TOW PROFESSIONAL
Volume 6 • Issue 6 2017
CONTENTS I N D U S T RY NEWS
www.towprofessional.com
Products: Wheel Lift & Repo
OW WI IN NG G& &R REEC CO OV VEER RY Y TTO
34| Lift and Tow
6 |Jerr-Dan 8 |Miller 10 |Dynamic
36 |
Talk’n With Tim
Hide-A-Lift
38 | Zacklift
12 | Straight From the Horse’s Mouth
In My OPINION
40 |Robert Young
16 | Quick Clearance Program
Fuel 4 thought
42 |
Triple K
20 | Thinking Outside the Box 44 | Dynamic
Insightful talk 24 | Towing & Technology: The Future
46 | Jerr-Dan 28| Defensive Measures When Involved in an Accident 48 | Collins Dollies
50| Steck Mfg.
Products: Towing Products
Feature: Wheel Lift & Repo
52|PEO Advisors, LLC 54| DieselSite
Hooked UP 56| AW Direct 57| AW Direct IN EVERY ISSUE 4 | Publisher’s Letter 58 |Dealers Place 2
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63 | Market Place 64 | Ad Index
PUBLISHER’S
LETTER
TM
Professional Your Resource for Towing & Recovery
Volume 6 • Issue 6 2017 www.towprofessional.com
This Year’s Fallen Each year we get to this time, and there are a few things that I am excited for: the beginning of the college football season and a gigantic slice of delicious “Butterfinger Pie” at the City Diner in Chattanooga. Chattanooga holds a special spot in my heart for a few other reasons, too. First, I was born there over forty-four years ago, and I spent several years there as a kid. Second, because it is where the “Wall of the Fallen” ceremony is held. I tell you every year, but I will say it again: If you are a tower and you haven’t attended this event before, you need to. It is a beautiful event that is always done right by the folks at the Tow Museum, but also because one day, it could be someone you know or love being honored there. It is a sobering reminder that this is a dangerous industry that you work in and that real people are affected by those tragedies. I cry like a baby every year, and I rarely know any of them. As a dad though, I can relate to watching kids go up and receive a rose for the loss of their mom or dad. In this issue, DJ and Dan are up to their old tricks, and we will be considering some of the different wheel lifts available. I did an interview with John Borowski to learn more about AutoReturn. Also, there are a couple company profiles and product features about some of the newcomers to this market. I hope to see you in Chattanooga. We always enjoy hearing from our readers, so please feel free to stop by and say, “Hello.”
PUBLISHER Darian Weaver President & Publisher darian@towprofessional.com
Tim Smith V.P. Sales tim@towprofessional.com __________________________
PRODUCTION Dana Scott Creative Director dana@towprofessional.com
Gene Eudy Proof Editor gene@towprofessional.com __________________________
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Stacy Allen - Dynamic D.J. Harrington Hal Kresser - Hal Kresser Insurance Dan Messina Tim Smith - Tow Professional Eric Wolf - AW Direct
Stay safe and keep reading,
Timothy A. Smith Vice President Tow Professional Magazine __________________________
Executive and Advertising Offices 2007 Old Montgomery Hwy, Suite B Birmingham, AL 35244 Toll free: 888-802-8544 Fax: 205-978-1550 www.towprofessional.com Tow Professional is published nine times a year by Over The Mountain Media, Inc., P.O. Box 26308, Birmingham, Alabama, 35260, USA. Tow Professional is distributed free to qualified subscribers. Non-qualified subscription rates are $57.00 per year in the U.S. and Canada and $84.00 per year for foreign subscribers (surface mail). U.S. Postage paid at Birmingham, Alabama and additional mailing offices. Tow Professional is distributed to qualified Towing & Recovery's Top Decision Makers. Publisher is not liable for all content (including editorial and illustrations provided by advertisers) of advertisements published and does not accept responsibility for any claims made against the publisher. It is the advertiser’s or agency’s responsibility to obtain appropriate releases on any item or individuals pictured in an advertisement. Reproduction of this magazine in whole or in part is prohibited without prior written permission from the publisher.
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I ND U S T RY NEWS OW WI IN NG G& &R REEC CO OV VEER RY Y TTO
JERR-DAN ASSISTS BILL’S TOWING & RECOVERY WITH SURPRISE GIFT Parents gift a Jerr-Dan 50/60 Ton JFB Rotator to sons
Jerr-Dan Corporation, an Oshkosh Corporation, recently assisted Bill’s Towing & Recovery of Bridgeport, Ohio, with a special delivery. Parents, Tracy and Bill Coulson of Bill’s Towing & Recovery, surprised their two sons, Chad and Ty, with a special gift - their very own 50/60 Ton, 5 axle unit Jerr-Dan® Fire Body (JFB) Rotator. This marks the 3rd Jerr-Dan Rotator Bill’s Towing & Recovery purchases for their towing business. “We were excited to have assisted Bill’s Towing with the special delivery of a brand new rotator for these two hardworking young men who have truly shown a dedication to the family owned business,” said Shane Coleman, Senior Heavy Duty Sales Manager for Jerr-Dan. “We are honored to see the family’s strong commitment and continued investment in our products. The surprised look on their faces as the rotator approached them was very rewarding to see for all of us at Jerr-Dan who made this possible.” Bill’s Towing & Recovery is a family owned and operated business whose 6
fleet primarily consists of Jerr-Dan® manufactured heavy duty carriers, wreckers and rotators. More than five years ago, the company invested in its first rotator in order to service the needs of its community in the St. Clairsville and Belmont County area in Ohio. Satisfied with the service and performance of Jerr-Dan products, the company owners decided to invest in a second rotator in order to provide rescue and recovery efforts more efficiently. “My husband and I are very proud of our sons’ hard work and commitment to the company; therefore, we wanted to surprise them with a special gift by giving them their very own rotator,” said mom Tracy Coulson. “They deserve it. Our sons work as towers and we hope this truck will help them provide towing and recovery services for years to come.” To make this happen, Bill’s Towing and Recovery reached out to their trusted Jerr-Dan distributor, Rocky Mountain Wrecker Sales in Salt Lake City, Utah, who assisted them with the surprise purchase. With more than 75 years of cumu-
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lative industry experience, Rocky Mountain’s professional and experienced staff helped Tracy and Bill Coulson with locating a rotator that fit their business needs. “When Bill and Tracy Coulson told us how they wanted to surprise their two sons with their very own Jerr-Dan 50/60 Ton JFB Rotator, we immediately stepped in and assisted them in locating one,” said Chris Nielsen, Heavy Duty Sales for Rocky Mountain Wrecker Sales. “We were pleased with the delivery of the rotator and grateful to Jerr-Dan who assisted us along the way in making the Coulson’s surprise a reality. This was the Coulson’s second rotator purchased from us amongst other purchases they have done with Rocky Mountain Wrecker Sales, and we are proud of our continued relationship with them. We are always in the business of fostering relationships with our customers in order to deliver on their business needs.” Bill’s Towing & Recovery offers 24 hour towing service to the St. Clairsville and Belmont County in the Eastern Ohio area. With the use of highly trained professionals, innovative equipment, and logistical technology, Bill’s Towing mission is to make a customer’s inconvenient situation better by consistently fulfilling their promise to redefine the towing experience. Among the services they offer include: light & medium duty towing & road service, heavy duty towing & recovery/ oil - gas field towing & recovery; heavy haul & equipment transport, hotshot, winch trucks; road service & fleet maintenance; insurance salvage & Transport. www.billstowingandrecovery.com www.jerrdan.com
I N D U S T RY NEWS OW WI IN NG G& &R REEC CO OV VEER RY Y TTO
Invests in State-of-the-Art Paint Facility in Ooltewah, TN.
Miller Industries Towing Equipment Inc. unveils its latest investment aimed at continuing its commitment to providing the world’s best towing and recovery equipment. Their investment includes a $20 million expansion to their existing wrecker manufacturing facility in Ooltewah, TN. Part of this expansion is the addition of an over 30,000 sq. ft. new paint facility, which will provide a significant increase in wrecker production ability. Miller’s new paint facility is truly state-of-the-art, and is equipped with high-tech temperature and moisture controls, as well as an environmentally friendly dual-side downdraft air filtration and collection system. The addition of Miller’s new state-of-the-art paint facility comes in the wake of their latest Environmental award from the Tennessee Association of Manufacturers. Increases in personnel were also necessary for each area of the preparation and painting process to staff the newly expanded facility. “Being the world leader in towing and recovery equipment is not an overnight accomplishment,” says Todd Higdon,
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Ooltewah General Manager. To be and stay a leader in this industry requires “years of hard work, engineering, and a steadfast commitment to quality and our customers,” echoed Billy Drane of Miller’s Heavy-Duty Sales Department. The Ooltewah plant expansion is only part of a larger investment Miller Industries has committed to across their several U.S.based production facilities. Miller Industries Towing Equipment (NYSE: MLR) is the world’s largest manufacturer in towing and recovery equipment. Miller Industries offers a variety of products from autoload units with 8,000 lb. capacities to rotators with 75-ton capacities. All of which fall under the Miller Industries’ family of brands of Century®, Vulcan®, Chevron™, and Holmes®. For more information about Miller Industries and their products, follow them on social media, visit their website at millerind.com or call 800-292-0330. www.millerind.com
I N D U S T RY NEWS OW WI IN NG G& &R REEC CO OV VEER RY Y TTO
Dynamic Towing is proud to present their new rotating rollback, Radius. “Radius does the job of both wrecker and rollback, essentially eliminating the need for multiple recovery vehicles and making recoveries faster. It also prevents traffic jams since it uses much less space. It is safer for drivers and uses more durable parts and less mechanical components,” says Dynamic owner and Radius inventor Anthony Gentile. Lead engineer Ross Aron says, “Radius has a rotation of 240 degrees and reach10
es over guard rails, preventing further damage to the vehicle. Most of the time, recoveries won’t require a second truck, which also makes it more cost effective.” Law enforcement and drivers will appreciate that Radius won’t block the roadway when performing recoveries. Without repositioning the truck and blocking traffic as a driver normally would with a rollback with a side pull, they can now simply pull along side the wreck. Ross says, “Radius uses a wireless, remote proportionary system to operate
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the bed. The new mechanical and electrical technology we’ve incorporated makes Radius different than anything else on the market,” Ross says. “The new mechanical and electrical parts we used mean less downtime. Instead of needing multiple valve bodies, Radius uses one valve body, which contains both mechanical and electrical parts in one assembly. We now use excavator and heavy-duty rotator technology to spin the unit 240 degrees. We also use a slew gear bearing that is more durable and stable and has a posi-
tive locking brake,” Ross continues. “There are also fewer sensors, hoses, wear pads, and bushings making the unit lighter and more user-friendly.” Allen Scott of Hi-Tech Towing was the first to purchase Radius. After meeting Anthony at a tow show, he was excited to see what Radius could do. Allen flew to Norfolk for a demo and says, “We tested Radius in a Walmart parking lot,” Allen laughs. “It was really impressive to see how little space was needed. You can practically recover a vehicle almost facing
forward. It fit perfectly in the narrow parking spaces and was able to extend to the side to an impressive degree.” Allen says this was important to him because his company is based in a small Missouri town. “Our roads are very narrow, and many times we don’t have much of a shoulder to work with.” Allen says Radius makes recoveries so much easier. “We no longer have to snatch, block, and drag the car. Plus now we’re only taking up one lane of traffic instead of two.” Allen says the addition of outriggers pro-
vides plenty of stability. Radius production is also getting an overhaul, Ross says. “We’ve purchased robots to cut down on manufacturing time. This will also help us maintain our specs and standards better.” For more information on Radius, please contact Dynamic at the Norfolk location at 800-831-9299 or to see Radius in action, visit: . N www.dynamictow.com
Volume 6 • Issue 6 | www.towprofessional.com | Tow Professional
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Talk’n With Tim By Tim Smit h, VP , Tow P rofes s iona l
Straight From the Horse’s Mouth An Interview with AutoReturn’s John Borowski
Have you ever seen the communication experiment done where you line up a bunch of people, and you whisper in one guy’s ear something and tell him to whisper it to his neighbor until it reaches the end of the line? It’s a funny experiment, and it always ends the same way. The story at one end of the line is vastly different, and many times greatly embellished, by the time it gets there. I have heard a few opinions on AutoReturn that seemed so different in nature that it made me curious. So, I took an opportunity this past month to sit down and interview John Borowski at Auto Return myself. I wanted to hear it “straight from the horse’s mouth.” John works for AutoReturn, but he is a longtime tower and a one-time skeptic. TPM: John, thank you for taking the time to meet with me. Tell me something about yourself that nobody else would know? Borowski: My mouth has been open for 30 years so there’s not much people don’t know! (laughing) I have worn many different hats over my 46 professional years, including becoming one of the larger police towers around. I viewed the industry from many different 12
perspectives, which has allowed me to truly understand it better. I have had a good life and want future towers to enjoy this great, and extremely important industry. I sincerely want to help them avoid the many potholes, detours, and distractions along their road to success. TPM: John, tell me how AutoReturn came to be? Borowski: When John Wicker founded AutoReturn in 2002, the municipal towing industry was plagued with problems – long tow-wait times, vehicle damage, property loss, low levels of reporting, and accountability, conflicts of interest, and plenty of unhappy customers. He was made aware of a situation that was a mess. This city needed a solution to these problems, and it led him to create AutoReturn. It worked so well that word spread, and off we went. TPM: What drew you into the company? Borowski: The unknown did. Sometimes when you see something that is too good to be true, it usually is. However, I was intrigued by this business model and wanted to investigate it. So, I visited the headquarters and witnessed
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the operations, and I was very impressed. John Wicker knew my background and asked me if I was interested in joining the team. I did, and it has been the best thing I ever did! TPM: What is something you learned about the towing industry from working with AutoReturn? Borowski: I learned a lot. I would say the biggest surprise was the different situations involving municipal rotation variables and the many issues that seem to grow into real problems for the towers and municipalities both jointly as well as independently. AutoReturn is the only full management solution of its kind. It improves the towers’ relations and their business expectations, but fulfills the needs that municipalities have in today’s ever-demanding world that most towers don’t even realize. It also cuts costs on dispatch and recording efforts for both the tower and the municipality with incredible accuracy. TPM: What is the most common objection you get from towers? Is it valid? Borowski: By far, it is the unknown. Towers are afraid of change. Because our adjustable business model is fine-tuned to the specific needs at hand, it varies from city to city. But in the end, we do not decrease tower’s fees. As a matter of fact, we have entered cities and got rate increases because they were not receiving enough to be viable. If our towers are not profitable, nobody wins. Our fee is paid by the towed vehicle owner. We have over 2000 operators operating through 225+ tow companies. We continue to win renewal awards from municipalities and retain the same great performing towing companies. ...continued on page 14
Talk’n With Tim TPM: How do the municipalities feel about your program? How does it benefit them? Borowski: In every city we are in, they love us. In fact, adjacent cities have been calling us to manage their towing needs. We have been a part of improving roadway incidents and traffic flows for Texas Division of Emergency Management, TXDOT, and Texas A&M. In today’s world, this is definitely a primary focus for all cities. It has saved them manhours, headaches, and money while reducing mistakes and time to get the highway cleared. TPM: How does AutoReturn benefit the Towers? Borowski: Towers that work with us experience lower operational costs and no need for evening call taking, cutting out some of those sleepless nights. The operators are out there performing
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business allowing owners to be fresh in the morning to look at the business they performed. Trucks, meanwhile, take less time responding due to shorter distances travelled and less exposure time on roadways for the police, customers, and operators alike. We provide advanced operator training, TIM training, and finally, we are rolling out a benefits program that cover cost-cutting savings for fuel, insurance, products, equipment, and management services. Our towers also can use our software and most importantly, longterm contracts. TPM: What is AutoReturn’s primary goal? Borowski: Our goal is to improve every aspect of municipal towing for towers, municipalities, and consumers alike. Nobody comes close to our leading market solution. Tim, I have noticed something else
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since joining AutoReturn. I have witnessed an incredible amount of comradery within our towers. The competitive, “dog-eat-dog,” nature has gone away replaced by the reality that everyone gets their fair share due to a reporting process that all can see. I have never seen this before, and I must say-- it is refreshing! Our towers do the work and get paid. Isn’t that a great concept? It removes the fears of oral contracts and future business, not to mention contract renewals. AutoReturn has created an extremely loyal family relationship within our tow companies. TPM: John, thank you for the time you have given us today, we value you setting things straight concerning AutoReturn’s benefit for all hearing it directly from you-- straight from the horse’s mouth! N
In my Opinion By Truly A. Wrecker
Quick Clearance Program A Bonus or Bust?
Who wouldn’t like an extra $2500 to $3500 bonus each time they work a truck wreck? That sounds like a great deal, right? Do what you do; charge the customer as you normally would; then get a few grand thrown in on top just to sweeten the deal. This is the sales pitch being offered around the country as an incentive to clear the roads more quickly. It may come from a local police agency, your state Department of Transportation or even a third party like in Atlanta and Florida. As with most things we encounter in life while running a business, some things are too good to be true or, at least, not what they seem to be on the surface. Many of these programs have what some may call “dirty little secrets” while others might call them “outright lies.” At the very least, there are several things you need to watch out for when “Quick Clearance” comes to town (and it will). Is it worth it? This is something only 16
you as the business owner can decide. The purpose of this article is to provide some info the program administrators might happen to leave out as well as provide a few things to think about that only someone who has been knee-deep in one of these programs since the beginning could know. Regardless of which side of the political fence you stand on these days, you most likely would admit that the politi-
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cians say what they need to say to get elected and then do what they need to do to be re-elected. Well, some of the people administering those programs would probably make pretty good politicians. The entire time they are trying to get you on board, their favorite lines are “Of course we’ll do that for you,” and “Nah, you don’t have to buy all of that; we’ll negotiate.” After a few years, you realize what they really meant was: “Of course we’ll do anything that is in our favor.” “We didn’t say you had to buy it; we said you had to have it.” “Negotiate? Silly tow truck driver, what we said was, ‘You negotiate, we decide.’” Of course, it isn’t all bad, right? Of course not, since you still get those bonuses--at least when you arrive on time
without the convenience and help of blue lights, red lights or sirens. We then still have to sit in traffic as a result of them not activating the program until their supervisor from thirty-five miles away arrives or you’re stuck on the shoulder because other motorists think they have a right to use the shoulder because they are late for dinner. You will not qualify for your bonus by one minute sometimes. Remember that word “negotiate?” Forget about it!
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Still thinking about those great bonuses? How many exactly will you get in a year? I bet there are companies who never got an activation or bonus their first year, maybe even their second. What really is the actual cost and requirements? You must have at least one supervisor and two operators on-scene in many of these programs. Are you aware of the training requirements: incident management training, NIMS 100/700, several recovery
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classes, Haz-Mat, and (at least in Atlanta) ... drum roll … FLAGGER Certification?! You know--it’s that thing you can’t do along the federal interstate. Yes, in Atlanta, you must be trained to do something you are not allowed to do! Wait, there's more: you are required to re-certify it every two years. This still sounds fantastic, right? There are a few companies in Atlanta who had to purchase a sand spreader (Yes, you heard me right, a sand spreader!), a spreader that the majority have never used since 2008 when their program started. Have you seen the price of a sand spreader lately? Oh wait, when they pop in for inspections, that spreader better have a couple yards of dry sand in it. Here are some strategic questions to consider before you make your decision: “How much does it cost to meet the program requirements for training and equipment? How often are you required to recertify?” Do you seriously think those bonuses will surpass the amount you must invest? If you do, you probably need to replace the battery in your calculator. Here is the one part that only a participant in one of these programs could know: staffing and employment issues. These programs will heavily influence how you recruit and terminate. You must, at the very least, have one supervisor and two operators, but do you really think you could just get by with the minimum? Are those three always around? Do they not have days off, take vacations or sleep? You need certified operators, so you will eventually find yourself hiring people you normally wouldn’t hire. You’ll find yourself keeping or re-hiring operators you’d otherwise write off for good. Why? You do it because you need them; they know it, and they’ll take full advantage of it! Is participation in these programs right for you or your company? I don’t know; you’ll have to figure that out. Some participate because they are blind to the true costs and think the bonuses will get them that new truck. Some participate to preserve their long-held, police-contract territory. Some even do it to spite the other guy in town. Whatever your reason, I hope you think about it and run the math. I bet most who say, “Yes” will eventually end up on the losing side of things. N
Fuel 4 thought By D .J. Harringt on, CSP
Having returned from NACE ‘s Automechanika held in Chicago, Illinois, I have much to report. From my perspective, even though the McCormick Place Convention area housed lots of helpful and informative vendors, it seemed like there were less attendees than last year. That’s not good! When fellow auto recyclers and towers that come all this way to get to the convention, it amazes me why would they not want to visit as many exhibitors as they could. Why wouldn’t they want to learn how someone could help improve their bottom line? If you did visit that area, you would have found me enrolling lots of businesses in Car-Part Pro. If you are a repair facility, there isn’t any charge to enroll. One of my customers told me, “CarPart Pro is like Car-Part.com on Steroids.” It is so fast. Think outside the box; check it out for yourself. If you are a towing company that has a repair facility, you qualify for Car-Part Pro. It is free! Call me. I will walk you through it. 20
With our busy lives and schedules, we forget to stop and reflect. Therefore, right now, let’s think outside the box together. These days, a few towers are indeed thinking outside the box. Some people trip over the box. Others fall into the box. My prescription for you is to “Think Outside the Box.” All of us know Ricky Young, Past President of ARA. Ricky is a true friend to lots of towers in the Carolina. A few months ago, at a Buy Here, Pay Here Convention in Las Vegas, I turned around to find Ricky and four of his people standing there. That’s right! Ricky has 5 Buy Here, Pay Here locations. Last year, we had 7 to 8 different tower groups attend the Buy Here Pay Here training in Las Vegas wanting to learn the business. The Fox family from Michigan came just to glean tips on running a successful Buy Here, Pay Here location. All of these dealers are thinking outside the box for their businesses. There’s a box full of money that tow-
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ers could make for selling 5 to 12 cars per month---if they learn and train outside the box that is. Did you know that joining the Buy Here Pay Here Association doesn’t cost you anything? It’s free to join! NABD is the National Alliance of Buy Here, Pay Here Dealers. For more information and learn much more from about them, visit www.bhphinfo.com. NABD is “thinking outside the box” too! I can help you save more money if you book your next NABD trip NOW. For anyone whose reading this column that wants to go to the next Buy Here, Pay Here conference, it’s being held in sunny and relaxing Orlando, Florida on October 23rd – 25th. Perfect setting for “thinking outside the box”! Want to know if Ricky Young is going? Ricky’s thinking outside the box and has already booked himself to attend and so have a bunch of other recyclers and towers. To receive your “Thinking Outside the Box” discount, call NABD now at 832.767.4759 and mention that you
Fuel 4 thought cont inued read this article. Use my name, D.J. Harrington, “The Car-Diologist.” If their phone rings busy because many of you are thinking outside the box at the same time, then call me on my mobile number at 770-301-4122. Early bird, “outside the box” thinkers will receive $120 off the regular price for coming to the conference. This “outside the box” offer won’t last long. Learning from experts in the business at the next conference could change your life forever. If you are a tower with discipline, your future would be much brighter after coming to Orlando, Florida in October. Yes, Steve Siebold, the guru of Mental Toughness, is one of many speakers presently holding a workshop at this upcoming NABD Conference. You’ve seen him on the Fox Business Channel many times in the last few years. I love to see towers thinking outside the box who also strategize how they can take better care of their families for years
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down the road. If your business stays inside the box, then your future won’t be any brighter than it is right now. Attending Buy Here Pay Here conferences are excellent ways to think outside the box. If you have what it takes and can think outside the box, check it out now. Maybe just come to see how that car you sell to IAA or to Copart for 3K could really be worth 5 times that amount. Also, maybe you have a family member who has a used car lot but has trouble getting usable and reliable transportation that could be sold with weekly or bi-weekly payments with both of you splitting the money. There’s lots of money being made in the Buy Here, Pay Here market. Learn from the best so you know that the tower’s best friend is a good Buy Here, Pay Here location. I hope to see you in Orlando, October 23rd – 25th. Call me. N
Until then, see you next time.
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The Tow Doctor
Insightful talk By D an Mes s ina
phone. I talk to towers every day, and they continually ask me what they have to do to compete in the future. We immediately start talking about technology in the towing industry. The old saying “You can’t teach an old dog new tricks” does not apply to our industry. Your company must catch up with technology or you will soon be out of business. Let’s take a look at how technology impacts us today: 1. E-mail – When I had my company and was calling on managers to set up a meeting to get their business, they would tell me they don’t return calls. If I wanted to talk to them, send them an e-mail. They told me they respond to all e-mails. E-mail is a great way to communicate whether you are selling something, marketing something or just want to talk about general topics. I remember when I started how I would drop off brochures at my customer’s location and hope that it would get to the decision-maker. Now you just e-mail the decision-maker information you want them to have.
For the past 18 years, I have talked to lots of towers about how they got started in towing. They would tell me that their father towed, and his father towed. Now they have taken over the business, and they hope someday to turn it over to their son or daughter. In many cases, the tow company will stay in the family; however, the next-generation tower will be a lot different from 24
the past. The future owner grew up with: 1. X-Box 2. Nintendo 3. Facebook 4. Twitter 5. The Internet The internet will actually be a bigger asset than a rotator. The face of the industry will be a keyboard or a cell
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2. The Internet – I do seminars every year at trade shows, and I always tell the audience if you don’t have a web page for your company, close the doors and go open a pizza shop. Never mind, you need a web page for that too. The industry is intimidated by the internet when it comes to business, yet it’s the most powerful tool you have for your business. It allows you to: a. Introduce your company to your customer. b. Present new products to your customer. c. Communicate, market, and sell all in one place. d. Research your competitor. e. Find equipment you need for your business. f. Purchase trucks and other equipment. g. Reach thousands of people just by hitting “enter.”
Insightful talk h. Access endless education products. i. Research companies. j. Look at other locations. k. View aerial views of your competitor’s location. l. Research products you might need. What you have to do as a business is learn how to use it to your advantage. 3. Cell phones – We now have smart phones to run our business. I would be willing to bet that your phone is used in some capacity on 95% of the tows performed by your company. It amazes me that there are tow companies out there that still use a flip-phone. You can use your smart phone for: a. Utilizing GPS. b. Making Calls. c. Texting. d. Accessing the web. e. Making pictures with its camera.
f. Videoing. g. Finding a restaurant. h. Accessing your customer base. i. Billing customers as a credit card machine. 4. Cameras – Having cameras on your truck for private property tows is an excellent feature! I can’t begin to tell you how many times I was accused of something, and I looked back at the tape from the camera and found that I did nothing wrong. It helps with damage claims and interaction with the police or a customer. It was also a good marketing tool to show my customers what happened on their property and how the tows were performed. 5. Computers / Software – I don’t see how companies can run without computers. I always told you information is everything; well, computers can give you
everything you need to make a business decision. A good system will: a. Inform you of calls holding. b. Give you access to customer information. c. Provide you contact numbers. d. Identify types of tows. e. Inform you of how many cars are towed from that location. f. Create letters. g. Connect to MVD in most states. h. Provide car information. i. Give a description of each tow. I could list 100 different things, but you get the point. If you don’t have a computer, get one. I’m sure there is someone in your office that can help you set it up. 6. Social Media – This the latest crave in any business. This is a way to reach literally millions of people and tell them anything you want. Our current president uses social media to communicate with over 1 hundred million people daily. He has eliminated the press, and you hear his message directly from him. You can do the same in your business. I communicate with people all over the U.S. using Facebook. I have met a lot of tow truck drivers that I never knew before. 7. GPS -- All my trucks had GPS, which allowed me to follow my fleet and schedule all their calls. There are phone applications being introduced to the industry that send you the call based on GPS to the closest truck to the call. This will save on gas and keep the drivers honest. I was talking to the director of Southwest Tow Operators, and he was telling me how the big companies are getting bigger, and the little guy is fading away. There are new products being introduced to the industry that can save the little guy, but it’s all done through technology. There is no doubt that our industry is changing, and you better be prepared to change with it or you will soon be out of business. N
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In days past, if we found ourselves involved in a crash, we would exchange information with the other party, agree on fault, and maybe call the police for a report. The damage was taken care of by 28
the wrongful party or their insurance. Injuries only came from accidents that produced injuries-with blood and damages to match. Today, an accident in the eyes of
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many is a payday, particularly with a class of lawyer who advertises: “MAKE THEM PAY,” “YOUR INJURY MAY BE WORTH $1000’s,” “YOU DON’T PAY UNLESS WE WIN.” Our universities have churned
out so many lawyers over the past decades that there is not enough legitimate legal work to go around. So, we now have armies of these guys running telemarketing shops soliciting everyone
involved in accidents and running expensive TV and billboard campaigns with “I’ll make you money” advertisements. The insurance companies are overwhelmed with claims of this type, which
is adding to insurance companies’ cost of doing business, which contributes to the cost of your policy. There are times when it is more beneficial to pay a claim rather than go to court. If a claim can’t be
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resolved, the next step is the lawsuit. When the insurance company receives suit papers, the meter starts running at a rate of $300.00 to $500.00 per hour for a lawyer to defend their client. So, insurance companies must balance the cost of the legal defense versus the demand of the injured party including legal expenses. In some cases, it is far less to settle with the injured party regardless of arguments regarding actual fault. In other words, sometimes the company decides it’s cheaper to pay a claim you don’t owe than it is to defend it. They make the value judgment, but you still get the claim held against you. WHAT TO DO WHEN INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT When you are involved in a crash and once vehicles have stopped moving and traffic is stopped, check for injuries, aid those who may be injured, and call the police. DO NOT under any circumstances move your vehicle until police arrive. If you move your vehicle, you remove ANY evidence the officer has to work with beyond statements from drivers and witnesses.
Photos 1. Then with your cell phone, start taking pictures. Begin taking your pictures from about the last 100 ft. your travel. Take pictures about every 20 ft. until you are past the accident scene. If the other vehicle was operating in a different direction, photograph the path of that vehicle in the same manner as the first. Be sure to include pictures of anything along the way that may be a contributing factor to the crash. 2. Then concentrate on the vehicle involved photos. Try to get a 360˚ around the vehicles. 3. Then take several pictures of the impact point. 30
Witnesses 1. Make a serious attempt to locate people who saw the accident or anything about the other driver and the operation of their vehicle that contributed to the accident or the events that caused the accident.
Traffic Cameras 1. Check to see if there are cameras monitoring the area of roadway or intersection where the crash occurred. 2. If there are, the day of or the next day find out who owns the traffic cameras (city, county or state). Find out if videos of the accident exist. If video exists, find out how to get copies.
Upon the Arrival of Police 1. Meet the police as they pull up to the scene. Direct them to the injured parties or hazards on or near the road. 2. Assist in any way you can. 3. Have ready your driver’s license, vehicle registration, and insurance card. 4. Do not under any circumstances give to anyone an attitude or get angry. People, who know what they are doing, will get under your skin on purpose to discredit you with the investigating officer. When the police question, you explain what happened. If the other party interrupts, stop talking, wait for the officer to take control, and at the officer’s request, finish your statement. 5. Try not to give a written statement. Instead, ask if you can write the statement later and drop it off at the police station. If the accident is or could be a fatality, you may not want to give a statement
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of any kind without a lawyer. 6. Obtain a copy of the police report as soon as it’s made public. Read the report and be sure the report is an accurate representation of the accident. 7. If you are not in agreement with the report, send a certified letter to the Chief of Police listing the discrepancies on the report and make a request of the police chief to amend the report in question. 8. It is doubtful if you will ever get an amendment to the report. But, if you go to court and the question is asked “Why didn’t you question the details of the police report?” you can prove you tried, and the receipt from your certified request is your proof. 9. Your insurance company adjuster will contact you for a recorded statement. In fact, you may have several adjusters wanting recorded statements. Do NOT give one. Instead, refer them to your claims adjuster for a copy. I realize that what I’ve laid out sounds like a lot of work for you or your driver after suffering the trauma of a collision. Unfortunately, in today’s world where crash victims and attorneys see your company and, by default, your insurance policy as an ATM, you must do everything you can to protect both. Any crash puts your insurance at risk and your SAFER scores too, which can put your operating authority in jeopardy. You can’t always depend on police to adequately or accurately investigate these crashes. Most of our police officers are generalists and not specially trained to analyze, recover, and evaluate crash evidence or reconstruct accidents. For those reasons, and based on our experience, we encourage you to incorporate the post-crash steps into your company’s policy and procedure manual. Being able to provide all of that information to your claims adjustor could save you THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IN THE END. N About Hal Kresser: Grew up around garages and running wreckers. After the family shop sold, became a police officer with a specialty in accident investigation. After retiring from the police department, opened an insurance agency, specializing in garage and tow truck insurance. Wreckmaster certified. Have more questions? Email hal@kresseragency.com
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LIFT & TOW
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 National Repossession. I have learned 34
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 important to respect repossession! I was able to witness repossession at
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By Brandin Bra Hughes different differ levels. Some of them were in the inner-city, in 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,
WHEEL LIFT | REPO EQUIPMENT
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 con-
tinue 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 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 repossession. 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. N Brandin Hughes In God We Trust
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HIDE-A-LIFT MANUFACTURERS OF COBRA, VIPER, and BOA TOWING EQUIPMENT
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WHEEL LIFT | REPO EQUIPMENT 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. N www.hidealift.com 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 , 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
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Zacklift International, and owner/ operators of Zacklift Underlifts, like to brag about things like brutish strength, unmatched quality, and exclusive options; so Tow Professional asked Zacklift to give readers some of the reasons why. Bragging rights go to the monster Z453 Add-On Underlift. Available detachable or stationary, it boasts 45,000 pounds of lift rating, 100,000 pounds of pull, 147” of true usable reach, and a mounting position so well engineered it has 0-inch overhang. It is constructed of 1 1/8” T1 100,000 pound yield American made steel. The same material used for armor cladding defense vehicles. The extreme it’s needed. This steel-power combines with the forward mounting and compact retraction for thousands of extra pounds of payload. There’s no challenging Zacklift when it comes to their exclusive BIGFOOT Stifflegs. Only Zacklift offers Stifflegs on their detachable FIFTHWHEELER as well as the Stationary Mount. The powerful anchors drive-off completely in the 8-minute detach procedure. The Stifflegs have up to 18” massive feet that double as flat surface stabilizers for pavement, and as aggressive angle claws for tearing into terrain. N www.zacklift.com
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WHEEL LIFT | REPO EQUIPMENT
Zacklift offers 3 ratings and reaches. The monster Z453 with 45,000 lbs and 147” reach. Z353, 35,000 lbs 131” reach and the 25,000 lb Z252.
Every Zacklift when produced, can become either a FIFTHWHEELER or a Stationary Mount. Only the mounting hardware differs.
Outfit FIFTHWHEELERs with or without: Custom Aerodyne Toolboxes, Warn Winches, and Zacklift’s exclusive BIGFOOT STIFFLEGS.
Stationary Mount, when detachable mounting isn’t necessary, same 0” overhang, and unsurpassed compact towing position.
Zacklift has sold thousands of their patented FIFTHWHEELERs. Loaded with standard features, and ready for the road.
The complete, pre-fabricated drop-in Stationary Mounting unit simply “saddles” over the subframe and truck frame.
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WHEEL LIFT | REPO EQUIPMENT
The NRC Quick-Swap is the most versatile detach unit available on the market today! If you’re looking for an inexpensive way to grow your business, look no further. Give Chris Davis a call today @ 540.797.2567. N
Quick-Swap Under-lift Rating – Up to 35 TONS Tow Rating – Up to 90,000 lbs. Basic Weight – 6,000 lbs. Quick-Swap w/Tag Axle Under-lift Rating – Up to 35 TONS Tow Rating – Up to 90,000 lbs. Basic Weight – 8,000 lbs. 40
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Heavy Duty Quick-Swap Minimum Wheelbase – 250” Double Frame Recommended Super Heavy Duty Quick-Swap Minimum Wheelbase – 275” Double Frame Recommended
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 42
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
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. N www.triplekindustries.com
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A New Dynamic Dynamic Towing & Equipment
SLIDE IN Manufacturing, inventor of the original self-loading wheel lift and a leader in the industry for the last 30 years, is once again changing the game. With their inhouse engineering department and personal service, Dynamic custom designs products to meet the specific needs of their customers. Parts are always in stock, and they offer same-day shipping. Dynamic offers everything from entrylevel wreckers like the Slide In that will fit in the bed of a pickup to the Radius rotating flatbed (see list of popular wheel lifts and wreckers below). The company is already known for their innovative designs. For example, Dynamic’s Fusion wrecker offers a unique 45 cubic feet of storage including six top top-loading boxes and two large side compartments used to store dollies and go-jacks while protecting the equipment from the weather and theft. Slide 44
Ins are perfect for narrow roads and are popular with international clients who have limited room and narrower truck frames. The lighter weight also makes it practical to install on pickups and install on foreign chassis. Dynamic is able to incorporate the Slide In and Stealth units on any service truck. Owner, Anthony Gentile, and his team are pleased to offer their clients intimate, personal service. “It’s important to me to build relationships with our customers. They know they can call our number and speak to someone directly without going through a lot of hassle.” Dynamic is currently designing new equipment that will make recoveries safer for drivers and the public. They also continue to support charitable organizations like RABF (Recovery Agents Benefits Fund) and the International Towing and Recovery Museum. “We all know this is a
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dangerous industry,” Anthony thony says. “It’s important to us to give back.” k”T To see what Dynamic is up to, please visit: www.dynamicmfg.com. POPULAR WHEEL LIFTS AND WRECKERS • Dynamic Stealth - Available as an under-reach unit for pickups, service trucks, and flat decks. • 601 Slide In - Our most popular model, customers typically add the clutch pump kit for extra speed (especially in cold climates) essentially making the unit the same as an everyday wrecker. • 4000 lb. wheel lift • 75 inches of reach • 7500 tow rating • Also available in our 701 series: 701B with clutch pump • 5000 wheel lift • 75 inches of reach • 7500 tow rating
WHEEL LIFT | REPO EQUIPMENT 701BDW with clutch pump • 5000 wheel lift • 75 inches of reach • 7500 tow rating • 8000 lb. planetary winch • 100 ft. of cable 701BSW with clutch pump • 5000 wheel lift • 75 inches of reach • 7500 tow rating • extendable recovery boom • 8000 lb. planetary winch • 100 ft. of cable • 701 Series - Available with wheel lift, drag winch or single/dual winch with a recovery boom. • 5000+ lb. wheel lift • 75 inches of reach • 7500 tow rating • 10000 lb. recovery boom rating • Available in Dynamic’s two unique body styles: classic or lighting • optional poly-fenders available, which eliminate rust and save weight:
701 BDW
701B • 5000 wheel lift • 75 inches of reach • 7500 tow rating 701BDW • 5000 wheel lift • 75 inches of reach • 7500 tow rating • 8000 lb. planetary winch • 100 ft. of cable 701BSW • 5000 wheel lift • 75 inches of reach • 7500 tow rating • extendable recovery boom • 8000 lb. planetary winch • 100 ft. of cable 701BTW • 5000 wheel lift • 75 inches of reach • 7500 tow rating • extendable recovery boom • twin 8000 lb. winches • 100 ft. of cable on each • 755 Series - Available with wheel lift, drag winch or single/dual winch with a recovery boom. • 5000+ lb. wheel lift • 8000 tow rating • 25 degree negative and positive tilt • 80 inches of reach • 10000 lb. recovery boom rating • optional poly-fenders available, which eliminate rust and save weight.
701 BSW
755
• 765 Series - Available with wheel lift, drag winch or single/dual winch with a recovery boom. • 6500+ lb. wheel lift • 20000 tow rating • 25 degree negative and positive tilt • 80 inches of reach • 24000 lb. recovery boom rating • Available with optional frame fork attachment. • Fusion - Available with wheel lift, drag winch or single/dual winch with a recovery boom. • 5000+ lb. wheel lift • 8000 tow rating • 25 degree negative and positive tilt • 80 inches of reach • 10000 lb. recovery boom rating • optional poly-fenders available, which eliminate rust and save weight.
STEALTH
• Dynamic Service Truck - Unique, 2-in-1 design both tows and provides extra storage for batteries and other service parts. Compatible with our 701 Stealth or any of the four Slide In units. • Fork Lift Attachment – Available in 4000 or 5000 lb. hydraulically operated units. N
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Jerr-Dan’s MPL-NG series offers smart design and unrelenting performance System, which prevents wasting precious set-up time. Jerr-Dan’s patented LO The Negative Tilt Feature on the wheel lift is perfect for vehicles in parking ram ance for even the lowest profile vehicles. The body has a clear deck top and of hydraulic valve on the MPL-NG is positioned for easier servicing to get you on
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WHEEL LIFT | REPO EQUIPMENT
e thanks to its modular aluminum body and our patented Underlift Level Stop Assist OCKLINK® mechanism locks wheel-retaining arms in the full tire engaged position. mps and the 4-1/2″ high hydraulic crossbar, with 4,000 lb. capacity, assures clearffers more space for storage, while the headboard provides great visibility. The the road and back in business faster. N www.jerrdan.com
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MANUFACTURING CORP. As we are now 17 years into the millennium, we measure our progress by our past. Over 42 years ago, Collins changed the way dolly towing was accomplished for the tow industry world- wide. Since its very inception nearly 100 years ago, dolly towing required time, space, and maneuvering to get the job done with the nonarticulating dollies of that era. As vehicles changed, so did the dollies that carried them. In August 1972, the first articulating, self-loading dolly was born. This design allowed vehicles to be raised by the dolly. For 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 48
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 thousands of pounds bearing down on the pry bar. Forty years later, it is still an integral part of dolly safety. (Below Right) At present, the Collins Hi-Speed Dolly is the safest, lightest, most advanced, and most copied dolly in the world. Collins has been raising the bar and setting the standard of safety, quality, and convenience for four decades. With patented, original features that
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Collins also invented like greaseable aluminum hubs, replaceable, serviceable components in 2006, and 8-inch aluminum wheels in 2008, the Hi- Speed Dolly is unique and original. Additional features were introduced by Collins to the towing industry like safety locks in 1986, aluminum axles in 1995, and the aluminum square pry bar in 2010, which make the tow operator’s job safer, lighter, and easier. Although these original ideas make the coveted Hi-Speed Dolly design a target for imitators in the US, China, and Singapore, their designs are no match for the original Collins Self-Loading Dolly, which led to the Collins' axiom in the late 1990's: "Often Imitated, Never Duplicated." Today, dolly towing is also available to car carriers with Collins’ patented
WHEEL LIFT | REPO EQUIPMENT Collins Hi-Speed SLZ Dolly
Safety Rachet System (SRS)
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 car-
rier and highway dollies. Check out the Collins videos at: N www.collinsdollies.com
Collins C ollins D Dollies o l l ie es 541-7 5 4 1 - 7 774-9220 4-9220 ccollinsdollies.com o lll i n sd d oll l i e s .cc o m
Carrier Dolly System. With all-wheel drive, electric, and hybrid vehicles or cars with low ground clearance or no hook points, the Carrier Dolly System solves all these
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WHEEL LIFT | REPO EQUIPMENT
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 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 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”
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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. N www.steckmfg.com
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Recently while attending the 2017 Florida Tow Show, a colleague and I sat down with a long-time client of PEO Advisors. We catch up every year at the show, and while meeting this year, she mentioned that her biggest challenge as a business owner today is simply attracting and/or keeping quality employees. I was surprised because I assumed the rising cost of fuel and the decreasing payouts of motor clubs would be bigger problems. She followed it up with her second biggest concern which was remaining competitive and compliant. Her competition had begun utilizing the 1099/W-9 status for staff versus correctly paying a W-2 employee. In a 1099 or W-9 setting, there are not any state and federal employer payroll taxes billed to the wages OR any state and federal payroll taxes deducted from the employees’ check which, in return, saves the employer money. This will effectively turn every one of your employees into an independent contractor at the state and federal levels. It is a big misconception with most towing companies nationwide that it is an acceptable business practice to 1099 the employees. Bottom-line, most of towing companies qualify for the W-2 status of employment. 52
The client went on to ask how the show was going for us and to make sure we are stressing the importance of what a PEO can do for business owners! We quickly realized the need for more information and knowledge to offer so we can educate not only business owners and consumers, but also industry insurance agents as well. What is a PEO or an Employee Leasing Company? It stands for “Professional Employer Organization.” Simply said, a PEO will process the payroll for your business, and each employee that receives a check from the PEO is covered for workers compensation coverage. All PEO services operate as a pay-as-you-go coverage for your workers compensation versus the traditional policy which could require 25% of the premium or more as a deposit to get the coverage in place. Whether you run weekly or biweekly payroll for your company, you pay your premium on a pay-cycle basis. This effectively becomes a self-audit system that requires no final audit at the end of the year. Within the market, every standard policy requires a final audit to ensure the proper coverage levels were in place throughout the term of the policy. This can become problematic when you 1099 all staff members. PEO’s can stabilize the
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costs for a business owner while the employees make your company more attractive to work for. Notably all phases of HR services are handled including administering your DOT program. The clear majority of PEO’s have what’s considered a “Master Health Plan” or some type of large pool plan which results in a discounted rate for you, the business owner, and your staff!! PEO’s offer every avenue when it comes to 401K’s, retirement plans, etc. which makes it easy for your employees trying to think for the future! In the day and age where keeping good employees is a challenge, utilizing the services of a PEO can help in that struggle while reducing your overall costs at the same time! In today’s market, PEO Advisors has been extremely effective with helping towing, transport, and trucking companies of all sizes obtain affordable workers compensation coverage! They offer relief to the companies that can't afford the upfront cost or a new venture trying to take off and can't obtain coverage in the standard market. What happens if you have a worker's comp claim and your carrier drops you or they increase the rates so much it's unattainable any longer. PEO's really stand out in these scenarios! Another aspect that has worked out
well for us is partnering with the insurance agents of our trucking clients!! Some may ask, “How that can be?” or better yet, “Why?” The answer is very simple because if both parties truly have your best interests at heart, there is no reason not look at PEO’s as a viable solution. Let's talk to the P&C agents for a moment. What are you doing with the companies you can't find workers comp for? Are you using the JUA or Assigned Risk Pool? Are you simply turning away a lot of risks? Have you considered using a PEO? Our firm, PEO Advisors, has been helping P&C agents find workers comp for their clients for over 10 years now. By utilizing a brokerage firm such as ours, we can obtain workers comp coverage for companies of all shapes and sizes: startups, companies with gaps in coverage, High MODs, Non-Renewals, etc. PEO Advisors will take care of the client’s enrollment process and implementation from start to finish if they are dealing with us! We provide competitive commission plans for the life of the account!!!!! At the end of the day, the question is
simple: IF by outsourcing your workers comp coverage and payroll administration to a PEO you can reduce your overall costs, IS it worth it to you?? I think in today’s market most business owners would find themselves answering, “Yes!” to this question. The hurdle isn’t as steep as most companies think it is with nearly 50% of today’s businesses throughout the nation using an outsourcing payrollservice of some type, then going on to purchasing their workers’ comp. policy from the local agent. When utilizing the
services of a PEO, you are simply taking those two services (Payroll and Outsourcing/Workers Comp Carrier) and putting them under the same roof essentially. Another advantage when partnering with the agents of our trucking clients is keeping all lines of coverage safe! PEO Advisors is essentially a mono-line agency only offering one form of insurance coverage-Pay-As-You-Go Worker’s Compensation Coverage! N www.peoadvisors.com
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Problem Solving for Diesel with DieselSite If you know anything about DieselSite, you know the company makes products that solve problems for serious dieselpickup enthusiasts. If you have never heard of DieselSite, you are in luck because we asked the right questions to get a better understanding of them and what they do. So here, we want share about who we are and what we provide from the newest products, the latest in innovative diesel adjustments, and our pursuit of a higher quality of materials. The first thing people usually notice about who we are when visiting DieselSite is that the place is packed with diesel-pickup enthusiasts. The parking lot is full of customized trucks. Owner Bob Riley helps to make sure of that since he provides a budget for every employee to help them build the truck of their dreams. “Owning and working on your own diesel pickup helps keep everyone involved in the hobby and intimately aware of the company’s products,” Bob explains. “When you have installed an HPOP on your own truck it’s much easier to describe it to a customer.” So, we are a grassroots company that essentially started out of a garage with an innovative solution to a diesel truck filtration problem and has grown into a huge, 18,000 square-foot facility with a seemingly endless number of interesting products that are unique and typically solve some sort of problem diesel enthusiasts encounter— especially when they have been boosting the power of their truck. 54
Now, specifically what products does DieselSite offer those with performance and durability challenges in their diesel vehicles? The latest addition to the parts catalog to meet those challenges is the line of transmissions called “Legendary.” We all know the gear-changer becomes a weak link at some point in the powerboosting quest, so it was a natural progression for the company. But building a bulletproof transmission is no easy task, so Bob started out by buying an aftermarket transmission company and then training himself and the staff for nearly two years before selling even one of them.
That’s the kind of focus on quality that gets attention. For now, you can upgrade the transmission for your Ford F-250 and F-350 from ’89 through ’97 (E4OD), ’98 through ’03 (4R100), ’03 through ’10 (5R110), and by Q4 even ’11-’17 (6R140). Concerning innovative adjustments, we focused on the coast clutch. Bob also does a significant amount of machine work on the company’s transmissions, mostly to accommodate more clutch and friction plates. One example of his perfectionism is how he goes the extra distance
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to beef up the coast clutch. Most people would tell you there’s no need to do that, but Bob knows anyone who is using an exhaust brake or pulling a heavy load puts a lot of strain on the coast clutch, and that is a point of failure many transmission companies overlook. In addition to innovations in transmission parts, DieselSite focuses on a higher quality of materials. While there are plenty of companies out there that will add an extra clutch or two and a shift kit to your transmission, DieselSite is way beyond such simple hop-up tricks. Bob has secured the rights to use the proprietary materials found in the most recent OEM transmissions on parts designed for older transmissions. So, what you get is a highenergy friction material that can hold 30 percent more and produce 20 percent less heat. That’s a significant improvement when you’re talking about a 25year-old transmission. Another significant factor is the transmission testing that takes place before any transmission is shipped or installed into a vehicle. As part of their two-year testing and proving stage, DieselSite purchased a Transmission Dynamometer, added Blue Reach Automation software from the UK (the same Ford Motor Company uses), and a Fluid Logic valve body test bench. It was vital to their business model to ensure every unit was thoroughly checked before it left the building. The Legendary transmission lineup can accommodate the daily driver, heavy
tower, and even the customer who competes professionally. So, we asked, “From all these upgrades, how can the Towing/Recovery industry benefit from a Legendary Transmission?” The response was simple: “It is Engineered to Last”—durability! It’s not hard to get the concept. We build a transmission that Ford was not able to because the technology was not available. The test equipment we have invested practically eliminates both DOA units and improperly functioning units. The corporate goal and vision of building these transmissions was to offer the strongest, most reliable unit that allows customers do what they do best: perform their profession to the best of their ability! We simply call it, “Legendary Transmission.” In addition to the Legendary transmissions, our questioning process turned to the HPOP’s (High Pressure Oil Pump) that are manufactured at this facility in Florida. HEUI Diesel fuel system was developed by Caterpillar back in the 1970’s. They use high pressure oil to atomize the fuel in the injectors. The HPOP is the heart of the HEUI system. Just like everything
else Dieselsite does, they looked at ways to improve the system. In 2008, they produced the first Adrenaline line of HPOP for the 7.3L Powerstroke. Soon after came the Adrenaline for the 6.0L Powerstroke, International DT466, DT530, and the Caterpillar 3116, 3126 and soon to be released C7. The changes in the pumps were simple: (simple by talk, not from a production standpoint) change the displacement of the pump to produce more volume, thus increasing the speed of the injection process resulting in more power and better fuel economy. Dieselsite built a custom test stand to make sure every pump is tested before it leaves their Florida production facility.
A last innovation, we’d like to highlight is a turbo enhancement. To get the best performance out of the turbos on all these diesel engines, Dieselsite developed a new line of billet compressor wheels. “Wicked Wheel 2”, as they are called, is amazing. The Wicked Wheel 2 allows for increases in air flow helping to burn fuel more efficiently. The innovative design greatly improves throttle response, increases horsepower, and increases boost while decreasing EGT’s (Exhaust Gas Temperatures). In every application, the customer benefits when upgrading to the Wicked Wheel. There are no downsides. At DieselSite, our goal is to partner with you to get the most out of your equipment. So, whether you are a diesel pick-up enthusiast, professional driver or a business owner needing high performance vehicles with transmissions that are “Engineered to Last,” DieselSite is a great answer to your need for new innovative diesel products which are both durable and high performing for the long haul. N www.dieselsite.com
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Hooked UP West-Chester Knuckle Protection Gloves Protect your hands with West-Chester knuckle protection gloves. These tough gloves feature a nitrile palm for outstanding grip in wet conditions and TPR finger, hand and knuckle guard to protect against nicks, cuts and impacts. ASTM D2632 compliant. www.awdirect.com
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Hooked UP Hamsar LED Backup Alarm The Hamsar LED Backup Alarm combines a penetrating tone with a 180° wrap around, 200 lumen warning light to alert others when you’re backing up. Night-time silent function allows you to disengage the tone in sound-sensitive areas while leaving the warning light on. Operates on standard 12 – 24V DC. www.awdirect.com
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Dealers place
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MARKET place
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ADVERTISER
PG
Agero .............................................................................................................................37 Atlanta Wrecker.........................................................................................................62 Austin Hinds Motors ................................................................................................59 Austin Insurance.........................................................................................................56 Auto Data Direct.......................................................................................................27 AutoReturn..................................................................................................................14 AW Direct ...................................................................................................................22 Beacon Software...........................................................................................................7 Clore..............................................................................................................................51 Collins Dollies.............................................................................................................49 Custom Built ...............................................................................................................18 Dan-AM ........................................................................................................................57 Deep South Wrecker Sales.....................................................................................60 DieselSite ......................................................................................................................21 DJ Harrington..............................................................................................................58 Driveline Buddy ..........................................................................................................26 Dynamic ........................................................................................................................15 Eartech ..........................................................................................................................27 Flow Stop........................................................................................................................5 Ginn Commercial.......................................................................................................60 Hal Kresser ..................................................................................................................63 Hide-a-Lift.....................................................................................................................63 Holly's Message Service ...........................................................................................57 INA Towing Network / overone.org ...................................................................31 Industrial Netting .......................................................................................................63 Jerr-Dan.......................................................................................................Back Cover Lift and Tow..................................................................................................................31 Lodar..............................................................................................................................63 Manufacturer Express ................................................................Inside Back Cover Marking Pen Depot ...................................................................................................63 Mike Keith Insurance ................................................................................................55 MITI Manufacturing....................................................................................................63 OMADI .........................................................................................................................13 PEO Advisors ..............................................................................................................53 Quest Towing Services .............................................................................................27 Recovery Billing ..........................................................................................................51 Robert Young...............................................................................................................62 RP Consulting..............................................................................................................55 RV wheel.......................................................................................................................63 Smyrna Truck ...............................................................................................................58 Steck Manufacturing ..................................................................................................50 Swoop............................................................................................................................23 Tom Tom..........................................................................................................................9 TOPS..............................................................................................................................56 Tow Trax........................................................................................................................58 Towbook .........................................................................................................................3 Towing Museum...................................................................................................32, 33 TowMate..........................................................................................................................1 TRAO ............................................................................................................................25 Triple K..........................................................................................................................43 United Plastic Fabricating ........................................................................................19 VTS Systems ................................................................................................................17 Waters Truck...............................................................................................................61 Weiss Insurance..........................................................................................................63 Wrecker Rentals ........................................................................................................62 Zacklift...........................................................................................Inside Front Cover
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