Tow Professional - Volume: 10 Issue: 8 by Over the Mountain Media, Inc

lebrating

YEARS

Volume 10 • Issue 8 • 2021 www.towprofessional.com

EV GUIDANCE

ESA Helps with Risks & Federal Compliance MOTOR CLUBS &

Roadside Assistance Apps

EV TECHNOLOGY

Is Your Company Ready for Advancements in Automotive Technology

SERVICE TRUCKS

TOW PROFESSIONAL

CONTENTS 34 |

TOWING & RECOVERY

6 | Jerr-Dan

16 | ESA

8 | TRAA

18 | Zacklift

13 | Tru-Hitch 14 | 2021 Tennessee Tow show

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FEATURES:

INDUSTRY NEWS

10 | Speedbinders

Volume 10 • Issue 8

Dynamic

SERVICE TRUCKS

20 | American Towing & Recovery Institute 20 | Matjack

38 |

21 | Junk Car Buyer Academy USA

Is Your Company Ready For Advancements In Automotive Technology

an expert Witness BY JAMES E. LEWIS ///

22 |

Must Be Nice!

MOTOR CLUBS &

Roadside Assistance Apps

INSIGHTFUL TALK

46 |

Mach 1

50 |

Urgently

54 |

Eemerg

BY DAN MESSINA ///

26 |

Business Plan

52 |

TowTrax

PRODUCT

Fuel 4 Thought BY D.J. HARRINGTON CSP

30 |

SPOTLIGHT 56 |

SPILL DIAPER

The 2021 Braves Season Could Be Your Story Too

IN EVERY ISSUE 4 | Publisher’s Letter 63 | 59 | Dealers Place 64 | 2

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Market Place Ad Index

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PUBLISHER’S

LETTER

Volume 10 • Issue 8

lebrating

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Winter, recent technology and an ever-changing market

YEARS

Professional Your Resource for Towing & Recovery

PUBLISHER Darian Weaver President & Publisher darian@towprofessional.com

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

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

As I write this letter, Baltimore is aglow with Tow Professionals arriving from across the nation to attend the Baltimore Tow show. The past year has been tough on small businesses, and 2021 has been no better. The companies that held their heads up, waved their arms, and said we are here to serve you are still hanging on! The market has changed, has your business? In this issue, we explore everchanging technology with the influx of hybrid and electric vehicles. We introduce ESA (Energy Security Agency) as editorial contributors and experts on hybrid/electric vehicles, safe battery handling, training, and liability mitigation. We look at motor clubs & roadside assistance apps. Our expert witness dives into the downfall of the “It must be nice mentality”, Dan Messina’s Insightful Thought dives into the need for a Business Plan, and DJ Harrington reminds us that the Braves story could be your story as well! With every issue we hope to bring you the information needed to help your business grow day to day! Tow Professional has also launched a Podcast: “Pro’s that know that are on the go.” You can find us on any mobile device, Spotify, Google, etc.… Listen in and let us know the topics that concern you and your business! We pray for your safety and blessing for your entire family! Till the next issue be safe and Happy Holidays!

Darian Weaver President & Publisher, Tow Professional

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Lisa Ehrborg - The Crosby Group David J. Garriepy -Tremont Strategies Group (TSG) Anthony Gentile- Dynamic D. J. Harrington CSP James E . Lewis Dan Messina Syre Perkins, J.D. Darian Weaver

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

TEC Equipment Expands Representation of Jerr-Dan into Nevada HAGERSTOWN, Md. — Jerr-Dan, an Oshkosh Corporation company (NYSE: OSK), has announced that TEC Equipment, of Portland, Oregon, has expanded their support of Jerr-Dan towing and recovery products into the state of Nevada. TEC Equipment is a truck and trailer dealership with 28 locations in the western U.S. and now represents Jerr-Dan in Nevada from their North Las Vegas and Sparks stores. Since March of this year, TEC has represented Jerr-Dan from four locations in Northern California. Therefore, the expansion of their Jerr-Dan service footprint into Nevada is a significant increase in their commitment to the brand. “We appreciate the confidence that our partners at TEC Equipment have demonstrated in Jerr-Dan by their investment in our mutual success at their two Nevada dealerships,” said Hal Wyatt, director of aftermarket support for Jerr-Dan. “Expanding our partnership with TEC naturally fits the needs of our customer base in the area they serve, and it is good to know that we can depend on TEC to provide our customers with the same industryleading expertise and service they are already known for.” Jerr-Dan continues to place an emphasis on distributor network growth to provide customers with a high level of support and today has over 60 locations throughout North America and 15 internationally. To learn more about JerrDan distributors and products, visit www.jerrdan.com. 6

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To learn more about TEC Equipment, visit www.tecequipment.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.

INDUSTRY NEWS TOWING & RECOVERY

TRAA’s Legislative Year in Review By David J. Garriepy | Vice President, Government Affairs Tremont Strategies Group (TSG)

he 2021 new year brought with it a new Congress and a new President to Washington. The Towing and Recovery Association of America, Inc.® (TRAA) is pleased to report that as of this writing in November, the federal infrastructure bill headed to the President’s desk for passage into law includes two of TRAA’s top priorities and excludes two provisions that represented profound threats to the towing industry. TRAA is the industry’s watchdog on Capitol Hill! Non-Consent Towing Rate Regulation Struck-Down – In August, Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) and Tim Kaine (DVA) introduced an amendment regarding non-consent rate regulation. Having previously met with TRAA, the Senate Commerce Committee’s minority staff reached out to TRAA to get our opinion and understanding of the amendment. TRAA was able to quickly analyze the amendment, understand the negative impacts and bad precedent it sets, and articulate our concerns to the staff. This potentially damaging amendment did not make it into the final Senate passed version of the bill. No Federal Increase to Insurance Liability Coverage (H.R.2687) - One of TRAA’s top priorities this year has been defeating efforts to increase minimum liability coverage for motor carriers, including towers, from $750,000 to $2M. TRAA was a signatory on the February 2021 Truck Insurance Coalition letter to House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee Chairman Peter DeFazio (D-OR-04) and Ranking Member Sam Graves (R-MO-06) opposing any increase in minimum liability coverage requirements for motor carriers. TRAA was also an active participant in numerous meetings with Congressional staff as part of the OOIDA Minimum Insurance Requirement Coalition and raised this issue as part of our conversations during our Hill Day meetings in March. This provision was not included in the Senate bill. Given how damaging this insurance burden would have been for towers everywhere, this is a huge win. Apprenticeship Pilot Program for Under-21 CDL Drivers, Provisions from the DRIVE Safe Act (S.659) - The threeyear Apprenticeship Pilot Program will allow up to 3,000 CDL holders aged 18 - 20 to drive long-haul in interstate commerce. The program is almost identical to the provisions outlined in the DRIVE Safe Act but as a pilot program overseen by the secretary of transportation. We believe this is a safe and effective way to explore the realities of under 21 drivers engaging in interstate commerce and great for the towing industry as we look to engage and attract more qualified individuals looking for career opportunities. Protecting Roadside First Responders Act (S.1386) - The 8

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bill includes the major provisions in the Protecting Roadside First Responders Act. TRAA signed on as a supporter of the bill which orders a federal study of state Move Over Laws to determine which are most effective and how the federal government can partner with states for better enforcement. The provisions also expand the definition of digital alert technology while adding a new section “to pilot and incentivize measures, including optical visibility measures, to increase the visibility of stopped and disabled vehicles”. This is another major win for the towing industry as we work to increase safety for all roadside responders and decrease line of duty deaths. These successes were built on years of strategic, targeted hard work. In March, TRAA hosted its 3rd annual – but first virtual - Capitol Hill Days, where TRAA members heard from and met with over forty Members of Congress and staff. Members met with Representative Chris Pappas (D-NH-1), a champion of amending regulations that limit towers’ ability to respond effectively on the interstate highway system, Representative Rodney Davis (R-IL-13), Ranking Member of the House Subcommittee on Highways and Transit, and Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), sponsor of the Protecting Roadside First Responders Act and leading advocate in Congress for move over initiatives. TRAA continues to advocate on your behalf in Washington, including the pending introduction of a Move Over Resolution with bipartisan support and continued advocacy on regulatory issues before agencies such as FMCSA. Effecting change in Washington takes time, energy, resources, planning, and strategic engagement. Our collective efforts are bearing fruit for the industry. During debate of the federal infrastructure bill, committee staff reached out to TRAA to understand what the impacts of potential policy would be to our industry and our input impacted change in the final package. But more work needs to be done. We encourage you to join your peers in our advocacy efforts. Become a TRAA member today and consider participating in our Legislative Action Workshop & Hill Day in March 2022. It’s easier than you think, and we’ll help you along the way.

New Full Duplex Headsets No base Unit Required.

The Hurricane System will blow you away with it’s power and quick inflation system to make the ultimate in Quick Clear technology. Available in Five to Eight Jumbo Cushion Sets. All MATJACK Recovery Systems including our Landing Bag Sets provide operators with the best equipment available.

PROVIDING HEARING PROTECTION AND A CONVENIENT WAY FOR YOUR TEAM TO COMMUNICATE IN NOISY ENVIRONMENTS. VOICE ACTIVATED BOTH FULL DUPLEX OR BASIC WITH NO BASE UNIT OR ADDITIONAL EQUIPMENT REQUIRED.

MATJACK Heavy Duty High Pressure Air Bags

MATJACK Two & Three Bag Landing Bags Sets

MATJACK Underwater Recovery

INDUSTRY NEWS TOWING & RECOVERY

Speedbinders By Lisa Ehrborg | lisa.ehrborg@thecrosbygroup.com

peedbinders add efficiency, ergonomic advancement, and longevity to load securement and tie-down applications. We asked Joe Spelman, assistant product manager at The Crosby Group, how they do it. Trucking professionals are leveraging the advantages of the Speedbinders Torque Drive product line that has recently been added to the portfolio offered by The Crosby Group, a leading global manufacturer of lifting, rigging, and load securement hardware. US-based Speedbinders, a designer and manufacturer of pioneering load binders for heavy-duty load securement, was acquired by The Crosby Group this spring. The drill-operated Speedbinders not only provide faster tie-down and release times for drivers but also improve ergonomics and reduce strain injuries. The product is targeted at anyone who operates, services, and maintains trucks and trailers. A broad range of professionals in equipment rental, manufacturing, steel, haulage, recovery, and logging have already leveraged its benefits—and The Crosby Group will widen utilization much further. Solutions include the torque drive load binders, which use a portable power drill to secure loads, eliminating the need for repetitive, manual operations common with lever and ratchet binders. The product is

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available in three sizes: • 5/16”-3/8”: working load limit (WLL) = 6,600 lb. (for 5/16” G70 chain) • 3/8”-1/2“: WLL = 9,200 lb. (for 3/8” G70 chain) • 1/2”-5/8”: WLL = 13,000 lb. (for 1/2” G70 chain) Joe Spelman, assistant product manager at The Crosby Group, said: “The Torque Drive technology enhances worker safety and improves productivity for drivers, it is a winning combination! The reasons to choose a Speedbinder over a regular binder are many and include the fact that they’re quicker and easier to use; they save time and money; and strain injuries are dramatically reduced. Speedbinders provide additional opportunities for our valued channel partners, and together, we are bringing this innovation to end users worldwide.”

User Guide You must own / operate a drill to use Speedbinders, but there are some other features that you should be aware of before putting the product to use: • Reaction bar: ensure that the handle is firmly against the deck or load. The handle is not a traditional ratchet handle; it is a reaction bar that is loaded with approx.

INDUSTRY NEWS TOWING & RECOVERY

Speedbinders Continued 50 lb. of force. This helps keep the chain tension when driving over bumps, but it is important that the angle of the handle to the deck / load is low to ensure that good contact is retained. The handle is offset to one side to help ensure a low angle. If the handle cannot rest against the deck, it may be flipped to rest against the load instead. • Tightening sequence: with the increased tension achieved with the Speedbinder, it is important that the binders are tied down in sequence, tightening the slack first and then pulling to correct tension. • Drill operation: the drill will give better rotational torque over an impact’s hitting torque allowing optimal final tension. Ensure that you hold the drill with both hands to counter-act the natural twist of the drill.

Using Speedbinders on your trucks Commercial truck operators need to make informed decisions about buying and maintaining equipment, while monitoring industry best practices and new technologies. Many of these operators already utilize Crosby shackles, hooks, chains, and other products, while smaller-scale customers that use trucks and farming equipment might be more familiar with the Speedbinder brand itself. Spelman explained: “We are excited to strengthen and expand the strong community of Speedbinders users. It was important to us that Steve Helline, founder of Speedbinders, continued to work with us after the acquisition to best support this critical customer base.” Helline responded: “It has been an incredible journey to see this business from concept to significant adoption and now a partnership with a world leader in load securement. I can’t think of a better steward of my business going forward and I look forward to supporting the continued adoption of Speedbinders in the market.” The Crosby Group has already moved manufacturing operations from Ohio into its facility in Longview, Texas. Regular training sessions are delivered to existing dealers, focusing on the product’s key benefits, starting with safety. Users report that worker compensation claims have been significantly reduced since implementing the product, and their most experience drivers have extended their careers due to the elimination of repetitive ratcheting motion.

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Operated with a drill The Crosby Group advises use of specific Milwaukee and DeWalt drills, but Spelman stressed that a high quality 18-20 volt, high-torque drill is ideal for best operation. These drills allow tie-down time reductions by up to three times, resulting in less fuel burned, less maintenance, and further time and money savings. Anybody, regardless of strength, can achieve higher tension than using a traditional binder. This higher tension is achieved by 24:1 gear ratio and continuous torque with equal pull on the chain, resulting in tighter tie-downs, less movement of loads, and reduced risk of binders loosening in transit. One user said: “I have driven that load more than 700 miles, and I have not had to tighten a single binder down—not a single binder was loose the entire trip. I am completely sold on these binders and will be getting four more to make sure I have enough for all the future loads I will be pulling using my chains and Speedbinders.” Speedbinders are also suited to use in confined spaces because there is no need to ensure there is enough space for a handle to move. This is particularly useful when working in the middle of steel coils, over equipment, or flat against the deck, which cannot be achieved using traditional ratchet binders. Other advantages include tamper resistance, as a tool is required to loosen loads; and longer life, largely because a sealed gearbox keeps dust, sleet, salt brine, etc. out. Overall, more and more drivers are switching to Speedbinders to add efficiency, ergonomic advancement, and longevity to their load securement and tie-down applications. About The Crosby Group The Crosby Group is a global leader in the innovation, manufacturing and distribution of products and services used to make lifting and load securement safer and more efficient, with premier brands such as Crosby, Gunnebo Industries, Crosby Straightpoint, Crosby BlokCam, Acco, McKissick, Crosby Feubo, Trawlex, Lebus, and CrosbyIP. With global engineering, manufacturing, distribution and operations, the company provides a broad range of products and solutions for the most demanding applications with uncompromising quality that exceed industry standards. www.thecrosbygroup.com

The Tru-Hitch™ Fifth Wheel Towing and Recovery Device solves this problem!

rivers are responsible for overloads! Heavy duty towing is a huge responsibility for the operator, the equipment owner and the manufacturer who certifies the tow truck to a safe and attainable GCW (gross combination weight). The operator relies on the axle ratings provided on the certification label to prevent unsafe overloading. The label is affixed to the driver side door jamb of every truck. It is the operator’s responsibility to know the axle weights and tare weight of the tow truck in order to accurately estimate what the loaded (gross) weight will be when the towed vehicle is hooked up and lifted for transport. The certification label on the towed vehicle can help in estimating its axle weights.

Example: 240” WB Tow Truck with 54” tandem rear axles Center of axles is 27” + 100” heavy duty under lift per SAE Towing Equipment Ratings

Front Axle

Rear Axle

12,000 lb

24,000 lbs.

The percentage of lifted weight of the towed vehicle transferred from the front axle of the tow truck to the rear axle of the tow truck can easily be calculated. Divide the distance from the center of the rear axle set to the rear lift point on the under lift by the distance from the front axle to the center of the rear axle set (wheel base set). Visit www.truhitch.com for more information, or call 860-379-7772 to order your Tru-Hitch today.

Towed Load Lifted Weight 20,000 lbs +20,000 lbs.

-10,600 lbs.

+10,600 lbs.

54,600 lbs

| Weight before Lifting | Weight Lifted | Weight Transferred Calculation: 127”÷ 240 = 53% x 20,000 = 10,600

1,400 lbs

| Gross Weight

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 8

Tow Professional

INDUSTRY NEWS TOWING & RECOVERY

The 2021 Tennessee Tow Show

ttendees from Tennessee and surrounding states gathered in Chattanooga, Tenn., October 6 through 10 for the Tennessee Tow Show hosted by the Tennessee Tow Truck Association and Tow Times magazine. The show, which coincided with the International Towing and Recovery Hall of Fame and Museum Weekend, kicked off Wednesday and Thursday, October 6 and 7, at the Chattanooga Convention Center with a well-attended, two-day training class covering the Essentials of Lightduty Towing by the Emergency Road Service Coalition of America (ERSCA) and instructor Shane Coleman. Free registration and exhibits opened Friday, along with industry seminars that included a safety symposium and towing incident management training. Evening festivities featured the annual Hall of Fame Meet and Greet and Fundraising Auction and the Dave Jones Leadership Award presentation, in which Michigan tow company owner and industry safety advocate Bill Giorgis gratefully accepted the honor. Attendees were also treated to a Southern Hospitality Night with free food, drinks and entertainment. Saturday morning the Wall of the Fallen Unveiling ceremony was held at the International Towing Museum where, in a moving ceremony, the names of 41 tow operators who lost their lives in the line of service were added to the memorial wall. Free attendance to show exhibits opened at 11 a.m. The show floor included rows of polished trucks entered in the beauty competition, which this year featured more 14

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categories to win, and cash prizes powered by Ford Trucks. The day closed with the 2021 Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony and Dinner. Sunday morning’s Annual Museum Member Meeting and Breakfast concluded the show’s activities. The Tennessee Tow Show thanks its generous sponsors, exhibitors and attendees, all who make this successful event possible. Visit tennesseetowshow.com for more about this year’s show, and for upcoming information about the 2022 show in Chattanooga.

Forty-one names were added to the wall during the Wall of the Fallen Unveiling ceremony.

INDUSTRY NEWS TOWING & RECOVERY

The Energy Security Agency - Guidance for EV Risks and Federal Compliance.

t is no secret there are more electric and hybrid vehicles on the road today, and that number will skyrocket in the next year. With OEMs such as Ford and Chevy giving public commitments to electric vehicles, including the iconic Ford Mustang and F-150, the number of HEV will outnumber traditional combustible engines sooner than you think. With no end in sight for rising gas prices, consumers are looking to electric vehicles for both fuel savings and environmental concerns. The problem for tow and recovery professionals is you will interact with electric vehicles more and more. There are definite hazards and risks that you must be prepared to deal with to keep you and your staff safe from the dangers of damaged electrical systems, and the

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real possibility of thermal runaway after the incident is over. Stored energy is a real concert when dealing with damaged electric vehicles with high voltage systems. A quick Google search will produce dozens of articles about hybrid/electric vehicles catching fire hours and days after an incident, even after the fire department has extinguished the flames. Several storage lots and buildings had catastrophic losses due to EV’s reigniting on property. Because of these risks, and the increasing frequency of tow operators interacting with electric and hybrid vehicles, new federal standards designed to protect people and property have been set forth by NTSB, NHTSA, NFPA, and SAE. They call on tow operators to seek guidance and have risk analysis conducted by third party experts. Compliance with these standards

is crucial from both a safety and liability standpoint. If something goes south, you do not want to be holding the hat of non-compliance when the courts and insurance companies start their investigations into what went wrong. Fortunately, the Energy Security Agency is here to help you stay safe and in compliance at no cost to you! In fact, if you enroll in our ESA Partner Program, we will pay you for each risk analysis we complete on the electric vehicles you tow. Our 24/7 response center is a phone call away to provide risk analysis of the vehicle and expert guidance on how to properly handle any electric vehicle you may come in contact. Risk analyses are easy to complete. Simply call the ESA at 1-855-ESA-SAFE and our trained Risk Agents will ask you questions about your vehicle, and any damage it sustained. They will then send you a link to upload photos of the vehicle right from your phone. The agent will assign a risk level of green, yellow, or red, and provide guidance on how to interact with the vehicle. To receive this free risk analysis and guidance service, tow operators need to go ESA’s website EnergySecurityAgency.com and sign up under the risk analysis section. Remember, there is no cost to you or your organization. .

www.towprofessional.com

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Tow Professional

INDUSTRY NEWS TOWING & RECOVERY

Zacklift’s

MAX HEIGHT / 212”

UNLIMITED

10° BELOW

GROUND

RETRACTED / 61”

KIN PIN TO REAR AXEL CLEARANCE / 55”

UNLIMITED EXTENDED / 115”

10° BELOW

• 12” Extension Fork Receiver GENESIS 30T STANDARD FEATURES • American Made Sectional Valve • Aerodyne Toolboxes (TB-1001) • Passenger Side Controls (Standard) • 7” 38K Stiff-legs w/ 18” Flip Feet (Bolt On) • 2-Warn 30K Hydraulic Winches w/ 200’ 5/8” Wire Rope • EZLOAD Stand • Glad-hands / 7 Pin Connector (for Connection) • Wireless LED Safety Light Bar • Quick Disconnect for Air Brakes and Air Tools • Wireless Remote Control • Safety ChainsKIN and Deep Pocket Storage • 5 Sets Frame Forks w/ Fork Rack RETRACTED / 61” PIN TO REAR AXEL CLEARANCE / 55” • Stop, Tail & Turn Lighting • Chain Hook End Caps EXTENDED / 115” • Universal Fork Receiver

GENESIS 30T OPTIONAL ACCESSORIES • Custom Aluminum or Steel Fenders • 20K Pintle and Ball Hitch • Custom Toolboxes GROUND • LED Work Lights • Heavy Duty Wheel Lift • Light Pylon • Large Saddle Bag Boxes • Tool Box Accent Light Kit • Custom Graphic Box Wraps

* Minor Assembly • 12” Extension Fork Receiver GENESIS 30T STANDARD FEATURES GENESIS 30T Required OPTIONAL ACCESSORIES UNDERLIFT SPECIFICATIONS • American Made Sectional Valve • Aerodyne ToolboxesCAPACITY (TB-1001) • Custom Aluminum or Steel Fenders • Passenger Side Controls (Standard) • 7” 38K Stiff-legs w/ 18” Flip Feet (Bolt On) • 20K Pintle and Ball Hitch UNDERLIFT CAPACITY RETRACTED / 35,000 LBS UNDERLIFT REACH RETRACTED 61 IN • EZLOAD Stand • 2-Warn 30K Hydraulic Winches -w/ 200’ 5/8” Wire Rope • Custom/ Toolboxes • Glad-hands / 7 Pin Connector (for Connection) • Wireless LED Safety Light Bar • LED Work UNDERLIFT CAPACITY - EXTENDED / 16,000 LBS UNDERLIFT REACH EXTENDED / 115Lights IN • Quick Disconnect for Air Brakes and Air Tools • Wireless Remote Control • Heavy Duty Wheel Lift UNDERLIFT MAX TOW CAPACITY / 85,000 LBS UNDERLIFT MAX REACH W/ 12” EXTENSION / 131 IN • Safety Chains and Deep Pocket Storage • 5 Sets Frame Forks w/ Fork Rack • Light Pylon • Chain Hook End TILT CapsBELOW GROUND / 10 DEG • Stop, Tail & Turn Lighting • Large UNDERLIFT BASE UNIT WEIGHT / 13,000 LBSSaddle Bag Boxes • Universal Fork Receiver • Tool Box Accent Light Kit • Custom Graphic Box Wraps

BOOM CAPACITY SPECIFICATIONS

BOOM ( RETRACTED @ 30 DEG ) / 60,000 LBS UNDERLIFT CAPACITY SPECIFICATIONS BOOM MAX HOOK HEIGHT / 194” UNDERLIFT CAPACITY - RETRACTED / 35,000 LBS

* Minor Assembly Required BOOM ( EXTENDED @ 30 DEG ) / 22,000 LBS

BOOM HYDRAULIC EXTENSION / 96 IN UNDERLIFT REACH RETRACTED / 61 IN

UNDERLIFT CAPACITY - EXTENDED / 16,000 LBS

UNDERLIFT REACH EXTENDED / 115 IN

UNDERLIFT MAX TOW CAPACITY / 85,000 LBS

UNDERLIFT MAX REACH W/ 12” EXTENSION / 131 IN

UNDERLIFT TILT BELOW GROUND / 10 DEG

BASE UNIT WEIGHT / 13,000 LBS

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MAX HEIGHT / 212” UNLIMITED

10° BELOW

GROUND

RETRACTED / 61”

KIN PIN TO REAR AXEL CLEARANCE / 55”

EXTENDED / 115”

GENESIS 30T STANDARD FEATURES • Aerodyne Toolboxes (TB-1001) • 7” 38K Stiff-legs w/ 18” Flip Feet (Bolt On) • 2-Warn 30K Hydraulic Winches w/ 200’ 5/8” Wire Rope • Wireless LED Safety Light Bar • Wireless Remote Control • 5 Sets Frame Forks w/ Fork Rack • Chain Hook End Caps • Universal Fork Receiver

• 12” Extension Fork Receiver • American Made Sectional Valve • Passenger Side Controls (Standard) • EZLOAD Stand • Glad-hands / 7 Pin Connector (for Connection) • Quick Disconnect for Air Brakes and Air Tools • Safety Chains and Deep Pocket Storage • Stop, Tail & Turn Lighting

GENESIS 30T OPTIONAL ACCESSORIES • Custom Aluminum or Steel Fenders • 20K Pintle and Ball Hitch • Custom Toolboxes • LED Work Lights • Heavy Duty Wheel Lift • Light Pylon • Large Saddle Bag Boxes • Tool Box Accent Light Kit • Custom Graphic Box Wraps * Minor Assembly Required

For more information, visit www.zacklift.com. UNDERLIFT CAPACITY SPECIFICATIONS UNDERLIFT CAPACITY - RETRACTED / 35,000 LBS

UNDERLIFT REACH RETRACTED / 61 IN

UNDERLIFT CAPACITY - EXTENDED / 16,000 LBS

UNDERLIFT REACH EXTENDED / 115 IN

UNDERLIFT MAX TOW CAPACITY / 85,000 LBS

UNDERLIFT MAX REACH W/ 12” EXTENSION / 131 IN

UNDERLIFT TILT BELOW GROUND / 10 DEG

BASE UNIT WEIGHT / 13,000 LBS

BOOM CAPACITY SPECIFICATIONS BOOM ( RETRACTED @ 30 DEG ) / 60,000 LBS

BOOM ( EXTENDED @ 30 DEG ) / 22,000 LBS

BOOM MAX HOOK HEIGHT / 194”

BOOM HYDRAULIC EXTENSION / 96 IN

ZACKLIFT INTERNATIONAL / 844.ZACKLIFT / ZACKLIFT.COM

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Volume 10 • Issue 8

Tow Professional

INDUSTRY NEWS TOWING & RECOVERY

The latest on American Towing & Recovery Institute Upcoming Continuing Education Classes:

www.towingequipmentdirect.com – Our most up to date online catalog for all your towing equipment and rigging needs. https://bit.ly/Podcast-ATRI - Weekly podcast with Wes Wilburn & DJ Harrington –In every episode Wes talks about the notable events and latest information. Keep up to date with the latest training and speaking engagements throughout the country.

Follow us on Facebook: • Wes Wilburn • The American Towing & Recovery Institute • Tow Truck Gifts and Collectibles – for rare and collectible tow truck memorabilia • Rigging & Towing Equipment Liquidators - New/old stock liquidation, some come from our group buying program and others are demo used from towing and recovery classes.

The American Towing & Recovery Institute PO Box 007 Wade, NC 28395 910-747- 9000 | 910-486-8930 Fax www.amtowri.org – Training & Podcast www.towingequipmentdirect.com – Full service online catalog for towing equipment and rigging.

New Orleans, LA 2 Day Light & Medium Duty December 4-5, 2021 To register: https://bit.ly/LDMDNewOrleansLA Or call 910-747-9000 Little Rock, AR 1 Day Advanced Level Light Duty January 21, 2022 https://bit.ly/LittleRockLD2022 2 Day Heavy Duty January 22-23, 2022 To register: https://bit.ly/LittleRockHD2022 Or call 910-747-9000 Charlotte, NC 2 Day Light & Medium Duty March 5-6, 2022 To register: https://bit.ly/CharlotteLDMD Or call 910-747-9000 Opelika, AL 1 Day Light Duty March 25, 2022 To register: https://bit.ly/OpelikaLD 2 Day Heavy Duty March 26-27, 2022 To register: https://bit.ly/OpelikaHD Or call 910-747-9000 Indianapolis, IN 1 Day Light Duty June 10, 2022 To register: https://bit.ly/IndyLD2022

2 Day Heavy Recovery & Rotator Course To register: https://bit.ly/IndyRot2022 Or Call 910-747-9000

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Junk Car Buyer Academy USA, become a skilled Automotive Recycler

e are Junk Car Buyer Academy USA! The first auto recycling training company dedicated to educating people about the automobile recycling and metals industry. One of the most valuable products that businesses and consumers recycle today is scrap metal. If you think about all the products you use in your home, from small items like clothing hangers to large appliances, we all utilize items throughout our day that consist of metals that can be recycled. One of the most recycled items in the United States are automobiles, aka junk cars. Every year millions and millions of cars reach the end of their life span and generate over $30 billion in revenue. These automobiles do not just show up at the doorsteps of recycling companies. Junk Car Buyers bring them. We specialize in teaching individuals how to create and maintain a successful Junk Car business. In this

5-module course, students will be introduced to important terminology and how to create, market, and maximize revenue with zero to little startup cost. The significant part about this course is that we offer an online platform that provides 24/7 access to the curriculum, instructional videos, and many other tools and resources. The courses are easy to understand and developed for all educational backgrounds. For more information visit: www.junkcarbuyeracademyusa.com

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Volume 10 • Issue 8

Tow Professional

an expert Witness BY JAMES E. LEWIS ///

Must Be Nice!

ne day last summer, while it was raining, I hopped inside a medium duty flatbed with a guy I worked with, and he asked about the car I’d driven up in that morning. I’d just purchased a 2017 Ford Focus ST – fun car, inexpensive, great to drive, good fuel mileage, etc. He loudly proclaimed that it, “Must be nice!” to buy a new car when my wife had just gotten a new truck. If I didn’t know the guy fairly well, I wouldn’t have felt compelled to explain myself to him. Since I worked with him and he seemed like a cool guy, save for this one incident, I laid it all out. First, it wasn’t a new car. The 2021 models were out, and this car was 4 years old.

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It had 60,000 miles on it. Also, my wife’s truck was a fairly basic model that was traded so we could lower our payments from her previously more expensive truck.

Where am I going with all of this? Let me explain. He kept on with the “Must be nice!” thing and explained that he had an old beater truck that required frequent repairs - and I told him he was making me mad, and outlined why... I have a good paying job. I like having nice things, especially for my wife, because she deserves it. I have several additional income sources. With my words finished, I turned the conversation on him and asked a few questions: “I notice that you smoke heavily. I’ve been in your truck for 15 minutes and you’ve smoked 4 cigarettes. How many packs a day do you smoke? Honestly.” He replied, “I’m down from 4 packs a day, but still smoke between 2 and 3.” I put that number in the back of my head for a moment. “Does your wife smoke?” “Yes, about 2 packs a day.” “Ok, do the math with me,” I said as I pulled out my phone and switched to calculator. “Do you buy your cigarettes by the carton? “Most of the time, but sometimes I forget and have to buy them at a convenience store.” “About how many packs per week do you buy at the store?” “Probably 5 or 6.” “3 packs a day times 7 days is 21 packs. We’ll use 15 packs a week for your wife. That’s 36 packs of cigarettes per week. Or 3 cartons, at what, $40 each?” He nodded in agreement. “And you buy 5 or 6 at the store, for what, $7 each?” He again nodded. “Using the number of cartons and buying 6 packs by themselves, you’re dropping around $182 a WEEK on cigarettes. That’s $728 a month. That’s $9,464 a year. For cigarettes. Now, do you buy lottery

have over $900 a month to spare. That’s $350 more a month than I’m spending on two car payments. Think of what you could do with an extra $900 a month. And… before you start talking about how it “must be nice,” you have to accept responsibility for the wasteful

tickets?” “Yes,” he groaned. “How much a month?” I asked. “About $200,” he responded. “All I’m saying is that if you both quit smoking and stopped buying lottery tickets for a magical prize you’re never going to win, you’d

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Volume 10 • Issue 8

Tow Professional

an expert Witness BY JAMES E. LEWIS ///

spending you’re doing – that I’m not doing.” “By the way, I’ve had a saying for a long time that the lottery is a tax for people who are bad at math.” He looked puzzled. “You’re bad at math if you look at the odds, and they’re 350 million to 1, and you still think you’re going to win.” I sincerely hope I was able to break through his wall of argument. In the towing world, we have egos and confidence, a little bit of arrogance and a lack of humility. That’s ok, since anyone who has been through the ringer on the job and lived to tell about it should have some strong confidence – you’ve earned it. Where our ego gets the best of us is when we get into the competition of keeping up with the next guy, and having to have the latest, greatest new whiz-bang piece

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“Must be nice!” from someone who was successful and handling their finances properly. It’s always the guy living beyond his means and has a disaster in his checking account who seems to hold the most resentment – along with the drive only to want what the next guy has,

but isn’t willing to put in the work and discipline to get himself to that level. Don’t be that guy. That’s the guy who successful people buy those used trucks from after the first guy went out of business.

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You Do the Work You Deserve to Get Paid We Teach You of gear or rigging, or more chicken lights on your truck than the next guy. We find ourselves in hock up to our eyeballs, and we’re just a couple of late accounts receivable checks away from not making payroll or truck payments. I’ve seen company owners get a big loan and buy 3 or 4 new trucks, but not have the current accounts to support the payments. They still need more trucks, even if the business was there. Perhaps they failed at marketing. Maybe they over-estimated real income. What you dream, and what becomes reality are often 2 different things. You might look at buying 5 or 6 much cheaper trucks, and then replace them one at a time as business improves – and that way, you’re not forcing yourself into a corner and potentially killing your business. One thing I’ll share for sure is that I’ve never heard that phrase,

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Volume 10 • Issue 8

Tow Professional

INSIGHTFUL TALK BY DAN MESSINA ///

hen I had my tow company, my wife and I would go away every year between Christmas and New Year and develop a business plan for the next year. We would look at things like: • Who were my best customers • Who were my worse customers • How many trucks will I need • How will I grow my business • What will be my staff requirements • What will be my space requirements • We would associate cost with each expense Once we knew what the big picture looked like, we would break it out in a monthly spread sheet and use that as our budget and business plan. Once we filled in the detail we knew what our monthly expenses would be and how many tows we would need for the month to cover our expenses. We had projected expenses along with projected revenue to cover our expenses. When TowTrax took off, I knew it was time to create a business plan for 2022. I rent an office space off-site from our regular offices. I wanted a large working space with no distractions. I invited my management team which consisted of 6 people. When I hired my CEO he developed a business plan based on what he thought our potential would be. Now we are a year into the business with actual numbers to work so we will adjust our current business

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plan and make projections based on real numbers. I asked the team to answer the following questions: 1. What will the organization look like next year? How many people do you think we will need, what positions will they hold in the company, what will their backgrounds be, and where will they office. 2. I asked them to set goals for the company. a. How many tows will TowTrax do next year b. How many tow companies will be in our tow network c. How many customers will we service d. How many states will we be in e. How many markets in each state will we be in f. What will our acceptance for tow be g. How much do we want to make on each tow h. What should our average ETA’s be i. What should our company benefits consist of 3. What markets would we be in ( Motor Clubs, Law Enforcement, Consumer) 4. How many customers would we have 5. Who would our customers be ( Motor Clubs, Law Enforcement, Consumer) There are a few more items we will add but you get the picture. The reason I am doing this is to give me an idea how much money I will be spending and when I will be spending it. I will use my budget as a business plan when I

implement our new service. The staffing, travel, and offices will occur in different months and I want to be able to see when I will be adding expenses. This will also help me if I try to raise working capital. Keep in mind when you are adding expenses you are also adding revenue. Unlike our government, I will not add any expense without a way of paying for it. If I am not increasing revenue, I may want to wait on taking on additional expenses. I will take everyone’s goals and come up with the right answers. Everyone will have a chance to help identify what our company should look like. Let’s take a look at your operation. Have you set your goals for next year? There are over 65,000 tow companies in the U.S. and I would be willing to bet that over 75% have no written plan on how they will operate this year. This includes large companies that are very successful companies, but they are always too busy and preparing a budget will take too much time. Remember our goal is to get out of debt and have a great year, but in order to do that we need to know where we are making money and where we are spending money. Before we start preparing your budget let’s identify the following:

• • • • • •

Know your numbers. Know where it’s coming from. Price your products and services accordingly Hire the right people Fire the right people Know your market Improve your sales process

Once you have identified this information write it down. Once you write everything down you want to do, be specific with each area. Write in names so you know a month from now who or what you are talking about. Make sure your plan is complete. Don’t do it alone; get your employees involved. It will improve their moral and make them feel like a part of your company. At an absolute minimum, your plan must cover all these areas. Write it so that everyone in the company understands it. You don’t have to show it to everyone, but if you do they have to understand it. Make sure you cover every area of your business in detail. Don’t make unrealistic assumptions. By their very nature, business plans are full of assumptions. The most important assumption, of course, is that your business will succeed! The best business plans highlight critical assumptions and provide some sort of rationalization for

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Volume 10 • Issue 8

Tow Professional

INSIGHTFUL TALK BY DAN MESSINA ///

them. You should be working with real numbers from the previous year so you should have an accurate plan. Do your research. If you’re opening up a new location make sure there is business there to support it. Make sure the city allows you to do what you want. If you’re buying a truck, should it be new or used, make sure you talk to more than one dealer. Evaluate the risk involved with anything you are about to do. What will it cost, or how do I need to support what I am trying to do? There are always risks. You must understand them before proceeding with your plan. Check out your competition and find ways that will give you a competitive advantage. Know what they are doing but execute what you want - not what they are doing. I never worried about the competition; I let them worry about me. If you should need help creating the plan give me a call; I will help. Oh, and make sure you include TowTrax as part of your revenue stream next year. The first group is all your customers you tow for, the number of tows each month, and what you charge. The revenue group shows the number of monthly tows times the billing amount by customer. This will allow you to see which customers you should give priority. List all your customers and how much you are making per customer.

Under expenses use actual names and actual amounts. I divided the expense groups by 2, one for staff and one for other. At the end of the month you take your revenue less expenses and that will show you what you made for the month. If you lost money that month you can look at your expenses and see what you must cut. The months you are projected to make or have extra money is when you will buy that new truck or go to a tow show. I hope this is helpful and if you need help don’t hesitate to call me, I’ll be glad to help ya.

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Volume 10 • Issue 8

Tow Professional

Fuel 4 Thought BY D.J. HARRINGTON CSP ///

The 2021 Braves Season Could Be Your Story Too

oy, what a night it was for the Atlanta Braves! The Braves won the 2021 World Series. The real reason I am writing about the Atlanta Braves is that I want to compare the Braves to everyone within the towing industry. Do they have a story to tell! Have you ever hit a pothole? Of course, you have. You carefully maneuver around or over every bump to avoid hitting one, and somehow your tow truck still made it to the other side of the highway. I’m asking this because the Atlanta Braves won Game 6 with a score of 7-0 against the Houston Astros even though challenges occurred throughout the season. Here’s a story about their 2021 season. The Braves were ravaged with plenty of injuries early on. You might relate if you’ve experienced your #1 Driver being sidelined. That person you’ve counted on to help you through each day couldn’t be counted to help. After spending 45 arduous years in the Braves organization, Coach Brian Snitker didn’t become their major league manager until his 40th year with them, and last night he received the World Series Trophy from Bob Manfred, the MLB Commissioner. During the 7th inning, the Braves 1st Baseman, Freddie Freeman had homered before his teammate, Dansby

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Swanson fielded the final out in the 9th inning of the 2021 World Series when he threw the ball back to Freeman for the final out of the game. At that point, Freddie put that ball into his back pocket. I probably would have done the same thing, but Freddie gave it to his coach, Brian Snitker. The result was exciting to watch, but the nightmares leading up to the last game of this World Series were not. If you’ll remember, Marcell Ozuna signed a $65 Million extension to bolster the Braves offense. In late May, Ozuna was arrested on domestic violence charges and never returned to the team. Disappointing for sure. What about you and your towing business experience? Have you ever sent your best driver for a simple urine test, and he never returned to the job you hired him to do? Personally, I had that happen at Alligator Towing in Fort Myers, Florida and couldn’t believe it. It wasn’t a good story. Here’s another Braves nightmare. Mike Soroka, one of the Braves promising starting pitchers reinjured his Achilles tendon later part of June and never contributed to their success again. How about Charlie Morton, one of their starting pitchers? All of us saw an Astro player step on Charlie’s ankle while running to 1st base during the 3rd inning of Game 1 of the World Series. Morton continued to work his magic, securing two outs before leaving the

game. We later discovered the Astro’s player had broken Charlie’s leg. Here’s the big nightmare from July 10th. Ronald Acuna, Jr., their super-star, center fielder tore his ACL, spoiling what certainly would have earned him an MVP Season. Nightmares weren’t only relegated to Braves players. Even the Braves, General Manager, Alex Anthopoulos could not be there in person. Having tested for Covid-19 only 3 days earlier, he had to enjoy the win while sidelined at home. All of us can learn something from the 2021 Braves season because your towing company team is like the Braves organization. Maybe some of your people have contracted Covid, sustained physical injuries, experienced illness, or personal loss. You’ve probably endured a plethora of problems in 2021, but you can still win with the people we have. Every day brings lots of challenges and some days more challenging than others. However, with the right attitude, you can pull the company out of the mire and place your feet on solid ground. You can find that passage in Psalms, Chapter 40, verses 1-3. Yesterday, I did a podcast with Brian Riker, (Your DOT guy.com). His podcast is On the Road with Brian Riker.

During our time together, we spoke about the towing industry. I believe with all my heart that people buy you FIRST, your company SECOND, and your product and service THIRD, and they buy in that order. Make sure your team is on the field with a clean uniform, a well-equipped truck, a professional expert behind the wheel, a dispatch person with their head in the game, and at the end of the week, you, too, will feel like you won the World Series. Overcoming challenges is part of an everyday routine. Occasionally, you will recruit a player like Jorge Soler who hits a few home runs just at the right time. Soler launched a high, long ball 446 feet over the Minute Maid Park that landed on an awning across the street from the ballpark. A guy in the apartment house retrieved the home run ball and says he’s waiting for someone to make him an offer. Not everything you’ll do as a tower will earn you a home run but getting across home plate successfully should be your story. It’s my belief that all towers are winners and first-class people because of the work they do to make better the lives of others. See you next time.

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Volume 10 • Issue 8

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

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each approved payout. The e-mail you receive will

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provide information on the current tragedy as well as

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

SERVICE TRUCKS

DYNAMIC’S

SERVICE TRUCK

A Solid Towing Industry Solution!

By Anthony Gentile, President – Dynamic Towing Equipment and Manufacturing

ynamic Towing Equipment and Manufacturing has another solid towing solution to the industry! Dynamic worked with motor clubs and towers across

the country to design a service truck specifically tailored to satisfying the customer’s needs. We spoke directly with those who already owned our trucks and even spoke to our potential customers who are considering them. Listening to what they said, we then turned their feedback into features that empower them to work more efficiently and quickly resulting in higher revenues and lower costs of operation. Specifically, we found that an effective service truck needs plenty of storage, additional recovery capabilities, and increased safety, so here is what we did to design a service truck that delivers what our customers need:

WE CREATED PLENTY OF STRATEGIC STORAGE SPACE. The Service Truck is equipped with four rollup-door storage compartments for safe and easy curbside access totaling an amazing 80-cubic feet of usable space. The fenders are poly, so no more rust, and they are lighter, so you can 34

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disconnects to allow the tech complete flexibility to service vehicles in all positions. Even with the additional storage boxes, the center deck is still open for additional storage of equipment.

carry more cargo weight without the risk of being overweight. These huge compartments can be delivered with an optional adjustable rack system for vehicle batteries and can provide safe stowing of up to 36 batteries in large boxes able to hold enough batteries to cover most vehicles on the road. The boxes have adjustable shelves with tie-downs, so the batteries are always secured while in motion. In addition, both sides of the Service Truck have wide toolboxes and another large storage compartment on the deck for a total of seven compartments. Accompanying deck space measuring 54” x 85” allows for plenty of space for dollies, go jacks, and additional storage options. Also, tool-box compartments are installed to accommodate all normal roadside assistance tools and equipment as well as an air compressor with front and rear quick

WE INCREASED OUR TRUCK’S RECOVERY CAPABILITIES ELIMINATING THE NEED FOR MULTIPLE VEHICLES. We decided to add a 5000-lb. wheel lift with a recovery boom and an 8000-lb. Ramsey winch. A front push bumper is also available with an optional winch. We did this because after speaking to our customers, we found that they were wanting one vehicle to do as much as possible, so now you can do everything from a battery boost to a battery replacement to a tow or all the way up to a recovery with one vehicle. The service technician can test the disabled vehicle’s battery and electrical

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SERVICE TRUCKS system to get the vehicle running under its own power. If necessary, the tech can install a new battery in the vehicle at the breakdown site. However, as in many cases, the battery is not the cause of the breakdown. After eliminating all the things a Service truck can do to assist the stranded customer, all you must do now is hook up the car. Consequently, because of the increased capabilities of our Service truck, we don’t have to dispatch a tow vehicle to complete the service call and tow the customer to their repair facility; our Dynamic service truck can handle the job. The customer does not have to wait for another vehicle to arrive, and you as an owner do not have to send multiple vehicles to the same breakdown location. We improve operational efficiency saving on fuel, vehicle wear and tear, and overhead while still providing the same high level of service our customers have come to expect.

WE IMPROVED SAFETY THROUGH OUR STORAGE-COMPARTMENT DOOR DESIGN. Our units have roll-up doors that do not swing out into the path of traffic, but rather roll up into the truck. This eliminates the possibility of passing vehicles catching an open storage compartment door and creating a traffic incident with the service truck endangering the life of the tower or customer. Now even though utility and safety for our customers are premium values to us, we didn’t sacrifice aesthetics--we wanted our trucks to look good. As a result, the sleek body style makes this service truck a definite eye-catcher on the road and within the industry. Dynamic’s new service truck is truly a solid towing solution to the needs of the industry with its practical and spacious storage compartments and enhanced recovery capabilities, all while providing more protection for the lives of towers. It’s a Dynamic solution!

FEATURE HIGHLIGHTS:

• • • • • • •

•

4-year warranty Designed to us a 60CA OR 84CA chassis with an additional 24-in. tunnel box All poly-fender construction 4 large roll-up door compartments with shelving 3 fold-down door compartments with plenty of additional storage Optional adjustable battery racking system Optional 5000-lb. wheel lifts with or without winch and recovery boom. Open deck space to store dollies, go jacks, cones, and fuel and water tanks.

For more info on this great product, distributers near you, or other products that we offer visit www.dynamictow.com 36

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EV TECHNOLOGY

IS YOUR COMPANY READY FOR ADVANCEMENTS IN

Automotive Technology By Syre Perkins, J.D.

egarding technology in our industry, many of us have been towing for decades and think we know how to roll with the changes, keeping the mindset of business as usual. However, do you know what advancements are taking place in automotive technology? What operational adjustments will you need to make to lower your risk of danger and exposure to litigation? Are tow companies correctly factoring in technology expenses so they can remain profitable? In this article, I point out a few issues related to automotive technology that tow operators will eventually deal with in everyday operations and the physical and legal risks that they are exposed to. When the words “automotive technology” is spoken, many tow operators think about vehicles that have allwheel drive, antilock brakes, traction control, adjustable air-ride suspensions, and other mechanical features. However, automotive technology is changing faster than the industry can handle. For instance, vehicles are now

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being manufactured with newly developed materials. These materials are stronger and lighter, but also have their limitations. Most tow operators are not aware of the changes in vehicle manufacturing and are lost with trying to tow vehicles with the new technology. They have no clue about the procedures and equipment available to the tow operators to properly complete a job. With that said, what is automotive technology? The flagship change in automotive technology is the industry’s move toward electric vehicles (EVs). Five years ago, BMW and Tesla were the main companies with EV technology. Now, Audi, Ford, GM, Karma, Mercedes-Benz, and Porsche all have EVs and have standing commitments to discontinue internal combustion engines. General Motors and Ford are the most aggressive, aiming to produce nothing by EVs by 2030. At first glance, a tow operator may think that an EV is just another vehicle on wheels, so they can tow it with a wheel lift and dolly or skate it up

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onto a flatbed. Sounds easy enough. However, have you truly looked at this situation? EVs cannot go into neutral. If you cannot wake up an EV’s computer system, you have a big paperweight to move. These vehicles are much easier to damage. The costs of EV repairs are very high averaging a 38% higher repair cost over a combustion engine vehicle, and then EV repairs are also more time consuming. In State of Georgia, Audi, BMW, GM, and Mercedes all have a wait-time of ten to twelve weeks for a service appointment. If you need body parts, that wait is even worse. If a car rental is involved, insurance carriers stop rental coverage at thirty days, so that can be costly.

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Volume 10 • Issue 8

Tow Professional

EV TECHNOLOGY

Issues with EV technology will lead to a plethora of questions, whose answers vary by manufacturer and vehicle type. Advances in manufacturing have led Audi, Mercedes, and Volvo to use delicate aluminum-alloy frames. Flexing these frames can crack or break rear and side windows when the vehicle is lifted by a wheel lift. BMW

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uses a unique magnesium-alloy frame that is unique and fragile. The BMW i3 is so advanced that a tow operator can physically fold the vehicle in half with a wheel-lift when picking it up by the tires. Therefore, these vehicles cannot be towed with a wheel-lift. EV manufactures like Ford, GM, and Nissan are experiencing issues with electronics caused by static electricity accumulated around the wheels & Brakes when vehicles are towed on dollies. Static electricity builds up and can arc from various places, shorting out electronics. Tow operators must deal with the heaviness of EVs and their batteries. Most EVs weigh more than 6,000 pounds and are unable to go into neutral when they are dead. If you need to tow an EV, be careful, because you have no tow connections. If you use skates, you will need to use control-arm straps to prevent the vehicle from shifting. However, the control arms on EVs are too fragile to pull the heavy weight of an EV onto the incline of a flatbed. You risk damage to the drive train if the wheels turn while loading because EVs have no

transmissions. After a failed attempt, you may turn and use a wheel lift and dolly; however, EVs weigh around 6,000 pounds and dollies are rated for only 2,500 lbs., so are you ready to cover the damage claim expense for equipment failure? Anyone with experience towing Tesla’s knows about their self-driving technology. Models S and X will soon lose their easy Tow Mode with a software update, making them experience the same issues as other EVs. If you are using a jump pack, you will need to invest in a lithium Pack with a minimum of 3000 amps but monitor the pack. If you jump a car with a bad alternator, it will cause your pack to have a melt-down. BMW, MercedesBenz, Porsche, and Volvo want tow operators to carry 2 different packs. Now let’s discuss the major issues with the batteries used in EVs. EV manufacturers are having dangerous issues with batteries melting down and causing fires. This is causing great expense and headaches for the EV manufacturers, tow providers and insurance carriers. Our issues relate with safety risks: we are the first responders

who are responsible for getting the EVs off the roadway and towed into dealerships. Safety is number one, but at the same time we must remain profitable. EV battery issues affect all manufacturers in the industry. General Motors has reached a $1.9 billion settlement with LG, who manufactured their EV’ batteries. GM recently signed a new deal with LG Chem Battery to produce a new

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 8

Tow Professional

EV TECHNOLOGY

battery for there EVs. GM has officially announced that if they run into any more battery problems, they will abandon the EV technology market and stop production. (Information obtained from General Motors Press Releases). Vehicle manufacturers worldwide are experiencing EV battery issues, with major problems occurring in Europe. These issues have become so bad that GM shut down production for five months and the issues they experienced has caused the European governments to get more involved therefore totally changing how the towing industry operates in Europe. With Battery meltdowns causing vehicle fires, which burn at a slow rate over several hours, have exposed new unique dangers too tow operators. Moving melting EVs out of danger zones has totally changed how Public Safety and towing providers respond and operate in Europe. When EV start to melt down, the vehicle stops running.

The battery starts surging and gets hot then releases. Someone may know what to do, cutting the power wire when they arrive at the scene, but that is only possible if they can open the frunk. Most fire departments will not touch an EV fire, per training and policy they will want it to burn out on its own. If the tower is the first on the scene, they run into the dangers of electrocution or other injuries that will cause bodily harm and death every time they respond to an EV disablement. To help combat these issues, some European authorities are placing mandates for fire and tow operators to have access to the Italian-made EasTract TowTract® towing robot. This machine is the only the only equipment available to resolve all the problems that EVs are presenting to the towing Industry. This mandate will require towing companies that provide towing service to the governments to have an EasTract TowTract® robot available to support

STABLE

Tow Professional | Volume 10 • Issue 8

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•

RELIABLE • COMPLETE

public safety personnel as needed. The EasTract TowTract® robot can carry vehicles out of tight, dangerous areas while keeping the operator at a safe distance, away from danger without having to touch the towed vehicle. The robot picks up a vehicle and moves it like a bomb disposal robot moving an explosive out of the way. According to Interpol, EVs were becoming increasingly popular in Europe now they are required. Some countries have signed mandates requiring law enforcement and fire departments to have access/availability to use the EasTract TowTract® machine when an EVs battery issue arise. According to Agent Grogan with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, “Public safety policies and procedures used in Europe are usually incorporated into the U.S. procedures within 12-18 months behind Europe. However, with the EV issues in Europe with the melt-down, he believes these requirements could arrive much sooner to the bigger cities in the U.S. Government

agencies will require their tow contractors to have a machine available when needed. The ability to move a vehicle without keys and not touch the vehicle is a valuable tool for all areas of public safety.” With current automotive technology causing these new problems, we cannot forget about the dreaded insurance issues that we have to deal with. Insurance carriers know what the dangers are. They are already a nightmare for the insurance companies because they pay out the claims. Then, factor in the towing industry issues, which has the responsibility to pick up these vehicles and get them to repair facilities. With operators responding to EV service calls, most companies have not looked at the complex issues involved with servicing EVs. Do you currently provide services or tow EVs? If you do, look at your towing insurance policy, it probably contains coverage exemptions for certain activities and vehicles. Most tow

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 8

Tow Professional

EV TECHNOLOGY

insurance policies have coverage exemptions for EVs and specialty vehicles. You might be surprised to know that most insurance carriers classify EVs as specialty vehicles, and place language into a policy that provides insurance restrictions/exemptions for towing EVs. According to the American Insurance Association, very few towing insurance carriers allow EV’s to be insured with a regular policy. Most insurance carriers require a special EV insurance addendum to the policy, and this can cost up to an additional 47%

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

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Tow Professional | Volume 10 • Issue 8

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of the cost of a regular towing policy. Location, risk, population, and culture all factor into insurance costs. With this information, can a tow provider financially survive without adjusting for these added expenses? Will the consumer motorist pay for the added expense? According to Philip Carroll of EasTract North America®, he states “The EasTract TowTract® machine is a tow industry game-changer. It is the future of towing. What is unique, the EasTract TowTract® Robot is currently classified as towing equipment by the insurance carriers. This machine lowers the risk of physical harm and damage to vehicles; therefore, the insurance costs are only with a tow truck. Insurance carriers have not figured out how to classify the robot, thereby lowing risk and cost” There is a growing interest with this technology. This machine has wowed several major metropolitan law enforcement agencies throughout the North America and the towing industry. The big issue is people are not familiar with this technology and easily get intimidated because they have never seen anything like this before. However, once a tow operator sees the machine in action, they are always impressed.” The cost of this EasTract TowTract Robot® technology is not cheap. It provides “The most advanced solutions for vehicle recovering handling and towing.” This robot technology complicated tasks easier while reducing the risks. Thereby, providing a good profit margin with the job/risk factor. EasTract TowTract® machines are custom made to order in Italy to American specifications. If you are interested in getting information about this technology, contact Philip Carroll at Philip@EasTractNA.com. About the Author Syre Perkins, J.D. Possess a Juris Doctorate from UGA, has 18 years’ Towing Management experience in the Industry and a TRAA Certified Tow Master.

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WWW.TOWPROFESSIONAL.COM www.towprofessional.com | Volume 10 • Issue 8 | Tow Professional

MOTOR CLUBS &

Roadside Assistance Apps

The

Mover & Shaker App

e can all agree that dispatching service calls based on bid wars and contract rates have made for a competitive landscape. In these situations, providers rarely get to claim the rates they deserve. It makes you think there would have been some upgrade to this outdated system. Well, there is now! Introducing Mach1 Services, the mover & shaker app that automates the entire roadside assistance experience. Founded in early 2018, by powerhouse couple Rick & Laura Narpaul, this veteran-owned start-up has already made waves throughout the roadside community with its automated, on-demand, free subscription model. Now available nationwide, Mach1 utilizes a refreshing approach directly connecting customers to the closest provider. The company has much pride in how their technology successfully cuts out the middleman. Providers can negotiate their desired rates directly with the customer through in-app communication, (call & text), using burner numbers, so no one gives out their personal information. Say goodbye to the days of call

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centers, competing on ETA’s, and being offered service calls for a measly $20 bucks. No need to add your business hours either. Once fully vetted, the providers are able to set themselves to available or unavailable in the app at any time and can accept or decline calls at their discretion, without penalty. Here’s how it works: when the customer creates their free Mach1 account, their credit card will have a preauthorization on file holding the funds for the service, meaning they “already have skin in the game”, says Stephen Reveles, Mach1 Service Provider Manager. The

Mach1 app will then automatically dispatch the nearest provider up to a 50-mile radius using GPS location. The service request will come through as a notification to the provider app, followed by the Mach1 Jingle. The notification has all the details from the vehicle description, service type requested, approximate customer location as well as the estimated price window. The price window is based on regional industry standards, and shown to the customer before they submit the request to help minimize cost negotiations. The provider has about a minute to review the request and either accept or decline it. If they choose to decline, the customer is simply sent back into the queue and routed to the next nearest available provider. The dispatching system will continue to send request notifications until a provider accepts it. Although it is suggested to stay within the price window, which is much higher than motor club rates, Mach1 understands that there are factors such as distance, time of day, weather, or other additional services that call for a higher price bracket. As a Mach1 provider, you have the power to quote your desired rate, and If the customer declines, you may cancel the request, and send them back into the dispatching queue. If the customer accepts, turn-by-turn navigation in the Mach1 app will be your yellow brick road to their location, without having to run multiple apps at once. The navigation in the app can even help you avoid toll-roads if you’re in a location with them. When the destination is reached, the provider can mark themselves as arrived. Once the service is completed, you can then set your pricing within the checkout screen by clicking on the pricing bar listed. The app will only allow you to place the highest amount within the service request field there. Any additional charges that were pre-negotiated can be entered in the “Additional Service Item”, link on that same screen. Once the pricing is set, the customer will be prompted

for their signature. You’ll confirm the purchase and we’ll automatically send them an emailed receipt. You can expect to get paid automatically right to your bank account within 48 hours of the service. In fact, payment disbursements happen every 24 hours, so if you do a service every day you will receive payment every day. Payments are 48 hours rolling, so if you do a job on a Monday, you can expect that payment by Wednesday.

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Volume 10 • Issue 8

Tow Professional

MOTOR CLUBS &

Roadside Assistance Apps

Then providers can leave service call notes that get stored in Mach1’s system. After it’s all said and done, the customer has the opportunity to rank the provider with 5 golden stars. Remember, the provider is not bound by contracted rates. Mach1 believes that it’s time to keep the benefits of both customers and providers in mind. For years the roadside industry has consisted of the motorclubs taking the majority of the profit while leaving the providers to compete for what small percentage is left; thus creating a hostile environment. They are monopolies disguised as “tradition”, keeping the providers pacified with volume, awards, and exclusive perks, but never offering a fair rate. Most of you have been familiar with the rigamarole for years, and power through it with the same gusto that you use to run your business. “The secret of change is to focus all of your energy, not on fighting the old, but on building the new”-Socrates. That’s where Mach1 comes in. They have found a way to cultivate community in lieu of the otherwise aggressive nature of metrics, by allowing for providers’ voices to be heard. Mach1 is continuously developing solutions to all users’ roadside assistance needs. Staying ahead of the curve, so we all benefit. Still steadfast recruiting in each crevice of the United States, your fellow 48

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with a background check, insurance COI, and pay-out method. Mach1 is here to support you, just as you support their customers. Feel free to call your dedicated Mach1 Provider Support Team for all inquiries at Toll Free (844) 511-0002 or provider@mach1services.com . It’s time to ditch the competition, and join the future of roadside assistance cause in the end what matters most is we’re just “People helping people”.We look forward to working with you, and safe travels!

providers are loving the way Mach1 gives them the flexibility to make more money. It’s the streamlined and automated processes that have really helped to make doing business more efficient and get you back on the road quicker, and faster than ever; ready to help more customers. Add quote <” As a small business owner, having a user friendly program for bringing in customers is extremely important. After trying multiple platforms I came across Mach 1. It was extremely helpful with everything from bringing in customers, billing and even dispatching. With other platforms when I have a question, customer service may take days to reply. Not Mach 1, a customer service rep was on the line with an answer within minutes. Overall an amazing experience!” Jordan A.> This is your opportunity to become a part of a nationwide network of providers taking back control from the motor clubs. To create your account, please visit https:// provider.mach1services.com/. Mach1 providers have the versatility to sign up for whichever services they wish to offer. Currently there are eight different services available to Mach1 customers. Providers will complete their signup www.towprofessional.com

Volume 10 • Issue 8

Tow Professional

MOTOR CLUBS &

Roadside Assistance Apps

-AFFILIATED

Tow Professionals Help Drive Smarter, Safer Roadside Assistance

oadside safety is top of mind as more Americans choose road-tripping as an alternative to other forms of travel in 2020. A recent survey by global mobility and roadside assistance platform Urgently reveals 84.5% of consumers consider safety “very” to “extremely” important related to roadside assistance. This is why Urgently is committed to powering proactive mobility and roadside assistance for a smarter, safer roadside experience. The Urgently platform intelligently connects motorists in need with the nearest available and qualified service providers. Urgently demonstrates its commitment to safety in a number of ways – from donations to the International Towing and Recovery Hall of Fame and Museum’s Survivors Fund, to sending out local weather alerts, to delivering greater transparency throughout the roadside experience. The use of mobile technologies, innovative processes, and business standards are important aspects of Urgently’s commitment to safety and transparency. In addition, Urgently requires service providers to maintain standards that set them apart: things like a

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minimum level of insurance, experience, customer ratings, branded uniforms and vehicles, background checks, service technician photos and information shared with motorists in advance. These standards have resulted in a highly qualified service provider network. And it’s because of this network that Urgently has been able to partner with premium global automotive, insurance, telematics and transportation technology brands. From the beginning, the Service Providers in Urgently’s network – some 80,000 digitally connected and accountable service providers nationwide – have been vital to Urgently’s success. Urgently has built this network by treating service providers as partners, driving network loyalty and superior service quality to help grow their business and increase efficiency. By treating service providers as true partners, Urgently has created a high-performing, technology-savvy and responsive network for servicing today’s needs, while ensuring service capability for the future. Service providers also benefit from being part of the Urgently network. Urgently supports the network with tools and training to help service providers adapt to changes in

the mobility market and take advantage of opportunities to grow their business. In a recent survey of service providers, Service partners that are embracing new technology like Urgently are experiencing above average growth. Urgently also ranked at the top for providing the best overall experience for service providers, for proximity to jobs, dispatch portal, payment process, technology and support. Urgently was also identified as the roadside assistance

brand service providers would most likely recommend to a friend or colleague. Global automotive and new mobility companies are increasingly designing and marketing more transportation options with varying tasks, sizes and complexity – from electric and autonomous vehicles, to micro-mobility options, drones, robotic delivery and more. For this reason, Urgently has built its service provider network with the future in mind. Its network consists of roadside assistance and towing professionals whose business goals and practices align with the expanding future of the mobility ecosystem. Urgently will continue to build its service provider network to support the expanding mobility assistance market, and welcomes towing professionals that share the company’s commitment to ensuring a smarter, safer roadside experience. Towing professionals can learn more about Urgently and how to join its service provider network by visiting the company’s website geturgently.com or by emailing towsupport@geturgently.com.

JOIN THE NETWORK THAT POWERS LEADING BRANDS

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Volume 10 • Issue 8

3/5/21 7:48 PM Tow Professional 51

MOTOR CLUBS &

Roadside Assistance Apps

Our service platform is a win, win, win, for everyone

owTrax is a technology enabled roadside assistance service that distributes opportunities to towers and road service providers allowing them to generate considerable income in the most efficient way possible. Our proprietary app was designed by and for the towing industry using state-of-the-art technology to pinpoint the stranded motorist, dispatch the nearest service provider, and put them back on the road, quickly and safely.

We are currently building a high-performance network of savvy tow and service companies across the United States to provide the best possible service to our customers utilizing the most efficient, seamless technology in the industry.

WIN - The Service Provider

1. 52

Provides New Tow and Service Opportunities - TowTrax will receive requests from several Tow Professional | Volume 10 • Issue 8

www.towprofessional.com

different clients and seamlessly pass those opportunities onto our network. Reduces Expenses – By locating the nearest service provider to a breakdown, our process allows our network of service providers to do more tows and services in a day. Most of our services are less than 7 miles, which also saves on fuel and maintenance costs to your fleet. Simple App. – All the service provider needs to do is register their company and have all their drivers download our proprietary app. Once registered, we can immediately start sending service requests to their areas. Quick Pay – TowTrax pays its service providers twice a week through ACH. Fair Pricing – TowTrax pays market rates on all completed services. Dispatch Control – TowTrax has the capability to send tows to the dispatcher to determine driver assignment.

Quick Decision – The TowTrax app displays the service fee on the phone / website when a dispatch opportunity is sent. Once accepted, TowTrax will pay the tow company directly, via ACH, two times per week. By using TowTrax, service companies will have access to thousands of calls per year.

Win – Roadside Service Clients 1.

ATA’s are averaging less than 30 minutes – Because of our growing network and our process to locating the nearest provider to a breakdown event, our ATA’s are averaging less than 30 minutes. Follow Each Tow – TowTrax drops breadcrumbs on each service so our clients can follow the progress.

Reduces Costs – Our process significantly reduces the need to make manual phone calls to find an available provider. Our clients simply pass the event to TowTrax electronically and we take it from there. No more wasted handle time minutes trying to locate providers and negotiate prices. This creates tremendous savings. Happy Customers – Long wait times are the most common complaints among roadside assistance customers. Our process is designed to facilitate quick arrival times, creating a very satisfied customer.

Win – The Customer 1. 2.

No More Long Wait Times – Quick ATA’s solves one of the most prevalent complaints in the industry. Professional Service Provider – All TowTrax providers are vetted, insured, and professional companies ready to provide the best possible roadside assistance service in the industry.

START TODAY... MAKE MORE MONEY TOMORROW ARE YOU EXPERIENCING ANY OF THESE PROBLEMS? • Lack of tow jobs from motor clubs • Low Profit Margins • No revenue for expansion • Lack of calls due to COVID-19

ATTENTION TOWING COMPANIES!

Are you going broke relying solely on motor clubs and/or looking for ways to add additional revenue to your towing business?

NOTE: We have 10 towing businesses we can work with in each market. WE CAN HELP! OUR PROGRAM FOR TOWING COMPANIES WILL ALLOW YOU TO: • Generate additional revenue with automobile recycling automation • Overhead cost is extremely limited as you already have the tools necessary • Reach more customers by turning recycling customers into tow customers

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Volume 10 • Issue 8

Tow Professional

MOTOR CLUBS &

Roadside Assistance Apps

emerg is building a nationwide network of qualified service providers to help with towing, jump starts, flat tire changes, emergency fuel delivery, and locksmith services, and we need your help. With

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your help we can provide consumers the best pricing available in the area. Eemerg roadside assistance marketplace is here to help you reach thousands of people needing roadside assistance now. Come be a part of our team! We have an open network of providers, assign and manage your full fleet through our provider portal. Reclaim your time! Set, your own hours, without penalty. With our flexible schedule you have the opportunity take jobs when you want to. Receive payments by direct deposit every week. Join our network for free and start making some extra cash.

SERVICE PROVIDER PERKS We want to become the industry standard for roadside

assistance. Offering the best service for our customers as well as an open platform for the service providers that choose to be a part of Eemerg. “I love the quick payouts. I get to make all my own choices with no penalties”. — C. Sellers, CMC Towing • No Paperwork. • No Hassle. • Real-Time Dispatch.

HONEST MARKET

TECHNOLOGY DRIVEN Our innovative marketplace allows provider the opportunity to be compete for EVERY job. Our technology driven software matches local companies to stranded motorist offering a faster simpler solution.

PROVIDER DRIVEN MARKET Our marketplace is provider driven. We created Eemerg to build a local economic funnel, create jobs and better wages for providers across the US.

As a provider you have a fair opportunity to win every job. Ultimately the customer chooses their provider.

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Volume 10 • Issue 8

Tow Professional

PRODUCT

SPOTLIGHT

SPILL DIAPER TURNING YOUR LIABILITY INTO A PROFIT B

eing a 3rd generation recovery professional, I have seen and experienced the pride and dedication provided to this industry. No other industry is expected to immediately drop everything, respond within a 20 minute time frame, provide hard work for the assistance to others, and fight to get paid for it. With all of this, we endure liabilities to provide our services, and many times turn our property from an asset to a liability by bringing dripping and leaking vehicles back to our facility.

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Are you aware that when a customer, or authority having jurisdiction requests for your services, it is a transfer of liability? The request and acceptance turn into an agreement which is a liability transfer. When State Police call for a vehicle accident, they are essentially stating that they have a property damage and are requesting for you to recover their property damage, liability. When the vehicle is recovered, you have gained the responsibility for the vehicle, including its debris. If

the vehicle is leaking liquid debris across town and back to your storage facility, you are the secondary generator being responsible for the contamination due to custody. In return, this is providing contamination into the storm drains and contaminating the drop site facility, many times being your own property. You have the due diligence and responsibility to confine the contamination from the accident, as well as the obligation to reduce any contamination at your facility. Statutes and standards such as “Litter Control Act”, “Waste Management and Pollution Control”, “Unlawful discharges of deleterious substances”, “Rules Regulating Secondary Containment at Storage and Transfer Facilities”, “Removing Wrecked or Damaged Vehicles” make it your liability at the scene, and while in your custody. Some annotations from these statues read; www.towprofessional.com

Volume 10 • Issue 8

Tow Professional

PRODUCT

SPOTLIGHT

-Any person removing a wrecked or damaged vehicle must remove any substances dropped from the vehicle. -Any person whom drops, or “permits” being dropped upon any highway shall immediately remove the same, or cause it to be removed. -No person shall throw, deposit, or “permit” to be thrown or deposited upon any highway -Any person who fails to comply with the subsection commits a class C infraction. These statutes and annotations confirm that if you “allow” foreign fluids to be spilled or leaked onto a highway, you are committing a misdemeanor. With the use of the SPILL DIAPER, secondary leaks are contained during your custody. Spill Diaper is a secondary confinement, absorbing 8 gallons or hydrocarbon (oil, gas, diesel), while containing material. The top layer is a general absorbent to absorb antifreeze; middle layer is an oil only absorbent, and the bottom layer is an impermeable backing to not allow fluids to leach through. With the use of SPILL DIAPER, you are not permitting foreign fluids from depositing along the highway, or to your facility. You 58

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will be deducing the potential liabilities and preventing contamination to your storage facility, and or drop site. Per accident you will be compliant and turn your environmental liabilities into a profit, while the generators of the contamination compensate. Insurance companies have the obligation in their liability policy to pay for their insureds’ damage to property; being fluids leaking from their vehicle. Spill diaper could be applied to any vehicle leaking, or having the potential to leak. If a container, being a radiator or fuel tank, is damaged, it is not in factory position and has the potential to leak. This application is mitigation that is billable to the insured. Make it your company policy to not allow damaged or leaking vehicles onto your property without a secondary containment. Limit your liability from the accident scene, back to the drop site by not allowing fluids to drip and leak across the public way. Looking forward, keep your property as an asset vs a liability. For more information visit www.spilldiaper.com or calll 217-712-0357

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