Tow Professional - Volume: 10 Issue: 4 by Over the Mountain Media, Inc

lebrating e C TM

Professional Your Resource for Towing & Recovery

YEARS

Volume 10 • Issue 4 • 2021 www.towprofessional.com

WINCHES

Holly’s Towing

DISPATCH

ServiCase:

FOREFRONT OF TECHNOLOGY

PLUS: EXPERT WITNESS:

There’s no training like real training

INSIGHTFUL TALK:

The Owner Must Change

TOW PROFESSIONAL

CONTENTS

INDUSTRY NEWS

TOWING & RECOVERY

6 | Jerr-Dan

lebrating

8 | Zacklift

Volume 10 • Issue 4 WWW.TOWPROFESSIONAL.COM

FEATURES:

WINCHES 26 |

Winches Inc. Your

Winch Solution YEARS

10 | GUNIWHEEL 10 | Access Tools 12 | Mach1 Services

30 |

14 | Survivor Fund

Winches on Jerr-Dan

Trucks: Designed for the

15 | Tru-Hitch

People who Operate Them

16 | ATRI-Podcast

34 |

18 |

ServiCase is the

an expert Witness

forefront of technology…

BY JAMES E. LEWIS ///

and good for Business.

There’s no training like real training

42 |

Holly’s Towing

Dispatch – Only for the Towing & Recovery Industry

46 |

How LOW Can

You Tow

INSIGHTFUL TALK BY DAN MESSINA ///

22 |

The Owner Must Change

48 |

Truck Fleet Physical

Security Integration: Unlocking its Full Potential

IN EVERY ISSUE 4 | Editor’s Letter 59 | 54 | Dealers Place 60 | 2

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Market Place Ad Index

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PUBLISHER’S

LETTER

Volume 10 • Issue 3

lebrating

WWW.TOWPROFESSIONAL.COM

Professional Your Resource for Towing & Recovery

PUBLISHER Darian Weaver President & Publisher darian@towprofessional.com William Burwell VP of Marketing & Sales w.burwell@towprofessional.com

PRODUCTION Shirley Ogburn Editor Clint Cabiness Creative Director clint@dialedinmediagroup.com

e enter summer of 2021 and looking to the horizon for a new Normal! Covid-19 has affected everyone in this world one way or another. Markets across the World struggle with shortages as we all claw forward towards normal. I challenge you today to make sure there is one thing you are not short of Empathy! Empathy for others, as we all work through the day-to-day struggle to get back to our new normal. This issue our Expert Witness explains why there is No substitute for real training, Dan Messina’s “Insightful Talk,” looks at the importance of Change for an Owner. In this issue we look at the importance, role, and selection that goes into your build when it comes to winches, and hear from Winches Inc, and JerrDan on their solutions for the industry. ServiCase explains how you can take your business to the forefront of technology, and BTI explains the importance of physical security integration for your fleet. We hope you enjoy this issue and pray for your health and safety during this time!

Darian Weaver President & Publisher, Tow Professional

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CONTRIBUTING WRITERS James E . Lewis Dan Messina Darian Weaver Del Williams — BTI Communications

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., 2007 Old Montgomery Hwy., Suite B, Birmingham, Alabama, 35244, 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.

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INDUSTRY NEWS TOWING & RECOVERY

Jerr-Dan Parent Company, Oshkosh Corporation, Earns Top Honors Recognized for ethical business practices, sustainability initiatives and technology advancements Hagerstown, MD — Jerr-Dan, an Oshkosh Corporation company [NYSE:OSK], is pleased to announce that parent company Oshkosh Corporation has recently received several prestigious industry awards for the Company’s ongoing ethical business practices, sustainability efforts and use of emerging and advancing digital technologies. Committed to creating a more sustainable future, Oshkosh was named one of Barron’s “100 Most Sustainable Companies” and has been included in the S&P Global Sustainability Yearbook 2021, both for the fourth consecutive year. Steadfast in sustainability initiatives, Oshkosh Corporation has pledged to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and energy consumption and continues to make investments in technology including the development of battery-powered products. The Company was also a recipient of the IDG CIO 100 Award for information technology excellence. Oshkosh Corporation’s Digital Technology team is powered by team members around the world, all focused on solving business challenges. This is the third consecutive year that Oshkosh Corporation has received this award. The Company also received the IDG FutureEdge 50 Award for its innovative use of emerging technology. This is the first time that Oshkosh Corporation has received this global award. In addition to these awards, Oshkosh Corporation has also been named one of the World’s Most Ethical Companies by Ethisphere, one of FORTUNE’s World’s Most Admired Companies, one of America’s Most Responsible Companies by Newsweek, as well as one of America’s Top 250 Best-Managed Companies by the Wall Street Journal. “Earning top honors from so many different organizations is testimony to the collective drive towards excellence by all Oshkosh Corporation global team members who remain focused on sustainable operations, empowering others and developing innovative solutions that drive the business forward,” said Frank Nerenhausen, Oshkosh Corporation executive vice president and president of the company’s Access Segment, which includes two industry leading brands: JLG® aerial lifts and material handling equipment including boom lifts, scissor lifts, low-level access lifts, vertical access lifts, stock and order picker lifts, towable lifts and telehandlers and Jerr6

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Dan® towing and recovery equipment including carriers, wreckers and rotators. To keep up-to-date on Oshkosh Corporation news, please visit: https://investors.oshkoshcorp.com/news. For more information about Jerr-Dan, visit www. jerrdan.com.

About Jerr-Dan JerrDan, LLC, an Oshkosh Corporation [NYSE: OSK] company, is a leading manufacturer of towing and recovery equipment. Its full line includes light-, mediumand heavy-duty carriers and wreckers, industrial transporters and four-car carriers. The company is headquartered in Hagerstown, MD., and its products are backed by industry leading warranties and a strong service network dedicated to the towing professional. To learn more about Jerr-Dan, visit www.jerrdan.com.

About Oshkosh Corporation At Oshkosh (NYSE: OSK), we make innovative, missioncritical equipment to help everyday heroes advance communities around the world. Headquartered in Wisconsin, Oshkosh Corporation employs nearly 15,000 team members worldwide, all united behind a common cause: to make a difference in people’s lives. Oshkosh products can be found in more than 150 countries under the brands of JLG®, Pierce®, Oshkosh® Defense, McNeilus®, IMT®, Jerr-Dan®, Frontline™, Oshkosh® Airport Products, London™ and Pratt Miller. For more information, visit www.oshkoshcorp.com.

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INDUSTRY NEWS TOWING & RECOVERY

The all new Zacklift EZTOW is heading out the doors!

ith the EZTOW’s now shipping, Zacklift continues to focus on affordability and performance-based fleet management products. The EZTOW is a totally self-contained money saving solution that’s primary focus is emergency fleet recovery. While the Zacklift EZTOW’s focus is getting the job done on a budget, that does not mean the EZTOW is not packed with tons of features that translate not only into saving money and frustration but also ease of use and overall performance when on the job. The EZTOW’s self-contained 12V Bucher Hydraulic Pump system stays ready to go to work with the standard onboard Solar Battery Tender trickle charge system. A wireless LED lightbar keeps job visibility in mind while the optional wireless remote is a practical and useful upgrade. The optional 8 or 10K warn winch add another dimension many specific recovery

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situations and a pintle ball hitch is also available for normal towing when needed. All these features, sit nicely waiting to work for you and save money on an included EZLOAD stand, meaning this unit can be loaded and unloaded with NO FORKLIFT REQUIRED. The Zacklift EZTOW is a fleet work horse that will continue to get the job done and save you money for years to come. With easy financing options available, give Zacklift a call today! Zacklift has several other products in the pipeline, with our next big announcement coming later this year! Zacklift – The World Leader in Heavy Duty Detachable Towing. www.zacklift.com

INDUSTRY NEWS TOWING & RECOVERY

GUNIWHEEL™ PARTNERS WITH ZIP’S AW DIRECT We’re pleased to announce our new distribution partnership with Zip’s AW Direct , a fantastic company dedicated to producing and selling custom trucks and equipment for the towing and roadside service markets. Zip’s AW Direct will be the direct link to the towing market

ACCESS TOOLS TRAVEL LOCKOUT KIT Access Tools, the world’s leading manufacturer of car opening tools, has created a set designed for those on-the-go who prefer an In-The-Door Tool Set. The Travel Lockout Kit is designed to include the basic tools that are critical to any lockout for the professional who needs to always have a set of tools. Small and compact, this kit fits easily into any vehicle for a spontaneous lockout. All the In-The-Door tools feature our unique Tool-ID system that aids in locating the correct tool for the job in conjunction with the Car Opening Manual. This kit will ensure you are never stuck without the required tools when a situation arises. The Travel Lockout Kit is also a great backup to your other Complete Set, such as the Super Pro Complete Set. If you have any questions or would like more information on this topic, please contact Julian Packin at (800) 323-8324 or via email at sales@caropeningtools.com. Or Visit: www.CarOpeningTools.com 10

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and offer GUNIWHEEL™ in their incredible catalog of products as our preferred partner. For more information or to make a purchase, visit our page on Zip’s AW Direct website at: https://zips.com/guniwheel

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INDUSTRY NEWS TOWING & RECOVERY

Mach1 Services, North Texas Voice and Speech, and Freelance Corporal Win Bunker Labs Pitch Competition CHICAGO /PRNewswire/ — Bunker Labs has announced the winners of its most recent Veterans in Residence Pitch Competition, which took place on Wednesday, May 5, 2021. The winners were: •

•

First Place, $7,500: Rick Narpaul, founder and CEO of Mach1 Services, an on-demand roadside assistance company with no membership fee based in San Antonio Second Place, $3,000: Leslie Wegner, founder of North Texas Voice and Speech, a speech pathology company based in Dallas Third Place, $2,000: Brandon Childers, founder of Freelance Corporal, a gamified mobile financial literacy education service based in Los Angeles

Veterans in Residence, a partnership of WeWork and Bunker Labs, is a six-month, early-stage business incubator that provides veteran and military family member entrepreneurs with coworking space, community, a national business network, and resources to grow their business. “What stood out about Mach1 Services’ pitch is that the need for roadside assistance is something everyone can relate to, and they have the customer traction to prove it,” said Blake Hogan, CEO of Bunker Labs. The Veterans in Residence Pitch Competition is held twice per year, toward the end of each six-month cohort period. Visit: https://bunkerlabs.org/veteransin-residence to learn more about the Veterans in Residence program.

About Bunker Labs: Bunker Labs is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and a national network of veteran and military spouse entrepreneurs dedicated to helping the military-connected community

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start their own business. Bunker Labs is committed to seeing that every entrepreneur, including small business owners, in the military-connected community has the network, tools, and resources they need to start their own business. Learn more about Bunker Labs: www. bunkerlabs.org

About WeWork: WeWork was founded in 2010 with the vision to create environments where people and companies come together and do their best work. Since opening our first location in New York City, we’ve grown into a global flexible space provider committed to delivering technology-driven flexible solutions, inspiring spaces, and unmatched community experiences. Today, we’re constantly reimagining how the workplace can help everyone, from freelancers to Fortune 500s, be more motivated, productive, and connected. SOURCE Bunker Labs Cision PR Newswire link: Mach1 Services, North Texas Voice and Speech, and Freelance Corporal Win Bunker Labs Pitch Competition (prnewswire.com)

INDUSTRY NEWS TOWING & RECOVERY

2021 Survivor Fund Golf Classic Raises Record Amount

Celebration, FL – The International Towing Museum proudly announces that the 12th annual Survivor Fund Golf Classic raised just over $20,000 for the Survivor Fund, the first time in the tournament’s history that money raised exceeded $20,000. “As with most events, the 2020 tournament was cancelled due to COVID-19, so we weren’t quite sure what to expect this year,” says Jeffrey Godwin, Chairman of the Survivor Fund. “We were delighted not only with the attendance and industry support but especially with the donation, which helps fund pay-outs to families of towing operators who are killed while serving the motoring public.” The Survivor Fund was founded in 2005 to provide immediate financial support to families in their toughest time. Due to donations and industry support, the death benefit paid has been increased several times since its inception, currently paying $9,500 per incident if the company or individual is a current member of the International Towing Museum, or $7,500 per incident to non-members. Since January 2021, seven towing operators have been killed throughout the U.S., primarily while working roadside on busy highways. The number of towing operator fatalities has historically been averaging 60 per year.

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Learn more about the Survivor Fund at www.thesurvivorfund.com.

About ITRHFM The International Towing and Recovery Hall of Fame and Museum, located in Chattanooga, TN, houses an array of displays and exhibits showcasing the history of towing and recovery. The rotating collection includes early equipment by Manley, Holmes, Vulcan, and Weaver. The Hall of Fame honors individuals who have significantly advanced the industry. The Museum includes a theater, a library, and a gift shop selling souvenirs related to the towing industry. On the outside grounds is the Wall of the Fallen memorial, dedicated to towers who died in the line of service. The ITRHFM Survivor Fund assists the families of the men and women that have made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of service by providing a uniform financial gift at the time of their loss. ITRHFM is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization and accepts donations for its programs and operations from individuals, corporations and groups. Learn more at www.towingmuseum.com.

Tru-Hitch™ Fifth Wheel Towing Device

rom military strength comes commercial quality. For over twenty years Tru-Hitch™ has recovered the heavily armored vehicles that have become the standard for the US Army. Whether simply broken down or damaged in service these heavy vehicles are a challenge to recover. In all kinds of scenarios and differing terrains a towing and recovery system must perform without compromise. Over thousands of hours of testing and evaluation, including service in both Iraq and Afghanistan, the Tru-Hitch™ 250M FWTRD (Fifth Wheel Towing and Recovery Device) has proven itself, and met the Government’s stringent criteria to officially become an approved long-term towing and recovery solution for the US Army. This proven military experience, and unwavering commitment to quality and performance, is built into every Tru-Hitch™

for the commercial tower. The Tru-Hitch™ fifth wheel towing device is cost effective to purchase, operate, and maintain. The Tru-Hitch™ heavy-duty under lift towing device utilizes the fifth wheel coupling as the pivotal connection between the pulling tractor and the truck in tow. What makes the Tru-Hitch™ unique is that it imposes a downward load and pivots on the towing tractor at the fifth wheel, rather than behind the tractor’s rear axle. The truck in tow essentially becomes a “semi-trailer”.The weight of the disabled vehicle is distributed among all axles of the towing tractor. The front axle of the towing tractor actually gains weight as the vehicle is lifted! This makes the Tru-Hitch™ by far the safest heavy duty towing device in the transportation industry.

www.towprofessional.com

Volume 10 • Issue 4

Tow Professional

INDUSTRY NEWS TOWING & RECOVERY

Wes Wilburn & DJ Harrington “Car-Diologist”

es Wilburn & DJ Harrington “Car-Diologist” brings weekly podcasts on towing & recovery industry news, updates, safety & product reviews, etc. Each Thursday there is a newly featured guest on American Towing & Recovery Institute on the Go Podcasts. Tune in and follow on anywhere that podcasts are aired. You can catch them on the following: Amazon Music, Apple Podcast, IHeart Podcast, Pandora, Google Podcast, Spotify, Stitcher and so many more. We are excited to work with professional video creator, Chuck Camp of Grey Door Productions. Watch our facebook page dedicated to the weekly podcast episodes at https://www.facebook.com/ ATRIPodcast and also our website www.amtowri.org or www.amtowri.com for visuals for each episode as well link to the podcasts. D.J. Harrington, Motivator | Entrepreneur | Keynote Speaker, D.J. Harrington is the President and Chief Executive Officer of Phone Logic, Inc. an international training company based in Atlanta, Georgia. D.J. serves as a consultant and trainer to over 1,000 privately owned businesses throughout the country, training personnel at all levels of the company – from the operator to the customer service reps, to the sales staff and the president of the company – over an 800 number, 52 weeks a year.

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His years as a sales trainer and motivator for a variety of companies have provided D.J. with an outstanding background which be brings – along with his energy and dynamic personality – to every clinic and seminar. D.J. is a recipient of the Vicom Group Video Training Award. He is a motivator, entrepreneur, and keynote speaker. D.J. has been a member of the Georgia Speakers Association and the National Speakers Association since 1993, and a recipient of the coveted award of Certified Speaking Professional (C.S.P.). C.S.P. is a level achieved by fewer than 3% of all national speakers. Wes Wilburn, a thirty-eight year towing industry veteran and founder of the American Towing and Recovery Institute of Fayetteville, NC, has been published over 100 times in major towing publications. Wes has produced and conducted training and certification programs for leading towing companies, equipment distributors, towing associations, DOT, fire department/rescue, as well as military installations across the United States. Wes has provided insight as a main speaker for over twenty-nine years at more than 850 training sessions and has even been recognized as one of America’s Greatest Towing Trainers. He is well-known for his straight forward, but down to earth teaching style.

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Volume 10 • Issue 4

Tow Professional

an expert Witness BY JAMES E. LEWIS ///

THERE’S NO TRAINING LIKE

REAL TRAINING I

happened upon an article by my new friend Barry Brownstein, and it really opened my eyes. Perhaps the overview of the article will open your eyes too. The article is titled “Why Humans Increasingly Are Unaware of Their Ignorance (And Why it’s a Big Problem).” While that title may sound harsh, even for a self-awareness piece, it just makes sense. I instantly related that concept

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to the automotive enthusiast world, of which I’m a big part, as is the owner of Over The Mountain Media, the publisher for Tow Professional magazine. To say that he and I are both “into cars” is the understatement of the year. It’s an obsession. I bring that up because there’s a parts company that I’ve used several times that specializes in my car, a Ford Focus ST, and also the Focus

“If you don’t have that basic knowledge foundation, though, you may be in way over your head if you decide to tear into your car after watching a 4-minute video.”

INGENUITY RS, Mustang GT, and F-150 Raptor. Many of the owners of these vehicles do their own work and get busy upgrading parts right after the purchase of their vehicle. The best thing about this parts company is that with every single part they offer for sale, they attach a very well-done installation video, done by one of their shop people in their company shop.

AMERICAN CRAFTSMANSHIP custombuiltmfg.com www.towprofessional.com

Volume 10 • Issue 4

Tow Professional

an expert Witness BY JAMES E. LEWIS ///

Here’s the twist – and that’s where the problem starts for some of us. People with solid car knowledge, but perhaps haven’t ever installed a blow off valve, can view the video and figure it out with relative ease. If you don’t have that basic knowledge foundation, though, you may be in way over your head if you decide to tear into your car after watching a 4-minute video. Barry Brownstein talks about ignorance being relative to our chase to have our opinions validated. Even if we don’t know much about a 20

Tow Professional | Volume 10 • Issue 4

subject, a quick Google or Wikipedia search can give us the information we desire. A YouTube video may fill a void in your knowledge bank. That’s where the problem starts, though. You’re simply not an expert, or even really knowledgeable, after a couple of videos and no real experience. Did you know that ANYONE, regardless of position, education, or qualifications, can make a Wikipedia entry defining or explaining something? That means, if you didn’t know much about a subject, but you consult Wikipedia and the person www.towprofessional.com

who made the entry you’re reading doesn’t know much about it, now you BOTH don’t know much? Same applies with YouTube – all it takes is a phone and an internet connection to be the next YouTube star. And the problem is that people will take you seriously. I’m not going to post the Yale University study that Barry Brownstein referenced in his article – instead, I’m going to twist this notion of us doing a quick internet search or catching a video and suddenly becoming experts on the matter –

and tie it directly into the towing industry. I’ll make this point, and hope you agree. There is absolutely no substitute for real-time, hands-on training. None. Period. Let’s play this out – one of your drivers runs a medium or heavy unit, and kills time by checking out YouTube videos of towing and recovery failures as well as “training” videos posted by some yayhoo with a phone and an internet connection, and takes that 3-minute “how-to” video to heart. They then run into a similar scenario out in the field, and instead of asking for help, calling you or another supervisor, or remembering formal training last year, they immediately recall that video – it’s human nature to recall the most recent events in our lives – and they try to pull off some King Kong Superman stuff they saw in the video. And the results are devastating. What the yayhoo in the video didn’t explain to your guy or girl is the weight they were recovering, conditions including weather, level ground, time of day, etc., and the hour or more it took to rig up that operation before they started pulling the levers and making things happen. The question I have for company owners and supervisors is a simple one – who do you want doing your training? You, or some other qualified trainer? An instructor in a formal training course? Or some yayhoo who cracks jokes and has a phone and an internet connection? Take some downtime, build controllable, safe scenarios at your tow yard, and pull off some training sessions. And then document them. Gather the whole crew around, not so the others can yell silly things and distract the operator working,

but to learn, take notes, and offer suggestions. There are several things you can do in an environment like that that you can’t do on a real call – you can stop the action at any time, start over, rethink your plan, and reconfigure your rigging.

Ask yourself – do you want professional, safe operators, or people who idolize the yayhoo on YouTube? Which one of those would you want to talk to your insurance agent about? .

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Volume 10 • Issue 4

Tow Professional

INSIGHTFUL TALK BY DAN MESSINA ///

The Owner Must Change A

s I look back on the last year and a half of towing, our industry has gone through a lot. We were forced to change the way we do business because of things like:

1. 22

The virus – This made your people work differently.

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Customer needs – The consumers were traveling less which means they were breaking down less. People were not working so they could not get their cars repaired. Therefore, body shops gave you less business due to less accidents on the road because people were traveling less.

No tow shows to go to – No exposure to new products such as trucks and tow software, etc. needed to run your business.

The government has a big impact on what you do today. It was nice that they gave you money to survive, but they also gave your employees money to survive. Now no one wants to come back to work.

When you built your business you built it based on who you are. You ran your business for the past 20 years based on the principles you established. It’s time to look at yourself and see the things you will have to change to stay in business. Here are a few things to evaluate as you move forward:

There may have been laws changed that are affecting your business.

Take a look at yourself and see how you might have to change in a new industry that’s been established.

2. Set new goals for your company and share them with your employees.

Everyone was affected in their own way. The only thing that did not change is you the owner. You might have changed some business policies, but you could not change who you are. When I opened my company, I knew who I was and built my business based on the principles I established. Then all these things happened forcing us to change the way we do business.

3. Adjust company policies that affect the bottom line. 4. Do what is right regardless of the cost. 5. Face reality as it is, not as it was.

No matter what you’re towing, we’re always behind you.

Stay protected with insurance from Progressive. With policies customized for tow truck drivers, we offer Primary Liability limits up to $2 million and specialized coverages like On-Hook and Garagekeepers Liability.

Call your local agent or visit ProgressiveCommercial.com.

Progressive Casualty Ins. Co. & affiliates. Specialized coverages may not be available in all states or situations. In Texas and Virginia, Garagekeepers Legal Liability coverage is called Storage Location insurance. In these two states only, On-Hook Towing insurance is then called Garagekeepers Legal Liability coverage.

www.towprofessional.com

Volume 10 • Issue 4

Tow Professional

INSIGHTFUL TALK BY DAN MESSINA ///

6. Become more of a leader and less as a manager. 7.

Listen more and admit mistakes.

The big question for you, the owner is, “Am I willing to change?” I talk to tow companies every day and try to get them to sign with TowTrax. I am providing them with a free service that gets them tows they never had at retail rates. I am giving them a new market ( Motor Clubs) that provide over 40,000,000 a year that they do not have today because they made a policy a few years ago not to tow for motor clubs for a variety of reasons. My customers are motor clubs and my service providers are getting good tow rates from the motor clubs because they were willing to make changes. I am giving tow companies in certain markets 6 to 10 tows a day and some companies will not register with

Tow Professional | Volume 10 • Issue 4

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TowTrax because the tows I give them is not the norm for their company. When I ran my company and my customer told me I can give you business, but you have to do it my way, I would look at what they wanted and figure out how to make it work. I hated to lose business to a competitor. I have tow companies that are very happy with the business I provide them. I call some companies up, and I can’t get past the dispatcher who will not even listen because it’s not the way they do business today. As an owner you are letting a $12 an hour person impact your revenue. Other companies tell me that it has to go through our current dispatch system. Once again, you are letting an outside source affect your revenue. No one likes their employees more than I did. They were the front line to the customer and they knew more about their job than I did. The difference is, I made sure they knew what my priorities were. Making money

was my biggest. If they got a sales call from a potential customer, they would make sure I knew about it so I, the owner, could determine if we wanted to take on the new business. Things I would ask myself when a potential customer called: 1.

As an owner, would I be willing to change?

Am I afraid of change?

I evaluate if change is necessary.

Does my customer know who I am?

If I have to change, what steps are necessary?

My goal is to let you know that you as the owner may have to make changes in the way you have been doing business for the past 20 years. I talk to many successful companies that tell me they don’t have to change because they are successful, and I can’t argue with them. I also talk to tow companies that tell me their success is because of change. I just left a meeting where we talked about the

things I am writing about. When I started TowTrax, I established policies and procedures. As a startup, I am now realizing that I may have to change some things to make it work. I just made a $70,000 investment that will have a major impact on my business 6 months from now, but I found it necessary to invest now even though it does not have an impact on my current revenues. As you the owner fight through all the crap we faced over the past year, take a look at who you are and what your company will look like 6 months from now. As you learn your new business, know your: •

Customer

•

Employees

•

Competition

•

Services

•

Pricing

• Expenses Most importantly know who you are.

RUGGED LED LIGHTS BUILT FOR YOUR WORLD Safety

Modular Light Bar

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HDT Work Lights

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330-684-4000 www.towprofessional.com

Volume 10 • Issue 4

Tow Professional

WINCHES INC.YOUR

WINCH SOLUTION

inches Inc. offers the most comprehensive line of winch and hoist products in the industry. Our goal is to provide you with the best solution for your needs. We have experts ready to provide the best winch selection. Whether it is a towing recovery winch, a drill rig hoist, Jeep, Truck, or ATV, we will provide professional sales and service for years to come for your application.

COMPREHENSIVE PRODUCT LINEUP Winches Inc. stocks all the major brands used by consumers in the winch market such as: TULSA WINCH, DP WINCH, BRADEN, CARCO, GEARMATIC, PULLMASTER, RAMSEY, WARN, and SUPERWINCH. We also stock complete components to finish your winch installation such as hooks, blocks, motors, pto, and hydraulic pumps.

DIVERSIFIED MARKETS Since 1981, after first opening its doors in Odessa, Texas, Winches Inc. has expanded its operations to branches in Houston, Texas and Broken Arrow, Oklahoma. We now specialize in towing recovery, utility, energy, construction, and marine markets. We have had many repeat customers as well over the years as a reliable provider of winch parts and service. Each location also has a service group ready to answer questions, repair and/or replace a winch currently used in the field. Winches Inc. is a one-stop-shop organization.

EXPERIENCED IN SALES AND SERVICE

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Winches Inc. prides itself on sales and service. We staff our branches with experienced and trained personnel ready to assist with providing the most up-to-date information needed. With over 39 years of experience in this industry, we are your winch solution. Including repair, Winches Inc. also provides testing and documentation services to meet requirements in today’s changing environment. Our facilities in Broken

Arrow, Ok and Houston, TX are equipped to provide dynamic load testing and documentation services to meet current requirements.

NEW PRODUCTS New products offered include our Rigmaster guard kit packages that provide protection to keep hands, tools, and

BUILDING THE BEST WIRELESS TOW LIGHTS IN THE BUSINESS!

Proudly Made in the USA

Contains Auto-grade circuitry Individually serialized to prevent cross-talk & protect against theft

Toll Free: 800-490-3158 CusterProducts.com www.towprofessional.com

Volume 10 • Issue 4

Tow Professional

WINCHES INC.YOUR

WINCH SOLUTION

debris away from the wire rope on the cable drum. Other desirable options include the RigMaster guard with integral tension roller that assists in proper cable spooling under light to heavier load conditions. Highlight features include the following: • All stainless-steel construction for long life in harsh environments. • Flexible design for different applications and wire rope departures. • No welding on, or modifying of, the original winch manufacturers design; avoiding any risk of nullifying

the factory warranty or certification. • Economic design saves money and time. • Panels and parts can be easily replaced and are in stock. • Field installations are not only possible, they are recommended. • RigMaster guards create standardization throughout your entire fleet of winches. For all your winch and hoist product needs, contact us at 877-495-9721 or through our website at https://winchesinc.com/pages/our-company

ZACKLIFT INTERNATIONAL / 844.ZACKLIFT / ZACKLIFT.COM

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Our mission is to: • Evoke the public conscious to understand they are the most powerful source to define life and death on our Nation’s highways. • To educate and make them aware they need to make a life change so first responders can live theirs! • To unite all common industry first responders to train, educate and motivate the public we serve to just

OVER ONE – LOSE NONE!

overone.org

www.towprofessional.com

Volume 10 • Issue 4

Tow Professional

WINCHES ON JERR-DANTRUCKS:

DESIGNED FOR THE PEOPLE WHO

OPERATE THEM

Jerr-Dan you have your choice of top performing winches - no matter the recovery. Whether when using a wrecker, or during a tow with a carrier, the winch is a critical tool. Winches hold the wire rope, which is used during a recovery or loading a car on a carrier. Depending on model and configuration, either DP or Ramsey winch options provide the strength and reliability you need to perform these jobs. Used by Jerr-Dan for nearly fifty years, these winches are designed to work hard like the people who operate them. From carriers to rotators, Jerr-Dan trucks are built with these trusted brands: Ramsey and DP Winch. Jerr-Dan carriers offer a variety of winches, to load and unload vehicles being hauled. The 6 Ton XLP light 30

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duty carrier comes standard with an 8,000 lb. Ramsey Worm Gear Winch with roller guide and tensioner plate. Customers have the option to upgrade to a 10,000 lb. winch if they desire. Medium duty 8.5 Ton XLP carriers are built standard with a 10,000 lb. winch or an optional 12,000 lb. winch; both with roller guide and tensioner plates. Jerr-Dan’s line of heavy duty and industrial carriers utilize various winch sizes, ranging from 12,000 lbs. to 20,000 lbs. depending on the bed size and the customer needs. Light duty wrecker models MPL-NG and MPL-NGS are available with an optional 8,000 lb. single winch. The MPL-40 model offers a choice of a single 8,000 lb.

winch, or dual winches for the operator who needs additional winching capabilities for recovery. The HPL models have boom-mounted winches with ratings of either 8,000 lbs. or 10,000 lbs. depending on the boom. All Jerr-Dan heavy duty wreckers come with 2-speed planetary winches ranging in capacity from 25,000 lbs. to 50,000 lbs. Customers may choose either brand: DP or Ramsey. The Jerr-Dan 25 ton integrated wrecker uses dual boom-mounted 25,000 lb. 2 speed planetary winches. The Jerr-Dan 35 ton, both the Independent and Integrated models, has dual boom-mounted 35,000 lb. 2-speed planetary winches. The Independent model uses a 35,000 lb. planetary drag winch. Both Jerr-Dan

50 tons, Independent and Integrated models, include dual boom-mounted DP 50,000 lb. planetary winches and the Independent model has a 35,000 lb. planetary drag winch. The Jerr-Dan 50/60 HDR1000 Rotator can come equipped with up to 5 winches total. These winches include: two boom-mounted 50,000 lbs. planetary winches, a choice of DP or Ramsey drag winch with ratings of either 20,000 lbs., 35,000 lbs. or a 50,000 lbs., and two boom-mounted auxiliary winches. For more information on the Jerr-Dan product lineup of winches, please contact your Jerr-Dan distributor or learn more here: https://www.jerrdan.com

www.towprofessional.com

Volume 10 • Issue 4

Tow Professional

Benefiting for the families of our fallen

If each company in the industry gave just $5 when a tragedy occurs, we could generously support the families of our fallen in so many new ways. Can you give $5 when a tower dies? Help us support those left behind by the dangers of our profession.

The Survivor Fund The “Survivor Fund” was created in 2006 to complement the International Towing and Recovery Museum’s Wall of the Fallen. This fund was established to help those families who have lost a loved one in the line of service. A Survivor Fund committee was formed of people from all over the United States from the towing industry. The committee is given the information

Survivor Fund Continuing Support

regarding the fallen and the application is

To ensure the longevity of these benefits as we work

processed within 24 hours of receipt. Once the

to build a perpetual fund, we are asking each person,

decision is made, a check is sent right away to the

company and organization in the industry to

family to assist with immediate financial issues

participate in supporting the Survivor Fund and these

during this tragic time in their lives.

families when a tragedy occurs. Your pledge to become a Survivor Fund Continuing Support Partner

Company owners, family members, or friends can

represents a commitment to our industry.

submit the application for benefits on behalf of the family of the deceased. The application can be

As a Continuing Support Partner, you will receive an

found on the website at www.thesurvivorfund.com

e-mail from the Survivor Fund when a tragedy occurs

and can be submitted by mail, fax, or e-mail.

and meets the governing guidelines of the Survivor Fund for disbursement. As always, the ITRHFM

Fourteen years of service to the towing and recovery

Survivor Fund will handle direct payment to the

industry worldwide

families. We will simply solicit your contribution in the

Managed by industry professionals

pledged amount to replenish and build our fund after

Pledges replenish funds and allow payout growth

each approved payout. The e-mail you receive will

$7,500 benefit, $9,500 for museum members

provide information on the current tragedy as well as

Immediate funds to help at the time of tragedy

information on how to remit the payment to honor

Funded by donations only

your pledge.

Hundreds of families supported Tiered system allows payout increases based on reserves Hundreds of thousands of dollars paid out to date

www.thesurvivorfund.com/pledge Make your pledge today to support our industry.

is the forefront of technology… and good for Business.

In a ditch in Dallas? Bad brakes in Buffalo? As freight transportation continues to increase and the ravages of the upcoming summer heat shred tires and boil batteries, there is an increased demand for service providers to get freight moving again. The traditional model of searching or “shooting in the dark” for a provider, hoping you get one that returns your calls and doesn’t rip you off was great for 1995. However, as technology has advanced, so has the demand from carriers and fleet managers for a flexible and 34

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transparent breakdown experience. Introducing ServiCase. ServiCase is a revolutionary software system available to fleets from single owner operators to those with thousands of power units. Unlike traditional directories, ServiCase allows users the ability to not just search for a towing, road service, or other service provider, but also allows users to select and digitally dispatch the call as well. During the event, ServiCase delivers electronic status updates

back to the carrier providing the clearest indication of when the asset will be back on the road. At its core, ServiCase is a roadside breakdown case management system from the same people that brought you towPartners and sureEcosystem. The system allows trucking company drivers and/ or fleet managers to locate towing and roadside mechanical service providers quickly and to establish

electronic interactions. ServiCase can also be used as a case management system allowing carriers to track breakdowns and events through to completion including event status, photos, invoices, etc. ServiCase provides carriers access to over 60,000 service providers with the ability to store private notes and ratings for the service providers with whom they engage. www.towprofessional.com

Volume 10 • Issue 4

Tow Professional

ServiCase is a plus for your bottom-line. When your company is listed in ServiCase, you become a part of one of the most sophisticated networks available for roadside breakdowns. As more and more carriers adopt ServiCase as their breakdown platform, your business is exposed to fleets looking for the services you offer.

ServiCase allows you control your own listing. ServiCase is different from other search services in that the provider can update their own information such as services offered, rates, insurance coverage, contact numbers, hours of operation, and more. Service providers are not charged for jobs they receive through ServiCase and there is no bidding for higher positions in the results listings. Unlike some other breakdown platforms, ServiCase does not charge variable fees for large markets and does not dictate rates, though many listed providers are extending their commercial account rates to carriers using ServiCase. Nothing is marked up by ServiCase because payment is made directly to the service provider by the carrier user.

Case# Created Service Type Status ETA

1320 05/17/2021 05:05 PM MechanicalRoad Repair Service En Route 45 Min

Location

800 E Southern Ave. Tempe, AZ

Provider

Southwest Truck & Repair

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When your company is listed in ServiCase, you become a part of one of the most sophisticated networks available for roadside breakdowns. As more and more carriers adopt ServiCase as their breakdown platform, your business

STOLEN OR DAMAGED WHEELS? NO PROBLEM

A UNIVERSAL WHEEL SOLUTION FOR THE TOWING INDUSTRY

is exposed to fleets looking for the services

EASILY MOUNT & MOVE VEHICLES WITH STOLEN OR DAMAGED TIRES & WHEELS

you offer.

GUNIWHEEL™ 56

GUNIWHEEL™ 45 Fits standard size vehicles with 4 & 5 lug/bolt patterns

Fits trucks & large SUV’s with 5 & 6 lug/bolt patterns

ORDER ONLINE PROMO CODE GUNI720

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+ FREE SHIPPING

SETS OF 4

WWW.GUNIWHEEL.COM/TOWPRO www.towprofessional.com

Volume 10 • Issue 4

Tow Professional

Connected Digital Software Providers The ServiCase breakdown management software is exceptional in that it can connect carriers and fleets directly to service providers through many of the commercially available dispatch software platforms including Beacon, FullBay, InTow, TOPS, Towbook and Omadi, and more than a dozen others. When a breakdown occurs, carriers and fleet managers create a case in the ServiCase tool providing all of the information about the vehicle and the type of service that is required. When the service provider is digitally connected, jobs can be assigned directly to the providers dispatch software. The case information is sent to the software package providing an alert and the information about the new job. Once the ETA is accepted, the service provider is dispatched, creating a live call in the service providers dispatching software.

ServiCase optimized for Mobile interaction ServiCase has been optimized for carrier drivers by allowing them to search and digitally dispatch their event. This action creates a connection between the driver’s mobile device and the service provider software

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THE UNDERLIFT THAT HANDLES LIKE A SEMI-TRAILER • • • • • • •

Attaches in minutes No Permanent Connections 32K Lift Capability Safely Tows Up To 140K GCWR Distributes Weight Properly Scales When Others Can’t Economical To Operate

Tru-Hitch Inc.

16 W. West Hill Road Barkhamsted, Ct. 06063

Toll Free 1-800-450-8659 www.truhitch.com

ARE YOU LISTED ON SERVICASE?

ServiCase is a web-based breakdown management system created to help fleet managers locate service providers.

ServiCase GET STARTE D WITH A

FREE ™

STARTER PA

AND GET LIS

CKAGE

TED WITH

CARRIERS A

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NATIONWIDES Register for ServiCase

GET STARTED WITH YOUR FREE LISTING, REGISTER YOUR COMPANY AT WWW.SERVICASE.COM/2021 www.towprofessional.com

Volume 10 • Issue 4

Tow Professional

system. Once the connection has been established, information and updates about the call are automatically updated to the driver’s phone. ServiCase now offers the operator a clear picture of when their truck will be back on the road.

How to register your company with ServiCase ServiCase is currently looking for partners in the service provider community who can support carriers across a wide variety of service types. Service providers can visit servicase.com/2021 to register their company. For the remainder of 2021, ServiCase is providing companies with a free starter listing with additional listing upgrades available online.

SIDEBAR Carriers are actively registering with ServiCase to source providers for their fleets. ServiCase is working to market the businesses of our clients by advertising the ServiCase solution in industry leading trade publications and online. We are marketing nationwide to bring new business to our local partners.

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Volume 10 • Issue 4

Tow Professional

Only for the Towing & Recovery Industry

re you currently relying on an answering service to dispatch your after-hour and weekend calls? How is that working for you? Do the operators understand the importance of never missing a police call, immediately getting in touch with your driver or just how important those police and motor club contracts are? Years ago, we recognized that it was nearly impossible to combine towing companies with doctors, property managers, and any other industry who typically employ an answering service. At that point, Holly’s Message Service proudly became Holly’s Towing Dispatch. 42

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At Holly’s Towing Dispatch, we solely answer and dispatch for Towing & Recovery professionals, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week – 365 days a year. We only focus on your field, train employees solely in towing dispatch, and understand the importance of getting every call out immediately. We go above and beyond what you will get at a typical answering service. Granted, not everyone uses an answering service. Most commonly, business owners who cannot justify paying an in-house dispatcher to sit and wait for the phone to ring will forward all calls to their cell phones or directly to their drivers working the overnight. When

www.towprofessional.com

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Tow Professional

the owner grows tired of never getting a full night’s sleep, missing another holiday with their family or missing a call, that is when they call us! When a driver is picking and choosing what calls to take, losing the owner revenue, completing cash calls with no documentation or is just too busy towing to do the job of two people, that is when they call us! Many of our customers wrestled with the idea of hiring an outside source to dispatch their calls well before they began using our services. Whether they were seeking relief for one night a week, 7 days a week or just on Sundays, the idea of “giving up their phones” was a real struggle. Prior to beginning service with Holly’s Towing Dispatch, we ask for you to provide as much information as you can about how you run your business. We are located in Connecticut but dispatch for companies all across the country as well as Canada. Knowing your coverage area and providing a list of zip codes or town names, especially for motor clubs, allows us to only accept calls that you want! We pride ourselves on customizing each of our customer’s accounts.

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You run your business the way that suits you best, and Holly’s Towing Dispatch aims to assist you in keeping it running at the times when you aren’t available. Making the decision to seek an “off-site” dispatch service can be difficult. You’ve worked hard to build your business. Whether it is has been one year or forty years, giving up your phones can be terrifying. I encourage you to call and talk about it. You’re not alone and there is a way to get relief all while your drivers are out working for you, your PD calls are getting immediate response, and your motor club ratings are not suffering. Don’t go another day of missing out on sleep or being with those you love. Let Holly’s Towing Dispatch work for you while you work on your business. Make sure you can attend the next family birthday party or take your significant other out on a date. We will make sure you are covered. Call or contact us online. We’d be happy to discuss your individual needs. (1-800-730-3909) www.HollysTowingDispatch.com.

www.towprofessional.com

Volume 10 • Issue 4

Tow Professional

How LOW Can You Tow

“T

owTract® is the most technologically advanced equipment for vehicle recovering, handling and towing.” It goes into low clearance parking decks/garages and other tight areas where vehicles may become disabled and physically carries them out. TowTract® is only the second robot from EasTract (an Italian company) to be operational in the United States and is taking the industry to the next level where Zero Traction is a must. This equipment makes getting vehicles out of tight areas and low clearance parking decks/garages with cramped space easier and will cut the time and physical effort required to get vehicles 46

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out of these areas. Prior to TOWTRACT® people had to endure the physical task of pushing the vehicles out risking physical injury & property damage. TOWTRACT® specializes in parking garages that are between 5 and 7 feet in height and also vehicles without keys or locked steering columns. It also has a track system that moves and a winch so it can go into muddy areas and pull vehicles out as well as carry cars from the side and lift motorcycles off the ground. TOWTRACT® will also eliminate the need for an additional wrecker needed for the newer aluminum alloy frame vehicles which include Audi, BMW/Mini, Mercedes, Porsche, and VW Volvo. All of this because TOWTRACT® will pick up the vehicle and load it onto the truck and drive away after being strapped down. Parking facilities managers and property owners are thrilled with the very low liability risk exposure due to the reduction of RISK since TOWTRACT® will operate in a surgical manner as it operates and removes the vehicle out of the facility compared to bringing in a full-sized wrecker into a compact and tight area of the parking facility and risking damage to other vehicles with the boom. TOWTRACT® is unique, versatile and strong. It does tasks that have never been performed inside parking structures and cramped areas. This equipment has been in use several years by parking companies and property managers in Europe and is now available in Atlanta resolving these complicated issues with all the Atlanta parking lots and garages. The insurance industry says this equipment is a big game changer for the towing industry in Atlanta. Tow Atlanta is the only towing company in the state that offers enclosed towing services and provides

Certified Consensual Towing Services to vehicles at the motorists’ requests. Tow Atlanta specializes in the towing of luxury, exotic, and antique vehicles and is the Official Manufacture Tow Provider for Audi, Bentley, BMW, Ferrari, Karma, McLaren, Lamborghini, Porsche, Rolls Royce and Tesla.

Go Where Most Tow Trucks Can’t

Here are some of the many applications TowTract can tackle: TowTract is a tow truck with caterpillars controlled by a radio-command and is halfway between a forklift truck and a tow truck.

• Able to take a vehicle anywhere • Can go up on a truck with its load • Can park a vehicle to store it • Attractive by its cost • Take small space with its load Email: info@eastractna.com

770-366-0206

www.EASTractNA.com www.towprofessional.com

Volume 10 • Issue 4

Tow Professional

Truck Fleet Physical Security Integration:

Unlocking its Full Potential By Del Williams

Partnering with expert integrators is enabling the combination of video surveillance, access control, and IT tailored to specific needs and dramatically driving down costs, while flagging and escalating only true dangers

or trucking, freight, and logistics companies with significant fleet assets needing to be protected from theft or vandalism, fully integrating the latest capabilities of physical security and access control systems can drive down costs significantly. This “virtual” approach combines video surveillance, access control, and information technology (IT) integration to replace many of the functions of in-person security personnel, significantly reducing costs. Virtual systems can be customized to a variety of loss prevention situations no matter the size of the operation or type of assets that need to be protected. Examples

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Photo Courtesy of Suburban Towing

include preventing the theft of trucks, batteries, catalytic converters, and other valuable items. The strategy takes full advantage of the interconnectivity of information across a broad range of systems and devices. Based on the trucking and freight company’s priorities, integrated systems can intelligently sift through millions of points of information and prioritize only the most relevant events to deter and prevent theft in ways that were previously not possible. While such data has existed before today, many trucking firm owners and managers are unaware of another critical factor: that the costs for managed IT services and integration continue to drop while the capabilities of the various systems have increased. “Using off-the-shelf tools to create super secure environments would have cost hundreds of thousands of dollars a year for larger organizations to staff, monitor and support. We are routinely implementing these solutions with better, faster response, at a fraction of the client’s current cost,” says Eric Brackett, President of BTI Communications Group, a technology convergence

provider serving the logistics, aerospace, healthcare, and loss prevention sectors. “However, I find that most industry professionals are too busy with their existing responsibilities to realize how much has changed and how valuable it could be to them,” adds Brackett. While the status quo for physical security is familiar, the rapidly growing volume of data in the form of video, alerts, reports, etc. is threatening to hide the most important threats in the sheer volume of less important data. Yet such information continues to be continually reported and logged on sensors, cameras, servers, PCs, smartphones, two-way radios, and thermostats. The challenge has been sorting through these virtual mountains of data – often kept in separate, unconnected systems – quickly enough to act on threats in real-time, according to Brackett. Furthermore, IT technicians usually do not have the expertise or time to manage all these separate systems by themselves. “Now expert integrators have perfected the use of tools that bring all that information together into www.towprofessional.com

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Tow Professional

Where traditional systems can inundate security staff with mind-numbing nuisance alerts, many of which go ignored, the goal of the fully integrated virtual approach is to vigorously and promptly protect valuable trucking assets from theft without unnecessary staffing, excess equipment, or complexity. In terms of video surveillance, that means instantly spotting any anomalies and escalating only those that need attention. It means preventatively spotting any discrepancies in door or gate access control, based on time of day, location, personnel involved, and other factors. It means “slicing and dicing” a host of variables specific to the business that must be considered, and drawing the attention of security personnel or managers when it is time to act, and not when it is too late.

Looking Beyond the Status Quo

dashboards that convey needed information at a glance. This is combined with technical and operational procedures to analyze, parse, and present it. So, actual threats can be responded to and thefts deterred in realtime,” says Brackett.

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For many trucking companies that have security cameras and access systems already installed, there may be some level of integration but most are not able to unlock the full potential. “Trucking company owners and managers are disappointed when they hit the limits of their current physical security systems, and become frustrated when their vendor is not proactive about helping them find solutions. For example, they may need the equipment

NEXT: Wheel-Lif ts & Repo Equipment

Tow Professional is proud to announce our new Digital Interactive Quarterly!

Quarterly

Towing Software, Lighting Products, Cargo Control, Wheel Lifts & Repo Equipment

Now your Editorial and Advertising can become interactive with links & videos combined with the convenience of mobility!

PLUS

Tow Professional - Volume: 10 Issue: 4

Articles inside

Zacklift

Survivor Fund

Tru-Hitch

Mach1 Services