Tow Professional - Volume: 10 Issue: 1 by Over the Mountain Media, Inc

lebrating e C TM

Professional Your Resource for Towing & Recovery

YEARS

Volume 10 • Issue 1 • 2021 www.towprofessional.com

LIGHTING A Tornado Hit Hurst Towing (In our prayers)

A DIVE INTO THE LATEST PRODUCTS & TECHNOLOGY

PLUS: HAZMAT RESPONDER NETWORK SPILL

CONTAINMENT

JERRDAN.COM

BECAUSE THE WORK DEMANDS IT.

At Jerr-Dan, we’re making heads turn whether on the job or on the street. Strength and style. For the best of both, count on Jerr-Dan.

HEAD-TURNING PERFORMANCE.

TOW PROFESSIONAL

CONTENTS

6| 8| 10 | 10 | 14 | 14 | 15 |

ServiCase TRAO

WWW.TOWPROFESSIONAL.COM

FEATURES:

INDUSTRY NEWS TOWING & RECOVERY

Volume 10 • Issue 1

lebrating Ce

24 |

Lighting

TowMate 10

TowBoy PWOF

YEARS

WEBFLEET

24 |

Will-Burt

30 |

TowMate

36 |

Golight

40 |

Custer

TRAA

an expert Witness BY JAMES E. LEWIS ///

16 |

How to deal with an EXPERT WITNESS

44 | 48 |

INSIGHTFUL TALK BY DAN MESSINA ///

20 |

RP Consulting

Reinventing

the Wheel during A PANDEMIC

What will 2021 hold for the Towing Industry

52 |

You Can Be

the New Game in Town

ON THE COVER A tornado hit Hurst Towing on the evening of January 26th. You are in our thoughts & prayers. 2

Tow Professional | Volume 10 • Issue 1

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IN EVERY ISSUE 4| 56 |

Editor’s Letter Dealers Place

62 | 64 |

Market Place Ad Index

PUBLISHER’S

LETTER

Volume 10 • Issue 1

lebrating

WWW.TOWPROFESSIONAL.COM

YEARS

2021 loading… 2021, a New Year, a new administration in the White House and COVID-19 still waiting in the wings! This marks our anniversary of 10 years committed to giving owners a product that they may use to educate themselves about what equipment & services are available and beneficial to their business. We are proud to serve this industry and hope to be here to serve for many more years. This issue is a feature on lighting products. We will hear from some of the top manufacturers in the industry and get valuable information on the products that can keep you safe and get the job done! In this issue we will also highlight hazmat training, hazmat remediation, & spill control products. Find out how your company can generate an additional revenue stream during a pandemic as we look at FlowStop products designed by a former tower, created to emphasize safety, and designed to put money in your tills with every use. We will hear from Dan Messina with his “Insightful Thought” looking into what 2021 will hold for our industry. Jim Lewis shares his knowledge on “How to Deal with an Expert Witness.” Do not miss this one! As we venture through 2021 and try to find our new “Normal,” let us start by offering more empathy, understanding, and a bit more patience to all that we encounter. This world could surely use it at this time. Till next issue, be safe and may your family be blessed!

Darian Weaver President & Publisher, Tow Professional P.S. Lynn Hurst owner of Hurst Towing suffered a direct hit from a tornado that hit Alabama on 1/26. I am just asking the community to lift up Lynn & his family in prayer!

Professional Your Resource for Towing & Recovery

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

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

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Chris Anderson – Towmate Perry Beaty – FlowStop/Hazmat Bruce Bender – TRAO Dave Cotsmire – Wilburt Brad Custer – Custer Products Mike Seamon – Florida Tow Show James E. Lewis Dan Messina

Executive and Advertising Offices 2007 Old Montgomery Hwy, Suite B Birmingham, AL 35244 Toll free: 888-802-8544 Fax: 205-978-1550 www.towprofessional.com Tow Professional is published nine times a year by Over The Mountain Media, Inc., 2007 Old Montgomery Hwy., Suite B, Birmingham, Alabama, 35244, USA. Tow Professional is distributed free to qualified subscribers. Non-qualified subscription rates are $57.00 per year in the U.S. and Canada and $84.00 per year for foreign subscribers (surface mail). U.S. Postage paid at Birmingham, Alabama and additional mailing offices. Tow Professional is distributed to qualified Towing & Recovery’s Top Decision Makers. Publisher is not liable for all content (including editorial and illustrations provided by advertisers) of advertisements published and does not accept responsibility for any claims made against the publisher. It is the advertiser’s or agency’s responsibility to obtain appropriate releases on any item or individuals pictured in an advertisement. Reproduction of this magazine in whole or in part is prohibited without prior written permission from the publisher.

For a new free subscription, address changes or corrections, please visit www.towprofessional.com and click on the “subscribe” tab.

Tow Professional | Volume 10 • Issue 1

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Custom Insurance Coverage for the Towing & Repo Industry

• All-in-one approach •

Available in all 50 states

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AGENT AND ALL INQUIRIES ARE WELCOME XINSURANCE is powered by Evolution Insurance Brokers, LC (“EIB”), an excess and surplus line insurance brokerage. XINSURANCE is a DBA of EIB, which is domiciled in and has its principal place of business in Sandy, Utah. This insurance product is offered by an unlicensed surplus lines insurer.

INDUSTRY NEWS TOWING & RECOVERY

ServiCase Breakdown Software Provides Opportunity to Get Listed with Carriers and Fleet Managers ServiCase Offers Free Starter Listing

reakdowns occur every day and everywhere across the country. Fleet managers and drivers often do not know who to call. ServiCase Breakdown Management Software has been created to help fleets locate service providers. This new tool is free to fleets and carriers and allows them to enter their own breakdown information, locate and assign jobs by either calling service providers directly or sending the call information electronically. When a breakdown occurs, the carrier creates a new case providing information about the vehicle, its location and the service type needed. ServiCase scours the service provider database to identify the best matches for the job and additionally factors in information including the carrier’s own ratings and/or preferred status for providers with

whom they have experience. ServiCase is different from other search services in that the provider is not charged for events or jobs they receive. There is no upcharge for receiving the call and under no circumstance does ServiCase attempt to control rates. Nothing is marked up because payment is made directly to the Service Provider. There is never any bidding for top ad spots. There are no variable fees for big markets. ServiCase allows providers to fully control their rates and listings. ServiCase is providing a free “Starter Listing” to service providers when they register and/or update their company information and services. To register, visit www.servicase.com/2021.

NEED MORE HEAVY DUTY WORK? From the people who brought you towPartners and sureEcosystem... We invite you to try ServiCase!

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No charge for events or jobs No bidding for top spots No fees for big markets No markups No upcharge for calls

TO GET STARTED WITH YOUR FREE LISTING, UPDATE YOUR COMPANY INFORMATION AT WWW.SERVICASE.COM/2021 6

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STRYKER ST SERIES

ST SERIES FEATURES • Multiple Unit Selector Function -Allows for independent control of 2 units with 1 remote • Home Position Function - On-Command return to 0° home • New Wireless Technology Benefits - Simultaneous Pan + Tilt - Multiple users can operate lights in close proximity without interference • Smart Programming Logic - Quick and simple pairing without dipswitches • Flourescent Remote Buttons • UV and Saltwater Resistant • Stainless Steel Mounting Brackets (perm mount) • 5 Year Limited Warranty

GOLIGHT INC | 800.557.0098 | 308.278.3131 | golight.com

INDUSTRY NEWS TOWING & RECOVERY

2021 Midwest Regional Tow Show aka “Family Towing Affair” in Mason, Ohio.

e are extremely excited to announce that plans have already began to take place for the 2021 Midwest Regional Tow Show aka “Family Towing Affair” in Mason, Ohio. Although the pandemic took away the opportunity for everyone to attend trade shows during 2020, we are ready to come back “BIG” in 2021! With 43 years of having our Tow Show, we pride ourselves in presenting a show that you cannot only conduct business at but also bring the family and have a great weekend of family fun! This event will be held for our 14th year at the Great Wolf Lodge Indoor Waterpark. This show is an Indoor/Outdoor show. The Midwest Regional Tow Show gives you an opportunity to meet with your favorite industry vendors as well as meet new people and explore new products available to the industry. We also schedule many educational seminars at no cost to you because we understand the importance of gaining extra knowledge to protect your safety and business. Remember, we want to give you and your family time to relax and have fun as well as gaining extra knowledge and finding great deals on products, so we provide several events while in attendance…. Thursday evening, we have a fun auction. A lot of great items are auctioned off with proceeds going to our Injured Driver’s fund. There is free food at this auction and a cash bar. Friday and Saturday nights, we have secured children’s events scheduled with fun crafts and prizes so that you can feel at ease about signing your kids in and letting them have fun while you enjoy other events. Friday evening, we have entertainment out on the Pavilion with free food, cash bar and a live band. You can dress for the occasion and remember to put on those comfy dancing shoes! Saturday evening, Miller Industries provides food and a live demo for everyone’s enjoyment. This event draws a large crowd! On Sunday, while the vendors are packing up at Noon, we provide an Awards Banquet where trophies are handed out and children, adults and companies are recognized for various achievements! Make sure to bring your cameras to this event as well as your sweet tooth because there is also a yummy “Ice Cream Social”! The Midwest Regional Tow Show is an Association Show, not a magazine show, therefore we need your support and attendance to continue to work hard for the Towing Industry. We continually do our best to assist with

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positive changes that would impact the towing industry as a whole through many legislative processes. We understand how valuable every person in this industry is and how much you give up providing an essential service to the public. For this, we commend and thank you from the bottom of our hearts! Also, I would like to thank every vendor that comes out, provides such great product and service to everyone in attendance! We do understand that without your exceptional work and commitment, our show could not be as successful as it has been for so many years! Thank you to all vendors and attendees! We cannot wait to see you September 23rd thru 26th of 2021. Please follow us on Facebook…. Midwest Regional Tow Show or Towing and Recovery Association of Ohio for updates or www.midwesttowshow.org .

Bruce Bender Administrator 513-791-3555 Bruce@trao.org P. S…. Watch for Room Reservations to open March 15, 2021

JOIN US

43RD

SEPTEMBER 23RD-26TH, 2021 GREAT WOLF LODGE MASON, OHIO Hosted By

C E L E B R AT I N G 4 3 Y E A R S B E C A U S E O F Y O U !

Don’t Miss a Great Time at a Great Location

• Live Demos • Seminars • Light Show • Beauty Contest • Ovwwer 100 Exhibitors • Safety Fashion Show

For Show and Hotel Information, Contact Bruce Bender

513-831-7469 • bruce@trao.org

• Thursday — Golf Outing • Thursday — Live Auction • Friday Night — A Party to Remember with Zack Attack • Friday Night — Candle Light Vigil • Saturday Night — Miller Industries Customer Appreciation

midwesttowshow.org

INDUSTRY NEWS TOWING & RECOVERY

2021 TowMate Catalog Is Now Available!

id you know TowMate, by all accounts the authority on wireless tow lights, has a catalog full of those along with a wide array of other lighting and safety systems? Well, their 2021 version has just been completed! Contact them today to request a copy or click the link below to see a digital version

Tow Boy - Service providers are taking back the towing industry

s a towing professional for over 10 years, my team has done our due diligence of travelling an extensive number of miles to support our customers. Often, we are accepting service calls from a third-party provider, receiving a much lower rate than the business can sustain in the long-term, and interacting with customers that are not satisfied with the time it takes to get quality roadside service. The global roadside assistance market has been eager for improvement for years. So as an entrepreneur I wanted to bridge that gap. The digital transformation continues with a mobile application solution that focuses on real-time transactions between the customer and service provider, and eliminates the need for a third-party provider. Tow Boy is a self-service mobile application that allows for direct contact between the customer and the towing professional with no third-party intervention. The customer will see the services offered, the rate they will pay, be able to take pictures of the current state of their

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vehicle, and see drivers that are in their area to choose from. The towing professional will see what is wrong with the vehicle, accept the job, and give the customer a live GPS view once they are in route, with an accurate ETA. The service provider will take photos of vehicle at pick-up and drop-off to ensure customer satisfaction. The Tow Boy application is currently in development and planned for release in the summer of 2021. Call 507-720-1194 for more Information

MOBILE LIGHT TOWERS & SCENE LIGHTING More Revenue Up to $250/Hour

Extreme Output Long-Life LEDs

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RUGGED LED LIGHTS BUILT FOR YOUR WORLD 330-684-4000 www.nightscan.com

INDUSTRY NEWS TOWING & RECOVERY

2021 Florida Tow Show Spring break for towers in sunny Florida will once again give towers a place to see new equipment and have fun with towers across the country. Thursday: Jerr-Dan Kick Off Party Night with free food and drinks along with demos. Friday: Miller Industries Street Party with free food, drinks along with demos. Saturday: The show winds down with a Jerr-Dan Poolside Party. Exhibitors will have lots of equipment and services to show both Friday & Saturday 9AM-6PM both outside and inside the convention halls. Free driver training class on Saturday, business seminars along with a beautiful pool and lazy river for the whole family to enjoy.

Kids will have their own event with snacks andT-Shirts sponsored by Allstate Roadside Services on Saturday starting at 9AM. Make your hotel reservations early and plan on a great time in Florida. Check FloridaTowShow.com for more information and updates.

Leading telematics providers Webfleet Solutions and Lytx join forces on WEBFLEET Video an integrated video-based solution for enhanced driver and vehicle safety • Pooled expertise in video telematics and fleet management helps safeguard drivers and other road users • The fully integrated WEBFLEET Video solution will be accessible via one of the world’s leading telematics providers and part of Bridgestone, is today announcing a new collaboration with Lytx, a leading global provider of video telematics solutions for fleets, to offer an integrated videobased solution to better visualize how fleets are performing on the road. WEBFLEET Video is a seamless integration of Lytx’s camera technology into Webfleet Solutions’ fleet management system. Fleet operators will be able to access and manage both their vehicles and their in-vehicle cameras via WEBFLEET, the award-winning fleet management platform, offering a single interface experience. WEBFLEET Video combines Webfleet Solutions’ vehicle and driving data with Lytx’s advanced machine vision (MV) and artificial intelligence (AI) powered camera technology to give fleet operators insight into critical events, helping to prevent accidents, increase safety for the driver, enhance fleet efficiency and reduce the frequency and cost of insurance claims. “We are convinced that Lytx, the leading company in video telematics, is theright partner to introduce our fully integrated video solution in WEBFLEET. Together, we can even better meet the needs of the fleets we serve with increased safety and efficiency. WEBFLEET Video will also provide clear evidence in the event of road traffic incidents. This protects the driver against fraudulent claims, while also helping the company to avoid lengthy legal proceedings and to refute incorrect damage or injury claims”, says Raj Bajaj, Vice President of Webfleet Solutions International. The combination of video and telematics data safeguards drivers 14

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and fleets in a number of ways. For example, WEBFLEET uses driving behavior data on things like idling or harsh braking to provide actionable insights andreal-time feedback that supports drivers to drive more safely and sustainably. With the addition of Lytx’ video technology, fleet managers now have a better understanding of why these events occur. They can protecttheir drivers from non-fault claims and coach them to achieve a higher levelof road safety. “We are excited to combine our expertise to equip many more customers worldwide with best-in-class solutions”, says Damian Penney, vice president, Europe at Lytx. “Many fleet managers today leverage more than one technology, which can be a lot to juggle. Finding opportunities to consolidate is crucial. Through this integration, customers will be able to seamlessly access industry-leading video-based driver behavior and fleet management insights.” For more information about Webfleet Solutions, please visit webfleet.com and for more information about Lytx, please visit www.lytx.

Going Virtual: TRAA’s Legislative Action Workshop Tuesday, March 9 - Wednesday, March 10, 2021

ue to the ongoing pandemic, travel restrictions in many states, and the recent events in our nation’s Capitol, TRAA’s 3rd annual Legislative Action Workshop is going virtual for 2021! While this wasn’t the original intent, we are excited to try this wonderful event virtually. Many trade associations across the country have gone virtual in 2020 and 2021 with great success. We’ve still got critical legislative work to do! As the industry’s only national “hill day”, our goal is to advance the association’s legislative goals specifically: • national move over law provisions • weights and measure amendments (23 U.S.C. 127) • combating federal increases to insurance requirements (Moving Forward Act H.R. 2) • under 21 driver regulations (FMCSA 2018-0346-1124)

This is your opportunity to meet with members of Congress and make real, substantial change for the whole community. If you haven’t been to one of our last two events, this is your chance to participate without having to take time away to travel to DC. You don’t need prior legislative experience to participate! Register now to reserve your spot!

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Learn More at BeaconSoftCo.com | (866) 437-6653 www.towprofessional.com

Volume 10 • Issue 1

Tow Professional

an expert Witness BY JAMES E. LEWIS ///

How to deal with an

EXPERT WITNESS T

medium and heavy-duty trucks (gasoline, diesel, hybrid, electric, compressed natural gas (CNG)) motorcycles and watercraft. I then branched out, using my experience in the towing and trucking industries, and was allowed to give written opinions and testify in court concerning towing and recovery operations and policies, DOT/FMCSAgoverned trucking/transportation,

his year marks my 20th year as an expert witness. In 2001, I started working directly for a law firm near Philadelphia as an expert witness in the fields of dealership fraud, lemon law, breach of warranty, diminution in vehicle value, automotive repair and maintenance, dealership service, and sales policy and the appraisal of automobiles, recreational vehicles, 16

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general transportation operations and safety policies and procedures. I didn’t write this to have you read my curriculum vitae. I’m saying that people who work around lawsuits involving the towing and trucking worlds have similar court certifications. In my last 20 years, I’ve been directly involved in 42 towing liability cases, 18 trucking liability cases, 22

trucking industry repair downtime cases. I lost count several years back at 12,000 lemon law and breach of warranty cases. Yes - twelve thousand. I’ve also written five books on automotive ownership, legal matters, and the trucking/towing industries, mostly aimed at business survival. I’ve testified in trials, mediations, and arbitration hearings more than 800 times. I’ve also been deposed, counting all types of cases, 166 times. One of those depositions lasted two and a half days. Please bear in mind that the towing and trucking liability cases take a lot more case work, inspections, accident reconstruction, and attending depositions of the involved parties. Lemon law cases revolve around a diminution in value – the value of a vehicle lost because of a negative service history or meeting the standards of a state’s lemon law. I’m telling you all of this to get to my point. Please let me explain how to work with an expert witness who may be working on either side of a case with which you are involved. There are standards that an expert witness must maintain, no matter what field the expert is involved with. An expert should always remain neutral. The other side of the lawsuit that an expert is working on always wants to tie together the fact that the expert is getting paid by one side, so they may speak or write in favor of that side. It does happen. I’ve seen “lies by omission” told my someone who conveniently leaves out some factor that matters. I’ve seen experts for car manufacturers and plaintiff’s counsel (usually working for a personal injury attorney) that will argue against any point brought up, regardless of whether it’s the correct thing to do.

As an expert, plainly put, it’s my job to try and destroy the credibility of the case on the other side, and usually involves killing the credibility of the other expert. I am now accustomed to being attacked, although at first, it really bothered me. After a couple hundred cases, I realized it was just part of the game. The most important interaction you have with an expert witness isn’t in court. At that time, it’s too late to change your strategy or testimony. The time that matters is when the expert comes to your shop to inspect a piece of equipment or a vehicle involved in an accident. They’ll base their expert report on what happens there, and the report is very critical. It actually limits what an expert can talk about in court. If it isn’t in the report, the information cannot be included in testimony. Several times, I’ve dealt with a tow operator who opened the storage yard for our appointment, and then commenced to talk freely about the case. This is horrible, preventable, and very bad for your company’s involvement. I’ve had a tow driver tell me how his buddy Roger screwed up on the call and caused extra damage to the car, and then this second-hand information guy started to tell me and the accompanying attorney all about the crash victim’s personal business, the type of day they were having, and whether he thought the crash victim or the other party was at fault. Please fully understand that these visiting attorneys and expert witnesses are not your friends, your buddies, or your coworkers. You and your crew may talk openly about a wreck scene or particular recovery, but that’s a discussion that needs to stay within the confines of your shop. Anything, and I mean anything,

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Volume 10 • Issue 1

Tow Professional

New Tow Tracking Device

Future-proof truck tracking and fleet management for any type of vehicle. Let’s drive business. Further. For more information:

webfleet.com/towing Call: 205-728-9135 timothy.smith@webfleet.com

an expert Witness BY JAMES E. LEWIS ///

that is seen, heard, or otherwise discovered during an inspection visit can be used against you. That’s why the term for this period of time that attorneys use to gather information is called “discovery.” Anything they discover while at your business can be used – for either side. If you have one of those guys or girls who loves to talk too much, it’d be a good thing if they weren’t present during the inspection visit. And if that person has to testify in a deposition or trial, make sure they’re coached to stick to only the facts that THEY know, and answer questions with the shortest possible answer. Attorneys are masters at discovering information. That’s their job, and what they’ve trained to do since their first days in law school. If you answer a question with too

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many words, or leave an answer “open,” it can easily lead to a long series of follow-up questions you or your people may not be prepared to answer. As a company owner or manager, you’d do well to handle the visit yourself, only give greetings or pleasantries, and don’t begin discussions or answer questions related to the accident involved. If they have a question about the tow bill, give them the invoice, and don’t say a word. If they have a question, they’ll ask. Volunteering extra or needless information can get you into legal trouble. I’m not trying to scare you into hiding in your office when these people arrive, or to remain without speech if you’re called for a deposition. Do your homework, consult your attorney or have them present. Answer with “yes” or “no” as much as possible. The old phrase “Loose lips sink ships” could not be more accurate than in the legal industry. Many people don’t realize the impact of a couple of words written or spoken. One technician found out the hard way. This isn’t related to towing, but I’m sure you can understand how a statement by one of your people might have a similar impact. In 2002, I was the expert witness for a federal level class action lawsuit against Hyundai for emissions and drivability problems. There were over 400 plaintiffs. As the lawyers were getting ready to go forward in federal court in New Jersey, I had reviewed a bunch of work orders and support documents on over 50 vehicles that I’d picked at random. On one particular work order, I brought something to the attention of my managing partner.

He quickly sent out a subpoena for a mid-level technician and his service manager from a Hyundai dealer in Scranton, Pennsylvania. I could tell that when we got set up on the first day of trial and they arrived, those two guys had no idea why they were at a federal level trial in New Jersey. The court/plaintiff’s attorneys/ defense attorneys went to the normal process of opening up the witnesses. The technician was the first one up. He gave all his personal information including where he worked. Lawyers from my firm started reviewing repair orders that he had done on a particular car. For information, there are three Cs used in work orders: complaint, cause, and correction. On this one particular visit for a check engine light and rough running engine on a Hyundai Sonata, the service advisor wrote the customer’s complaint as “check engine light and engine runs rough.” As an obvious joke, the technician wrote the cause as “sh***y Hyundai quality”... And the correction was to be “set it on fire and roll it into a river.” To understand the depth of this “joke” …. a Hyundai Certified Technician working at a Hyundai franchise dealership just expressed a written opinion – and his opinion carried a lot of weight with the judge and jury. It was very ugly from then on out. That tech would have never guessed that something he wrote on the back of a hardcopy repair order would have him testifying in federal court a year later. Hyundai lost, and paid $3.4 million to the group of plaintiffs. .

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Volume 10 • Issue 1

Tow Professional

Integrates with every major towing software Our latest integration, HAAS Alert, protects your drivers and help save lives.

Let’s drive business. Further. For more information:

webfleet.com/towing Call: 205-728-9135 timothy.smith@webfleet.com

INSIGHTFUL TALK BY DAN MESSINA ///

What will 2021 hold for the

Towing Industry

ell, we survived 2020, but not without a lot of pain and suffering. No tow shows, companies going out of business, owners cutting employees. Let us face it, 2020 sucked. Our hope is it cannot get worse in 2021 or can it? I do not want to get into politics, but we have a new president, and he

Tow Professional | Volume 10 • Issue 1

has already shaken up things. With executive orders, let us look at some of the things that will impact your business. We have an executive that stopped the pipeline that kept our gas prices low. I’m guessing we can expect our gas prices to go up. As business owners, we will find a

www.towprofessional.com

way to pass this expense back to the consumer. That means our prices go up, which means we will lose business. Minimum wage goes to $15.00 an hour. Some companies will cut staff which will impact the quality of service they provide. Others will increase salaries raising expenses.

New Asset Tracker in Webfleet Solutions

Now you can locate and monitor all of your vehicles, trailers and other powered assets with one easy to use system.

3. 4. 5.

With the pandemic going on, will towers be allowed to cross state lines without problems? Masks will be required, and trucks will have to be cleaned constantly. With tow shows in jeopardy of being canceled, vendors cannot sell product, and companies cannot www.towprofessional.com

upgrade their equipment. I am guessing that a lot of towers hunt. That tells me they may be conservative so we know they are already affected by the results of the election. I cannot imagine what will happen when the government tries to take their guns. I was talking to a president of a towing association, |

Volume 10 • Issue 1

Tow Professional

Let’s drive business. Further. For more information:

webfleet.com/towing Call: 205-728-9135 timothy.smith@webfleet.com

INSIGHTFUL TALK BY DAN MESSINA ///

and he told me vendors are looking for ways to sell their product without going to tow shows. They had a year to come up with new ways to sell product without tow shows. In 2021 I think tow companies are going to have to find new ways to get business. Tow companies have been calling me and asking for help. They need me to find them some tow. In the past, tow companies do not usually market their services, especially through social media. They usually wait for the consumer to call them, or go out and find accounts like body shops, or trucking companies. The reason they call TowTrax is because I find tows for tow companies. Its time we start thinking out of the box on how to generate new revenue. When I call them up and ask them to register with TowTrax so I can send them business, they tell me they do not want their drivers taking calls directly. Most bigger companies cannot get past taking jobs that do not go through their dispatcher. I understand they want control because they have priorities on calls. Many owners tell me they do not want their drivers taking calls because they are not smart enough, and yet they trust them with a $200,000 truck and allow let their $10 an hour dispatcher, oops! - I mean $15 an hour dispatcher control their business. 22

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Sooner or later these companies are going to have to modify the way they do business. I am not telling them to change the way they do business. I am just asking them to look at new ways to address the problem. There is a company out of California that came up with a way of towing cars in Texas. They advertise in Texas with a local number and when they get a call it goes to their California office. They take the call and call up tow companies in Texas and give them the call. The local companies are losing business to out of state tow companies because they are not marketing their services. Someone was smart enough to think out of the box. I do not know what the next six months holds for the country. There is talk of a civil war and our country will be destroyed if this happens. But our new administration, with all their changes they talk about will also change the world as we know it. As business owners we have a lot to think about and we are distracted thinking about things like: 1. Open borders 2. Abortions worldwide 3. Electric cars and tow trucks 4. Defunding law enforcement 5. The green deal 6. Trillions of dollars in debt 7. How will all this affect the stock market and other investments 8. What other taxes will be applied that we do not know about 9. They want to use our taxpayer dollars to bail out states that have been destroyed by decisions made by government With all this to worry about, we still have our business to run. I think it’s time for our industry to work together and come up with ways to survive in a world that is changing. As I mentioned earlier, I have some things that I am doing for other companies and I would like to talk with others and come up with some new ideas for our industry. I want any interested parties to reach out to me, and I will put together a zoom call so we can have a discussion on how to address 2021 going forward. What we have to make sure does not happen is that we divide the industry and fight with each other. 2021 is going to be hard to survive in without us adding to the problem. If you would like to be a part of change the future call me at 469-774-0340 or e-mail me at dan@ towtrax.net. God bless and let’s all have a great year.

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LIGHTING

WRECKER LIGHTING The Right Tools for the Job

By David Cotsmire-Director Marketing and Commercial Product Management, Will-Burt

ighttime operations can be the toughest of them all. Limited visibility for you and oncoming drivers create deadly hazards that are difficult to avoid. Your wrecker may have all types of lights covering it, but you may still not be able to clearly see what you are doing. And worse yet, you may be blinding oncoming traffic and even yourself. Let’s review the various types of lighting available and how they can be deployed to help you safely complete the job and maybe even make a few extra bucks. 24

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First, we must face the facts; not all lighting is created equal and quality lighting can be expensive, or is it? So, we will start with the basics. Many of us have been around long enough to remember halogen lights. Lots of light, lots of heat, requiring lots of power (a generator in many cases). And really, not too long of a life either – nothing like the need to disassemble a light fixture to replace a halogen bulb, right? How much time does that take and how much does it really cost you when time is money? And do not forget that

generator you had to buy when all those great lights were delivered. Now LED lights are becoming the predominant lighting source just about everywhere you look from your home, to your auto, to the streetlights overhead, and so on. The LED promise is lower power consumption and longer life. Like everything else, it boils down to the adage, “you get what you pay for.” A high-quality LED light made from top bin LEDs and thermal management circuitry can last up to 50,000 hours – that is well over

4,000 full nights of work. Typically, LEDs with long warranties will be constructed with these high-quality components. Low quality LED lamps will typically be lower in price and will have shorter warranties; however, they may be just as bright – for a while. Consider the time it will take to replace an LED light fixture, whether it is a stand-alone fixture bolted to your truck or a retrofit LED headlight you installed – time is money. Now that we have covered the LED light basics, let’s figure out how to get that light where you need it.

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A light tower is the ultimate tool when it comes to lighting up an accident scene or job site. The advent of the LED light gave manufacturers the ability to offer what was once only able to be installed on a fire truck with a full-size generator to be customized for the specific needs of the tow professional who works every day and night. A misconception about light towers is that they are too big or expensive for anything other than the outfit that has heavy wreckers and rotators. Thanks to the lightweight and compact design of folding light towers, they can be used on any vehicle that has a roof! The roof surface on a standard rollback has more than enough area for a lightweight folding light tower. Prices have come down in recent years making them affordable for nearly every business. What benefits does a light tower deliver? Simply put, it provides more light from a higher height. Break it down a bit further – light from a higher point allows the illumination to be focused and spread over a wider area. This gives you more coverage and provides a safer work site. Also, the light from this higher vantage will not blind you. The light is created from above like the sun. This is also important if you are working a traffic scene, it will not blind oncoming traffic. A light tower also gives you the ability to rotate and tilt the lights, so you can focus on the location that you need regardless of the position of the truck or boom. Higher end light towers 26

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offer the ability to control two banks of light separately so that you can cast the light a full 360°. Light towers are available in two basic configurations: folding, which are designed to be installed on a flat surface and vertical which requires less surface area to install and are typically available in higher heights. A light tower gives you the ability to take on nearly any job at night. We have seen examples of house demolitions, moving heavy equipment, and providing emergency lighting for municipal emergencies. A light tower, which is always with the vehicle, frees an operator from relying on the fire department or a second crew with a tow behind light trailer both of which can cost extra money or be unreliable. Let’s face it, you are always the last to leave the scene. The light towers’ safety benefits are obvious. You can see to perform the job in near daylight conditions AND most importantly, oncoming traffic will be able to see you. Not so obvious are the various ways you can make more money. Some states allow the use of a light tower to be charged as auxiliary equipment necessary for the job. We have heard that some charge up to $250 / hour while some are in the $250-$500 range / job. Another way is to take on jobs that are more easily done at night when there is less traffic on the road. Moving heavy equipment or demolition jobs are common.

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LIGHTING

Light towers can be installed as part of the original truck build or as a retrofit. NRC and Jerr-Dan have created customized body options available from the factory on their heavy wreckers and rotators that allow a dealer or end-user to easily install a Night Scan HDT light tower from Will-Burt. The installation is straight forward, and most shops can install a tower in a day or less – there is a good chance you can install it yourself if you are mechanically inclined. A light tower is an investment that will pay off by giving you safer working conditions, enabling you to do the job more efficiently and enabling you to make more money. Another critical lighting tool that comes in handy when a light tower is not in the budget, is a remote light positioner. It is perfect for one-man jobs that require you to multi-task. A remote light positioner can be mounted just about anywhere on your wrecker – roof, headache rack, or any flat surface. A bright spot and or flood light is wireless controlled and can be positioned to illuminate your scene. Need to move, just reposition the light with the remote control. This light can also be used while you are driving the truck to locate house numbers or license plates. These start at about $500. A lighting tool that has made its way from the fire industry to towing is the LED light pole. These might not be as sexy as a light tower or as flexible as a remote light positioner, but they can get the job done when you are 28

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the scene. Roofs, headache racks, booms and toolboxes are popular locations for work lights. Work lights are lightweight and draw a small amount of power, making them easy to install. Typically drilling a few holes and connecting two wires is all it takes to get up and running. Good quality lights can be had for as little

as $100 and will increase safety and efficiency. As with anything else, the right tool for the right job will make your life easier. The right lighting tool can be a sound investment, returning improved safety, efficiency and increasing your revenue.

on a budget. A light pole is mounted on a vertical surface that is relatively flat. A popular spot is beside the driver and passenger doors where it can serve double duty as a grab bar. The light poles come in a variety of styles. One popular style is a telescoping pole. This is where one pole stores inside the other. The towman pushes the top pole up and locks it in place with a simple turn of a friction lock. The light can be manually adjusted to point directly at the work area. The single LED light can provide up to 20,000 lumens, illuminating a very large area. Adding LED work lights to the right spots on a wrecker is a budget friendly way to get more light on www.towprofessional.com

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THE TUNNEL IS LIGHTT

veryone is familiar with the idea of “the light at the end of the tunnel.” But what if the tunnel itself is one of light that just goes on and on? So it would seem is the case with TowMate’s product development even in these trying times. At the beginning of the pandemic and amid shutdowns around the world, nobody knew how long it was going to last. Businesses were closing left and right, supply chains interrupted, and if one managed to stay open there were many who had to lay off large numbers of employees just to keep the lights on. Fortunately, TowMate

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was able to navigate through what seems to have been the worst of times, temporarily furloughing about half of their labor, only to rehire and actually increase the number of needed employees once things began to open back up. Fast forward a ways and, indeed, we are still in the midst of it all. However, there seems to be an increasing amount of hope that things will return to ‘somewhat’ normal before too long. And while nothing is ever for certain, TowMate has managed to push forward in innovation and product development without hardly skipping a beat.

When we look at the world of automotive lighting and those who supply the lights, it is clear there are an abundance of options. Once we begin to break them down to who is actually making the lights and who is simply a middleman importing finished products from overseas, the list gets significantly shorter. Add to that the criterion of who is setting trends in the technology as opposed to a ‘monkey see, monkey do’ approach and the list shrinks even further. Perhaps there are four or five names on that list. As it were, TowMate is one of these and the only one with 35+ years of backing their products with a lifetime warranty on electronics (and later LED’s, once incorporated into the products). When asked about what made him decide to stand behind his products to such a degree, TowMate owner and inventor of wireless tow lights, Bryan Anderson recounts, “I

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LIGHTING wanted to help the customer believe in the product as much as I did.” That philosophy coupled with high quality products that are tested at multiple stages of the production process certainly paved the way for TowMate to reach the level of success they have over the years. With all of that said, what HAS TowMate been working on leading into 2021? “Our engineers have what I like to call a ‘bucket list’ that keeps them busy year-round,” Bryan responds.“ We are always listening to what our customers in the field are saying they need or reporting back to us about the things they already buy from us,” he continues. That much is clear when you look at the products of 10 or 15 years ago versus those of today. The iMon interactive monitor system that lets a tow operator know they left their light behind and the removeable lithium batteries available on newer systems are just a couple of previous examples of this. Now TowMate is looking to expand their time-proven technology from their ‘Flux Series’ of light duty wireless tow lights into the heavy duty towing world. As with the TM-FLUX and TM-FLUX32 tow lights, the heavy duty wireless bars with the tech in them will attain a full charge in under 10 minutes and never have to have a battery replaced. The patent pending technology is in its final stages of testing for the heavy duty application and should be available by the second quarter of 2021. In yet another example of listening to customer requests, TowMate developed a surface mount version of their 4” round Power-Link combination light. Utilizing the trucks’ existing harness, the PLC4RND provides taillight, turn, and brake functionality in red as any normal 4” round light for this purpose would. However, with the integrated Power-Link technology, the light is able to receive communication from a controller in the cab that activates it as an amber or amber/white strobe and/ or a white work light (other color options available). All without having to run any new wire from the front of the truck to the rear strobes or work lights, it truly revolutionizes what lighting can do on a vehicle. This new surface mount version takes away the need to have large holes cut into the rear body of a truck or tail board. For those who may not be aware, there is a full line of lights with this technology that allows you to add warning lights to a vehicle with minimal effort. 32

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Of the items in development they are willing to disclose, TowMate has come out with a bright and durable strobing LED strip that can mount nearly anywhere. The 48” SL-STR84 is a furtherance of their line of strip lights and can be set up with one or two colors and includes an in-line strobe driver to flash it. The light is comprised of an aluminum circuit board housed in an extruded aluminum channel which is then potted with a clear acrylic making it tough as nails and virtually indestructible. These are brighter and hardier

than anything else comparable on the market and are, of course, backed by the TowMate lifetime warranty. Rumor has it that 2021 will see even further advancements across all lines of TowMate products including a complete redesign of the Power-Link overhead light bars that will make their functionality second to none. This train is bound for glory and the tunnel, for the time, appears to be light through and through.

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Benefiting for the families of our fallen

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

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

Survivor Fund Continuing Support

regarding the fallen and the application is

To ensure the longevity of these benefits as we work

processed within 24 hours of receipt. Once the

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

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

company and organization in the industry to

family to assist with immediate financial issues

participate in supporting the Survivor Fund and these

during this tragic time in their lives.

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

Company owners, family members, or friends can

represents a commitment to our industry.

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

As a Continuing Support Partner, you will receive an

found on the website at www.thesurvivorfund.com

e-mail from the Survivor Fund when a tragedy occurs

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

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

Fourteen years of service to the towing and recovery

Survivor Fund will handle direct payment to the

industry worldwide

families. We will simply solicit your contribution in the

Managed by industry professionals

pledged amount to replenish and build our fund after

Pledges replenish funds and allow payout growth

each approved payout. The e-mail you receive will

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

provide information on the current tragedy as well as

Immediate funds to help at the time of tragedy

information on how to remit the payment to honor

Funded by donations only

your pledge.

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

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

LIGHTING

REAL WORLD SCENARIOS By James E. Lewis

I’d

like to paint you a scenario – actually, two scenarios. These scenarios are real and were experienced by me, and an epiphany occurred after the second one – perhaps you can relate. I was very active in safety audits and driver training for several years, where I’d go into a small towing or trucking company, perform a mock DOT audit, check out their training records, human resources driver documentation, and things like that, and then train their drivers – especially in the towing company situations. Within 30 days, I duplicated the same scenario almost exactly with one major difference that I’ll explain in a moment. Please visualize with me: It was cold and dead in the middle of winter – the first 36

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scenario was in North Texas – Amarillo, to be exact, and the other was in Strasburg, Colorado, east of Denver. Both scenarios involved a 50-ton wrecker, both JerrDan units, and both were built on a Peterbilt chassis. Both trucks were fairly new and well-equipped. In both scenarios, I had a trainee with me operating the primary truck (with me) and a secondary unit with another operator.

Specifics of the first scenario: We got a call from Texas Department of Public Safety about a tractor-trailer that had gone off the road on I-40 and down into a ditch that was about 20 feet deep. The tractor-trailer was about 60 feet from the hard surface. It

lighting and angled the 20-ton in front of the 50-ton to use the work lights on that truck. The 50-ton had four winch cables, and we began rigging for a pull point on the far side of the rear of the trailer, the front of the trailer over the truck’s drive wheels and set up a low-pull situation with snatch blocks on the 20-ton with rigging hooked to the highest point of the truck’s front axle which was the truck driver’s side, considering how it was sitting. That’s when we then realized we had a problem. Our 50-ton Jerr-Dan was sitting at a strange angle in order to make the best use of the boom and winches, but our work lights weren’t shining directly on the rear of the trailer OR the front of the trailer – not on either rigging point, and of course, you have to watch your rigging for problems as you start pulling and continue through your recovery. We had to choose which rigging point was the most important to illuminate. We chose to put slack in all four cables, relaxing the rigging to the ground, and repositioned the truck where the work lights would bear down on the rear of the trailer. We used the light from the 20-ton to illuminate the front of the tractor and hoped there would be enough light to illuminate the front of the trailer and the truck’s drive wheels – our other rigging point. There wasn’t. We’d taken almost half an hour in running around to slack all the rigging and have people run all over the place in order to reposition both trucks – and it was 22 degrees out, spitting snow, and the wind was blowing at about 30 mph – typical for Amarillo in the wintertime.

had laid over on its right side. It was a Freightliner Cascadia owned by a major company and was pulling a tanker trailer that had 2,000 gallons of water in it for oil field use. We got on scene, surveyed the damage and the ground, knowing we’d be dealing with a lot of ice and a little snow, and started rigging to bring the truck up with the 50-ton and using a 20-ton Century 4024 on an International chassis as an anchor unit on the tractor. Our truck was equipped with some nice, bright, solid-mounted lights – typical upper and lower work lights with six large lights in all. We angled our truck to use the www.towprofessional.com

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LIGHTING

We took up all the slack, and with several people out in the middle of the recovery with Mag lights and other flashlights, and dangerously close to the truck being recovered, we were sort of able to illuminate the whole work scene. It took the two large trucks and five helpers with flashlights (including two State Troopers) to put light in every place we needed it. We got the recovery done, rolled the truck over easily, and used the liquid in the tank to stabilize the load and help it over. We repositioned the 50-ton and hooked up the tractor-trailer to be towed into town.

Now, scenario number two: Almost the same down to every detail, except the tractortrailer involved a Peterbilt truck and an empty dry van trailer. The 50-ton Jerr-Dan went out with a 25-ton single axle Century 5130 on a Freightliner M2 chassis, and we started surveying and rigging. The tractor-trailer was down a slope, but on its left side, and about 150 feet down the hill. We rigged onto the underside of the truck and trailer and set up to slide the whole unit back up the hill, and then do a “reverse roll” once it was on the shoulder. This time, I was able to set up the primary and secondary unit FIRST considering winch angles, elevation, and rigging instead of lighting. I had the wireless remotes to three sets of Golight Stryker Series LED lights in my pocket. The remotes were big enough and the buttons were manageable enough to where I didn’t have to take off 38

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my gloves to use them. That was a blessing in 16-degree weather and blowing snow. The operator of the 25-ton 5130 unit had four Golight Strykers on his truck; two on the right side and two mounted facing the rear. The 50-ton I was in had four lights on the right side of the wrecker body, two mounted facing the rear, and two on the left side. I lost count of the number of times I reached into my pocket, paired a pair of lights together, and moved them in tandem to focus more of that radical lighting on our work scene. These things are good to right at 5,000 feet of illumination, so you can probably imagine how well we were covered at 150 feet. Even though it was 2 a.m., we lit the place up like a football stadium! As State Troopers arrived, along with one of our flatbed drivers, they all told the same story – they could see our lights from over three miles away where they turned at a freeway exit/entrance to come in our direction. We dropped massive light on the rear rigging at the rear of the trailer, both on the topside and underside of the truck’s drive wheels where the front of the trailer sat, and the 25-ton 5130 put light in three different places on the truck itself as well as overall light on our scene. No slacking the lines to reposition the truck. No running up and down a 60-degree hill in a foot of snow. With the winch remotes on the tow units and the wireless remotes for the lights, we could get a safe distance away from our recovery trucks and the unit being recovered and make all the magic happen.

After we were finished, I saw that I hadn’t before realized just how valuable these light sets were – their features helped us, saved us time, made us much safer, and we didn’t have to worry about something breaking in the shadows and not seeing it. Let’s face it – there’s nothing darker than a pitch-black night while trying to look at something that isn’t properly illuminated. If something breaks, I want to see it coming at me. I want full control of the recovery. With Golights, I had full control. The Stryker units have some new features installed since I first worked with them several years ago – they have an instant command to return the light to a home position – you save the time it would otherwise take to make them move. You can now spin (pan) and tilt each light doing both movements at the same time. And the remote-control buttons have fluorescent backlighting for great visibility. Golight’s GT series is fairly new and has some recently changed features – they have higher powered internal motors to move stronger and quicker. Their cases are sealed against weather, dirt, and corrosion. Their mounting brackets have been upgraded to 14-gauge steel. And the portable magnetic versions have twice the grip of the previous models. I’m old-fashioned, I work hard, and I stick to what works and what I’m used to, usually - but that’s before I proved to myself what an incredible difference – in all aspects of the job – that great, adjustable lighting makes. You just can’t go wrong with Golight’s multiple styles and capacities in any form of usage – towing, trucking, farming, construction, oil field – they have something for any need you may have. For More Info - https://Golight.com www.towprofessional.com

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LIGHTING

THE EASE OF GOING

WIRELESS M

aybe it’s time to update or replace some of the lighting on your vehicles. Safety is the number one concern for every tow operator and driver. There has been so much improvement in technology over the years it is now easier to equip a truck with better warning lights to increase the safety at the scene. It seems like every year LED lights are improving in brightness, attention getting patterns, and requiring less power to operate. Should you decide to upgrade or add to your lighting, make sure you know your supplier and the quality of 40

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products they sell. I have seen many times where buyers have received a phenomenal low price on a light that appears to be similar to highly reputable brands only to be extremely disappointed when the quality is not there. I feel that where you buy the product is a very important factor in your purchasing decision. The best suppliers will provide high quality products and knowledge to assist with any question you may have about the product or install. The best suppliers also handle or work with good manufacturers’ many issues, such as warranty, that may arise. A lot of people buy on price only and get products

at the lowest price from sellers on Ebay or similar types of sites. The reason that they can sell so low is that the product is of lower quality, ships directly from source (often times overseas), and requires no technical service. If you have a problem, tough! It wouldn’t surprise me if a lot of the lower priced lights, sold by anonymous sources, are lights that do not meet the quality and testing requirements required for lighting. We are fortunate in our industry that we have many choices of high-quality products from great suppliers and manufacturers. One of Custer’s newest products is the 54-Watt work light/amber strobe combo light (WL54AW). Similar to Custer’s WL19F in size and shape, the WL54AW includes a 27-watt white work light in the bottom row of diodes and a 27-watt amber strobe light on the top. This light includes a 3-wire hook-up which allows the driver to operate the

strobe and work light features independently. To learn more, please visit www.custerproducts.com One of Custer’s highest selling items has been the 23” wireless light-duty tow light (LIW-LDTL). The steel handle on top and the 105 lb. pull rubber-coated magnets on the bottom make for easy on-and-off installation. The LIWLDTL is individually serialized which eliminates cross-talk and protects the owner against theft. This bar meets all www.towprofessional.com

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LIGHTING light bar comes with thirty flash patterns all controlled from a multi-function control box (on 56” and 72” only). To learn more, please visit www.custerproducts.com The LED Class I Surface mount strobe (STR-XL1) which is available in Amber (not pictured) and Amber/

DOT requirements, comes with a 3-year warranty and is proudly manufactured in the USA. To learn more, please visit www.custerproducts.com White. With very low-profile dimensions of 4.85” L x 1” W x 0.3” D, the STR-XL1 series is small in size but powerful in its brightness. This strobe light comes with 24 different flash patterns and can be synchronized with up to twelve other modules of its kind. To learn more, please visit www.custerproducts.com The LED Amber/White rooftop light bar which is available in 56” and 72” as well as a mini 29” length to fit several different sizes of service trucks. This strobe

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LIGHTING

RP RECOVERY CONSULTING AirLight Series

hree sizes of inflatable LED light towers make up the AirLight series. From our ultra-portable AirLight to our incredibly powerful AirLight Pro Max, there is a light tower to meet your area lighting needs.

10ft Airlight AirLight is an inflatable LED light tower designed and 44

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manufactured in Cookeville, Tennessee by LTA Projects. An inflatable light tower is an incredible solution for area lighting that more portable and lightweight than traditional temporary lighting. Standing almost 10 feet tall and weighing less than 30 pounds, this inflatable tower outputs an incredible 36,000 lumens. When deflated, the entire tower packs down into a case small enough to easily fit into a vehicle trunk or seat. Towers from the AirLight

temporary area lighting, the AirLight is the perfect solution. Locations where you thought lighting was impossible is now possible with LTA Project’s AirLight.

• • • • • •

series are in use all over the world by all types of industries and consumers. The AirLight is used for outdoor event lighting for parties, weddings, parking, stages, sports and yard games. It is also used by emergency management and disaster relief as temporary emergency lighting, for triage areas, first-aid tents, and shelters. Our products are being used for in construction and utility with night crews, roadside construction, and other night-time operations. But that is just scratching the surface! Anywhere you could need

Height: 9 feet 9 inches Weight: 29 pounds Wattage: 336 Watts Light output: 36,000 lumens Voltage: 120V AC Footprint: 20” x 20” x 18” tall

AirLight Pro is an incredible solution for area lighting. Set up takes less than a minute. Simply plug in power and the tower erects itself to cast light in all directions. The combination of direct and diffused light creates an amazing bright and soft lighting condition. The heavy-duty case and durable materials make for a reliable tool perfect for any type of night-time operation. AirLight Pro is an inflatable LED light tower designed and manufactured in Cookeville, Tennessee by LTA Projects. www.towprofessional.com

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LIGHTING An inflatable light tower is an incredible solution for area lighting that more portable, lightweight, and less expensive than traditional temporary lighting. The Pro Series is perfect for construction and utility night-time operations. Reliable area lighting is a game-changer for the safety of everyone involved. Our towers are used by municipal services all over the United States. Sobriety checkpoints, training operations, emergency response, crime scene investigation, and outdoor events are just a few of the applications for these towers.

• • • • • •

Height: 12 feet Weight: 64 pounds Wattage: 860 Watts Light output: 74,400 lumens Voltage: 120V AC Footprint: 28” x 28” x 24” tall

AirLight Pro Max LTA Project’s AirLight Pro series, two sizes of professional grade inflatable LED light towers, is an incredible solution for area lighting. Set up takes less than a minute. Simply plug in power and the tower erects itself to cast light in all directions. The combination of direct and diffused light creates an amazing bright and soft lighting condition. The heavy-duty case and durable materials make for a reliable tool perfect for any type of night-time operation. AirLight Pro Max is an inflatable LED light tower designed and manufactured in Cookeville, Tennessee by LTA Projects. An inflatable light tower is an incredible solution for area lighting that more portable, lightweight, and less expensive than traditional temporary lighting. The Pro Series is perfect for construction and utility 46

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night-time operations. Reliable area lighting is a game-changer for the safety of everyone involved. Our towers are used by municipal services all over the United States. Sobriety checkpoints, training operations, emergency response, crime scene invenstagtion, and outdoor events are just a few of the applications for these towers.

• • • • • •

Height: 14 feet Weight: 72 pounds Wattage: 1,100 Watts Light output: 111,000 lumens Voltage: 120V AC Footprint: 28” x 28” x 24” tall

History of RP Recovery RP Recovery is owned by Ron and Dee Pullen. Ron has more than 40 years of experience in the towing and recovery field, owning and operating light, medium, and heavy duty service stations since 1971. In the late

1980s he participated in towing and recovery training, and continued to attend as many additional courses and seminars as possible. He was named Student of the Class at the 1997 2/3 WreckMaster course in Syracuse, NY and voted one of the Top Ten WreckMasters of 1998. The 2006 WreckMaster of the year, Ron uses his training and skill in his position as Operations Manager at Big Red Towing LLC, Syracuse, NY. Both a WreckMaster Certified Operator and WreckMaster Lead Instructor, Ron uses his experience and training to upgrade the knowledge and skills of Big Red Towing employees and other workers in the field seeking further knowledge and training in their jobs. Professional workers that use the best equipment and products make towing and recovery safer and more efficient. For more information, rprecoveryconsulting@gmail. com or call: 315-730-6566.

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Volume 10 • Issue 1

Tow Professional

Reinventing the Wheel during A

PANDEMIC By Perry Beaty, HazMat Responder Network

azmat Responder Network facilitates HAZWOPER training in regards of 29 CFR 1910.120 (q) for the Professional Tow & Recovery Operator. Tow Companies are encouraged to create a new business name and operate spill response separate from their existing business for various legal reasons. Training consists of classroom instruction to hands on applications. Participants are shown the proper donning and doffing of Chemical Protective Clothing, “CPC”, and dress out in certain ensembles with SCBA’s, (self-contained breathing apparatus). Decon methods of personnel and equipment are covered. Testing of soil and water impacted by a spill or release is covered in training as well and ground and bonding, air monitoring, defensive and offensive measures are taught.

Tow Professional | Volume 10 • Issue 1

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FlowStop products, equipment and supplies are developed for a quicker, faster, better approach for rapid results enabling responders to minimize exposure to dangerous traffic situations. FlowStop’s fluid transfer pumps are available in 1’’ or 2’’ applications that are intrinsically safe and pneumatically operated. Hydrocarbon and Chemical pumps are offered with flow rates of 46 GPM with 1’’ and 168 GPM with 2’’ pumps. Ground and Bonding Systems for static charge dissipation, Dome Lid Clamps and FlowStop Block Locks for leaking dome lids of fuel and chemical tankers are available along with the new FlowStop Weep Hole Kit for DOT 406’s. FlowStop Football and Golf ball Containment plugs make plugging and or patching a quick remedy for punctured tanks, drums or fluid vessels. www.towprofessional.com

Volume 10 • Issue 1

Tow Professional

named one of the “Top Ten Wreckmasters” of 1997. Perry attained several levels of Wreckmaster certification and received HAZWOPER certification in the early ’90’s after realizing a need for quicker and more efficient cleanup response to highway incidents in the Carolinas for Emergency Management, Law Enforcement, Fire and his towing customers. Perry created and founded Piedmont Environmental Response Team, “PERT“, later selling both companies in 1998. Beaty formed Logos, Inc. in 2004 for the purpose of developing and creating a lightweight, low air pressure drain pipe plug with flow through capabilities for HAZMAT operations. He applied for and received a patent for an invention described as “Inflatable Flow Control Apparatus” and associated method. The name “FLOWSTOP“ is trademarked.

Perry Beaty operated Beaty Towing & Recovery along with Piedmont Environmental Response Team (PERT) in Charlotte, NC. Beaty holds a patent for an Inflatable Plug used in storm drains and has the HERS certification, Highway Emergency Response Specialist, through SERTC in Pueblo, CO. He may be reached at 877 356 9767 or pbeaty@flowstop.net / perry@hazmatrn.com

ABOUT PERRY BEATY Perry Beaty grew up in the towing business in Charlotte, NC. He took over the company reins, Beaty Towing & Recovery, after a 2-year stint in the Army, (drafted in the early 70’s). Perry took the towing service to new heights and became involved with TRPNC in 1980. He later served as it’s President, 19921995, introducing a scholarship program through Wreckmaster for it’s members. Beaty was also awarded “Towman of The Year” in January of 1992 from TRPNC and

Tow Professional | Volume 10 • Issue 1

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HAZMAT RESPONDER NETWORK TESTIMONIALS “Having our staff HRN trained and using Flow Stop products is the best investment our company has made. It takes your company to a new level!” — Ron Myer, Chief Operations Officer, Pine Tree Towing and Recovery, Cambridge, Ohio

“TDI repair and towing attended a hazmat training course, we were astounded by the curriculum that was presented to us. We were excited about everything that Perry educated us on, as well as the tools that were demonstrated brought our Hazmat Team to the next Level.” — Herb Bartemy

“Excellent learning experience, to valuable not have your people experience. The products work and are a valuable asset to your operation.”

“If you are looking to expand into the field of accident cleanup, Hazmat Responder Network run by Perry Beaty is an excellent program that trains and certifies you for a safe and professional response to incidents. We have used FlowStop products for several years and they always perform beyond our expectations.” — Keith Baker, West Michigan Spill Response

“We have used Flow Stop products in our Towing, Recovery and Spill response division’s for almost six years. We find their products to be second to none and their product support assistance is a tremendous asset to our industry. Thank you FlowStop!” — Justin Schaffer, Milford Towing, Cincinnati, Ohio

—Dan Donald, Moore’s Auto Wrecking, Hookstown, PA

EARN MORE PER ACCIDENT AND TAKE COMPLETE CHARE OF THE SCENE ONE CALL PUT YOU ON THE SCENE AUTHORITIES APPRECIATES ONE ENTITY TO HANDLE ALL PHASES OF CLEAN UP AND VEHICLE RECOVERY BE EQUIPPED TO HANDLE FUEL SPILLS THROUGH HAZWOPPER CERTIFICATION FOR MORE INFO CONTACT US AT 877-356-9767 PERRY@HAZMATRN.COM | WWW.HAZMATRN.COM www.towprofessional.com

Volume 10 • Issue 1

Tow Professional

SPILL

CONTAINMENT

You Can Be the

New Game in Town By Perry Beaty, Founder/President-FlowStop

Tow Professional | Volume 10 • Issue 1

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he year 2020 will be remembered by most as a nightmare for the tow & recovery industry. Many looked for new revenue ventures that would fit in with their existing tow business with existing employees able to handle new tasks. Spill response was the most logical answer as many towers received HAZWOPER training that is compliant with the Code of Federal regulations set forth by OSHA, EPA and DOT rules and regulations. Having the certification is becoming a standard with many law enforcement agencies requiring towers who handle heavy recoveries be HAZWOPER certified to completely handle accidents involving damaged fuel tanks to spilled cargo as to minimize further contamination. OSHA also requires

2” VAC PUMP CADDY (FSVPC-2) • FLOWSTOP’S 2’’ DUAL DIAPHRAGM PNEUMATIC OPERATED PUMP • FLOW RATE OF 150 GPM • COMPLETE SYSTEM INCLUDES: 2) 2” VAC STINGERSOF 3’ AND 5’ LENGTHS WITH GROUNDING TABS ANDSCHEDULE 40 PVC TUBES FOR STORAGE & TRANSPORT • VAC TANK 2” STINGERS FEATURES EZ LINK FEMALE CAM LOCKS FOR CONNECTING BOTH 2” VAC STINGERS FOR OVERALL 8’ LENGTH • 90 DEGREE ELL WITH SIGHT GLASS AND 2’’ ALUMINUM STRAINER HOUSED IN A PELICAN 1520 CASE FOR TRANSPORT & STORAGE • 8) 25’ X 2” VAC/DISCHARGE HOSES FOR 200’ OVERALL

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SPILL

CONTAINMENT

that all personnel responding to a spill site be trained in accordance with the Laws relating to the CFR standards. (This means by the letter of the law. If you are not trained in accordance with 29 CFR 1910.120, you are not legally able to perform that task). This is not a new standard; however, Hazmat Response is becoming a more key issue in cleaning up all debris involving fluids and returning impacted sites back to their original state. To engage in the proper approach to a spill, requires knowledge of what levels of Personal Protective Equipment, PPE, to deploy for those responders in accordance with laws governing the Environmental segment. Having the right equipment for different scenarios means planning and equipping for various needs that may arise due to traffic mishaps. Having operated a towing company for years and creating a hazmat response company resulted in forming a training and equipment manufacturing entity that caters to the needs of tow and recovery professionals. Logos, Inc. manufactures tools known as “FlowStop” for the hazmat trade for tow companies and first responders alike. 54

Tow Professional | Volume 10 • Issue 1

FLOWSTOP TRIPLE TREAT SPILL KIT • FLOWSTOP’S TRIPLE TREAT SPILL KIT CONSIST OF A 22’’ CARRY/ STORAGE BOX CONTAINING 3 ALL PURPOSE ABSORBENT PADS, 9 WOODEN WEDGES OF 3 DIFFERENT SIZES, 9 WOODEN DOWELS OF 3 DIFFERENT SIZES, RUBBER MALLET, SAFETY GLASSES, SAFETY GLOVES • FLOWSTOP’S TRIPLE TREAT SPILL KIT OPTIONS: • GIVES TECHNICIAN OPTIONS CONCERNING METHODS OF SPILL DEFENSE • IF TEMPORARY MEASURES WARRANT THE USE OF WOODEN DOWS OR WEDGES • IF MORE PERMANENT MEASURES ARE REQUIRED BY USING FLOWSTOP FOOTBALL / GOLFBALL • PPE FOR EYE & HAND PROTECTION INCLUDED (GLOVES & GLASSES)

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FlowStop Testimonials “Not only did HRN give us the training we needed along with the products from FlowStop, but they have also given us the support to take on any scene we have ran up on since. If you are looking to take your towing company to the next level, this is a great place to start!” — Eric Yates, Yates Towing

DOT 406 WEEP HOLE VALVES (FS-WHK) FLOWSTOP’S DOT 406 CARGO TANK WEEP HOLE SET • 8) 3/4’’ BRASS BALL VALVES • 1) 10’ X 3/4’’ PVC HOSE • 1) 2’’ X 3/4’’ PVC ADAPTER • 1) POLY CASE FOR STORAGE & TRANSPORT Enables Responders in closing off Weep Holes when Bulkheads are Compromised.

“We have used Flow Stop products in our Towing, Recovery and Spill response division’s for almost six years. We find their products to be second to none and their product support assistance is a tremendous asset to our industry. Thank you Flow Stop!” — Justin Schaffer, Milford Towing, Cincinnati, Ohio

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Volume 10 • Issue 1

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DEALERS PLACE

13401 US 70 Business Hwy West Clayton, NC 27520

www.easternwrecker.com • 919-553-4038

Stock Number K0656 - 2019 Kenworth T880 Tandem with Jerr-Dan 25-ton Integrated Wrecker Cummins X15 - 525hp • 18-spd • Jerr-Dan 25INT

Stock Number D7372 - 22020 Dodge Ram 4500 SLT, 6.7L Cummins, Auto, Jerr-Dan MPL-NGS Self Loading Wheel Lift

Stock Number F2668 - 2019 Ford F550 Ext Cab XLT, 6.7L Powerstroke, Auto, 20ft Jerr-Dan SRR6TWLP Steel Carrier

Stock Number F7478 - 2019 Ford F550 with 20ft Jerr-Dan Aluminum Carrier 6.7L Powerstroke Turbodiesel • Automatic Trans

Stock Number C5514 - 2019 Chevrolet Silverado 5500, Crew Cab, 4x4, Duramax 6.6L, Automatic, Jerr-Dan MPL40 Twin Line

Stock Number P8818A - 2020 Peterbilt 337 Ext Cab with 22ft Jerr-Dan Steel Carrier PX-7 Turbodiesel - 300hp • Allison Automatic

Eastern Wrecker Sales Inc is the oldest active Jerr-Dan Corp distributor in the nation and we also proudly offer the Landoll line of transportation products, trailers tough enough to move the world. Since 1969. We have one of the largest inventories of new and used tow trucks, carriers, and trailers in the nation and a full parts and service facility. Financing is available, and the process is easy. 56

Tow Professional | Volume 10 • Issue 1

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DEALERS PLACE

TOWTAL SOLUTIONS .com TRAIN • TOW • RIG • RECOVER • SUCCEED BUYER/ SELLER‘S AGENT | LIST YOUR TRUCK WITH US

2021 NRC CSR65

2021 CBR50 5 Winch $517k w/FET

2020 Ram 4x4 Cummins $85k

Recovery Pod w/ Air and Inverter $8500

CALL Howard 860-942-4379 • TOWTALSOLUTIONS.com

Tow Professional | Volume 10 • Issue 1

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DEALERS PLACE

Tow Professional | Volume 10 • Issue 1

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DEALERSPLACE PLACE Market

507-720-1194 Customers will be able to: • Select from a menu of services. • Take pictures of their vehicle to share with the service provider. • Select from drivers in their immediate area to expedite service. • Track the driver in real-time throughout the completion of the job.

DowntimeClaims.com Transportation Lawyers • Business Interruption Claims • Wrecker Accidents • Insurance Claims • Loss of Use/Lost Income

NATIONWIDE DOWNTIME & PROPERTY DAMAGE RECOVERY info@downtimeclaims.com

1-800-DOWNTIME

Tow Professional | Volume 10 • Issue 1

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Service providers will: • Be certified prior to being added to the application. • Dedicated to providing excellent service while “Active” in the application. • Service providers are paid what the job costs.

YOUR WEBSITE NOT GETTING YOU RESULTS? Let Tow Professional Help

Your Most Cost Effective Way to Reach the Masses • Website and Web Banner Design • Custom Calendars - Reflects Company and Clients • Corporate Marketing and Custom Printing Materials

Contact: darian@towprofessional.com Designed by:

Putting Great Ideas to Work for You! www.dialedinmediagroup.com

Advertiser Index COMPANY

COMPANY

Alliance Funding ................................ 39

Hal Kresser .......................................... 62

RP Consulting ...................................... 47

American Safety & Supply ............... 50

Hazmat Responder Network ............ 51

RV Wheel ............................................. 62

Austin Hinds ........................................ 59

Hide-a-Lift ............................................ 62

Steck Mfg............................................. 47

Austin Insurance ............................... 55

Hino .....................................................BC

The Will-Burt Company ..................... 11

Beacon Software ............................... 15

Holly’s Towing Dispatch .................... 27

TOPS ..................................................... 55

Clore Automotive ................................ 42

INA Towing Network ......................... 64

Towbook ................................................. 3

Collins Dollies ....................................IBC

Jerr-Dan ............................................. IFC

Tow Boy ................................................ 62

Custer Products .................................. 23

Lodar ..................................................... 18

Towing Museum ............................34-35

Custom Built ........................................ 29

MacMahon .......................................... 57

Towmate ................................................. 1

CW Mill Equipment ........................... 50

Marking Pen Depot ............................ 62

Towtal Solutions ................................. 58

Dynamic ............................................... 61

Mike Keith Insurance ........................ 60

TowTruckLocator.com ....................... 60

Eastern Wrecker Sales ..................... 56

Prime Insurance .................................. 5

TRAO ....................................................... 9

Echert & Associates .......................... 62

Progressive Insurance ...................... 43

TT/ WebFleet .......................... 17, 19, 21

Flow Stop ............................................. 53

PWOF ...............................................12-13

Weiss Ins.............................................. 62

FTI Groups Inc....................................... 6

Ranger SST .......................................... 31

Winches, Inc ....................................... 33

Golight..................................................... 7

Ricks Truck .......................................... 56

Wrecker Rentals................................. 58

Guni Wheel .......................................... 39

Robert Young ....................................... 60

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

OVER ONE – LOSE NONE! 64

Tow Professional | Volume 10 • Issue 1

overone.org

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The perfect sidekick for our everyday heroes! We’re here for you. Thank you for choosing LIGHTEST in weight, yet GREATEST towing capacity - relief for both you and your customers Easier and safer loading in ALL-WEATHER and ALL-TERRAIN Increased serviceability SAVES repair costs Go the EXTRA mile

(541) 774-9220 collinsmfgcorp.com

THE TRUCK IS JUST THE BEGINNING.

When you start up your new Hino Truck, our journey with you is just beginning. That’s because every Hino comes standard with a 5-Year Warranty, 24/7 HinoWatch, and Hino Insight Connected Vehicle Solution. Why? Because taking care of you and your truck is what we call the ULTIMATE OWNERSHIP EXPERIENCE.

Tow Professional - Volume: 10 Issue: 1

Articles inside

an expert Witness

RP Consulting

Custer

TRAA

Golight

Reinventing

INSIGHTFUL TALK

Editor’s Letter