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TOW PROFESSIONAL Volume 5 • Issue 6 2016
CONTENTS I ND US T RY NEWS
www.towprofessional.com
Products: Wheel Lift & Repo
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26| Dynamic Towing
4 |2016 Midwest Regional Tow Show 6 |Jerr-Dan 8 | Custom Built / Worldwide Towing 10 |Worldwide Towing 12 |In memory of Warren P. Roosevelt, Sr. 14 |2016 Metropolitan Towing & Equipment Expo
30 |
Jerr-Dan
34 | Detroit Wrecker 38 |Lift & Tow
Fuel 4 thought
40 |
18 | Make Every First Impression A Good One
Hide-A-Lift
Insightful talk
42 | Zacklift
20 | Politics and Business (How do they mix?)
44 | Triple K
Feature: TraNsfer or Transport
46 | Collins Dollies
24| Selecting the Correct Gas Can
48 | Steck Mfg. 49 |SuperSprings
Products: Towing Products
Feature: Wheel Lift & Repo
50|D2K Warrior Winches 52| INA Towing Network
Hooked UP 54| Keystone Tape 55| AW Direct
62| TowMate 62| In the Ditch
IN EVERY ISSUE 4 | Publisher Letter 58 |Dealers Place 2
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63 | Market Place 64 | Ad Index
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PUBLISHERS
LETTER
TM
Professional Your Resource for Towing & Recovery
Volume 5 • Issue 6 2016 www.towprofessional.com
100 Years and The Wall of the Fallen Each year we go to Tennessee to pay our respects to the fallen first responders from our industry and the stories don’t get any easier to hear. Some are from mistakes and from natural causes, some are from robberies, but way too many are completely avoidable because people didn’t “Slow down and move over.” I think if more people saw the heartbreak and the families that are torn apart because of people not obeying this law, it would sink in. Angela Roper and the folks at the Museum do a terrific job honoring those families and representing our industry. This year’s event should be very special with it being the 100 year anniversary. I hope you can make it to Chattanooga. It’s a great experience to see the ceremony and the auction has turned into a fantastic time and a whole lot of fun. In this issue, we will be looking at some of the wheel lifts available on the market and what features each of them offer that sets them apart. As usual, we will provide you with all the information we can find so you can start your due diligence and make the best decision for your company. Also, Dan Messina gives us his opinion on the race for the White House and how it may affect our market. The Tow Doctor (D.J.) is full of his typical wisdom and advice, and we will catch you up to speed on the latest industry news and new products to look for. Exhibit sales and attendee registration is now open for the Southern Tow Expo and Beach Bash. Just go to SouthernTowExpo.com and get signed up.
PUBLISHER Darian Weaver President & Publisher darian@towprofessional.com
Tim Smith V.P. Sales tim@towprofessional.com __________________________
PRODUCTION Dana Maxfield Creative Director dana@towprofessional.com
Jason Kerstiens Proof Editor jason@towprofessional.com __________________________
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Paul Ederer - AW Direct D.J. Harrington Brandin Hughes - In God We Trust Dan Messina __________________________
Keep reading and stay safe, 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
Timothy A Smith Vice President Tow Professional Magazine
For a new free subscription, address changes or corrections, please visit www.towprofessional.com and click on the “subscribe” tab.
I ND US T RY NEWS OW WI IN NG G& &R REEC CO OV VEER RY Y TTO
The 2016 Midwest Regional Tow Show The 2016 Midwest Regional Tow Show, held at Great Wolf Lodge on September 22- 25 in Mason, Ohio will include two milestone events, we will celebrate our 38th year and the 100th anniversary of the Tow Truck. This show is hosted by the Towing & Recovery Association of Ohio, The Towing & Recovery Association of Kentucky and the West Virginia Towing Association. Our schedule includes something for everyone! We kick off the show on Thursday with a Golf Outing and Auction 4
benefitting the Injured Driver’s Fund. For the ladies we have a Safety Fashion Show (modeled by men in our industry). A Kid’s mini rodeo, Beauty Contest and events planned for the ‘Lil Towers’ on Friday and Saturday evening including food, crafts and a “Stranger Danger” program from our Police Department. Please plan to join us in raising awareness with candlelight memorial in memory of our lost highway heroes. Men and women who have lost their lives while helping others and paid the ultimate
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price. This is a great show to attend with your family while conducting business, attending business related seminars, training classes, review towing techniques or purchasing towing equipment & accessories. This family-friendly show will have you returning year after year. www.midwesttowshow.org. Remember to support those who support us! www.trao.org
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JERR-DAN Introduces SURE METHOD® The industry’s first systematic, comprehensive guide to designing and building towing equipmement.
The Jerr-Dan SURE Method® is a new decision-making model that quickly and efficiently defines optimum vehicle specifications to help eliminate the guesswork from the build process. Powered by the Jerr-Dan Performance Calculator, the SURE Method® will allow each vehicle to be outfitted to consistently perform at the highest level. In the world of towing, there’s nothing worse than tackling a job with less truck than you need. Too large or too powerful of a truck can likewise put you in a tight spot. Either way, relying on a vehicle that isn’t optimized for the task at hand is downright dangerous, and it can prove 6
costly in more ways than one. Thanks to the Jerr-Dan SURE Method®, these situations can possibly be avoided, and your investment protected. Go step by step through a series of key considerations to arrive at the most informed decisions, choosing the right equipment to meet the unique demands of your business. Jerr-Dan knows that no two towing operations are alike, so our comprehensive system includes consideration of the following factors: -Region • Suburban, Urban, Rural • Types of roadways and diversity of
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terrain • Average travel distance -Intended Use • Towing • Recovery -Applications • Class of vehicle encountered most frequently • Weight of vehicle at lift point • Distance to the point of lift Visit JerrDan.com to learn more about the Jerr-Dan SURE Method® today. www.jerrdan.com
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I ND US T RY NEWS OW WI IN NG G& &R REEC CO OV VEER RY Y TTO
Introducing the “10 Year Warranty” only from Custom Built Manufacturing We've been standing behind our wreckers for almost 10 years. So we thought it was time to make it official. If you were to ask one of our current customers why they purchased a Custom Built Mfg Wrecker one of the answers that you will hear is going to be, "Because I know he will take care of me". By "he" they are talking about Derek Dangelo, founder of Custom Built Mfg. He has been "taking care" of his customers for about ten years now based on a handshake and his word. As our company grows we thought it would be a good time to put it in writing. A 10 Year warranty on the steel items we manufacture at our plant to include the Subframe, Boom, Underlift and T Bar. We will also offer a 2 year warranty on items we purchase and install on our units such as hydraulic cylinders, valves winches etc... Even though many of our customers are satisfied with a handshake
agreement you will now get this written warranty when you purchase any new unit from us. It’s even transferable to the next owner when you decide to upgrade. How about that for resale value added? www.custombuiltmfg.com
Worldwide Equipment Sale’s Tow Trucks for Tots Parade Scheduled for Sunday, November 13th
Worldwide Equipment Sales Tow Trucks for Tots has donated backpacks to the Village of Dixmoor, IL 1st Annual Back to School Fest. Tow Trucks for Tots happened to hear Early Walker of All Area WW Towing of Dixmoor, IL speaking about the Dixmoor Back to School Fest and jumped in to help. Within a few days Tow Trucks for Tots collected several stacks of brand new backpacks and delivered them to All Area WW Towing who delivered 8
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them to the Village of Dixmoor. Jim Bresnahan of Chariot Towing, one of the directors of Tow Trucks for Tots said, “We love helping children and the community in any way we can and we are looking forward to this year’s Tow Truck for Tots Parade on November 13, 2016. If you’ve been to the parade then you already know what it’s about, if you haven’t you need to join in”. Worldwide Equipment Sales, LLC’s "Tow Trucks for Tots" is a non-profit organization made up of the towing community, its suppliers and the wonderful volunteers who raise toys for children during the holiday season. Tow Trucks for Tots has three main goals. 1. To bring a much needed toy to a very deserving boy or girl. 2. To further enhance the image of the towing industry. 3. To break the Guinness Book of World Records for the largest tow truck parade. www.newtowtrucks.com
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I ND US T RY NEWS OW WI IN NG G& &R REEC CO OV VEER RY Y TTO
Worldwide Equipment Sales is pleased to announce the following promotions and additions Dave Gellinger has been promoted to National Sales Manager in charge of all four locations (Chicago, Detroit, Las Vegas and Los Angeles). Dave has extensive knowledge and experience in the industry. Starting as a tow truck driver for Highland Towing in Highland, IN, he expanded his expertise by becoming the Manager/Owner of Cars Towing in Merrillville, IN, where he managed a fleet of 65 trucks and over 100 employees. After many years at Cars Towing, Dave joined Worldwide Equipment Sales as a salesperson. After making his mark in the industry he was promoted to Sales Manager of the Chicago location before being elevated to his new national role. Pat Winer, President of Worldwide Equipment Sales, said, “I couldn’t be happier with promoting Dave to National Sales Manager. Dave is hard working, focused and a true leader. At Worldwide we always try to promote within the company and Dave is going to make a great National Sales Manager.” Rich Palombo has been promoted to National Parts Manager in charge of all four locations (Chicago, Detroit, Las Vegas and Los Angeles). Rich has 14 years of experience within the 10
industry. Rich started as a parts rep for NAPA. In 2006, he joined Worldwide Equipment Sales and was responsible for all aspects of the parts and service department including customer service, prospecting, personnel and developing the store catalog. “Rich brings several things to this position that greatly impress me,” said Pat Winer, President of Worldwide Equipment Sales. “He has an extensive knowledge of the parts industry, a fiercely competitive nature, and a drive to exceed expectations. Rich will be a great asset to our current and future stores”. Worldwide Equipment Sales has named Dennis Richards General Manager of our Detroit, MI location. “Dennis has tremendous experience and success in managing towing and roadside assistance operations. His 23 years of industry experience and his background in consumer – focused services with Agero, Allstate Roadside Service as well as GE Financial, where he managed network operations focusing on delivery of superior customer service while putting network provider interests first, makes Dennis an excellent choice for this important role,” said Pat Winer, President of Worldwide Equipment Sales. Dennis will lead all business operations at our Michigan location. Worldwide Equipment Sales is pleased to announce the hiring of Dwayne Greene as General Manager of our Chicago location. Dwayne comes to
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us from Enterprise Rent-A-Car where Dwayne held the following positions over 26 years: Branch Manager, Vehicle Repair Manager and Remarketing Manager. As Remarketing Manager, Dwayne was responsible for remarketing over 30,000 vehicles. “I am very excited to have Dwayne join our team,” said Pat Winer, President of Worldwide Equipment Sales. “Dwayne has an extensive corporate background from a Fortune 100 company and is a very talented individual. He will be a tremendous asset to all of Worldwide Equipment Sales and to the towing community.” About Worldwide Equipment Sales Headquartered in Joliet, IL, Worldwide Equipment Sales is a diversified towing equipment dealer and North America’s largest tow truck dealer. Established in 2003, the company sells, fabricates, services and supplies parts for the towing, recovery, and car hauling industries. Its innovative products are sold under the following brand names: Jerr-Dan towing equipment, Landoll trailers, and Cottrell car haulers. Worldwide Equipment Sales currently has four locations: Chicago, IL, Detroit, MI, Las Vegas, NV, and Los Angeles, CA. www.newtowtrucks.com
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I ND US T RY NEWS OW WI IN NG G& &R REEC CO OV VEER RY Y TTO
In memory of Warren P. Roosevelt, Sr.
TRAA is saddened by the recent loss of Mr. Warren P. Roosevelt Sr., a Charter Member of TRAA. A Tow Truck Parade was held in his honor Saturday, July 30, 2016. Warren P. Roosevelt Sr., a former resident of Canada Lake and Fonda, New York passed away in Punta Gorda, Florida on July 15, 2016. Born on April 11, 1938 in Amsterdam, New York he was the son of the late Melfred "Jake" and Alberta Engel Roosevelt. A lifelong area resident, Warren was a 1955 graduate of Fonda-Fultonville Central School, and served as a member of the National Guard from 1954- 1961. In 1954 he joined his father in the operation of the family business, which is now known as M.W. Roosevelt and Son, Inc. in Canajoharie and Cobleskill, NY. Under the guidance of Warren, Roosevelt's was known as a trusted dealership in the area that specialized in sales, service and body work. He was a NYS Certified Heavy Duty Truck Inspector and Automobile Body Appraiser. He also was an adjuster for AETNA Insurance. In an effort to improve customer service, Warren and his father Jake decided to expand their business to include towing services and purchased their first 1948 tow truck. Since that time, Roosevelt's has become the longest tenured Towing and 12
Recovery Authorized Garage on the New York State Thruway. Towing became Warren's passion and he was instrumental in promoting the industry. He was considered a Legend within the towing community, both locally and internationally. Warren served as a founding member and officer of the Empire State Towing and Recovery Association (ESTRA). He was also one of the original six "Friends of Towing" which founded the International Towing and Recovery Hall of Fame and Museum in Chattanooga, TN; where Warren's restored 1948 bubble nose resides. He served as a Five Term Director on the Board for The International Towing and Recovery Hall of Fame and Museum and in 1989 was inducted into their Hall of Fame. Warren was active in many local and national organizations during his lifetime and was dedicated to the success of each. They include: Director for Buanno Transportation, President of the Chevrolet Syracuse Division "Only the Best" Service Manager Club, Member of the New York State and National Automobile Dealers Associations, Challenger Wrecker Distributor, Charter Member of Towing & Recovery Association of America, Vice President of Interstate Towing Association, Member and Secretary of the Town of Mohawk Volunteer Fire Department, Member of Fonda-Fultonville Volunteer Ambulance Corp, Trustee of the Caroga Lake Historical Museum,
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President of the Canada Lake Protective Association, President of Islander Point Homeowners Association, Punta Gorda, FL, Volunteer Charlotte County Sherriff's Patrol, Marine Duty, Punta Gorda, FL, a member of the Sacandaga Power Squadron, a member of the Fultonville Free and Accepted Masons, 3rd Degree and a Charter Member of the Canajoharie-Fort Plain B.P.O.E. #3621. Warren was also the Chief Track Steward of Fonda Speedway Dragstrip. He also was a member of the NASCAR Race Recovery Team at Daytona International Speedway for the 2011 and 2012. Survivors include his wife, Josie Anderson Roosevelt of Punta Gorda, FL; his first wife, Nancy Veeder (Roger Crews) of Fort Plain, NY; three children, Kimberly A. Post and her husband James of Palatine Bridge, NY, Warren P. Roosevelt Jr. and his wife Justine of Sprakers, NY and Gregory M. Roosevelt and his wife Laurie of Palatine Bridge, NY; two step children, Pamela Bramell of Virginia and Mark Huxley and his wife Christina of Colorado; seven grandchildren, Kelly Boucher and her husband Jesse, Kristen Post (Michael Kelly), Janelle Roosevelt (Andrew Davis), Nicholas Roosevelt (Alicia Chase), Roxanne Huxley, Josie Ann Bramell and Jack Warren Huxley; several nieces, nephews and cousins. He was predeceased by his daughter, Kelly Alberta.
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I ND US T RY NEWS OW WI IN NG G& &R REEC CO OV VEER RY Y TTO
The 2017 Metropolitan Towing & Equipment Expo QE media LLC., was started as Quick Towing Equipment by Barry Hart in 1977 selling towing equipment and repairing trucks. From there he started many towing businesses including heavy duty towing, road service, and fleet maintenance. It has since grown into a media company offering event services specializing in the towing industry. The Company focuses efforts on the support of the towing community because the belief is that we are the people. QE Media has continued to work with the brotherhood of towers by coordinating funeral procession’s for our fallen brothers, creating social media marketing plans in supports of move over, slow down, and participating in changing laws and regulations for the industry. For 40+ years we have worked closely with both vendors and customers to insure complete satisfaction. In 2016 The Metropolitan Towing & Equipment Expo began. A first year tow-
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ing & equipment expo that is like no other. The expo is conveniently located at the NJ Convention Center, a 150,000 square
foot, un-conventional convention center. The location, in Edison, NJ, was specifically chosen to make it easy for both
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exhibitors & attendees to travel from the surrounding Metropolitan areas. The show site is in close proximity to all major highways and airports. A show this stature, which features seminars, Wreckmaster classes, tow truck pageant, and much more, has never been produced in this area before. The vision behind the show is to present a towing & Equipment Expo that is imaginative and individual. The goal is to set ourselves apart from the usual events at other towing expos. Exhibitors that are typically not seen, in this class of show, will be presented all under one roof for everyone to enjoy. Furthermore, what sets the Metropolitan Towing & Equipment apart is our extreme understanding of both the attendance and the exhibitor’s needs. This is the show that everyone has been waiting for in the Metropolitan area. It is a “Show like no other”. www.newyorkexpos.com
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Fuel 4 thought
By D.J. Harrington, CSP
Years back, I wrote an article about the real picture others see of a business. Not a thought of that article entered my mind while greeting my friend Melinda. It had been a while since I had seen her, so we chatted for a while. Several months earlier, Melinda needed to fill an open position in her office, but only recently found the perfect person. Over the next few minutes, she revealed the process it took to find Jenny. Jenny had the experience, knowledge, and magnetic enthusiasm that all of Melinda’s previous candidates lacked. While talking about this new employee, my friend’s face lit up but quickly turned to concern when she revealed the events that followed over the first week of working with Jenny. As needed, Melinda sent Jenny with special requests to other departments. Each time Jenny returned to Melinda’s department, negative results were reported. By the 4th visit and complaint, Jenny’s job excitement started fading. As Melinda described each incident, she recalled the attitudes, demeanor, body language and verbiage that gave Jenny 18
negative vibes. Jenny began to question her decision to take the job. General consensus was that Jenny should have been appropriately informed by Melinda, answered email requests promptly, known specifically what to ask for before she entered their department. And better yet, Jenny had missed a scheduled meeting with one lady who had set it for the day Jenny was off. One very studious worker, and I use that lightly, chose to roll her eyes at Jenny’s request and explained that Melinda should have given Jenny the rules manual before she bothered them. The printing department in particular, gave Jenny grief instead of grace. Sometimes as towers, when we hire a new person we forget there’s a learning curve. We forget that they’re nervous, want to do everything right and enjoy their first days on the job. Melinda then revealed something very interesting, “I’ve always known that those particular people were hard to deal with and I’ve learned techniques to deal with them. I should have warned her or taken care of it myself.” Melinda began to apologize
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for the bad behavior of those people as if she had done all of it herself. Then she added, “DJ, I’m afraid that I will lose this employee and there’s nothing I can do about it.” While looking Melinda straight in the face, I retorted, “But there is! And if you don’t do it, you WILL lose this employee.” The incidences she described weren’t nice and certainly not professional in such a work environment. You might not believe this, but this lady works in a church! Why on earth would people who work in a place of grace not offer grace to others? Church people aren’t perfect by any means but should know how to treat people right. Sometimes they need to be reminded. Over the next few minutes, I explained to Melinda that she had to communicate this situation to her church business manager. Even if she didn’t mention any names, she needed to make sure this type of atmosphere was squelched. Those people needed retraining! Retraining would allow those people to reflect on what they did and might discover a change is in order. Who knows, maybe the entire staff needs reflective
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training. After we parted, I could hear my Dad whispering in my ear, “Treat people like you want to be treated.” Even though this incident comes from outside the regular business world, there are multitudes of stories like this one inside of it. No matter what’s happening during our day, someone’s always listening. We’re given one chance to make the right impression because the first impression can’t be redone. Suppose for a moment that your towing yard employee was having a bad day and in walks an unsuspecting customer. Your employee might react to the customer as if he or she caused the problem. We’re human. Here’s a quick and easy technique to avoid such a situation: Train your people to pause, take a deep breath, smile and count to five before talking. The conversation with the customer will go better. Try the same thing with the telephone but add a mirror
to the mix. Smiling into a mirror before picking up a telephone will remove irritation from the voice. Nothing sounds worse than an irritated person answering the telephone. It’s hard to be mean when smiling. Even a happy, busy person can sound irritated if they don’t check themselves before using the telephone. Fiber optics never shows body language. It’s strictly sound. Therefore, body language has to be delivered with your voice. In the towing industry we have to win each customer one-at-a-time. A customer might already be mad because they didn’t wake up this morning with the intention of having their car or truck break down or experience an accident. No matter how your day is going don’t forget to smile and remember to treat others like you want to be treated. Since you’re given one chance to make the right first impression, make it a good one.
The Tow Doctor
Until next time.
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Insightful talk
For the past two weeks I’ve done nothing but watch political conventions and all the stuff that follows. I‘ve come to the conclusion that all politicians are in it for themselves, I don’t care what party you support. I also know that as a business owner we could be in trouble if the wrong candidate gets elected. Keep in mind the content of this article is my own opinion and I will try not to favor either side. I was reading an article that stated if Trump is elected our stock market would plunge, and if Clinton is elected she will cripple the economy by raising taxes to over a trillion dollars. Take your pick. The next president will get to name some Supreme Court judges. Their choices will impact us for years to come. If Hillary is elected there could be a big impact on all of the gun laws and other liberal agendas, and if Donald gets elected things will get 20
By Dan Messina
much more conservative. Once again, take your pick. When you are making a decision on how to vote understand that your emotional reaction is what counts, not all the negative stuff that you are hearing. As a business owner let’s take a look at things that could have an impact on our business based on this coming election. Income inequality Many American’s from billionaire to fast-food workers have been speaking out about the divide between the rich and the poor. Some candidates want to close the gap by raising the minimum wage. Some states on the west coast have already raised the minimum wage to $15 an hour. Look at your business and see what impact it would have on your staff if you were paying $15 an hour. Many candi-
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dates from both parties are pushing for some type of increase. If the fast-food workers get that increase you can bet you will be paying more for a hamburger the next time you go to a fast-food restaurant. Healthcare Now that the insurance companies have some data to look at since Obama Care went into effect many insurers are seeing premium hikes. This will be a big topic of conversation through the campaign. In 2017 the insurance rates will go up even higher. If your company has to provide insurance for all of your employees, how will this impact your bottom line? Taxes Some candidates want to raise taxes, while other candidates want to lower them. Who is to believe? If this campaign
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has told us anything, both sides have a tendency to not tell the truth. Any way you look at it the business owner will be penalized. Regulations The last thing our industry needs is more regulations. If more regulations are added, it will take time for you as the owner to understand these regulations. The last time we had regulation changes in Texas it cost the business owner thousands of dollars to comply. If regulations are changed at a federal level it could impact the way we currently do business. Access to Capital One lingering problem we have with the recession is the inability to get a bank loan. There a 10 state survey was conducted and shows that only 33% of
small business owners were able to get the financing they needed to grow their business last year. It will be even harder next year to find money when you need it. Some lending agencies have addressed the problem but they carry high interest rates. The Dangers of this Election For at least 35 years, our two parties have collaborated in favoring the rich over the poor, and cut back on the rights of labor. They have put through trade deals that obviously favored corporations over American workers, and they plan to do so again. That is the biggest single reason why inequality has been increasing in the United States, and it will continue to increase. Donald Trump claims that he is magically going to turn this situation around
by virtue of his talents as a negotiator. Somehow he will not only stop corporations from shipping more jobs abroad, but persuade them to bring jobs back to the United States. Hillary Clinton, meanwhile, claims that she will go on fighting for the less well off,
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Insightful talk although she can't seem to make up her mind whether that refers mainly to women, minorities, or the LGBTQ community. If the polls are reasonably close in October, worldwide fear of Trump's election could trigger a panic in the markets and that panic in turn could turn the
country against the Democrats and elect him. Still, she is a big favorite at the moment, despite some disturbingly close polls in Pennsylvania, Florida, and Ohio. Both parties are playing the game of demographics. The voter has been categorized in a hundred different ways. Each
candidate is trying to capture a certain demographic by offering things that benefit the party they are trying to reach. After looking at the current statistics from the past 4 years our country can’t continue to go in the same direction. Young people like Sanders because they know that he is identifying very real issues: the cost of college, which has left many of them with tens of thousands of dollars of debt. How will they feel in four more years if Clinton has been elected and we are still going in the same direction?
The most depressing aspect of our politics today, in my opinion, is that congress is looking out for themselves and not the people that put them in office. This applies to both parties. If you look at the republican candidates that signed a pledge to support the party no matter who the candidate, have now turned their backs on the people that put them in office. The Democratic Party fixed the election so that Hillary would win. The person that was responsible for the fix got promoted. Since at least 1828, every major party has claimed to stand for the interests of the common man and woman, and parties have lost favor when their promises seemed to be completely empty. This happened to the Republican establishment this year, and it nearly happened to the Democratic one as well. If one believes, as I do, that our world is changing based on the popularity of Bernie Sanders and Donald Trump it is easy to see that change is needed. Our leaders in Washington better realize that a new era in politics’ is about to take place. 22
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Selecting the Correct Gas Can By Paul Ederer, Technical Product Support – AW Direct
We’ve all experienced road service calls where someone simply runs out of gas. The choice of which container the operator uses to bring fuel, safety can or gas can, is actually not so simple. I’ll summarize the differences between the two types of cans and the regulations that pertain to them. • Safety Can: A safety can is approved by a third party such as UL or FM, is a container of not more than 5-gallons capacity, having a flash-arresting screen, a spring-closing lid and spout cover and so designed that it will safely relieve internal pressure when
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subject to fire exposure per OSHA 29 CFR 1926.155(l). Its design is intended to prevent the can from exploding by use of a venting lid and flash arrestor. Safety cans are required when used by any business or commercial enterprise when storing or transferring flammable liquids in our shops, and they meet OSHA requirements. They are available in steel or plastic.
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• Portable Fuel Can: A portable fuel can is any reusable container designed and marketed for use by consumers for receiving, transporting, storing and dispensing gasoline, diesel fuel or
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kerosene. All utility jugs that are red, yellow or blue in color are deemed to be portable fuel containers regardless of how they are labeled per EPA 40 CFR 59.680. This can’s design is intended to control evaporative emissions and reduce spillage. These are often referred to as CARB (California Air Resource Board) compliant cans. These models are also designed with child-resistant features to meet the Children’s Gasoline Burn Prevention Act. They are generally intended for consumer use when storing or transferring flammable liquids. They may meet EPA requirements, but not OSHA or DOT requirements. They are generally made of plastic, but there are some metal jerricans on the market as well. While these cans can be used for storing or transferring fuel, the real question for our industry is whether they can be used for transporting fuel on our commercial road service vehicles. The short answer is . . . it depends on the can! This leads to the third type of can.
Some portable fuel cans have DOT caps that replace the spout assembly during transport to make them compliant. Jerricans with screw-in caps that replace the spout assembly can also meet DOT requirements. Only cans meeting DOT requirements can be used for transporting flammable liquids. To see if your gas cans meet DOT requirements, check the label or imprinting on the can for DOT approval or the presence of UN marking numbers such as 1A1/T1.2/100.
• DOT Compliant Can: DOT compliant cans need to meet the Performance Oriented Packaging requirements of the Federal Hazardous Materials Regulations. For instance, a standard safety can does not meet the requirements for transport. However, there are Safety Transport Cans that have a hold-down bracket for the lid and guards to protect the spout assembly, which do meet the requirements.
The choice of which gas can you purchase really depends on how the container will be used. Safety cans are a great choice in maintenance shops or storage yards while DOT-approved cans are best for our road service vehicles. AW Direct Helping You Help Them For more information: 800-243-3194 http://tech.awdirect.com Volume 5 • Issue 6 | www.towprofessional.com | Tow Professional
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Dynamic Towing Equipment & Manufacturing Dynamic Towing Equipment & Manufacturing, the innovators of the original self loading wheel lift, is a thriving company with 30 years in the towing and repossession industry. They pride themselves on providing equipment designed and manufactured to make securing vehicles faster, safer, easier and with consistent reliability for their customers. Dynamic’s guiding principle is to provide quality products that help to make their customers’ jobs easier and safer. Through 26
the years, Dynamic listened to their customers and continued to make changes to meet the industry demands. Prior to purchasing Dynamic ten years ago, Anthony Gentile owned a towing company based out of New York City where he employed over 150 people and ran a fleet of over 35 Dynamic wreckers. Later, Anthony became a Dynamic distributor offering Dynamic equipment and parts. Challenging economic conditions and changes in Dynamic’s ownership and man-
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agement provided Anthony, along with his brother Joey, an opportunity to purchase Dynamic with the promise of bringing new life into the company. Over the past 9 years the company has grown into one of the largest privately owned towing equipment manufacturers in America and now expanding into global markets. Innovative ideas, an extensive understanding of the industry and meticulous craftsmanship have resulted in a broad and steadily expanding product portfolio.
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Because Dynamic was the original innovator of the self-loading wheel lift, their focus has been on growing and improving that product line. With new and advanced software, equipment and a team of engineers, Dynamic is able to custom design wreckers to meet the needs of their overseas clients and also modify existing designs for other industries. Over the last few years, Dynamic has re-designed, re-named, and re-engineered a new and improved rotating flatbed. There has been one Radius being
field-tested over the last two years. It was known as the T-180. Dynamic’s new rotating flatbed will be known as “The Radius,” as it turns 240 degrees. Dynamic plans to introduce the new Radius at the Baltimore Tow Show in November. Dynamic has also recently invested in over 1 million dollars worth of advanced robotic equipment to boost efficiency and improve product quality. Anthony’s involvement in the towing manufacturing realm introduced new and exciting partnerships with like-minded
individuals. In 2008 Anthony met Shelly Schultz. At the time she was an account executive with Solidworks 3D engineering software, and Anthony was one of their clients. Over the years, they have developed a solid partnership and she has helped the company grow tremendously. Her knowledge of marketing strategy, sales and advertising has opened many exciting doors for Dynamic, including a partnership with NASCAR. Anthony has always been an avid NASCAR fan and used to race NASCAR
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modifieds. When he was approached to provide recovery trucks for NASCAR tracks, he didn’t hesitate to participate. Shaun Johnson, executive director of operations at Charlotte Motor Speedway, is responsible for facilitating this partnership. “It was a great pleasure meeting
The partnership makes Dynamic the official recovery vehicle for Charlotte Motor Speedway, one of NASCAR’s most popular tracks, which hosts three major NASCAR weekends each year, including the prestigious Coca-Cola 600, the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race and the
ply one word, “COMMITMENT.” “Anthony was committed to making this a great program from the very first day. If that approach is the way Dynamic handles all of its customers, then the future is bright!” Johnson appreciates the fact that all equipment fabrication and engineering is
Shelly and Anthony, Dynamic’s owner, a few years ago at the Baltimore Tow Show and getting to know them and their products better. Dynamic really stood out as a great product and I felt that someday a partnership would benefit us and the Dynamic brand.” said Johnson.
Bank of America 500. Dynamic is also the official recovery vehicle for Atlanta Motor Speedway, Kentucky Speedway, and Bristol Motor Speedway. When asked why he decided to move forward with Dynamic Towing Equipment, Johnson responded with sim-
done in-house at Dynamic’s Norfolk, Virginia facility, which has been a huge benefit to their organization. Towing racing vehicles is much different than street cars, so some specific modifications had to be made to meet their demands. “We also benefit from the service, hands down
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WHEEL LIFT | REPO equipment one of the best experiences I have had with a partner company. If I need anything, Dynamic is always one helpful and simple call away,” said Johnson. It was through Shelly’s tenacious efforts that Dynamic was able to make a name for itself at the NASCAR events.
funds for the towing and repo industry, including the RABF (Recovery Agents Benefits Fund,) as well as the International Towing and Recovery Museum. So what does Dynamic’s future entail? The Dynamic team has ambitious goals to
with a wide global reach to introduce Dynamic to the overseas markets, as well as increase our brand recognition and adopt better, more efficient practices for our domestic partners,” said Shelly. Dynamic has many exciting projects in the works and loves sharing their
Her drive is what led to Dynamic having billboards at the major speedways, print ads in the NASCAR souvenir programs, and ultimately suite tickets for some of the most sought after NASCAR races. These suite tickets are donated to a number of organizations to support charitable
increase volume and production in the next couple of years, adding international dealers to their distribution network. They are growing their engineering department and adding advanced automation to their production practices. “My goal is to partner with international companies
processes and excitement via social media. Follow Dynamic Towing Equipment on Facebook to view videos and photos of Dynamics in action! www.dynamictow.com
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A STEEL WITH M THAN ANY TRUC MPL-NGS VERSATILITY Whether you’re towing low-clearance sports cars or motorcycles, the MPLNGS’s customizable wheel lift packages let you take on more jobs, faster. MPL-NGS EFFICIENCY With its 90 rotating cross bar and standard adjustable Level Stop Assist System , the MPL-NGS gets you into the perfect position quickly and allows you to tackle tough picks. MPL-NGS DURABILITY A steel diamond plate painted deck is built for a rugged, long working life and
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combined with Jerr-Dan’s exclusive NoLubeTM technology reduces maintenance, saving time and money. FEATURES • Steel body • Steel diamond deck • Low-maintenance No-LubeTM technology • Steel pylon • LED DOT lighting • Remote underlift and winch controls • Winch includes manual free spool and tensioner • Adjustable underlift Level Stop Assist System • Back-up alarm
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• Multiple grid options: - Manual / fixed L-arms - Hydraulic self-loader (including the patented LOCKLINK over-center locking mechanism) - Manual / pivoting L-arms CHASSIS • Minimum RBM (Resisting Bending Moment) - 460,000 in.-lbs. (230,000 in.-lbs. per frame rail) • Minimum Usable CA (Cab to Axle centerline) - 60” • Minimum GVWR - 11,000 lbs. • Max unloaded frame height - 36” • Minimum frame length behind the center of rear axle - 36”
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MORE FEATURES CK IN ITS CLASS ACCESSORIES • Aluminium 24” tunnel toolbox (84” CA required) • Fifth wheel & gooseneck trailer adapters • Motorcycle towing adapter (hydraulic grid only) • Tow sling • Headboard work lights • Fold-down light bar • Tow dollies & storage brackets • Body stone guards • D-rings • Tow lights • Rubber wheel chocks • Fire extinguisher
• Safety triangle kit • LED emergency lighting • Wireless remote control CAPACITIES • Underlift - 4,000 lbs. fully extended • Winch - 8,000 lbs. - 3/8” x 75’ wire rope
DRIVE A HARD BARGAIN The MPL-NGS wrecker from Jerr-Dan has exactly what you need to do your job quicker and more efficiently, including an unbeatable price. It’s designed to help you get in and out quicker, and features the revolutionary Level Stop Assist System, the same technology found on Jerr- Dan’s top of the line models. And its Negative Tilt Underlift feature is perfect for securing vehicles in parking ramps. Best of all, it’s a Jerr-Dan—so it’s built better than any truck in its class to help you get in and out, day in and day out. www.jerrdan.com
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Detroit Wrecker is excited to announce the official launch of The Gladiator, the strongest and most durable ‘in the bed repo unit’ ever! Just like everything else we build in house, The Gladiator is engineered to last over the long haul. There is no other unit on the market with our Lifetime Warranty on Pins, Bushings, & Craftsmanship. Benefits Of ‘In Bed’ Repo Units The benefits of having a wheel lift mounted in the bed of a pickup truck are significant. These units are much cheaper than buying a light duty wrecker, capable of fitting into places other equipment cannot, and can be outfitted just like a much more expensive wrecker body. In bed units are judged for their ability to tow any size car, pickup truck, or SUV ability to disperse weight over the rear axle on the truck. What Sets The Gladiator Apart From Other ‘In Bed’ Repo Units? The Gladiator is not the first ‘in bed’ repo unit, but it is easily the best on the market. Here’s why…
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Bronze Oil-Lite Bushings and Pins We outfit every pivot point with our long-lasting Bronze OilLite Bushings and Pins for extra strength and reliability. All of our Pins and Bushings come with a lifetime warranty and are made to sweat oil in order to reduce rust, corrosion and overall maintenance. Ability to Tighten Critical Pivot Points Every critical pivot point on the Gladiator has the ability to be tightened over time so that our unit never becomes loose. Some units can be shaken by the touch of the crossbar and we do not want our unit to share those symptoms in the future causing major repair. This pin system is used at the crossbar pivot, lower L-Boom pivot, and upper L-Boom pivot.
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Steel Lines to Simplify Hydraulics The Gladiator has steel hydraulic lines which eliminates the need to ever dismantle the entire piece of equipment to change a hose. Many other units fall victim to that repair and ours does not. There are short hoses running to the cylinders and the power unit however all are simple and within reach to replace very quickly and get you back on the road. Massive Subframe The HUGE subframe we included on this repo unit is not only
massive, but it’s incredibly strong and powerful. As a result, it causes weight to evenly disperse throughout the entire bed of the truck. This actively protects your truck frame from over loading and breaking. Easy Installation We ship our repo units all over the country with extensive how-to installation guides. While we always strive to keep the installation process simple, The Gladiator is the easiest to install by far. There are attachment angles that are the full length of the
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Capacities The Gladiator is built strong to handle your toughest jobs with ease and efficiency. The Gladiator has 4,500 pounds of lifting capacity and 9,000 pounds of towing capacity. Other Bonus Features Include: -Negative Tilt -Hitch Receiver -Huge 4’ bore lift cylinder -Integrated Tow-light Plug -Optional Wheel Grids & L-Arms
unit therefore the unit can be bolted to the most convenient spot, not trying to modify suspension or gas tank locations. The frame of the unit will match the width of your truck and as a result you get to enjoy simple and fast installation. Available Integrated Bumper with DOT Approved Safety Chain Attachments There is an optional integrated bumper for the Gladiator which simplifies installation even more and complements the functionality of the unit. The bumper eliminates the need to notch the factory bumper or modify it in any way. The bumper has safety chain storage, storage for ratchets and straps, license plate mount and light, and LED work lights.
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Dolly Storage Brackets Our unique dolly storage system allows the customer to easily roll the dollies into the bed and roll them out. There is no climbing over the side of the bed or trying to hold the dollies in the air to get them onto the mounts. They can also be locked into place for added security. Very simple and saves lots of time and energy! Sandblasted & Powder-coated When it comes to personalizing your unit, your wish is our command! Every Gladiator comes sandblasted with any powder color you request. Match your company colors, pick something catchy to the eye or go with a dirt-resistant shade.
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The Boom & Winch No other ‘in bed’ repo unit offers the option to add on a boom (hydraulic or manual) and winch. These additions make your job easier, and increase overall capabilities. We include a 100-foot cable with every boom and winch package. The boom extends and retracts the cable, allowing you to guide it wherever you need to recover something. The addition of the winch allows you to utilize recovery in just about any situation. For instance, if you need to move a car parked between a house and a sidewall you are able to get in there in ways you never could with a cumbersome tow truck. Plus, you don’t have to remove the boom when it comes time for service.
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WHEEL LIFT | REPO equipment What Does The Gladiator Cost & How Do I Get One? We are already accepting orders for the Gladiator and you can call today to schedule an install or arrange to have one shipped to your door! • $7999.99 = Gladiator w/ Manual LArms (Non Self Loader) (Can Add Bumper, Dolly Mounts, Winch) • $8999.99 = Gladiator Self Loader (Can Add Bumper, Dolly Mounts, Winch) • $16,999.99 = Gladiator HD w/ Hydraulic Boom & Winch (Standard Bumper, Dolly Mounts) Contact us today to learn more about how The Gladiator can improve your fleet, expand your towing capabilities and reduce your maintenance costs! 313-835-8700 Ext. 1 For Equipment Sales or mike@detroitwrecker.com
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LIFT & TOW By Brandin Hughes
I am a business entrepreneur that was blessed with the opportunity to travel the world and train with the best repossessors in the industry. Hello my brothers and sisters, I think that's the first thing I learned is there is a brotherhood and a sisterhood, a TRUST among each other. On this journey I was able to gather the tools it takes to become a leader in 38
National Repossession. I have learned there are many tools universally used among repossessors, we are all bonded, insured, and certified. We use many tools to guide us through repossession. A few examples are: Faith in the Lord is a must! professionalism, leadership, strength training, and knowing and following State and National guidelines. Most of all, it's
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important to respect repossession! I was able to witness repossession at different levels. Some of them were in the inner-city, some in the country, and some in the most violent and aggressive settings. Throughout that journey I have witnessed one thing remain the same and show no failure, the Z Series lift. This lift has universal abilities. It can turn one truck into three, pull a trailer, pull a Harley or pull a vehicle, it does it all. The Z-Series ensures I move silent, unheard, and unseen. The Z-Series lift gives my truck the low profile look. This is what every repossessor wants. This is extremely helpful in daily repossession. The Z-Series is an efficient and dependable lift. I am able to move in and out of neighborhoods, alleyways, even parking garages without being seen. That is the name of repossession. Throughout my journey I've continued to see others grow by trusting their fellow brothers and sisters. I've watched them attempt using other equipment, but problems always arise. You can count on the Z-Series dependability. All of us in the repossession community can tell you dependability is our top priority. This lift designer continues to work each day to strengthen our abilities on the ground, the repossessors around the world continue to work together to strengthen our community. Bypassing on things like this lift and tow are costly. They are always open for us 24 hours a day, only because you will never need them. I have several of these lifts. I've towed thousands of pounds with this lift. This lift is not only being used in our industry but in others as well. I have seen this product used by lot enforcement, auto haulers and even police departments. This lift is absolutely universal for all the needs of towing. Faith in “lift and tow� is faith in your equipment. Through my experiences, I have created In God We Trust, my repossession agency. We are national leaders in the repossession industry today. We are family owned and operated; we continue to depend on our fellow brothers and sisters to help guide us. We have found a family
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here in the repossession family. We believe the Lord put us on this journey for us to learn and grow with the booming industry. Our goal is to do just that, work together with others, treat them as if they are your brother and sister, the way of the Lord. Repossession at that point came natural for us, we are not one, we are all. We speak together and we stand together. We are professionals working with people and never forgetting that we are all people, treating others with respect, if it wasn't for that brotherhood and sisterhood we would never have reached our goal to become national leaders in repos-
session. Thank you Rapture, God bless brother. As I traveled the world there is one man who taught me how to use all of my tools in repossession, Jordan McIntosh with Rapture Enterprises, a world renowned repossessor. He follows the way of the Lord as I do the same. My name is Brandin Hughes, I hope you'll
take this advice that a brother is giving you. I've learned a lot in this journey and will continue to fight to stay in the journey. May God bless Jordan Macintosh, may God bless me, may God Bless you. Brandin Hughes In God We Trust www.liftandtow.com
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HIDE-A-LIFT MANUFACTURERS OF COBRA, VIPER, and BOA TOWING EQUIPMENT
Hide-A-Lift, is a family owned business located in the northwest corner of Iowa. The owners of the business do all the manufacturing, shipping & everything that goes along with producing the Cobra, Viper and the Boa. All 3 can be found on their Hide-A-Lift website. The Cobra, a totally hydraulic unit, is no doubt one of the heaviest slide in units available on the market today. With a massive 6 x 6 x 3/8 wall main beam and a double pump hydraulic system for more power and speed it can do the job for you. Now it also has a new lower profile head that can get under the low cars easier than ever. The Viper, also a totally hydraulic unit, is again one of the strongest underlifts on the market today. The 3 stage extend tubes all made from 3/8 to 5/16 inch wall steel are virtually indestructible , 40
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with a unique extend cylinder that has no hydraulic hoses in the tubes, no moving tubes running against the hydraulic hoses. And a low profile hydraulic head same as the Cobra so you can pick up the low riding cars. The Boa, our most economical unit is a hydraulic up and down, manual extend. This unit also mounts under the frame to keep your box open for other uses. These underlifts are one of the first on the market and have been in use for 20 yrs. For more pictures and videos of all the units check out our Hide-A-Lift website. www.hidealift.com
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Made in America
The toughest towing equipment in the business comes from right here at home
After witnessing decades of jobs moving overseas, the strong Dollar (relatively speaking) has slowly started to send a few jobs back to the United States. Known as 'reshoring,' some manufacturers that once turned their backs on the American workers are following the money back home. However, some businesses have remained loyal to the domestic workforce, knowing that they can produce the highest quality product right here at home. Zacklift is one those companies. Born in the heart of the Pacific Northwest in 1982, Zacklift quickly learned that their workers were the key to growth. Founder Ed Zackovich's vision to produce a retrofit wheel/frame lift started at home. With the help of a core group of local employees, Zacklift was on its way to its first prototype. Within a year, the Z5000 Underlifts were sold and sales quickly began on expanded product lines. By the mid-1980's, international sales became a growing focus and with it, the ques42
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WHEEL LIFT | REPO equipment tion of whether or not to develop smaller manufacturing centers closer to foreign business locations or continue to focus on the American craftsmanship that had helped Zacklift get off the ground. Foreign customers also demanded a high quality product and Zacklift decided to stick to its guns, continuing to develop an American manufacturing base. Over the next decade, Zacklift's growth more than doubled. The ingenuity displayed by Zacklift was evident. Key ideas in engineering led to multiple patents and new products even better suited for their growing client base. It wasn’t long before the Zacklift Z403 carried a rating of 40,000 pounds and a reach of 147”. As semis evolved, so did the difficulty in towing them. The company was once again ahead of the curve and the first heavy duty Zacklifts started taking off. Zacklift had gained a reputation for building powerful tools that got the job done. The excellent reputation wasn’t luck. The
company and every employee was, is, and will always be focused on building a product that exceeds every customer’s expectation for quality. They have lis-
tened to what their customers have been saying for 30 years. Zacklift has responded with innovation, increased ratings, and necessary accessories. They reshaped the industry when the Zacklift FIFTHWHEELER was launched and became synonymous with American heavy duty towing. The FIFTHWHEELER’s popularity was instantaneous. People found out the same Zacklift that could lift and tow anything that was rolling down the highway, could now mount and dismount just like a semi-trailer, leaving the towing truck free to pack trailers and flat beds. Always thinking about how their customers can maximize profit, the FIFTHWHEELER can take a truck that may not be seeing too much action transporting trailers, and that truck can now work day and night as the company’s short and long distance transporter. There are many options and possibilities. www.zacklift.com
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TRIPLE K - THE TRUE TILT 5TH WHEEL QUICK-TACH
The True Tilt 5th Wheel Quick-Tach is a heavy duty under lift that has the most extension, most retraction, more tilt and the most lifting capacity of any lift on the market. It has a lift rating of 45,000 pounds retracted and 24,000 fully extended. It has a clear extension of 140" to the center of the axle forks and nearly 160" to the center of the Heavy Duty Wheel forks when used. The unit 44
will tilt the full rated load in the given positions. We use 16 nylon wear pads in the boom section, using the nylon pads both top and bottom of the sections. The main unit rolls up and down the mount on large 6 inch diameter rollers. The rollers give no friction in the up and down movement, so heavy loads can be lifted with no friction loss. The boom sections are made of
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100,000 pound steel. This allows us to keep the boom height profile very short. Also, the nylon pads are set into pockets milled into the boom sections, allowing us to only have only 1/4" clearance between boom sections. This allows us to keep the overall boom height section very low to accommodate aerodynamics and low profile bumpers. The hydraulic hoses are all “hidden” in the unit, encased in a nylon tracking chain to keep them in place free from wear and tear. Our crossbar is made of a one piece solid steel casting made of 100,000 pound steel. The tongue it rotates in is also one piece cast steel (100,000 pound steel). We use spring steel "Connex" bushings throughout the unit, in every place there is a heavy weldment or forging. We use 2 1/2" pins throughout the unit and a
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WHEEL LIFT | REPO equipment 3" pivot pin on the crossbar. We use a wide stance on our mount and pins, especially the hinge pin so the unit can handle the huge stresses that are induced especially while backing towed vehicles around corners into tight quarters. In that situation, large stresses are transmitted to the hinge and mount sections of the lift unit. We have standard wireless radio built into the unit. The radio is a standard feature with a 6 function controller that will control the lift for up-down; in–out; and tilt up–tilt down operation. We can attach a winch to the gooseneck. We utilize a 750 Holmes boom head attached to the top of the vertical boom. The main unit can be used as a stiff leg during winching operations. We can include a 10 function radio to also operate the winch with the radio control, operating the in and out on the winch and incorporating an air valve with the radio to operate the freespool on the winch.
This is an optional option. The unit is shipped as either an electric/hydraulic or with a valve pac to be powered by the trucks PTO system. The electric/hydraulic is a self-contained unit utilizing two electric pumps for increased volume and speed of the hydraulics. There is also a fail-safe built in so that if one motor fails, the other will continue to function the unit. This unit is provided with battery cable to hook into your trucks battery for the power source. The valve pac system incorporates a valve manifold that will attach to a truck’s PTO pump system. It has a built-in flow regulator to adjust the volume of the oil going to the lift unit. The manifold has an open port to attach an additional valve to operate a winch. The winch valve port is unrestricted, so the winch can be operated at the full capacity of the pump even though the lift unit is restricted. Our unit pricing includes either an electric/hydraulic pump or a valve pac to
tie into your truck’s PTO pump; the 6 function wireless radio control plus a 25’ hard wired remote control; 4 sets of axle frame forks; the parking stands; and all necessary hardware to mount to a road tractor. As options, we have available the heavy duty wheel fork set. Also offered is a boom head, or a winch mount is available if you want to attach a winch to the unit. We have the hydraulic valve and air valve kits available for the winch with the 10 function radio. The units are shipped with the gooseneck unattached to the main mount bracket. The entire lift is assembled. The pump or valve and radio are mounted in the gooseneck. The customer will only have to mount the gooseneck to the mount bracket and install 6 hydraulic hoses between the pump valves and lift unit once the unit arrives. www.triplekindustries.com
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MANUFACTURING CORP. As we are now 16 years into the millennium, we can measure our progress by our past. Over 41 years ago, Collins changed the way dolly towing was accomplished for the tow industry worldwide. Since its very inception nearly 100 years ago, dolly towing, (at left), required time, space, and maneuvering, to get the job done. As vehicles changed, so did the dollies that carried them. The Holmes D9 pan dolly, (below), available to the driver. Then the heavy, bulky dollies had to be pulled off the truck and assembled underneath the vehicle. The vehicle was then lowered onto the dolly. At the destination point, the vehicle then had to be raised up again, the dollies pulled out from underneath, disassembled and stowed, and the vehicle lowered back to the ground. The process was time-consuming. 46
All that changed in August 1972. The articulating, self-loading dolly that allowed tow operators to retrieve vehicles and be gone in as little as 60 seconds was unheard of prior to Collins inventing the Self-Loading, Hi-Speed Dolly. The present-day configuration started out very simple in the mid-70s with only four moving parts per dolly side. Simple but not entirely safe. Tow operators pointed out the danger and liability of the “crack bar” coming back and striking someone in the head -- hence the nickname. Collins immediately responded in May 1977 with the invention of the Safety Ratchet System (SRS) that arrested the free motion of the pry bar, with thousands of pounds bearing down on the dolly. It is still used today. At present, the Collins Hi-Speed Dolly
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is the safest, lightest, most advanced, and most copied dolly in the world. Collins has been raising the bar and setting the gold standard of safety, quality, and convenience for four decades. With patented original features that Collins also invented like 8-inch aluminum wheels, greasable aluminum hubs, replaceable and serviceable parts, the HiSpeed Dolly is unique and original. Additional features introduced by Collins to the towing industry, like aluminum axles in 1995 and the aluminum square pry bar in 2010, make the tow operator’s job safer, lighter, and easier. Although these features make the coveted HiSpeed Dolly a target for imitators in the US, China, and Singapore, their designs are no match for the original. Today, dolly towing is also available to
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the Carrier Dolly System solves all these problems. After being lifted by the minidollies, the car or motorcycle, rides the dollies up the bed. For vehicles without
wheels, the tow cradle works for both carrier and highway dollies. www.collinsdollies.com
Collins Dollies 541-7 74-9220 collinsdollies.com
car carriers with Collins’ patent-pending Carrier Dolly System. With all-wheel drive, electric, and hybrid vehicles, or cars with low ground clearance or no hook points,
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QUICK MOVES WITH STECK
Calls for quickly moving vehicles with broken ball joints continue to grow. While many use skates or Go-Jacks, many towers find that due to their inability to safely load and secure a vehicle, especially on the aluminum bed roll back wreckers, they find the need for a sturdier device. Steck’s 4th Wheel Loader is a tough
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24” x 14” hardened aluminum fabricated platform with two 4” x 10” Polypropylene roller wheels, six 5/8” holes for mini-J hooks for loading assistance and 1” axles which provides a safe platform to easily hold and secure up to 5 tons while loading a vehicle. The 4th Wheel Loader also includes two shims that allow the driver
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to raise the vehicle with busted ball joints, lost wheels and severely bent axles and place it at a desired height for secure loading on the roll back. The Loader is 4” high (without shim blocks) with a built in 6” X 1 ” handle which will allow you to store the 25 lb. Loader behind your seat or tool box. Quicker loading and unloading while preventing further damage to vehicles by allowing the driver to center, pull and properly secure the vehicle on the roll back bed as well as preventing bed damage to the roll back. We have also found that the shops where the towers drop the damaged vehicle has a similar problem because GoJacks do not work well outdoors, which result in many damaged floor jacks trying to move the vehicle into the shop. The 4th Wheel Loader with its two Polypropylene wheels works well in gravel and dirt to move the vehicle directly into the repair bays and frame racks. www.steckmfg.com
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WHEEL LIFT | REPO equipment
For Towers, Campers, 5th Wheels, Tow-behinds, and Goose-necks • A more stable, secure and controllable ride. • Anti-sway and reduced wheel hop. • Increase driver control and confidence. • Easy to install and maintenance free. • 7 day-a-week knowledgeable tech support to answer all questions. • Prevent Sag and Reduce Sway by 30%. • Easily and quickly installed directly above the vehicle’s rear leaf springs. • Works in parallel with the vehicle’s existing suspension system. • Eliminates vehicle rear-end sag and improves towing capabilities. • Reduces body roll providing enhanced driver safety and control.
when the vehicle is unloaded to avoid any rattles. Leaf spring packs elongate under load as they flatten out and the pivoting swingarm shackle found to the rear of most of them facilities this extension. The SuperSprings dual roller permits this same allowance. This simple roller principal allows the SuperSprings to activate more or less automatically, free of any manual adjustment. The SuperSprings are length specific to fit varying sized leaf springs and are also manufactured in different strengths to accommodate a multitude of applications. The sole adjustment on the
SuperSprings is found in the roller shackles at the end of each blade. Positioning the rollers in the lowest setting ensures the least amount of preload tension on the SuperSprings and keeps the vehicle closest to its original factory ride conditions. Upper bolt holes can be used if additional “lift” is desired in the vehicle; if clearance from obstructions is required or if the installation is on an older vehicle with some fatigue in the springs. For additional installation information please view your vehicles specific install instructions on-line at www.supersprings.com or contact the SuperSprings tech support line. This toll free line (866898-0720) is manned seven days a week, between the hours of 7:00 am and 5:00 pm (PST) for your assistance. SuperSprings enhance level-load carrying ability, handling and towing. Never load any vehicle beyond the manufacturer’s gross vehicle weight rating. www.supersprings.com
SuperSprings are a unique, patented, self-adjusting suspension stabilizing system for vehicles with rear leaf springs. They provide additional load leveling support and reduce body roll without compromising the vehicle ride. They work in conjunction with the factory spring pack and adjust automatically to accommodate different load and road conditions. Their antisway feature reduces body roll by 30% delivering superior driver control and safety; most noticeable when cornering, encountering strong cross winds or dealing with wind buffeting from other traffic. The adjustable shackles allow the installation to be tuned to suit the drivers’ needs. In General how they work: The combination of their tapered blade and pivoting, self-adjusting, dual roller systems assist the SuperSprings to work on an as-needed basis. The installed springs are under nominal tension even Volume 5 • Issue 6 | www.towprofessional.com | Tow Professional
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tion, marine, mining, forestry, utility, or railroad industries, the DK2 Warrior Winch offers an array of winch lines and sizing options for a diversity of needs.
It’s no secret that intense regulation continues to dictate the tow industry. With over 100 different permits and certifications for tow professionals in the state of Texas alone, it’s no wonder emerging brands like DK2 Warrior Winches (DK2) are calling for improved industry standards on winch products. With continual pressure from local governments and insurance companies regarding commercial and private tow use, it’s the owners
deployment in Afghanistan, Terry Carpenter Director of Enhanced Protection Systems had this to say about his experience with a Warrior Winch, ‘(Warrior Winches) were able to offer a bespoke, cost effective and efficient solution for a Light All-Terrain Vehicle known as “Springer” in operation overseas.’ DK2 Warrior Winches winches are uniquely designed and engineered in Great Britain and are subject to meeting
Customer Service Now, more than ever, it’s important for owners and operators to spend their dollars where it counts; on a winch with longevity and reputability. For most, it’s not about finding the most affordable, high-tech winch on the market, it’s about finding a product with a track record for efficiency from a brand with good customer service. “The promise of quality, not just a great price, is a core selling point we see again and again with our customers” says DK2 Warrior Winch Sales Director, Graham Leather. What most people don’t realize, or fail to look into, is just how long a prospective winch brand has been in business. “We’ve seen a lot of (winch) competitors come and go. What many customers don’t know, is that Warrior Winches have been in business
and operators who are frustrated and hesitant when the time comes to buy a new winch. By listening to the plights of tow professionals, DK2 produces its hydraulic, electric and worm drive winch products with a focus on quality and affordability, hence its slogan “Value Without Compromise”. Here’s how they do it:
the highest levels of testing and European standards; GJB82-86 National Military Standard/SAE J706/EN14492/IP68 standards to be exact. These winches’ success in Germany, Netherlands, Croatia, Russia, Sweden, Italy and Great Britain are a true testament to the strength, reliability and following the Warrior brand has earned. Whether it be a 12,000lb hydraulic worm drive winch or a 90,000lb Industrial Hydraulic winch, the Warrior brand will continue to deliver as it continues to gain traction in the North American market. If a DK2 Warrior Winch is dependable enough to protect a country it’s dependable enough for just about anything. Whether customers want a winch for recreation, towing and recovery, to material handling in the construc-
for over 20 years. That’s twenty years of customer retention and brand loyalty.” When buying a DK2 Warrior Winch, whether it’s an NH Series 10,000lb Hydraulic winch or a JP Series Industrial Hydraulic winch with 90,000lbs pulling capacity, customers can be assured they will receive the same level of quality and service regardless of who they are and what they need. DK2 Warrior Winch boasts an industry leading before and after customer service team where its call line personnel interact directly with customers. Based on a customer’s specific needs, DK2 personnel will assess and assist with a strong understanding of the tow industry. “Many customers come to us knowing exactly what they need & we are ready to optimize and customize a winch to suit them. For the
From Europe to North America, Detail K2 Warrior Winches is Doing It Right From Electric, Hydraulic to Worm Drive Winches
Consistent Quality DK2 Warrior Winch is the only winch line adhering to both European and North American Military standards. Before leaving the shelf, the DK2 product is able to reduce the majority of financial and insurance headaches for customers by producing a product that can consistently perform with integrity. Known for its use in the British Military, including a three-year 50
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customers who don’t know, our range of winch offerings is quite diverse.” While DK considers it’s Samurai Series 17500 and 20000lb electric winches are among the strongest in the industry, its Viking line of 12000lb electric and hydraulic worm drive winches are best suited for “shock load “scenarios. The H:EN Series winches have a compact size and a 360 degree rotating gearbox making this the ideal winch to mount in tight spaces. Finally Graham says, “The NW and NH Series winches have proven to be an incredibly reliable, cost effective solution on rollbacks and flat deck car haulers.” Product Development Launched in Spring 2016, DK2’s latest Industrial lineup is quickly becoming a cornerstone to the brand. Featuring galvanized steel cable(s), balance valves, heavy duty hooks, and auto tensioners, the JP Series of winches are the only North American winch to include such luxuries as standard offerings – but can be offered without…if you
just ask. Although innovation in this industry is no foreign concept, it’s the process in which DK2 Warrior Winches reaches new heights in product manufacturing that’s important. “We pride ourselves on having a great relationship with our factory and the overall manufacturing process of our business” says Bryan Johnson, DK2 Brand Director. Having remained in the same factory since inception, the DK2 Warrior Winch has been able to truly test and trust the products before releasing them to the market. Aside from consistency of workmanship and material quality, the DK2 Warrior Winch factory prides itself on ensuring regulatory product compli-
ance – especially in a highly regulated, often penalized tow industry. “Let’s face it,” Says Bryan, “in this industry, there are those life and death situations where you want the comfort of knowing your equipment will not fail you.” DK2 is a global supplier of truck and automotive accessories that includes a full line of vehicle and industrial grade recovery winches. With distribution centers in Canada & the U.S., our focus is to provide premium quality products via a competitive pricing model. DK2 Warrior Winches service a wide range of original equipment manufacturers as well as wholesale, retail and industrial channels. DK2 Warrior Winches mandate is to provide products that are socially responsible and adhere to the high moral and ethical standard Visit our website or YouTube to view our product offerings and videos of some of more popular DK2 Warrior Winch lines. www.detailk2.com
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INA Towing Network Core business acclamation targets commercial service platforms. We understand the logistics necessary to handle breakdowns and towing events in an efficient and timely manner. Our agents are trained to understand the various vehicle types to correctly determine the tow equipment needed to safely complete the service. We have incident management and risk mitigation specialists in house to detail manage elevated events. Our broad range of management capabilities have all been in
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place since the inception of our program. INA Towing Network has built a strong network of vetted tow providers comprised of some of the most elite tow companies throughout the U.S. and Canada. They have a proprietary area of operations that provides them volume and nets INA with dedicated service response along with a competitive price point. Our tow providers are held to a standard of operating ethics, equipment specs, operator training and insurance requirements. We have built our network on fair, quality tow providers - not the
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cheapest in order to meet an unrealistic price point. Our philosophy of a building strong, diversified partnership between our providers and our fleets has resulted in their buying into the overall success of our programs. We all grow together in a unified position of service to our clients and ultimately their end users. INA Towing Network has aligned with the leading partners in related service support needs such as Hazmat / Environmental, forensic investigations and legal expertise to provide the specialized logistics that may arise for our cus-
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tomers. We have experienced agents and specialists in house that focus on their well-honed skills set to provide the majority of service needs. However, they also realize the added value to clients to utilize the expertise of aligned partners to provide a “complete cover package.” INA Towing has been selective in the towing marketplace to enter into business relationships with clients that are seeking a quality service platform. Clients that understand the value of a network team delivering a timely response and reduced down time consistently. We have refused to do business with clients that dictate "price bidding" of our towing partners to achieve a low rate price model. This has netted great respect from the towing industry and led to a strong, committed network of "towing elite." Gay Rochester states “We are integrity and ethics driven,” this is what defines us! We don’t have to say or proclaim what we are, our fleets and insurance partners do it for us. We are educated and understand the entities we serve, and we are fair. We take great pride in working with
professional tow providers to respond with knowledge and resources to keep the motoring public safe. During incidents, we provide our tow operators management tools to be a productive first responder. Safety is always at the forefront of any service response! We put work into promoting a communication bridge to everyone. INA strives to bring the best team
together to provide superior service to our fleets – it is what makes us unique in the marketplace. The sign on the door at INA Towing Networks Headquarters as you enter dispatch, says it all “This is where Extraordinary Begins.” www.inatowing.com
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Hooked UP “Safe Water Act” Spill Clean Up Gold Crew has been engaged in Hydrocarbon spill cleanup for over 50 years. The water based, Biodegradable formulation has passed the test of time by providing superior products that produce exceptional results. Gold Crew TC, is the Ideal formulation for the spill cleanup of the vehicle operating fluids from traffic accidents , The (VOF) Pollutions from TA's. If not properly cleaned up during rain events the residual left behind from typical "kitty litter" approach can create "rainbowing" and that contributes to storm water runoff pollution. Gold Crew TC, effectivelly address the complete clean up of these pollutants in a safe .water based formulation the removes VOF's to the Maximum Extant Practical, (MEP). Keystone Tape & Supply has continued the partnership with ECS, and the Gold Crew Products to keep providing the Tow and Recovery companies a valuable system for the clean up and billing of clean up to the Insurance companies, For more Information on the system contact, Keystone Tape & Supply Office 817-439-8898 Craig cell: 817-565-0493 www.keystonetape.com
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Hooked UP ANSI Class 3 Full-Zip Hooded Sweatshirt It looks good and it feels good. Teflon fabric protector helps repel water, stains and odor. Segmented reflective striping is more flexible for a better fit. Features a high collar with removable hood, mesh lining, dual pockets and black high-wear areas for a clean look. www.awdirect.com
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Hooked UP Lift-All RuStop 2�W Standard Ratchet with Wide Handle No more rust! A RuStop Ratchet meets your most demanding needs and withstands harsh environments including road salt. Tested for 600 hr. in a salt spray chamber without red rust, compared to less than 200 hr. for yellow zinc-plated ratchets. The wide handle is great for gloved hands. 3,670-lb. WLL. www.awdirect.com
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Dealers place
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Dealers place
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Hooked UP
New “Carbon Fiber” and “Diamond Plate” Finishes Always improving. Always refining. TowMate has unveiled two new standard finish options for the entire line of light and heavy duty wireless tow lights. Now, when you purchase a TowMate wireless tow light, except for a few select models, you have the option of either a “Carbon Fiber” finish or a “Yellow Diamond Plate” finish. The housings are run through a hydrographic dipping process in which the graphics are applied. Taking it one step further, the units are then coated using an automotive grade clear coat to add rigidity to the housing which also makes cleaning your lightbar a low maintenance process. Further custom options will be available soon for an additional cost. www.towmate.com
International Truck Step Due to the increased cab height on most International 4300 Series Trucks with new emissions, many towers have experienced problems transporting a motorist along with their disabled vehicle. With the distance between the two steps, many people have trouble climbing into the cab on the passenger side. Some towers will try to help, but in these days of lawsuits and litigation we have to be careful where we place our hands. Some companies even have policies against it. In The Ditch™ Towing Products, who is known for their innovation, has come up with the solution-the new ITD1571 Integrated Truck Step. This easy-toinstall panel breaks up the distance between steps, making it easier than ever to enter and exit the cab. The step features our exclusive non-slip step surface and is constructed of aluminum so it won’t rust, giving your truck a great custom appearance. www.intheditch.com
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market place
The TM-FLVID Records in 1080 HD and Offers a Bright LED Flashlight Yet another useful tool from your friends at TowMate is their latest product addition, the TM-FLVID. Easily document the condition of a vehicle or the events that take place on scene with this rechargeable, brilliantly bright, LED flashlight with a built in 1080 HD video camera. Don’t need video? No problem. Snap a quick picture with the touch of a button. The unit includes the flashlight with a 16GB Micro SD card along with a wall charger and USB cable. The unit is backed by a 1-year warranty for repair/replacement from date of purchase. www.towmate.com
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market place
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COMPANY
PG
COMPANY
PG
COMPANY
PG
Agero . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13
IAA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28
SteelTow Insurance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .53
Austin Hinds Motors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .60
Industrial Netting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .63
Superior Reciept . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .49
Atlanta Wrecker . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .61
Austin Insurance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .54
AW Direct . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .57 Beacon Software . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21 Boxes 4u / Crash Film . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .63
Budget GPS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .54
Clarus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .43
Collins Dollies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .47 Dan Messina . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .52 Detroit Wrecker . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .37
DJ Harrington . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .60 DK2 Winches . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .35 Dynamic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29
ECM Performance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .51 Flow Stop . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .64
Hal Kresser . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .63
Hide-a-Lift . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .63 Holly's Message Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .56
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INA Towing Network . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14
Jerr-Dan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Back Cover Keystone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .51
LDC Insurance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .63 Lift and Tow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .39
Lodar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .63
Loganville Ford . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .60
Super Springs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .56
Swoop . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9 Tom Tom . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7
Tow Book . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19 Tow Mate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1
Towing 123 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .53 Towing Museum . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15,16,17
Manufacturer Express . . . . . . .Inside Back Cover
Tracker Management . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3
Mike Keith Insurance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .57
Triple K . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .45
Marking Pen Depot . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .63
TRAO . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23
OMG . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22
United Plactic Fabricating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7
Recovery Billing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .48
Virgo Fleet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .63
RP Consulting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .52
Worldwide Equip. Sales . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .58, 59
QE Media . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .55
Robert Young . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .61 RV Wheel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .63
Southern Tow Expo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .32,33
Steck Manufacturing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25
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Urgent.ly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11
VTS Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .41 Wrecker Rentals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .61
Zack Lift . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Inside Front Cover
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