Tow Professional - Volume: 8 Issue: 4 by Over the Mountain Media, Inc

TOW PROFESSIONAL

CONTENTS I N D U S T RY NEWS TOWING & RECOVERY

Volume 8 • Issue 4 2019

www.towprofessional.com

Feature: Communications 32| Mobile Create

An Expert Witness 16 | Training in Place of Liability

Insightful talk 20 | Good Employees Make The Difference

Feature: WINCHES 36| Winches, Inc.

TIPS For towers 24 | I Haven’t Lost One Yet

Safety For towers 26 | Safety Vision

Feature: Trade SHow 40| Southern Tow Expo & Beach Bash

Feature: Roadside Assistance 44|MARC 1 46| TowTrax

Company Profile 28| Bambarger Wrecker Service, Inc.

Hooked UP 48| Dri-Dek 49| Tow Buddy

50| HardMode Gear

IN EVERY ISSUE 04 |Editor’s Letter 51 |Dealers Place 2

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55 | Market Place 56 | Ad Index

EDITOR’S

LETTER

Professional Your Resource for Towing & Recovery

Volume 8 • Issue 4 2019 www.towprofessional.com

THE SHOW IS HERE! Southern Tow Expo & Beach Bash, August 9-10, 2019

PUBLISHER Darian Weaver President & Publisher darian@towprofessional.com

Butch Cole National Sales butch@towprofessional.com __________________________

Southern Tow Expo & Beach Bash is here! Now is the time to sign up for all that we have to offer towers from across the nation: training by WreckMaster Level 2/3, the 3rd Annual Deep-Sea Fishing Trip, the Tow Truck Beauty Contest, and the event itself with a 2day national towing trade show packed with industry leading information and products! Rooms are filling up fast, so go to www.southerntowexpo.com to register for all! In this feature, we are spotlighting, Bambarger Wrecker Service, Inc., a top-notch, growing tow company right here in our backyard in Tuscaloosa, Alabama sharing how they got started and what have been some of their keys to success. We are also highlighting TowTrax, an innovative roadside-assistance platform and digital application that connects tow customers directly to the closest tow truck available. We also have featured Safety Vision’s innovative mobile surveillance solutions which provide safety and security for wreckers and recovery vehicles that make drivers' everyday life on the job easier and more efficient. If you want to take your business to the next level with industry-leading information and training, we have a stellar lineup of seminar leaders to learn from: Michael P. McGovern, towing industry attorney, Jeff Spadafora-Zellner Insurance, Jim Jenning-SSTA President, Charles Fator from Hanby Environmental, Randy Cook from OMG, and Tow Professional writers, Dan Messina, and James E. Lewis. Reserve your room, grab your sunscreen, and let’s have a blast of trade show with feet in the sand at Southern Tow Expo & Beach Bash in Orange Beach, Alabama! See you there!

PRODUCTION Gene Eudy Editor gene@towprofessional.com

Dana Scott Creative Director dana@towprofessional.com __________________________

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Joe Hillenburg - Winches Inc. James E. Lewis Dan Messina Jennifer Smith - Safety Vision Darian Weaver - Tow Professional

Keep Reading and Stay Safe, __________________________

Gene Eudy Editor, Tow Professional

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 N D U S T RY NEWS TOWING & RECOVERY

SIDE RECOVERY SYSTEM (SRS)

Jerr-Dan’s 10,000 lb. Side Recovery System (SRS) is by far the largest and strongest in its class. The SRS patented boom pivoting feature allows the operator to set up either driver or passenger side pulls in no time. The patented Independent Flip Down Spade provides a

dual stabilizing feature that creates a solid foundation that enhances the stability of the system when operated within product guidelines. Unlike the competition, this unit will also allow for front, side or rear pulls, making it the most versatile unit in the industry. Jerr-Dan also offers a heavy

Tow Professional | Volume 8 • Issue 4 | www.towprofessional.com

duty SRS option for wreckers that offers power and choice. With 25,000 or 35,000 lb. capacity planetary winches, you’ll have the strength you need for maximum recovery potential.. www.jerrdan.com

I N D U S T RY NEWS OW WI IN NG G& &R REEC CO OV VEER RY Y TTO

Hino Trucks Giveaway Draws Huge Crowd at Florida Tow Show Novi, Michigan – For the tenth straight year, crowds gathered at the Florida Tow Show to see if they were going to drive away as the owner of a new 2019MY Hino Model 258ALP with a Miller Industries Chevron Carrier. The truck is part of a raffle that supports The Professional Wreckers of Florida (PWOF) Education and Legislation Programs. Gary Mickiewciz, Eastern Region Sales Vice President for Hino Trucks addressed the anxious crowd, “This is one of the best functions we have because we are changing someone’s life today and giving one lucky tower a new 2019MY truck to add to their business. We appreciate the risks that tow truck drivers take every day and this is one way of saying thank you.” This year’s winners are Lynn and Sheronda Hope of Lynn Hope Towing LLC out of Greeneville, Tennessee. When asked, who was the first person they called after the win, Lynn replied, “I didn’t have to call anyone – they called me!” In business for 19 years, the Hopes have attended the Florida Tow show for the past 18 years and buy $100 in raffle tickets every year. This year paid off as their fleet of 12 grew to 13. The benefits of a Hino truck that the Hope’s will receive are HinoWatch 24/7 roadside assistance, HinoCare maintenance programs and the industry leading fully integrated connected vehicle solution, Hino Insight. In addition, each year

the Hino rollback gets dressed in HinoStyle accessories! The current lineup of parts includes wheel accessories, interior and exterior accessories such as floor mats, sun visors and steps. To view a HinoStyle catalog, please visit www.hinostyle.com. “We look forward to the excitement of this event every year at the Florida Tow

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Show and we’re proud of our partnership with Hino Trucks over the past ten years to make it a success. It’s always a great feeling to see the look on the winner’s face when their name is chosen,” added Todd Harless Marketing Manager for Miller Industries. www.hinostyle.com

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I N D U S T RY NEWS OW WI IN NG G& &R REEC CO OV VEER RY Y TTO

ITRHFM To Sell LED Flashing Safety Arrows The International Towing and Recovery Hall of Fame and Museum today announced that it recently completed an agreement to sell portable, lighted safety arrows. The effort, intended to complement the Survivor Fund, continues the museum’s efforts to raise awareness about the dangers of the towing and road service profession. The safety arrows are designed to alert approaching motorists as to which direction they should take to safely maneuver around a roadside incident or breakdown scene. The arrows can be mounted on the rear of a vehicle using embedded earth magnets, or on a window that is rolled down slightly, and positioned to direct motorists to the left or right side of a scene. Designed for maximum visibility, each arrow has a reflective tape border and powerful LED lights that

can be set to steady or flashing. The arrows can be folded down to fit inside a glovebox or console, and unfolded to the arrow shape, or to fit inside a standard roadside triangle. “Users of our safety arrows have called them the Slow Down Move Over Arrow because of how effective they are in establishing a path for motorists,” stated Fred Devries, whose company produces and distributes the product. “As we work to honor the men and women lost on our highways with things like the Survivor Fund and the Wall of the Fallen, it is equally important we look for ways to prevent such tragedies in the first place,” commented Jeffrey Godwin, 1st vice president of the museum and cochair of the Survivor Fund and Wall of the

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Fallen. “Just looking at this valuable, yet simple, technology it is easy to see it will save lives.” Through a special exclusive arrangement for the towing industry, the museum will receive special pricing to enjoy a generous profit to be divided between the museum and the Survivor Fund. The arrows are available at the museum in Chattanooga or on its website. www.towingmuseum.com

I N D U S T RY NEWS

Dynamic & Spin Fleet to Provide Live-View HD Video Dynamic Towing Equipment & Manufacturing would like to announce that we have partnered with Spin Fleet Solutions to make live-view HD video available to the towing industry. The game is changing for fleet operators as A.I. makes its way into vehicles, and Dynamic & Spin Fleet are committed to helping you stay ahead of the curve. With our all-in-one GPS Tracking Dash Camera systems, you will have complete visibility of any situation in real time as well as keeping all video events on our secure server. Your drivers will also have peace of mind knowing that they have a realtime way of notifying you with location and video event. Our 4-camera systems will give you complete visibility in real time. Your driv-

ers will also have peace of mind knowing that you are as close as a push of a button. Knowledge is power, and we will give you the power of knowing that you are covered. With our GPS-connected dash camera solutions, there is no need for additional hardware or monthly fees; we have it all covered in one device, one

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monthly payment. Please connect with us online at spinfleet.com, or on Facebook @spinfleet, and let us show you what video safety looks like. We are confident it will “look good on you.” Your safety is our focus. www.spinfleet.com www.dynamicmfg.com

I N D U S T RY NEWS

Inventive LLC Set to Expand -

Inventive LLC is excited to announce they will be building a new state of the art manufacturing facility in Mountain Home, Idaho. President Chuck Ceccarelli stated that the 65,000 sq. ft. main production facility will be used to manufacture products for their three product lines, In The Ditch Towing Products, Razorback Offroad and Fish Fighter Products. Inventive LLC has outgrown its current facility in Mountain Home and looks forward to this much needed expansion.

Ceccarelli said the new facility will boast advanced manufacturing principles with a focus on automation and employee retention. The expansion will also include a new 20,000 sq. ft. corporate office center with a new state of the art employee exercise center, 80-person training room, cafeteria, show room and recording studio used to produce the company’s weekly podcast, Inside In The Ditch. Retaining employees and recruiting new talent is a major focus of this expan-

sion. “We want to build a facility that everyone will want to work in and be proud of. The project has been made possible by the City of Mountain Home’s willingness to work with us. The support of the Mayor, Economic Development Office and City Council has been instrumental,” said Ceccarelli. The Idaho Department of Commerce has also played a vital role in this project through their award of the Idaho Opportunity Fund. Through this grant, Inventive LLC has added 40 jobs in the last 12 months and plans to add 50 more over the next 24 months, bringing the total employee roster to around 150. “We are so excited to continue our expansion in Mountain Home and further our existing 20 plus year commitment to the community,” said Ceccarelli. www.intheditch.com

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AN Expert Witness By James E. Lewis

TRAINING IN PLACE OF LIABILITY

This conversation is going to go a couple of directions, so please bear with me. Training in any industry is not optional. Whether your governing auditor is OSHA, FMCSA, or the FAA, training is required by each of those entities. What is optional is how you go about it as a business owner or manager. There’s no downside to training. The reason I’m making these statements is because of the way I was first born into the towing industry. The old guy in Abilene, Texas showed me how to activate the PTO, how the levers worked, 16

and then gave me the keys to a 1974 Chevrolet 3500 4x4 with a Holmes 440 and dispatched me on my first call. I tore the heck out of a 1984 Oldsmobile 88 while doing a simple recovery from a ditch, and the boss just told me, “It happens.” It wasn’t until 8 years later in Aloha, Oregon where I got actual training from Bruce Anderson and started to feel confident about what I was doing. Training can be free. Training can be expensive. It doesn’t matter how much you spend, as long as you see value in the information you’re passing on. You don’t

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have to be handed a fancy, gold-inlaid certificate from an accredited school to have good training. Training can be as simple as walking out into the tow yard or shop and having an experienced tow operator spend time with someone new. It doesn’t matter how it happens, but I can tell you there’s one thing that matters more than anything – documentation. I’ll explain. Recently, a driver was loading a car onto a tractor-trailer auto carrier, and a car rolled off the ramps and down a hill. It stopped when it wedged a CAL DOT

worker between the car and the person’s CAL DOT truck and a manhole cover, killing the worker immediately. The auto carrier driver hadn’t been sufficiently trained, and the driver’s company didn’t have a good training program or any documentation. The company is up against a contributory negligent homicide charge and civil lawsuit. The driver will be held responsible to a certain degree, but the company will take the lion’s share of the blame and liability. We’re talking millions of dollars. Can your company afford that kind of payment? You may have read my article titled, “This one got to me.” I explained fully how the tow operator who was operating a dilapidated old Dodge truck with a poorly-maintained sling tow assembly and cable lost a U-Haul truck, and the sling assembly ended up in the freeway – a lady in a car ran over it, rolled her car, and nearly died. The $1.2 million settlement

was solely the responsibility of the tow operator and not the company. You know why? The company had 10 trucks and 12 drivers. At least once a year, the company owner mandated a training “roundtable” where the primary operator of each tow unit would train everyone else in the company on their truck. Also, each operator was trained and authorized to use every unit in the yard. Best of all, the owner documented the training with dates, times, and driver signatures indicating they’d been trained. The old guy in the Dodge was trained and authorized to use the company’s two heavier trucks on the U-Haul call, but he chose not to – and that decision cost him everything he owned and set aside liability for the company and company owner. I’ll give you a recent example, and you can apply it how you like. I did a mockDOT audit and some training for a medi-

James E. Lewis is a driver, trainer, and manager in his third decade of experience in the towing industry. He is a published author with works in fiction, self-help, and technical guidance. um-sized (15-truck) towing company. There were a few areas the owner needed to fix on the DOT side, but I really found some issues with his profit and loss statement, especially when it came to paying for damaged vehicles. His brother-in-law was his primary

Volume 8 • Issue 4 | www.towprofessional.com | Tow Professional

heavy driver and ran a flatbed for police calls on the weekends. It seemed like a great scenario, except the brother-in-law had no formal training, the owner gave up trying to train him, and every time some damage occurred, the owner’s sister would freak out on the owner and threaten to quit her job as night dispatcher. In the last year, the brother-in-law had done over $17,000 in damage in 12 incidents--$17,000! Cash money, write the check, pay for it, and make it go away and hope to keep your customers. I asked the owner if he could fire the guy. I got an obvious “no” answer. I made a suggestion: “Set aside several thousand dollars and pound the heck out of formal training for the guy. At around $500 per course, WreckMaster offers some of the best training in the business, and being accredited, you can justify their training on your taxes and to your insurance agent. For less than $5,000, you could take an employee, even your highdamage liability brother-in-law, and run him through every level of WreckMaster training plus attend HAZMAT and rigging

For less than $5000, you could take an employee, even your high-damage liability brother-in-law, and run them through every level of WreckMaster training plus attend HAZMAT and rigging training for about one-third of what you’re spending fixing damaged vehicles an tow trucks. training for about one-third of what you’re spending fixing damaged vehicles and tow trucks.” WreckMaster is an outstanding group, but there are others out there. I train tow operators and do mock-DOT audits as well as human resources and legal liability training. Brian Riker owns and operates Fleet Compliance Solutions out of the Poconos in Pennsylvania. He’s a onestop-shop for training and compliance. Trevor Andrews runs CIRT out of San Antonio and does everything from light to heavy as well as Texas Department of Licensing and Registration (TDLR) initial and recertification training. Wes Wilburn holds training courses in several places each year, and he’s available to travel to your location to train. Perhaps you and

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your local competitors could pitch in and get him to come train a whole group for you--the same with Tom Luciano from Miller. Training is CHEAP compared to paying for damaged trucks, damaged cars, and injured workers. A recent conversation brought up a valid point-somewhat valid. I’ll explain. The company owner said that he didn’t like spending $500 on formal training only to have a guy fluff his resume at his cost, and then use that to negotiate a better salary at a competitor. I’ll reiterate my original set of questions: “What if we train them, and they leave?” “What if we don’t train them, and they stay?” N

Insightful talk By D an Mes s ina

GOOD EMPLOYEES MAKE THE DIFFERENCE In last month’s article, we started to build a business. This month we add employees to our business. I was giving a seminar in Baltimore one year, and after the seminar, an owner came up to me and asked for help. He told me he hates to go to work every day because he hates most of his employees, and they hate him. For the owner of a company to hate to go to work is bad. Your employees see your stress and attitude, and that is what they become. This is a formula for failure. I explained to him that the solution begins with him, the owner. If things were to change, it had to begin with him. When I started my career in corporate America, I was just a number working for a large company. Today’s employees are different. When you look at your business (whatever that business is), you have the same equipment, the same computers and software, and the same products or services as your competitor. The only thing that makes you different is your employees. They are the backbone of your company and can make you or break you. If you think not, you are making a big mistake. I had 38 employees working for my company when I sold it. I treated them like gold. Knowing your employees is the key. One year, I asked all my employees to fill 20

out a questionnaire. I asked them, “On a scale of 1 to 10, how do you rate your job performance, your knowledge of the job, your job attitude, your managers, and the morale of the company?” Here is what the survey told me: 1. They all thought they were outstanding on their job. I met with each one of them and told them what I thought and what they had to do to improve. I also made sure I told them all the things they were doing right. The one-on-one was good, and it showed them that I was concerned about them. 2. If they had an attitude problem, this was an opportunity for me to correct it without making a big issue about it. 3. As much as they always complained about certain managers at the end of the day, we had a good team. 4. The morale of the company was extremely high. This was reflected by my lack of turnover--more people were wanting in, and none were wanting out. I looked at this as one of the signs of success. I then took seven key managers or employees to an offsite meeting. I asked them what they thought of each employee. Then I went over the results of my oneon-one meeting I had with each employee. We compared our answers and identified the differences. This put all of us on the

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same page going forward. I then asked them who theyy thought was myy best employee and my worst employee. On the best employee, their answers varied, but they were all in agreement who my worst employee was. I was surprised at their answer, but what surprised me even more was that employee was my highest paid employee for that position. I placed that employee on a corrective action program, and that employee improved tremendously. When your employees like their job, they are more productive, and being more productive will lead to success. I loved my job and my company because my employees made it fun. They also made my company successful. Get to know your employees better. They are, without a doubt, your number one asset. I always felt it was important to train and educate your staff. It made them feel good that you were willing to invest in them and gave them more confidence to do their job. I can’t stress enough how important your staff is for your business. It amazes me that most tow companies will pay hundreds and thousands of dollars for their trucks, but they will not spend any money to train their dispatchers who talk to the customers every day. There are many ways to educate your

staff without spending a lot of money although money should not be a factor. Here are a few things we did to educate our staff: 1. Their internet access would only get things related to business. 2. I would make drivers sit in the dispatch area and see what a dispatcher’s day looked like. 3. I would let dispatchers drive with a driver to see what a driver’s day looked like. 4. I would ask the staff to help me make some of the decisions of the company. Once they saw the money it took to run a business, I knew no one would quit and start their own business. It made them feel like part of a winning team, and some of their decisions were actually helpful. They performed functions that effected my decisions every day. 5. I sent half my employees to a customer service class paying $150 a person

(It was barely a truck payment, and it taught them how to deal with customers). 6. Cross training helped. They learned another job and improved their resume while I created a backup for each position. 7. Do some fun things like build teams of drivers and other employees and have them compete for a month. This increased my tows which increased my revenue, and I had employees helping each other. 8. One last thing to think about. Whatever you spend on training and other education, you will get back 10-fold when you sell the company. It makes your company more valuable. Company owners would tell me they could not afford to take a driver out of a truck for a day because they were on rotation, or they need to run calls and make money. Keep in mind that if you don’t make time to do it right, you will never

find time to do it over. How many damage claims could be avoided with a little more training. The next time you are looking at ways to save money, it’s not always in gas and trucks. If you invest in your people, they can save you thousands. If you have good people and you teach them good customer skills, your company will be successful. Over the years, the customer has gotten smarter and smarter. They are better educated at all things in life including service. Today’s customer has experienced it, and they like it. You can no longer ask them to choose between lower price or better service, they want both. Offering a good service can present several problems, but it also creates opportunities. Not only does the customer want good service, they also want it faster and easier. Most of our competition has the

Volume 8 • Issue 4 | www.towprofessional.com | Tow Professional

Insightful talk cont inued working capital to run their business, they offer the same types of service as you, and they buy technical products right off the shelf to support their business. Our only competitive source we have that’s different is our people and the service they provide. It’s no longer good enough to hire good smart people you must now

look for people with great attitude’s, personalities, and have the “I love to work here” frame of mind. These people are out there, or you can create them, and when you do, work becomes a whole lot more fun. Here are a few things I learned that help make me successful:

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a. Ask the customer what they want and give it to them again and again. – When you create rules like answering the phone by the second ring or giving response time of less than 30 minutes, you assume you know what the customer wants. The only way to find out what the customer wants is to ask them. Create a questionnaire that allows the customer to give you information like: “Was my price to high, to low?” “Am I competitive with others?” “Was my response to your call acceptable?” If you provide what the customer wants, you get fewer complaints. b. When the customer asks, the answer is always, “Yes.” – In order to be successful, it’s not always about money. After all, your price might be higher, so it becomes a service issue--offer convenience. If the customer asks if you can do something, the answer is always, “Yes!” I would tell my sales staff that if the customer wants a green suit, sell him a green suit even though we only had blue suits. You will figure out how to make it work. When a customer asks you to do something not totally related to the business, your competition will say, “No” because it’s a distraction to his business, but remember your business is taking care of a customer. Do the extra and don’t charge if you can help it. That’s how to keep customers. c. Every employee that deals with the customer must have the authority to address complaints. - Customer service should be a function of every employee in your company. Every employee that talks to a customer should have the authority to handle a complaint. If a customer calls with a complaint, they don’t want to hear that you must talk to a manager. The customer calls and talks to that person every day; the customer would love for that person to handle the complaint right away. Remember the only competitive source you have over your competitor is your people, so let them work. The businesses that can save time for the customer will be the ones to succeed. d. Treat your employees like your part-

ners. – In order to get good people and keep them, you must pay them. You should want to pay them more than they could make somewhere else. You want people to take pride in their work, a bigger pay check helps. Get in the habit of asking them how you can help them make more money. Good people make fewer mistakes and tend to be more productive and resourceful. Your staff is your customer service. e. Knowledge is power, so measure everything. – It always amazes me how many people run their business day-to-day without knowing the details of their business. I knew who my best employees were because I measured everything they did. I also knew who my worst employees were. This allowed me to set up training programs for them. I knew who my best customers were, so I could take of them better. I also knew who my worst customers were, so I did not spend as much

money on them. I also knew the cost for every function and service I provided. This allowed me to change services when necessary. Let you employees do the work, so you can monitor the results. When you know what your company is doing, you will be more successful. f. Show people respect and be polite-it works. – This starts with you showing respect and being nice to your employees. When you do this to your employees, they pass it on to the customers. When a driver picks up a car, have them thank the customer for their business. When a person comes pay the bill, have your employee hand them a piece of chocolate candy. Candy creates a pleasant feeling just like when a hotel leaves a piece of chocolate on your pillow. When people notice the little things you do, they will be repeat customers. Remember, good employees give you a competitive advantage.

Owning your own business can bring many problems and a lot of stress, but if you do it right, it can also be fun and rewarding. Keep in mind that your success depends on happy customers, and that begins with good customer service, and good customer service begins with good employees that make the difference. N

Volume 8 • Issue 4 | www.towprofessional.com | Tow Professional

tips for towers By James E. Lewis

By J ames E. Lew i s

I wish “I had a dollar for every time” I’ve heard a driver say “I haven’t lost one yet” when using one chain on the rear and no safeties on the front of a car carrier. No, you may not have lost one yet, but you will—and when you do, it’ll cost you everything you own! Dramatic? I don’t think so. I cringe every time I hear someone talking about how much experience they have, saying “I’ve been doing this for 10 years, and I haven’t lost one yet.” I also call a foul: If you’re doing it wrong, meaning against standards in the industry and 24

general practices, you don’t have 10 years of “experience” – you have 10 years of dodging a bullet and placing your family’s and employer’s priorities behind your choice to be lazy and unprofessional. I’ll pick on carrier operators for a

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minute and offer you a challenge. Take two operators and two similar trucks. Let’s assume the vehicle is already on the deck, the deck is tilted, and you’re ready to start securing it completely for transport. I challenge the guy who likes one chain on the back to load and secure the car faster than the guy who uses two chains. If, and I say if, the one-chain guy can beat the other guy’s time, look at the margin of “victory” —a few seconds? You saved yourself the heavy, arduous, straining, hard, difficult time it took to take and pull that other big old heavy chain into

place— really, bro? That extra ten seconds and a little bit of physical activity is the difference between being legal or not, covering yourself in an accident or not, and losing a car or not. Is your 10 seconds and the equivalent of lifting a couple of soda cans worth dropping a car onto another vehicle on the road? For those of us taking shortcuts or cutting corners, I think we lose touch with ourselves while we work. Personally, I think about my daughter and her 3 sons driving next to me in traffic. If someone cut me off or stopped suddenly, and I had to take evasive action, would the car on my deck end up squashing my daughter’s car? The same goes just as easily for wheellift truck operators. I’ve seen several trucks running down the road at highway speeds with NO straps on the L-arms, no safety chains, and not even tow lights to warn others of what you’re doing. I don’t

From a legal perspective, it’s simple: Even if someone violates the law by cutting you off, slamming on their brakes, or turning in front of you and that vehicle on your truck becomes a projectile, it’s all on you. You have absolutely no - nothing, zero, nada - protection from a lawsuit. recommend the experiment, but I promise that if a car isn’t strapped in properly and you stop really fast, at a minimum, then the car is jumping onto your truck’s rear deck and boom area or taking off to the left or right, doing whatever physics allows it to go and do. From a legal perspective, it’s simple: Even if someone violates the law by cutting you off, slamming on their brakes, or turning in front of you and that vehicle on your truck becomes a projectile, it’s all on you. You have absolutely no - nothing, zero, nada - protection from a lawsuit. You’re negligent, and you then get to be

the star of the show. Your company’s insurance won’t defend you. Your employer’s LLC or incorporation protects them and their family. Tag! You’re it. I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to sell my wife’s truck, my car, my bicycle, and give up all the equity in my house to pay an accident victim. The best way to avoid that is by doing your job properly and safely and don’t create that accident victim to begin with. Oh, and did I mention the damage to your customer’s car and your tow truck? Are a few seconds really worth all that you? N

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Safety FOR Towers INNOVATIVE MOBILE SURVEILLANCE SOLUTIONS B y J e n n ife r Smit h - M a r keti ng Coor di nator & Content Wr iter

Safety Vision’s innovative mobile surveillance solutions provide safety and security for wreckers and recovery vehicles that make drivers' everyday life on the job easier and more efficient. Drivers can operate confidently with Safety Vision’s superior recorders, monitors, interior and exterior cameras. These easyto-manage mobile solutions help significantly reduce the risks of unforeseen incidents while towing and recovering vehicles. Eliminate blind spots and navigate through traffic safely by relying on high definition views of the vehicle's surroundings at all times. Safety Vision's suite of affordable collision-avoidance products are an investment for the future as the cost of a camera system continues to pay for itself long after the one-time purchase. Because tow truck drivers are often one of the first people to arrive on-site of an 26

accident, it is crucial they can reach their destination in the timeliest manner and document the chain of events while there. The towing industry has been around since the early 1900s, but luckily modern developments in mobile video technology have made it easier than ever to enhance safety and protect drivers against collisions, bad weather, false

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claims, and lawsuits. Safety Vision has been enhancing vehicular safety and security through our advanced line of multi-camera video systems for over 25 years. After decades of servicing the tow and recovery industry, we understand the issues and challenges at hand and have created equipment specifically tailored to those needs. Our budget-friendly Observer 4000 HVR was created with smaller tow companies in mind because we believe safety shouldn't be a luxury. Record, store, and easily manage video on the 4000 HVR, our most compact recorder for seamless installation inside the cab. Along with safety benefits on the road, these solutions provide security on-site against false claims and liability with built-in microphones for audio recording synchronized

to video. Safety Vision's exterior cameras are strategically placed to ensure 360degree coverage around the vehicle, which is not only useful for navigation, but also for capturing any events on the scene. For additional security, utilize the lightweight Safety Vision Body Camera while operating to record first-hand customer encounters with crystal clear audio. Additionally, all danger zones are covered by SV's exterior camera's wide field-of-

view, and video footage from both the body camera and vehicle cameras can be easily accessed and handed over to law enforcement for quick action and resolution in the case of an emergency. Save ROI, fight false claims, and protect your drivers and business with video documentation of all customer interactions, verbal agreements, damages or conditions, as well as proof of job completion. Our products are made to withstand

the harshest weather conditions and are built to endure shocks and vibrations, so the equipmentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s consistency is never compromised by the conditions you are driving in. With Safety Vision's complete solution, drivers can rest assured they are receiving total-coverage in and around the vehicle day or night. Safety Vision's experienced sales team and highly trained installers are there to provide assistance every step of the way from purchase to install to operation. Collectively, our company takes great pride in our work and ensuring the costumerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s needs are met at all times. Which is why we have installers available around the country, salespeople ready to help, and a customer service line that can be reached at any time during business hours. Tow lives matter, and Safety Vision aims to protect drivers without charging an arm and leg to do it. Let us hook you up today; call 800.880.8855. N

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COMPANY PROFILE By D arian Weav er

WHERE IT ALL STARTED: Hard knocks and Hard Work In 1952, at the young age of twelve, Chester Bambarger lost his father. As a result, Chester was forced to leave school as a sixth grader to help his mom run the family farm. Turning the hard knocks of life into motivation to improve himself, Chester later enrolled at Shelton State Community College and took courses in Auto Body Repair, Front End, and Frame Repair. After graduation, he began working for Tuscaloosa Chevrolet in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. He worked in their 28

body shop using his technical training and operated wreckers for the dealership after hours at night and during the weekends. Chester was accustomed to hard work and long hours. Chester operated a Chevrolet C-60 with a Holmes bed for the dealership and saw a clear need in the market for larger equipment. Chester knew this could be big for the dealership, so he went straight to the owner with his request for the larger wrecker. Chester’s request was rejected and he was advised he should buy his own large wrecker and start his own business.

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On November 12, 1972, that is exactly what Chester Bambarger did; he bought three wreckers and rented out a section of the International Dealership in Tuscaloosa, Alabama to start his own business. Chester operated from this location until 1980 when the business was moved to its current location. The new location consisted of seven acres and he built a 70’ x 200’ building on the property located at 2700 35th Street in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. At this point, Chester expanded his services to include a front-end and frame shop, a

body shop, and a larger fleet of wreckers ranging from light to heavy duty. He not only saw the need for larger equipment, he took the risk of starting his own business and securing the equipment to meet those needs. WHERE IT GREW: Heart and Passion, Family and More Hard Work Chester’s sons, Heath and Adam, both started working for their dad during the summer at the age of fifteen years old. Heath said, “I remember my first day; Dad

gave me a shovel and a wheelbarrow and had me load gravel to fill pot holes on the yard. I asked Dad later that day, ‘Why

can’t I just get the backhoe and fill these holes?’” Chester told his son, “This is a tough business; I want to make sure you

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have the heart and the passion to do the work.” Chester did not just have a vision for his business, he had a vision for his family’s future as well. Not only did Chester Bambarger pride himself in taking care of his family and passing on a strong work ethic to his children, he was also active in supporting his community of fellow towers. Chester helped start the Alabama Towing and Recovery Association (ATRA) and served

as the Vice- President for one year and as President for six years thereafter. Chester remained on the board of ATRA his entire career until his death in 2015. Heath said,” Dad told us to go to every meeting no matter where it is being held in Alabama. Learning one new thing at a meeting is well worth the time and the drive!” Chester was always looking for ways to improve his operation--“sharpening the saw,” and he felt the association

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meetings were an easy opportunity to learn new tactics to do that. He was always willing to operate his business with long hours yet be strategically involved in the leadership of his own state association. Along with work ethic and professional support, Chester continued to grow his business by networking with municipal authorities on both the local and state level performing tows whenever needed. WHERE THEY ARE TODAY: Growth, Community, Legacy In 1993, following high school graduation, Heath Bambarger began working full time for his father at the family business, Bambarger Wrecker Service. The father son duo was joined by Adam Bambarger in 1999, upon his high school graduation. As the growth of the business continued, in 2005, Heath and Adam felt equipment hauling would be key to their continued growth, so they bought Landoll trailers to meet the need both on a local and state level. This was a game changer and helped to generate growth beyond their expectations for the company. Chester’s sons saw the need, developed a plan, moved into action taking risks, and grew the business—the same thing their father had done. Expanding into social media with the help of Billy Green has created image branding and growth on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Benefits are now offered helping attract key employees thus lowering the employee turnover rate. Safety meetings have been implemented once a month to reduce liability all while

protecting the bottom line. Key equipment investments have been made to develop even more business growth as the Bambargers bought their first rotator on May 22, 2018. Another key marketing tool is all their trucks are kept clean and polished throughout the company as the truck is viewed as a mobile billboard. A professional appearance is emphasized because it shows a company that cares.

The company reinforces to each driver that every tow matters. The Bambargers are active members in the ATRA for continued learning and support of their fellow towers in Alabama. Consequently, the size of the company has grown: Chester grew his business to a fleet of ten trucks whereas, Heath and Adam now have grown the business to a fleet of twentyfive tow trucks.

Through the years, Bambarger Wrecker Service has grown and developed a reputation for being one of the best towing services in the state of Alabama. Today, Chester Bambarger’s legacy lives on through his business which is currently the largest wrecker service in the city of Tuscaloosa and in West Alabama. Heath and Adam continue to run the company with the same integrity that their father had and strive to maintain the level of excellence that Bambarger Wrecker Service is known for. The business currently serves the entire Southeast region and beyond. In conclusion, the Bambarger Wrecker story is not just a story about a man who grew a successful towing business. It is a story about a man who grew a successful towing business and then passed on the core values that made him successful to the next generation: heart and passion, hard work, initiative, risk, self-improvement, and support of professional community. Summed up best by Chester himself, “I want to make sure you have the heart and the passion to do the work.” N

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MOBILE CREATE USA

HIGH QUALITY FLEET MANAGEMENT COMMUNICATION required expensive equipment attached to long-term contracts with multiple companies involved.

Mobile Create makes it simple: No equipment purchases necessary No large upfront costs

For a single monthly rate, you get: • Nationwide voice communication • GPS • Equipment There are purchase options as well, but with the speed at which technology upgrades, rentals have predominantly taken over. This saves owners the headache of eventually having old equipment that was a headache to buy and too expensive to throw away.

Keeping it Safe and Work Related

When a tow goes across state lines, you still need conversation to be both clear and reliable. In the past, radios have been limited in their range causing drivers to require cell phones for long distance communication with dispatch. But imagine having drivers in New York, Florida, and California, then pressing a button and instantly speaking to all of them at once from an office in Texas. After 15 years of success in the Japanese market, Mobile Create USA has finally emerged here in the states to provide a high-quality radio platform which can do just that.

IP Radio Unlike conventional systems, Mobile Create has developed an IP platform which uses the internet to link up radios within a set. This is done primarily by way of the cellular network but can also utilize Wi-Fi as a method of connection as well. With cell phone tower infrastructure already in place across the US, IP radio is able piggyback the existing technology to provide the benefits of radio communication with relative ease. Anywhere you can text, these radios will work with clear, high quality sound.

Tow companies across the US have been bringing radios back into their operation to keep smart phone use at a minimum while taking advantage of the cost cutting benefits. This technology exists to make the road a safer place and is one that lowers financial risk by doing so. Drivers get fewer tickets, there is more transparent work-related communication, personal life distractions no longer mix into a driver’s workspace, and GPS brings the reassurance of security in the case of theft or unlawful use of equipment.

Mobile Create Over the Competition When it comes to finding the best radio for the best price, Mobile Create makes the searching process easy. The main reason is quite simple--quality. Alongside the rise in popularity of radio in the US has come the rise in cheap imitations designed in China and sold here in the States for rebranding by other companies. They provide a quick buck for those selling the equipment but offer little in terms of long-term reliability for the customer. Mobile Create has an extensive engineering team that maintains the quality of its brand. In Japan alone, there are over 100,000 radios in use, providing a backbone of security and assurance that their products are held up to a high standard.

The Radios GPS Tracking Radios In order to stay atop of the competition, Mobile Create has designed a GPS system which is built into their radios. It provides live tracking and 3 months of saved data, but also has a variety of work status tools and alerts which can better serve the dispatch office. Traditionally this type of information has 32

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The Mobile Create IM-550 connects through the LTE cellular network, Wi-Fi and has Bluetooth capabilities. It serves well on emergency jobs and is an excellent option for those that require 24/7 communication. Since it uses an Android OS, there is potential for the integration of other necessary towing software such as Beacon, or other dispatch applications . Its GPS comes

with a filtering software that prevents scattering pings in order to provide the most accurate location possible. The MPT-100 is Mobile Create’s flagship radio and is their best-selling product worldwide. Like the IM-550, it uses the LTE cellular network and has an advanced GPS filtering software which has the added feature of distance and time related pings. It’s designed with a simple mounting bracket that allows for easy installation while maintaining a convenient size that doesn’t take up a lot of space. It can be used inside of a vehicle or plugged into the wall at the office. The wiring isn’t complicated and allows for custom programming such as shut off timers and a connection to a trucks PTO.

Call Modes One of the advantages a radio platform has over cell phones are the call modes. Below are some of the optional call modes Mobile Create radios use:

“All Call” This will call all radios attached to the set. Everyone can hear.

“Individual Call” This will call an individual radio. Direct communication between 2 people.

“Dispatch Call” This mode privately links up a single driver to dispatch. It is often used for companies that turn off the “Individual Call” mode to keep drivers from privately calling one another.

“Group Call” Any radios you want to combine to create a smaller version of the “All Call” feature can be linked up in a group.

Free Demo To stand by their claims of quality, Mobile Create provides a free demo to any potential customer looking to try out the radios before making any business decisions. It generally lasts 3-4 weeks and comes with free shipping. For more information, please refer to the contact information in this article, or go to www.mcusainc.com and click on demo information. As a policy, Mobile Create ensures that a customer has the chance to find out what they are getting before spending any money.

Support The Mobile Create office is in Southern California, and their radio platform uses the Amazon Cloud Servers located in the United States.They have staff available 24/7 to answer questions, offer customer support, and guide new customers on how to use equipment. N www.mcusainc.com Volume 8 • Issue 4 | www.towprofessional.com | Tow Professional

THE NAME SAYS IT ALL... But there is a whole lot more to WINCHES, INC. B y Jo e Hille n bu r g -Nati onal Sal es and Mar keti ng Mgr. Winches Inc. with their three brickand-mortar locations, Winches Inc. is committed to providing your company application solutions: a new winch, control, PTO, hydraulic or pneumatic product to an entire system they priced themselves on services that save time, money and resources. They sell, service, and design just about every product you can imagine for hydraulic or pneumatic lifting, and they will stand behind every product that leaves their stores. Winches Inc. has experienced and pro-

fessional support staff that are dedicated to bringing value to and continuously improving the products and services they supply. Winches Inc. expertise in the field of winches have one goal, to completely know winches and winch applications. Their staff has expertise in Tulsa, DP, BRADEN, Ramsey, Warn and many other brands and product and the customer service to take care of any winch or hoistrelated situation.

History of Winches Inc. Winches Inc. was opened in 1981 in Odessa, Texas by Terry Stennett and C.P. Roberts. Over the past 36 years, Winches Inc. has grown and expanded to become one the largest stocking distributors for BRADEN, Tulsa Winch Group, Ramsey, Warn, and Superwinch for products and service parts. Winches Inc. is one of the largest distributors of winches and winch-related components in the world. The currently operate 3 facilities located in Odessa, Texas; Houston, Texas; Broken Arrow, Oklahoma; and sales in Hannaford, North Dakota. Their expertise for Towing/Recovery’s ONE-STOP-SHOP for any winch application. Technical Support & Expertise For Winches Inc, their five-star technical support staff has highly trained & experience personnel who can walk you through any situation, from a 4x4 winch torn apart in your garage or to BRADEN’s largest HP160 planetary, they will back what they sell and what they say. You can call their experts or reference their website, www.Winchesinc.com, for links to additional resources, general information on Chelsea PTOs, and to more detailed information about trouble shooting problems with hydraulic system or winch diagnosis. If you don’t find the answers you need on their website, then a solution is truly a phone call away--and they love what they do, so they will assist in troubleshooting any problem that

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could ever arise. Today’s Winches are designed to provide years of service in hostile environments, but they do require periodic inspection and repair. Winches Inc. employs factory-trained and brand/product specific service technicians with decades of knowledge all brands and all types of winches. When you contact Winches Inc’s technical support staff, they will not only trouble-shoot specific issue they will completely tear down and refurbish your winch, bringing it back to its original up-to-date OEM specifications. This includes their Comprehensive Testing Services; and as industry-standard requirements change, Winches Inc

is one-step ahead in today's marketplace. Winches Inc. provides testing and documentation services to meet market requirements. Two of their four facilities are equipped to provide dynamic load testing and static load testing, the Broken Arrow, Oklahoma and Houston, Texas facilities. Every test is conducted including measuring hoisting pressure, lowering pressure, load, RPM, and flow. Each of these data points are recorded in their data acquisition system, downloaded,

and evaluated by one of or more of their highly skilled technicians. Winches Inc. is truly a one-stop shop for PTOs, Hydraulic & Pneumatic Controls, Remotes & Control Consoles, Blocks and Hydraulic Motors, Pumps & Valves for every situation. Of course, like the name says, they are solution for any Planetary or Worm Drive winch need as well. Sales to Repair, Winches Inc. has and will be there! N

Volume 8 • Issue 4 | www.towprofessional.com | Tow Professional

SEMINARS AND THEIR SPEAKERS COURSE 1:

A Top 10 List: Legally Incorrect Things that Tow Operators Say by Michael P. McGovern Towing industry attorney Michael McGovern counts down the ten most common mistakes and misconceptions about the laws relating to towing. Topics ranging from towing rate regulation to CDL licenses will be addressed in this informative and entertaining seminar. McGovern draws upon his 35 years of experience representing towing companies throughout the U.S. and provides attendees with actual case studies and useful handouts. SPEAKERS BIO: Towing industry attorney Michael McGovern counts down the ten most common mistakes and misconceptions about the laws relating to towing. Topics ranging from towing rate regulation to CDL licenses will be addressed in this informative and entertaining seminar. McGovern draws upon his 35 years of experience representing towing companies throughout the U.S. and provides attendees with actual case studies and useful handouts.

COURSE 2:

“ecaptiv”- How to Increase your Bottom Line by Reducing Your Insurance Costs by Jeff Spadafora With insurance costs being a constant challenge for the tow company owners, I will show you how to have a say in how your premium dollars are spent, stop the payment of fraudulent claims, and receive dividends when you have a good year. To do this, I have partnered with Energi is a twenty-plus year company who has successfully developed a model of insurance that reduces both claims and settlement amounts for the oil deliver industry in New England. Energi has developed an innovative plan called “ecpa40

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tive” to do the same for the towing industry by keeping expenses down and increasing the chance of closing a claim quicker. SPEAKERS BIO: Jeff Spadafora is CEO & President of Zellner Insurance Agency, Inc., a 98 years-old independent agency servicing the Southeast. Zellner has grown exponentially since he and his family purchased it in 2011. Jeff Spadafora is a problem solver who gets to the bottom line. He has twenty-plus years in the insurance industry and spent ten years as a PEO (Professional Employer Organization) owner, time in which he designed and complemented the risk management and safety guidelines that are currently used at Zellner Insurance Agency. He understands the problems that the towing industry is experiencing and always wanted to find an answer to the continued increase in premiums. Finally, working with Energi, he found the solution.

COURSE 3:

Dealing with On-the-Job Employee Loss by Jim Jennings There is no warning when you lose an employee while they are on the job, and unfortunately, I have had to deal with this more than once. I will inform business owners and managers on what to expect in dealing with family, other employees, OSHA, police, insurance and more all while dealing with the loss yourself. We can't prevent it, but we can prepare for it. SPEAKERS BIO: Jim Jennings is the current president of The Sunshine State Towing Association, member of the Towing and Recovery Association of America, Professional Wrecker Operators of Florida, and on the board of the International Towing Museum and Wall of The Fallen in Chattanooga Tennessee. He currently is the president and owner of Emerald Transportation and managing partner of Severe Incident Recovery Team, LLC. Jim has been in the towing industry in South Florida for over 45 years with training that includes light-, medium- and heavy-duty towing and recovery certifications, Haz-mat certifications, driver training, Incident Management Train the Trainer, and SSTA, TRAA, NATA, and Ultra-Heavy Certifications

COURSE 4:

Get Off the Roadway Faster by Shifting Your Hydrocarbon Remediation Paradigm by Charles Fator, Randy Cook and Jessica Innocenti In an emergency spill response, time is of the essence. The longer a response takes, the larger the environmental impact of the spill and the bigger danger to the responder. By implementing real-time feedback and real-time treatment of the hydrocarbon spill, you know that you have completed the response role in the fastest method possible. This gets the responder off the roadway more quickly which gets them out of the danger zone—a win for both the tower and the environment! You will not only learn about the methods of hydrocarbon remediation; you will also see live demonstrations of it at work. SPEAKERS BIO: Charles D. Fator is the third-generation grandson of John D. Hanby, the founder and inventor of The Hanby Method and The Hanby Environmental TPH Field Test Kits for the immediate detection and analysis of hydrocarbons in water and soil samples. Hanby Environmental TPH Field Test Kits have been manufactured and deployed the world over for the last 33 years. Charles is now president and CEO of Hanby Environmental, a company which is creating a paradigm shift in the Remediation, Emergency / Spill Response Industry by implementation of "The New Hydrocarbon Remediation / Spill / Emergency Response."

her valued contributions having become a partner in the company. For Jessica, it is not just about taking excellent care of people with cutting-edge products and technology, it’s about making an impact and taking excellent care of the environment--her two reasons for choosing OMG Solutions.

COURSE 5:

A 4 Pillars Approach: The Psychology of Staying in Business by James E. Lewis Mindset – Passion – Training – Evaluation A guide for any business owner to protect themselves, make good decisions, and stay in business in a litigation-zealous world. SPEAKERS BIO: James E. Lewis is a driver, trainer, and manager in his third decade of experience in the towing industry. He is a published author with works in fiction, self-help, and technical guidance.

COURSE 6: President and owner of OMG Solutions, LLC James Randall (Randy) Cook has over 25 years of experience in the oil and gas industry and is the former owner of South Texas Production Services and Texas Tea Lease Service. With his tenured hands-on field experience, Randy gained knowledge of growing environmental concerns and the need for more emergency roadside assistance programs which is why the product line ELMN8 was created. The products treat hydrocarbon contamination in-situ (in place) and in real time via oxidation. The immediate conversion of hydrocarbon contamination into water and carbon dioxide are creating the new paradigm in faster and safer hydrocarbon cleanup. SPEAKERS BIO: Born out of a passion for marketing from a young age, Jessica Innocenti earned an associate degree in general business from Victoria College and a marketing/marketing management and general business degree from Western Governors University. Beginning as a Certified Lab Technician at OMG Solutions, Jessica has now grown in her role there because of

Towing in Future by Dan Messina With a background in business process analysis and information technology with Electronic Data Systems, Dan used this experience to create TowTrax using modern GPS technology in the next-generation platform. TowTrax offers a complete solution that rapidly connects the closest tow truck to the stranded motorist. The idea for the TowTrax platform came after Dan observed others try and fail to implement a successful electronic dispatch system for roadside assistance. TowTrax is the only product of its kind built by industry experts and designed to benefit everyone involved in a roadside assistance event. SPEAKERS BIO: In 2003, Dan Messina started his own towing company, starting out with just one truck and no accounts. In two short years, he was number one in the industry. In 2006, he founded Southwest Tow Operators, one of the largest tow associations in the U.S. We are proud to share Dan’s business advice with the towing industry N Volume 8 • Issue 4 | www.towprofessional.com | Tow Professional

Planned TIMS Event THE DETAILS Southern Tow Expo and Beach Bash by Tow Professional magazine is putting on a Planned TIMS (Traffic Incident Management Scenario) Event August 9, 2019 in the Orange Beach Event Center parking lot area from 8:15 p.m. to 9:15 p.m. with the Orange Beach Fire Department, Orange Beach Police Department, Orange Beach EMS Service, a WreckMaster-certified tower, and WreckMaster-certified towing instructors. THE PLAN The Will-Burt company will be sharing their equipment for us to light up the

scene. The Orange Beach first responders will be coming in as they would a real-life recovery and rescue. The Wreckmaster instructors will give a play-by-play description of the things happening over a PA system while highlighting the “Over One, Loose None” campaign to educate the public on the importance of moving over one lane when approaching a first responder on the side of the road to help save lives.

ed to join us for our STEBB events: DeepSea Fishing Trip on Thursday, our Beach Bash in the Orange Beach Event Center Parking Lot on Friday night, our party at the Flora-Bama on Saturday night, and our industry-leading, cutting edge seminars throughout our trade show. With exhibitors from all spectrums of the towing and EMS equipment industry, top products at great discounts are offered to all.

THE TOW EXPO The event is free to the public as a part of Southern Tow Expo and Beach Bash (STEBB), August 9-10th. You all are invit-

THE INVITE For more information and to register for Southern Tow Expo and Beach Bash, go to www.southerntowexpo.com

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Volume 8 â&#x20AC;¢ Issue 4 | www.towprofessional.com | Tow Professional

ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE

Join the MACH 1 Roadside Assistance Network NOW! Mach1 is the first on-demand app to truly automate and digitize the roadsideassistance industry. Our patent-pending process is changing the way roadside assistance gets done, making it easier, faster, and more cost-effective for both customers and providers. Provider Benefits: - Direct connect with customers - Automated dispatch, patent-pending dispatch system - Price window (You choose final priceno price haggling.) - Payment processing in app - GPS to customer - In-App communication (text or call customer in app) - Autopay every 24hours (48 rolling) - Rewards program - No monthly/subscription fees - App free to download - Veteran & First Responder program *Mach1 is veteran-owned and veteran providers supported.

Our app not only changes the experience for the consumer but also brings opportunities to service providers. Providers can sign-up to provide any combination of services they wish to and are not required to have a tow truck. The seven different services are: (1) tow truck, (2) out-of-fuel, (3) lockout, (4) dead battery, (5) flat tire, (6) mobile mechanic, (7) trip inspection, which can be updated daily. Our model especially allows industry providers to save time and money. Providers are all vetted to ensure safety is a first priority including background checks and safety training. Providers that can provide a current background check can apply to have it reviewed against Mach1’s community standards, or they can use Mach1’s automated checking process as well. Mach1 is helping the entire roadsideassistance community from customers and providers to even other auto clubs, insurance companies, and car dealerships with its technology licensing and whitelabeling options. Making sure the entire industry can benefit from what it’s built. We are building our network nationwide and will be launching our apps to customers soon. JOIN our network now! About the app: Mach1 is the first on-demand app to truly automate and digitize the roadsideassistance industry. Our patent-pending process is changing the way roadside assistance gets done, making it easier, faster, and more cost-effective for both

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customers and providers. We’ve built an automated platform that automatically dispatches the closest service provider to you, getting you help fast, right when you need it most. You can order roadside assistance without membership fees, and you’ll have the reassurance that your provider has been background checked and safety certified before they help. Here is what is included: • On-Demand (pay only when you need) • Automated dispatch • No cost to download • In-app communication • Vetted & insured providers • Faster response • GPS tracking for provider & customer • Safety training • Payment processing • Emergency contact notification • User-friendly www.provider.mach1services.com

ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE

Volume 8 â&#x20AC;¢ Issue 4 | www.towprofessional.com | Tow Professional

ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE key players in the towing industry to create a complete solution that worked for everyone.

TowTrax is the Complete Solution

By D a n M e s s in a - Tow Tr ax Dan Messina founded TowTrax when, after 20 years in towing, he saw a need for a new way of doing business. Pricing, payments, and poor communication between service providers and tow companies were persistent challenges that required a solution that benefitted both the towing industry and its customers. TowTrax is that solution – an innovative roadside-assistance platform and digital application that connects tow customers directly to the closest tow truck available. Back in the ’90s, after 20 years of managing data centers and large corporate accounts, Dan switched careers when he and his wife, Joann, started a tow company with one truck and no customers. Seven years later, with over 1,000 accounts, 17 trucks, and 35 employees, Dan sold the business and branched out into consulting. As an industry leader with over four decades of business and towing experience behind him, Dan worked as a business development consultant for tow company owners while doing seminars and writing for industry publications. In 2007, when Texas passed legislation requiring tow operators to obtain certification, licensing, and continuing education, Dan founded Southwest Tow Operators to help tow companies comply with the new state regulations. 46

Southwest Tow Operators grew rapidly, facilitating thousands of certifications and continues to test and educate tow operators today. Traveling the country, Dan took advantage of the opportunity to listen closely to the challenges affecting the towing industry directly from the business owners, towers, and motor clubs he encountered while educating, consulting, speaking at trade shows, and headlining seminars. After years of hearing many of the same complaints over and over from both sides of the provider/tow company relationship, Dan identified a need for a better process. Tow trucks were sitting idle, with stranded motorists sometimes just blocks away, but they were not able to connect. Motor clubs were complaining about overbilling, poor communication, and motorist wait times. Tow companies struggled with widespread contract issues, slow payments, and low pricing. All the while stranded motorists were waiting while both sides figured it out. There needed to be a solution that was a win for the service provider, a win for companies, and a win for the consumer. In 2016, Dan founded TowTrax to resolve industry problems while providing the consumer with better service. Since then, Dan and the TowTrax team have talked to hundreds of tow operators and

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With over two years of development and testing for the TowTrax app, TowTrax is the only roadside-assistance platform that exceeds industry standards and gives the stranded motorist access to the tow truck closest to their location. Working with motor clubs, law enforcement, insurance companies, and other providers, the TowTrax platform is the fastest way to get towing services. Utilizing GPS technology and leveraging relationships with tens of thousands of tow companies across the United States ensures nationwide coverage. Designed with state-of-the-art technology and industry insight, the TowTrax app pinpoints the people who need a tow, connects them with the closest tow truck, and gets them back on the road regardless of where they are located or what time of the day or night they need help. The No Cost Solution for Tow Companies and Service Providers Looking at other road-assistance platforms, Dan saw that some would charge the tow company for using their service, while others charged the service provider. It was important to him that TowTrax be a solution that not only offered the service at no charge for towers or providers but also put money back into the towing industry. Here is how the TowTrax business model works: • TowTrax continuously markets the TowTrax app to a variety of customers, and when a tow is requested, sends it to the closest truck in the area. • When a tow company partners with TowTrax, they join a network that lets them manage requests and track their truck locations in real-time while gaining a new revenue stream by getting tows they were never able to connect with before. • Service providers get a rebate on every tow processed through TowTrax. • Participating state towing associations can receive a 20-cent rebate on

ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE

every tow in their state processed through TowTrax. • Pricing is based on a market analysis of each type of service for light, medium, and heavy tow trucks and service trucks to ensure network service providers offer a fair price. TowTrax service providers don’t have to call multiple tow companies searching for an available tow truck. Tow companies, both large and small, reduce operating cost, eliminate price negotiations, and get paid faster while opening up a new revenue stream. Additionally, customers get a quicker response from the closest available tow truck.

Why TowTrax is THE Network for the Tow Industry As the only platform connecting stranded motorists with the closest tow truck, TowTrax has built a network of over 30,000 tow companies nationwide to locate and respond quickly to a tow request wherever they may be. TowTrax is different than other road-

side-assistance platforms, and the benefits continue to grow: 1. Free download for both the tow company and the service provider to use the app or use the online dashboard. 2. TowTrax does the marketing for tow companies, finding the tows and passing them on. 3. Find tow trucks for service providers struggling to find tows in remote areas. 4. Improves E.T.A.’s – sometimes halving service time by sending the closest tow truck. 5. Tow truck driver tracking when a driver is using app allowing tow companies to see where their drivers are. 6. No negotiation when both the tow company and service provider know the price for service upfront. 7. Simplified billing with detailed reporting to service providers for quicker payments. 8. Time stamps on each step of the

job for accurate tracking. 9. Reduce call-center expense when using TowTrax as a direct dispatch. 10. Standard fair pricing set for each area, in each state, by working with tow companies and service providers. 11. Service providers can white label TowTrax to brand the application and billing to look like part of their company. 12. Fast and easy set up for both tow companies and service providers. 13 If a service provider has trouble finding service in a certain area, the TowTrax team will go to that area and build a network of tow trucks to add to the platform. Looking at all this platform does for tow companies, service providers, and consumers, it’s clear why TowTrax is the best network for the towing industry. Get the TowTrax app. Join the TowTrax network. Enjoy a better way to tow. www.TowTrax.net

Volume 8 • Issue 4 | www.towprofessional.com | Tow Professional

Hooked UP Dri-Dek® Compartment Liner Tow professionals know that taking care of their trucks and equipment is as vitally important to us as it is to the public we serve. Durable vinyl compartment and toolbox liner Dri-Dek® has quietly found its way into thousands of tow trucks and service trucks across the country. Dri-Dek® comes as a 12” x 12” x 9/16” interlocking tile that just snaps together to make any size and then is trimmed to fit your compartment floor using a simple utility knife. The patented self-draining raised surface allows air to circulate and dry equipment while the flexible vinyl material cushions metal to metal and metal to fiberglass impact. How does it work? It’s the flexible legs (284 of them) under every square foot tile. They elevate and ventilate the textured surface. Fresh air, no rust, shields gear from impact wear and tear. You can specify by name, original genuine Dri-Dek® compartment liner from virtually every upfitter, wrecker-body manufacturer and truck-equipment dealer in the USA. Retro-fitting your existing fleet is simple and easy. Available in twelve colors. Made in the USA. Kendall Products the maker of Dri-Dek offers free samples at www.dri-dek.com; email info@dri-dek.com or call them at 800-847-9341. www.dri-dek.com

Tow Professional | Volume 8 • Issue 4 | www.towprofessional.com

Hooked UP TOW BUDDY The “Tow Buddy” debuted at the 2019 Florida Tow Show and was the talk of the show! The Tow Buddy is an HD wrecker 5thwheel hitch with a kingpin. It can easily be mounted on the wrecker’s wheel-lift crossbar in less than a minute. Simply back the wreck-er up with the Tow Buddy’s kingpin into the 5th wheel of a bobtail truck, and the rear end of the truck can now be lifted. If necessary, attach axle chains to prevent axles from dropping and causing dam-age to air bags. Also, depending on the situation, attach safety chains, towing lights, and a steering strap to the bobtail. Most trucks can be ready to tow in 5-6 minutes. Hard to tow trucks like car ar haulers and other low to the ground trucks, large axle trucks, and some ome of the new trucks with disc brakes are now easy to tow. Use it as a winch point on wrecked or bogged down trucks to pull them where they can be towed. wed. To order, get questions answered, watch for other helpful accessories, or see video of the Tow Buddy being used, you can find Tow Buddy online at www.Tow-Buddy.com. w-Buddy.com. “Tow Buddy” can also be seen on Facebook. It’s the fastest and easiest est way to tow a bobtail truck! www.TOW-BUDDY.com w.TOW-BUDDY.com

Volume 8 • Issue 4 | www.towprofessional.com | Tow Professional

Hooked UP HardMode Gear™ Beginning July of 2019, HardMode Gear™ lighting and power supply products will be available for sale. Products include cordless LED lights, lights on cord and reel, and power supply reels all designed and built to last. Order online at www.hardmodegear.com or call 260-824-3495 for details! HardMode Gear Includes: • 2C1140 Cordless LED light with bright side light, UV leak detection light, and bright flashlight on end • 2XM magnetic mount accessory for the 2C1140 - Direct the light exactly where you need it! • D3 Cordless LED with removeable battery pack and wall charger – Built in the USA! • NK-47 LED light on 25’ cord or 40’ reel – Built in the USA! • NK-47 Converter Kit – Change a fluorescent work light over to LED tech. • M1 Power Supply Reel with Lock-It-Down Technology™ – Never Accidently Unplug Again! More HardMode Gear™ will be added throughout the year, so check back often. www.hardmodegear.com

Tow Professional | Volume 8 • Issue 4 | www.towprofessional.com

Dealers place

Tow Professional | Volume 8 â&#x20AC;¢ Issue 4 | www.towprofessional.com

Dealers place

Volume 8 â&#x20AC;¢ Issue 4 | www.towprofessional.com | Tow Professional

Dealers place

Tow Professional | Volume 8 â&#x20AC;¢ Issue 4 | www.towprofessional.com

market place

Volume 8 â&#x20AC;¢ Issue 4 | www.towprofessional.com | Tow Professional

COMPANY

Access Tools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7

Kendall Products (Dri-Dek) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .56

Spin Fleet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .45

Austin Hinds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .52

Lodar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31

Steck Mfg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14

Austin Insurance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .45

Mach 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15

sureEcosystem . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .43

Auto Data Direct . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12

Marking Pen Depot . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .55

The Will-Burt Company . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25

Beacon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Inside Front Cover

McMahon Truck Centers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .53

TOPS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .43

Best Tools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .33

Mike Keith Insurance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .55

Tow Professional . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .54

Custer Products . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17

Mobile Create USA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .33

Custom Built . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22

Nino Prints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .55

Dynamic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .53

OMG Solutions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11

East Coast Truck & Trailer Sales . . . . . . . . . . . .54

Phoenix USA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30

TowTrax . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .49

ECM Performance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14

ProLift . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .48

TRAO . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13

FlowStop . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11

Quest Towing Services, LLC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .45

United Plastic Fabricating . . . .Inside Back Cover

FTI Groups . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .43

Recovery Billing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21

VTS Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23

Hal Kresser . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .55

Ricks Truck . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .54

Waters Truck . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .51

Hanby Environmental . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11

Robert Young . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .52

Weiss Ins . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .55

Hide-a-Lift . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .55

RP Consulting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .49

Winches, Inc . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .37

HINO . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Back Cover

RV Wheel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .55

Holly's Towing Dispatch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .50

Safe T Lite . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .48

INA Towing Network . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18

Safety Vision . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27

Jerr-Dan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8,9

Southern Tow Expo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .38,39

Tow Professional | Volume 8 â&#x20AC;¢ Issue 4 | www.towprofessional.com

Towbook . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 Towing Museum . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .34,35 TowMate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1

WreckMaster . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19 Wrecker Rentals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .52 XINSURANCE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5 Zellner Insurance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .50