42

Driver Trapped in Rollover White’s Gulf County Wrecker Service was called to help after a semi driver was trapped in his cab.

by Jim “Buck” Sorrenti

64

Towing’s PR Bonanza The message of a united towing industry promoting Move Over laws for all first responders has reached millions.

by Steve Calitri 4 • November 2017 - TOWMAN.COM

Women Can Do It Too

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by Dennie Ortiz

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6 â&#x20AC;˘ November 2017 - TOWMAN.COM

First On The Scene!

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 â&#x20AC;&#x153;Buckâ&#x20AC;? Sorrenti David Kolman Bill Simmons Emily Oz Mark Lacek

Field Editor, Northeast Chassis Editor Safety Editor On Screen Editor Repo Run Editor

Editorial Board Tommy Anderson Roy Carlson Debbie Collins Belinda Harris Bill Johnson Ron Mislan Kurt Wilson

Dallas, Texas Saint 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 Jimmy Santos Miriam Ortiz Henri Calitri Toni Vanderhorst William Burwell Peggy Calabrese Ryan Oser Helen Gutfreund Emily Oz Steve Calitri

Page Layout Artist Advertising Sales Mgr. Senior Account Exec.

VP of Accounts General Manager Subscription Manager Customer Service Publisherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Assistant TIW Media Director Regional Advertising Sales iMarketing Manager Communications Mgr. 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 ATâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S Digital Edition: itowman.com ATâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S Website: americantowman.com ATâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S Weekly: towindustryweek.com ATTV: americantowmantv.com Copyright Š2017 American Towman Magazine is published 12 times a year by American Towman Media, Inc. Subscription: $50â&#x20AC;&#x201C;1 yr; $95â&#x20AC;&#x201C;2 yrs â&#x20AC;˘ US $65 and $105 â&#x20AC;˘ International All material published through American Towman Media (AT), to include American Towman Magazine, iTowman.com and TowIndustryWeek.com, including advertisements, editorials, articles and all other content is published in good faith. However, AT accepts no liability for any errors or omissions, and does not endorse any companies, products or services that appear. AT does not test or review products submitted for inclusion in its publications. AT does not accept responsibility for the accuracy of content, warranties or claims made or implied by its advertisers. The views expressed are the authorsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of AT. The act of mailing or delivering a letter, email or article to AT shall constitute permission to publish that letter or article or any portion thereof. AT reserves the right to edit any and all material submitted. No part of the magazine or websites may be reproduced without prior written consent of AT.

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8 • November 2017 - TOWMAN.COM

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Towman Assists

Puerto Rico Aid Efforts

Rafael Nieves of AC’s Towing in Schenectady, New York, helped transport donated goods for Puerto Rico. wnyt.com image.

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U(QKPITUANQHCLSUSLTUDTT=KBURHISPQOMUSQURUSTGFQNRNBULRKSU Man Dies in Tow Yard Accident

Spirit Rider Reinforces Safety After Incident

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Work the non-traffic side–Stay Safe!

Police Warning on ‘Move Over’ (QKPIT PO 5QLQTM> TD

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AMERICANTOWMAN.COM - November 2017 • 9

Check Out What’s NEW and HOT! Outrigger Spade Attachment Storage Miller Industries’ new storage solution for HBeam Spade attachments on heavy-duty Century and Vulcan rotators provides secured placement and convenient access to the H-Beam Outrigger Spade attachment. The storage area for the spade attachment is located next to the H-Beam, underneath the toolbox, for close and easy access. The company said the “secure storage solution that provides easy access is critical to ensuring efficiency” for towers.

millerind.com

Weego Jump Starter 66 Weego said its new Jump Starter 66 weighs 1.6 lbs. and can jump-start gas engines up to 10L, and diesel engines up to 5L. It also fast charges phones, tablets and laptops, powers 12V portable accessories and lights up to 15 hours with a pro-grade, 600-lumen, built-in flashlight. The patented Smarty Clamps ensure successful connections. The company said Weego 66 operates in temperatures ranging from -4 degrees F to 140 degrees F and gets 1,000 charging cycles and up to three-years of standby power on a single charge.

myweego.com

Custer Lite-It Wireless Tow Lights Custer Products said its Lite-It Wireless tow lights are setting new “stadards for the industry.” the best value in the industry.

(Pictured is the Lite-It wireless 36” LED lightbar with flasher.) The bars are individually serialized, which eliminates cross talk and allows Custer to track ownership

of a registered tow light that’s lost or stolen. The marker lights only come on when they receive a signal, saving battery life. Every Lite-It Wireless bar has a transmitter, a 12-volt charger, port covers and a charger indicator light.

custerproducts.com

10 • November 2017 - TOWMAN.COM

Preventative Maintenance: Winter Diesel Fuel and oil additives can increase uptime and fuel economy, and decrease repair expenses

by Chris Gabrelcik

W

POSTN GRB QEEPIPRKKB LPS SLPM BTRN QO *TI@ &/ RS % & U F@G@U #7; >U AHSU RMU T?TNBQOTU =OQDM> DPOSTNUJNP?POCUQIIHNMUGHILUTRNKPTN@U0TRSLTN MTTGMUSQUATUMSNROCTNUT?TNBUBTRN@U:SUGRBUAT MIQNILPOCU LQSU SLTOU SHNOU ENPCPJU DPSLPOU RU DTT=U POU MQGT KQIRSPQOM@U"ISQATNUPMUSLTUGQOSLUDLTOUGQMSUMOQDUEPNMSUERKKMUPO TDU#OCKROJUROJUSLTU4PJDTMS>UBTSUPOUSLTU-QI=PTM>UMOQDUIRO ERKKUPOUKRSTUMHGGTN@U0LRST?TNUSLTUDTRSLTNUFRSSTNO>U"KJU4RO 0POSTNUDPKKURNNP?TUMQQOTNUSLROUKRSTN@U ,QNU SQDU SNHI=MU ROJU TGTNCTOIBU ?TLPIKTM>U SLTNTU PMU OQ TMIRFPOCUDPOSTNUJNP?POCUDPSLUSLTURIIQGFROBPOCUKQOCUFTNP< QJMUQEUPJKPOCUROJUSLTUHFSPI=UPOUEHTKUIQOMHGFSPQO@U(NT?TOSR< SP?TUGRPOSTOROITUOQD>UPOUFNTFRNRSPQOUQEUIQKJTNUSTGFM>UIRO LTKFUTOMHNTUTOCPOTUFTNEQNGROITUROJUNTJHITJUJQDOSPGT@

Winter Fuel Economy Woes ;LTNT8M RO PO?TNMT NTKRSPQOMLPF ATSDTTO PJKPOC ROJ EHTK TIQOQGB@U 0PSLU DPOSTNU JNP?POC>U SQDU SNHI=MU RNTU QESTO NT.HPNTJU SQU PJKTU POU ATKQD<$TNQU DTRSLTN@U6IIQNJPOCU SQU SLT *TFRNSGTOSU QEU #OTNCB>U RU JPTMTKU SQDU SNHI=U DPSLU RU & >999 0UDPKKUHMTU9@%!UCRKKQOMUFTNULQHNUDPSLUOQUKQRJURSUPJKT@U :OUIQKJUDTRSLTN>UJPTMTKUEHTKUIROUATCPOUSQUCTKUQNUENTT$T> DLPILUDPKKUCNTRSKBUNTJHITUEHTKUTIQOQGB@U TKKPOCUPMUDLTNT DR1TMUPOUSLTUJPTMTKUATCPOUSQUAPOJUROJUATIQGTUIQKJUTOQHCL SQU ENTT$T@U "OITU SLTU EHTKU PMU CTKKTJ>U PSU DPKKU IKQCU SLTU EHTK MBMSTGU IQGFQOTOSMU ROJU IROU IRHMTU TOCPOTU MLHSSTNPOC> MSRKKPOCUQNUERPKHNTUSQUMSRNS@U Q@U&UJPTMTK>URUEHTKUSLRSULRMUOQURJJPSP?TMUQNUAKTOJPOC> DPKKUMSRNSUSQUIKQHJURSURNQHOJU&9UJTCNTTMU,UROJUDPKKUMSRNSUSQ CTKU RSU /%U JTCNTTMU ,@U :OU IQKJTNU NTCPQOMU QEU SLTU IQHOSNB>U EHTK MSRSPQOMUDPKKUQESTOUFNQ?PJTURUAKTOJTJUJPTMTKUEHTK@U ;QUTOMHNTUGR1PGHGUEHTKUTIQOQGBUROJUFNT?TOSUJQDO< SPGTUSQUJPRCOQMTUROJUNTFKRITUEHTKUIQGFQOTOSM>UPSUPMURJ?PM< 12 â&#x20AC;¢ November 2017 - TOWMAN.COM

Waxes in the diesel begin to bind and gel in cold weather.

RAKTUSQUHMTURUNTFHSRAKTUROSP<CTKUEHTKURJJPSP?TUPOURJ?ROITUQE ROSPIPFRSTJU IQKJU DTRSLTN@U ;LTU RJJPSP?TU MLQHKJU ATU RAKTU SQ JPMMPFRSTUGQPMSHNT>UFNT?TOSUCTKKPOCUROJUPIPOC>UAQQMSUFQDTN ROJU RJJU KHANPIPSB@U QQ=U EQNU ROU RJJPSP?TU SLRSU LRMU RU LPCL ITSROTUKT?TKUROJUDQN=MUDPSLUAPQJPTMTK@U 5QGFKPIRSPOCU SLTU PMMHTU PMU DLTOU SNHI=MU PJKTU EQNU KQOC FTNPQJMUQEUSPGTUINTRSPOCUIRNAQOUAHPKJHFUQOUFPMSQOM>UNPOCM> PO'TISQNMUROJU?RK?TM@U*PTMTK>URUKTMM<NTEPOTJUEHTKUSLROUCRMQ< KPOT>ULRMUKTMMUJTSTNCTOSURJJTJUROJUDPKKUINTRSTUJTFQMPSMUPO SLTUIQGAHMSPQOUILRGATN>U?RK?TMUROJUPO'TISQNM@U

Injector deposits affect fuel spray patterns, leading to lower fuel economy and power.

Biodiesel Headaches )PQJPTMTK QOKB RJJM SQ SLT FNQAKTG DPSLURU.HPI=TNUIKQHJUFQPOS@U;LTUIKQHJ FQPOSUPMUSLTUSTGFTNRSHNTUQEUSLTUEHTKURS DLPILU MGRKK>U MQKPJU INBMSRKMU IROU AT QAMTN?TJURMUSLTUEHTKUIQQKM@U;LTUIQKJUEPK< STNU FKHCCPOCU FQPOSU PMU SLTU STGFTNRSHNT RSUDLPILURUEHTKUEPKSTNUFKHCMUJHTUSQUEHTK IQGFQOTOSMU SLRSU LR?TU INBMSRKKP$TJU QN CTKKTJ@U ;LTU FQHNU FQPOSU NTETNMU SQU SLT

14 â&#x20AC;¢ November 2017 - TOWMAN.COM

KQDTMSU STGFTNRSHNTU RSU DLPILU SLTNTU PM GQ?TGTOSU QEU SLTU EHTKU DLTOU SLTU IQO< SRPOTNUPMUSPFFTJ@U )PQJPTMTKUDPKKUENTT$TURSULPCLTNUSTG< FTNRSHNTMU SLROU IQO?TOSPQORKU JPTMTK> JTFTOJPOCU QOU SLTU SBFTU QEU QPKU HMTJU PO SLTU AKTOJ@U )PQJPTMTKU LRMU RU ORNNQDTN NROCTU QEU STGFTNRSHNTMU ATSDTTOU SLT IKQHJUFQPOSUROJUSLTUFQHNUFQPOS@U 6U EHTKU RJJPSP?TU MRETU EQNU APQJPTMTK DPKKU KQDTNU SLTU IKQHJU FQPOSU ROJU FQHN

Once the fuel is gelled, it can cause engine shuttering, stalling or failure to start.

FQPOS QE SLT EHTK TOMHNPOC DPOSTNP$R< SPQO AB NTGQ?POC GTSLBK TMSTNM SLRS IRHMT INBMSRKKP$RSPQO@ *HT SQ SLT T1SNTGTKB LPCL STGFTN< RSHNTM> SLT FNQAKTG DPSL MSRSPI ENPISPQO IRO GROPETMS SLT MP$T QE 'HMS R ETD GPINQOM QE POSTNORK JPTMTK PO'TISQN JTFQMPSM@ 4QMS IQGGQO PO LPCL<FNTM< MHNT IQGGQO<NRPK EHTK PO'TISQNM> SLTMT JTFQMPSM IQOSPOHT SQ MLQD HF GQNT ENT.HTOSKB RM GROHERISHNTNM JT?TKQF PO'TISPQO MBMSTGM DPSL T?TN<SPCLSTN IKTRNROITM@ 4QJTNO PO'TISQNM RNT FNT< IPMPQO POMSNHGTOSM DPSL SQKTNROITM RM MGRKK RM / GPINQO ROJ RM GROB RM & LQKTM PO SLT PO'TISQN SPF> ROB JTFQMPS IRO NHPO TIQOQGB ROJ NQA FQDTN@ )QSL EHTK .HRKPSB PMMHTM ROJ EHTK MBMSTG PMMHTM IRO AT RJJNTMMTJ AB POIQNFQNRSPOCURUEHTKURJJPSP?TUPOSQUBQHN EKTTS8MUGRPOSTOROITUNQHSPOT UOQSUT?TNB RJJPSP?TU OTTJMU SQU ATU HMTJU TRILU SPGT EHTKUPMURJJTJ@

The Case for Additives :O IQKJ DTRSLTN> MQGT SNHI=M DPKK T1FTNPTOITUPMMHTMUDPSLUIQKJUMSRNSPOCURM QPKUATCPOMUSQUSLPI=TO@U6MUSLTUSTGFTNR<

16 â&#x20AC;¢ November 2017 - TOWMAN.COM

Diesel, as a lessrefined fuel than gasoline, has less detergent added and will create deposits in the combustion chamber, valves and injectors.

SHNTU JNQFM>U KHANPIPSBU ATIQGTMU GQNT PGFQNSROS@U7QGTUIQGFROPTMUDPKKUATCPO SQUHMTURULTR?PTNUDTPCLSUQPKUSQUIQGFTO< MRST>UQNUMDPSILUSQUMBOSLTSPIUQPK@U 4QMSUTOCPOTUQPKMUPOIKHJTURJJPSP?TM SLRSUIROUATURUIQGAPORSPQOUQEU?PMIQMPSB GQJPEPTNM>U JTSTNCTOSM>U IQNNQMPQO POLPAPSQNMUQNUJPMFTNMROSM@U;LTU6(:U7TN< ?PITU 5RSTCQNBU RMMQIPRSTJU EQNU GQMS JPTMTKUQPKMUPMU5 < @U;LTU?RKHTUQEUROUQPK RJJPSP?TU PMU POU PSMU RAPKPSBU SQU FNQ?PJT

KHANPIRSPQOUHOJTNUT1SNTGTUFNTMMHNT@U ,QNU?TLPIKTMUHOJTNUENT.HTOSUHMT>UPS PMUPGFQNSROSUSQUTOMHNTUSLRSUSLTURJJPSP?T DPKKU NTGQ?TU SLTU MSPI=BU ENPISPQOU SLRSU PM INTRSTJUENQGUAHNOSUQPKUSLRSUDPKKURSSRIL POU SPGTU SQU SLTU PO'TISQNM>U SHNAQ>U NPOCM ROJU QPKU FHGF@U ;HNAQU ATRNPOCMU GQMS QESTOUIQKKTISURUMSPISPQOUAHPKJHFUJHTUSQ SLTUT1SNTGTKBULPCLUQFTNRSPOCUSTGFTNR< SHNTMUQEUSLTUSHNAQUPSMTKE>UDLPILUKTRJMUSQ RUOQSPITRAKTUJTINTRMTUPOUAQQMSUROJUSLT Q?TNRKKUFTNEQNGROITUQEUSLTUTOCPOT@ 7BGFSQGMUQEUMSPISPQOUPOIKHJTU ERPK< POCU +# :U PO'TISQNM>U AKRI=U MGQ=T IRHMTJU ABU T1ITMMP?TU IRNAQOU AHPKJHF> LRNJU MSRNSMU ROJU DTR=U SHNAQU AQQMS@ ,POJPOCUROUQPKURJJPSP?TUSLRSUPGFNQ?TM FQDTNUROJUIQGFNTMMPQO>UNTMSQNTMUERPK< POCU +# :U PO'TISQNMU ROJU NTGQ?TMU %9 FTNITOSUQNUGQNTUQEUMSPISPQOUPMURJ?PMRAKT@ QQ=UEQNUROURJJPSP?TUSLRSUPMUMRETUDPSL RKKUTOCPOTUQPKMUPOIKHJPOCUMBOSLTSPI@U About the author Chris Gabrelcik, president/CEO of Lubrication Specialties Inc., is a certified lubrication specialist and oil management analyst. LSI has developed more than 30 oil and fuel additives, mainly for diesel performance across multiple markets.

Daily, Monthly Vehicle Inspections

by Terry Abejuela

D

RPKB ROJ GQOSLKB ?TLPIKT POMFTISPQOM RNT RO PGFQNSROS FRNS QE QFTNRSPOC R SQDPOC ROJ NTIQ?TNB MTN?PIT TEETI< SP?TKB> TEEPIPTOSKB ROJ MRETKB@ ,RPKHNT SQ IQOJHIS SLTMT POMFTISPQOM GRB NTMHKS PO IPSRSPQOM> T.HPFGTOS ERPKHNT> POINTRMTJ T.HPFGTOS IQMSM> TGFKQBTT PO'HNPTM> SNREEPI IQKKPMPQOM> NTJHITJ FNQJHISP?PSB> ERPKHNTUSQUFNQ?PJTUFNQETMMPQORKUMTN?PIT> KPRAPKPSBU UROJUDQNMT@ "EUIQHNMT>USLTUGQMSUPGFQNSROSUNTR< MQOUEQNUJRPKBUROJUGQOSLKBUPOMFTISPQOM PMUMRETSB@U;LTUDTKKATPOCUQEUTGFKQBTTM> IHMSQGTNMUROJUGQSQNPMSMUPMUJTFTOJTOS QOUFNQFTNUGRPOSTOROITUQEUQHNUT.HPF< GTOS@U #.HPFGTOSU ERPKHNTU LRMU IRHMTJ PO'HNPTMU ROJU JTRSLMU POU QHNU POJHMSNB@ ;QDUQFTNRSQNMULR?TUATTOUPO'HNTJUROJ =PKKTJU RMU RU NTMHKSU QEU IQKKPMPQOMU IRHMTJ ABUIRAUROJUILRMMPMUT.HPFGTOSUERPKHNT@ :SUPMUPGFTNRSP?TUSLRSUQHNUT.HPFGTOSUPM MRETUSQUHMTUPOUSLTUEPTKJ@ 0LTOU JT?TKQFPOCU ROU POMFTISPQO EQNGU EQNU BQHNU T.HPFGTOS>U GR=TU MHNT SQU POIKHJTU RKKU IRA ILRMMPM SQDPOC T.HPFGTOSU GROHERISHNTNU NTIQGGTO< JRSPQOMU EQNU POMFTISPQOM>U GRPOSTOROIT ROJU NTFKRITGTOSU INPSTNPR@U :OIKHJTU RKK T.HPFGTOSUSLRS8MUNT.HPNTJUSQUATUQOUSLT SNHI=USQUIQGFKBUDPSLUBQHNUIQOSNRISHRK RCNTTGTOSM@U

SPQOMUROJULQDUSQUFNQFTNKBUJQIHGTOS ROJUNTFQNSUJTEPIPTOIPTM@U *NP?TNM8U JRPKBU POMFTISPQOMU MLQHKJ ATU FTNEQNGTJU POU ROU QFTO>U MRETU RNTR RDRBU ENQGU GQ?POCU ?TLPIKTMU ROJU QO KT?TKUCNQHOJ@U;LTUJNP?TNUMLQHKJU=TTF SLTU=TBMUSQUSLTU?TLPIKTUPOUSLTPNUFQI=TS JHNPOCU SLTU POMFTISPQO@U ;LTU ?TLPIKT ATPOCU POMFTISTJU MLQHKJU LR?TU SLT DLTTKMU ILQI=TJU ROJU SLTU JNP?TNU FTN< EQNGPOCU SLTU POMFTISPQOU MLQHKJU AT DTRNPOCURKKURFFNQFNPRSTUMRETSBUT.HPF< GTOS>UDLPILUGRBUPOIKHJTUCKQ?TM>UTBT FNQSTISPQO>ULRNJLRSUROJUDQN=UMLQTM@U

18 â&#x20AC;¢ November 2017 - TOWMAN.COM

Cab/chassis 5RA ROJ ILRMMPM POMFTISPQOM MLQHKJ POIKHJT AHS RNT OQS KPGPSTJ SQ #OCPOT IQGFRNSGTOS EKHPJ KT?TKM@ U)TKSMUROJULQMTM@ ;PNTMUROJUDLTTKMUPOIKHJPOCUPOMPJT JHRKM@U U0POJMLPTKJUROJUGPNNQNM@ U PCLSMUROJUNTEKTISQNM@ U6PNUKPOTMUROJUIQOOTISQNM@ U#KTISNPIRKUIQOOTISPQOM@ U7HMFTOMPQOUIQGFQOTOSM@ U7STTNPOCUIQGFQOTOSM@ U PMPAKTUEHTKUSRO=UIQGFQOTOSM@ U)NR=TM@ U5RAUPOSTNPQNUCRHCTM@

Back end

Daily ;LT JRPKB POMFTISPQO EQNG MLQHKJ ATU MPGFKTU ROJU TRMBU SQU HMT@U 6U JNP?TN MLQHKJUATURAKTUSQUIQOJHISUSLTUPOMFTI< SPQOU TEETISP?TKBU ROJU TEEPIPTOSKBU POU /% GPOHSTMU QNU KTMM@U ;LPMU SBFTU QEU FNT<SNPF POMFTISPQOU PMU RU .HPI=U POMFTISPQOU SLRS ?PMHRKKBU IQOEPNGMU RKKU T.HPFGTOSU PM RIIQHOSTJUEQNUROJUENTTUQEU?PMPAKTUJRG< RCT@U )TEQNTU TRILU HMTU QEU RU FPTITU QE T.HPFGTOS>U SLTU SQDU QFTNRSQNU MLQHKJ SR=TURUGQNTUJTSRPKTJUKQQ=URSUSLTUT.HPF< GTOSUSQUTOMHNTUPSUPMUMRETUSQUHMT@U *NP?TNMUMLQHKJUATUFNQ?PJTJUSNRPO< POCUQOUDLRSUSQUKQQ=UEQNUJHNPOCUPOMFTI<

PTNU MQU RKKU TGFKQBTTMU =OQDU DLTNTU SQ KQIRSTUCTRNUQOUROBUQEUSLTUSNHI=M@U)NRI=< TSMU EQNU T.HPFGTOSU GR=TU PSU .HPI=U ROJ TRMBUSQUMTTUPEUT.HPFGTOSUPMUGPMMPOC@

;LTU ,TJTNRKU 4QSQNU 5RNNPTNU 7RETSB 6JGPOPMSNRSPQOU NT.HPNTMU IQGFROPTM SLRSU QFTNRSTU IQGGTNIPRKU ?TLPIKTMU SQ GTTSUMSNPISUNT.HPNTGTOSMUEQNUPOMFTISPQOM ROJUJQIHGTOSRSPQO@U6KKUPOMFTISPQOUJQI< HGTOSRSPQOU PMU PGFQNSROSU POU SLTU T?TOS QEU RKKTCRSPQOMU QEU PGFNQFTNU T.HPFGTOS GRPOSTOROITUJHNPOCUKPSPCRSPQO@U *RPKBUPOMFTISPQOMUIROUATUGRJTUTRM< PTNU EQNU RKKU JNP?TNMU ROJU GRORCTGTOS DPSLU MQGTU MPGFKT>U AHSU GTSLQJPIRK> FKROOPOC@U 5QOMPMSTOSU FKRITGTOSU QE T.HPFGTOSUPOUSLTUSNHI=MUGR=TMUPSUTRM<

0NTI=TN HOPS POMFTISPQOM MLQHKJ POIKHJTU AHSURNTUOQSUKPGPSTJUSQ U;QDPOCURFFRNRSHM@ U;QDUJQKKBUIQGFQOTOSM@ U5LRPOM@ U+QQ=M@ +BJNRHKPIULQMTMUROJUIQOOTISPQOM@ 0PNTUNQFT>USTNGPORSPQOMUROJULQQ=M@ U0POILTM@ U-TIQ?TNBUAQQG@ U0LTTK<KPESUIQGFQOTOSM@ U;QDUMKPOCUIQGFQOTOSM@ U5QOSNQKULROJKTM@ *TEPIPTOIPTMU MLQHKJU ATU NTFQNSTJ PGGTJPRSTKBU ROJU ROBU HOMRETU IQOJP< SPQOMUGHMSUATUIQNNTISTJUFNPQNUSQUQFTN< RSPOCUSLTUT.HPFGTOS@U*NP?TNMUGHMSUAT POMSNHISTJUSQUFHSUSLTUSNHI=UQHSUQEUMTN< ?PITUPEUROBUIQOJPSPQOMUIQGFNQGPMTUSLT MRETUQFTNRSPQOUQEUSLTUT.HPFGTOS@U"FTN< RSPQOU QEU HOMRETU T.HPFGTOSU FHSMU SLT TGFKQBTT>U BQHNU IHMSQGTNU ROJU BQHN IQGFROBURSUNPM=@

Monthly 6 .HRKPEPTJ FTNMQO> FNTETNRAKB R GTILROPI> MLQHKJ IQOJHIS GQOSLKB POMFTISPQOM QO R MILTJHKTJ ARMPM@ 4QOSLKB POMFTISPQOM DPKK SR=T GHIL GQNT SPGT ROJ NT.HPNT R GQNT RJ?ROITJ =OQDKTJCT QE SLT T.HPFGTOS@ 4QOSLKB POMFTISPQOM DPKK POIKHJT RKK QE SLT JRPKB PSTGM> AHS PO R GQNT JTSRPKTJ NT?PTD@ ,QN T1RGFKT> SLT JRPKB POMFTISPQO QE SLT DPNT NQFT DQHKJ QOKB IQOMPMS QE R ?PMHRK KQQ= RS SLT DNRF QO SLT JNHG> SLT T1FQMTJ FQNSPQO QE SLT NQFT> PS8M STNGPORSPQO ROJ SLT DPNT NQFT LQQ=@ 6 GQOSLKB POMFTISPQO QE SLT DPNT NQFT DQHKJ POIKHJT HODPOJPOC SLT EHKK KTOCSL QE SLT NQFT ENQG SLT JNHG SQ POMFTIS SLT IQOOTISPQO QE SLT NQFT SQ SLT JNHG ROJ R IKQMT ROJ JTSRPKTJ POMFTISPQO QE SLT EHKK KTOCSL QE SLT NQFT@ 6 JRPKB POMFTISPQO QE SLT LBJNRHKPIM DQHKJ QOKB POIKHJT ILTI=POC SLT LQMTM ROJ IQOOTISPQOM ROJ KQQ=< POC EQN ROB ?PMHRK MPCOM QE KTR=M@ 6 GQOSLKB POMFTISPQO QE SLT LBJNRHKPIM DQHKJ POIKHJT ILTI=POC SLT LBJNRHKPI EKHPJU NTMTN?QPNU KT?TK>U LBJNRHKPIU NRGU $TN=U EPSSPOCMU ROJ NRGUIQOOTISPQOUANRI=TSM@

California Inspections ;LT 5RKPEQNOPR +PCLDRB (RSNQK -QSRSPQO ;QD (NQ< CNRGUNT.HPNTMUSQDUIQGFROPTMUFRNSPIPFRSPOCUPOUSLTUFNQ< CNRGU SQU HOJTNCQU ROU ROOHRKU T?TKU /U POMFTISPQOU SLRS POIKHJTMURU5+(U 9 ,<7RESBOTSU*NP?TN TLPIKTU:OMFTI< SPQOU NTFQNSU ROJU RU 5+(U & )<;QDU ;NHI=U :OMFTISPQO HPJTU NTFQNSU SLRSU PMU IQOJHISTJU ABU RU IQGGTNIPRKU KRD TOEQNITGTOSUQEEPITNUQNURNTRUSQDUQEEPITNUDPSLUSLTURMMPM< SROITUQEURUGQSQNUIRNNPTNUQNUIQGGTNIPRKU?TLPIKTUPOMFTI< SPQOU MFTIPRKPMS@U 5RKPEQNOPR8MU ,NTTDRBU 7TN?PITU (RSNQK (NQCNRGU HMTMU SLTU 5+(U & *U EQNU PS8MU JRPKBU SQDU SNHI= POMFTISPQOM@ 4QOSLKBUPOMFTISPQOUQEUSLTUILRPOMUMLQHKJUPOIKHJTUR KPO=<AB<KPO=U POMFTISPQO>U KQQ=POCU EQNU T1ITMMP?TU DTRNU QN JRGRCT@U4QOSLKBUPOMFTISPQOMUDPKKUHMHRKKBUPOIKHJTUOQN< GRKU GRPOSTOROIT>U MHILU RMU KHANPIRSPOCU $TN=U EPSSPOCM> DPNTUNQFTUROJUDNTI=TNUIQGFQOTOSM@U 6KKU POMFTISPQOMU MLQHKJU ATU JQIHGTOSTJU POU DNPSPOC ROJU =TFSU QOU EPKTU EQNU RSU KTRMSU SLNTTU GQOSLM@U 7QGTU FNQ< CNRGMU GRBU NT.HPNTU DNPSSTOU JQIHGTOSRSPQOU QEU POMFTI< SPQOMUATU=TFSUEQNURUKQOCTNUFTNPQJUQEUSPGT@U 0NPSSTOU JQIHGTOSRSPQOU QEU NTFRPNMU GRJTU SQU IQNNTIS JTEPIPTOIPTMU MLQHKJU RKMQU ATU GRPOSRPOTJ@U ;LPMU DNPSSTO JQIHGTOSRSPQOUGRBUATUINPSPIRKUPOUSLTUT?TOSUQEUKPSPCRSPQO DLTNTURKKTCRSPQOMUQEUT.HPFGTOSUERPKHNTUNTMHKSPOCUENQG FQQNUGRPOSTOROITUQNUHOMRETUT.HPFGTOSUIQOJPSPQOMURNT PO?QK?TJ@ 5PSRSPQOMUEQNUT.HPFGTOSUJTEPIPTOIPTMURNTUIQMSKBUROJ JPMNHFSP?TUSQUBQHNUAHMPOTMM@U4QMSUIPSRSPQOMUEQNUT.HPF< GTOSUJTEPIPTOIPTMUDPKKUNTMHKSUENQGU?PMPAKTU?PQKRSPQOMUQE SLTU ?TLPIKTU IQJT>U MHILU RMU PKKTCRKU QNU PGFNQFTNKBU EHOI< SPQOPOCUKPCLSPOCUQNUSPNTMUSLRSUJQO8SULR?TUMHEEPIPTOSURPNUQN SNTRJUJTFSL@U 6UCQQJUPOMFTISPQOUROJUGRPOSTOROITUFNQCNRGUDPKK POINTRMTUSLTUKPETUT1FTISROIBUQEUBQHNUT.HPFGTOS>UNTJHIT 22 â&#x20AC;¢ November 2017 - TOWMAN.COM

JQDO SPGT> NTJHIT FQSTOSPRK EQN T.HPFGTOS ERPKHNT> NTJHIT FQSTOSPRKUEQNULRNGUROJULTKFUBQHNUJNP?TNMUFNQ?PJTUMRET>UTEETI< SP?T>UTEEPIPTOSUROJUFNQETMMPQORKUMTN?PITUSQUBQHNUIHMSQGTNM@

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

Work the non-traffic side–Stay Safe!

AMERICANTOWMAN.COM - November 2017 • 23

Dos and Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ts with Tow Pins

by Erin Di Joseph

Use the vehicle-supplied tow pin whenever possible.

T

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Some operators believe that tow pins are too risky to use.

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First hand-tighten, then use a strong tool to insert through the tow pin to torque down for a full seat.

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Work the non-traffic side–Stay Safe!

AMERICANTOWMAN.COM - November 2017 • 25

A snatch block will keep the vehicle from tracking toward the tow pin.

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Never guess where to attach! $ " !$ $! #$ # #$ " # ! $

$!"$ $ " $! #$ $ " $ 6OBU IKQMTNU IQHKJU NTMHKSU POU SQQ GHILU MPJTDRBMU QNU JQDODRNJU FNTM< MHNTUQOUSLTUSQDUFPO>UIRHMPOCUPSUSQUERPK@ $ "$# " $! #$ #$" $ $ ! " $ # $ ! $ $ # #$ $!" $ $ 0LTOU LQQ=TJU HFU FNQFTNKB>U R MORSILU AKQI=U DPKKU =TTFU SLTU ?TLPIKT ENQGU SNRI=POCU SQDRNJU SLTU SQDU FPO ROJU FNT?TOSU MPJTDRBMU JTEKTISPQOU QE SLTUSQDUFPO@ About the author Erin di Joseph is a senior communications consultant at Allstate Roadside Services.

26 â&#x20AC;¢ November 2017 - TOWMAN.COM

Work the non-traffic side–Stay Safe!

AMERICANTOWMAN.COM - November 2017 • 27

In the Eye of the Storm Towers Assist in Texas after Harvey

by Sean Bell

A

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Towman Aaron Boyd from Concord, North Carolina, said he spent nearly 20 hours driving to Houston in finding a suitable route that wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t flooded.

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A tower has to consider their gear and the sufficiency of needed equipment to perform in disaster relief. In high-water events, truck maintenance is tested and the vehicle is exposed to high water â&#x20AC;Ś and salt water in many cases.

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SLTNTUDTNTUSDQ<LQHNUSHNORNQHOJMUEQN JNQFMU POU GR=POCU MHNTU RKKU NTCHKRSQNB FRFTNDQN=U DRMU POU QNJTN@U "OTU IQHKJ MTOMTUSLTURO1PTSBUPOULPMU?QPITU=OQDPOC +HNNPIROTU :NGRU DRMU LTRJPOCU POU LPM ERGPKPTMUJPNTISPQO@U Authorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s note As a native Houstonian whoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s been through my share of floods, Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d like to thank Aaron Boyd and all of the towers that came to our rescue risking their own safety to help remove flooded vehicles. That spirit of service to others is nothing less than Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve come to expect from tow drivers who truly are their â&#x20AC;&#x153;Brothersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Keepers.â&#x20AC;?

About the author Sean Bell, MBA, is a native Houstonian with extensive background in transportation, psychiatry, and the oil industry. He is VP of Sales for Redi-Letters Express, a company providing new lighted graphics and signage for towers. Contact him at 25seanbell@gmail.com.

AMERICANTOWMAN.COM - November 2017 â&#x20AC;˘ 29

In the Eye of the Storm 2 Blown Out in St. John

Jesse Jackson was involved in a boating recovery using his 2002 Ford F-550 with a Vulcan self-loader.

A fiberglass 22’ white Shoreline was sitting atop some rocks where it was wedged next to a tree.

by George L. Nitti

T

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30 • November 2017 - TOWMAN.COM

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AMERICANTOWMAN.COM - November 2017 • 31

MTIHNTJ DPSL MT?TNRK NQI=M EQHOJ RNQHOJ SLT FRN=POC KQS@ 0PSL MQGT GQNT IRNTEHK GROTH?TNPOC> SLT AQRS DRM T?TO< SHRKKB KQRJTJ ARI= QO SQ SLT SNRPKTN ROJ FHS MRETKB ARI= PO SLT FRN=POC KQS@ RI=MQO SLTO SQQ= GT QO R NHO SQ SLT SQF QE SLT PMKROJ> DLTNT LT FQPOSTJ QHS MQGT QE SLT QSLTN JRGRCTJ ?TLPIKTM ROJ FQSTOSPRK 'QAM RKQOC SLT DRB@ 3: ATKPT?T R KQS QE SLTMT POMHNROIT IQGFROPTM GRB CQ QHS QE AHMPOTMM>2 LT MRPJ@ 3;LTNT PM 'HMS MQ GHIL JRGRCT@2 ;LT ?PMPAKT JRGRCT SQ SLT PMKROJ8M ?TLPIKTM DRM 'RD< JNQFFPOC> RM : MRD R IQHFKT QE SR1PM QO SLT MPJT QE SLT NQRJ GPMMPOC ENQOS LTRJKPCLSM ROJ NQQEM> MT?TNRK ?TLPIKTM DPSL INRI=TJ ENQOS ROJ ARI= DPOJMLPTKJM> Q?TNSHNOTJ> SNRMLTJ> ROJ AHNOS IRNM> JRGRCTJ 'TTFM DPSL DPOJMLPTKJM IQGFKTSTKB MLRSSTNTJ> JPSILTJ SNHI=M ROJ SNRISQNM> ROJ R MKTD QE IRNM QO SLT NQRJMPJT SLRS DTNT JRGRCTJ PO QOT DRB QN ROQSLTN ENQG SLT DNRSL QE SDQ MSQNGM PO SLT MFRIT QE R DTT=@ 0NTI=TJ AQRSM DTNT R OTD FRNS QE SLT KROJMIRFT RM DTKK@ RI=MQO FQPOSTJ SQ RO Q?TNSHNOTJ AQRS KRBPOC QO SLT MPJTU QEU RU LPKK>U FNTJPISPOCU SLRSU PSU IQHKJU ETSILU RMU GHILU RM />%99USQUNTIQ?TN@ ;LTOUFPI=POCUHFURUAQRSUEQNURUIKPTOS>U RI=MQOUJNQ?TUARI= JQDOUSLTUGQHOSRPO>UJTESKBUMSTTNPOCURNQHOJUSLTUOHGTNQHM LRPNFPOUSHNOMURKQOCUSLTUDRBUROJUJQDOURUNQI=BUNQRJUDLTNT GQNTU AQRSMU IQHKJU ATU MTTOU GRNQQOTJU RKQOCU 7S@U QLO8M MLQNTM@

32 â&#x20AC;¢ November 2017 - TOWMAN.COM

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George L. Nitti has written for American Towman since 2009.

He started out as a news writer and now writes a weekly feature on TowIndustryWeek.com, Tow Illustrated, which spotlights the tow truck graphics.

AD INDEX November 2017 Page# 4 State Trucks (Bawer Tool Boxes) 31 Access Tools 59 Advantage Funding 39 Agero inside back cover Akins Body & Carrier Sales 35 American Safety & Supply 26 American Wrecker Sales N 92 Atlanta Wrecker Sales N 93 Atlantic Emergency Solutions N 96 Austin Hinds Motors S 83 AutoReturn 61 AW Direct 52 B/A Products 63 B & Z Sales S 87 Beacon Software 49 Blust Sales & Service M 85 Byline Bank 26 Captain Recovery N 92, S W 87, M 88 Casanova Towing Equipment W 88 Chelsea Division of Parker 60 Chesapeake Auto Equipment N 94 Chevron Commercial 39 ComeUp USA 38 Custer Products 48 Crouch’s Wrecker Equip. & Sales 45 CTech Manufacturing N 96, M 83 CTTA 41 Danco Products 52 Deep South Wrecker Sales 60 Driveline Buddy N 94 Dual-Tech Wreckers & Carriers 27 Eartec Co. 58 East Coast Truck & Trailer N 95 East Penn Truck Equipment 47 eimpound.com 58 Elizabeth Truck Center 68 Florida Wrecker Sales S 88 FlowStop S 88 Ford Commercial Vehicles 19 Freightliner 7

34 • November 2017 - TOWMAN.COM

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Futura Trailers 41 G. Stone Commercial N 91 Ginn Carrier & Wrecker Sales 75 Hale Trailer Brake & Wheel N 83 Hino of Fort Pierce Florida 54 Hino Trucks 11 Hot Shot’s Secret 75 INA/Wreaths Across America 77 Intek Truck Eq. Finance & Lease 40 ISC Coverage N 87 Jerr-Dan Corp.

5 Kalyn Siebert 34 Kenworth of South Florida 22 Landoll Corp.

74 Len Zemenos 62 Lynch Chicago 71 Manufacturer Express 27 Maryland Carrier & Wrecker N 85 Matjack Jumbo Safelift 33 McMahon Truck Center M 87 Miller Industries 20, 21 Nation Safe Drivers (NSD) 76 New England Wrecker Sales N 89 New England Truckmaster 25 Nitro Motor Sports 38 North American BanCard 3 Northeast Wrecker Sales N 85 NRC Industries 43 OMG National N 90, S 86, M 84, W 85 Pacific General Insurance Agency M 85 Performance Advantage Co. N 89 Powerbilt Wreckers 37 Prime Industries N 87 Progressive Commercial 13 PWOF 69 Quest Towing Services 16 Ramsey Winch cover 2 Ranger SST 56 Recovery Billing 47 Renew Truck Body N 84

Page#

Rick's Truck & Equipment N 91, M 88 Road America 44 Rochester Truck N 86 Sanderson Truck Equipment 40 Santander Merchant Services 25 Santander Bank back cover Santex Wrecker Equipment 55 Sea Crest Insurance Agency W 85 Select Truck & Equipment M 86 Smyrna Truck Center S 83 Spill Tackle N 86 Steck Mfg. 14 Tipton Sales & Parts M 86 The Barnacle Parking 15 The Will-Burt Company 38 Towing.com 71, 77 Tow Industries W 87 Tow Recruiter 26 Towbook Management Software 53 Towing Payment Solutions 22 TowMate 46 Transfer Flow 70 Triple K 48 Tri-State Trailer Sales N 93, M 83 Truck Body Sales W 86 United Plastic Fabricating (UPF) 17 Urgent.ly 32 USAC/MD 36 Utility Trailer Sales S.E.TX W 88 Val 6 Heat/Powerhouse Industries 54 Warn Industries 37 Weego 23 West End Service N 84 Whelen Engineering 73 WorldClass Insurance Service W 83 Worldwide Equipment 57 Worldwide Equipment Sales W 83 Zip’s Truck Equipment 51

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AMERICANTOWMAN.COM - November 2017 • 41

DriverTrapped in Rollover

by Jim “Buck” Sorrenti

T

he late Richard “Pop” White founded White’s Gulf County Wrecker Service in Panama City, Florida, on Aug. 31, 1949, and built it with blood, sweat and tears. He turned the company into a legacy that his family has worked very hard to maintain.

Pop’s son Richard Wayne “Spud” White followed in his footsteps; Spud’s kids—son Richard Wesley “Bubba” White and daughter Hassie White—represent the third generation running the company.

Both Bubba and Hassie are trained professionals that are totally dedicated to their family and the industry. Hassie manages the family business. Bubba is a 2011 inductee into the Towman Order and hasn’t missed a step on recoveries after his lower right leg was amputated some years back due to infection after an accident. He uses a mechanical prosthetic leg to get around that keeps him working to help people during some of the worst times of their lives.

“I was born and raised in the towing business,” Hassie said.

“Learning to talk was accompanied by learning the two-way radio and ‘10 codes.’ By the time I was eight years old, I was taking down calls and dispatching them on my own.

Unlike ‘normal’ children, I would come in from school and go straight to work in the family business. By 10, I was training other dispatchers.

At 15, I was hiring dispatchers and completely running the office. … No matter how much I say I hate it at times, I love what I do. The towing

42 • November 2017 - TOWMAN.COM

Bubba White used his Century 1075 rotator to help rescue a trapped semi driver.

Hassie Explains Rapid Incident Scene Clearance (RISC)

Clearing the scene was under Florida’s RISC parameters.

industry is what I was born to do.”

Through their pursuit of excellence over the years, White’s has become the largest towing company in Florida’s Panhandle.

“We were awarded the Rapid Incident Scene Clearance contract for big truck wrecks by DOT. We are the first and only towing company on this side of Florida to be awarded the contract,” Hassie said.

Just before 8 p.m. on Sept. 3, 2017,

44 • November 2017 - TOWMAN.COM

the Florida Highway Patrol called Whites to respond under their RISC contract. The accident closed down all eastbound lanes of travel. A semi driver was trapped in his rig down a ravine. Hassie said Bubba was told to respond “as fast as he would get there, aka a 10-18.”

One semitrailer had rear-ended another; the first truck’s driver didn’t notice the other one slowing in front of him due to its faulty signals, according

Hassie explained, “They have had RISC in South and Central Florida for several years, and has proven to be a success. My brother approached the Dept. of Transportation in 2014 about launching a RISC contract in our area. We had a high demand for it, but given the type and quantities of equipment needed, we are literally the only towing company in the Panhandle of Florida to qualify for it. In order to qualify, you have to meet the following minimum requirements: Have a 50-ton or greater rotating wrecker, have another 50-ton or greater wrecker, have a Landoll or equivalent trailer, have a MOD Support truck (Carries traffic cones, brooms, shovels, torches, chains, oil dry and several other types of equipment.) You must also have proof of experience and training in heavy recovery, along with several successful heavy recoveries.”

to the Florida Highway Patrol. He ran into the back of that trailer, causing his rig to rollover, careen down an embankment and into a ravine. Rescue workers couldn’t get their equipment into where the truck driver was trapped.

Bubba responded in his 2016 Peterbilt 388 twin-steer/Century 1075 75-ton rotator. (This rig is a tribute to their grandpa and company founder.

“It reads ‘Pops.’ It’s a tribute to my grandpa … he taught me everything I know about a wrecker,” Bubba said.)

Local officials escorted Bubba to the wreck once he reached Walton County. Bubba arrived on scene just after 9 p.m.

“When I first arrived everything was bad,” Bubba said. “First responders running around everywhere not knowing what to do, helicopter landing in the middle of the interstate, tractor-trailer down in about a 40foot ravine. … The tractor-trailer was rolled down an embankment, up against a tree. The pine tree pretty well crushed the cab. The truck rolled over and trapped the driver inside the cab for more than an hour.”

Hassie said they also sent operator Eric Miele in a 2016 Pete/Century 70-ton rotator, operator Bobby Matthews in a 2015 Pete/Century 9055 50-ton heavy, operator Barney

46 • November 2017 - TOWMAN.COM

Bubba is a former AT Silver Star recipient for his dedication to towing even after his leg amputation. He said he’s seen everything you can imagine and has helped people during some of the worst times of their life.

“It took roughly an hour to get the man out once I arrived on scene. The only danger I felt was for the driver pinned inside the truck. He was up against a pine tree and couldn’t get out. Big heavy accidents, that’s what I do,” said Bubba. “We’re off in ditches, we’re off on the side of the road!”

Hassie said, “Bubba and I run our family business together. He is a Silver Star recipient, because he has continued doing all of this work with a prosthetic leg. I’m proud of him for never

letting that hold him back on what he loves. He has his moments where he struggles, but no matter what he always prevails and he has really set a high standard for our industry. He is one of the best operators on all levels, that I know of. He took a mom and pop operation, and turned it into a mega tow company that literally spans from Fort Walton Beach to Tallahassee, Florida with four other locations in between. We now have three rotators and four more 50-tons (huge deal for the panhandle), and throughout the years he has battled with cancer and staph infections that led to the loss of his driving leg. I have been wanting for a few years to nominate him to the Hall of Fame.”

Barnes in a Chevy 6500 panel truck equipped with their MOD gear, Camille “Skip” Webb with the TrailEze 53’ trailer and “Monk” as an extra hand.

“I had to pretty well back my 75ton rotator down the 40-foot embankment so we could get close enough to it,” Bubba said. “I ran my boom all the way out and pulled the truck back over to lift the cab up; and pull the steering column up.

“Then I showed the fire department where they could get the Jaws of Life in and cut the cab apart. We had to cut the seat apart with a Sawzall, and we had to spread the cab open to get the man’s feet out, where they could free him to get him to the helicopter.”

Walton County Fire Rescue and Argyle Volunteer Fire Department also responded to the wreck. They gave Bubba total credit for saving the truck driver’s life.

“It was a team effort, all working against the clock; not only to free the

man, but to clear the interstate which was shut down for about four hours,” Bubba said.

Once they got the man out, they airlifted him to Bay Medical Center in Panama City with serious injuries, but he survived the crash.

After the driver was out and on his way to the hospital, Bubba and the crew dealt with the trailers.

“It was a double trailer rig and they separated the load,” Hassie said.

The 70-ton rotator took the truck and the 50-ton Century hauled the trail-

ers with a fifth-wheel attachment. All roadways were open and clear by 12:19 a.m. The vehicles were transported to White’s yard in Panama City.

Bubba is a big man, with a big truck, and an even bigger heart. He has faced adversity with dignity.

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.

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AMERICANTOWMAN.COM - November 2017 • 47

Allison Plans 9-Speed Automatic Allison Transmission (allisontransmission.com) plans to release the first nine-speed fully automatic transmission in 2020, offering fuel savings and to help meet the next round of emissions standards.

“This nine-speed product launch represents the first in a number of new products which will demonstrate

Allison’s ongoing commitment to addressing the global challenge of improved fuel efficiency and reduced greenhouse gases,” said Randy Kirk, SVP of product engineering and product teams.

The new 9-speed will reach up to 7 percent greater fuel efficiency than the base six-speed model, he said.

The new transmission marks the first of its kind for the medium-duty market and is ideal for Classes 3-7, Kirk said.

The company said the new transmission will improve driver comfort with smaller steps, a smoother start, and improved acceleration.

Allison Transmission also recently added its xFE fuel-saving technology on two more of its medium-duty transmissions, including the 1000 Series and 2000 Series.

The xFE technology is said to improve fuel efficiency by 7 percent when compared to baseline models and was already available on select 3000 Series models.

The 1000 Series and 2000 Series transmissions are usually paired with smaller medium-duty trucks and buses. The xFE transmissions are compatible with alternative fuel engines.

Pro-Vision Attains Inc. 5000 Again Pro-Vision Video Systems (provisionusa.com) recently was ranked for the seventh consecutive year by “Inc.” magazine on its annual ranking of the nation’s fastest-growing private companies. This year’s ranking places ProVision among a select group of only seven manufacturers that have earned this honor each of the past seven years.

With the 2017 performance, ProVision also retains the title of the fastest-growing video system manufacturer in the country and the distinction of being one of the top 0.1 percent performing businesses in America.

“We are truly honored to join a select group of companies that have made the Inc. 5000 list seven times,” said Steve Peacock, founder/CEO of Pro-Vision.

The average company on the 2017 Inc. 5000 list achieved a three-year average growth of 481 percent. The Inc. 5000’s aggregate revenue is $206 billion, and the companies on the list collectively generated 619,500 jobs over the past three years.

TowShow.com

48 • November 2017 - TOWMAN.COM

Carrier Transport: In Park, E-Brake On?

by Randall C. Resch

T

he emergency brake in-gear dispute has been argued for years … ever since carriers entered the scene. In my April American Towman column, “Creative Four-Point Tie-Downs,” I recommended that vehicles transported on flatbed carriers should be in gear with emergency brakes engaged.

Whenever the E-brake topic is mentioned, tow owners are critical to the technique of standing or walking on a carrier’s tilted deck for potential of slip and fall accidents. There’s a bigger picture when it comes to potential runaway vehicles and what law enforcement, scale officers, or the courts may perceive.

Have you ever observed a transported vehicle that’s moving slightly forward and rearward when the carrier was in motion? Have you ever had, or heard of, a loaded vehicle dropping one of its forward bridle hooks, T-hooks or rearward J-hooks during transport? These all are potential rollaway vehicles.

Title 49 Federal transport requirements that address rollaways include several passages within Title 49 CFR Section 393. On prevention against loss of load it states, “Each commercial motor vehicle must, when transporting cargo on public roads, be loaded and equipped, and the cargo secured, in accordance with this subpart to prevent the cargo from leaking, spilling, blowing or falling from the motor vehicle.

Standards to secure include, “All devices and systems used to secure cargo to or within a vehicle must be capable,” and that tie-downs “must be attached and secured in a manner that prevents it from becoming loose, 50 • November 2017 - TOWMAN.COM

unfastening, or opening.”

Section 393 also states these cargo rules apply “to the transportation of automobiles, light trucks, and vans which individually weigh [10,000 lbs.] or less. … Automobiles, light trucks, and vans must be restrained at both the front and rear to prevent lateral, forward, rearward, and vertical movement using a minimum of two tiedowns.”

Like tow operators, police and scale officers have their own perception and interpretation regarding what’s safe and what’s not.

(Many states require additional carrier safety and securement by mandating four-point tie-down.)

Commercial officers in California, Florida and New York shared (below) some pertinent information regarding their states’ requirements on transport safety and secured vehicles beyond Title 49 regulations.

From the California Vehicle Code: “It is unlawful to operate any vehicle or combination of vehicles which is in an unsafe condition, or which is not safely loaded, and which presents an immediate safety hazard.”

In Florida: “A vehicle may not be driven or moved on any highway

unless the vehicle is so constructed or loaded as to prevent any of its load from dropping, shifting, leaking, blowing, or otherwise escaping therefrom.”

In New York: “Vehicles engaged in the transportation of logs and other materials: No vehicle which is designed or used for the purpose of hauling logs or other materials which by their very nature may shift or roll so as to be likely to fall from such vehicle, shall be operated or moved over any highway unless its load is securely fastened by such safety chains, cables or other suitable devices as will effectively prevent the shifting or falling of such load or any part thereof from the vehicle.”

Keep It Simple Here’s a simple mechanical process to consider: Park a 4,000-lbs.

Honda on a minimally level surface with its E-brake applied and transmission in gear. The vehicle remains secured (not moveable however slight) and goes nowhere. Release the Ebrake, shift the transmission to neutral and the vehicle will assuredly roll.

That’s as simple as it gets. A vehicle that’s in neutral with no E-brake is capable of rollaway.

A freewheeling vehicle, with no operator in place to steer/brake, is unstoppable and capable of great bodily harm or death. When accidental rollaway cases go to court, this simple premise is what the plaintiff’s counsel oftentimes offers up to the jury as a basis to simple safety.

The bigger picture is specific to police and commercial scale officers who may perceive vehicles as not safely restrained or secured; they may view the load as dangerous. The operable word is “perceive.” Like tow operators, police and scale officers have

their own perception and interpretation regarding what’s safe and what’s not. If an officer perceives the load as unsafe, they’ll write the citation.

For towers who err on the side of caution and safety, having the Ebrake on and transmission in gear is the safer “perceived” process; slip and fall is a secondary consideration.

If tow owners don’t want drivers on the carrier’s tilted deck, that’s a decision they make. However, that’s a weak excuse in the eyes of a traffic court judge who typically considers the law’s written word.

The arguments are: • We never go onto a tilted carrier for any reason.

• It’s dangerous if there’s oil on the deck.

• I don’t want my drivers to accidentally slip and fall from a tilted deck.

The reasonable rebuttals: • If tow owners don’t want drivers on a carrier’s deck, then why do tow companies conduct

52 • November 2017 - TOWMAN.COM

motorcycle loads by climbing onto a carrier’s tilted deck in similar fashion?

• If tow owners don’t want drivers on a tilted carrier’s deck, then why do tow companies conduct forklift and other product loads by climbing onto a carrier’s deck in similar fashion?

• If using skates potentially solves the problem of keeping towers off the deck, why don’t all companies supply or use skates to their advantage?

• If an E-brake was only used and applied part way as a means to apply resistance, would a vehicle tend to slow its escape because of the added resistance?

As an option to not being on a tilted deck, why not winch the vehicle onto a carrier’s deck using skates and apply a lawful and appropriate tiedown? Another option: winch the vehicle forward, set the deck, and then climb up and forward onto the level deck after it’s fully secured and apply the E-brake.

In theory, if the car is secured, it shouldn’t rock back and forth, but in the event something goes wrong (a single, rearward safety chain breaks or ratchet strap breaks during impact), the transported vehicle would have less chance of rolling through the back of the carrier’s cab if the transmission and E-brake were applied.

More Is Better Although I find no vehicle code or federal law that mandates light-duty vehicles must be in park or E-brake on, the key to solid vehicle restraint is whatever techniques, applications or equipment attachments successfully provide restraint in all directions.

When “more is better” is a considering factor, in park with E-brake applied allows for greater safety and rollaway prevention during carrier transport.

More is better appears to be inline with TRAA’s Online National Certification Manual as well which states, “Once the vehicle is in position, the vehicle’s transmission should be placed in park and the parking brakes applied.” Equally so, the Utah Safety Council’s “Tow Truck Driver’s Safety Certification Guide” directs towers to “Engage the transmission of the disabled vehicle in its lowest gear, or in PARK, and set the parking brake.”

So, when a judge asks, “What did you do to ensure that your transported vehicle was completely restrained and secured?,” wouldn’t you agree that the process of in gear with E-brake applied offers a greater level of safety?

Operations Editor Randall C. Resch is a retired California police officer and veteran tow business owner, manager, consultant and trainer. He writes for TowIndustryWeek.com and American Towman, is a member of the International Towing & Recovery Hall of Fame.

Email Randy at rreschran@gmail.com.

54 • November 2017 - TOWMAN.COM

Front row, from left: Susan Sweezy, Cherie Owens, Vas Bennett, Jamie Dougherty, Bruce Pedigo, Jeff Martin. Back row, from left: John Sweezy III, Jason Grinstead, John Sweezy Jr., Max Kramer, Dale McLaughlin, Howard Eagan.

MatJack Team Assembled There was an unusual occurrence at MatJack’s headquarters recently: the whole staff was there.

Owner John Sweezy Jr. said that the company moved in to the location a few years ago, “but this was the first time everyone was there with the staff since several people work other places too.

“It’s almost impossible to get everyone together. This one almost didn’t happen due to needing to get to the training yard,” he said.

Gen. Hayden to Keynote Work Truck Show 2018 U.S. Gen. Michael Hayden, a retired four-star general and former director of the Central Intelligence Agency and National Security Agency, will serve as keynote speaker at The Work Truck Show 2018 during the President’s Breakfast & NTEA Annual Meeting on March 8.

The Work Truck Show (worktruckshow.com) is scheduled March 6-9 at the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis, Indiana.

As head of the country’s premier intelligence agencies through two presidential administrations from 19992009, Hayden was on the frontline of global change, the war on terrorism and the growing cyber security challenge. He understands the dangers, risks and potential rewards of the political, economic and security situations our country—and the world—are currently facing.

In addition to leading CIA and NSA, Hayden was the country’s first principal deputy director of national intelligence and the highest-ranking military intelligence officer in the country. In all of these jobs, he worked to put a human face on American intelligence.

56 • November 2017 - TOWMAN.COM

Zip’s Supports Move Over, Survivor Fund Move Over laws have been added to every state in the country to help protect not only roadside workers and personnel, but motorists as well. Every day highway helpers, law enforcement, emergency personnel and tow truck operators are putting their lives on the line for others.

As a way to promote and remind drivers of these laws, Zip’s Truck Equipment (zips.com) in New Hampton, Iowa, has created “Slow Down, Move Over” vinyl vehicle decals and shirts for purchase on their website.

The Zip’s perforated and vinyl window decals portray the “Slow Down, Move Over” message visually on any vehicle. When mounted on the window, these decals can be seen through from the inside of a truck cab while being seen clearly by anyone viewing the truck from the outside as well.

The decals can be placed on any part of a truck, including the pylon or boom and come in two messages, either “It’s the Law” or “It Saves Lives.” They also come in a variety of sizes and colors that are easily matched to a vehicle’s color.

Seeing these decals will be a colorful reminder for motorists to be aware and safe when seeing a vehicle that is slow moving, stopped or stranded on the shoulder.

58 • November 2017 - TOWMAN.COM

Show support for the movement by wearing a “Slow Down, Move Over” shirt from Zip’s. These shirts are made from a tri-blend color fabric and are available in short-, long- and 3/4-sleeve lengths.

A portion of the proceeds from these products will be donated to the Survivor Fund, which provides immediate financial support to families of towing operators who lose their lives in the line of service.

60 â&#x20AC;¢ November 2017 - TOWMAN.COM

Isuzu Launches Spanish Website Isuzu Commercial Truck of America Inc. recently announced its isuzucv.com website now is available in Spanish as well as English.

Users can easily see each page in Spanish by clicking the link next to the Isuzu logo at the top of the page.

For nearly a year, Isuzu has posted Spanish-language driver orientation and emissions system informational videos on its site. Now, the entire site is available in Spanish. On the home page, users may simply click on the video link at the bottom of the home page for English, Spanish and French.

The website offers visitors product information and specifications about Isuzu N-Series Class 3 through 5 trucks and the all-new Class 6 Isuzu FTR. Functionality includes a dealer locator; comparison tool; “get-aquote” feature; information about Isuzu parts, accessories and warranties; videos; an owners’ section; details about available financing and leasing programs and more.

Survivor Fund for each ICOM Propane Autogas System purchased and utilized in a tow truck fleet in the United States and Canada.

The organizations said in a statement this will have a positive impact for the families left behind from the tragedies of towmen who have lost their lives in service to the industry and their communities.

“As a 10-year veteran of the towing and recovery industry I know of many tragedies that have and continue to occur on our nation’s roads caused by impaired, inattentive and distracted

drivers,” said Ronny Martinez, national tow sector specialist for ICOM, “and ICOM wanted to be involved in increasing awareness that hopefully can prevent tragedies in the future and help the families of those tragedies.

“We are excited to be working close with the Towing and Recovery Association of America on this plan,” he said.

ICOM Chairman Albert Venezio added that it was Martinez who brought the idea to him, and he immediately signed on.

continue to page 62

Elmore Named Muncie Executive Muncie Power Products (muncie power.com) recently named Damon Elmore as its new senior executive director of people strategy and general counsel.

In this role, Elmore will serve as the company’s in-house legal counsel and liaison with all external legal firms representing Muncie Power Products as well as lead the company’s people strategy.

Responsibilities will include overseeing acquisitions, strategic planning, human resources, succession planning and adult learning.

ICOM Donates to Survivor Fund ICOM North America and the Towing and Recovery Association of America recently announced that for all members of TRAA, a donation of $250 will be made to the ITRHFM Work the non-traffic side–Stay Safe!

AMERICANTOWMAN.COM - November 2017 • 61

SUPPLIER SCOOP continued from page 61 “When Ronny alerted me about how prevalent this issue was and the impact of these tragedies on the families of these hard-working folks and about the Survivor Fund we put our heads together with TRAA and came up with this wonderful plan to help those families and increase awareness.”

Source: TRAA.

Jeff McKinney Joins Akins Sales Jeff McKinney has joined Akins Ford (akinsautos.com) in Winder, Georgia, as its Towing & Recovery Sales Manager. He began his career in the towing industry in 1986 as a product demonstrator for Century Wreckers.

He traveled throughout the southeast showing customers the revolutionary new product … the wheel lift.

After graduating from The Citadel in 1989, McKinney moved to Miami, Florida, as a towing equipment sales representative for R/T Equipment. He ultimately became the GM for Southern Wrecker Sales’ Tampa location.

62 • November 2017 - TOWMAN.COM

He served in that capacity until 1996 when he launched Atlanta Wrecker & Carrier Sales Inc. in Smyrna, Georgia.

Under McKinney’s leadership, AWCS became Jerr-Dan’s No. 1 distributor for 10 straight years, and added offices in Georgia and expanded into South Carolina and Florida. He sold the Georgia and South Carolina offices in 2007 and continued to operate in Florida (Florida Wrecker Sales) until 2010 when that business unit was sold.

McKinney then worked as a small business consultant and real estate investor until joining Worldwide Equipment in 2015 as Director of Dealer/Distribution Development.

Hino Expands U.S. Operations Hino (hino.com) recently announced a substantial investment plan to strengthen its U.S. operations with the introduction of a new truck line and new facilities.

At a press conference in West Vir-

ginia, Hino announced its plan to purchase the former Cold Water Creek distribution center and convert it into its new truck assembly plant in Mineral Wells, West Virginia, close to its current plant.

The new plant, planned to be operational in early 2019, will also house cab assembly, an operation currently conducted in Japan.

“The new plant, which is four times the size of our current plant, will allow us to combine several assembly operations under one roof which will provide significant efficiency gains,” said Takashi Ono, president of Hino Motors Manufacturing USA. The total investment to the new plant will be approximately $100 million, creating about 250 new jobs in early 2020.

The new truck assembly plant will produce a new line of Class 7 and 8 trucks powered by Hino’s A09 9L engine; the new truck is slated to be available in 2019 and revealed in March

continue to page 68

Towing’s PR Bonanza

by Steve Calitri

N

ever before in the 100-year history of towing has the industry soared in the regard of first responders and the public. By the time you are reading this, the Spirit Ride will have passed through thousands of municipalities, relaying the Spirit Casket in 140 towns and cities, drawing media attention to the tune of 150 newspaper articles, 75 television news reports and dozens of radio interviews. The message of a united towing industry honoring fallen first responders and promoting highway safety and the Move Over laws will have reached millions of motorists.

The Spirit Ride message is broad and powerful: towers and other first

responders face great risk while working on the roadsides and they need room to operate. There are hundreds of casualties a year and 60 percent of them are towers. Among police officers, firefighters, and emergency medical and tow operators, 100 of them are struck and killed by passing vehicles annually. Sixty of them are towers.

The Spirit Casket pays tribute to all fallen first responders, the Spirit Ride is led by the towing industry. A car carrier bears the Spirit casket.

While police, fire and EMS personnel have a significant presence in the Spirit ceremonies and their emergency vehicles join in the processions, it is the tow truck that has the greater presence with but a few exceptions.

AMERICAN TOWMAN

GPS Tracking Provided by Join the Spirit Ride processions.

Sign up at ATSpiritRide.com Date

Time

City

11/01/2017 11 am Smithfield, VA Ryan Brown Dave's Service Center Inc 11/02/2017 11 am Meherrin, VA Joseph Kellum Joe's Towing 11/03/2017 10 am Colonial Heights, VA Christy Palmer Archileti Palmer's Towing 11/03/2017 11 am Colonial Heights, VA Tricia Palmer B&T Towing 11/04/2017 11 am Chesterfield, VA Bruce Eagle Eagle Towing 11/07/2017 10 am Providence Forge, VA Jeni Webb Dennis' Towing & Recovery 11/08/2017 11 am Bowling Green, VA Mark Giles Jr Bud's Towing 11/09/2017 10 am Landover, MD Kevin Herbert Charley's Crane Service 11/09/2017 11 am Washington, DC Tarek Aburish District Towing 11/10/2017 10 am Laurel, MD Jim Beatty Past & Present Towing & Recovery 11/10/2017 2 pm Owings Mills, MD Anthony Pezzella Apex Towing Service 11/10/2017 3 pm Cockeysville, MD Kathy Linhard Linhard’s Towing Inc 11/17/2017 9 am Cockeysville, MD Kathy Linhard Linhard’s Towing Inc 11/17/2017 10:30 am Columbia, MD Fritz Dahlin Ted’s Towing At B/A Products Plant 11/17/2017 5 pm Baltimore, MD Martin Ziegler Ted’s Towing AT Exposition XXIX

Mike Corbin performs “Bless the Spirit Riders” before recruits of the Connecticut Police Academy standing before him. Left, Amy Parmenter of the AAA Hartford Club addresses the audience. Amy and the Club organized the Ride in Meriden and onto Canton.

Right, picture-taking of the Spirit Casket during the West Haven Ride organized by Bruneau's Garage with help from the Northeast AAA Club.

64 • November 2017 - TOWMAN.COM

Work the non-traffic side–Stay Safe!

AMERICANTOWMAN.COM - November 2017 • 65

J&J Towing carrying Spirit for the procession through Staten Island and across the Verrazano Bridge into Brooklyn and onto JFK Airport for a ceremony with Mike's HD Towing.

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Sponsors

Founding Sponsors

Contribute to the Spirit Ride at www.ATSpiritRide.com

Anonymous

AMERICAN TOWMAN

Carnaghi Towing & Repair

Work the non-traffic side–Stay Safe!

AMERICANTOWMAN.COM - November 2017 • 67

SUPPLIER SCOOP continued from page 62 at the 2018 NTEA Work Truck Show.

Hino also broke ground in September on a new corporate office in Novi, Michigan, to consolidate sales, marketing, service, engineering, purchasing and manufacturing. Hino’s Insight Diagnostic Center, which monitors vehicle performance and uptime for all Hino trucks equipped with Insight, will also operate out of the Novi headquarters.

Chevrolet Offers Class 4/5 Silverados Chevrolet recently announced it will offer Class 4 and 5 versions of its Silverado for commercial users.

Chevrolet will initially offer 4500 and 5500 Silverado medium-duty trucks as chassis cabs when the trucks go on sale in 2018.

The move comes as Chevrolet is expanding its commercial truck lineup. They will release additional details about the vehicles soon.

Earlier this year, the company

68 • November 2017 - TOWMAN.COM

announced it will offer a Class 6 Low Cab Forward model. Chevrolet is also developing a medium-duty straight truck in a partnership with Navistar.

Source: worktruckonline.com.

Expensing Truck Purchases to IRS Mitsubishi Fuso Truck of America (mitfuso.com) recently advised that the U.S. Internal Revenue Code Section 179 (commonly referred to as IRC-179) allows businesses to expense up to $500,000 in tax year 2017 for certain capital expenditures, including commercial work trucks.

Normally, capital expenditures must be handled as depreciable assets.

However, provisions of IRC-179 allow a taxpayer to elect to treat the cost of qualifying Section 179 property as an expense in the tax year in which the equipment is placed in service, rather than as a depreciable asset charged to a capital account.

For qualifying equipment placed

in service in a business’s tax year beginning in 2017, the limit is $500,000.

As specific provisions and restrictions do apply and every business’s tax situation is unique, Mitsubishi Fuso advised business owners should consult their own tax accountants or attorneys to determine how much tax saving, if any, IRC-179 could provide.

15k Freightliners to Old Dominion Freightliner Trucks (freigh tliner.com) and Old Dominion Freight Line (odfl.com) recently celebrated its longtime partnership at Daimler Truck North America’s Cleveland, North Carolina, truck manufacturing plant.

Old Dominion CEO David Congdon was behind the wheel of a new Freightliner Cascadia for a ceremonial roll off the assembly line to mark the 15,000th Freightliner purchased by

continue to page 70

SUPPLIER SCOOP continued from page 68 Old Dominion. The truck was also the first new Cascadia model to be built at the Cleveland plant.

The ceremony took place at the plant’s truck museum, where some of DTNA’s most notable trucks and the company’s history in Cleveland is showcased. Old Dominion executives toured the assembly line, inspected the robotics and manufacturing processes, and met with the plant employees who helped build the truck.

“Here are two companies that since day one, wake up every morning, tighten their boot straps, and aggressively make sure that day-inand-day out, they deliver on time and with quality,” said Roger Nielsen, President and CEO, DTNA. “It’s an honor to support Old Dominion as it delivers premium service to their customers across the United States.”

NTSB: Autopilot Key in Crash The National Transportation Safety Board’s finding that Tesla’s

70 • November 2017 - TOWMAN.COM

Autopilot shares the blame for a fatal crash with a truck in Florida last year underscores the need for Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards covering automated driver assistance technologies, Consumer Watchdog said.

The NTSB’s findings came an hour before the Department of Transportation and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration released new autonomous vehicle guidance, “A Vision for Safety 2.0,” which explicitly ignored so-called Level 2 technologies like Autopilot.

At the DOT-NHTSA news conference in Ann Arbor, Michigan, announcing the new federal voluntary self-driving guidelines, an NHTSA spokesman said the agency hadn’t yet reviewed the NTSB findings.

NTSB chair Robert Sumwalt said the Tesla’s “operational limitations played a major role in this collision.”

The board unanimously recommended that automakers be required to limit the use of partially self-driving technology by ensuring that drivers are actively engaged in driving at all

times. The board concluded that Tesla’s method of making sure the driver’s hands are periodically on the wheel is not enough. A possible solution could be a camera that tracks eye movement.

Source: consumerwatchdog.org.

Steck Names New President Steck Manufacturing (steck mfg.com) has named Chris Brill as its new president and sales/marketing lead effective Jan. 1. He joined Steck in 2010 as CFO. He is a CPA and has degrees in Accounting and Operations Management.

“We were very fortunate to be able to introduce a number of new and innovative tools,” said John Brill, president, who will be starting semiretirement after joining the company in 2004.

He said Rick Vogel will continue on as VP of operations, and Ryan Steberl and Matt Will will run marketing and sales.

Work the non-traffic side–Stay Safe!

AMERICANTOWMAN.COM - November 2017 • 71

Chasing Mad Mike and Fat Louie

Illustrated by Don Lomax

by Mark Lacek

S

ometimes I run away from home—I pack a bag and off I go. Actually, I’ll be out with a stack of repo files chasing down over-the-road truckers for two or three weeks at a time. Locating a rogue trucker who has skipped out on a $150,000 loan often requires a commitment of time and travel.

It was a few years ago, maybe 10, that I had a repossession assignment for a new yellow Peterbilt 379; the truck’s owner was known as “Mad Mike.” Mad Mike lived in his truck and didn’t hang around any one place for more than a day or two.

72 • November 2017 - TOWMAN.COM

The clerk remembered Mad Mike; that is, he remembered the yellow big rig.

I was tracking Mad Mike by his phone calls: Every time he would make a long-distance call, I received a digital message on his location. (I can no longer do this … don’t ask.) I

received a message he was at a motel in Kokomo, Indiana, just about 1,000 miles from my home in central Florida.

Within 45 minutes, I was out the door: I-75 up to Chattanooga, I-24 to Nashville to I-65 northbound past Indianapolis, north on State Route 31 into the blazing metropolis of Kokomo. I was at the Motel 6 in Kokomo 15 hours later. The clerk remembered Mad Mike; that is he remembered the yellow big rig; he had checked out that morning.

The hours had caught up with me and I needed some rest. In the back of the parking lot, I put the seat back and

began to nod. I woke up to the sound of my pager sending me another number; Mad Mike was in Chicago, Illinois, at a frozen-food warehouse.

Three hours later, I was staring down a long line of trucks waiting to unload.

I asked about the yellow Peterbilt; the gate guard confirmed my fears.

“You’re looking for Mad Mike? He left a couple hours ago with a fresh load,” he said. For $20, the guard gave me the contact name and number for Mad Mike’s broker, “Fat Louie.” (Of course, right?)

It’s a tough job being a broker/dispatcher: long hours, late-night calls from drivers looking for advances and fierce competition. Fat Louie dispatched out of a small office near the food terminal in Chicago. He looked just like you’d imagine: He was behind a desk yelling into the phone obscured by a haze of cigar smoke while half of a greasy double cheeseburger sat on the desk.

I walked into the mess this guy called his office. He looked at me and pointed to an empty chair in front of him. I sat down. Fat Louie slammed the phone down so hard, the second half of that double cheeseburger flipped onto the floor; we both looked at it and I tried not to laugh.

“I’m looking for Mad Mike,” I said. Fat Louie reached down, picked up the burger and took a huge mouthful.

“I don’t turn on my drivers,” he said. “Besides, you look like a repo man, and I don’t help repo men!”

So, $100 later I was on my way to Atlanta, Georgia. I was southbound on I-75 and it took about two hours to discharge the image of Fat Louie from my memory banks.

Mad Mike had an appointment at an Atlanta cold storage facility to deliver a “hot load.” My objective was to get there before he did. I was three hours behind and had to pick up the pace.

It’s not easy to miss a yellow Peterbilt 379. Imagine a 30-foot banana with chrome stacks heading down the road. I was just north of Dalton, Georgia, when I unexpectedly zipped by Mad Mike. (My speedometer showed I was going about 90 mph—it’s diffiWork the non-traffic side–Stay Safe!

cult to follow someone while in front of them.) I jumped into the slow lane in front of an old Mack dump truck and waited for the yellow Pete to pass me, which he did a minute later.

Just south of Dalton is a Pilot Travel Center and Mad Mike was headed to the exit. I like to trail about a half a klick (1/3 of a mile) behind a target when I’m tailing someone on a four-lane highway; on a clear day it’s easy to spot your prey. Mad Mike moved into the exit lane and a minute later he was pulling in line by the diesel pumps at the truck stop.

If you know me, you know I

always keep a bag of goodies within arm’s reach with a slim-jim, a door wedge, a lock-pick set and a few hand tools. On this day, I also had a set of Peterbilt master keys in my pocket.

Repossessing at a truck stop is old hat to me. Like hundreds of times before, I parked my pickup in front of the truck stop where the regular citizens park, grabbed my goodie bag and set up inside by a window where I could watch Mad Mike and the yellow Pete by the pumps.

The normal routine for a trucker is to fuel up, pull forward about 100 feet so the next truck can begin fueling,

AMERICANTOWMAN.COM - November 2017 • 73

and go inside to pay. Just as I hoped, Mad Mike left the banana-yellow Peterbilt running. Over at the counter I saw about three guys in line at the fuel clerk, so I knew I had as much time as I needed.

I opened the door and pulled myself up into the cab; immediately I was looking back into the sleeper to make certain I was alone. All clear.

I pushed in the brake release, eased it into a forward gear and began rolling. My eyes were on the door mirrors, watching for any foot pursuit behind me as I pulled out of the fuel area. All clear.

Rounding the corner, pulling away from the back of the truck stop I get into another gear and head onto the frontage road … red light. Damn!

What seemed like forever in reality was about 30 seconds before I was rolling again, willing the Buick in front of me to pick up speed.

Within about 90 seconds of stepping into the Peterbilt, I was in about ninth gear and on the southbound ramp of I-75. After about five minutes,

74 • November 2017 - TOWMAN.COM

southbound and on the move, I reached into it and finally grabbed 16th gear. I looked up and turned on the Cobra CB to listen to the chatter. It was about another minute before I heard someone screaming about a truck stolen from the fuel pumps.

On this day, I also had a set of Peterbilt master keys in my pocket.

I learned a long time ago always to have the county sheriff’s contact info ready. I was dialing the number when I spotted the first patrol car in my rearview mirror. At the same time, an unmarked unit flew passed me at about 90 mph (just 1 mph faster than what I was doing) … and then another.

Then I saw another two patrol cars in

the rearview mirror just before their red-and-blue lights started flashing.

I began downshifting and it was about a full minute later when I gradually pulled the yellow rig safely to the berm. I turned on flashers, set the brakes and began to exit the cab with the repossession paperwork in hand.

From experience, I raised the paperwork in the air and said the magic word, “Repossession,” twice … loudly.

The officers’ faces fell, turning from excitement to boredom showing their fading hope of arresting an international truck thief. After 10 minutes of checking my credentials and a few laughs, I was southbound again.

When I got Mad Mike’s load delivered to the cold storage, I learned that it was … bananas. Figures!

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.

Work the non-traffic side–Stay Safe!

AMERICANTOWMAN.COM - November 2017 • 75

More than 10,000 Have Completed RISC Programs Recovery Industry Services Co. recently noted it has certified more than 10,000 industry professionals in its Certified Asset Recovery Specialist and Certified Asset Recovery Specialist-Forwarding Company certification programs.

Since June, more than 3,000 individuals have become CARS certified.

RISC said that finance companies, forwarders and repossession professionals have sought standardized training programs and reporting to internal and third-party auditors as well as the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. The industry’s focus on compliance has created a surge in the number of companies that require CARS certification for all employees.

“Since June, more than 3,000 individuals have become CARS certified, with another 2,800 professionals currently preparing for the exam,” said RISC founder Stamatis Ferarolis.

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This spring, RISC created its CARSFC training program as an extension of the industry standard CARS program. CARS-FC consists of a comprehensive set of applicable laws and regulations specific to forwarding company personnel to provide standardized training in all areas of compliance.

Source: autoremarketing.com

Felony Charges for Threats, Damage In Wilmington, Illinois, a 40-yearold man is facing a pair of felony charges in connection with repossession of his vehicle.

Robert A. Brown was arrested and charged with intimidation and criminal damage to property.

According to court documents, Brown threatened to harm a repo agent who came to repossess a vehicle in September. Brown “without lawful authority, knowingly communicated a threat to go in his home, get a weapon and be ready to use it against (the man),” court documents state.

The repo agent showed up with a court order to take possession of a car.

The complaint also states that Brown took out his frustrations against the agent’s flatbed tow truck, causing somewhere between $500 and $10,000 damage.

The Wilmington Police Depart-

ment was called to the scene and officers took Brown into custody; he was later released on a personal recognizance bond.

Source: patch.com

Agent Injures Woman, Arrested A repo agent who struck and injured a woman as he repossessed her car recently now faces felony charges.

William Greer, 45, of Tallassee, Alabama, was charged with leaving the scene of an accident where there was personal injury, said Alexander City Police Chief Jay Turner.

“The information gathered shows Greer had keys and had gotten into the vehicle and the victim came out and wanted to get a car seat and other items from the vehicle,” Turner said.

“It appears that he then tried to speed away and ran over the woman’s foot and took down a neighbor’s mailbox in the process.

“Now don’t get me wrong, they have the right to take the vehicle if they have proof that the person is in default, but they can’t break the law in the process. Leaving the scene of accident is a crime and leaving one where there is a personal injury makes it a felony. That’s why we have charged him.”

Source: alexcityoutlook.com.

Work the non-traffic side–Stay Safe!

AMERICANTOWMAN.COM - November 2017 • 77

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1-800-246-4785 540-797-2567 • • • • •

Sliders Quick Swaps Air Cushions Sliding Rotators Fixed Boom Rollbacks

robertyoungtrucks.com Work the non-traffic side–Stay Safe!

AMERICANTOWMAN.COM - November 2017 • 79

‘Big Red’ Legacy

by Jim “Buck” Sorrenti

P

earce Truck & Auto, a family repair and towing business based in Martin, Tennessee, was started by Eddie Pearce as a DX service station and repair shop in 1965. He added towing two years later. (DX was a popular gasoline brand in the Midwest region; in the late 1960s Sunray DX merged with Sun Oil Co., or Sunoco.

The DX brand was retired in the 1980s and Sunoco became the company's only brand.)

Eddie worked side by side with his wife, Judy, and sons Joe and Michael until he passed away in September 2016.

“My Dad had traveled, literally, all over the country retrieving wrecks and breakdowns for trucking companies, as well as ourselves, for many years,” Joe said. “We currently have five of us in the shop, including Michael and I, with

Tech Highlights Chassis: 2004 Peterbilt 378 sleeper.

Wrecker: 2004 Challenger 9909.

Engine: Caterpillar C15.

Trans: Eaton 18-speed.

Winches: 60,000-lbs. two-speed main, 50,000-lbs. two-speed auxiliary.

Equipment: SDU-2 underlift; power touch controls; camera system; power inverter with battery recharge station.

Paint/Graphics: Randy Jowers, Jowers Sign Co.

80 • November 2017 - TOWMAN.COM

The Pearce family is proud to be recognized as one of the Towman 500

by American Towman Magazine.

mom handling the dispatching and accounting.”

Pearce has a varied fleet of equipment that includes four heavies. The newest addition to their fleet, “Big Red,” is a grand rotator that has become the flagship of their fleet.

In December 2015, Eddie was in

Sedalia, Missouri, to pick up a wrecked semi for a local customer. While he was there, he took a close look at the Challenger 9909 70-ton rotator at Don’s Truck Towing and Truck Wash.

“It was a healthy monster, standing tall and looking brand new. It was just like what Dad would order if he bought one new: Peterbilt chassis, Cat-powered, with a sleeper and the wrecker body that left no guessing it would get the job done,” Joe said.

“Dad took several pictures of this truck and begged Mr. Don to name a price. Mr. Don refused, as he planned to keep this truck until he retired. Dad called me on his way home and he kept saying, ‘Joe you don’t understand. This truck is huge! I mean huge!’ I’d say we talked until he was halfway home about this truck and how badly he wanted it.

Judy Pearce flanked by her sons Joe and Michael.

Dad had a taste for the best of quality, not necessarily new,” Joe said.

Sadly, Eddie was diagnosed with lymphoma in May 2016. He began chemo treatments right away. He passed away on Sept. 7, 2016, from pneumonia that was believed caused by the chemo.

“One thing he taught us was mentioned by one of the preachers at his funeral,” Joe said. “Dad’s philosophy was, ‘Go big, or go home.’ He went big in everything, but we’re saddened that he has now gone home.”

Michael happened to call Randy at Purpose Wrecker Sales in April to see what he had coming in stock; pictures and specs for three units were emailed over.

“Oddly enough, he only sent information and pictures of one truck,” Joe said. “You guessed it: the Challenger 9909! … It took Michael and I a minute or two to remember where we had seen this before. After zooming in on the door of the truck, we saw the town and immediately recognized that it was Dad’s pick! We put a deposit on the truck right away.

“We started calling it ‘Big Red’

Work the non-traffic side–Stay Safe!

The Eddie’s Legacy graphic was done

by Randy Jowers, Jowers Sign Co.

around the office. We have heard others refer to it by that name in the community, so it spread quickly, I guess.”

Big Red is a 2004 Challenger 9909 70-ton rotator mounted on a 2004 Peterbilt 378 sleeper. It’s powered by a Caterpillar C15 mated to an Eaton 18-speed transmission. It’s equipped with an SDU-2 underlift, power touch controls, a camera system and a power inverter with battery recharge station and has a 60,000-lbs. two-speed main winch and a 50,000-lbs. two-speed auxiliary.

“The story behind this truck inspired us to put a reminder of Dad,”

Joe said. “The picture of Dad and words around it tell the story, as well as having a reminder that this particular truck is exactly what Dad wanted.

“It also reminds our customers that we will continue to do business the same way we have for 50 years now, with the memorial to Dad in the way it is done.”

In 2013, Pearce was ranked in American Towman Magazine’s “Towman 500,” a list of the most experienced towers in America that celebrates the resiliency and stamina of the towing industry. The Towman 500 graphic is proudly displayed at the base of Big Red’s boom.

Randy Jowers, owner of Jowers Sign Co. in Martin, Tennessee, designed the graphics on the side, which are all reflective.

“Randy and his crew worked on it for two days and finished the graphics on the Friday morning just before Fathers’ Day,” Joe said. “We weren’t thinking about that until someone locally mentioned it. How neat to have this truck, that was hand-picked by our Dad, ready just in time for Fathers’ Day.”

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.

AMERICANTOWMAN.COM - November 2017 • 81

Character and Spirit in Baltimore

by Steve Calitri

E

very one of the 29 Amerabout the average guy or ican Towman Exposigal on the showfloor who tions has had its unique survives in the most chalenergy and character lenging service business in standing out in relief of the America. They are a breed show’s traditional events: the apart. Trying to operate on Academy, Exhibit Floor, Festirazor-thin profit margins, val Night, etc. the majority of tow bosses There also have been years operate in a 24/7 twilight marked by landmark events. zone that most humans The very first year, of course, avoid. This makes the was the debut of the Towman showfloor a curious place.

Medal and the Towman 500.

Like soldiers on leave from One year, attendees signed the the battlefield, these men Towman Bill of Rights. and women walk about the Another year, the Towman floor unhurried, maybe a Monument was unveiled. One bit dazed at the slower pace year unveiled the Towman away from the usual chaos, Chopper, the first-ever townot weighed down by the ing-themed bike. More immediacy of their towing recently, was the debut of the operations back home (but Towman Ballad, “The Road still keeping it within reach Calls.” by smartphone).

This year, after relaying the Many come seeking Spirit Casket in some 140 cities solutions. This year many across the nation, the Spirit look for answers to the Ride rolls into Baltimore past insurance dilemma, an the Convention Center. It issue being addressed by promises to be the greatest the American Towman wrecker parade ever seen.

Academy.

Another On Nov. 17, the Spirit Ride resource for answers will begins at 9 a.m. with wreckers be the many insurance Police escort The Spirit Ride through Northern New Jersey. gathering at Linhard’s Towing exhibitors on the floor.

Final procession will roll into Baltimore, November 17th. in Cockeysville, Maryland. The Many are shopping Ride then rolls down to Columbia for a ceremony at the equipment on the Exhibit Floor where some 50 manufacB/A Products plant. More trucks will gather at B/A, and turers are displaying product for sale, amidst the 250 the grand procession will proceed to Baltimore. All are exhibitors there. welcome to join the Ride and be part of American history.

There are myriad business reasons for attending towFor me, the most exciting thing I look forward to is see- ing’s Main Event in Baltimore, but a common one is just to ing the faces of the great people who made the Spirit Ride get away. Indeed, a vacation. Yes, for many towers a vacaa reality, the men and women running those towing com- tion is getting away to the world’s largest tow panies who organized the Rides in their towns—they and show. In other words, instead of getting all the Spirit Riders who brought the towing industry front away from it all, penetrating deeper into and center before the public through TV, radio, newspapers the industry jungle. Looking for riches and online across America. perhaps, diamonds maybe, or just a sense Meeting up with all the great characters of the towing of pride at being part of the American industry is a treasured experience. I’m not just talking Towman experience and the amazing about Medal recipients and ACEs or Academy participants world of towing and recovery. intent on kicking their companies up a notch. I’m talking

82 • November 2017 - TOWMAN.COM

NORTH 84 â&#x20AC;¢ November 2017 - TOWMAN.COM

Work the non-traffic side–Stay Safe!

AMERICANTOWMAN.COM - November 2017 • NORTH 85

Tow Incident Report System Running The Towing Traffic Incident Reporting System is a national, online, voluntary, reporting system for the towing industry. TTIRS allows the reporting of “Struck By” and “Near Miss” events involving tow operator safety.

TTIRS use is free for tow companies, operators and government agencies to report incidents. The goal is to collect and quantify data and make it available to member associations to make the roadside safer for the towing industry.

When a tow operator is working on the side of the road and has to jump out of the way of an oncoming vehicle, that’s called a “Near Miss.”

When a tow operator, tow truck or vehicle in need of service is struck while on the side of the road, that is a “Struck By.” TTIRS is requesting reports of any past, as well as present, incidents. It will provide the industry with the hard data needed to support Move Over enforcement and to help develop training to make the roadside safer.

To learn more or report an incident, go to TTIRS.com.

Repo Standoff Takes Five Hours Visit us at AT Expo Baltimore Booth # 57

NORTH 86 • November 2017 - TOWMAN.COM

SIA Towing of Lanham, Maryland, attempted to repossess a vehicle in the parking lot of a strip mall when an unidentified driver requested to get “some personal items” out of the vehicle.

However, once in the vehicle, the driver refused to exit, setting off a five-hour standoff between the agent and the motorist. The agent contacted law enforcement, and they responded to the scene. Police advised the issue was a civil matter since no crimes were committed.

“I have a full tank of gas and air conditioning, I can be here all weekend,” the Lexus driver allegedly said.

Later in the evening, the agent observed the Lexus driver exit the car while another unidentified individual

entered and remained in the Lexus.

The agent once again requested law enforcement, and sheriff’s deputies responded to the location who explained to the uncooperative Lexus driver, that she was receiving an additional fee at approximately $100 per hour of the stand off and the repossession paperwork was correct.

Deputies also requested the standoff to end, as it was impeding traffic flow in the parking lot.

After approximately five hours, the Lexus driver decided to exit the vehicle with her belongings. The agent completed the repossession and left the scene with the Lexus.

Source: smnewsnet.com.

Tow Storm Kicked Out of Arkansas An Arkansas tow truck operator is gone, and a state board took action to help ensure that he stays gone.

Tow Storm Towing owner Nick Massey approached apartment complexes to convince them to let his wreckers patrol their lots and take care of parking violators.

“He appears to have specifically went after the underprivileged, minority complexes in the greater Little Rock area while doing this,” testified state towing board investigator Tracy Watson.

Massey explained to a state investigator that his “impound fee has to be high enough to teach dumb people not to park illegally. If you’re charging them $75 they won’t learn their lesson; $250 gets their attention.”

Vehicles were towed in the middle of the night—without any request or complaint—for minor offenses.

Former Tow Storm employee Danny Thompson worked for Massey and was one of the drivers towing people’s livelihoods away for being parked over a dividing line or for having expired tags.

The board voted unanimously to fine Massey $3,000, revoke his towing license and ordered restitution paid to three formal complainants.

Source: katv.com.

Work the non-traffic side–Stay Safe!

AMERICANTOWMAN.COM - November 2017 • NORTH 87

Work the non-traffic side–Stay Safe!

AMERICANTOWMAN.COM - November 2017 • NORTH 89

Towman: ‘I hope they catch you’ An Indianapolis, Indiana, towman had his leg amputated after being hit by a semi on I-70 recently.

Indiana State Police said the driver of the semi didn’t bother to stop.

The 53-year-old tow truck driver told local TV news he’s been in the hospital recovering from his injuries ever since. Doctors had to amputate his left leg.

Jack Deaton hopes the driver of the semi sees this story and knows the pain and damage the driver caused by hitting him and leaving the scene.

“I just can’t believe this happened to me,” Deaton said. “I really don’t. …

“The semi, I don’t know where he come from, but he came along and got me and just twist me,” Deaton said. “I yelled so loud that he hit his brakes, but he got me again and he just kept on going again.”

Dash cam video from his tow truck shows the 18-wheeler semi that hit

him as he was getting ready to move the truck bed on the right shoulder of the interstate.

Deaton said he would not be here today had it not been for a customer on scene.

“She came over and she seen my leg all twisted up and everything and I was bleeding really bad and she’s sitting there like, ‘I’m a nurse,’ ” he said.

The nurse helped him while they waited for an ambulance to arrive, but Deaton said he knew his left leg was gone.

“I already knew it when the ambulance came and pick me up and I looked down and seen my leg twisted it was laying on top of my other leg,” he said.

Deaton said he doesn’t understand why the driver of the semi didn’t do the right thing in the first place.

“He seen my lights on he knew I was doing a job he didn’t have to do that he had two lanes to go over,” he said.

Deaton said he’s thankful he’s

NORTH 90 • November 2017 - TOWMAN.COM

alive and now has a message for the driver of the semi.

“I hope they catch you,” said Deaton. “If they don’t, the Lord will take care of you I promise you that.”

Source: wishtv.com.

Robot Car Bill Threatens Safety An autonomous vehicles bill introduced recently in the U.S. Senate follows the route chosen by the House of Representatives when it rushed to pass a bill that threatens highway safety and leaves a regulatory void rather than enacting necessary protections and safety standards, Consumer Watchdog warned.

The bipartisan American Vision for Safer Transportation Through Advancement of Revolutionary Technologies Act was scheduled to be “marked up” by the Senate Commerce Committee as of press time.

“Bipartisanship is worthless when it produces a dangerous bill,” said

Work the non-traffic side–Stay Safe!

AMERICANTOWMAN.COM - November 2017 • NORTH 91

Continued: Robot Car Bill John M. Simpson, Consumer Watchdog’s Privacy Project Director.

The AV START Act would leave a wild west without adequate safety protections for consumers, Consumer Watchdog said. The bill pre-empts any state safety standards, but there are none yet in place at the national level.

“Pre-empting the states’ ability to fill the void left by federal inaction leaves us at the mercy of manufacturers as they use our public highways as their private laboratories however they wish with no safety protections at all,” said Simpson.

"The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration needs do its job and Congress should give the agency the money to do it,” said Simpson. He said the president hasn’t yet nominated an NHTSA director.

NHTSA’s latest autonomous vehicle guidance repeatedly reiterates the entirely voluntary nature of any reporting by automakers.

“In fact, the new NHTSA robot

NORTH 92 • November 2017 - TOWMAN.COM

Work the non-traffic side–Stay Safe!

AMERICANTOWMAN.COM - November 2017 • NORTH 93

Continued: Robot Car Bill car guidelines don’t require automakers to do anything at all,” said Simpson.

Self-driving car developers claim to worry about a so-called state-bystate patchwork of conflicting safety regulations, that they claim would hamper innovation.

“That’s nonsense. If NHTSA enacted Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards covering autonomous vehicles they would automatically pre-empt state safety regulations,” said Simpson. “The Senate bill is nothing more than show-boating that actually puts consumers at risk.”

Consumer Watchdog’s has released an in-depth study, “SelfDriving Vehicles: The Threat to Consumers.”

Source: consumerwatchdog.org.

Man Arrested for Firing at Agent A repossessor was shot at while repossessing a vehicle in White, Georgia.

According to a police report, a Bartow County (Georgia) Sheriff’s officer was dispatched to a residence after receiving a call about shots being fired. The officer met with the repossessor, Brett Smith, who was at the location to repossess a vehicle.

Smith explained that he exited his truck to get better cellphone reception and heard a shot over his right shoulder and a man yelling in his direction.

Smith said that he turned around to see Donald Liotta on the balcony of the house next door with a shotgun.

He said Liotta told him that if he didn’t leave he was going to shoot and kill him.

The officer had a conversation with Liotta, who confirmed that he did shoot a shotgun at Smith and threaten him. He was arrested, charged with making terroristic threats and transported to Bartow County Jail.

Source: daily-tribune.com.

NORTH 94 • November 2017 - TOWMAN.COM

NORTH 96 â&#x20AC;¢ November 2017 - TOWMAN.COM

CopyrightŠ2017 American Towman Magazine. Characters and stories are fictitious; no resemblance to real life characters is intended.

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

Work the non-traffic side–Stay Safe!

AMERICANTOWMAN.COM - November 2017 • SOUTH 83

Work the non-traffic side–Stay Safe!

AMERICANTOWMAN.COM - November 2017 • SOUTH 85

Tow Incident Report System Running The Towing Traffic Incident Reporting System is a national, online, voluntary, reporting system for the towing industry. TTIRS allows the reporting of “Struck By” and “Near Miss” events involving tow operator safety.

TTIRS use is free for tow companies, operators and government agencies to report incidents. The goal is to collect and quantify data and make it available to member associations to make the roadside safer for the towing industry.

When a tow operator is working on the side of the road and has to jump out of the way of an oncoming vehicle, that’s called a “Near Miss.”

When a tow operator, tow truck or vehicle in need of service is struck while on the side of the road, that is a “Struck By.” TTIRS is requesting reports of any past, as well as present, incidents. It

TTIRS is requesting reports of any past, as well as present, incidents. will provide the industry with the hard data needed to support Move Over enforcement and to help develop training to make the roadside safer.

To learn more or report an incident, go to TTIRS.com.

Towman: ‘I hope they catch you’ An Indianapolis, Indiana, towman had his leg amputated after being hit by a semi on I-70 recently.

Indiana State Police said the driver of the semi didn’t bother to stop.

The 53-year-old tow truck driver

SOUTH 86 • November 2017 - TOWMAN.COM

told local TV news he’s been in the hospital recovering from his injuries ever since. Doctors had to amputate his left leg.

Jack Deaton hopes the driver of the semi sees this story and knows the pain and damage the driver caused by hitting him and leaving the scene.

“I just can’t believe this happened to me,” Deaton said. “I really don’t. …

“The semi, I don’t know where he come from, but he came along and got me and just twist me,” Deaton said. “I yelled so loud that he hit his brakes, but he got me again and he just kept on going again.”

Dash cam video from his tow truck shows the 18-wheeler semi that hit him as he was getting ready to move the truck bed on the right shoulder of the interstate.

Deaton said he would not be here today had it not been for a customer on scene.

“She came over and she seen my leg all twisted up and everything and I was

Continued: Catch you bleeding really bad and she’s sitting there like, ‘I’m a nurse,’ ” he said.

The nurse helped him while they waited for an ambulance to arrive, but Deaton said he knew his left leg was gone.

“I already knew it when the ambulance came and pick me up and I looked down and seen my leg twisted it was laying on top of my other leg,” he said.

Deaton said he doesn’t understand why the driver of the semi didn’t do the right thing in the first place.

“He seen my lights on he knew I was doing a job he didn’t have to do that he had two lanes to go over,” he said.

Deaton said he’s thankful he’s alive and now has a message for the driver of the semi.

“I hope they catch you,” said Deaton. “If they don’t, the Lord will take care of you I promise you that.”

Source: wishtv.com.

Robot Car Bill Threatens Safety An autonomous vehicles bill introduced recently in the U.S. Senate follows the route chosen by the House of Representatives when it rushed to pass a bill that threatens highway safety and leaves a regulatory void rather than enacting necessary protections and safety standards, Consumer Watchdog warned.

The bipartisan American Vision for Safer Transportation Through Advancement of Revolutionary Technologies Act was scheduled to be “marked up” by the Senate Commerce Committee as of press time.

“Bipartisanship is worthless when it produces a dangerous bill,” said John M. Simpson, Consumer Watchdog’s Privacy Project Director.

The AV START Act would leave a wild west without adequate safety protections for consumers, Consumer Watchdog said. The bill preempts any state safety standards, but there are none yet in place at the national level.

“Pre-empting the states’ ability Work the non-traffic side–Stay Safe!

AMERICANTOWMAN.COM - November 2017 • SOUTH 87

Continued: Robot Car Bill to fill the void left by federal inaction leaves us at the mercy of manufacturers as they use our public highways as their private laboratories however they wish with no safety protections at all,” said Simpson.

"The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration needs do its job and Congress should give the agency the money to do it,” said Simpson. He said the president hasn’t yet nominated an NHTSA director.

NHTSA’s latest autonomous vehicle guidance repeatedly reiterates the entirely voluntary nature of any reporting by automakers.

“In fact, the new NHTSA robot car guidelines don’t require automakers to do anything at all,” said Simpson.

Consumer Watchdog’s has released an in-depth study, “SelfDriving Vehicles: The Threat to Consumers.”

Source: consumerwatchdog.org.

SOUTH 88 • November 2017 - TOWMAN.COM

Work the non-traffic side–Stay Safe!

AMERICANTOWMAN.COM - November 2017 • MIDWEST 83

Towman: ‘I hope they catch you’ An Indianapolis, Indiana, towman had his leg amputated after being hit by a semi on I-70 recently.

Indiana State Police said the driver of the semi didn’t bother to stop.

The 53-year-old tow truck driver told local TV news he’s been in the hospital recovering from his injuries ever since. Doctors had to amputate his left leg.

Jack Deaton hopes the driver of the semi sees this story and knows the pain and damage the driver caused by hitting him and leaving the scene.

“I just can’t believe this happened to me,” Deaton said. “I really don’t. …

“The semi, I don’t know where he come from, but he came along and got me and just twist me,” Deaton said. “I yelled so loud that he hit his brakes, but he got me again and he just kept on going again.”

Dash cam video from his tow truck

shows the 18-wheeler semi that hit him as he was getting ready to move the truck bed on the right shoulder of the interstate.

Deaton said he would not be here today had it not been for a customer on scene.

“She came over and she seen my leg all twisted up and everything and I was bleeding really bad and she’s sitting there like, ‘I’m a nurse,’ ” he said.

The nurse helped him while they waited for an ambulance to arrive, but Deaton said he knew his left leg was gone.

“I already knew it when the ambulance came and pick me up and I looked down and seen my leg twisted it was laying on top of my other leg,” he said.

Deaton said he doesn’t understand why the driver of the semi didn’t do the right thing in the first place.

“He seen my lights on he knew I was doing a job he didn’t have to do that he had two lanes to go over,” he said.

MIDWEST 84 • November 2017 - TOWMAN.COM

Deaton said he’s thankful he’s alive and now has a message for the driver of the semi.

“I hope they catch you,” said Deaton. “If they don’t, the Lord will take care of you I promise you that.”

Source: wishtv.com.

Out-of-Control Driver Charged A 29-year-old Milwaukee, Wisconsin, woman has been criminally charged—accused of fleeing from police in a tow truck, causing a crash, and then fleeing the scene in a stolen vehicle.

According to the criminal complaint, an officer attempted a traffic stop of a tow truck that was towing a vehicle after the officer recognized the truck as belonging to a salvage company with multiple safety violations.

After the officer activated his lights and sirens, the tower, later identified as Precious Murphy, sped off at a high

Continued: Out-of-Control rate of speed. She fled approximately one block before she crashed into a van.

The crash caused the tow truck to spin around and the car it was towing to flip over. The van Murphy struck became lodged against a tree and a building, according to the criminal complaint.

Murphy then fled on foot and entered the parked vehicle of a witness who stopped near the crash.

Police tried to stop her—but she bit an officer. Police used a taser and pepper spray but they had no effect on her, and she drove off.

The owner of the tow truck involved in this incident contacted Milwaukee police the next day to inform them that Murphy was at a hospital in Whitehall under an alias.

Murphy was arrested by deputies at the hospital and transported to the Milwaukee Police Department.

Murphy faces multiple charges, including fleeing a police officer, knowingly operating a vehicle while suspended and two counts of hitand-run.

Source: fox6now.com.

Man Arrested for Firing at Agent A repossessor was shot at while repossessing a vehicle in White, Georgia.

According to a police report, a Bartow County (Georgia) Sheriff’s officer was dispatched to a residence after receiving a call about shots being fired. The officer met with the repossessor, Brett Smith, who was at the location to repossess a vehicle.

Smith explained that he exited his truck to get better cellphone reception and heard a shot over his right shoulder and a man yelling in his direction.

Smith said that he turned around to see Donald Liotta on the balcony of the house next door with a shotgun.

He said Liotta told him that if he didn’t leave he was going to shoot and kill him.

The officer had a conversation with Liotta, who confirmed that he Work the non-traffic side–Stay Safe!

AMERICANTOWMAN.COM - November 2017 • MIDWEST 85

Continued: Man Arrested did shoot a shotgun at Smith and threaten him. He was arrested, charged with making terroristic threats and transported to Bartow County Jail.

Source: daily-tribune.com.

Robot Car Bill Threatens Safety An autonomous vehicles bill introduced recently in the U.S. Senate follows the route chosen by the House of Representatives when it rushed to pass a bill that threatens highway safety and leaves a regulatory void rather than enacting necessary protections and safety standards, Consumer Watchdog warned.

The bipartisan American Vision for Safer Transportation Through Advancement of Revolutionary Technologies Act was scheduled to be “marked up” by the Senate Commerce Committee as of press time.

Bipartisanship is worthless when it produces a dangerous bill.

“Bipartisanship is worthless when it produces a dangerous bill,” said John M. Simpson, Consumer Watchdog’s Privacy Project Director.

The AV START Act would leave a wild west without adequate safety protections for consumers, Consumer Watchdog said. The bill preempts any state safety standards, but there are none yet in place at the national level.

“Pre-empting the states’ ability to fill the void left by federal inaction leaves us at the mercy of manufacturers as they use our public highways as their private laboratories however they wish with no safety protections at all,” said Simpson.

"The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration needs do its job and Congress should give the agency the money to do it,” said Simpson. He said the president hasn’t MIDWEST 86 • November 2017 - TOWMAN.COM

Continued: Robot Car Bill yet nominated an NHTSA director.

NHTSA’s latest autonomous vehicle guidance repeatedly reiterates the entirely voluntary nature of any reporting by automakers.

“In fact, the new NHTSA robot car guidelines don’t require automakers to do anything at all,” said Simpson.

Self-driving car developers claim to worry about a so-called state-bystate patchwork of conflicting safety regulations, that they claim would hamper innovation.

“That’s nonsense. If NHTSA enacted Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards covering autonomous vehicles they would automatically pre-empt state safety regulations,” said Simpson. “The Senate bill is nothing more than show-boating that actually puts consumers at risk.”

Consumer Watchdog’s has released an in-depth study, “SelfDriving Vehicles: The Threat to Consumers.”

Source: consumerwatchdog.org.

MIDWEST 88• November 2017 - TOWMAN.COM

Work the Passenger side–Stay Safe!

AMERICANTOWMAN.COM - November 2017 • WEST 83

Work the Passenger side–Stay Safe!

AMERICANTOWMAN.COM - November 2017 • WEST 85

Tow Incident Report System Running The Towing Traffic Incident Reporting System is a national, online, voluntary, reporting system for the towing industry. TTIRS allows the reporting of “Struck By” and “Near Miss” events involving tow operator safety.

TTIRS use is free for tow companies, operators and government agencies to report incidents. The goal is to collect and quantify data and make it available to member associations to make the roadside safer for the towing industry.

When a tow operator is working on the side of the road and has to jump out of the way of an oncoming vehicle, that’s called a “Near Miss.”

When a tow operator, tow truck or vehicle in need of service is struck while on the side of the road, that is a “Struck By.” TTIRS is requesting reports of any past, as well as present, incidents. It will provide the industry with the

hard data needed to support Move Over enforcement and to help develop training to make the roadside safer.

To learn more or report an incident, go to TTIRS.com.

Towman: ‘I hope they catch you’ An Indianapolis, Indiana, towman had his leg amputated after being hit by a semi on I-70 recently.

Indiana State Police said the driver of the semi didn’t bother to stop.

The 53-year-old tow truck driver told local TV news he’s been in the hospital recovering from his injuries ever since. Doctors had to amputate his left leg.

Jack Deaton hopes the driver of the semi sees this story and knows the pain and damage the driver caused by hitting him and leaving the scene.

“The semi, I don’t know where he come from, but he came along and got me and just twist me,” Deaton said. “I yelled so loud that he hit his

brakes, but he got me again and he just kept on going again.”

Dash cam video from his tow truck shows the 18-wheeler semi that hit him as he was getting ready to move the truck bed on the right shoulder of the interstate.

Deaton said he would not be here today had it not been for a customer on scene.

“She came over and she seen my leg all twisted up and everything and I was bleeding really bad and she’s sitting there like, ‘I’m a nurse,’ ” he said.

The nurse helped him while they waited for an ambulance to arrive, but Deaton said he knew his left leg was gone.

Deaton said he doesn’t understand why the driver of the semi didn’t do the right thing in the first place.

“I hope they catch you,” said Deaton. “If they don’t, the Lord will take care of you I promise you that.”

Source: wishtv.com.

Out-of-Control Driver Charged A 29-year-old Milwaukee, Wisconsin, woman has been criminally charged—accused of fleeing from police in a tow truck, causing a crash, and then fleeing the scene in a stolen vehicle.

According to the criminal complaint, an officer attempted a traffic stop of a tow truck that was towing a vehicle after the officer recognized the truck as belonging to a salvage company with multiple safety violations.

After the officer activated his lights and sirens, the tower, later identified as Precious Murphy, sped off at a high rate of speed. She fled approximately one block before she crashed into a van.

The crash caused the tow truck to spin around and the car it was towing to flip over. The van Murphy struck became lodged against a tree and a building, according to the criminal complaint.

Murphy then fled on foot and entered the parked vehicle of a witness who stopped near the crash.

WEST 86 • November 2017 - TOWMAN.COM

Continued: Out-of-Control Police tried to stop her—but she bit an officer. Police used a taser and pepper spray but they had no effect on her, and she drove off.

The owner of the tow truck involved in this incident contacted Milwaukee police the next day to inform them that Murphy was at a hospital in Whitehall under an alias.

Murphy was arrested by deputies at the hospital and transported to the Milwaukee Police Department.

Source: fox6now.com.

Repo Standoff Takes Five Hours SIA Towing of Lanham, Maryland, attempted to repossess a vehicle in the parking lot of a strip mall when an unidentified driver requested to get “some personal items” out of the vehicle.

However, once in the vehicle, the driver refused to exit, setting off a five-hour standoff between the agent and the motorist. The agent contacted law enforcement, and they responded to the scene. Police advised the issue was a civil matter since no crimes were committed.

“I have a full tank of gas and air conditioning, I can be here all weekend,” the Lexus driver allegedly said.

Later in the evening, the agent observed the Lexus driver exit the car while another unidentified individual entered and remained in the Lexus. The agent once again requested law enforcement, and sheriff’s deputies responded to the location who explained to the uncooperative Lexus driver, that she was receiving an additional fee at approximately $100 per hour of the stand off and the repossession paperwork was correct.

Deputies also requested the standoff to end, as it was impeding traffic flow in the parking lot.

After approximately five hours, the Lexus driver decided to exit the vehicle with her belongings. The agent completed the repossession and left the scene with the Lexus.

Source: smnewsnet.com.

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