Tow professional issue 4, 2014 by Over the Mountain Media, Inc

TOW PROFESSIONAL

Volume 3 • Issue 4 2014

CONTENTS

www.towprofessional.com

Synthetic Rope

Dispatch Service

34 |

38 |

To Optimize Your Switch to Synthetic Winch Lines, Enlist the Pros

HOLLY’S TOWING DISPATCH – The leader in 24/7 Towing Dispatch

I n du stry NEWS

6 |Jerr-Dan Welcomes New Team Members 8 |Worldwide Equipment Sales, More than Just a Recovery Parts Supplier

Cargo Control

42 |

CUTTING CORNERS PART 2

10 |What Does “Lobbying for Our Members” Look Like for an Association?

12 |Zip’s Truck Month 12 |Sonetics’ Wireless 4-Person Communication System in the Towman Standard Case

14 |Larson Electronics 14 |NationWide Towing & Recovery Group 16 |Evans Cooling 17 |Powerbilt Wreckers Fuel 4 thought

20| The 80/20 Rule Wireless Technology

54 | The Towman’s New Best Friend

22| Burnout Lube tAlk

Company Spotlights:

28| Bypass Filtration 32| Wall of the Fallen / Hall of Fame

IN EVERY ISSUE Cover Image Courtesy of Jerr-Dan

Tow Professional | Volume 3 Issue 4 | www.towprofessional.com

4 | Publisher Letter 58| HOOKED UP 60| Dealers Place

61 | Market Place 64| Ad Index

PUBLISHERS

LETTER

Professional Your Resource for Towing & Recovery

Volume 3 • Issue 4 2014

www.towprofessional.com

It’s a great day in Birmingham, Alabama! A few years ago, a friend of mine shared with me the poem “Attitude” by Charles Swindoll. It made an immediate impact and has forever influenced my daily life. Here it is…read it often: ATTITUDE By: Charles Swindoll The longer I live, the more I realize the impact of attitude on life. Attitude, to me, is more important than facts. It is more important than the past, than education, than money, than circumstances, than failures, than successes, than what other people think or say or do. It is more important than appearance, giftedness or skill. It will make or break a company... a church... a home. The remarkable thing is we have a choice every day regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day. We cannot change our past... we cannot change the fact that people will act in a certain way. We cannot change the inevitable. The only thing we can do is play on the one string we have, and that is our attitude... I am convinced that life is 10% what happens to me and 90% how I react to it. And so it is with you... we are in charge of our attitudes. We recently attended (and exhibited) at the Florida Tow Show in Orlando, Florida. As usual, the show was well attended and was a good one. The weather was not as hot as in years past, and the skies were clear. It set the stage for plenty of products to be shown and purchased. We enjoy this show each year, as it kicks off the trade show season and also is a great indicator that winter is behind us and spring is here. While at the Florida show, we had dinner our friends from the Midwest Regional Tow Show and the Western States Tow Show. Like Florida, these are two of the top shows in our industry and continuing to grow. Each are industry standard in their territories. If you haven’t made your plans to attend, I encourage you to go ahead and put them on your calendar and make reservations: Midwest Regional Tow Show- Mason, OH - September 25-28, 2014 Western States Tow Show- San Diego, CA - October 9-12, 2014 Next stop is New Orleans, LA, for the first annual Towing and Recovery Management Summit (hosted by Tow Times). Hope to see you there! In this issue, we offer editorials on Synthetic Rope by Yale Cordage, Dispatching by Holly’s Message Service, Part 2 of 5 on Cargo Control by BA Products, and Wireless Technology by AW Direct. These are in addition to the standard “Fuel for Thought” by DJ Harrington, Business editorial by Dan Messina, “Lube Talk” by Dan Watson and plenty of product and company spotlights.

Have a great day,

Darian Weaver and Jack Hartsfield Co-Publishers 4

Tow Professional | Volume 3 Issue 4 | www.towprofessional.com

PUBLISHERS Darian Weaver President & Co-Publisher darian@towprofessional.com

Jack Hartsfield Vice President & Co-Publisher jack@towprofessional.com

Steve Goodwin Sales Manager steve@towprofessional.com __________________________

PRODUCTION Clint W. Cabiness Art Director Hal K. Huber Kattie Spence Graphic Designers Jill Hasty Managing Editor __________________________

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Fritz Dahlin DJ Harrington Dan Messina Bill Putnam Dan Watson

Executive and Advertising Offices 2007 Old Montgomery Hwy, Suite B Birmingham, AL 35244 Toll free: 888-802-8544 Fax: 205-978-1550 www.towprofessional.com Tow Professional is published nine times a year by Over The Mountain Media, Inc., P.O. Box 26308, Birmingham, Alabama, 35260, USA. Tow Professional is distributed free to qualified subscribers. Non-qualified subscription rates are $57.00 per year in the U.S. and Canada and $84.00 per year for foreign subscribers (surface mail). U.S. Postage paid at Birmingham, Alabama and additional mailing offices. Tow Professional is distributed to qualified Towing & Recovery's Top Decision Makers. Publisher is not liable for all content (including editorial and illustrations provided by advertisers) of advertisements published and does not accept responsibility for any claims made against the publisher. It is the advertiser’s or agency’s responsibility to obtain appropriate releases on any item or individuals pictured in an advertisement. Reproduction of this magazine in whole or in part is prohibited without prior written permission from the publisher.

For a new free subscription, address changes or corrections, please visit www.towprofessional.com and click on the “subscribe” tab.

............................................... Jerr-Dan Welcomes New Team Members >>>

I n du stry NEWS TOWING & RECOVERY

Jerr-Dan Corporation, an Oshkosh Corporation company and leader in the towing and recovery equipment market, is pleased to announce and welcome Jeff Irr, Hanna Sanford, David Greenfeld and Brad Burkhamer to key positions in the Jerr-Dan team. “Jerr-Dan continues to improve by streamlining processes and making changes that add value for our customers. One key area that we have recently focused on is our sales team. I am excited to welcome our new Director of Sales, District Sales Managers and Inside Sales Administrator to Jerr-Dan. Each individual brings with them unique and significant experiences that will support and satisfy our customers going forward,” said Richard Del Campo, Jerr-Dan Vice President and General Manager. As Jerr-Dan Director of Sales, Jeff Irr will report to Joel Amsley, Senior Vice President of Sales. In his new role, Irr will be

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................................................................. responsible for providing leadership to the Jerr-Dan sales force. Irr

David Greenfeld has joined the Jerr-Dan sales team as a District

comes to Jerr-Dan with more than 16 years of experience in the

Sales Manager; he will be responsible for the company’s business

commercial truck industry. Prior to joining Jerr-Dan, Irr spent the past

development efforts in the Mid Atlantic Region. Greenfeld comes to

11 years with Mack Trucks & Volvo of North America in multiple

Jerr-Dan with over 19 years sales experience in the fire and emer-

sales and marketing positions.

gency apparatus industry. Greenfeld is an active volunteer firefighter

“I am tremendously thrilled to be part the great tradition and

and paramedic for the past 32 years.

iconic brand that is Jerr-Dan. As the Director of Sales, my goal will be to increase our presence with our distributors, and at the same time,

Brad Burkhamer has joined the Jerr-Dan inside sales team as a

get my team to spend more time in front of our customers to under-

Sales Administrator. Burkhamer comes to Jerr-Dan with over 18

stand better how we can help them grow their Jerr-Dan business,”

years of sales experience in the general construction and equipment

said Irr.

rental industry. Prior to Jerr-Dan, Brad was employed at RSC Equipment Rental as a Territory Manager.

Hanna Sanford has joined the Jerr-Dan sales team as a District

Jerr-Dan Corporation is a leading manufacturer of towing and re-

Sales Manager; she will be responsible for the company’s business

covery equipment. Its full line includes light-, medium- and heavy-

development efforts in the Mid Western Region. Sanford comes to

duty carriers and wreckers, industrial transporters and four-car

Jerr-Dan with more than 16 years of experience in the commercial

carriers. The company is headquartered in Hagerstown, MD, and its

truck industry. Prior to joining Jerr-Dan, Sanford was employed at

products are backed by industry leading warranties and a strong

Stahl, a Scott Fetzer Company where she held the position of Re-

service network dedicated to the towing professional. To learn more

gional Sales Manager.

about Jerr-Dan, visit www.jerrdan.com. For more information, visit Jerr-Dan online at www.jerrdan.com.

www.towprofessional.com | Volume 3 • Issue 4 | Tow Professional

............................................... Worldwide Equipment Sales, More than Just a Recovery Parts Supplier >>>

I n du stry NEWS TOWING & RECOVERY

Coming to the Supply side of towing from the Recovery Industry years ago, I have always felt there was a disconnection between companies supplying Parts and Accessories and the professionals working in the industry. Well, I can honestly say that I have landed in a position with a company that has changed that view for me. Recently I accepted a position, with Worldwide Equipment Sales, after some years working with another supplier owned by a corporate Giant. It is so refreshing to be with a company deeply rooted in the recovery, transport, and hauler business, family owned, and so deeply dedicated to the industry, rather than trying to branch out into every niche industry they can find to keep margins level though out the year. We do not have a call center in a building somewhere staffed by people, that we all know, 8

have never been associated with the industry until being hired. We staff with people who know the industry, who live and breathe the industry, who have been on the streets and used or built the products that we market. We actually build and sell new recovery vehicles, used trucks, new and used trailers, and Auto Haulers. We have a service department to service recovery and other units, and we do not pretend to know the recovery industry, we are the recovery industry. We even offer our own line of Asset Tracking hardware, under the DriverLocate.com name, and we deal with real industry issues every day. Worldwide Equipment Sales has recently built a new website (www.newtowtrucks.com) to help better serve our long list of existing and new customers. The new site has a shopping cart always visible on any page that you are viewing, so that customers know what they have in the cart

Tow Professional | Volume 3 • Issue 4 | www.towprofessional.com

and amounts at any time, and it figures shipping instantly so you do not have to enter pages of info just to find out what shipping will be. We have enlarged the photos for easy identification, and added complete descriptions so you know what you are getting. We have also included Customer Reviews, written by customers for customers, so that you can hear in terms that everyone in the industry can understand how the products are performing. Now you can make a truly informed judgment that the part is going to work and fit your needs. Everyone at Worldwide Equipment would like to take this opportunity to invite our existing and new customers to come visit our new site and sign up to win a brand new “Apple iPad.” No purchase necessary; just sign up to receive our completely new platform catalog, and win. . Todd J. Kemntizer Worldwide Equipment www.NewTowTrucks.com www.DriverLocate.com

I n du stry NEWS

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TOWING & RECOVERY

What Does “Lobbying for Our Members” Look Like for an Association?

>>>

his is can be one of those confusing benefits or values to belonging to an association. We all wonder what it means, how long will it take, how will it impact me? For the background, we’ve worked with our Lobbyist team for almost 20 years. This leads to great internal relationships, like working with the Chair of the Assembly Transportation Committee, Assembly Member Bonnie Lowenthal. Now, with this foundation, remember that just in the 2013-2014 Legislative Session there have already been nearly 5,000 bills introduced. So, we must review them all for impact on us, and attempt to get any we want to introduce onto the floor.

• 2-20-13 Bill begins life sponsored by Assemblywoman Bonnie Lowenthal, Chair of the Transportation Committee • 2-28-13 Referred to the Transportation Committee for Review • 4-09-13 Passed the Transportation Committee and referred to the Appropriations Committee • 4-17-13 Passed the Appropriations Committee back to the Assembly • 4-25-13 Passed the Assembly, referred to the Senate • 4-25-13 Passed to Committee on Rules for assignment in the Senate • 5-09-13 Assigned to Committee on Transportation & Housing(T&H) • 5-09-13 Amended and Re-referred to Committee on T&H • 5-29-13 Amended again and Re-referred to Committee on T&H • 6-11-13 Passed Committee on T&) and referred to Committee on Appropriations • 6-25-13 Read and forwarded to consent calendar(slated for vote) • 7-01-13 Passed in Senate, referred back to Assembly • 7-03-13 Assembly approved amendments • 8-01-13 Assembly passed bill to Governor

I’d like to give an example of what “Lobbying for our Members” looks like from a recent success story in California. Like most states, ours is low on funds and can’t afford to invest in the enforcement of new laws. With all the regulations we have in California, the towing industry has no specific ones other than in law enforcement towing and the basic motor carrier guidelines. In approaching the concerns with underinsured and often unprofessional towers, we found a means of self-enforcement, which meant we had a chance of getting the legislation passed. The control we have is in the release of vehicles from our impound facilities. By getting legislation passed that allowed us to deny releasing a vehicle to a company without a motor carrier permit, we at least made sure the people coming on to our property were insured and had worker’s compensation coverage, at a minimum protecting ourselves. So, here’s what the timeline looked like and how this law made it onto the books. Remember, this particular one was passed quickly. There were no opposing votes through the entire process. Typically, you should expect longer.

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• 8-13-13 Governor approved and chaptered by Secretary of State • 1/01/14 A NEW LAW ON THE BOOKS In addition to initiating the process, the association publicized the new law, in our newsletter and in a special notification to members, as well as provided a sample printable wall chart for them to post in their offices. After the law was in effect for a few weeks, we came up with a list of five Frequently Asked Questions that were coming in to our office and again sent this info out to the members. How do you measure this value? Members report numerous salvage towers coming in and just giving up when they realize this revenue stream is gone. Our member towers are getting a more level playing field, as “under the radar” operators will have the same expenses we do so therefore must drop out or raise their prices to a comparable rate. Larry Muzamel, Executive Director California Tow Truck Association

I n du stry NEWS

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TOWING & RECOVERY

Zips

>>>

ip’s Truck Month is in its second year, and is a great opportunity for you to get into a high quality, new or used truck, with the added benefit of a parts/service gift card in which you can use to accessorize your new piece of equipment. Zip’s only offers this promotion once a year, and it’s for a limited time. If you’re in the market for a new wrecker, carrier, service body or trailer, take a look at zips.com, and contact a Zip’s Sales Consultant for more information on the unit you’re interested in. Just for requesting a quote, or an equipment demo, you are qualified to win a 2014 Polaris RZR, Side-by-Side ATV. “We like to offer our customers and future customers a fun giveaway every year. Last year, we gave away a Harley. This year, it’s a Razor” says David Rottinghaus, Sales Manager at Zip’s. “Towers have had a long

and busy winter! What better way to kick off the summer than by winning a new toy to add to your garage!” Zip’s kicked off Truck Month at the Florida Show, and hundreds of customers have already signed up. Ron & Lisa from Pine Tree Towing (Cambridge, Ohio) were the very first customers to take advantage of Truck Month, as they brought home the

FIRST Century 1150-R Rolling Rotator from Florida (see picture). Zip’s is very excited to offer the innovative 1150-R, and already has a second one on order – ready to tailor to your unique specifications. You can sign up many different ways: simply give Zip’s a call to discuss the truck you’re interested in, or stop by one of our two locations, either in Detroit, Michigan or New Hampton, Iowa. Our inventory is updated daily at zips.com – we’re excited to show you our expansive selection of new and used wreckers, carriers, service bodies and trailers. Don’t forget to take a look at Zip’s most recent Service Body design, the RSB – it’s like nothing you’ve ever seen!

........................................................... Sonetics’ Wireless 4-Person Communication System in the Towman Standard Case >>>

Your team will look and act more professional to all personal on the scene. The Recovery scene will start off and remain calm during the recovery. No more yelling and arm waving trying to get attention of another operator or rigger. Reduce stress and wasted time being able to communicate with everyone on all sides of recovery scene. Sonetics’ wireless portable 4-person system offers a complete solution for effective 12

ers and components. Four wireless headsets and a battery-powered portable base are enclosed in a Pelican Case for easy transportation / storage and charging. Your choice of colors Grey / Safety Yellow / Now in Stock Black with One Side Slotted Ear Cup. With this technology, you can upgrade to 16 head sets at a later date and they all will communicate with each other, plus you will receive a Bumper to Bumper 2 Year Warranty on all components.

communications in demanding conditions. Rugged and reliable headsets offer full-duplex communication with hearing protection and superb noise-canceling microphone technology. System can be used in all weather conditions. The system includes all necessary charg-

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The Towman Case is only available from RP RECOVERY Call Ron Pullen at 315-730-6566 or E-Mail rprecoveryconsulting@gmail.com We will build a system that is just right for your company. Find us on Facebook: RP RECOVERY CONSULTING

I n du stry NEWS

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TOWING & RECOVERY

Larson Electronics

>>>

Larson Electronics’ portable LED light tower (LEDP5W-30-TP1-50CR) comes complete with an IP68 rated 150 watt LED light head, aluminum quad-pod and 50’ retractable cord reel. The light head is waterproof to 3 meters, sealed against intrusion by dust or dust, and constructed to withstand the most demanding environments. The LED floodlight creates a total of 14,790 lumens of intense light that provides coverage for an area 540’ long by 480’ wide and the lamp can easily be adjusted vertically and locked into position. This unit can also be ordered with LEDs in spotlight configuration to produce a beam 1200’ long by 140’ wide. The LED has a life expectancy of 50,000 hours and is backed by a 3 year warrant. This adjustable quad-pod can be extended to 12 feet, collapsed to 7 feet, and is fabricated from non-sparking powder coated aluminum. Containing 50 feet of 12/2 SOOW cord, our retractable cord reel keeps the cord clear of trip hazards. Operators can easily stow this collapsible light tower

after using it for work area illumination, event lighting, emergency operations lighting, or equipment lighting. The LED light fixture assembly can be removed while the legs can be collapsed, aiding in deployment, storage and transport. This quad-pod mounted unit can be used with 12 or 24 VDC voltages depending upon chosen configuration. We can also custom build our lighting equipment according to your specific needs. (800) 369-6671 www.magnalight.com

........................................................... NationWide Towing & Recovery Group >>>

Ever felt like something was just "wrong" and that you should "do" something? Well, that’s how we felt when one of our clients began complaining about Wrecker Service Providers (WSPs) in general. As an Adjuster, we’ve worked alongside WSPs for the past 23 years, in all kinds of weather, and believe they deserve more respect than that. The majority of them are hard-working, family-run businesses, just trying to stay afloat. As a result, we launched our company in January 2013, in an effort to create a DataBase that would help promote the WSP at NO COST to them. In exchange for a WSP listing their contact information, and then filling in all of their equipment rates, we provide them with a Free Website page, where they can post pictures or tell the history of their company. As we talked with various WSPs, we learned that sometimes they lose 10% to a “Directory,” in exchange for being given a towing job. Naturally, they have to increase their bill to cover this loss. 14

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We know we're going against the grain, but that’s why we changed the way this “Marketing Expense” is handled for the WSPs. Our Trucking & Insurance Company Clients pay an Annual Subscription rate in order to access our DataBase. Our intention is to provide our Trucking clients with a quick-reference “TOOL” that will need to accomplish three things: 1) Identify the closest WSP to the scene of an accident (@ccident Locator Map). 2) Separate the good from the bad (Feedback Rating System). 3) Reward those WSPs who do the BEST work with MORE work (Repeat Business). We’re hoping that you’ll take the time to check out our website at “NTRG4U.COM” and will agree to join with us as we attempt to change the way business is done in the Transportation Industry! NationWide Towing & Recovery Group, LLC. P.O. Box 3058 • Springfield, MO 65808-3058 Phone (417) 595-0712 E- Fax (417) 501-4251 E-Mail ntrg4u@gmail.com

I n du stry NEWS

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TOWING & RECOVERY

Evans Cooling

>>>

If you never had to worry about overheating again, even under extreme conditions, heavy loads, and high ambient temperatures – what would that mean to your bottom line? Cooling system failures account for 40% of maintenance problems, and the resulting downtime is costly. There isn’t a magic bullet to solve all problems, but how

about a waterless solution? The adoption of water as an engine coolant early in the 20th century was logical, but complicated by the fact it freezes at 32°F and boils at 212°F. Water is universally recognized as the root cause of corrosion and erosion inside engine blocks and cooling systems. Despite water’s superior heat transfer capabilities, water-based coolants remain far from the “ideal solution.” Evans Waterless Heavy Duty Coolant has a boiling point of 375°F, providing a separation of over 100°F between the engines’s operating temperature and the coolant’s boiling point. This means Evans has the capacity to safely operate at higher temperatures and protect the engine at temperatures well above the boiling point of water. Evans coolant will not form vapor and operates at a much lower, safer pressure, eliminating hotspots and overboil. Overheat-

ing is avoided – even with heavy loads, high temperatures and under hostile operating conditions. Evans coolant also protects an engine from corrosion, electrolysis and cavitation erosion. Evans demonstrated superior results in the John Deere Cavitation Test with 70% fewer “pits” than the next best tested coolant. With less downtime and decreased maintenance costs, Evans is a cost-effective alternative to water-based coolants. Evans Cooling (860) 668-1114 www.evanscooling.com

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................................................................. >>> Powerbilt Wreckers

The Powerbilt PB70SR, 70 Ton Sliding Rotator is POWERBILT WRECKERS Largest Rotator and is comparable with anything else on the market. This Rotator is outfitted with dual 66,000 LB main winches and dual 35,000 LB Aux, winches. Designed for Extreme Recovery Operations, this Rotator is designed to tackle the toughest recovery applications. Over-built for performance and longevity, The PB70SR is what will distinguish you from your competition when trying to secure contracts or

when pulling up to an accident scene. This unit dominates with superior design, technology and performance. Powerbilt units are Over-Built to ensure durability and long life; this will protect your investment and keep you tackling the toughest recoveries with a safe and quick clearance. This Rotator can turn in a continuous 360 degrees and has dual house locks; the boom can be transported in forward or a rear position. As with all Powerbilt Wreckers, customization is the order of the day, and Powerbilt builds all units the way the customer requests. Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t hesitate to inquire with one of our qualified staff members. Standard and Customized wreckers are surprisingly inexpensive. As with all of our larger units, we will customize this Rotator to your specific truck. Contact us at 636-629-7311 or visit our website, www.powerbiltwreckers.com.

Powerbilt Wreckers St. Clair, Missouri 636-629-7311 www.powerbiltwreckers.com

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www.towprofessional.com | Volume 3 â&#x20AC;˘ Issue 4 | Tow Professional

Tow Professional HELPING SUPPORT ASSOCIATI

ION SHOWS “TOW SHOWS FOR TOWERS BY TOWERS”

Fuel 4 thought By D.J. Harrington

e have all heard of the 80/20 Rule. This rule is one of the most helpful of all concepts of time and life management. Some people call it the “Pareto Principle,” after its founder, an Italian economist Vilfredo Pareto who first wrote about this way back in 1895 (and no, I wasn’t there). Pareto noticed that people in his time seemed to divide up naturally into what he called the

“Vital Few,” the top 20% in terms of money and influence, and then the “Trivial Many” will form the bottom 80%. He believed, and so do I, that virtually all economic activity is subjected to this principle. For example, this principle says that 20% of your activities will account for 80% of your results, 20% of your customers will account for 80% of your sales, 20% of your

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products or services will account for 80% of the value of what you do, and it goes on like that. Now listen up to what this means to all of us in the towing industry. If we have a list of 10 items to do, 2 of those items will turn out to be worth 5 or 10 times or more than the other 8 items put together. Here is something my dad tried to explain to me and I didn’t catch on to until later in life. Each of 10 tasks may take about the same amount of time to accomplish, but 1 or 2 of those tasks will contribute 5 or 10 times the value of any of the others. My dad would ask me which tasks I like the least, and then proceed to tell me to do that one first to get it off your plate first thing in the morning. If you know one task means more than the other nine, do that one first. You get what I am saying. My dad would say, “Focus on activities not accomplishments.” Remember this, “If you have to eat a live bug, it doesn’t pay to sit and look at it for very long.” Do first things first. The hardest part of any important task is getting started on it in the first place. Just thinking about starting and finishing an important task motivates me and helps me to overcome procrastination. Your ability to choose between the important and the unimportant is the key factor to your success in life and work. Please remember that effective, productive people in the towing industry discipline themselves to start on the most important task that is before them. As a result, they accomplish more than the average person and are much happier as a result. This should be your way of working, as well. I know you heard of the 80/20 Rule, but now you know more about it and how it can improve your life and the towing business. See you next time! TOW Oh, and one last thing: “Kind words can be short and easy to speak, but their echoes are truly endless.” — Mother Teresa.

Correspondence regarding this article should go to: DJ Says 2820 Andover Way Woodstock, GA 10389 D.J. Harrington is an author, journalist, seminar leader, international trainer, and marketing consultant. He

works primarily with customer service personnel, and his clients include such world-class companies as General Motors, DuPont, Caterpillar and Damon Corporation. He may be reached at 800-352-5252 or by email at dj@djsays.com, 52 weeks a year, we are as close as your telephone, or at www.djanddan.com.

www.towprofessional.com | Volume 3 • Issue 4 | Tow Professional

By Dan Messina

BURNOUT I was giving a seminar in Baltimore to about 70 business owners on the value of the employees that work for you. After the seminar, an owner approached me with a question. He stated that he hates to go to work and that he hates most of the employees that work for him and that the feeling was mutual. He asked what he should do. When you are a small business owner, the company starts and ends with you. However you act or feel, your employees will feel the same. It was up to him to change how he felt, and the rest would take care of its self. When I owned my business, I had many days when it was just not fun to go to work. I use to tell my managers that the stress from our business would kill me if I let it. I was fortunate enough to have a good wife and partner who I could count on to pick me up when I was down. Now Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m not telling you to go and get married, but I am telling you to find someone you can go to when you are down. Not too long ago, I was consulting with a tow company near Houston. The owner was a female, and she was stressed because her competition was ganging up on her. She was at the point of tears and had no one to turn to who could help. Her husband was a driver, and it was hard for him to help her. 22

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I could see that she was getting burned out and needed help, so the first thing I did was let her break down and cry. That relieved some of the stress and emotions creating the stress. The next thing we did was identify what she wanted her business to look like and created a plan to get her there. Once we had it on paper, it was easy to execute and measure what we were doing. In just three short months, her business was turned around, and her company was moving in the right direction. As you read this article, she continues to grow her company and become successful. I would like to say I made her successful, but all I offered was an ear to listen to her problems, and once she identified them, her and her husband corrected them and moved forward. She has a testimonial on our web site explaining how outside sources can be helpful because they are not close to the problems you encounter. As an owner of a business, you will always feel stress. The problem is that stress causes burnout. When you let your work get to you, it will create relationship problems at home and at work. Your job will suffer, and therefore your company will not be successful. All of a sudden you create health problems for yourself, and all of this leads to being unhappy.

What are the signs you are suffering from burnout? 1. As an owner of a company, when you hate to go to work 2. When you start making wrong decisions that hurt the performance of the company 3. When you start having problems with employees that you never had before 4. When you start having problems at home with family members or friends 5. When you get frustrated easily with the way things are going at work or at home

6. When your job performance falls off, which becomes noticeable by the employees. This will affect the performance of the company.

7. When you are not motivated anymore. The ideas to grow and compete arenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t there anymore.

8. Look in the mirror.You stop taking care of yourself and it shows.

www.towprofessional.com | Volume 3 â&#x20AC;˘ Issue 4 | Tow Professional

you donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have to do it alone; there are outside sources like djanddan.com who can help.

Tow Professional | Volume 3 â&#x20AC;˘ Issue 4 | www.towprofessional.com

I do about 60 seminars a year, and I tell everyone the most

important thing as a business owner is to “surround yourself with people smarter than you, and have fun.” That’s what the young

lady in Houston did. It’s not that I was smarter than her; she was

just smart enough to bring in a third set of eyes and ears.

We recently held a two-day class in Dallas on running your

business. We advertised locally to get a few people to attend the

class. I received a call from a company in Fort Worth. The owner

said he and his wife were talking about how or what they could

do to improve or change the way they were doing business. He

saw my ad and signed up for the class. Once again, I point out you don’t have to do it alone; there are outside sources like

www.djanddan.com who can help.

www.towprofessional.com | Volume 3 • Issue 4 | Tow Professional

The last five years we owned the company, I enjoyed going to work. It was fun and a challenge, but it was encouraging to see my staff develop right before my very eyes. I sometimes would think that 35 people counted on me daily to support their families and pay their bills. Some people would let that stress them out, but I looked forward to it. If you follow those two things, you will avoid stress causing you to avoid burnout. Here are a few steps you can take to avoid burnout:

1. Identify what your responsibilities are daily. Is there any one thing that could relate to your burnout? If so, give that responsibility to another employee or hire someone to perform that function. Believe me, there were things that I hated to do, but, fortunately for me, those were things my wife enjoyed doing. If there was something she did not like, we would turn it over to a manager.

2. Since you are the boss, go to another employee and discuss stress-related issues with them. By rearranging a work schedule or reassigning certain responsibilities, I could fix the problem. I informed my employees on

Tow Professional | Volume 3 â&#x20AC;˘ Issue 4 | www.towprofessional.com

everything we were doing. Many times, they would come up with the answerers we needed to fix the problems.

3. Change your work routine. Do certain functions at different times of the day when you are more motivated to perform these functions. I was a morning person, so I would address any problems when my energy level was high. This produced the best results. Figure out the time of day you are at a high and make that time for addressing company issues.

4. Take breaks through the day. Take a walk or a ride. If you have time, take a power nap for 20 minutes. Close your door and close your eyes. This could give you a fresh start. I worked for a major computer company, and my boss had a cot in his office. He napped every day. Not only was he a good boss, but we were very productive.

5. Monitor your sleeping hours. To stay healthy, you need your rest. If you change your sleeping habits, change your eating habits, too. A proper diet and plenty of rest will keep you physically and mentally fit. I enjoy eating too much to help you here. I sleep good, but I love to eat. You are on your own on this one.

6. Take a vacation, even if it’s just a long weekend. I can’t begin to tell you how good you will feel and you will learn a lot about your employees. The owner always thinks the company will fall apart if they leave. Not true; in some cases, it could get better. You will be surprised what your employees can do when you let them.

7. When you are not working, find a new interest. Play a sport or join a community group. Any outside activity not related to work will get your mind off of work. I took up golf. I was not good, but it got me away from the office twice a week, and it allowed my employees to develop their skills. In the five years of doing this, I never had any major problems that my employees could not handle. As an owner, you feel guilty when you take time off, but, believe me, it’s needed. Your company will benefit in your absence. You will feel better, your employees will become better employees, and you will avoid burnout. TOW Visit www.danmessina.com for more information.

www.towprofessional.com | Volume 3 • Issue 4 | Tow Professional

Lube tAlk

Bypass Filtration By Dan Watson

The advanced exhaust system, including diesel particulate filters, urea injection systems, exhaust gas recirculation and catalytic converters is certainly a step forward in the reduction of emissions into our environment. These controls, however, come at a cost. In a future article, I will explain the how these advanced exhaust systems work. In this article, I want to take a look at what recycled soot does to the engine oil in the diesel engine and recommend bypass oil filtration as a worthwhile protection for this considerable investment.

bypass filters for large diesel engines are accepted as a necessity and have been recommended by several aftermarket filter companies for many years. As a certified lubrication specialist, I have recommended bypass filtration systems as a solution for many diesel applications, though not for every application. Prior to the advent of exhaust gas recirculation (EGR), diesel engines were capable of dealing with soot. Even if they could benefit from a bypass system, they could certainly get by without one. Not so with the new advanced exhaust systems and EGR. I absolutely recommend bypass filtration for these engines.

OIL

WHAT IS BYPASS FILTRATION? Bypass filtration refers to systems in which a portion of the oil pump output, usually no more than ten percent, is diverted to an auxiliary filter. The system is so-named because in a conventional bypass system, the oil bypasses the engine and returns to the oil pan without providing lubrication to the engine. In fact, some reference manuals refer to such systems as parasitic filtration systems. It is important to note that while the appellation is not totally without merit, bypass systems do not divert enough oil from the engine to fall below manufacturerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s specifications. There is also a second type of bypass system in which none of the oil is diverted from its flow through the engine - more on that later.

A typical single remote (parasitic) bypass filtration system diverts a fraction of the oil in order to remove smaller particles that the full flow filter misses. 28

Tow Professional | Volume 3 â&#x20AC;˘ Issue 4 | www.towprofessional.com

The need for a bypass filtration system arises when the filtration

SOOT

provided by the stock, full flow oil filter is insufficient to remove

Soot is a byproduct of the combustion process that begins as par-

enough of the oil’s contaminants. Because the standard filter must

ticles that are sub-micron in size. At that size, they pose no threat

allow sufficient oil flow to the engine to keep it properly lubricated,

to the engine and if they remained that size, there would be no

the filter media inside are, by design, thin enough to allow the oil to

need (and it would be very difficult) to filter them. Unfortunately,

flow relatively easily. Of course, it would be no good to make the stan-

soot particles are attracted to one another and join together to

dard filter media more dense – so that it could handle smaller parti-

form particles that are big enough to cause damage but small

cles – if this meant that the oil was hindered from getting to the

enough to evade capture by the full flow filter. Soot is more readily

engine. Nobody wants a molten mass of metal under the hood, no

produced in diesel engines than gasoline engines.

matter how clean it might be. This means that standard oil filters,

Today’s turbo-charged, computer controlled, fuel injected en-

even good ones, cannot deal with particles in the oil that are smaller

gines are extremely good at mixing air and fuel for clean burning

than about 15 microns. A bypass filtration system, on the other hand

engines. Earlier turbo-charged diesel engines were as good, if not

– by only filtering approximately ten percent of the oil at a time and

better, at burning cleanly; unfortunately, the requirements to lower

leaving the other 90 percent to do the lubrication work – comple-

emissions resulted in exhaust gas recirculation (EGR). Recircula-

ments the standard full flow oil filter and allows the overall lubrication

tion of exhaust brings up to 35% of soot back into the engine for

system to both provide sufficient lubrication and filter smaller parti-

re-burning. The soot levels for these engines are significantly

cles down to the three-micron range. Even though the bypass sys-

higher than the preceding engines and the soot inevitably finds its

tem only deals with a fraction of the oil on any given pass through

way into the oil through the piston rings. High soot levels increase

the system, over time, the complete volume of oil is treated by the

the viscosity of the oil and interfere with proper oil flow. When soot

finer media in the oil bypass filters.

levels are high, soot begins to drop out of solution and can clog

www.towprofessional.com | Volume 3 • Issue 4 | Tow Professional

Lube tAlk Soot and other particles as small as five microns are responsible for the majority of abrasive wear in an engine. A good bypass oil filtration system will effectively remove particles to the three micron, and sometimes smaller, range.

critical oil galleries and starve components of vital lubrication. The requirement to recirculate exhaust gases is one of the bases of the CJ-4 classification for diesel oils. CJ-4 rated diesel oils are designed to carry higher levels of soot and to resist soot dropping out of solution.

Using CJ-4 oil in combination with the highest quality full flow filters will help keep soot in check to a point. However, the only way to ultimately remove the soot that remains unfiltered in a system is to drain the oil. This reality shortens the lifespan of oil and requires a higher frequency of oil changes than might otherwise be necessary, especially for extended drain synthetics. In the future, I believe that improvements in diesel oils and better full flow filters will allow for extended drain periods using the standard oil filter system. Using the technology available today, I recommend using a high quality synthetic CJ-4 diesel oil complemented by an oil bypass filters system that is capable of filtering out a portion of the soot. Excellent bypass systems remove 30 to 40 percent of the soot. Even at this level of efficiency, soot levels are manageable. Full flow filters by themselves essentially remove no soot from the system .

VARIATIONS OF OIL BYPASS FILTERS Most bypass filtration systems leave the standard full flow filter in place and add a remotely-located bypass filter. These systems are the ones sometimes referred to as parasitic because they divert some of the oil away from the main oil flow responsible for the lubrication of the engineâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s components. The amount of oil diverted is controlled by an orifice or similar restrictor to make sure that enough oil is reaching the engine. An alternate design, patented by Amsoil, locates both the full flow and bypass filter remotely. 30

Tow Professional | Volume 3 â&#x20AC;˘ Issue 4 | www.towprofessional.com

with the single remote bypass filter system, only a fraction of the oil travels through the bypass filter on a given pass. Regardless of the design or manufacturer, the bypass system is a good investment on any diesel engine. For the modern diesel engine, with EGR, the bypass is a necessity. Soot is a concern in all diesel engines but with the EGR system, soot levels can become destructive. A potential benefit of installing a bypass filtration system is extended oil change intervals. When using properly formulated synthetic diesel oil and a high quality bypass filtration system, it is possible to avoid the impact of higher soot levels and extend oil drain intervals significantly. If you

The Amsoil dual remote filtration system eliminates the parasitic loss of oil flow to the engine.

own a turbo diesel with EGR, you are simply protecting your investment by installing a

This dual remote oil filtration system

whether it travels through the full flow filter

good bypass oil filtration system. TOW

eliminates the parasitic characteristic of a

or through the oil bypass filter, to the engine

typical bypass unit by routing all the oil,

components after filtration has occurred. As

www.thelubepage.com (407) 657-5969

www.towprofessional.com | Volume 3 â&#x20AC;˘ Issue 4 | Tow Professional

Synthetic Cordage Optimize Your Switch to

Synthetic Winch Lines,

By Bill Putn am

Enlist the Pros

IC ON THE WINCH DRUMS OF TOW TRUCKS NATIONWIDE, HIGH-PERFORMANCE SYNTHET CY CORDAGE IS RAPIDLY REPLACING WIRE LINE. IT’S A CHANGE DRIVEN DUALLY BY EFFICIEN THEIR AND SAFETY: SYNTHETICS ARE LIGHTER, EASIER TO HANDLE, AND JUST AS STRONG AS THREAT SAME THE CARRY STEEL COUNTERPARTS; YET IF THEY DO FRAY OR PART, THEY DON’T CHANCE OF BODILY INJURY FROM RAZOR-SHARP KINKS AND SOME FIBER CHOICES OFFER LESS VIOLENT SNAP-BACKS.

ut the most groundbreaking trait of synthetic ropes is their potential to be customized and optimized. Among the thousands of fiber, size, diameter, and construction combinations available today, applicationspecific synthetic rope manufacturers and certified distributors help users select or design the safest, best rope for the job – and train them on how to use it for maximum safety and product life. Here are just some of the specific tasks your rope rep can help you do:

Determine the right synthetic fiber for your workload, budget, and climate Unlike wire, which is fairly synonymous with steel, the synthetic winch line category includes a vast array of fiber compositions. Environmental conditions (temperature and precipitation) and the primary workload of the winch (weight, volume, and frequency of use) largely determine which fiber will work best. Since towers need reliability in all weather conditions, high-tenacity 34

Tow Professional | Volume 3 Issue 4 | www.towprofessional.com

polyester jacketing is commonly used to protect the loadbearing core of the line. The core can be made of polyester; or for heavier lifts, a high-modulus polyethylene (HMPE) or liquid crystal polymer (LCP) core can bolster breaking strength.

Choose the construction most conducive to your environment. Weather is also a primary driver when it comes to rope construction. Rain, freezing temperatures, sand, wind, heat, and sun exposure all play in to the type of braid you need. In environments where abrasion is less likely to occur, a 12-strand single-braid rope might be a worthy option, though any 12-strand rope should still have a protective coating to prevent premature wear. Example: Yale Cordage’s Ultrex™. For ropes used in all conditions and for heavier lifts, coredependent double braid construction provides the next level of performance. A core of Spectra™ HMPE, one of the strongest fibers available, protected by a high-tenacity polyester sleeve, provides ultimate strength and optimum pro-

tection. HMPE is also lighter than polyester, offering excellent maneuverability and sheave cycling capabilities for high-stakes recovery tasks. Example: Yale Cordage’s Maxibraid Plus™.

Align the strength of your rope with the capacity of your rig. The breaking strength you choose for a synthetic winch line typically needs to be five or more times the rated working load or lifting capacity of your truck winch. Making a correct match is essential to preventing accidental overloads out in the field. But since acceptable working load to breaking strength ratios can vary, particularly with newer rope constructions, this is an area where it can be very helpful for your rope manufacturer or certified distributor to weigh in.

Analyze your work practices to determine energy absorption needs. A rope of any breaking strength can be compromised if asked to absorb a dynamic load beyond its energy absorption capability. A rope’s energy absorption capability is not related just to its breaking strength; rather, it is ascertained by studying a stress strain curve of load versus elongation. Rope manufacturers understand the metrics involved, and can help you determine which fiber and construction will offer the energy absorption characteristics you need for the loads you typically handle, as well as how much rope you will need to deploy to avoid shock loads.

Understand the splicing requirements of your lines. When switching from wire, or even older synthetics, to a new synthetic

www.towprofessional.com | Volume 3 Issue 4 | Tow Professional

Synthetic Cordage fiber or construction, you may need to change your splicing protocols. Whereas the techniques for older rope styles may have been fairly straightforward, many newer constructions require product-specific techniques. Most rope manufacturers and distributors offer splicing, splice training, and technical support for these proprietary products. Take them up on it. Custom-fit ropes keep you efficient. These five maintenance tips will keep you safe: • Inspect before every use – Check the working eye and the area adjacent to it for any movement. The rope should have a Whiplock5 or lock stitching at the eye to prevent movement. If the locks are not intact, or you notice the eye becoming larger or smaller in service, replace the rope. • Use slings – Never choke back on the winch line by securing it around the load and attaching the rope back to itself with a hook or shackle. This will wear out the rope, and may create visible damage for the first four to eight feet above the eye. If you notice such damage, either replace the rope or end-for-end it, placing the new end on the drum. • Invest in a certified splicer – A certified splicer who is trained on your rope will ensure you get a proper splice every time, with

Tow Professional | Volume 3 Issue 4 | www.towprofessional.com

the added benefit of each splice being tagged and recorded for you under the rope’s serial number. This data can help large tow companies effectively track the condition of their ropes and replace them on time. • Consider proactive replacement – Because a line’s life expectancy can be shortened by shock-loading incidents, and because it’s difficult to definitively know how much damage each incident causes, many users proactively retire their lines immediately after any shock loading occurs. Another common practice is to end-for-end all ropes every 12 months and retire them after two years. • Dispose of retired lines properly –It is important to properly dispose of a retired rope before it reaches the hands of a user who could overestimate its strength. All too often, used commercial lines get recycled for personal use – thrown in the back of a pickup truck as a tow line, or boat line, or to haul a moose out of the woods. To prevent resultant accidents, retired lines should be cut into short lengths and recycled or repurposed for non-critical uses. TOW Bill Putnam is president of Yale Cordage. www.yalecordage.com

Company spotlight

eter, but 8 times lighter. Our background includes lifting slings and safety lanyards for industrial use; winch lines, stringing lines and block lines for utilities; climbing and hand lines for arborists; faired electromechanical cables for oceanographic arrays; and a variety of marine ropes used in various applications â&#x20AC;&#x201C; from light-duty halyards

Yale Cordage creates innovative, applicationspecific synthetic ropes that will solve problems and create new opportunities for the progressive towing professional.

for pulling dinghies to hawsers for mooring commercial tankers. Performance, Passion, Possibilities TOW

Yale Cordage

by O. Sherman Yale. He introduced new

on that same objective today while pro-

77 Industrial Park Road Saco, ME 04072 (207) 282-3396

synthetic materials in concert with high-

viding engineering and application sup-

yalecordage.com

quality braiding techniques to manufac-

port to a variety of industries. Many of

ture rope and related products to better

our products are more than twice the

meet the needs of specific applications.

strength of steel cable of the same diam-

Yale Cordage was founded in 1950

The individuals of Yale remain focused

www.towprofessional.com | Volume 3 Issue 4 | Tow Professional

Towing Dispatch Service? Is It Time to Seek a

MAKING THE DECISION TO SEEK “OFF-SITE” DISPATCH SERVICES CAN BE DIFFICULT. FINDING THE RIGHT ONE CAN BE DAUNTING. WHEN YOU HAVE WORKED HARD TO BUILD YOUR BUSINESS, WHETHER IT BE FOR 1 YEAR OR 50, GIVING UP YOUR PHONES CAN BE TERRIFYING. ALTHOUGH, WHEN YOU FIND THE RIGHT ONE, AND GAIN YOUR LIFE BACK, YOU MAY DECIDE IT WAS THE BEST DECISION YOU EVER MADE.

Weigh your options

There are several methods of dispatching Towers are accustomed to: 1. Employee Dispatcher: One daytime and one nighttime dispatcher. Taking and dispatching calls is their only job. Benefits: On-site and local familiarity. Your dispatchers know your area, your drivers, your pricing and are only working for you. Drawbacks: Hourly or salary employee paid to “wait for the phone to ring,” health insurance, sick pay, vacation pay, covering hours when employee is sick, late or on vacation. 2. Owner Dispatcher: Office phones are forwarded to the owner’s home or cell phone so either Mr. or Mrs. Owner can answer and dispatch every call 24/7. Benefits: Owner is aware of every call coming into his business. 38

Tow Professional | Volume 3 Issue 4 | www.towprofessional.com

Owner controls who gets the call, as well as whether to take or deny it. Drawbacks: Owners are on 24/7. Family events are often missed or interrupted; holidays are spent on the phone. 365 days a year, the owner expects and experiences interrupted sleep. 3. Driver Dispatcher: Typically, at night and on weekends, phones are forwarded to the driver on-call. He answers the call, he does the job. Benefit: Owner doesn’t have to pay a dispatcher. Drawbacks: No accountability for jobs being done. Interrupted work, and answering a call while on the road can lead to injury. Lost calls due to a driver’s phone being left in the truck, or being in an area of poor cell phone service risks lost revenue, low motor

club ratings, and the loss of rotation contracts. Those who found the above methods to be costly, cause frustration or be inefficient may have already discovered another option. For those that have not taken the leap, consider #4.

4. Outside Dispatch Service: Open 24

questions over the phone or, if local, in person! This company will be your voice at the times you choose to use them. Hear that voice! “Email shopping,” although appropriate for initial contact, or to request a call, does not substitute an interview. Take the time to get to know them, and let them get to know you.

1. How long have you been dispatching for Towers? 2. Can you give me references of current customers? 3. Are you part of or associated with any Towing Associations? 4. If the service is not local to you, how will you know our service area?

hours, 7 days a week. Multiple work stations fielding calls on behalf of small to large towing companies. Regardless of weather, a holiday, or time of day, dispatchers are standing by ready to dispatch directly to your drivers. Benefits: Cost savings. No more paying by the hour, health benefits or scrambling to find coverage when your dispatcher is sick. Freedom! Forward your phones when you want, answer yourself when you want. Be with your family and friends! Go to the movies or get a full night’s sleep. Get all your calls...not just the one your driver feels like answering. Instantly, have multiple dispatchers at your fingertips. Multiple calls coming in at the same time are no longer an issue. Most importantly, keep your drivers safe while on the road. Drawbacks: Preparation takes time. It takes work on your part to get a service up to speed on how you want things done, and communicating it to them. Most likely, the dispatcher is not sitting in your hometown. Distance can be intimidating. An owner “giving up” his/her phones also means relying on someone else to project their image. This can be scary.

Do your homework When seeking an outside service, as a Tower, you want to find a reputable Dispatch Service. Someone with experience in the Towing Industry, someone who understands the importance of immediate dispatching, never putting the PD on-hold, answering fast, and who takes the time to find out who you are, what you do, and how you want your calls handled. Do your research and ask www.towprofessional.com | Volume 3 Issue 4 | Tow Professional

"Manager, Denise Morel and Assistant Manager, Tracy Farrell are the driving force at Holly's Dispatch. Whether it's training, scheduling, dispatching or billing, Denise and Tracy have it covered." 5. If you are using dispatch software, can this service dispatch through that software for you? 6. What are all of your options for dispatching? 7. What type of reporting is offered so that you or your manager can keep track of jobs going directly to drivers? 8. What types of back-up systems do they have in place to make sure their phones/equipment is always up and running? If you are happy with what you’ve heard, and find yourself ready to take your life back, save money, attend a family function (and actually stay for the whole thing), and let your drivers be drivers, not dispatchers, then it’s time to start “training” your dispatch service.

Training a successful off-site dispatcher: How much can they do from afar? Just as you would show an in-house dispatcher the ropes, you also have to provide your service as much information about your company and its operations as you can. The only difference is you may be educating from a distance, and in writing. Prepare, prepare, prepare. Define your service area (unless you go anywhere all the time) by zip codes, county, city or town names, mile markers, or landmarks. You know your service area like the back of your hand! Help your off-site dispatchers learn it, too. If 40

Tow Professional | Volume 3 Issue 4 | www.towprofessional.com

you have multiple locations, define each location’s area. There is nothing worse than wasting time and gas by sending your drivers on a wild goose chase. Give your dispatchers the opportunity to succeed from the start. Providing a price list to your service will prevent multiple calls to you, or your drivers, when quoting a job. There are always exceptions based on unusual situations, but taking a standard motorclub, road service, or cash call, based on your pricing, should flow smoothly and take little time on the phone when your service is provided this information. Little time on the phone means faster dispatching and happy customers! Finally, define a very clear protocol as to how calls are to be dispatched. Delivering all calls verbally, making verbal contact followed by a text message, or sending a text and asking the driver to text back confirmation are all options to be considered when determining what is most effective for your company. For the owners who aren’t quite ready to get that full night’s sleep, requesting a copy of every call sent out (at the same time as the driver) may be a good way to ease into relinquishing your phones. Most importantly, when making this sometimes difficult decision, choose someone who knows Towing and takes pride it accommodating the hard-working individuals that make up this industry. TOW

Holly's Message Service (888) 809-6182 | www.hollysMS.com

Company spotlight

HOLLY’S TOWING DISPATCH – The leader in 24/7 Towing Dispatch How many Towing Dispatch Services do

for you, while you work on your

you have in your town? In your state? Tow-

business. Whether you are

ers in CT are lucky enough to have ONE. Ask

looking for night and weekend

the same question of towers in MA, FL, TX,

relief, 24 hour dispatching, or

CA or 45 other states. Local or not, Holly’s

just a weekend off once a

Dispatch Customers are likely to say that CT

month, Holly’s Dispatch Serv-

is the place they have found a dispatch serv-

huge need for dispatching services across

ice that can serve their needs.

the country. A dispatch service that special-

ice is what you have been looking for. We pride ourselves on customizing each

izes in the towing industry, trains in the tow-

of our customers’ accounts. You run your

They answer for medical professionals,

ing industry, and understands the

business the way that suits you best, and

property managers, tradesman, and anyone

importance of getting every call out imme-

Holly’s Dispatch Service aims to assist you

else who wants their calls answered

diately is above and beyond what you will

in keeping it running at the times you are

24/7...but if there is one thing we have

get at your local answering service.

not available. Don’t go another day of miss-

Yes, answering services are everywhere.

learned at Holly’s Dispatch Service, it is that

Get your life back! Spend time with your

ing out on sleep, or being with those you

TOWING and all the other types of 24/7

friends and family! Get a full night’s rest

love. Call Holly’s Dispatch Service or contact

businesses do not mix well in the world of

knowing that your phones are being an-

us online. We are always available to dis-

answering phones and dispatching calls.

swered, your drivers are out working for

cuss your individual needs.

At Holly’s Dispatch Service, we answer

TOW

you, your PD calls are getting immediate re-

for Towers 365 days a year, 24 hours a day,

sponse, and your motorclub ratings are not

7 days a week. Why? Because there is a

suffering! Let Holly’s Towing Dispatch work

1-800-730-3909 www.HollysMS.com

www.towprofessional.com | Volume 3 Issue 4 | Tow Professional

C A R G O C O N T R O L PART 2

CUTTING CORNERS What Our TESTING & RESEARCH Shows

By Fritz Dahlin

Note: Please be aware that this testing was done with new product under controlled conditions. NO product should EVER be used above its WORK LOAD LIMIT. Minimum break strengths should NEVER be used to determine the suitably of a product. Failure to follow these warnings may result in property damage, personal injury or death. The intention of this article is to show the effect of improper loading over a corner has on the product.

Letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s do a little recap from the first half. Last month, I showed the reduction in strength when loading a web tie down strap, a 2 inch lifting sling, a V strap leg and a 3/8â&#x20AC;? steel core wire rope over a 90 degree corner, and not necessarily a sharp one. The average reduction in strength was 37% when loaded over the outside corner of a piece of 2 inch angle iron.

Tow Professional | Volume 3 Issue 4 | www.towprofessional.com

I also showed what the same towing tools look like when they are cut, as opposed to being overloaded. In this article, I want to show how chain reacts when loaded over a corner, talk about some methods of preventing the same tools from being damaged, and, finally, what to look for when inspecting your straps, wire rope and chain. I also need to repeat the disclaimer: Please be aware that this testing was done with new product under controlled conditions. NO product should EVER be used above its WORK LOAD LIMIT. Minimum break strengths should NEVER be used to determine the suitability of a product. Failure to follow these warnings may result in property damage, personal injury or death. The intention of this article is to show the effect of improper loading over a corner has on the product. Time to talk about chain. While chain is arguably the most durable of the tools we are testing, it does have its limitations. When misused or abused, it can fail. Unlike web and wire rope, chain can tell a story. As our National Sales Manager Chip Kauffman has explained before, through testing, it can be shown what the highest load a piece of chain has been loaded to. When chain is made, it is proof tested to twice its Work Load Limit. This stretches the chain very slightly. For a section of 3/8” Grade 7 chain, the Work Load Limit is 6600Lbs, so proof test is 13,200 Lbs. Let’s say this same piece of chain is loaded to 19,000 Lbs, nearly three times its WLL. The chain has already been slightly stretched when it was proofed at 13,200 Lbs, so it will not stretch until the load passes 13,200 Lbs. Once the load exceeds 13,200 Lbs, the chain begins to stretch. This can be seen on the graph when the indicator line changes direction. The same effect happens when the chain is overloaded. It will not stretch until the load exceeds the point at which it was overloaded. Once again, the indicator line on the graph will be nearly vertical until 19,000 Lbs is passed. The chain will begin to stretch, the indicator begins to move horizontally, and the point at which it does is the maximum load the chain has seen. To illustrate this, I loaded a piece of 3/8” G7 chain to 18,400 Lbs. Proof test on this pieces was 15,100 Lbs. The same piece of chain was pulled to destruction. The previous load of 18,400 Lbs is visible on the graph.

Graph on left shows 18” section of 3/8” G7 chain loaded to 18,400 Lbs. Mark 1 is proof test load of this chain, 15,100 Lbs. Graph on right shows same section of chain loaded to destruction. Mark 1 shows previous maximum load of 18,400 Lbs. Chain has a memory. In addition, chain has what is known in the industry as a preferential failure. Chain is designed to be pulled in a straight line, end of one link against the end of the adjacent link. When a chain is loaded in other than a straight line, such as when a grab hook is hooked over a link to form a loop, the chain will fail at that point, and by as much as 20% below the minimum.

www.towprofessional.com | Volume 3 Issue 4 | Tow Professional

CUTTING CORNERS

PART 2

Enough talk, let’s do some testing. I set up the test bed the same way as I did for the previous tests, with a piece of 2” x 2” x 3/16” angle iron. I then attempted to load the chain so the link was pulled over the angle. For these tests, I used 5/16” grade 70 chain with a Work Load Limit of 4700 Lbs, and a minimum break of 18,800 Lbs. I pulled one chain to use as a control sample; it failed 19,875 Lb, a shear at the end of the link.

The photo shows the test set up. The links were marked showing which were in contact with the corner of the angle.

Tow Professional | Volume 3 Issue 4 | www.towprofessional.com

CARGO CONTROL The 3 samples tested over the angle failed at 15,055 Lbs, 12,803 Lbs and 15,574 Lbs, for an average of 14,477 Lbs, an average 28% reduction in breaking strength. If you look at the links that failed, a pattern emerges.

All of the links failed in the middle of the link, unlike the control that sheared on the end. All three also failed where the link was in contact with the angle. While it appears to be a weld failure, the failure occurred adjacent to the weld. There are also contact marks from the adjacent links and the angle. In addition, there is no â&#x20AC;&#x153;necking down,â&#x20AC;? a reduction of the links diameter commonly seen in straight pull tests. Due to the load being concentrated on one side of the link, and the mechanical damage caused by bending the link over the angle, the chain failed below minimum.

A close up of one of the links, showing the weld intact.

Top: Graph of the above link. Bottom: Graph showing reduction of break strength of 5/16 G7 chainover angle

www.towprofessional.com | Volume 3 Issue 4 | Tow Professional

CUTTING CORNERS

PART 2

Every now and then, I get lucky. Usually when a failure occurs, the parts go flying. In this example, a quick hand on the switch stopped the tester at point of failure, and the parts remained in place. While the load was being applied, only one leg of the link was in contact with the angle. At failure, the link rotated 90 degrees towards the camera and came to rest as you see here.

Tow Professional | Volume 3 Issue 4 | www.towprofessional.com

CARGO CONTROL

So once again, I have shown that loading over a corner can re-

do. In addition, make sure the tie down points you are hooking to are

duce the ultimate breaking strength. How do we prevent this from

rated for the tie down. A strap and ratchet with a 3300 Lb WLL

happening? There are some general things that can be done that

hooked to a D ring with a 1000 Lb WLL is only good for 1000 Lbs!

apply to all the tools I have tested, and some specific things for each

NEVER shock load any of the tie downs we are discussing.

product.

Product specific precautions: General Precautions: Web slings and tie downs: First thing is to NEVER exceed the products Work Load Limit. In all of

Of all the items I tested, web is the most easily damaged. Any place

the tests I did, the samples failed above the WLL, and in 3 out of 4, at

that web contacts the cargo, the load being moved or the tow vehi-

twice the WLL. This is not to say that corners or sharp objects will not

cle itself must be protected or moved. I have shown that tensioning

damage these tools if the WLL is not exceeded, but it will help re-

a load over a corner, even on as seemingly innocent as the corner of

duce damage, and is good practice.

a piece of angle iron, can damage the web. A hand ratchet can ten-

Watch how the strap, chain, or wire rope is routed, and avoid con-

sion a piece of tie down web to about 1400 Lbs, well below the

tact with anything they may cause wear or damage. This includes

WLL of most tie downs. If the strap is tensioned over an edge, the vi-

the load or cargo that is being secured or moved.

bration on the vehicle going down the road can and will wear and

Regularly inspect and maintain your straps, wire rope and chain.

possibly cut the strap. In addition, when hauling a vehicle, there can

Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll go into specifics for each product, but regular inspection can pre-

be some movement, which will also accelerate wear. This can also

vent a small problem from becoming a large one.

happen with V straps. If they are under tension and in contact with

Make sure your tie down or tie downs have sufficient Work Load to restrain the object being moved. If not, add tie downs until they

the under frame or suspension, the vibration and movement will wear the web.

www.towprofessional.com | Volume 3 Issue 4 | Tow Professional

CUTTING CORNERS

PART 2

I did a quick test to show the effectiveness of three different sling pads on a tie down strap. I tested one sample each of a cordura sleeve, a cordura pad sewn to the strap and a rubber pad. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll let the results speak for themselves:

Left: three different sling pads

Middle: sewn cordura pad over angle

Right: cordura sleeve over angle

Left: rubber pad over angle

Middle: sewn cordura pad failed at 8623 Lbs

Right: cordura sleeve failed at 8922 Lbs

Tow Professional | Volume 3 Issue 4 | www.towprofessional.com

CARGO CONTROL

Top Left: rubber pad failed at 11,319 Lbs Bottom: graph showing average increase in break strength padding provides While the strap still failed where it contacted the angle, the average failure was 9621 Lbs, a 30% increase over the unprotected strap. While further testing is required to validate the results, I think I can predict that the protected strap will break at a higher load.

www.towprofessional.com | Volume 3 Issue 4 | Tow Professional

CUTTING CORNERS

PART 2

Wire Rope: Wire rope is the second most easily damaged. Improper drum winding, which can lead to crushing and flat spotting, will quickly turn a new wire rope into a useless piece of scrap metal. This is commonly seen on roll backs. Once the wire rope crosses over itself and a load is applied, the layer underneath is irreparably damaged. Wire rope also has a minimum bend radius. Whether the wire rope is being bent around a sheave or another object, wear, fatigue and reduction in strength is occurring. The smaller the radius the wire rope is bent around, the greater the wear and the greater the reduction in strength. This is commonly referred to a D/d ratio, where D is the diameter of the sheave or other object the wire rope is wrapped around, and d is the diameter of the wire rope. The higher the ratio, the lower the wear, fatigue and reduction in strength, and the lower the ration the higher the wear, fatigue and reduction in strength. For example, a 3/8â&#x20AC;? wire rope being pulled around an 8â&#x20AC;? sheave has a D/d ratio of 21.3, and this rope would have about 92% of its breaking strength. The following graph shows the effect the D/d ratio has on the strength of the wire rope.

Graph shows the effect of D/d ration on ultimate strength of wire rope

Tow Professional | Volume 3 Issue 4 | www.towprofessional.com

CARGO CONTROL

It is also vitally important that when wire rope is used over

Inspection:

sheaves, such as in a snatch block or at the end of a wrecker boom, that the sheave grooves be correctly sized for the wire rope being

Most inspection criteria I have seen calls for three types of inspec-

used. Sheave grooves that are too small can pinch the rope and pre-

tion: Initial, Frequent and Periodic. Let’s look at each quickly:

vent the individual wires and strands from adjusting (necessary

Initial: Before any new product is put into use, it should be inspected

movement within the rope itself; grooves that are too large will not

by a designed person to verify it is correct of the application and in

support the rope, allowing it to flatten and restrict free movement.

undamaged condition.

When a change in direction is required in a run of wire rope, it should always be routed over a sheave or roller. Pulling a wire rope over an

Frequent:

edge (such as the end of a roll back bed) will damage the rope. Yes, I have seen this done. Finally, lubrication of wire rope can increase its

Before each use, the person using the product should inspect it.

life. There are several lubrication products specifically for wire rope.

Periodic: Chain: This inspection should be conducted by a designated person. FreWhile chain is the most durable of the products I tested, it still re-

quency of this inspection should be based on frequency of the prod-

quires care in its use. Chain is designed to be used in a straight line,

ucts use, severity of service, and experience gained in the service life

tensioned end of link to end of link. Avoid wrapping chain over itself.

of similar products.

(1/2” hooks on ½” chain for example). Chain should not be twisted, Only use hooks and fittings that are sized properly for the chain

knotted or kinked. Avoid temperatures above 400 degrees F for

While we can debate the need and frequency of inspections, I hope we all can agree that they are necessary. But what are you looking for? And who is this designated person? I did a little searching

grade 70, 80 and 100.

www.towprofessional.com | Volume 3 Issue 4 | Tow Professional

CUTTING CORNERS

PART 2

and came up with the following: “Designated” personnel means employees selected or assigned by the employer or the employer’s representative as being qualified to perform specific duties. The designated person should have some background or training that makes him knowledgeable about the items he is inspecting. So what is this designated person looking for? I am going to cover out of service criteria for each group of product that was tested.

• If there are knots in any part of the sling or tie down • If there is excessive pitting or corrosion, cracked, distorted or broken fittings • If there is any other visible damage that causes doubt to the strength of the sling (Photos of these conditions can be found on our web site:

WEB SLINGS AND TIE DOWNS:

www.baprod.com)

A web sling or tie down shall be immediately removed from service and destroyed if any of the following are observed:

• If the capacity or material identification tag is unreadable or missing

A wire rope winch line or sling shall be removed from service immediately and destroyed if any of the following are observed:

• If any acid or alkalis burns are present

• Kinks, bird caging or popped core in the working section of the wire rope

• If any melting, charring or weld spatters are present

• Discoloration due to excessive heat

• If any holes, cuts, snags or embedded particles are present • If there are any broken or worn stitches in the load bearing splice • If there is excessive abrasive wear

WIRE ROPE:

Tow Professional | Volume 3 Issue 4 | www.towprofessional.com

• Corrosion with pitting of the wires • More than 11 broken wires in six diameters of length • More than three broken wires in any one strand

CARGO CONTROL

• More than two broken wires at the end connection

B/A Products www.baprod.com National Association of Chain Manufacturers www.nacm.org

CHAIN:

Web Sling Tie Down Association www.wstda.com

A chain shall be removed from service immediately and destroyed if any of the following are observed:

• Any links or components are worn, bent, gouged or stretched

Associated Wire Rope Manufacturers www.awrf.org

Wire Rope Technical Board www.thewireropethenicalboard.org

• Any links or components are cracked or distorted • Any link measures below the NACM standard thickness as shown in chart XIV found at http://www.nacm.info/welded.php I hope you have found this article interesting and informative. It is not intended to be the be all end all discussion; rather, my goal was to make you aware of some of the common signs of misuse and

Fritz Dahlin is vice president of B/A Products Co., www.baprod.com.

Business For Sale

abuse that can reduce the strength and useful life of web, wire rope and chain products. Cutting corners can be dangerous. I encourage you to use the following links to gain more knowledge:

www.towprofessional.com | Volume 3 Issue 4 | Tow Professional

Wireless Technology –

The TOWMAN’S New Best Friend By Paul A. Ederer, Technical Product Support with AW Direct Wireless technology is changing the way tow operators work in the field, making us more efficient and safer. From smartphones to winch control, technology improves your response, hook-up and drop-off times compared to just a few years ago. There’s no denying smartphones and tablets have greatly helped our industry. The ability to be in direct contact with customers and your home offices improves the efficiency of your businesses. Map out directions for pick-ups with GPS software. Credit card payments can be processed through your phones. Tow instructions via the Internet and receipts emailed instead of paper. Tow trucks and support vehicles are improving, again thanks to technology. Now, wireless controls can operate your primary warning lights, tow lights, bed controls and winches remotely. Most smartphones or other wi-fi enabled devices can send a signal to a receiver mounted in the vehicle via a dedicated app. Then the receiver sends control signals to a modular expansion unit that can control your lightbars, sirens, directional lights, horns, etc., all from your phone. Rather than lugging and attaching 30’ to 60’ power cables for tow lights all the time, consider going wireless and eliminate the hassles. These new designs are battery powered and usually last for hours. They’re controlled by a wireless transmitter that simply plugs into the trailer adaptor at the rear of your trucks. These transmitters forward all directional and braking information directly to Code3 VLink Receiver and Expansion Unit the lightbar. In a similar fashion, electric winches can now be outfitted with optional wireless remotes. These systems use a wireless receiver plugged into the standard wired remote socket and a keyfob remote. They aid in loading trailers by eliminating the 15’ or 25’ remote cord normally used on these types of winches. Towmate wireless lightbar with transmitter For recovery and commercial operation, the next level of wireless remotes can control your winch line and other hydraulic controlled systems, such as raising or extension of the rollback bed. The Lodar and Valve-Mate II systems can control multiple functions from several hundred feet away. They consist of a permanently mounted receiver and a hand-held transmitter. Systems are classified as either solenoid connected or hydraulic connected. To determine which type you can use, inspect your truck’s hydraulic valves and winch to see if electric solenoids connections are present. These are normally located on the backside of the hydraulic valves, either behind a cover plate on the main valve body or on a separate solenoid attached to the valve body. In general, older wreckers have hydraulic only systems, while newer wreckers have the hydraulics with solenoids. Superwinch’s Certus Wireless Remote for S-Series Winch

Tow Professional | Volume 3 Issue 4 | www.towprofessional.com

Valve –Mate II Wireless Remote System Lodar Wireless Remote for Solenoids

Mount the receiver box in the best location to operate the transmitter and observe the internal LED’s. That means mounting the receiver as high as possible and in a shaded location where wheel spray and heavy vibration aren’t an issue. If you have the solenoidconnected type, simply connect the output wires from the receiver directly to the electric or electro-hydraulic solenoid coils on your winch or hydraulic valves. Connect 12VDC/ground, link your receiver/transmitter frequencies, test and you’re done. If your wrecker does not have electric solenoids, other options are available. The ValveMate II system attaches a valve spool to the

spring return side of the hydraulic valves and compressed air is use to operate the system. Lodar uses an actuator, either air-operated or electric, that attaches to linkages to control the hydraulics. Wireless control systems improve the speed of recoveries, save you money, give you more control of the accident scene at the touch of a button, and, most importantly, keep you safely out of harm’s way.

Lodar Air Actuated Wire Remote System

TOW

AW Direct | (800) 243-3194 www.awdirect.com Lodar Electric Actuated Wireless Remote System

www.towprofessional.com | Volume 3 Issue 4 | Tow Professional

Company spotlight

FUEL AND TIRES are two of the biggest expenses in the Towing business. With the rising cost of fuel, it is crucial to cut costs wherever you can. The TRU-BALANCE Wheel Centering Products were designed to help you cut your cost and keep the profit in your pocket. One of the most overlooked ways to improve your bottom line is proper centering of the wheels. With hub-piloted wheels, the weight of the wheels rests on the top pilots, creating a gap on the bottom pilots. A small gap the size of a business card creates an “egg-shaped” motion upon rotation. This uneven motion causes increased fuel consumption, uneven tire wear and tire vibration that

balancing alone cannot correct. The bottom line is, you can’t balance an egg. The patented line of TRU-BALANCE products were designed to bypass the hub-pilots and center the wheels back to the wheel studs, which is the “TRU-CENTER” of the wheel. Once the wheels are properly centered, the result is increased tire life, increased fuel mileage and the smoothest ride possible, PERIOD! We offer three different “Solutions” to center your wheels. TOW

866-686-9285 www.tru-bal.com

Mobile Awareness, LLC

Company spotlight

VisionStat Plus Integrated Reversing Camera & Backup Sensor System

Whether your introduction to Mobile Awareness was through our commercialgrade reversing camera system for trucks or our accurate, flexible obstacle detection sensors, you can always increase your margin of safety by combining cameras with sensors for the ultimate allaround truck protection. VisionStat Plus is more than a vehicle detection system. It also provides visual and aural alerts with 56

accurate distance data, telling you exactly how far you are from that wall, wire or walker. These affordable rear vision camera and sensor systems help decrease accidents and improve driver satisfaction. Combine Active & Passive Protection • Fits on trucks of all sizes • Combines the crystal clear video coverage of VisionStat color reversing cameras with the exacting obstacle de-

Tow Professional | Volume 3 Issue 4 | www.towprofessional.com

tection monitoring of SenseStat • If you already have a VisionStat rear vision camera, ask us about the VisionStat Plus upgrade kit • Our 3.5”, 5.6” and 7” color monitors are tough, bright and ready to give you proper visibility TOW

866-653-5036 www.mobileawareness.com

Company spotlight

Web Rigging Supply Inc. is located in the Chicago suburb of Lake Barrington, IL, doing business from a 15,000-square-foot sales office, warehouse, and processing center. The veteran-owned company supplies

bulk distributor of cable and rope to a sup-

for over 10 years, manages the order pro-

plier of standard and custom wire rope and

cessing and shipping. He says, “The variety

chain assemblies, and components.

of businesses that we serve is interesting

“If it involves lifting, towing, or stowing,

and challenging. Almost all of our orders are custom. Very few are alike, and that keeps

we’re involved.” Sean Jacobs manages the sales and technical duties at the company and has been in the business for 20 years. He says,

us constantly looking for new ways to improve and grow.” You can contact the company by

wire rope, galvanized, and stainless steel

“Our online presence has created many

phone or email. Just go to

cable, and natural and synthetic ropes to

new opportunities for us. We talk to people

www.webriggingsupply.com

customers in a wide range of industry

that we never would have encountered be-

throughout the United States, Canada, and

fore, and that has allowed us to expand our

other countries.

capabilities and makes our product line

Rick Weber Web Rigging Supply 27W966 Commercial Avenue Lake Barrington, IL 60010

Company president Rick Weber says, “In the past 21 years, we have grown from a

available to anyone in the world instantly.”

TOW

Jon Fitt, who’s been with the company

www.towprofessional.com | Volume 3 Issue 4 | Tow Professional

Professional Your Resource for Towing & Recovery

HOOKEDUP

PSE Amber® 21TR Amber LED Lightbar – PS4708A

Superwinch® 8,500-lb., 12 VDC Planetary Gear Mountable Utility-Grade Winch – SW8500

This PSE AmberM 21TR LED Lightbar uses Torus LED technology for incredibly bright signals. Features 8 LED modules with 2 LED stop, tail and turn, 2 LED work lights and 12 flash patterns with available dimming mode to lessen intensity. 12 VDC. Measures 47”L x 12-1/4”W x 2-1/8”H. USA made. (800) 243-3194 • www.awdirect.com

Eye3Data Is Working Hard to Make It Affordable for You to Protect Your People, Property, and Business!! No need to tie up large sums of cash to purchase video security systems for your vehicles. Eye3Data has partnered with MARLIN LEASING to offer you an opportunity to lease your new Video Surveillance System! With Leasing, you can now afford the most advanced security system for your vehicles and business!! Here are just some of the advantages of Leasing a Video Surveillance System: • 100% Financing - Our leases finance 100% of the cost of the equipment. You can include "soft" costs in your lease, such as shipping, software, training, installation, and maintenance. • Cash Flow – Making monthly payments are much easier than paying thousands of dollars out of pocket. • Tax Benefits - Unlike loan payments, lease payments may be fully tax-deductible as an operational expense. Consult your tax advisor.

This SuperwinchM 8,500-lb., 12 VDC Planetary Gear Mountable Utility-Grade Winch provides perfect pulling power for your trailer. Features a planetary gear train and a lever switch freespooling clutch. Includes trailer mounting bracket, 15’ remote and roller guide. Not for commercial recovery use. (800) 243-3194 www.awdirect.com

Portable roadside protection developed by TowMate

TM-SAS-RC pictured above with emergency green horn receiver

*Above chart is a sample; prices may vary. Please call at Eye3Data 888-777-9059 for more information on our Leasing Program. Visit us at the American Towman Showplace in Las Vegas, May 16-17, 2014.

Another product improvement by TowMate is reflected in the portable version of their Safety Alert System (P/N# TMSAS-RC). The system is designed to alert those in a work area if a vehicle has breached the perimeter. The system contains a 12’ long trip hose/sensor that should be laid out on the road in advance of the work site, but where traffic should be moved over by. If a vehicle does not move over soon enough and runs over the hose, the system sends a signal to a wireless receiver that can be tied to the truck horn or, in the case of their newest development, a portable/rechargeable horn that can be kept closer to the roadside responders.

888-777-9059 • www.eye3data.com

(800) 680-4455 • www.towmate.com

Tow Professional | Volume 3 • Issue 4 | www.towprofessional.com

Professional Your Resource for Towing & Recovery

The NO-JACK

A tow truck operator’s duties typically involve much more than just towing disabled vehicles, from jump starts, lock outs, fuel deliveries, recovery winching, tire changes to various on-site repairs. Many of these duties require the use of a service jack. From re-positioning broken ball joints and tie rod ends to prepare for towing, to installing spare tires and a myriad of other situations, a service jack is a necessary tool for any successful towing operator.

NO-JACK allows a self-loading wheel lift to be utilized safely as an on-site automotive service jack and adds functionality, speed and safety for a towing operator.

The NO-JACK advantage: • Reduces the need for service jacks • Grab handles make it easy to carry, reducing the potential for back injuries • Zero set-up time reduces the time operators spend on busy roadsides • Does not require level or solid ground to lift a vehicle • Low profile loading end allows lifting of even the lowest vehicles

• Supplements a service jack in situations that demand lifting two points of a vehicle • Compact enough to be stored behind truck seats, in tool boxes or mounted on the outside of the truck • No moving parts to wear out or fail, safer than hydraulic service jacks • Rugged powder coated tubular steel body • Turns your wheel lift into a heavy duty floor jack • Capable of pivoting 90 degrees with wheel lift • Extends reach of claws by 10" • Designed with pinch welds in mind • Perfect for rear differential loading • Effortless control arm loading

WorkSafe USA, Inc. (217) 553-0963 www.no-jack.com

Rick’s Auto Sales Featured Truck

2015 Kenworth T270 Rollback Mayfield Yellow Paccar PX-7 260 HP Allison 2500RDS Transmission Push Button Shift Selector Air Ride / Air Brake / Air Dryer Exhaust Brake Carb Compliant 26,000# GVW / 8,000# Front Axle / 20,000# Rear Axle Locking Rear Differential w/Dash Mounted Switch 4:33 Rear Ratio Bridgestone 22.5 Lo-Pro Tires Alcoa Polished 22.5 Wheels

75 Gallon Polished Fuel Tank Polished Steps / Battery Cover Battery Jump Terminal Cab Corner Windows Wood Grain Dash Power Windows / Locks / Mirrors Heated Mirrors AC/ Cruise / Tilt + Telescopic KW Plus Air Ride Seat w/Armrests 2-Person Passenger Seat Pre-Mount CB Option w/Antennas KW ‘NavPlus’ Navigation System Am/Fm/CD/WB/Bluetooth Dual Polished Air Horns Stainless Sunvisor All LED Lighting Daytime Running Lights Safety Kit 2-Years Unlimited Miles Warranty – Paccar 3-Years Unlimited Miles Warranty – Allison

22’ Jerrdan ‘XLP’ Steel 12,000# Bed / 3,500# Wheel Lift Tread-Plate Floor / 102” Wide Aluminum Blade Removable Rails Whelen 10-Head LED Lightbar Two 60” Toolboxes w/Stainless Doors Wireless Remote Winch Ramsey 8,000# Winch Roller Guide / Tensioner / Free Spool 3/8” Wire Rope All LED Lighting Upper Work Lights at Winch Lower Work Lights Hotshift PTO 3-Year Warranty!!

$99,800 Call Rick’s Auto Sales 800-639-4537 www.ricksautosales.com

www.towprofessional.com | Volume 3 • Issue 4 | Tow Professional

DealerPlace

Tow Professional | Volume 3 â&#x20AC;˘ Issue 4 | www.towprofessional.com

MarketPlace

www.towprofessional.com | Volume 3 â&#x20AC;˘ Issue 4 | Tow Professional

faceb info@t o o k . c ow p r o f om/t ow p r e s s i o n a l . co ofess ional m maga zine

MarketPlace

Tow Professional | Volume 3 â&#x20AC;˘ Issue 4 | www.towprofessional.com

MarketPlace

www.towprofessional.com | Volume 3 â&#x20AC;˘ Issue 4 | Tow Professional

Professional Your Resource for Towing & Recovery

COMPANY

ADVERTISER INDEX PG

Agero . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 Alexander Insurance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47 Amsoil Synthetic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44 Anchor Graphics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61 Austin Insurance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50 Auto Data Direct . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50 AW Direct . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55 B/A Products . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17, 61, BC Beacon Software . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35, 62 Best Insurance Agency . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63 Blingmaster . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61 Bowers Group . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62 Boxes 4 U/ Crashfilm . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63 BudgetGPS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63 Collins Dollies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49 CTTA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Custer Products . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 CW Mill Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48 Detroit Wrecker . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 Direct Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61 DJ and Dan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Dynamic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 Eartec . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53 ECM Performance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47 Evans Cooling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 Eye3 Data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63 Flash Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 FlowStop . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Hallmark Consultants Inc . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53

COMPANY

Holly’s Message Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41 I Tow In, Inc . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51 IAA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 Industrial Netting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62 Intek Truck & Equipment Leasing . . . . . . . . . . 46 International Towing and Recovery Hall of Fame & Museum / Wall of the Fallen . . . . . . . . . . 32-33 Jerr-Dan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Keystone Tape and Supply . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46 Larson Electronics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43 LDC Insurance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63 Lift and Tow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 Lodar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62 Loganville Ford . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60 Marking Pen Depot . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63 Mfr. Express . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Midwest Regional Tow Show . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 Miti . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63 Mobile Awareness . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55 NationWide . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62 Networkfleet Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51 New Pig . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 North American Bancard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Ohio Power Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49 Pillow Protection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63 Powerbilt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57 Powerhouse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52 RaceRamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 Ram Mount . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

COMPANY

Recovery Consulting Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44 Recovery Billing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Recovery First Insurance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62 Rick’s Auto Sales . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61 Robert Young’s Wrecker Sales & Service . . . . 60 Rugged Tow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 RV Wheel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63 S&J Manufacturing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41 Steck . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40 sureFleet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63 T&L Lifts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61 TomTom . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64 TowMart . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36 Towmate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . IFC Tracker Management . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . IBC Travis Barlow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63 Tripple K . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45 Tru-Balance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48 Velvac . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39 VTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53 Web Rigging Supply, Inc . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Weiss Insurance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63 Windshield Cam . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62 Worksafe USA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52 Worldwide Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60 Yale Cordage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37 Zacklift . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62 Zip’s Truck and Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

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Tow Professional | Volume 3 • Issue 4 | www.towprofessional.com