Tow Professional - Volume: 10 Issue: 3

lebrating e C TM

Professional Your Resource for Towing & Recovery

10

YEARS

Volume 10 • Issue 3 • 2021 www.towprofessional.com

YOUR VOICE WAS

HEARD!

TRAA 3rd Annual Legislative Action Workshop

AN IN-DEPTH LOOK AT

DYNAMIC’S RADIUS

PLUS: PARKINGPASS.COM

Parking Management System

INSIGHTFUL TALK:

Additional Revenue Streams

FUEL 4 THOUGHT:

A Podcast Just for You

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

INDUSTRY NEWS

C

TOWING & RECOVERY

6| 8| 8| 10 | 10 | 12 | 14 |

Jerr-Dan TRAA CW Mill Matjack Sierra Pacific Insurance TRAO American Towing & Recovery Institute 16 | Webfleet 17 | MACH1

elebrating 10

Volume 10 • Issue 3 WWW.TOWPROFESSIONAL.COM

FEATURES:

18 |

Your Battery SoC

YEARS

34 |

3rd Annual TRAA Legislative Action Workshop

an expert Witness

BY JAMES E. LEWIS ///

20 |

Is your Pride getting in the way of safe driving?

42 |

ParkingPass.com

INSIGHTFUL TALK

BY DAN MESSINA ///

24 |

48 | Dynamic Radius

Additional Revenue Streams

Fuel 4 Thought

BY D.J. HARRINGTON CSP

28 |

52 |

Tow Photos

Castillow’s Towing, LLC

A Podcast Just for You

IN EVERY ISSUE 4 | Editor’s Letter 63 | 55 | Dealers Place 64 | 2

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www.towprofessional.com

Market Place Ad Index

Try it for 30-Days, Free.

NOT JUST SOFTWARE

GET MORE JOBS WITH TOWBOOK No Contracts, No Setup Fees. FREE 24/7 Support.

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PUBLISHER’S

LETTER

Volume 10 • Issue 3

Ce

lebrating

WWW.TOWPROFESSIONAL.COM

TM

10

YEARS

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 By the time this Issue hits your hands, the 2021 Florida Tow will be in the books. This was the first show in over a year since Covid hit, and it was a great success! My hat is off to the PWOF and the entire team bringing a tremendous turn out and setting the stage for other great shows to come this year. It was easy to see if you attended that people want to get out to see friends, shop, and feel normal again!

In this Issue we cover the 3rd Annual TRAA legislative Action Workshop. We look at the bills discussed, meet with 45 representatives, and educate our leaders of the needs of their constituents. Take a minute, dive into this read, and you will see what your National Association is doing on your part to better the Industry. Also, speak with your state association leader and ask them to be a part of the event in 2022.

In this Issue we take a Deep Dive with Clore and the importance of battery maintenance while taking an in depth look at Dynamic Manufacturing’s Radius. Mathieu Boileau educates us on how ParkingPass.com brokers with towers to generate more revenue!

We appreciate each and everyone of our readers and customers.

Till next time stay safe and God Bless!

Darian Weaver President & Publisher, Tow Professional

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CONTRIBUTING WRITERS D. J. Harrington CSP James E . Lewis Dan Messina Darian Weaver

Executive and Advertising Offices 2007 Old Montgomery Hwy, Suite B Birmingham, AL 35244 Toll free: 888-802-8544 Fax: 205-978-1550 www.towprofessional.com Tow Professional is published nine times a year by Over The Mountain Media, Inc., 2007 Old Montgomery Hwy., Suite B, Birmingham, Alabama, 35244, USA. Tow Professional is distributed free to qualified subscribers. Non-qualified subscription rates are $57.00 per year in the U.S. and Canada and $84.00 per year for foreign subscribers (surface mail). U.S. Postage paid at Birmingham, Alabama and additional mailing offices.

Tow Professional is distributed to qualified Towing & Recovery’s Top Decision Makers. Publisher is not liable for all content (including editorial and illustrations provided by advertisers) of advertisements published and does not accept responsibility for any claims made against the publisher. It is the advertiser’s or agency’s responsibility to obtain appropriate releases on any item or individuals pictured in an advertisement.

Reproduction of this magazine in whole or in part is prohibited without prior written permission from the publisher.

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

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INDUSTRY NEWS TOWING & RECOVERY

Jerr-Dan® Adds Truck Source of Perry, Oklahoma, as a Distributor Hagerstown, MD – Jerr-Dan, an Oshkosh Corporation company (NYSE: OSK), has added Truck Source of Perry, Oklahoma, as a distributor of its complete line of towing and recovery vehicles. Jerr-Dan is the single brand leader in the towing and recovery industry with distributors across the United States and in six continents. Centrally located in Oklahoma, between Tulsa and Oklahoma City and with easy access to several interstate highways, Truck Source is a rapidly growing distributorship with deep roots in the Perry community. “The operations at Truck Source are managed by a third-generation tower and the leadership epitomizes the loyalty and dedication to the Jerr-Dan brand that makes us so proud of our distributors,” said Hal Wyatt, Director of Aftermarket Support at Jerr-Dan. “We are thankful for the opportunity to partner with Truck Source to continue the expansion of the Jerr-Dan brand into central Oklahoma.” Truck Source was founded in 2020 as a DBA of Farm Source, a Perrybased upfitter of vehicles for the farming industry. Both companies operate under the umbrella of Ground Zero, a manufacturer of tornado shelters and Crownline truck beds.

Truck Source Operations Manager Eldon Harding has been in the towing and recovery industry since he was a child and ran the family-owned tow business with his father until 2001. “I’ve been buying Jerr-Dan trucks since 1997,” Harding said. “We’re looking forward to building the Jerr-Dan brand here in Oklahoma and throughout the Midwest.”

Truck Source will soon move into a new 67,000 square foot facility in Perry, where the company will upfit Jerr-Dan trucks and offer parts and service capabilities. A second Truck Source distributorship is planned for Oklahoma City early in 2021. Jerr-Dan continues to place an emphasis on distributor network growth to provide customers with a high level of local support and today has over 60 locations throughout North America and 15 internationally.

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INDUSTRY NEWS TOWING & RECOVERY

TRAA Secures Seat on ATA’s Towing Task Force The American Trucking Association (ATA) recently launched a Towing Task Force to combat what they believe is a national problem of predatory towing at the scene of an incident. In a major win for towers across the country, TRAA has secured a dedicated seat as the tower’s representative on ATA’s Towing Task Force.

TRAA Executive Cabinet member and TRAA Legislative Advocacy Network (LAN) Chair, William Johnson has been appointed to the position. Additionally, Jeffrey Godwin, TRAA LAN Representative and the Associate Representative on TRAA’s Executive Cabinet, also has a seat on the Task Force.

Under ATA’s National Accounting & Finance Council, the Towing Task Force is planning a multi-pronged approach. First, they plan to release resources for truckers on how to prevent becoming a victim of what they believe is billing fraud. Second they plan to introduce two pieces of model legislation in conjunction with the American Property and Casualty Insurance Association and the Coalition Against Insurance Fraud. According to Jennifer

Wieroniey, Executive Director of ATA’s National Accounting & Finance Council, “the first bill would provide more protections for consumers against towing companies through tools such as regulating when a tow can occur and mandating more transparent billing practices, like the use of a rate sheet and itemized invoices... The second bill would outlaw ‘runners’ who solicit their tow services at the scene of an accident without being requested by law enforcement or any parties involved in the accident.”

As the national’s towing association, TRAA will be the tower’s advocate on ATA’s Towing Task Force. Again, this is a critical win for towers across the country and we couldn’t do it without the support of our members.

For 35 Years CW Mill has been making it easier to mount your aftermarket accessories!

CW Mill, located in Sabetha, KS, has been manufacturing mounting and drive components for the professional after-market industry since 1986 and with new 2021 vehicles still rolling out; we continue to come out with new kits and are always working on new designs.

CW Mill Hydraulic Clutch Pump Mounting Kits equip a vehicle with live hydraulics, which means they can have hydraulic pressure anytime the engine is running, regardless of engine RPM’s or gear selection, and can be used for a wide array of applications such as hay bale beds, salt spreaders, snow plows, dump bodies, ground probes, airplane deicers, cranes, wreckers, rollbacks, hydraulic air compressors, tools, and more.

CW also manufactures Compressor Kits for refrigeration truck boxes and vans, and Alternator kits which provide increased battery charging for vehicles equipped with an increased amount 8

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of DC electric powered accessories.

Generator kits are available for vehicles adding AC power capability for items such as electric power tools but ultimately any AC powered device.

Our most popular AC kits include the Van Kits because we know our customers need to equip specialized delivery vehicles to be temperature controlled to transport and store a wide variety of products to keep supplies moving. We have recently introduced an AC kit for the New Ford 2020-2021 Transit Van with 3.5L EcoBoost and NonEcoBoost. An AC kit for the Mercedes Sprinter Van with 3.0L V6 Diesel is also available.

If you are looking for a Clutch Pump Kit for your new RAM 2500-5500 6.7L I6 Cummins Diesel, look no further, our RMK60A-I8 kit has been the bestselling kit, 2 years running. Clutch Pump Kits for Ford F-250-F-550, F-600 with 7.3L Gas w/ and w/o Dual Alternators are available

www.towprofessional.com

for years 2020-2021.

With Precise Fit & Simplified Installation, it has been easy for our customers to continually recommend CW Kits. It’s easy to jump on our website and find the kit you need along with easy to follow installation instructions. For more information, visit cwkits.com.

INDUSTRY NEWS TOWING & RECOVERY

Gone but Not Forgotten!

Howard left this world in Sept; however, He was carried in the heart of all at Matjack at the 1st show the Florida PWOF! God Bless you Howard you will live on in our Hearts!

OBITUARY Howard L. Eagan of the Town of the Wheatfield, NY, passed away on Saturday, September 19, 2020, in Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center. He was born in Niagara Falls, NY on February 11, 1966, a son of Robert Eagan and the late Bonnie [Miers] Eagan.

He graduated from Lew Port. Howard was employed with Leaseway Transportation and as a foreman with Penske, before becoming a heavy tow truck operator with John’s Towing in Buffalo and Big Red Towing in Syracuse for many years. He is now an instructor with MatJack Industry in Indianapolis.

He was a member of the 3F Club, the 9/11 Memorial and enjoyed riding his Goldwing Motorcycle and camping.

In addition to his father, he is survived by his wife Janeene M. [Tokarczyk] Eagan, his children Marcas

Eagan, Jessica Marquart and Danielle (Brian) Curry, two grandchildren Natalia Curry and Taya Marquart, a brother Robert (Rene) Eagan, Jr. and good friend Kimberly Simpson and her children Andrew, Ross, Tara, also several nieces and nephews.

Sierra Pacific Insurance Sierra Pacific is a premier insurance brokerage that specializes in Commercial Auto needs including onhook, cargo, garage keepers, garage liability, workers comp and all else related to the tow company industry.

With service in eighteen states and growing, including CA, AZ, AL, CO, FL, GA, IL, MD, MT, NV, OH, OR, OA, SC, SD, TX, UT & MN, Sierra Pacific offers a wide range of policy products through our cloud-based platforms and strategic partnerships. Founded in 2008 by Joshua C. Bautista, Sierra Pacific is dedicated to providing exceptional customer service while continuing to achieve rapid growth in our sector. During this exciting time our focus is steadfastly centered on teamwork and innovation which has allowed us to work towards our goal of becoming the nations preferred brokerage

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of choice for the tow and transport industry. We are poised to exceed expectations in 2021 and look forward to reaching new heights all while providing the best experience possible to our dedicated customers.

No matter what you’re towing, we’re always behind you.

Stay protected with insurance from Progressive.

With policies customized for tow truck drivers, we’re dedicated to safeguarding everything you’ve built by offering Primary Liability limits up to $2 million and specialized coverages like On-Hook and Garagekeepers Liability.

Call your local agent or visit ProgressiveCommercial.com.

Progressive Casualty Ins. Co. & affiliates. Specialized coverages may not be available in all states or situations. In Texas and Virginia, Garagekeepers Legal Liability coverage is called Storage Location insurance. In these two states only, On-Hook Towing insurance is then called Garagekeepers Legal Liability coverage.

INDUSTRY NEWS TOWING & RECOVERY

The importance of tow shows for trade associations.

Having just returned from the PWOF show in Florida, it felt good to get back to some normalcy after the events of the past year.

Towing associations, usually volunteer operated, cannot operate on membership dues alone. Trade shows are important for them as a revenue stream. Without this revenue, our industry cannot continue the fight against the same thing all associations are currently fighting Regulation.

If you do not attend trade shows, you should. These shows are great places to purchase new equipment, supplies, network with other towers and vendors, receive training, and even see new products that are yet to hit the open market. As a bonus, if you select the right show, you will be supporting an association that gives back to their members by fighting legislation. If you select the wrong show, you may support a for-profit corporation that does not give back to the towing associations.

Where do you want to spend your money?

It’s the same concept with state towing associations.

Are you a member? Do you support them? Offer to help? Attend meetings? If not, why? These associations are usually volunteer operated; not for profit entities that depend on membership dues and trade shows to

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stay afloat. Sadly, too many in this industry opt out of membership and volunteering any time at all for their association. They often say, “What do I get out of being a member?” Just like in your business, you get out of it whatever you put into it.

Watch where your money goes. Many of us are ‘Mom & Pop’ businesses. Do not forget to support those same type businesses. Support your local towing associations and attend shows that support the industry and what we are fighting for. Regulation is like socialism…. once it is here, you cannot go back.

INDUSTRY NEWS TOWING & RECOVERY

American Towing and Recovery Institute with Wes Wilburn raised $14,000 to be split between the International Towing Museum and the survivor fund.

Peter Ashenden, Jr. explained, while instructing a heavy-Duty class at Woolard’s Towing in Washington, NC, that it had been a tough year for the towing museum. He stated that he saw it firsthand on a recent trip to Chattanooga. Peter took the lead on “the $$$ game” (which is a game we will play at a class to raise money for the museum and survivor fund). There was a $2000.00 pot to be split, and Scott Tomlin donated half of his winnings.

We appreciate Mike Woolard (Woolards Towing); Andrew H. Pittman (Pittman Towing); Fred Scheler, Andy Malpocker, and Todd Johnston of Apple Towing; Neal Poole Wreckers with Mike Poole;

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Chubb’s Towing (Danny Potts); B & B Wrecker (Andy Chesney ); Wards Towing (Don Ward); Albert Delgado (Delgado Wrecker Svc); Texas Auto Carrier (Ford Wagner); and Henry’s Wrecker Svc and Puryear Trucking for their very generous donations.

We were fortunate enough to be at the Florida Tow Show and present the check for $14,000 to board members of the International Tow Museum.

Cathy Brumgard (General Manager), Jeffrey Godwin (Vice President), Bill Gratzianna (President).

JOIN US

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

For Show and Hotel Information, Contact Bruce Bender

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• 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

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INDUSTRY NEWS TOWING & RECOVERY

Coming Soon from Webfleet Solutions...

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Single Interface Experience Lower the costs of claims Increase safety and protect drivers Get insight into critical events Enhance fleet efficiently

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As driving behavior improves, vehicle damage, incidents and downtime can all be more effectively reduced.

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MACH1, THE APP THAT WORKS FOR YOU: NOW NATIONWIDE! SAN ANTONIO — A family and veteran owned and operated business, Mach1 Services, strengthens nationwide launch. Mach1 Services offers a direct to customers option through an on-demand roadside assistance app, where providers can set their own prices without the price haggling or bidding. After recently attending the Florida Tow Show, Mach1’s provider network continues to expand into new territories.

Mach1’s automated dispatch system locates the closest provider to the customer, and sends the request to them first. There is no call center that coordinates, asking for the lowest bid, or ETA’s. The closest provider can either accept or decline the call. If they decline it, it will go to the next closest provider, and so on, until the call is accepted.

Once the provider has accepted the call, turn-by-turn navigation begins, taking the provider directly to the customer, without having to run multiple apps. While enroute to the customer, the provider (and customer) can call or text each other using burner numbers, so no one gives out their personal information. Once the provider arrives, they complete the service and proceed with an automated payment process where invoices, payouts, and customer credit information is completed with the touch of one button.

Mach1’s patent-pending process is changing the way roadside assistance gets done, making it easier, faster, and more cost-effective for both customers and providers. Mach1’s motto is people helping people, and they are committed to helping their providers as much as their customers.

Mach1’s service coverage area has expanded quickly, as providers across the country have signed up to be a part of it’s network. As customer demand has increased so has provider interest, leading to exponential growth, and a nationwide expansion. As the customer base grows, so do the opportunities for Mach1 providers to make more money.

To learn more about becoming a Mach1 service provider, please visit mach1services.com/service-provider/ or contact the provider support team at 844-511-0002.

Florida Tow Show 2021

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Tow Professional

17

FLEET MAINTENANCE

SoC YOUR BATTERY

{

State of Charge

}

H

ere at Clore Automotive, we get a lot of questions related to battery and system testing.

How to handle different battery types… how to properly load test a battery… what the impact of extreme temperatures can be on battery testing… and more. One big question we get is related to how battery State of Charge (SoC) impacts battery testing and how the different testing methodologies handle state of charge issues differently. It Is important for technicians, roadside assist crews and DIYers to know the impact SoC can have on battery testing results.

First, what do we mean by state of charge? This refers to how fully charged a given battery is, on a scale from 0% (stone cold dead) to 100% (fully charged). Primarily, this value is driven by the Open Circuit Voltage (OCV) of the battery, where ~12.8V

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typically is equivalent to a fully charged 12V (nominal) vehicle starting battery.

So, how could the state of charge impact a battery test? Depending on the test method used, the answer is, SoC can have a dramatic impact on testing accuracy.

For the purpose of this article, we’ll focus on two testing methods: Invasive Load Testing and Digital Testing. Invasive Load Testing refers to testing methods and equipment that place a specific load on the battery for a specific period of time. Examples of invasive load testers include fixed load testers (the proverbial cheese grater, such as our Model 1852) and variable load testers (carbon pile testers, such as our Model 1876).

Digital Testing refers to electronic testers that may or may not place a load on the battery (hint: SOLAR BA series testers do) and send an electronic signal through

testing used, willyou go aachieve long way toward ensuring results, depending on the testingresults, methoddepending used, will on go the a long way method toward ensuring consistently accu- you achiev rate results. rate results.

Clore • 8735 Rosehill Rd. Suite 220, Lenexa, KS 66215 • 800.328.2921 • www Clore Automotive • 8735 Rosehill Rd. Automotive Suite 220, Lenexa, KS 66215 • 800.328.2921 • www.cloreautomotive.com

BA327 Digital and System Tester with Integrated Printer

the battery as a means to determine battery health (a good example is our Model BA327).

There are many things that make invasive load testing and digital testing different, but a key differentiator is how they manage discharged batteries.

With an invasive load tester, it is critical that the battery to be tested is at or above 85% state of charge (SoC).

Attempting to test a battery below this state of charge will result in an inaccurate test and unreliable results (you are likely to get a failed test, even if the battery is actually in good health). In such a situation, it is important to first charge the battery and then perform the test.

Conversely, digital testers can accurately assess discharged batteries, eliminating the need, in most cases, to first charge the battery. (Note: we generally

1876 1000 AMP Load Tester

recommend ensuring the battery to be tested is above 50% SoC prior to testing to ensure accurate result when using a SOLAR BA Series digital battery tester.)

This can potentially save a great deal of time in a service environment, where a shop might need to test 8-15 batteries on a busy, cold morning.

We hope this helps to clear up some of the most common questions technicians and roadside assist crews have related to battery testing and state of charge. Battery testing can be tricky at times and there’s always that one battery that seems to fool every testing method, but having a good handle on how SoC impacts your testing results, depending on the testing method used, will go a long way toward ensuring you achieve consistently accurate results.

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an expert Witness

BY JAMES E. LEWIS ///

Is your Pride getting in the way of

D

SAFE DRIVING?

isclaimer: I’m as American as they come, from a family of veterans and Irish immigrants, even have a US Flag tattooed on my arm – but we as Americans have too much confidence in our driving abilities.

I’m certainly not dogging Americans in general – examples like those people in Germany, though, easily outshine us in training and ability when it comes to driving. In fact, if you look at some of our habits and our staggering crash statistics, we’re not much better than most Third World countries when it comes to driving safely.

This placement in the world comes from one primary source – ego. The typical American driver always thinks

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they’re the best and everyone else on the road is the problem, which causes them to be overly confident and outdrive their abilities.

Let’s also establish some language.

There’s no such thing, when it comes to driving, as an “accident.” Let’s call them what they are – crashes, wrecks, or perhaps the more politically correct “incidents.”

If these crashes were truly accidents, we wouldn’t see attorneys in wall-to-wall commercials on television advertising getting you millions for your wreck, especially if it involves an 18-wheeler.

Plaintiff’s attorneys make millions off of wrecks...think about it...if they were accidents, there would be no

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one to blame. And there’s always someone to blame.

I’ll set that line of thought aside for a moment and get back to training, confidence, and ego. Long gone are the days of mandatory driver’s education. That class that every teenager looked forward to usually between their freshman and sophomore years in high school. I know one of my football coaches gave us the class as we watched films like “Highway Terror” and saw carnage on the roadways. We then took turns driving the car with the coach in the front seat, and then we were off to get our license.

Some private companies offer driver’s education, but it is usually

astronomical in price and many people bypass the opportunity.

So, we’re left with what I saw in Pennsylvania when my sons were going through the licensing process between 2002 and 2004. In the back of the driver’s training guide, there’s a place for a parent or guardian to sign off, certifying that the kid got “at least 50 hours” of behind-the-wheel time in various driving conditions. You and I both know very well that most parents didn’t spend 50 hours driving with their kids – maybe 50 minutes.

And they pencil-whipped the form indicating that the teenager was ready to test.

Again, referencing Pennsylvania, also gone are the days of having a license evaluator riding in the car with the teen as they take their driving test. In fact, the driving test isn’t really a driving test any longer. The prospective licensee doesn’t even get out onto a public road. The evaluator stands by on the curb as your teen accomplishes a simple skills test in a parking lot, again with the observer not even in the car – I’m sure the powers-that-be determined it was much too stressful to have someone sitting in the car with you with that intimidating clipboard and checklist.

Do the math – a teenager reads the driver’s manual enough to make a passing grade on the written test, drives their mom or dad to the mall a couple of times, takes a “road test” in a parking lot, and they’re now a licensed driver. No formal training, no strong habits instilled, and not even the pressure of having someone ride with you in the car during the final test.

These are the people you’re hiring to drive your expensive towing equipment in bumper-to-bumper traffic.

I brought up Germany a minute ago – while most people haven’t

driven in Germany, we may have seen scenes of the autobahn on TV and noted how German drivers “load” to the right of the travel lanes. They rarely go into the middle or left lane except for a brief moment to pass a slower vehicle, and when they do, they quickly return to the right lane. You’ll notice that we Americans “load” to the left. Everyone is in a hurry. Everyone is more important than those in front of you. The right lane is almost empty. Ironically, it is illegal to be in those left lanes except when passing, but we tend to camp out there for long periods of time.

This creates congestion, which in turn creates crashes. Or at least an increased potential for crashes.

It is illegal in most states to camp out in the left lane. It is also illegal in most jurisdictions to pass on the right, yet we see it often.

People are easy to observe and even easier to predict. I study traffic patterns as I drive, so I’ve come up with several scenarios that commonly appear: - A person is tailgating a big truck in the left lane. They’re literally 5 or 10 feet behind the truck and can’t possibly see anything to the front or sides of the truck. They then whip into the right lane to find a slower truck, and the reason the first truck was in the left lane – they’re passing a slower truck. The person stomps their brakes and darts back into the left lane, usually cutting off another driver who was positioning to tailgate the truck.

This person, because they were tailgating, had a panic braking situation and two erratic lane changes. By the way, the reason they jumped into the right lane was that they hoped to get past the truck in the left lane, and then cut them off, “shooting the gap” in

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an expert Witness

BY JAMES E. LEWIS ///

front of the faster truck. They don’t realize, of course, that 95% of the time during their crazy maneuvers, they’re in the faster truck’s blind spot until the last minute when that truck driver sees the top of their car shoot past.

- People don’t know how to merge. This is not restricted to one city or state – this is all over.

People run up to the end of a freeway on-ramp and then slam on their brakes because they don’t understand how to merge with traffic. There have been more rear-end collisions because of this scenario than just about anything else out there.

Same goes with losing a lane due to construction or traffic incident. People aren’t paying

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attention or are too arrogant to care, and they run up to the “choke point,” and cut in at the last minute, usually forcing the entire line of vehicles to stop or slow down for them. You wouldn’t cut in line at the movie theater, why do it in traffic? That’s an easy one to answer – you’re anonymous on the road and have no direct repercussions.

- A driver will run up behind another vehicle, get really close, and slow down to the speed of the vehicle they’re tailgating. This is all because they didn’t look ahead to notice they were gaining on the person. THEN, they see their predicament and try to change lanes. It takes the realization that you’re gaining on the vehicle to

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plan ahead and make your move safely to get around them. In my observation, though, people seem to drive while focusing only 20 feet in front of them – they don’t look ahead and see what’s happening so they can change their speed or their lane without disruption.

- Tailgating and crowding: You don’t know if the person in the vehicle in front of you sees you.

You don’t know what they’re thinking. You don’t know that you might surprise them, and they’ll make an evasive maneuver... and you won’t have more than a second to respond.

The 3 leading causes of crashes in our country are following too close, merging collisions, and inattentive

drivers. “Space cushion” driving is a term used in safety circles that explains giving yourself enough room to predict what’s happening in front of you so you can make changes without getting your blood pressure up or causing another driver to make evasive maneuvers.

There is always a “causal factor” in crashes or near-misses. Near misses, by the way, are critically important to observe. Just because you didn’t crash this time doesn’t mean it won’t happen tomorrow if you keep practicing the same bad habits while driving.

These causal factors are blatantly simple, and one-on-one training in these 3 areas just might limit your liability and help productivity and profit.

They are: Ignorance – you simply don’t know or understand the rules of the road and common courtesies that should take place while driving.

Arrogance – you’re just too darned important to care about rules and courtesies, and also those other people out there with you.

Apathy – you just don’t care and can’t be bothered with thinking of anyone other than yourself.

There are also the 3 Ds – Distracted, Drunk, and Drugs – that influence and impact the chance of crashes.

The $64 question is simple – how do we train people who haven’t received real driver training? You just train them, as in starting from scratch. As an employer, one of your many jobs is to reduce costs and liability for your company. Train your people. Take them out one-on-one and show them how to drive properly.

Demonstrate obeying the rules and practicing common courtesies on the

road, like safe following distances, proper lane selection and usage, and treating others with respect.

Practicing these basic ideals will make you a better driver. I strongly believe that.

My dad wasn’t an educated man, but when I got my license at age 13 (farm provisional in Texas), he told me one very profound thing that has stuck with me ever since. He said, “You can pretty much do what you want when you’re driving, as long as you follow the law, and you don’t make another person change what they’re doing to deal with something you’re doing wrong.”

As tow operators, we value and cherish those cool skills and tricks we’ve learned for recoveries, but many of us don’t pay attention with the basic act of driving that we do the other 99% of our time. It’s that basic driving time that has the most potential for a problem and causing liability for you.

We are just not as good as we think we are, and we should be striving to improve our driving skills and train the people who work with us and for us.

I recommend the one-on-one training like I eluded to above. If you don’t feel qualified or don’t have the time, contact my friend Brian Riker for individual or group training similar to popular “space cushion” safety training in the driver safety world.

Brian Riker is the owner of Fleet Compliance Solutions and is a thirdparty CDL evaluator and driver trainer and specializes in comprehensive safe driver training.

Brian is at brian.riker@ fleetcompliancesolutions.net and has the website http://www.yourdotguy.com/. .

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INSIGHTFUL TALK

BY DAN MESSINA ///

Additional

Revenue $treams W

ith the economy the way it is, everyone is looking for new lines of revenue.

As I travel around the U.S. and talk to towers, they tell me new ways they generate revenue. Here are a few ideas: 1. One company got rid of his heavy duty business. This cut down on

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expenses, and he opened up a convenience store.

2. Another tower from Alabama also opened up a convenience store.

3. There was a tower in Shepard, Texas whose wife had a nail salon and tanning salon in the front office of their storage lot.

4. Another company did a u-haul www.towprofessional.com

rental from his storage lot.

5. Towing junk cars and running them across the scales.

6. RV and boat storage.

7.New car storage for car dealers.

8. Store cars for other tow companies.

9. Storage units at your storage yard.

10. Overnight parking for tractor trailers as they pass through town.

Times have changed and there are new ways for tow companies to generate new revenue. Here is an example of what a company in California is doing: They advertise their towing service in the Dallas area. When a customer Googles the closest tow truck their name will come up. The consumer will

www.towprofessional.com

call the number and it goes to their tow company in California. They negotiate the price and collect the money. Then they start calling tow companies in Dallas to provide the service.

I developed a phone app that’s providing digital dispatching to the closest tow truck. I have a network of |

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INSIGHTFUL TALK

BY DAN MESSINA ///

tow companies all over the U.S. We are in 49 states and have customers in 56 cities and growing. I have seven customers that give me tows, and we dispatch each tow to the city and state for which our customer requests.

In the past week I had three new customers call me wanting to use my services. These customers do not own a tow truck but they are good at Search Engine Optimization. They get to the top of the Google search and the consumer calls the number they provide. That call comes to my app and I find the closest tow truck available to the consumer.

These new companies can advertise all over the U.S. and use my network for the tow. Some of these companies are big and will provide a lot of tows. These are the tows your company will be missing unless you are registered with TowTrax.

Here are a few tows you might be missing: 1. Stranded motorist passing through town.

2. Trucking companies that will be using TowTrax to dispatch calls.

3. Anyone that has a fleet that wants to monitor their trucks.

4. Motor club calls.

TowTrax does not solicit companies for tows. All I provide is a large towing network that is nationwide.

Tow companies register with TowTrax and their drivers can receive tows. Here is the problem for larger tow companies: They have a dispatch system and want all tows to go through dispatch. I understand that, but here are a few things I want you to think about:

1.

2.

Your company is being controlled by a $12 an hour dispatcher.

You trust your driver to drive a $150,000 truck, but you don’t trust him to make a decision on a simple tow. When I owned my company, I treated my drivers like gold. Remember they are the ones that make all the money for the company.

As I talk to larger companies they tell me all tows have to go through dispatch. I understand that, but if I could give you five calls a day at retail rates, you turn them down because it has to go through dispatch. That means you are losing revenue because my tows don’t go through your dispatch system. You are now letting your dispatch system control your business.

3.

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

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overone.org

www.towprofessional.com

If I was faced with this problem I would figure out a way to make it work so I don’t lose calls. More and more people are going to digital dispatch because with a system like TowTrax, I can provide the following:

1.

E.T.A.’s less than 30 minutes. We do not allow our providers to stack calls. Again, I know why you do it because of the priority of your customers, but a consumer should not wait over one hour for help.

I provide bread crumbs. My customers can watch the tow take place.

The consumer does not have to wait a long time for service.

The tow companies in my network love TowTrax because it’s retail rates are paid within a few days.

2.

3.

4.

The consumer is getting smarter, and so are your customers. The problem we face is the tow company has done business a certain way for so long they don’t want to change. The industry is changing, and you have to start thinking outside the box. You have companies

stealing your business, and they don’t even own a tow truck. Most big companies don’t like to do motor clubs for a variety of reasons. There are 44 million motor club calls a year and that’s a market you are missing out on. I can show you how to access that market without starting a truck. You too can be making money from tow companies across the U.S. I had the opportunity to meet a young man who just started his company. He also has a body shop so you know he will be successful. He signed up for my program because he knew he could can make money through other tow companies. The amazing thing about his business is he is only 23 years old. He is creative and thinking outside the box.

As I talk to larger tow companies, I hear all kinds of reasons why they have to control everything and not use TowTrax. There are a lot of new companies starting up that don’t have tow trucks and will use my network to steal your business.

I’m here to help you and grow your business and I can show you how it’s done.

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Fuel 4 Thought

BY D.J. HARRINGTON CSP ///

A PODCAST JUST FOR YOU

S

aying that 2020 was a tough year is putting it mildly. I was so glad when Wes Wilburn of American Towing and Recovery Institute took my advice about doing a podcast to promote his upcoming 2021 year of LIVE, hands-on, Traditional Towing and Recovery Education seminars because doing so greatly increased the numbers of his association’s

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membership. For over 10 years now, I have been using the same TV Studio which is in Dallas, Georgia.

Without fail, upon my arrival there, I would pull behind the building and walk through the basement door to shoot my Car-part.com videos, towing or state association messages. Every trip there went like clockwork.

My trips there changed when I met Branden Camp, the Associated Press reporter, who has interviewed and filmed lots of political people. Needless to say, Branden has spoken with well-known people, such as Donald Trump and some of his family and with President Biden and Kamala Harris as early as a few months ago when they visited Georgia after the attack on Asian women and massage parlor businesses.

Branden let me know that his father, Chuck Camp, would rather be there in the radio station then be down in the basement filming little messages for websites and Lyft commercials. I was surprised to hear that was the case, but I honestly believe Branden knew what his father enjoyed doing the most.

After that revelation, Wes Wilburn and I started working with the former radio disc jockey and announcer, Chuck Camp, and it’s been wonderful ever since. The American Towing & Recovery Institute’s “On the Go Podcast” is up and running and doing great. One day, during the Florida Tow Show podcast, we had over 500 different towing companies tune

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Fuel 4 Thought

BY D.J. HARRINGTON CSP ///

in. We are proud of that milestone too! Every week different episodes are released with guests you will know like Mike Seamon from the Florida Tow show and people like Cathy Brumgard, General Manger of the International Towing Museum in Chattanooga, Tennessee. That was a great one!

Recently, Wes Wilburn chatted with Amy Gresham of GT Towing out of Kansas City, MO. Amy has a passion to promote the SLOW DOWN, MOVE OVER law. That episode was a heartfelt episode with Amy speaking about her precious son, Blake, who was killed while working in the family business. Blake is part of the “Wall of the Fallen” which is displayed at the towing museum.

You will hear from Dennis Richards while discussing with Wes Wilburn everything from TIMS (Traffic Incident Management) training to the latest industry news. You will also hear from people like Pete Ahenden who is also a great trainer and instructor. Each have been wonderful and informative and can be heard on Spotify, iTunes, Pandora, Google Play, iHeart Media, Stitcher, Amazon or wherever you get your podcasts.

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The American Towing and Recovery Institute “On the Go” podcasts have gone well, so we have added Eagle Auto Parts in Martinsburg, West Virginia. As Doug Williams, their GM, aptly stated, “It’s like having a little radio show every week just about us.”

A fellow speaker in Wisconsin let me know that she has always wanted a podcast but did not have the money to pull it off. Upon first consideration, she was told $4,000 for the first 4 weeks and $895 a month.

After hearing that, her aspiration of a podcast faded, and I described it this way, “Suppose for a moment there was a way you could have your own podcast for a lot less. In your opinion do you feel that a podcast would help drive your business to the next level?” If after knowing what I told her, you agree it would help you too, then you will love talking with Chuck Camp about what we can do for you around $300 a month.

Chuck has all the equipment. He has been around radio stations for decades and can edit and produce better than anyone I know. Plus, Chuck is “low-cost friendly” and does all the intro and outro music, the

show and episode format, audio recording and any editing, and final submission to all podcast platforms like iTunes, etc. Plus, Chuck will provide you with extra promotional tips. Where could you get another offer that good? Call me if you want a turnkey for your program. However, first listen to American Towing & Recovery Institute, “On the Go” or Eagle Auto Parts, “On the Go” and then ask yourself if you really want to improve your bottom line.

Oh yes, we also do the weekly podcast of Power Pack Promises by Mike French. All of us know Mike from Tool Box magazine. If you have heard any of those podcasts, you know Mike’s power-packed promises in the Bible help with daily living. His podcast is about 3 – 4 minutes in length every week.

Give me a call at 770-301-4122 and let’s talk about your future.

See you next time.

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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.

3rd Annual

LEGISLATIVE ACTION

WORKSHOP

By Darian Weaver

T

he 3rd Annual TRAA Legislative Action workshop took a new twist this year thanks to Covid-19.

TRAA worked together with Tremont Strategies, their lobbyist group, to make sure all Tow Professionals had their voices heard on the national level. This year Association Presidents and key members of the Tow Industry came together via Zoom! This was a tremendous success on many levels, giving all the

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ability to be there and be heard without having to be there physically. This event was sponsored by INA Towing, a company that strives for safety and protection of our towers daily with their campaign “Over One, Lose None.” Gay Rochester of INA Towing has a passion to protect our responders nationwide, and we appreciate INA Towing for their continued support of the event.

“YOUR VOICE WAS HEARD!”

The meetings this year coordinated by TRAA and the team at Tremont strategies was set up to allow groups of 2 - 4 members one on one time directly with the state representative of their staff. The topics listed below were discussed in length with state representatives

during this past event. Collectively our group met with over 45 members of Congress, the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and the Senate Commerce Committee. TRAA asked for amended regulation for 23 U.S.C. §127, as well as discussed, www.towprofessional.com

the following needs for the industry highlighted below.

Amend Regulations that Limit Towers’ Ability to Respond Effectively on the Interstate Highway System Under federal law, the towing |

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LEGISLATIVE ACTION

WORKSHOP

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industry is regulated just like other forms of trucking.

TRAA supports language that recognizes the challenges that the towing industry faces in keeping traffic flowing smoothly on our interstate system, as well as the differences that distinguish towing and long-haul trucking. In the 2015 FAST Act, Congress attempted to exempt towers from weight restrictions which limit their ability to move disabled or damaged vehicles from the interstate. Unfortunately, the language needs to be clarified to accurately define which heavy-duty tow and recovery vehicles are covered, as well as clarify that towers can access the scene of an accident.

TRAA supports inclusion of the below language in the next highway bill reauthorization or infrastructure package.

23 U.S.C. §127 (proposed revisions in red) (m) Covered Heavy-duty Tow and Recovery Vehicles (1) In general The vehicle weight limitations set forth in this section do not apply to a covered heavy-duty tow and recovery vehicle.

(2) Covered heavy-duty tow and recovery vehicle defined In this subsection, the term “covered heavy-duty tow and recovery vehicle” means a vehicle that— (A) Is responding to, returning from, or transporting a wrecked or disabled vehicle from the place where the vehicle became wrecked or disabled to the nearest appropriate repair facility or other location as directed by any Agency having jurisdiction; and (B)

has a gross vehicle weight rating that is equal to or exceeds the gross vehicle weight of the disabled vehicle being transported.

In addition to weight restrictions, some states impose overall length restrictions on trucks and combination vehicles without an exemption for tow trucks removing these vehicles when they become wrecked or disabled on the interstate. This means that often combination vehicles must be dissembled, and each part towed by separate tow trucks. Many combination vehicles such as fuel tankers or

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LEGISLATIVE ACTION

WORKSHOP

automobile transporters are extremely difficult to split apart, creating safety hazards that put roadside first responders at risk and greatly slows response times to clear traffic incidents. Accordingly, TRAA also supports inclusion of the below language in the next highway bill reauthorization or infrastructure package.

49 U.S.C. §31111 (a) Definitions. In this section, the following definitions apply: (8)

Covered Heavy-duty Tow and Recovery Vehicles.

In this Section the term Covered Heavyduty Tow and Recovery Vehicle means any vehicle transporting a wrecked or disabled vehicle from the place where the vehicle became wrecked or disabled to the nearest appropriate repair facility or other location as directed by any Agency having jurisdiction.

(b) General Limitations.

(1)

(J)

Except as provided in this section, a State may not prescribe or enforce a regulation of commerce that— Imposes an overall length limit on any combination of vehicles being transported by a Covered Heavy-duty Tow and Recovery Vehicle provided that the wrecked or disabled vehicle combination being transported was following applicable length limits at the time and place of the initial disablement or wreck.

Minimum Liability Coverage for Motor Carriers TRAA was a signatory on the February 2021 Truck Insurance Coalition letter to House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee Chairman Peter DeFazio (DOR-04) and Ranking Member Sam Graves (R-MO-06) opposing any increase in minimum liability coverage requirements for motor carriers. The letter was sent in response to proposed provisions in a potential infrastructure bill and that were included in last session’s HR 2, the FAST Act. These provisions would

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more than double current minimum liability coverage requirements from $750,000 to $2 million.

Previous reports from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration show that any increase in minimum liability coverage is unnecessary, explaining that current minimum liability coverage requirements adequately cover damages in all but 0.6% of accidents involving commercial motor vehicles.

Support Passage of the DRIVE Safe Act Like the rest of the transportation sector, the towing industry faces a workforce shortage. Many states permit 18-20-year-olds to obtain a commercial driver’s license and operate commercial vehicles in intrastate commerce.

However, under current law, federal regulations prohibit 18–20-yearolds, even veterans, from operating commercial motor vehicles in interstate commerce irrespective of their driving skills and work or military experience and training.

The bipartisan DRIVE Safe Act, introduced in the 116th Congress,

by Senator Todd Young (R-IN) and Trey Hollingsworth (R-IN-9) would rectify this situation and allow qualified young adults to operate commercial vehicles in interstate commerce while ensuring the safety of the motoring public.

We expect that this legislation, which had 144 House sponsors and 35 Senate sponsors, will be reintroduced in the coming months.

TRAA strongly supports DRIVE Safe.

TRAA and Tremont did a tremendous job bringing towers to the forefront and allowing their voices to be heard! A follow up meeting was scheduled for 1 month

Resolution – Currently working with Chairman McGovern and expect it to be advanced forward soon.

• Protecting Roadside Responders Act – Senator Duckworth and Senator Durbin are working to get towers included.

after the 3rd annual meeting to discuss updates with lawmakers to gauge the effectiveness of the prior meeting. On a scale of 1-10, I give TRAA and Tremont an 11. Here is what has transpired since the event in March: • National Move Over Day

DEDICATED TO TEACHING FELLOW TOWERS HOW TO GET PAID

You Do the Work You Deserve to Get Paid We Teach You Proper way of writing invoices

Are you still writing your RECOVERY invoice on a TOW slip? That’s a thing of the past.

Accident scene clean up

Are you leaving car debris and oil behind at the accident scene? You can be liable for this even YEARS later. We show you how to make site remediation profitable not an expense.

Keeping the paper trail

Learn how to properly document the scene from start to finish so you will have all the info you need back at the office.

Billing on property damage liability insurance only

Have you heard that your customer is not covered? Us too! We show you different avenues to get paid.

Communicating with insurance/ private companies

Obtaining payment for proper billing

Laws that are on your side

And more...

There are many steps that go into collecting a check for your hard work. We teach you how to go about the process from start to finish.

We show you how to work WITH insurance/private companies NOT AGAINST them.

An insurance executive and lawyer guest speak to give you a diverse training seminar.

Overview of federal and state laws to help you get paid!

1,000s of companies attended!

Proven process to increase your bottom line!

3 classes for the price of 1! Two free refresher classes

Upcoming Seminars

I would like to start out by thanking Bob and Eric for putting on such a great class and I personally want to say that it is well worth the time and money.

I made the money back for the class from a job that we did before the class for a stolen recovery in someone’s back yard that I was not sure how to get paid and this class gave me the knowledge to get paid for this job. Long story short, it is a great investment to our business.

June 26, 2021 Massachusetts In-Person

— Capeway Towing

Instructors: Bob & Eric Fouquette

Call

or visit our website

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To Register: 508-763-5474

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LEGISLATIVE ACTION

WORKSHOP

• Length & Weight Issues- Have met and working with House committee. New language was drafted, and existing language clarified to show no intent to tow across country.

• Insurance Requirements – More education is needed on this issue. TRAA and Tremont are actively working to educate the aids so they might bring a congressman onboard.

TRAA also had some great news to share, they have now received a seat at the table with AASHTO. Bill Johnson of Hampshire Towing will be representing towers nationwide, with his new seat at the table with AASHTO. The wheels of our government turn terribly slow, are you doing your part to be heard? Make sure you attend the 2022 TRAA Legislative event. This is your opportunity to bring your State Association to the national level. Mark your calendar for next year, March 8th -10th in Washington D.C., be there and be heard!

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NEW FOR 2021 TM

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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.

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 Magazine Fiscal Year Calendar 2021-2022 WWW.HINO.COM

• • • • • •

WWW.HINO.COM

Calendar will cover Oct 2021 – Sept 2022 Size 12 x 12 Paper: 100# Gloss Text w/ 100 # Gloss Cover 4 color both sides Semi-Gloss coating both sides Calendar will go out to Top 15,000 owners nationwide polybagged with Vol.10, Issue 6: “Wall of the Fallen Issue” • 14 possible sponsor spots • Choose the Month you would like to appear on (Along with your product image, phone # and website can be included) • $5,000 total cost!

• Act now only 14 Only 4 spots Available!

With purchase you can Also submit up to 12 videos on TowProfessionsl.com and on social media.

Call 205-223-4548 or email, Darian Weaver at darian@towprofessional.com or w.burwell@towprofessional.com WWW.TOWPROFESSIONAL.COM

F

ifteen years ago, towing organizations began their entry into the digital world with the introduction of digital dispatching and online towing software with the need and expectation of keeping up with operational demands, as well as taking advantage of technological advancements. Those companies that preferred the old school approach to running towing operations began to finally embrace the technological advancements the industry desperately needed. In 2021, the same scenario is happening again, involving

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a new technological push within private property towing due to the ever-growing need of digitizing residential parking enforcement at private residential communities.

This next big wave to the towing industry is ParkingPass.com. Based in South Florida, ParkingPass. com has built a national reputation while being recognized by many of the largest property management companies and residential asset owners throughout the United States as the premier paperless

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parking management system available. With this reputation, ParkingPass.com has had the unique opportunity of becoming national vendors for the apartment and condo/HOA industries, providing an opportunity of growth for their towing vendors nationally.

Why the need now? Due to Covid-19, there’s been a huge shift

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“Management companies, associations and asset owners are no longer interested in implementing outdated paper-based systems to their communities, and they’ve opted for a paperless parking management approach.” within the residential industries to go digital wherever possible. Management companies, associations and asset owners are no longer interested in implementing outdated paper-based systems to their communities, and they’ve opted for a paperless parking management approach. ParkingPass.com allows these property owners an opportunity to monetize their parking while helping the operations teams control unauthorized occupants and to get their parking under control.

As many are aware, private property parking enforcement/towing typically comes with lots of 44

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headaches and unnecessary drama to the tow yard, but it doesn’t have to be this way. With ParkingPass. com, the residents of the communities manage their own accounts, allowing them to quickly and easily update or add additional resident vehicles, as well as register guest passes electronically. The system is fully customizable for each property client, allowing them the ability to choose which parking rules and regulations are to be enforced, and allowing them to set controls and limitations to guest passes and total resident vehicles on a per unit basis. This means more

Patrol System License Plate Search Residents Guests

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Patrol System Submit Violation Step-3

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purchasing parking decals/hangars is eliminated.

ParkingPass.com is always looking to grow their vendor network as their property management clients push them to new markets. Feel free to check out their website to see how you tows, less givebacks, less mistakes and less drama/headaches with your drivers or spotters.

The best part of the program is that there are no costs to the towing company. ParkingPass. com establishes relationships with local towing company vendors and works together with each vendor to strengthen relationships with existing property management clients, while assisting in patrol growth for properties looking to go digital with their parking. Each towing vendor maintains a tow contract with the community, while ParkingPass.com contracts with this same community on a software basis.

ParkingPass.com has incorporated state of the art License Plate Recognition (LPR) and mobile license plate search technologies to assist with quick patrolling within this new digital environment. With their LPR lease program, you’ll have access to LPRs that are fully integrated with the ParkingPass. com system, keeping the patrolling time to a minimum while allowing your team the opportunity to maximize towing. Unauthorized vehicles can no longer hide, and the days of too many parking decals being handed out are behind us.

By incorporating the license plate numbers with patrol, there are no more complaints of residents who incorrectly filled out a guest pass or decal stickers/hangtags falling down. In addition, the necessity of

can become one of their vendors and grow your private property impound business moving forward.

Don’t miss your opportunity to grow your PPI business by waiting on technology that’s only going to grow over time.

INGENUITY AMERICAN CRAFTSMANSHIP custombuiltmfg.com www.towprofessional.com

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RADIUS D

ynamic created the Original Self-Loading WheelLift that has become the most sought-after technology in the towing industry. The idea of the self-loading wheel-lift system came from a need of faster and safer operation for recovery agents. To continue with the efforts of creating the safest recovery vehicles on the market.

The Dynamic Radius is a 240º rotating car carrier, allowing for quicker and safer recovery where limited space is available to maneuver. The design of the radius allows for less equipment blocking the roadway creating a safer workspace for recovery personal.

-12,000 lb. Capacity Deck - 9,500 lb. Rotation Capacity

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- 240º Deck Rotation - 5,000 lb. Self Loading Wheel-Lift

Standard Features - 48” Toolbox - 18 Triple Eye Tie Down Pads - 100’ 3/8” Cable w/ Roller Guide & Tensioner Winch Release - Wireless Proportional Remote - Stationary Frame Mounted Light Pylon - Grease Fittings on Bed Rails - Hydraulic Outriggers - (1) “V” Bridle, (2) “J” Hook Chains w/ Clusters, (2) Wheel Lift Straps

- Tow Light Plug - Dual Luminated Control Workstations - Tie Down Systems - FMVSS 108 Lamp Group - LED Lights, Including Reverse Lights

Optional Features -

102” Wide Deck Diamond Plate Steel Deck 4,000 lb. Independent Self-Loading Wheel Lift Fold Down & Removable Rails Lower & Deck Mounted Work Lights Light Bar

- Switch Panel - Wheel Simulators - PTO (Power Take Off) - Additional & Custom Options Available Dynamic continuous to broaden their product line with the introduction of various new wrecker models and Dynamic car carriers. Dynamic Towing Equipment & Manufacturing is a customer care focused company where customers can directly reach the owner as well as all departments to effectively create efficient client communication.

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RADIUS

W

ayne Gavis of Colonial Garage in Winchester, Virginia, has been in business for 60 years.

Wayne interest in the Radius had 3 main points: Safety, saving time, and having optional load angels over a standard wrecker.

The radius has saved time because of the different load angles. The Radius has also added to the safety of our drivers because you can work off the shoulder of the road instead of blocking the road. I also have a side puller

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TESTIMONIAL

Wayne Gavis, Colonial Garage

on the truck so that adds an extra winch, so you do not need a second truck on the scene. This has been a great investment, and we love the versatility of the Radius, and the support of the Dynamic Mfg. team behind the product.

Wayne Gavis Colonial Garage Winchester, VA 22601

®

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TOW PHOTOS

Castillow’s Towing, LLC from Atmore Alabama took on this interesting Tow last November. Joey Castillow is now known as the “Rocket Man, “after the offload of this rocket! Great job Castillow’s Towing!

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TOW PHOTOS Castillow’s Towing, LLC from Atmore Alabama

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DEALERS PLACE

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

2017 Century 1150 Peterbilt 389

2010 Peterbilt with 2015 NRC 20 TB

2021 Kenworth NRC 40TB 28 foot deck

SpaceKap Roadside Pod

CALL Howard 860-942-4379 • TOWTALSOLUTIONS.com

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NEW FOR 2021 Tow Professional is proud to announce our new Digital Interactive Quarterly!

Q1

Quarterly

Q1

Quarterly

Towing Software, Lighting Products, Cargo Control, Wheel Lifts & Repo Equipment

Now your Editorial and Advertising can become interactive with links & videos combined with the convenience of mobility!

PLUS

FEATURED PRODUCTS & SUPPLIERS DIRECTORY

Tow Professional Quarterly Digital Edition • Comes out 4 times a year • Mobile and accessible for readers to use and for towers on the go.

• Editorial and Ads are interactive with the use of Links and Videos to show more information and direct readers to your website.

• Emailed to our 11,000 registered owners • Promoted on Social Media: Facebook, Linked-In, as well as in our print publication.

• Easily Promoted on your Social Media platforms through sharing...

• Cost effective Full Page and Half Page sizes.

Cost For Full Year

Editorial Coverage

FULL PAGE

QUARTER 1

Specs: Price: $ 3,000

Towing Software and Lighting

QUARTER 2

Rotators, Heavy Equipment, 5th Wheel Attachments, Wheel-Lifts and Repo Equipment

QUARTER 3

Cargo Control, Insurance and Financing

HALF PAGE Specs: Price: $ 2,000

All ads and editorial must have links to websites and this includes videos.

QUARTER 4

Hazmat, Spill Control, Lock-out Equipment, GPS and Telematics

Be sure to ask about how to become a part of our Suppliers Directory and Feature Product Editorial.

FEATURED SUPPLIERS / / /

Q1 2021 FEATURED SUPPLIER’S DIRECTORY Quarterly

Austin Insurance

Hino Trucks

Austin Insurance is a family-owned, independent insurance agency that keeps your best interests in mind. We know how important it is to provide our clients with the best possible insurance coverage at the most competitive rates available.

Hino’s mission is building safe and reliable light and medium duty trucks is a start, but following our mission and doing what’s right by our customers only comes from providing a total support experience.

(800) 548-7538

(248) 699-9300

info@wreckerins.com | www.wreckerins.com

info@hino.com | www.hino.com

Auto Data Direct, Inc.

JERR-DAN

DirectPost-Office from Auto Data Direct allows you to create, mail, and track your certified lien letters online! Reduce the time, effort, and expense of searching for records and going to the post office.

Headquartered in Hagerstown, Maryland, we proudly manufacture our vehicles in McConnellsburg, Pennsylvania.

Jerr-Dan believes there are few professions that can match the heart and soul of a tow owner/operator.

(855) 300-3455

(800) 926-9666

info@add123.com | www.add123.com

info@jerrdan.com | www.jerrdan.com

Beacon Software Company

MACH1

Beacon Software creates technology that enables towing & roadside providers to manage, update, dispatch, track and invoice jobs, in real time, from anywhere in the world. Beacon technologies save time and money!

Our motto is “People Helping People.” And we believe that there are good people in the world that are truly willing and want to help others. This is the foundation that our company is built on.

(866) 437-6653

(844) 385-5414

info@beaconsoftco.com | www.beaconsoftco.com 16

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info@mach1services.com | www.mach1services.com

Tow Professional Quarterly Digital Edition Feature Supplier Directory • 25-30 Word Company Description • Company Logo • Phone Number • Contact Email Link • Website Link

FEATURED PRODUCTS / / /

1

Quarterly

2021

FEATURED PRODUCTS FlowStop’s Hazmat Products FlowStop’s Hazmat Products, “ Equipment & Supplies,” are designed by a veteran of the towing, recovery, and spill response service for a quick and easy solution to minimize exposure when dealing with roadside mishaps. FlowStop has a proven track record for dependability for the task at hand. Check out the FlowStop Product line at www.flowstop.net or call us at 877-356-9767 for details and pricing.

Jerr-Dan Sliding Winch System This innovative design permits an operator to tow without incurring damage to the vehicle. The sliding winch system from Jerr-Dan provides the operator with better control of a damaged vehicle as it is winched onto a carrier bed without the need of additional side pullers or snatch blocks. Without the need for additional equipment, the operator can be more efficient, ideally spending less time on the scene, with less equipment to carry and potentially less fatigue on the job. Originally created to meet the needs of exotic cars with side pull points, the sliding winch system provides flexibility for operators to tow cars of any design. The Sliding Winch System is currently offered on all new JerrDan Standard-Duty and Medium-Duty Car Carrier models and can be added to your existing Standard- or MediumDuty Carrier. www.jerrdan.com 16

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Tow Professional Quarterly Digital Edition Featured Product •

60-65 Word Product Description • Product or Service Image • Contact Email Link • Website Link

www.towprofessional.com

Call 205-223-4548 or email, Darian Weaver at darian@towprofessional.com or w.burwell@towprofessional.com

WWW.TOWPROFESSIONAL.COM

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.

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DEALERS PLACE

IF YOU HAD TAKEN THIS SPACE, YOUR AD WOULD NOW BE BEING LOOKED AT BY OVER 37,000 SUBSCRIBERS AND WOULD ALSO BE AVAILABLE TO MILLIONS MORE ONLINE. 60

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2010 PETERBILT WITH B&B INDUSTRIES 60/ 50 WRECKER

2021 PETERBILT 389 BLACK 306 HP 18 SPEED FULLER TRANS 44”SLEEPER WITH JERR-DAN 35 TON WRECKER WITH JFB BODY AND GOLD STORAGE SOLUTIONS

2021 PETERBILT 337 BLACK WITH JERR-DAN ROLL BACK CARRIER 22X102 WIDE REMOVABLE RAILS 2- 78” TOOLBOXES WITH S.S. DOORS AND TOP TRAYS CHP/AAA EQUIPPED

2021 INTERNATIONAL MV WITH JERR-DAN 21 X102 WIDE 3.5K UNDER LIFT 2- 78” TOOLBOXES WITH S.S. DOORS WITH TOP TRAY SOUNDOFF SAFETY LIGHT BAR CHP/AAA EQUIPPED READY TO WORK

Authorized Distributor

Heavy Truck Repair Network Shop

2021 PETERBILT 389 VIPER BLUE 306 HP CUMINS 44” SLEEPER JERR-DAN 50 TON WRECKER WITH JFB BODY AND SILVER STORAGE SOLUTIONS 2753 Vista Avenue Bloomington CA 92316 info@hydraulicshopinc.com

Phone: 909 875 9336 Fax: 909 875 9330

Market PLACE

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.

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.

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

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Advertiser Index COMPANY

PG

COMPANY

PG

COMPANY

PG

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

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

Steck Mfg .......................................... 46

Alliance Funding .............................. 43

Holly’s Towing Dispatch .................. 36

The Wilburt Company

Austin Hinds ...................................... 61

Hydraulic Shop ................................ 62

TOPS................................................... 45

Austin Insurance .............................. 54

I.T.R.H.F.M .......................................... 13

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

Beacon Software ............................. 37

INA Towing Network ....................... 26

Towboy ............................................... 63

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

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

Towing Museum ..........................32-33

Custer Products................................ 29

Lodar .................................................. 22

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

Custom Built ...................................... 47

Mach 1 ............................................... 17

Towtal Solutions ............................... 56

CW Mill Equipment .......................... 51

MacMahon........................................ 59

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

Dynamic ............................................. 55

Marking Pen Depot .......................... 63

TRAA ................................................. 36

Eastern Wrecker Sales ................... 58

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

TRAO .................................................. 15

Echert & Associates ........................ 63

ParkingPass.com ............................. 46

TT/ WebFleet......................... 21, 23, 25

Eemerg ............................................... 45

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

Weiss Ins ........................................... 63

Flow Stop ........................................... 64

Progressive Insurance .................... 11

Will-Burt ........................................... 31

FTI Groups Inc .................................. 27

Recovery Billing ............................... 39

Winches, Inc ..................................... 30

Go Light .............................................. 40

Robert Young..................................... 58

Wrecker Rentals .............................. 56

Guni Wheel........................................ 43

RP Consulting.................................... 51

ZackLift .............................................. 38

Hal Kresser........................................ 63

RV Wheel ........................................... 63

Hide-a-Lift.......................................... 63

Sierra Pacific Insurance ................... 9

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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.

WWW.HINO.COM