Tow Professional Quarterly - Quarter 1, 2021 by Over the Mountain Media, Inc

Quarterly

lebrating

YEARS

Quarter 1 • 2021 www.towprofessional.com

TOWING SOFTWARE

LIGHTING PLUS: INSIGHTFUL TALK:

FEATURED PRODUCTS

ACCIDENTS & LAWSUITS

SUPPLIERS DIRECTORY

Common sense leads to prevention of

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CONTENTS

Quarterly

an expert Witness

PUBLISHER

BY JAMES E. LEWIS ///

Darian Weaver President & Publisher darian@towprofessional.com

Common sense leads to prevention of ACCIDENTS & LAWSUITS

William Burwell VP of Marketing & Sales w.burwell@towprofessional.com

4 LIGHTING FEATURES

PRODUCTION

THE TUNNEL IS LIGHT

10 WRECKER LIGHTING

The Right Tools for the Job

14 THE EASE OF GOING

WIRELESS

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

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Robert Brockett – TXI Systems, Inc. David Cotsmire – Will-Burt James E . Lewis Laura Narpaul – Mach 1 Kendall Smith and Matt Wesley –Towbook Dan Tortorici – Beacon Software

20 SOFTWARE FEATURES 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

22 | Towbook

26 | Tops/Budget

30 | Beacon Software

34 | MACH-1

38 | Featured Product

44 | Supplier’s Directory

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.

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2 | Tow Professional | Q1 21 | www.towprofessional.com

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TP Q1

an expert Witness BY JAMES E. LEWIS ///

Common sense leads to prevention of

ACCIDENTS & LAWSUITS

sincerely hope you’re informed and possibly entertained by my regular column here in Tow Professional Magazine. If you’ve ever paid strong attention and taken to heart one of my articles, choose this one. Remember this phrase in everything you do:

Plaintiff’s attorneys sue everyone who saw it or touched it, no matter what it is. There’s a reason for this that I’ll explain later. I had an argument with some guys a while back in Texas where a contractor came into the yard to pick up a wrecked car to go to Copart. That’s a common, everyday occurrence. This contractor did a quick load as it was nearing the end of the day, and only used one chain on the back of the vehicle with a J-hook, and no front safeties of any type. I stopped the guy as he was leaving the lot and required him to use two chains in the back and two safeties

up front – because remember, the bridle doesn’t count on a flatbed as a method of securement. As I returned to the shop, several guys gave me flack over stopping the guy, saying it was none of my business and it wasn’t any of the company’s concern – and I disagreed. We left it at that, but after doing more homework and talking to a couple of attorneys I’ve worked with, a point was made crystal clear for me – and I hope it will be for you, too. For me, it isn’t a matter of being right – it’s a matter of not losing your business due to someone else’s carelessness or apathy. Preventing an accident or preventing putting yourself in a bad situation is simply common sense. Common sense dictates that you should avoid a problem before it becomes a problem. Also, minding your own business, as the phrase goes, does nothing to correct the downward spiral our industry is in with the “if it fits, it ships” attitude that has made everyone’s insurance skyrocket, and will likely bring on huge amounts of regulation. Just look at the trucking industry.

4 | Tow Professional | Q1 21 | www.towprofessional.com

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an expert Witness BY JAMES E. LEWIS ///

So, yeah, if someone else is doing something stupid that impacts me or my company in the long run, it IS my business. And YOURS. The case in point are the two photos accompanying this article. One photo looks great, the other looks like a train wreck. One has a properly outfitted truck that is capable of moving a properly designed trailer – the load is under the truck and trailer manufacturer’s Gross Vehicle Weight Ratings (GVWRs). The second one isn’t. I want you to follow along with me as I describe a third scenario. I didn’t include a photo, so you’ll have to use your imagination. I saw this truck and trailer, and I’ll describe it for you in detail. The truck towing a trailer is a 1995 Chevrolet 2500, twowheel drive, long bed regular cab, with a 350 V-8. It has a GVWR of 7,200 lbs., split with 4,200 lbs. max capacity in the rear, and 3,000 lbs. max in the front. If, and I say if, it has 4.10 gears, Chevrolet rates the max towing weight at 8,500 lbs. If it has 3.55s or 3.73s, which are more likely, the max towing capacity is under 7,500 lbs. These GVWR numbers combine to make the Gross Combined Weight Rating (GCWR) – the weight of the truck at max GVWR and any trailer it can pull at max GVWR – 7,200 plus 8,500 is 15,700 lbs. Keep that number in the back of your head. This truck is hooked to a 32 ft gooseneck trailer with a boxed rear end and no vehicle ramps. More on that in a minute. The trailer weighs 7,500 lbs. by itself. Please refer to max trailer weight on the pickup based on rear axle ratio. The trailer by itself is the max the truck can tow, unless it has 4.10 gears, and then it can only tow the trailer plus 1,000 lbs.

Loaded and precariously stacked on this trailer is a 2010 Ford Crown Victoria that weighs (+/-) 4,000 lbs. There is a Ford Explorer Sport (2 door) 4x4 that weighs 4,100 lbs. A Jeep Liberty 4x4 that weighs 5,600 lbs. A Ford Ranger Splash Extended cab 4x4 that weighs 3,600 lbs. A Hyundai Tucson that weighs 4,400 lbs. And a 2002 Honda Accord that weighs 3,300 lbs. The trailer sports a total combined weight of 32,500 lbs. The trailer alone, as it sat when I saw it, was more than FOUR TIMES the maximum allowable tow weight according to the truck’s manufacturer. At an empty weight of 5,200 lbs. for the truck and 32,500 lbs. for the loaded trailer, you’re looking at a Gross Combined Vehicle Weight of 37,700 lbs. Against a GM-approved GCWR of 15,700 lbs. Where am I going with all of these numbers? It’s the pickup truck driver’s problem, right? Absolutely WRONG. The guy may not have lost a car yet, or had a wreck recently, and he may go all his life without an incident – the chances of getting off without a hitch, though, increase every single day that you take chances like this. First, I find it incredibly ironic that people in the towing industry think about wrecks where “it won’t happen to them” or “I’m just going across town” ... and they take chances on securement and operation ... but their entire income is based on people having wrecks. So it isn’t like it doesn’t happen. In fact, tow companies COUNT ON wrecks occurring. Why would a situation involving you having a wreck be any different?

6 | Tow Professional | Q1 21 | www.towprofessional.com

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an expert Witness BY JAMES E. LEWIS ///

Let’s look at a couple of quick scenarios. The guy tries to stop for a traffic light, and the weight of that trailer being way too much for those little brakes on that little truck to handle, the whole rig slides into the intersection and he hits a car. Even with minor damage and minor injuries involving the car and its driver, in today’s litigious world, the guy is getting sued. Anyone want to place on bet on whether our guy even has commercial insurance coverage for this truck and trailer? Another scenario – the guy tries to round a corner and the trailer takes over, pushing the truck off the road, hurting or killing him. His family sues to recover some money – but who will they sue? He wasn’t insured properly and the guy is out of commission. Third one – the guy slides into a group of cars and takes out several, being overloaded like he is. His insurance throws their hands up because they had no idea he was running his liability only, personal-use truck like that, and who will all the parties sue? Remember what I said?

Plaintiff’s attorneys sue everyone who saw it or touched it, no matter what it is. Let’s back up a few notches. Did the driver load his own trailer, off of the tow company’s property? Nope, he’s got a box end trailer and no ramps, so even if the cars could drive, and they can’t, he couldn’t drive them, much less stack them on top of each other. The old, crusty forklift guy at the tow company used his large forklift to load that trailer. He might have even held some cars in place while the driver threw chains over that mess. People at the tow company saw the trailer getting loaded, and have a reasonable amount of knowledge on the matter to understand the GVWR of the truck and trailer, and how those amounts were grossly exceeded – and there was no way that combination could be safely operated on public streets.

Isn’t that what tow guys do? Load vehicles, secure them and move them? That makes every single one of the people in your tow yard that day an expert in their field. And again, YOUR guy loaded it – the driver didn’t load the truck. When I talked to one of my attorney friends that I’ve worked with on several cases, he exploded with energy over how he’d handle this case given any of the three scenarios above. Remember - Plaintiff’s attorneys sue everyone who saw it or touched it, no matter what it is. An attorney in a case like that would name the tow company, their insurer, and name every single tow operator who loaded the trailer or saw it being loaded, including the dispatchers and release people who monitor your closed-circuit television systems as “separate civil litigants.” Every one of these people and parties will have to retain counsel at their own cost in order to defend themselves. Next, all the parties point fingers at each other and play the blame game, pay to get out of trouble, and the last one in line writes the biggest check – including using your personal property like your house and car to pay the judgement. This is no joke, folks. And your employer can’t protect you. The attorney advised me that these cases fall under “general negligence” provisions, and he only has to prove that the parties “knew or should have known” of the dangers involved in the scenario. That’s the legal terminology used. Ask yourself – do you know or should you know how much weight a two-wheel drive V-8 pickup can pull? Can you google it quickly and find out? I googled those weights and capacities in less than five minutes – anyone could do the same. This scenario and the resulting accident is all on you, unfortunately. You were involved, even if you didn’t load it. You “knew or should have known” that it was wrong. And the other side will be able to prove that. The guy’s insurance won’t cover him. They’re coming after you. Choose wisely when some “fly-bynight” contractor enters your yard and overloads their equipment, especially if you help them. Or even if you don’t. Or when you exceed the ratings of your own equipment, thinking that if it fits, it ships.

8 | Tow Professional | Q1 21 | www.towprofessional.com

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THE TUNNEL IS LIGHT

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 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.

10 | Tow Professional | Q1 21 | www.towprofessional.com

TowMate |

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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 wanted to help the customer believe in the product as much as I did.” That philosophy coupled with high quality products that

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11 | Tow Professional | Q1 21 | www.towprofessional.com

TP Q1 LIGHTING 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 TMFLUX32 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. 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” SLSTR84 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 12 | Tow Professional | Q1 21 | www.towprofessional.com

TowMate |

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.

13 | Tow Professional | Q1 21 | www.towprofessional.com

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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.

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

14 | Tow Professional | Q1 21 | www.towprofessional.com

Will-Burt |

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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. A light tower is the ultimate tool when it comes to lighting up an accident scene or job site. The advent of

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15 | Tow Professional | Q1 21 | www.towprofessional.com

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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 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

16 | Tow Professional | Q1 21 | www.towprofessional.com

Will-Burt |

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

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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. 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

17 | Tow Professional | Q1 21 | www.towprofessional.com

TP Q1 LIGHTING

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 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 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.

18 | Tow Professional | Q1 21 | www.towprofessional.com

NEXT: Wheel-Lif ts & Repo Equipment

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

Quarterly

Towing Software, Lighting Products, Cargo Control,

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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

Tow Professional Q1 | 2021

Tow Professional Quarterly Digital Edition Featured Product • 60-65 Word Product Description • Product or Service Image • Contact Email Link • Website Link

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

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TP Q1 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 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

20 | Tow Professional | Q1 21 | www.towprofessional.com

Custer Products | LED Flood Work Light & Amber Strobe Combo Light

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

Wireless 23” Light Duty Tow Light

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56” & 72” LED Amber/White Rooftop Light Bar

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 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

LED Class I Surface Mount Strobes

The LED Class I Surface mount strobe (STR-XL1) which is available in Amber (not pictured) and Amber/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

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 DOT requirements, comes with a 3-year warranty and is proudly manufactured in the USA. To learn more, please visit www.custerproducts.com 21 | Tow Professional | Q1 21 | www.towprofessional.com

TP T O W I N G Q1

S O F T WA R E

Maximize Efficiency &

Simplify Communication Using Towbook By Kendall Smith and Matt Wesley, Towbook

the use of technology continues to rise in the towing and roadside industry, so do consumer expectations. With the ability to use advanced technology at your fingertips, your customer expects to be informed and cared for every step of the way. Using Towbook facilitates this communication by doing the work for you! Towbook not only promotes continuous communication with your customers, but also with your motor clubs, body shops, dealerships, police departments, and private property managers too! • •

Got a call from the motor club? Accept it with the click of a button! Does your body shop or dealership want to send

•

you a job? Our Web Request Portal can help them do exactly that with just a few clicks! Impress your police departments with “Vehicle Lookup” technology that allows them to quickly see if a certain vehicle is on your lot! Give private property managers a login to their account, so they can view all vehicles that were towed and sign for them as well!

All of the above actions and more, allow you and your staff to reduce time on the phone and maximize your performance and efficiency. So, what does Towbook do? And why do you need it?

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Towbook | Improved Communication

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a report on scene, take photos of the vehicle, indicate anywhere there is damage, and have the customer sign off on the damage form. This report will be saved for future reference and can even be emailed or sent via text to the customer with their receipt.

Roadside.io Towbook’s Roadside.io solution, paired with our Customer Survey feature, delivers the latest customer experience capabilities to your fingertips, allowing you to provide an “Uber-like” experience for your customers. With Roadside.io, you have the option of sharing information with customers while the service is in progress; helping customers understand what’s happening with their service without having to call you for an update. You also have the option of sending the customer a satisfaction survey once the job is complete. You can choose to push these surveys to your website and you can also direct them to your social media outlets where they can complete a review about the service they received.

Built-in Navigation and GPS Tracking

Managers and dispatchers can communicate with drivers easily. Drivers can accept calls with all the details needed in order to do their job efficiently and update the status of the job from start to finish. You will also be able to chat with your drivers via their mobile applications or send them a text message to make them aware of lastminute changes (chat logs are always saved to the call for future reference).

Minimize Risk of Damage Claims Drivers can upload photos of the vehicle to a call in real-time; we timestamp and geocode these photos for you along with categorizing them according to what job status the driver was in at the time. An additional precaution can be taken by creating a “Vehicle Damage Form” if there is extensive damage to the vehicle prior to servicing it. The driver can create

You’ll be able to get turn-by-turn directions to your destination right in the application with just a tap! If you aren’t currently using a GPS solution, Towbook is equipped with built-in GPS tracking which will automatically update the drivers’ location according to their app settings.

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Towbook is also integrated with leading GPS companies like AT&T Fleet Complete, DriverLocate, Samsara, US Fleet Tracking , Verizon Connect, and Webfleet Solutions; allowing you to send calls directly to the GPS unit in your truck. Drivers can use the GPS unit to navigate to the service location, and when they update the status of the call on the GPS unit it will automatically update their status in Towbook. Your Towbook app can also use the GPS location from your trucks and display that on the map in Towbook. There are many other fantastic features of GPS units that help you manage and maintain your fleet.

Pre-Trip Inspection Management and User Check-In. If you want your team to inspect their trucks and other equipment before (or after) every shift, they can do that easily using the Towbook mobile apps and our Equipment Inspection tool. Each inspection report is time stamped, and managers will receive an email alert any time there is an Equipment Inspection failure. Completed inspections are also available to open/view on mobile apps, so if drivers need to present a completed pre-trip inspection to a law enforcement officer they can do so right from their phone! Our “User Check-In” feature allows drivers to check-in and out for work directly from their mobile application. This allows managers and dispatchers to know who is currently on-shift to accept jobs. You are also able to run a report to review check in/check out times for drivers.

Plate-to-VIN Technology No VIN – no problem! Towbook’s plate-to-VIN feature saves time and eliminates mistakes. Simply enter the plate number and the state in which the vehicle is licensed, and Towbook will return the full VIN with the make, model, and year of the vehicle. You’ll also have the option of using our VIN scanner, which will populate the VIN in the call just by scanning the vehicle’s barcode.

Private-Property Features Alongside tagging accounts, two of our most notable private property features for the mobile applications include “On Scene Call Creation” and “Stickering”:: • On Scene Call Creation: This allows your drivers to do their job as quickly as possible by allowing them the option to create a call by simply snapping a picture of the vehicle; the call will automatically populate the address they’re located at and will allow them to update any additional details later. • Stickering: One of Towbook’s fastestgrowing features is our Stickering app. With Stickering, you can create a virtual sticker in Towbook and “tag” those vehicles that you might be able to tow after a few hours or a few days. When the sticker expires, you receive a notification that the vehicle can be towed. Impound/Storage Lot Management and Vehicle Lookup: You’ll be able to track and release your current impounded/stored vehicles on your lot right from the mobile application. You’ll even be able to send the impound invoice via text or e-mail. In using our “Vehicle Lookup” technology, your customers, police departments, and privateproperty accounts will thank you! It makes it simple for them to look and see if you have a certain vehicle on your lot without calling. Digital Dispatching: Whether you are a dispatcher or manager sending out calls or an owner/ operator working in the field, you’ll be able to accept motor club calls while out of the office or on the road using Towbook’s mobile apps.

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Towbook | Towbook is integrated with all the major motor clubs for your convenience! A couple of taps to accept the call and you’ll be on your way! Paperless Invoicing: Save time by texting or emailing your customer an invoice right on-scene! If paper invoices are a must, we integrate with Zebra mobile printers to print your customers’ receipt on the spot.

Additional Information On top of the many features we’ve already mentioned, your drivers will be able to add additional information to the call via their app according to the preferences setup by management, this includes: • Additional line items/charges. • Record payments received in the field. • Collect customer signatures for archiving and appearing on receipts. • Collect any additional notes regarding the service or customer. • Record vehicle odometer. • Add any company expenses, such as fuel along with a picture of the receipt for manager review. Technology is causing a world-wide evolution and it’s important to find resources that can be of benefit to us. First it was computers, now it’s a little device in our pocket that we all rely on daily - whether for business or our personal lives.

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Using software to manage your business increases efficiency and profitability but it’s also a great tool to woo potential clients; demonstrating that you are a forward-thinking towing/road service company and are interested in adapting to the ever-changing technological environment. Towbook Management Software is the unquestioned leader in cloud-based towing software, headquartered in Michigan, and has provided service for over fourteen years. Integrating the industry’s most advanced and flexible software, Towbook supports all sizes and types of towing, recovery and roadside service operations. We provide tools made possible by the latest technology, and we help companies to raise their level of service while lowering their operating costs. Plus, our commitment to you will be never-ending! We take great pride in having the industry’s best customer support. Support is free and available 24/7/365—even on holidays.

What We Offer Free Trial, Free Setup, Free Support Towbook offers a 30-day free trial with free setup and support, and there are no contracts. Plus, you don’t need a separate Towbook license for each employee—your subscription always includes unlimited user accounts! Website: www.towbook.com Inquiries: sales@towbook.com 24/7/365 Support Line: (810) 320-5063

VIDEO

TESTIMONIAL

“It makes work, life, everything, much much easier. Towbook is a must!” Venus Rock Towing

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TP T O W I N G Q1

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By Robert Brockett – TXI Systems, Inc. dba towXchange

OPS®, Towing Operations Software, initially deployed into service 21 years ago continues to provide high profile towing operations with quality enterprise class towing operations management software. With fifty million calls in the books TOPS® offers a complete, stable, and robust software offering with accountability and efficiency in mind. The most successful towing operations in the country trust TOPS® to manage their businesses. TOPS® manages all aspects of a tow operation from the initial tow request to the vehicle’s final disposition. The TOPS® system provides a unified and sophisticated platform for call-taking, dispatching, inventory management, lien processing, and auction administration. Multiple Locations - The TOPS® system can manage companies of all sizes but is the de facto standard for managing multi-company and multi-location operations providing individual company and roll-up call metrics and accounting management reports across all entities. Accountability is paramount when managing additional operations whether across town or across

their processes into the TOPS® systems. We can help you with any specific back-office nuisance and requirement associated with your contracts!

New Features The TOPS® Driver mobile application supports the latest requirements from Apple (iOS) and Google (Android). The iOS versions of Driver and Inventory were recently released and the Android versions will release within weeks. Users will enjoy the upgraded look and feel along with a greatly improved user experience. The TOPS® Lien process now includes the ability to electronically mail and track the delivery of certified letters and forms, all from within the TOPS® application. This offering further streamlines the batch lien process offering a feature rich convenience for batch processing of letters and state forms. Our certified mail process turns a paper processing nightmare into a paperless process overnight.

Municipality and Police Towing Management The TOPS® family of products also includes tools for managing Municipal and Police towing and impounding.

Overview

the country. Business Analysis - The TOPS®experience also includes enterprise-class support and software related business analysis. Given our years of experience with implementing software for towing companies, we are able to provide best practice analysis when incorporating your operations and

TOPS® Central Management Application (or TOPS® CMA for short) is a robust tool used exclusively for managing municipal dispatch and towing operations. Municipalities and management companies use TOPS® CMA to reduce time on the phone, increase data accuracy, improve tower response times, and efficiently manage tow operator contract compliance. TOPS® CMA offers electronic tow request distribution to your contract tow operators based on options such as dispatching to the closest truck via GPS, within zones, through rotation management, or any combination of the above. TOPS® CMA manages arrival/ETAs, call

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Tops |

rejections, call cancels, reporting, complex search and real-time call messaging between the municipality and the contract tow operators. This web-based application can accept electronic tow requests from city systems such as CAD. Tow requests are then routed to the appropriate contract tow operator based on your dispatch rules. TOPS® CMA connects seamlessly to TOPS® and other tow management packages to offer transparency of the entire towing event. TOPS® CMA supports multi division / multidepartment implementations. Not only will TOPS® CMA manage your City Police Department tow requests, but is also configurable to allow the Fire Department, City Fleets, Airport Police, Parks and Recreation, County Police Departments and State Patrols to use the same system to dispatch contracted tow operators. User Security within the system restricts access to the appropriate departments as required. TOPS® customers utilize TOPS® CMA to further secure police and municipal contracts with robust electronic features and functionality. TOPS® offers a fully integrated fleet tracking application marketed under the name BudgetGPS.

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BudgetGPS is a vehicle and fleet tracking solution geared for any industry but specifically tuned to support fleet management within the towing industry. BudgetGPS integrates with TOPS® to offer a true visual dispatching tool where users view current vehicle locations as well as unassigned pickup locations and drop-off information on the same map. Icons are color coded allowing for a visual picture of calls which are in-process and those which are about to clear. Knowing when and where drivers will clear from their current call enables dispatchers to send the best / closest resource to the next job. This saves time and money. Additionally, users are able to monitor ETA’s based on mapping calculations of drive time between the truck and pickup locations. BudgetGPS delivers a full set of features for a single low price. Features include: Live Map with 20-second

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TP Q1 updates to the map, live Google traffic and map or satellite views, Historical breadcrumb view with 6 months of history, Alerts and Monitoring for PTO, GeoFence, Ignition, and Speeding. Reports include Driver Distance, State Mileage, Stops, Speeding and more. BudgetGPS recently released a new Driver Behavior module and the addition of a GPS/360 Camera. Driver Behavior features include: - 10 Second Updates from the vehicle - Harsh Braking Report - Rapid Acceleration Report - Harsh Cornering Report - Speeding (Street Level Posted Speed Limits) - Overall Driver Scoring

BudgetCAM features include: - GPS Tracking - Forward and driver facing camera using 360 degree camera technology - Event, On Demand and Live video

- BudgetGPS features and functionality described above - Easy to install device BudgetGPS offers a month-to-month service with low upfront and monthly cost. BudgetGPS is developed and supported in-house by BudgetGPS! For more information or to schedule a demonstration please call 866-800-8677 Opt 2 or visit our websites – TOPS® - www.towxchange.net BudgetGPS – www.budgetgps.com TOPS® is a Registered Trademark of TXI Systems, Inc.

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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

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IS AN APPROVED VENDOR FOR ALL MOTOR CLUB INTEGRATIONS The fastest, most reliable towing and roadside assistance software on the market. By Dan Tortorici

eacon Software has been getting a lot of calls from customers expressing their appreciation that Beacon is the fastest, most reliable software on the market. The company attributes this success to the dedication and drive of its employees who never stopped working on new features and updates during the pandemic. Over the last two decades, Beacon has stood alongside towing and roadside professionals and seen over 125 million calls dispatched through their platform. Now, to celebrate, Beacon is offering a 60-Day free trial of their flagship product, Dispatch Anywhere, to anyone who signs up during the month of April.

First 60-Days Free of Dispatch Anywhere Beacon is looking forward to showcasing Dispatch Anywhere’s new features and product updates. Beacon’s most recent updates reflect the industry’s need for increased efficiency and remote options during the pandemic. Beacon is offering a 60-Day Free Trial of Dispatch Anywhere to anyone who signs up during the month of April. For customers who have already joined the Beacon suite with TowMagic, Beacon is offering special pricing options to upgrade to Dispatch Anywhere.

Beacon encourages those interested in hearing about what Beacon is doing to adapt to industry changes to contact us and talk shop with professionals who love their work. Beacon is happy to provide you with a virtual demonstration before you start your 60 Days Free of Dispatch Anywhere! For those looking for their next lienholder search and notification solution, Beacon Software is offering your first vehicle free when you sign up for TowLien!

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Beacon Software |

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Important Motor Club Integration Updates Beacon Software is an approved vendor for all Motor Club integrations and takes pride in its longstanding partnerships with Motor Clubs such as Allstate, Agero, AAA/CAA, Geico, NSD, Copart, USAC, Questx, Allied Dispatch Solutions, Pinnacle, FleetNet America, National Automobile Club, Gerber, Swoop. And Beacon would like to offer a warm and hearty welcome to the two newest Motor Clubs to partner with Beacon Software: Tesla and Roadside Protect!

Updated Digital Dispatch for Agero/Swoop Providers Beacon has partnered with Agero/Swoop to offer an updated Digital Dispatch, Job Status, GPS interface platform! Dispatch Anywhere users can now import calls using the new Agero approved two-way integration. This makes it quick and easy for drivers to complete their Agero/Swoop jobs without leaving the Beacon Dispatch Anywhere Software.

Latest Beacon Software Dispatch Anywhere Updates The programmers at Beacon Software take customer

convenience and feedback into consideration with every new update and feature. First and foremost, speed and reliability are their number one priority, which is reflected in the most recent updates. The following are some important features that Beacon Software added to increase efficiency for both Drivers and Dispatchers:

AAA 2-Way Integration (D3 and Bringg). Beacon Software has made it easier than ever to complete jobs with their new AAA 2-way integrations. The enhanced AAA D3 and Bringg import process allows Dispatch Anywhere users to import calls and send

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Weekly Dispatch Anywhere Performance Reports. Track your performance with easyto-understand reports. Dispatch Anywhere customers receive weekly reports tracking jobs, offers, and impound statistics. These automatic reports are emailed to the owner or manager every week.

AAA clear codes from dispatch or directly from drivers in the field.

Towbook Data Import. For those who are transitioning from Towbook, Beacon makes the data transition easy and hassle-free. Any Towbook user who joins Beacon Software will not lose their call history. Experience accelerated set-up, because Beacon can import Accounts, Drivers, and Trucks.

Find Lost Customers. Users can now find lost customers by requesting their location. They simply tap the link and receive via text message and Dispatch Anywhere will automatically store their location.

Updated TowLien and Dispatch Anywhere Integration. Beacon Software has improved the integration between Dispatch Anywhere and TowLien! Now, users can automatically send vehicles from Dispatch Anywhere to TowLien, reducing entry of current charges and vehicle information! The improved integration also automatically stops the lien process if a vehicle is released from impound.

Mobile Square and Card Connect Chip Reader Integration. Dispatch Anywhere now supports four different integrated payment solutions, including Square and Card Connect, allowing dispatches to take payment directly through the desktop and mobile apps. Visit Support.BeaconSoftCo.com.

Additional Updates: • Automatically Send Vehicles to TowLien When Time to Send Lien Holder Notifications • Square/Paya/Card Connect/XpressPay Email Payment Options • Submit Jobs to Dispatch Anywhere Through Service Request Form • Automatically Submit jobs to Motor Clubs • Automatically Add Services to Jobs Based on Reason or Defaults • Touchless Signature - Tow Ticket and Damage Report • New Private Property Impound Features • Over 50 New or Updated Reports

Online Service Requests. Receive online service requests through your company website or by sharing a link with your customers!

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Approved Vendor. Beacon Software’s TowLien keeps towers, mechanics, and body shops compliant with TL-25 & TL26! The best part? • No Startup Fee • No Monthly Fee

TowLien is a Florida Approved 3rd Party Vendor TowLien is the preferred digital lien and impound management software in Florida, Louisiana, Maryland, New York, Ohio, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia! If your state isn’t currently listed on the TowLien website, Beacon will help you create a TowLien statewide compliant lien notice, so you can start using TowLien to mail your letters.

First Search Free: TowLien is One of Two FL Approved 3rd Party Vendors Attention Florida! TowLien is an official Florida State

• No Inactivity Fee Get your first vehicle search free! Visit TowLien.BeaconSoftCo. com to learn more about TowLien’s digital lien notification services, including 24/7 lien processing, email and text reminders, and live support. Ready to Make the Switch? Beacon’s Team of Experts is Here to Help First, the team at Beacon wants to thank all of their customers who have offered nothing but positivity, kind words, and useful feedback during this unexpected year. If you’re still curious about if Beacon Software is right for you, try the 60-Day Free Trial of Dispatch Anywhere for customers who sign up during April so Beacon can get you started with advanced, efficient, and secure dispatch software. You’ll see why Beacon’s customers say that Beacon Software is their next Employee of the Year.

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TP M O T O R C L U B Q1

An Open Letter to

Tow Bosses:

What’s Your Biggest Complaint About the Towing Industry? By Laura Narpaul-Co-founder/President, Mach 1

et’s face it; with the current model, there could be many responses to the question of what your biggest complaint about the towing industry is. So, what would you say? Is it the profit-slashing bidding wars for work, the challenges of communicating through dispatchers, the slow payouts, or having no GPS to customers? Probably the most common complaint we hear is about being price haggled and bidding wars. In an industry where your work should be recognized, someone asks you how low you’re willing to go. That’s just not right. You may also be worried that you’ll be one of many companies contacted for a job, and then you still get into a bidding war for the work. It’s hard to improve your bottom line when you have to low ball your work just to break even. So, what if you never had to deal with that again? Well, with Mach1, you won’t. When we built the Mach1 platform, we didn’t just do it with our company’s bottom line in mind, we built it with yours too. We also wanted to create a fair environment for customers who don’t have

a membership and order on-demand. This is what our company was built on, “People Helping People.” As a Mach1 provider, you don’t get a phone call about how low you’re willing to do any given job. We’ve built integrated platforms that work with each other to truly automate the dispatch process and give you more control. Our dispatching system finds the closest provider to the customer and sends them a push notification with the request. It goes to one person, not multiple companies for bidding. You accept the request and turn-by-turn navigation automatically turns on, getting you to the customer. You can even call or text the customer in the app without giving out your personal phone number. Once you’ve completed the service, there is a price window set, and you get to choose the final price. You can also add services and charges as needed on-site without anyone but the customer’s permission--sound good? The customer pays through the app, and you get money in your account 48 hours later. We’ve even built dashboards that let you change the services you offer at the touch of a button. You

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Mach 1 |

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Oh, and I also want to tell you about our veteran and first responder program. If you have honorably served in the military or are a current first responder, we want to thank you! We’ll also reimburse your background check fees, make sure to sign-up when you apply. We are also veteran-owned and operated. If you’re interested in getting started with us, please visit us at provider.mach1services.com to apply. We look forward to working with you!

can view reports, and even manage employees’ services there. Are you wondering what the catch is? We can’t run our business on sweat and integrity alone. We charge an operating fee of 15% per transaction that runs through the app. It’s taken out automatically, so you don’t have to worry about any invoices- at all! The system tracks that for you too! We’ve been building our provider network for a couple of months now and have providers in 49 states.

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NEWS

SPURS’ LONNIE WALKER BECOMES INVESTOR IN SAN ANTONIO-BASED COMPANY, MACH1 SERVICES

Laura Narpaul, Lonnie Walker, Rick Narpaul, Mach1 Services

SAN ANTONIO — San Antonio Spurs’ Lonnie Walker IV is now an athlete-investor in the San Antonio-based company, Mach1 Services. Mach1 Services is a new on-demand, roadside app created in San Antonio by Rick and Laura Narpaul. The app brings roadside services quickly, safely, and with well-vetted service providers currently servicing Austin and San Antonio. The app is found in all app stores and can be used across all devices. “In the health, pandemic atmosphere that we’re living in, I think it’s important for people to realize that this type of service exists,” said Co-Founder and President Laura Narpaul. “People are looking for ways to save money. So we’ve had customers say they are canceling their memberships to other places just because they realize this on demand. They can get it now and it does not have any membership fees.” With San Antonio being “Military City,” it is important that Mach1 reflect this.

“Rick is a veteran. We do a lot with veterans here in San Antonio and try to hire them,” Laura Natpaul said. “Some of our stakeholders are either veterans or active duty. So that was also a big part of being here in “Military City” and trying to grow a company here to support that.” Said CEO Rick Narpaul: “It’s a double whammy. It’s a veteran-owned business. San Antonio-owned business. Minority-owned business. And a tech company.” “And women led,” Laura added. Mach1 has everything a roadside service app needs for customers. Whether it’s services for flat tires, dead car batteries, locked keys, local police, or non-emergency services, Mach1 has it all and is what drew the Spurs star to becoming an investor. Laura Narpaul, Lonnie Walker, Rick Narpaul, Mach1 Services “I love technology, I love tech. I love how the app works,” Walker said. “Once I met the founder, I knew it was a great fit for me and for myself and my family. I truly thank Rick, Laura, and Rahul Patel (FSM Sports Marketing Group founder) for making this happen as well.”

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Mach 1 |

Lonnie Walker, Mach1 Services And the feeling is mutual at Mach1. “When he heard about Mach1, he knew it’s something to get behind because he would definitely use it. He uses apps for almost everything,” Narpaul said. “One of the things that Lonnie and I actually had a conversation about was, ‘You’re an athlete. You’re not going to be an athlete forever. However, whenever you retire, you still got a full life ahead of you.’” Walker notes how impressive the app is and the services provided. He also appreciates that Mach1 is San Antonio-based and believes this can be the start of a technology revolution for the city. “San Antonio has embraced me as a member of their community, and it’s only natural that my first company is based right here in San Antonio,” Walker said. “I think this is honestly a huge step, not just for my own, but also for San Antonio.” As a new athlete-investor, Walker hopes he can show he is more than an NBA player.

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And investing in Mach1 allows him to shine off-the-court. “I would say it means everything. It’s very important to invest, just as a proathlete,” Walker said. “Just to show how diverse we are, other than just seeing us playing basketball the whole time. Sometimes, you have to find things that you’re passionate about.” Investing in businesses can be tricky. Fortunately for Walker, he is in good hands with Mach1. Both Rick and Laura are supporting Walker not just as an investor in Mach 1 but in all aspects of his life. “We support him 110%.” Narpaul said. “Not just his amazing talent on the court, but also what he’s done in the community.” “With his recent volunteer work that he did in helping clean up the city of San Antonio downtown to selling the artwork, the custom artwork and awareness for child abuse. I think we support him just as much as he supports us and we’re ready to see him do great things with his foundation.” Mach1 is available now across all mobile devices at all app stores. It is not a motor club. It is a free app providing an array of on-demand roadside assistance with reliable mechanics everyone can have at the tap of their finger. “Being able to invest and be involved in this. I’m just truly blessed,” Walker said. “Being able to have an app like that and fully invested and you fully trust that they’re going to come and help you out, not only in a help situation, but also in a safety situation.” Said Walker: “I think this is honestly a huge step, not just for my own, but also for San Antonio. I’m truly excited with what they’re doing as a brand.” “Mach1, since the day we had this idea, the motto of the company has been people helping people and that will remain as long as we possibly can keep it,” Narpaul said. “With the on demand model, the free download, the no membership fees, it’s really accessible for just any person to go and get help when they need it.”

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TP Q1

FEATURED PRODUCTS

Quarterly

2021

FEATURED PRODUCTS

LIGHTING Custer’s Wireless 23” Light Duty Tow Light 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 DOT requirements, comes with a 3-year warranty and is proudly manufactured in the USA. To learn more, please visit www.custerproducts.com

LED Class I Surface Mount Strobes The LED Class I Surface mount strobe (STR-XL1) which is available in Amber (not pictured) and Amber/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

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TP FEATURED PRODUCTS Q1 LIGHTING CONTINUED:

TowMate SEE VIDEO

TM-FLUX

ith the fastest charge of any wireless tow light, no batteries to replace EVER, and a life span of millions of charges, this light bar will make all your other tow lights pale in comparison. Made in the USA, and includes the TowMate lifetime warranty.

SEE VIDEO

MO37Li Feature-packed, long-lasting power and MADE IN THE USA. The MO37Li packs wireless STT, strobe, worklight, and traffic control all-in-one heavy-duty light bar. Includes the TowMate lifetime warranty.

PCX61U w/Touchscreen Our new PCX overhead light bars are the new industry standard for emergency and industrial lighting. Made from a solid aluminum extrusion, multi-color strobe function, wireless STT that controls your TowMate tow lights, and controllable via our touchscreen controller; this is the future of vehicle lighting. For more information, visit www.towmate.com.

SEE VIDEO PCX overhead light bars:

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SEE VIDEO

TP FEATURED PRODUCTS Q1 LIGHTING CONTINUED:

Will-Burt Night Scan HDT:

he Night Scan HDT as been developed to meet the unique needs of the Recovery and Towing industry. Heavy wreckers and rotators benefit from the maximum height and light output of the Night Scan HDT Powerlite. The Powerlite version is available as a surface-mount folding version when there is sufficient space or a vertically-mounted model that requires only a 12” x 12” space for installation. Both are 15’ tall when extended, have dual-tilt light heads that cast 120,000 lumens of LED light in all directions to insure you don’t miss a thing. The height of the six Night Scan XL200 LED lights turns night into day and will not blind your crew. Oncoming traffic will be alerted to the scene from a safe distance. Night Scan HDT comes with everything needed for installation. The major truck manufacturers can install the light tower during a new build or the light tower can be installed by dealer or upfitter. They can even be installed on older equipment by your own shop. Best of all, no generator is needed to power the light tower –

the efficient Night Scan XL200 LED lamps operate from your truck’s power system. Night Scan HDT is available in smaller sizes for rollbacks and tow trucks, and we also offer a full range of specialized LED lighting for every vehicle. www.nightscan.com.

TOWING SOFTWARE MACH1, The App That Works For You: NOW NATIONWIDE! SAN ANTONIO — San Antonio based on-demand roadside assistance app, Mach1 Services, propels ahead with nationwide launch. Mach1 Services offers an on-demand, direct to customers model, where providers can set their own prices without the price haggling or bidding. The 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 a 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 service coverage area has expanded quickly, as providers across the country have signed up to be a part of its network. As customer demand has increased, so has provider interest, leading to exponential growth, and a nationwide launch. Mach1 started the 2021 year with a 26 state coverage area and is able to expand to all 50 states as customers and providers have previously signed up with the veteran owned company. 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.

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TP FEATURED PRODUCTS Q1 TOWING SOFTWARE CONTINUED:

Beacon Software Beacon Software has the most advanced, flexible features to assist companies large and small that were pushed to change their routine during COVID-19. The following updates were designed to reduce the time spent reporting and increase functionality.

Feature Friday Tutorials on YouTube

Dispatch Anywhere Dispatch Anywhere is Beacon Software’s complete management software for towing and roadside assistance. It is the complete package with countless features designed to optimize your business. • Tow Status Updates: TowStatus allows you to automatically send status messages to your customers via text or email. • Contactless Signature Capture: Contactless signature capture is now enabled for TowTickets, Damage Waivers, Key Drop Offs, and Credit Card Payments. • Customer Locate: Send a text message to customers in order to verify their exact location from the phone’s GPS. • Custom Favorite Reports: Dispatch Anywhere now provides easy access to your most commonly used reports, eliminating the need for time-consuming searches. • Invoice Narrative/Recovery Report: Document recoveries and display job summaries on any customer invoice.

TowLien TowLien is Beacon Software’s digital lien and impound management software, and the industry’s number one vehicle owner lienholder search and notification software. It’s as easy as Search, Send, and Collect. • Website Update: The TowLien website was rebuilt and redesigned, making the lien process easier and automated. Visit the new website at TowLien. BeaconSoftCo.com. “The second the industry saw the effects of COVID-19, Beacon switched gears,” says Todd Althouse, president of Beacon Software. “We asked what we could do to make operations easier and safer for managers and drivers.”

Visit Beacon Software 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. Learn more about how Beacon can improve your business at BeaconSoftCo.com. 41 | Tow Professional | Q1 21 | www.towprofessional.com

TP FEATURED PRODUCTS Q1 TOWING SOFTWARE CONTINUED:

Towbook

Say “Hello” to your newest employee, Towbook! Based in the cloud, and utilizing the latest tools and technologies available, Towbook has become the industry’s unquestioned leader in towing management software solutions. Our goal is to provide software solutions that impact the performance, productivity and revenue potential for your roadside assistance, towing, and recovery operations. Towbook is here to create a seamless experience for each job from beginning to end. You’ll be able to create quotes, receive jobs digitally from all major motor clubs, dispatch jobs to drivers, communicate with staff throughout the entire call, track calls on our mapping system, manage impounds, billing, receive customer feedback via surveys, and so much more! With Towbook, we believe in transparency, so there are never any hidden fees! Training and setup assistance are provided at no additional charge for companies of every size and each Towbook

subscription includes unlimited user accounts. We’re known industry-wide for our coveted 24/7/365 Ultimate Support. This support includes live phone support and our “in-app” chat system that enables customers to interact with our team without having to pick up the phone and call. See for yourself and try it free for 30-Days at: www.towbook.com

42 | Tow Professional | Q1 21 | www.towprofessional.com

TP FEATURED PRODUCTS Q1 TOWING SOFTWARE CONTINUED:

Tops/Budget GPS By: Robert Brockett – TXI Systems, Inc. dba towXchange

Lien Processing Simplified! The TOPS lien processing system is a step-based system that takes the headaches out of processing your company’s liens. No more looking at calendars and counting out days to know when to send notification letters, submit forms or set auction dates. The TOPS system manages the scheduling for you, freeing up your lien experts to focus on more important tasks. The TOPS lien system is set up to process YOUR liens and YOUR forms on YOUR schedule. We interview your subject matter experts and put their knowledge into your lien setup, so that nearly any employee can be cross-trained to process liens when needed. Your notification letters and forms are built into the TOPS system, and when printed become a permanent part of the call’s record. In addition, the letters can be searched for and re-processed or re-printed if necessary. The step-based batch processing creates your letters, forms, labels, and envelopes – whatever you need – so that your liens are always legal and compliant, and processed on time. TOPS lien processing is designed to be done in ‘Batch’ mode – allowing you to process ALL of your notification letters and forms at once, saving you from having to manage them one-at-a-time. This helps eliminate errors and omissions, and requires very little of your staff’s time and effort. If needed, TOPS lien processing allows you to also process liens individually if there are exceptions, or if they

require special consideration for any reason. TOPS lien processing is a fully integrated component of the TOPS inventory and impound management system, allowing you to view and manage the full life cycle of the impound beginning with the initial call and ending with the final lien sale. For more information on the TOPS Impound Management System with Lien Processing or to schedule a demonstration please call 866-800-8677 Opt 2 or visit our websites – TOPS® - www.towxchange.net BudgetGPS – www.budgetgps.com TOPS® is a Registered Trademark of TXI Systems, Inc..

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TP Q1

FEATURED SUPPLIERS & DIRECTORY

Q1 2021

FEATURED SUPPLIER’S DIRECTORY Quarterly

PREMIUM SUPPLIERS

LIGHTING

TOWING SOFTWARE

Custer Products

Beacon Software Company

Custer Products manufactures and distributes LED lights, tow lights, and other related lighting products to the trucking, towing, agricultural, off-road, and safety industries through a network of distributors.

(800) 490-3158

(866) 437-6653

www.custerproducts.com

info@beaconsoftco.com | www.beaconsoftco.com

TowMate

BUDGET GPS

The worlds first wireless emergency, transport, recovery and recreational lighting manufacture since 1985. TowMate began with just one product and has since grown to offer more than 50 wireless and emergency lighting systems.

GPS software with all of the tools to help your business succeed for a single low price. BudgetGPS is always secure and reliable and our experts are here to support you.

(800) 680-4455

(833) 934-2275

info@towmate.com | www.towmate.com

support@budgetgps.com | www.budgetgps.com

Will-Burt

MACH1

Will-Burt Company is the world’s premier manufacturer of mobile telescoping masts, towers, trailer systems, and pan and tilt positioners. We offer virtually every mobile payload elevation solution and full integration services for first responders.

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.

(330) 682-7015 www.willburt.com

(844) 385-5414 info@mach1services.com | www.mach1services.com 44 | Tow Professional | Q1 21 | www.towprofessional.com

TP Q1 FEATURED SUPPLIERS & DIRECTORY PREMIUM SUPPLIERS Continued OTHER TOPS towXchange a division of TXI Systems, Inc. JERR-DAN As the most full featured and flexible towing management software available, TOPS provides powerful tools to help you manage your business.

(866) 800-8677

(800) 926-9666

www.towxchange.net

info@jerrdan.com | www.jerrdan.com

Towbook

Dynamic Towing Equipment Manufacturing

Towbook is the unquestioned leader for cloud-based towing software. Our towing, roadside and impound software is your allencompassing solution for Private Property, Police Calls, Transport, Local Calls, Motor Clubs, and more!

(810) 320-5063 support@towbook.com | www.towbook.com

Dynamic created the Original Self-Loading Wheel-Lift that has become the most sought after technology in the towing industry.

(757) 624-1360 anthonydynamic@mac.com | www.dynamicmfg.com

Directory LIGHTING & ACCESSORIES all-Grip (800) 748-2651Authorized Dealers Only www.all-grip.com American Truck Technology (800) 985-0168 www.americantrucktechnology.com Atlas Flasher & Supply Co. (856) 423-3333 www.atlasflasher.com Atomic Led, Inc. (888) 305-1112 www.atomicled.com Austin Hinds Motors, Inc. (256) 550-0042 www.austinhindsmotors.com AW Direct (608) 662-3333 www.awdirect.com

BA Products (800) 327-3301 www.baprod.com Bailey’s Towing (919) 562-2984 www.baileystowinginc.com/srg.htm Buyers Products Company (440) 974-8888 www.buyersproducts.com Code 3 / PSE Amber (314) 426-2700, Ext. 1251 www.code3pse.com Custer Products, Ltd. 4101 Shuffel Drive N.W. North Canton, OH 44720 (800) 490-3158 www.custerproducts.com Detroit Wrecker Sales (313) 835-8700 www.detroitwrecker.com

Dynamic Mfg. 1120 E. Brambleton Avenue Norfolk, VA 23504 (757) 624-1360 www.dynamicmfg.com East Penn Truck Equipment (610) 694-9234 www.eastpenntrucks.com Federal Signal (800) 824-0254 www.fedsig.com Flash Equipment (800) 570-8866 www.flashequipment.com Fleet Sales West (503) 982-5095 www.fleetsaleswest.com General Mfg. (Saftlite) (260) 824-3440 www.saftlite.com

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TP Q1

FEATURED SUPPLIERS & DIRECTORY

Golden West (800) 724-8766 www.goldenwesttoweq.com

Regional International of WNY (800) 836-0409 www.regionalinternational.com

TecNiq LED Lighting (815) 476-9255 www.tecniqinc.com

Go-Light Inc. (308) 278-3131 www.golight.com

Rick’s Truck & Equipment (800) 639-4537 www.ricksrollbacks.com

The Tool People (407) 674-8775

HG2 (866) 468-4569 www.hg2lighting.com

Roadside Safety (909) 468-1393 www.roadsidesafety.net

Jeff Ingram Wrecker Sales, Inc. (866) 280-6761 www.wrecker-sales.com

Robert Young’s Trucks (540) 982-3809 www.robertyoungtrucks.com

Kinequip, Inc. (704) 392-5052 www.kinequip.com

R-O-M Corp (800) 827-3692 www.romcorp.com

Maryland Carrier & Wrecker Sales (410) 247-5700 www.mdcarrierwrecker.com

Rontan Signals (305) 599-2974 www.rontan.com

Minute Man Mfg. (877) 593-6959 www.minuteman1.com New England Truckmaster (203) 772-1217 www.netruckmaster.com Phoenix USA, Inc. (931) 526-6128, Ext. 2226 www.phoenixusa.com Power Arc (314) 968-1115 www.powerarc.net

Ruggedtow.com (724) 586-2900 www.ruggedtow.com Santiam Enterprises, Inc. (503) 859-2793 www.santiam.info SoundOff Signal (800)-338-7337 www.soundoffsignal.com Star (585) 226-9787 www.star1889.com

Pro-Vision (616) 583-1520 www.provsnusa.com

Starlight Lighting Systems (855) 335-8333 https://starlightlighting.ca/?sscid= 61k3_m4cff

PSE Amber (314) 426-2700, Ext. 1251 www.code3pse.com

Strobes-R-Us (954) 946-9955 www.strobes-r-us.com/index.asp

Tomar (480) 497-4400 www.tomar.com Tow Mart (877) 343 5648 https://towmart.com TowMate 15704 E. Hwy. 12 Rogers, AR 72756 (800) 680-4455 www.towmate.com Whelen Engineering Co. (860) 526-9504, Ext. 2229 www.whelen.com Will-Burt Company 169 S. Main St. Orrville, OH 44667 (330) 684-4024 www.nightscan.com Worldwide Equipment Sales (815) 725-4400 www.newtowtrucks.com

TOW SOFTWARE Auto Data Direct, Inc. (850) 877-8804 www.add123.com Batchout (610) 296-3264 www.batchout.com

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TP Q1

FEATURED SUPPLIERS & DIRECTORY

Beacon Software 10091 Brecksville Rd., Ste. F Brecksville, OH 44141 (866) 437-6653 www.dispatchanywhere.com BMS Brother Mobile Solutions (908) 704-1700 www.brothermobilesolutions.com Insight USA (301) 866-1990, Ext. 203 www.mds-inc.com Marr Software, LLC (307) 363-AUTO 2886 www.protow.com Mobile Create USA (408) 933-9588 www.mcusainc.com OnScene Solutions (330) 220-8111 www.onscenesolutions.com Progressive Platforms (877) 304-4347 www.progressiveplatforms.com Pro-Vision (616) 583-1520 www.provsnusa.com

Ranger SST (440) 498-1495 www.rangersst.com

Track What Matters (817) 430-9201 www.trackwhatmatters.com

Service Station Computer Systems/SSCS (800) 972-7727, Ext 4721 www.sscsinc.com

Tracker Management Systems (800) 445-2438 www.trackermanagement.com

sureFleet (877) 401-2345 www.surefleet.com

Transportation Information Systems (818) 563-2839 www.tisfleet.com

Teletrac (817) 261-5756, Ext. 1448 www.teletrac.net

Traxxis GPS Solutions (888) 447-7059, Ext. 102 www.traxxisgps.com

TOPS by towXchange P.O. Box 5695 Chattanooga, TN 37406 (866) 800-8677 www.towexchange.net

USFleet Tracking (405) 749-1105 www.usft.com

Tow Dawg Software (888) 486-9329 www.towdawg.com Towbook Management Software 1161 S. Carney Drive St. Clair, MI 48079 (888) 884-9598 www.towbook.com

Verizon Network Fleet (866) 869-1353 www.networkfleet.com VTS Systems (281) 373-3072 www.vts-systems.com Wireless Links (201) 531-5906 www.wlius.com

Tow See all towing industry companies visit our online Busines Directory (Click Here) 47 | Tow Professional | Q1 21 | www.towprofessional.com