Tow Professional - Volume 11 Issue 3

Volume 11 • Issue 3 • 2022 www.towprofessional.com

TM

Professional Your Resource for Towing & Recovery

The

VOICE of the

Industry NEWPIONEERS OF THE

INDUSTRY

FEATURE

JERR-DAN

50 YEARS & COUNTING

Mobile Videos/ REC

Truck Cams

PLUS: EXPERT WITNESS: A MENTOR

INSIGHTFUL TALK

The Beginning of the End

FUEL 4 THOUGHT:

Your Podcast is Growing

NEW & IMPROVED

THE JD25 INT

HEAVY DUTY WRECKER Jerr-Dan’s JD25 INT is a powerhouse wrecker in a class by itself. This heavy duty, 25 ton integrated wrecker reaches higher, extends further and lifts more than before.

It was designed with strength and performance in mind.

This one checks ALL the boxes.

Learn more at: JERRDAN.COM

HIGHER

238" MAXIMUM HOOK HEIGHT (+18%)

LONGER

134" MAXIMUM BOOM REACH AT 0 DEGREES (+18%)

STRONGER

32,000 LB. UNDERLIFT CAPACITY (+14%)

FURTHER

131" MAXIMUM UNDERLIFT REACH AT GROUND LEVEL (+8%)

TOW PROFESSIONAL

CONTENTS

Volume 11 • Issue 3 WWW.TOWPROFESSIONAL.COM

PIONEERS OF THE

INDUSTRY 28 | JERR-Dan

INDUSTRY NEWS TOWING & RECOVERY

6| 8| 10 | 12 | 14 |

Jerr-Dan Console Vault TRAA (EVs) TRAA (Lighting) Towing & Recovery HoF Names

AN EXPERT WITNESS

BY

16 |

JAMES

E.

Mobile Videos/ REC

LEWIS

Truck Cams

40 | Azuga delivers the first affordable live camera solution with a rear facing camera!

A Mentor

44 |

Webfleet Solutions

46 | Dashcams integrated with fleet management offer towers a solid line of defense INSIGHTFUL TALK

BY

20 |

DAN

50 | A Camera in My Tow Truck?

MESSINA

The Beginning of the End

56 |

Truck Driving Heroes Need

a Professional Makeover

FUEL 4 THOUGHT

BY

24 |

D.J.

HARRINGTON

CSP

Your Podcast is Growing

52 |

Dealing With 12V

Batteries In EVs

IN EVERY ISSUE 4| 59 | 2

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Editor’s Letter Dealers Place

63 | 64 |

Market Place Ad Index

PUBLISHER’S

LETTER

Volume 11 • Issue 3 WWW.TOWPROFESSIONAL.COM

Your Resource for Towing & Recovery

It’s going to be a great year!

Summer is upon us, inflation is high, and it’s going to be a great year! Wow, what a perspective you might say! How can it be? It begins right between your shoulders, my friend; joy and happiness are what we make it! As this issue hits your desk, the PWOF Florida show is growing smaller in the rear-view mirror. This year, like always, at the end of the first quarter is followed by the largest International Towing show in Industry - the Florida Tow show. This year was fantastic, setting in motion needed time to visit, share memories with exhibitors and attendees, and pick up knowledge and tools to be the best on the scene! The PWOF Florida Tow Show was a great springboard to get your batteries charged for the rest of the year that lies ahead!

In this issue, we start a new unique series called “Pioneers of Industry.” In this series, we will take an interesting look back into the men and women of towing; the inventors of products that changed our industry and left a lasting fingerprint on our Towing history forever! This is a series I am very excited about that will carry through this year and years to come.

In this issue, Dan Messina talks to the heart of our owners with “The Beginning of the End.” DJ Harrington dives back into the popularity of podcasts with “Your Podcast is Growing.” DJ gives insight on the growth and popularity of podcasts and explains why Tow Professional has become one of the fastest growing podcasts in this market. Tow Professional Podcast – “Your Voice of the Industry,” aims to be a family friendly show, with Christian values giving you and your family a place to get the latest info, hear from leaders in the industry and be able to share with pride without having to cover your kid’s ears. Darian Weaver, President & Publisher of Tow Professional, closes every show with prayers over his audience for safety, blessing of health, and prosperity. Tow Professional Podcast can be found everywhere podcasts are available (Google, Spotify, iTunes, Pandora, Stitcher, iHeart Media, Amazon, etc.…). Tune in to decide for yourself; we would love to hear from you!

In-Truck Cameras and Mobile Video is a big topic today in mitigating liability, safety, and greater situational awareness of the operations of equipment & employees’ day to day. Azuga, WebFleet Solutions, and Traxero weigh in on some of the latest products with their features and benefits for your business. This is some great insight on products that will not only pay for itself quickly but could capture video that would literally protect your employees and business from devastating litigation!

Jim Lewis, our Expert Witness, hits us with “A Mentor,” and drives the nail home on what one really looks and acts like. This is a story that will help you grow personally as well as see the value of sowing seeds in your employees that will pay blessings back to you for years to come. EV’s are becoming more popular by the moment. Clore, a leader in Jump Packs, walks us through “Dealing with 12v batteries on EV’s.”

Enjoy, and until the next issue, may your business, family, and friends be blessed with heatlh, a protection of safety, and prosperity! God Bless!

Darian Weaver President & Publisher, Tow Professional 4

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PUBLISHER Darian Weaver President & Publisher darian@towprofessional.com

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

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Monique Crapper — Relay Payments D. J. Harrington CSP James E . Lewis Dan Messina Tim Smith — Azuga

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.

INDUSTRY NEWS TOWING & RECOVERY

JERR-DAN 8.5 Ton XLP Medium Duty Carrier

J

err-Dan’s carrier line includes standard, medium, heavy-duty, multi-car, and industrial models.

The 8.5 Ton XLP is versatile enough to handle the work of a light duty carrier but designed and engineered to handle the toughest jobs of a medium duty carrier. With a 17,000 lb. structural capacity available in steel or aluminum, this medium duty carrier is available with deck lengths of 22 ft. to 30 ft., 96 in. or 102 in. wide, and dock stabilizer or wheel lift options of 3,000 lb., 3,500 lb., 4,000 lb., or 5,000 lb.

About Jerr-Dan JerrDan, LLC, an Oshkosh Corporation [NYSE: OSK] company, is a leading manufacturer of towing and recovery equipment and offers an extensive range of light, medium and heavy duty carriers, wreckers and rotators. The company is headquartered in

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Hagerstown, MD., and its products are backed by industry leading warranties and a strong service network dedicated to the towing professional. To learn more about Jerr-Dan, visit www.jerrdan.com.

About Oshkosh Corporation At Oshkosh (NYSE: OSK), we make innovative, missioncritical equipment to help everyday heroes advance communities around the world. Headquartered in Wisconsin, Oshkosh Corporation employs approximately 15,000 team members worldwide, all united behind a common cause: to make a difference in people’s lives.

Oshkosh products can be found in more than 150 countries under the brands of JLG®, Pierce®, Oshkosh® Defense, McNeilus®, IMT®, Jerr-Dan®, Frontline™, Oshkosh® Airport Products, London™ and Pratt Miller. For more information, visit oshkoshcorp.com.

INDUSTRY NEWS TOWING & RECOVERY

Console Vault – Protect yourself!

With Console Vault’s in-vehicle safes we have hundreds of different applications, designed for light trucks, SUVs, and select sedans across many makes, models, and years.

Our Comprehensive Line of Automobile Safes

C

onsole Vault in-vehicle safes are designed to protect your valuables and firearms from auto theft. Built from heavy-gauge steel with a choice of locking mechanisms, each hidden car safe is easy to install and is created to meet automotive manufactures’ stringent quality standards.

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At Console Vault, we provide in-vehicle safes for some of the most popular vehicles on the road. We offer hidden car safes for a range of makes, including the following: • Cadillac • Chevrolet • Chrysler

www.towprofessional.com

• Dodge • Ford • GMC • Honda • Jeep • Kia • Lexus • Lincoln • Nissan • Ram • Subaru • Toyota • Volkswagen • Tesla Model 3 • Tesla Model Y • Hyundai (coming soon) We are continuously releasing automobile safes for additional makes and models, so if you can’t find one for your vehicle, feel free to reach out to our team at www.consolevault.com.

New Full Duplex Headsets No base Unit Required.

The Hurricane System will blow you away with it’s power and quick inflation system to make the ultimate in Quick Clear technology.

Available in Five to Eight Jumbo Cushion Sets. All MATJACK Recovery Systems including our Landing Bag Sets provide operators with the best equipment available.

PROVIDING HEARING PROTECTION AND A CONVENIENT WAY FOR YOUR TEAM TO COMMUNICATE IN NOISY ENVIRONMENTS. VOICE ACTIVATED BOTH FULL DUPLEX OR BASIC WITH NO BASE UNIT OR ADDITIONAL EQUIPMENT REQUIRED.

MATJACK Heavy Duty High Pressure Air Bags

MATJACK Two & Three Bag Landing Bags Sets

MATJACK Underwater Recovery

INDUSTRY NEWS TOWING & RECOVERY

Towers Preparing for Electric Vehicles (EVs)

T

he focus on electric vehicles (EVs) in the towing industry continues to grow as more and more electric cars appear on our roads and highways.

And rightly so, as they pose a unique risk to emergency responders and the public. Many of you will remember our emails on the subject last year after a study conducted by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), on which a TRAA representative serves, concluded that vehicle manufacturer response guides for emergency personnel were inadequate and gaps are present in safety standards and research-related to high-voltage, lithium-ion batteries involved in high-speed, high-severity crashes (NTSB/SR20/01).

One of the best ways to protect yourself and your employees is to ensure they are trained on electric vehicles. TRAA strongly recommends enrolling your operators in NFPA’s Alternative Fuel Vehicles Training Program for Emergency Responders Online Training. It’s targeted at fire, EMS, and towing responder disciplines and covers identifying, disabling, and disposing of EVs.

It’s self-paced, easily accessible, and inexpensive at only $25.95 USD. Additional resources for responders include NFPA’s emergency field guides.

The field guides are available from several sources including the NFPA website, smartphone applications, and other commercial platforms. Another option is FHWA’s Interim Guidance for Electric and Hybrid-Electric Vehicles Equipped with High Voltage Batteries.

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 offer Primary Liability limits up to $2 million and specialized coverages like On-Hook and Garagekeepers Liability.

Call your local agent or visit ProgressiveCommercial.com.

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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

Effects of Emergency Vehicle Lighting Characteristics on Driver Perception & Behavior Lighting is one of the key tools’ responders use to increase safety when working on the roadway. Yet, there is inconsistent messaging and laws about the correct use of scene lighting. A recent research study titled “Effects of Emergency Vehicle Lighting Characteristics on Driver Perception and Behavior: Study Report” conducted by the Emergency Responder Safety Institute (ERSI) has provided some interesting data.

The study looked at lighting color, intensity, modulation, flash rate and the impact of retroreflective chevron markings on motorist’s behavior while approaching and passing a scene in lowlight conditions.

While none of the variables tested had a statistically significant effect, there were some interesting findings: • Lighting Intensity – “Study participants consistently judged higher intensity lights as more glaring but only marginally more visible than lights of lower intensity. Lower intensity lights remained highly visible. Using lower intensities at night will reduce discomfort glare without reducing the lights’ visibility. This finding indicates that stationary vehicles in nighttime blocking mode should be sufficiently visible with lower intensity lights.”

• Lighting Color – “Drivers’ rated visibility of lights appeared to be related to the perceived saturation of their color. Blue and red lights have the greatest perceived saturation and were judged to be brighter than white and yellow lights of the same intensity.

Blue and white lights were rated as most glaring.

Yellow and red lights were least glaring. This data suggests that red lights for stationary blocking operations may offer the best combination of better visibility with less glare.”

• “Moth to Flame” Effect – “None of the variables tested caused drivers to move their vehicles either toward or away from the lights. Therefore, the data in this test did not support or disprove the ‘moth to flame’ effect.”

• High Visibility Markings – “When fluorescent and 12

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reflective markings were present, drivers did not see the firefighter silhouette until they were closer to it. This was the most unexpected finding of the study. Of the four setups tested, high intensity lights with no markings produced the longest detection distance, meaning drivers could see the firefighter silhouette from the furthest away. High intensity lights combined with high visibility markings yielded the shortest detection distance. Reflective markings may increase the amount of scattered light entering the eyes of a driver, thereby making the responder less visible. This study raises the possibility that combining high intensity lights with high visibility markings may make it more difficult for drivers to see responders on foot at night, even when the responders wear high visibility vests.”

TRAA appreciates the Emergency Responder Safety Institute (ERSI) for conducting this valuable research on behalf of the responder community. We look forward to seeing the results of their next study. For more information visit: ResponderSafety.com.

INDUSTRY NEWS TOWING & RECOVERY

Towing & Recovery Hall of Fame Names Class of 2022 Ten towing veterans are to be inducted into the International Towing & Recovery Hall of Fame in Chattanooga, TN.

T

he International Towing & Recovery Hall of Fame and Museum has announced it will induct 10 new members into its Hall of Fame this fall. The inductees hail from the United States, Australia, France, and Japan, making it one of the most diverse Hall of Fame classes ever.

“This year’s inductees embody the museum’s international founding,” said Bill Gratzianna, president of the Chattanoogabased organization that represents the towing and recovery community. “We are honored to have inductees from four continents, and look forward to welcoming their families and friends.”

The 2022 honorees are, in alphabetical order: • • • • •

Bruce Davis of Davis Towing & Recovery Inc., Rushville, IN Henry Fenimore, B&F Towing Inc., Bear, DE Marci Gratzianna, O’Hare Towing Service, Downers Grove, IL Luc Le Baron, Le Baron et Fils, Brunoy, France Sadaaki Nakamura, Jyonan Holding Corp., Koufu-shi, Yamanashi, Japan • Antonio Re, Nationwide Towing & Transport Pty. Ltd., Glen Iris, Victoria, Australia

• Charles Schmidt, C. Schmidt & Sons Inc., Roslyn, NY • Robert Van Lingen, Van Lingen Towing Inc., Torrance, CA • Harumatsu Wada, Miller Japan Co. Ltd., Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan • Sherry White, Walt’s Mission Pass Towing, Fremont, CA The Towing & Recovery Hall of Fame was launched in 1986 to recognize individuals who have made substantial contributions to the towing and recovery industry. “The industry realized it was time to display the roots of the profession,” according to the museum.

Over 300 towing professionals have entered the Hall of Fame to date.

Hall of Fame candidates must have 20 years of experience running a towing business in an outstanding and exemplary manner, demonstrate leadership in a project with a dynamic and lasting effect on the towing industry, and/or create a product or service with a significant and lasting effect on towing professionals.

The inductees will be officially recognized at a formal ceremony on October 8, 2022, at the Westin Hotel Chattanooga during the organization’s annual Museum Weekend scheduled for October 7 - 9.

Our mission is to: • Evoke the public conscious to understand they are the most powerful source to define life and death on our Nation’s highways.

• To educate and make them aware they need to make a life change so first responders can live theirs!

• To unite all common industry first responders to train, educate and motivate the public we serve to just

OVER ONE – LOSE NONE! 14

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JOIN US 44th

SEPTEMBER 22 ND -25 TH , 2022

GREAT WOLF

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Don’t Miss a Great Time at a Great Location

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

For Show and Hotel Information, Contact Bruce Bender

513-831-7469 • bruce@trao.org

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

midwesttowshow.org

AN EXPERT WITNESS BY

JAMES

E.

LEWIS

///

A Mentor M y parents both grew up during the Great Depression, with my mom being 8 years old and my dad being 16 when the stock market crashed and the Roaring 20s came to an ugly end. My dad was 50 when I was born in 1963, and my mom was 43. Growing up with older parents was a big challenge for a kid 16

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trying to be somewhat cool…but I was bought three shirts and two pair of pants and one pair of shoes per year…I wore the same shirt three times some weeks. The same as they did growing up.

No matter what the question was, whether it was getting a new bike, going out to eat, going to a movie, going to a theme park, or just getting

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an ice cream, it was always the same answer – nope, that costs MONEY! I wasn’t green with envy with my friends, but the things that they got on a regular basis were - like a bike, an ice cream cone, or whatever was out of my reach because things cost money.

I swore that when I had my own kids, I wouldn’t keep simple things

from them like an ice cream cone, a new bike, or going to a movie. I still struggle with being turned down for EVERYTHING I asked for as a kid, and at the time, learned to just quit asking for things.

In 1972, I was 9, and I really, really, really wanted to play little league baseball. In South Texas, because of the great weather, we had a very active little league program, lots of volunteer coaches and a full schedule. I’d played pickup baseball games in the yard and at school, but I wanted to wear a uniform and play on a real team.

Being a dumb kid, I had no idea there were any costs associated with playing. None of my friends who played ever discussed the costs with me, because these costs weren’t a concern for their parents. I later found the pleasure their parents felt by supporting their kids in sports,

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AN EXPERT WITNESS BY

JAMES

E.

LEWIS

band, theater, etc.

The tryouts were a big deal – I borrowed an old glove from my friend Terry, and we tried out – there was a batting practice, infield position scenarios, and outfield tests. Not only was I selected as a left fielder with a strong bat, I made the MAJOR league division – we

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had majors and minors, and in my first year of tryouts, I was in the big leagues. I was ecstatic. The next day, Terry, our friend Steve, and I went to our team meeting. It was then that I realized my dream was gone before I even got started.

Three coaches were going over all the logistics of the team –

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

Laws that are on your side

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

Obtaining payment for proper billing

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.

And more...

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

1,000s of companies attended!

Proven process to increase your bottom line!

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

Upcoming Seminar Call For Next Class

Register at RecoveryBillingSeminar.com Instructors: Bob & Eric Fouquette For more info on classes

508-763-5474

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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.

— Capeway Towing

Some restrictions apply, must be accepted by Recovery Billing Unlimited

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practice times, game times, conduct, uniforms, an administrative fee…. I had to buy a uniform, and pay a $10 admin fee, and of course, I needed cleats and a glove. I was looking at $35 in total cost. I already knew the answer…I was devastated. I decided not to ride (bikes) with my friends to our neighborhood. I cried all the way home. I summoned up the courage to ask my mom…knowing my dad would immediately shut me down.

Mom thought about it for about 10 seconds, then said there’s no way I could play little league, since “that costs money”.

I went over to Terry’s house and explained that I couldn’t play. I found out later that his dad overheard me, asked Terry later for the paperwork for the team and the coach’s phone number. He called the coach.

Funny…it took until I was 21 years old before I figured all this out.

the playoffs. I didn’t care. I’d never been so happy in my life, just having the chance to play.

I don’t remember that volunteer coach’s name. I’m sure he’s close to 70 by now. I’d sure like to shake his hand, and tell him about all the people I’ve reached out to in my life.

I’m sure that’s what he would want

The coach came by my house, asked if he could take me to a team meeting, and my mom reminded me that we didn’t have any money for all that stuff. The coach took me to K-mart and bought me a new glove and cleats. He already had a uniform for me – the kind with the loops on the bottoms of the pants so your sock color showed through. Our colors were like the Baltimore Orioles, which seemed exotic to me, being from Texas. He also told me that my admin fee had been waived. I told him I didn’t have the money to pay for this stuff, and he said don’t worry about it. I asked how I could pay him back.

He told me to do the same thing for some kids when I grow up, whether it’s baseball, football, soccer, band, or any other activity.

I practiced really hard that year, and we played hard, but didn’t make

to know.

That man is a mentor – he paid $25-30 for some equipment, and I’ve donated and invested thousands over the years. It’s not about the money, though – it’s about the intent and desire to help.

That, friends, is a great return on investment.

INGENUITY AMERICAN CRAFTSMANSHIP custombuiltmfg.com www.towprofessional.com

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INSIGHTFUL TALK BY

DAN

MESSINA

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The Beginning of the End

S

everal months ago, I wrote an article about selling your business and how to prepare for retirement. In the past two months, I had three different companies show an interest in buying my company. It’s time for me to prepare for my future, but before we do that, I am going to spend the next few articles telling you the story on how I got there.

Let’s get started. Over 25 years ago, I was working on an 18 year career in computers. One day my brotherin-law came to my wife and I saying he just bought a 20

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tow company and he wanted us to run it. We both gave up our careers in computers and started to run a tow company. At the time we knew nothing about towing and I’m not sure I ever had my car towed. To make matters worse, it was not just towing, but it was a private property towing company. I never even heard of private property towing.

From our past career, we learned a lot about running a business so we just applied all the rules. We did the following:

• We learned all the rules for private property towing in Texas. We learned quickly that Texas did not like private property towing. Remember this was over 25 years ago, and it was like the wild west in Dallas.

• We identified who our competitors were. We found a towing lawyer, and he set up a meeting for all my competitors to meet and discuss towing in the city of Dallas. Remember, I was new at this and learned that one of my competitors served prison time as the best car thief in Texas. When he started his company, he hired everyone with whom he was incarcerated. My biggest competitor was worse than the guy from prison. As time went on, every 3 months, he would threaten to kill me. Welcome to private property towing in Texas.

• We learned who our customers should be. We learned that low-income apartment dwellers were the best customers.

• We identified a staff we thought we would need. We identified drivers that were stealing or damaging trucks and got rid of them. Even though drivers were hard to find, once the industry found out how

we operated, everyone wanted to work for us.

• We fired the people that did not fit our profile as a company. I knew what I wanted my company to look like so I just had to find the people that would fit the profile.

• Our doors were not opened for three weeks, and I sent my wife to the Florida tow show. It was a chance to learn about towing, who the players were, and the things I might need to support my business. Everyone should attend a tow show to learn about what is taking place in the industry and how it could make their business better.

We immediately joined the Texas towing association.

Again I wanted to learn who the players were and how towing was run in the state of Texas. Although I made a lot of friends, it was obvious that they did not think much of private property towing. They told me it makes the industry look bad. I could tell you stories that made them think that, but I quickly learned they were not as clean as they wanted you to believe.

Its now time to look at the business side of my

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INSIGHTFUL TALK BY

DAN

MESSINA

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company. When setting up our business, we did the following: • We developed a business plan. If you make a good business plan and follow it you will be successful.

We identified the cash that was needed to operate and identified the steps necessary to make our numbers.

• We identified what equipment was needed; how many trucks it would take; and what was necessary to keep these trucks on the road. I wanted all my trucks to look alike. They were all F450’s, and I would let my drivers pick the kind of lift they wanted. This gave them ownership in their trucks, and they would take care of them.

• I wanted them all the same color and all the same logo’s. This made us look intimidating, and our competition would fear us. One of my competitors told me that he wanted different colored trucks so his customers knew he had more than one truck.

• We made marketing material that we handed out to our customers. On the cover there were 7 trucks.

We used technology to create our 7 truck look even

thought I only had five trucks.

• We did nothing by accident! We knew we wanted to add x number of customers a month, and we knew what it would take to get them.

• We sponsored different events that supported the police and they loved us. We made sure our customers knew what we were doing, and it did not take long for the word to spread.

• We created a budget to match the business plan so we knew what our expenses were and how much revenue we would need.

• We looked at our major expenses and tried to eliminate them. We were holding public auctions once a month using an outside vendor to auction the cars. This was very expensive. Having a computer background, we developed our own software to do our auctions. This save me 20% of the auction revenue I was losing to an outside source. When I worked in the computer industry, I had $5.00 and an American Express card in my wallet. Our very first auction generated $60,000 in cash on my desk. That’s when I knew I was going to like this industry.

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We are going to leave it here for now but I want you to take away two things: one identify what you want your business to look like. Two: create a business plan that helps you build your business.

In a future article, you will see how I used these two steps to build a successful business, so until then travel safe and we will talk again soon.

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FUEL 4 THOUGHT BY

D.J.

HARRINGTON

CSP

///

Your Podcast is

Growing

W

e are proud to announce that the Tow Professional podcast keeps growing every week. No doubt, the good information in each episode keeps our listeners coming back week after week for more. If you’re one of those listeners, thank you for spending your time with us.

If you log on, you’ll hear from people like Dalan Zartman from Energy Security Agency. If you ever asked

24

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yourself where the electric vehicle is headed and what training will be needed for towers in the future, then this is the podcast that will answer those questions. It’s one of the favorites and most listened to podcasts that we have, and it’s saved and archived in the system allowing you to review it multiple times. Another favorite was the interview with Syre Perkins, from East Track North America. Syre is a treasure trove in the towing industry.

If you hear that podcast, you’ll understand why. He just

came back from Italy and knows all about the electric vehicle. Even with a law degree, Syre is a true tower who can relate what you desperately need to know about properly loading an electric vehicle. During that podcast, he will give his personal number so any tower that needs to talk can call him directly. Great podcast!

Another great podcast that you don’t want to miss was with Cindy Martineau, the head person at TRAA. Having the latest information about your industry makes it worth your time to listen to hers.

We also did a podcast with our two most-read writers of this great publication, Jim and Dan. Jim E. Lewis, our expert witness was quite informative. Every time I read his articles, I learn something. After hearing his podcast, you’ll understand what I mean. Therefore, listen, learn, and save your company before it is too late.

Yes, my dear friend, Dan Messina, a past Towman of the Year was a guest too. He offered tremendous tips for this year and how he sees it going down the road. Dan openly shares his success and some of his failures. He makes you rethink your business.

Let’s talk about one that you don’t want to miss.

Bruce Bender and Tug Brock from TRAO and what the Midwest Regional 44th Tow Show is all about. I believe it to be the most family friendly tow shows around.

Save the dates for this upcoming tow show, September 22nd – 25th in Mason, Ohio. Listen to the podcast because it was the most fun podcast that we’ve done.

You’ll understand why I am saying this. As a reminder, we are located on Spotify, iTunes, Pandora, Google Play, Stitcher, iHeart media, Amazon or wherever you get your podcasts.

We have Brian Riker, your DOT guy on an episode.

He speaks about his tenure in towing, and we introduce his new segment, “Windshield Wisdom”, in the next episode. My mother used to say something quite simple, “Always look for help from others who know what to do.” An informative person, Brian is a faithful helper for us all. Want to pick his brain, just say, “I heard you on the Tow Professional podcast”, and you’ve got his attention.

I’ve just named some of the guests on the podcast,

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D.J.

HARRINGTON

CSP

PODCAST

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///

but there are so many other people you should be listening to as well. Please LISTEN, LIKE, REVIEW and SHARE everywhere. We have a dedicated hot line at 706-409-5603. If your association has some news that you want lots of listeners to hear, call and leave your message. If there are people that you are not hearing but you would like to hear, let us know. This is your podcast. We want to be “The Voice of the Industry”, a podcast you and your family can listen to in the car or truck. Every week we have a 30 second blessing on our listeners, family and loved ones. This was built for the towing industry to learn what products and services are available to everyone within our great industry. We continually educate ourselves because when we kiss our loved one’s goodbye in the morning, we can return safely and a little bit better off at night.

I’m proud to be the Co-Host with this podcast that will help make your bottom line better. Soon, we will have over 5,000 listeners. See you next time.

www.towprofessional.com

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PIONEERS OF THE

INDUSTRY

— 50 YEARS AND COUNTING INDUSTRY PIONEER JERR-DAN

T

here is a story—perhaps fictitious—that a successful businessman was asked how his company had prospered and grown, decade after decade. “There are two types of 50-yearold businesses,” he replied. “The first kind does not really have 50 years’ worth of experience. They have one year of experience, repeated 50 times. They survive, but do not prosper. The other kind of long-lived business is one that does not rest on its laurels, but constantly strives to do 28

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more, and do it better. My company is the latter type.”

Whether or not this story is true, the principle is still sound. No company can do the same old thing for 25, or 50, or 100 years and stay in business, let alone prosper.

That is as true in the towing and recovery industry as it is in any other.

So, when we analyzed the story behind the 50th anniversary of Jerr-Dan, we expected to see evidence of a legacy of innovation and growth. Today, Jerr-Dan is an

1972 — Carrier

Oshkosh Corporation [NYSE: OSK] company and a leading manufacturer of towing and recovery equipment. Its full line includes light, medium, and heavy duty carriers and wreckers, rotators, industrial transporters, and four-car carriers. That is a far cry from what it looked like in 1972 when Jerry and Dan started the company.

EARLY DAYS When Jerry Pool and Dan Reynolds founded Jerr-Dan in 1972, the company made parts for other companies’ equipment. They opened their first plant in Greencastle, Pennsylvania.

Later that year, Jerr-Dan purchased Grove Manufacturing Company’s agricultural industrial products

division. As part of the purchase, they acquired their first rollback carrier technology. Although the Grove division they purchased mainly made farm trailers and related equipment, Grove had developed a flatbed rollback carrier just to be able to deliver their main product. From 1969 to 1972 Grove had even experimented with selling a small line of their rollback carriers. They decided that this was too far outside the scope of their core business, prompting the sale of the division to Jerr-Dan. While the carriers were the focus of Jerr-Dan’s interest even then, there are still some old pieces of farm equipment out there with the Jerr-Dan name on them.

With the company faring so well, the founders decided to tackle new challenges, each selling their interest in JerrDan and founding their own new companies, Dan in 1973 and Jerry in 1992.

SPOTLIGHT ON INNOVATION SPARKS GROWTH From the mid-70s to the late 90s, Jerr-Dan dedicated itself to providing a wider range of solutions for its customers as well as product innovations that would

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1977— Aluminum Carrier improve performance and reliability. Sometimes that meant improving on an existing design; at other times it meant designing something new from the ground up, and other times it meant acquiring a key company. A constant stream of substantive milestones were reached during this period.

In 1975, Jerr-Dan launched its own traveling axle trailer line in both 42- and 45-foot versions. The traveling axle design permits rear tires to slide forward so the bed can tilt to the ground, resulting in a more favorable loading angle.

At around this time, Jerr-Dan engineers took note of 30

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the fact that all the larger vehicle carriers were built of steel and the weight of all that steel was putting extra stress on the truck chassis. Obviously, reducing the weight and the stress would extend the usable life of the truck— a big benefit to carrier owners. After research and some experimentation, the company decided to use an aluminum alloy in its new carrier design. Using this material would also help control corrosion. In 1977, JerrDan launched the first commercially built aluminum carrier in the industry.

A few years later, Jerr-Dan product specialists were looking at a different problem. Metal on metal friction causes wear. And carriers had a metal bed sliding across a metal frame. When the wear became noticeable, the costly replacement of the bed or frame or both became necessary. The solution came in 1982 when Jerr-Dan received a patent for removable and replaceable wear pads. Metal on metal contact was now replaced with metal sliding across replaceable pads, extending the life of more expensive components.

In that same year, Jerr-Dan began production of the first extruded-aluminum plank carrier. Though this is now industry standard, it was a game-changer in the early 80s.

Close on the heels of those milestones, in 1985 Jerr-Dan launched the Jerr-Lift, the original self-loader. The Jerr-Lift secured the towed vehicle with hydraulic arms around the tires. It was the first offering of its kind in the traditional wrecker/recovery market. The Jerr-Lift reduced hook-up time and lessened operator fatigue.

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In 1987 Jerr-Dan introduced the HPL, their first foray into a slightly larger light duty wrecker. Before releasing the new product to the market, Jerr-Dan decided to have an in-house competition to name it.

At the time, most Jerr-Dan product names followed a “wild west” theme, with models named Rustler, Wrangler, and so on. (If you are old enough to remember the “urban cowboy” craze of the early 80s, you may understand this better. If not, just imagine a time when New York City accountants, bankers, and lawyers wore Stetsons on their heads and Tony Lamas on their feet. It was a different time.)

But all the obvious cowboy-themed names had been used or weren’t available. However, a genius employee submitted perhaps the greatest product name of all time— HPL. That is, the “High Plains Lifter.”

The HPL line is still in production.

In the 90s, sports cars and the proliferation of other low-slung vehicles became more of a problem.

With a standard flat deck carrier, towers had to build wooden ramps to

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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.

PIONEERS OF THE

INDUSTRY

create a suitable angle to load those low-profile vehicles.

To address this issue, in 1992 Jerr-Dan designed, patented, and released the shark dual-angle rollback to the market.

The angled end of the deck allowed it to load a lowerprofile automobile without requiring a homemade ramp.

Of course, in the 30 years since its introduction, Jerr-Dan has continued to add features and other improvements to the product.

By this time, the company had been in business for twenty years and was looking for a new growth opportunity. Jerr-Dan was building wreckers rated for light and medium duty but did not really have the experience or technology to enter the heavy duty wrecker market.

However, that all changed in 1995 when the company bought DeWalt Manufacturing, a Texas-based company that built strictly heavy duty equipment for the recovery industry. The DeWalt acquisition brought with it the company’s patented hydraulic underlift. DeWalt product specialists brought their experience, skill, and knowledge as well. Jerr-Dan engineers credit the DeWalt designs for improving Jerr-Dan’s boom technology. With this key acquisition under its belt, Jerr-Dan was able to enter the 50ton heavy duty wrecker market with a fully developed product that had an established reputation.

The very next year, Jerr-Dan was able to build its original 25 ton heavy duty wrecker, that is, one not based 34

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1982 ­— Extruded Plank on DeWalt’s design. It incorporated some new ideas about wrecker architecture that are a part of Jerr-Dan’s “DNA” to this day. The new wrecker was one of the first to introduce a composite body to the market on a commercial scale. It may seem obvious now, perhaps, but using an aluminum alloy frame with fiberglass panels to construct the body clearly results in less corrosion and a lighter and longerlasting body. That added product longevity lowers total cost of ownership, then and now.

In 1997 Jerr-Dan launched a zero-degree underlift for carriers. It was a godsend to towers that had to contend with low-profile cars on steep surfaces—think the famously up and down streets of San Francisco. While most other lifts had a high loading angle, this new feature allowed the operator to put the wheel lift all the way down on the ground.

Around this same time, Jerr-Dan managers and engineers committed to overhauling their entire carrier line, and they wanted to have an internal standard for any resultant changes. They took a hard look at the carriers of their main competitors and realized right away that all had strong and weak points. So, they went out and bought a variety of other companies’ carriers and measured performance in key components and systems, the utility of various features, and so on.

After carrying out a full analysis of what could be

viewed as the industry’s state of the art in carriers, Jerr-Dan created its Best in Class (BIC) carrier line. This new line of carriers was benchmarked to the best performance in each category of operation and was built to meet or exceed them. Introduced in 1998, Jerr-Dan felt confident that “BIC” carriers set the standard. Future improvements to Jerr-Dan carriers would be based on the BIC platform and philosophy.

In 1999 Jerr-Dan launched its first 14- and 16-ton heavy duty wreckers. These new wreckers fit on a class 7 chassis, giving them more flexibility in the market.

1999 brought even more changes to Jerr-Dan when it was acquired by Littlejohn & Company. Littlejohn & Company was, and still is, a private equity firm that makes control equity investments in mid-sized companies that can benefit from its operational and strategic experience.

Jerr-Dan was ready to open a new chapter in its story just as the world was poised to open a new century.

A NEW CENTURY BRINGS NEW OPPORTUNITIES The previous quarter-century had seen a lot of improvements in the company and its products. The arrival of the 21st century only accelerated this trend.

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PIONEERS OF THE

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In 2001, Jerr-Dan received a patent for a unique towlocking mechanism. It was common practice to use hydraulics to secure the tow arms when they closed around tires. Jerr-Dan engineers were all too aware that hydraulics could be compromised by a loss of fluid or pressure. They solved the problem by adding a mechanical lock. They would still use hydraulics to move the arms into position, but the mechanical lock would continue to secure the tire even if the hydraulics failed at some point during the tow.

Then, in 2002, Jerr-Dan received another patent, this time for an independent wheel-lift. This wheel-lift was made independent of the wrecker-boom by using the knee-boom, so named due to its resemblance to a bent knee.

However, 2004 would prove to be the most pivotal year of the new century for Jerr-Dan. That was the year it was acquired by the Oshkosh Corporation.

The new owner had the size, resources, and strategic direction that would permit Jerr-Dan to accomplish more, faster. Today, Oshkosh Corporation employs nearly 15,000 team members worldwide, and its products are found in

1992 — Shark 36

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more than 150 countries. Jerr-Dan had joined a family of brands that today includes other top-tier brands, such as JLG®, Pierce®, Oshkosh® Defense, McNeilus®, IMT®, Frontline™, Oshkosh® Airport Products, London™, and Pratt Miller.

At this point, there was really only one piece of equipment that the Jerr-Dan product range lacked—a rotator. But the company had been working with customers behind the scenes to get their input on building the “ultimate rotator.” For several years Jerr-Dan had interviewed owners and operators and relied on their suggestions to continually improve a new rotator design.

Many mentioned a desire to reach more and get into position more easily. And it was no surprise to learn that almost everyone was concerned about improving stability.

Jerr-Dan took all these suggestions to heart, and in 2005 introduced the Jerr-Dan Rotator. This product debuted with a conservative 60ton rating but when applied to real-life situations ended up as the Jerr-Dan 70/85ton, heavy duty rotator. Backed by Jerr-Dan engineering and performance, users were able to reach further and position their boom more easily because of the new machine’s 42-foot working radius, at a time when the nearest competitor only offered 34 feet. What set the unit apart was its industry-leading stability, achieved through the widest dual scissor-style outrigger system of its time coupled with the strongest rotator frame in the industry. This knowledge and technology would guide Jerr-Dan to offer the industry’s hallmark 50/60-ton rotator in 2011.

In 2008 Jerr-Dan received another important patent. This patent was for the SRS, or “Side Recovery System.” The company had been looking at ways to improve its recovery capabilities, and the SRS certainly helped them reach that goal. The concept is simple—the boom would easily rotate to the left or right to enable recovery on either side of the tow vehicle. This new product was available as an option on new trucks, or as an aftermarket add-on for older trucks.

Unlike most of the patented products that preceded it, JerrDan made the SRS available to their dealers to be fitted to competitors’ trucks.

Jerr-Dan closed out the first decade of the 21st century with another addition to its carrier line. The new XLP (extralow profile) carriers addressed the continuing need to lower the height of beds. This new line of carriers was also designed to be mounted without having to modify the truck itself, a feature that dealers especially appreciated. Over the next ten years, these XLP features were extended to all carrier sizes in the product range.

And in 2011, Jerr-Dan kicked off the second decade of the century with a major step forward. To improve efficiency, Jerr-Dan moved all its manufacturing to facilities in McConnellsburg, Pennsylvania.

When taking note of relatively recent technical

1985 ­— Jerrlift accomplishments, attention must be given to the patents the company received in 2013 for improved deck illumination and adjustable headboards for carriers.

The adjustable headboards were a consequential boon for dealers, making the job of installation much simpler.

Obviously, each truck has a cab height that is unique to it.

That meant that a manufacturer had to build a different headboard for every truck, and dealers had to manage their inventory of all those unique headboards. With the introduction of the adjustable headboard, Jerr-Dan was able to reduce that inventory to just two sizes of headboard for

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PIONEERS OF THE

INDUSTRY

all carrier models and chassis cab heights.

The second patent that year, the Rear Awareness Illumination Light (RAIL), was all about improving roadside visibility in all circumstances. Based on their intimate knowledge of the industry, product specialists and engineers were aware that when a carrier parks in front of a vehicle casualty, its warning lights are often obscured.

In some cases, they almost seem to disappear. Jerr-Dan addressed this issue by adding lights that extended beyond the profile of the truck facing rearward. RAIL also optimized the lighting for the greatest visibility when the bed was tipped down, the point at which traditional lighting schemes are most obscured.

Keeping the focus on simplifying an operator’s work, in 2014 Jerr-Dan received a patent for a new vehicle storage assembly, as part of its new JFB heavy duty wrecker and Rotator body line. This was the start of a renewed push to conform to the principle reportedly first articulated by Benjamin Franklin: “a place for everything, everything in its place.”

With the corporate strategy, company growth, and distributor network all working together, by 2017 it was time to add financial services to the company’s portfolio of expertise and customer service. In that year, Jerr-Dan launched Jerr-Dan Financial Solutions (JDFS) to provide customers with a one-stop shopping experience.

Interestingly, Jerr-Dan Financial Solutions is more 38

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1996 ­— 25 Ton than just a financial team. JDFS is made up of tow truck operators as well as sales and finance professionals who know the towing and recovery industry inside and out. According to Jerr-Dan Financial Services, “We offer competitive interest rates and no down payment for qualified buyers. Lease or loan packages are available with terms from 24 to 84 months. We also provide a 24-hour turnaround on all credit applications.”

And finally, the most impressive milestone of all—JerrDan is celebrating 50 years in business in 2022.

DRIVING FORWARD INTO THE FUTURE “People have asked us what we have in the works,” said Jerr-Dan senior product specialist Andrew Stevens.

1995 ­— 50 Ton

“Obviously, that is a question I am not free to answer in any detail. But I can tell you that we are committed to improving existing models—the updated JD25 is one recent example.

And we are committed to listening to our customers’ needs.

Those are the conversations that end up as the inspiration for exciting new product developments.”

Chief Engineer Sanjeev Kuriakose also addressed Jerr-Dan’s future goals. “Besides building equipment that works as hard as our customers do, we want to promote the hardworking men and women of this industry so they get the respect they deserve and are seen and treated as professionals. There are a lot of owners and operators out there leading the way, and we want to do whatever we can to aid them. We believe proper training is the key. It’s more than promoting Jerr-Dan Equipment. It’s about helping towers work smarter, safer and getting them home to enjoy their families when the work is done.”

No one can foretell the future of the economy, let alone the future of a particular company. The Great Recession and COVID-19 have provided recent and stark examples of this truth. However, it is possible to make projections based on past performance. On that basis, it is not hard to look forward to Jerr-Dan’s 75th and 100th anniversaries.

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Azuga’s path to become Towbook’s preferred provider Azuga is an award-winning software company offering the best in GPS tracking and camera systems for the Towing industry. In 2013, Azuga shook up the traditional GPS vehicle tracking market with industry-first price points, a social approach to Telematics, easy-install hardware, lifetime warranties and no contract terms. The company’s plug and play GPS technology can begin tracking fleets in as little as 30 seconds and for less than 70 cents per day per vehicle.

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includes offering their best-in-class products and services at preferred rates to users.

Now, Azuga is taking the Towing industry by storm with their industry-specific solutions and collaboration with the #1 name in tow management software, Towbook. Together with Towbook’s dispatching and scheduling capabilities, the Azuga GPS tracking and safety camera system adds a whole new layer of visibility and control. By integrating directly into the platform, users of both Towbook and Azuga will have one “home base” to manage all of their operations and data. Towbook and Azuga are committed

to delivering a seamless and robust integration to give towers all the tools they need to be as successful as they possibly can.

The evolution of dash cams in towing Azuga is not only a leader and innovator in the telematics world but is also leading the charge with dash cams and video. Cameras in towing have been around a while and have www.towprofessional.com

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Mobile Videos/ REC

Truck Cams

evolved quickly as need to reduce liability has grown.

Remembering the first versions.. they looked like a sewing machine hanging from your windshield; they were plugged into a cigarette lighter; the picture quality was sketchy at best and you never really knew if it was working until you pulled the SD card and checked. Not a great fit for towing... blocked view of the road, drivers can unplug and you never knew if you had a video or if you could make out what you needed to. Nothing like paying for something only to find out it when you need it that it wasn’t working the whole time…huh?!

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Next came the ability for these cameras to capture events. An accident or harsh driving could trigger the camera to save a clip. Some of these versions were even hardwired to reduce tampering and you could order additional cameras all though wiring them back to the lead camera was a major pain in the butt. The cameras got a little smaller and the picture got a little better. The major issue was the expense and accessibility. You had to buy hardware from between $700 -$1500 per truck and you still

had a small sd card you could go pull but you could also subscribe to a service that would save those events for an additional $20 -$30 per month per truck.

Around this same time came the first “live cameras” in towing. They required minimum of 5 cameras per vehicle and while the towers loved the idea of a live view... the cost was just too high for the towing industry. Hardware cost averaged around $2500- $3000 per truck and because the cameras had a live feed each vehicle required a separate

®

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data plan costing an additional $30 dollars per month.

The Azuga/Towbook solution..

Azuga’s cameras offer you a choice of events based or fully live/AI camera system so we can fit your business based on its needs. Either option is smaller than a cell phone, hardwired to prevent tampering, very affordable and allows you access in our platform to events and general video without having to pull an SD card.

Azuga is the first to deliver an affordable, fully live AI camera system that also has a rear camera! As stated above, there have been other systems that you could view the rear of the truck but it was either too expensive or not reliable.

Let’s face it 85% of a tower’s job takes place behind the truck.

Bumper claims, roadside events, improper loading and unsafe roadside habits are just the beginning of what they can help limit.

How much time and money do you spend training your drivers to work safely and to do their job correctly only to find out that they do it “their own way” at the risk of themselves and to your business? Do you think your drivers would follow your procedure and their training better if you were 44 TOW PROFESSIONAL |

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riding in their truck all the time? Of course they would! With this rear camera, you can have access to and/or view live each time they are working on scene.

How many times have you been called in the middle of the night to wake up and go to a scene so you can instruct a driver on how to recover a certain vehicle. Let’s face it, sometimes it’s necessary and you want to be there... but what if you can just grab your tablet or laptop and look live at what they see? Are there times that you could help them without having to drive down to the scene or things that you could instruct them to do while you are on the way?

Most owners and managers of towing companies have several things in common. They work crazy hours and are always on call, their insurance cost and claims are generally higher than most other businesses and like most first responders their job can be dangerous. In today’s climate it is more important than ever that you protect yourself and your business as much as possible.

Azuga is working closely with Towbook to deliver even more benefits to their users in many different areas with the goal of just making your Towbook work even better. Towbook is the overwhelming choice of towers when it comes

to towing software. Their software is robust, affordable, scaleable and easy to use which is why they are #1. When it comes to our integration benefits... the “top of the list” for Towbook users is video. Imagine if you could access all your video directly inside the Towbook platform and if every event that happens while doing a call on a call could be automatically saved and stored with that case. Also, if every time your PTO is engaged, the camera could automatically save a clip of the rear and forward the video to that job.

Would that reduce the number of bumper claims and driver excuses? This is the tip of the iceberg of what you can expect when Towing’s #1 software company and North America’s best telematics provider team up.

Choose the option that is best for you At Azuga, we offer the Fully live/AI cameras with rear and AUX cameras available upon request and we also can offer an events-based camera which stores all driving events inside Azuga. In both cases, Azuga offers free hardware and a very affordable monthly fee. To learn more about which system maybe right for you please go to www.offer.azuga. com/towbook or call me directly at 205-728-9135.

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Dashcams integrated with fleet management offer towers a

SOLID LINE OF DEFENSE

O

nboard cameras integrated into a fleet management solution such as WEBFLEET provide tow operators with a solid line of defense. They help mitigate risk, which is important in an industry facing heightened scrutiny from insurers

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Tow truck operators have one of the most dangerous and challenging business climates.

Distracted drivers on the road, challenging weather conditions, and oncoming traffic mean that drivers in the profession are considered to have one of the most dangerous jobs in North America. According

to the International Towing and Recovery Hall of Fame in Tennessee, nearly 50-100 tow truck drivers lose their lives on the job every day.

AN OBJECTIVE WITNESS TO INCIDENTS AND DRIVER BEHAVIORS So how do onboard cameras work and how easy are they to implement?

If telematics and GPS tell you the who, where, and when then the video tells you the why and how. A fleet management system such as WEBFLEET captures comprehensive data about your fleet. It will tell you who is driving, how that driver is operating, where they are going, what route they should take and what time they’ll arrive at their destination.

But when an incident on the road happens, it often becomes a matter of “he said -- she said. Witnesses will offer

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contradictory evidence. In the case of an accident, police, and insurers often must rely on eyewitness testimony. But as we know, memories fade. And in a traumatic situation where things are unfolding in a blink of an eye, the human brain is simply incapable of accurately documenting the circumstances. With cameras like WEBFLEET CAM 50 can monitor the vehicle, its surroundings, and a driver’s behaviors from the moment of ignition start to ignition off, tow operators have comprehensive video footage to provide an objective witness to the scene.

“As a tow operator, anything you can do to protect yourself or sell yourself to a prospective insurer is great,” says Rusty Russell co-owner of SR Towing. “By integrating camera technology with fleet tracking in my trucks, I gain a comprehensive

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“By integrating camera technology with fleet tracking in my trucks, I gain a comprehensive view of my business. I can also demonstrate to my insurer I operate with superior business practices.”

view of my business. I can also demonstrate to my insurer I operate with superior business practices.”

Road facing and optional cabin facing HD dashcam event footage are displayed alongside driving data to give users the full context of road incidents Users can request in WEBFLEET the video from a specific time and position of a previous trip or instantly live stream from the road, to take action immediately when an incident occurs. The forwardfacing camera captures the road view. Using a wide-angle lens, it will pick up everything the driver sees and some periphery information. This will allow a tow operator to monitor standard road behavior and cross traffic, such as vehicles entering an intersection. Experts suggest that 75-85% of a tow operator’s insurance return on investment will come from this view. The driver’s camera is focused on anything inside the vehicle. While the other cameras are typically used for exoneration, this camera is used for monitoring driver behavior and compliments fleet solutions that offer driver coaching, such as WEBFLEET’s OptiDrive 360.

So if an owner/operator sees a pattern of harsh braking from a driver, he or she can contextualize it with video. Accompanying WEBFLEET Video is the CAM 50 dashcam. This hardware uses artificial

intelligence (AI) technology to automatically identify risky behavior such as distracted driving and mobile phone usage. When it does so, it notifies the driver with a visual and audio alert, helping them avoid dangerous situations. Video captured with the driver camera can also be used proactively for driver coaching and training.

Footage from a driver’s camera along with driver coaching from the fleet management solution helps me keep an eye on how my drivers are handling the truck and driving on the road. It shouldn’t be viewed as a big brother thing. It actually safeguards the driver and prevents accidents. When someone calls in mad or disgruntled, I can pull up info right away to see if they have a leg to stand on.

WEBFLEET’s driver management solution makes it easy to stay compliant with regulations.

It also encourages your drivers to adopt safer and more efficient driving habits, while maximizing productivity.

Do you want to help boost driver performance?

Speak to one of our experts at 866-224-9451 and find out how WEBFLEET can help.

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A Camera in My Tow Truck?

C

ameras are becoming commonplace in tow truck fleets as operators work to control rising fleet costs. The elevated costs associated with accidents, insurance, maintenance, and fuel are forcing operators to further monitor their rolling fleet for incidents and accidents as well as monitor their drivers’ behavior while behind the wheel.

While there are several flavors of camera offerings available to the industry, most offer multiple camera views from a single camera unit and offer live video or point-intime video of the driver and of the road. In addition, current technology also tracks events like hard/harsh acceleration, braking, and cornering. Event monitoring shares event video in real-time and provides audible alerts to the driver as events happen. These modern camera systems also offer GPS tracking of the vehicle.

BudgetCAM by BudgetGPS is available to the towing industry and integrates seamlessly into the BudgetGPS system. This self-installable camera/GPS offering connects to the OBD II or the 9-pin J-Bus connector for large trucks.

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GPS is available from the camera unit.

BudgetGPS is integrated with all popular towing management packages including Beacon, InTow, Omadi, TOPS, and Tracker to offer a true visual dispatching tool.

Users can view current vehicle locations, unassigned pickup locations, and drop-off information at the same time on the same map. Icons are color-coded allowing for a visual picture

of calls that 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 can monitor ETAs based on mapping calculations of drive time between the truck and pickup locations.

BudgetGPS offers both Camera-based and truck-mounted

GPS units, all self-installable. Supplement your camera or GPS service with street-level speed monitoring to further monitor your fleet.

For more information or to schedule a demonstration please call 833-934-2375 or visit our website – BudgetGPS by TRAXERO – www.budgetgps.com

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DEALING WITH

12V BATTERIES IN EVS

F

or many EV owners, it can come as a big surprise when they find out that their Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV) contains a 12 Volt battery as a critical component in its electrical system. In fact, virtually every EV model in North America is configured with a 12 Volt battery among its components. Although this may seem

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anachronistic, once you break it down, it makes a lot of sense.

Many subsystems within the EV electrical system utilize low voltage power to run them. In many cases, the system will have a stand-alone 12V battery and in others, the 12V battery system with be embedded within the larger high voltage battery. But, what role

does it serve within the overall EV electrical system?

A recent magazine article provided this helpful quote from a Hyundai engineer: “All the ECUs in the vehicle are powered from the low voltage, as well as the power relays that separate power from the highvoltage battery pack and the rest of the high-voltage network in the car,” he said. “That separation allows us to safely disconnect the high voltage from the low voltage when the vehicle is not being driven or in the event of a crash.”

You might think that the presence of a 12 Volt battery only applies to EVs from legacy manufactures, but it is true for Tesla as well. Recent Model S and X productions have switched to lithium 12V batteries, while older Model S and X, as well as all vintages of Model 3 and Y, utilize AGM lead acid 12V batteries. In fact, this was an evolution from the early Roadsters, which did not incorporate a 12V into their architecture, the absence of which caused numerous problems.

When the 12V battery is a stand alone battery, it can be either a lithium (usually LiFePO4) or lead acid (usually an AGM) battery. So, the service implications often depend on the specific configuration and battery type involved. While you might have thought that the switch to an EV would mean you could leave your old jump starter behind, the need for a jump starter is relatively common for older EVs, as their 12V battery degrades over time and reaches its end of life. In an EV jump start, you are essentially augmenting the 12V battery, like you would with a traditional jump start, but there is no high current surge like there would be during the jump starting application on an internal combustion engine vehicle.

But, might you need a jump starter for a new EV just as often as you would if you were driving a traditional ICE vehicle? If your EV of choice is the Mustang Mach-E, the answer might be yes. A glitch in the Mach-E software in early production models caused many vehicles to drain the 12 Volt battery, resulting in owners finding their vehicle rendered unable to power up. The problem was compounded by the fact that the battery couldn’t be accessed because the frunk, in which was located, was electronically latched. Yikes! Obviously, these are sophisticated vehicles and we aren’t trying pick on Ford here. The key point is that the 12V battery still plays a crucial role in these systems and when it is not functioning properly, the consequences can be

severe, like they are in traditional ICE vehicles.

Eventually, the 12V battery in an EV will require maintenance and service. This could mean periodic charging to extend the battery’s lifespan, periodic testing to better understand where the battery is in its lifecycle or the occasional jump start due to an excessively discharged battery.

While the jump starting demands of EVs are less rigorous than those of the typical ICE vehicle, quality and reliability still counts in the EV game. You want your jump starter to answer the call when you need it the most. It needs to have sufficient capacity to be of use to you in getting the EV back in service and it needs to consistently hold a charge so that when you reach for it, it is ready for action. Jump-N-Carry and Booster PAC have built their reputation on delivering dependable service, jump after jump, for hundreds of thousands of service facilities around the world.

You can depend on models like the JNC770 to power you through to service success, whether you are servicing an EV or ICE vehicle.

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Truck Driving Heroes Need a Professional Makeover By: Monique Crapper, Head of Marketing at Relay Payments

F

or too brief of a moment at the outset of the COVID pandemic in America, truck drivers began to be acknowledged as heroes within the economy, delivering needed goods across the country while most of us were in lockdown.

How quickly the country stopped being thankful for our over-the-road heroes! As we ponder how to 54

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address the worsening driver shortage, perhaps we should start with making sure drivers are appreciated for the work they do. That can lead to a rethinking of the image of the profession to become more aspirational, and even begin to entice more new, young blood to the industry.

“I don’t call my drivers drivers. I refer to them as Industrial Athletes,” said Jon Stanley, managing partner of Synergy-Solutions speaking on a panel at the recent Truckload Carriers Association (TCA) conference in Las Vegas. ”Young people want to be more than just a driver. We have to get creative if we want to attract new drivers to our industry.”

The three key ideas discussed at TCA to solve for the driver shortage were:

Targeting young people Better job conditions Reliable income

Trucking is long overdue for a rebrand. How do we, as an industry, make trucking a desirable job?

Kids grow up wanting to be a doctor or a firefighter or to fly to outer space. How do we get trucking on a kid’s ‘I want to be’ list of desired occupations?

The average age of a truck driver in America is 46, compared to 41 for all workers, according to 2019 Census Bureau data — and many are nearing retirement. This will only make the driver shortage worse.

The question is, how do we attract more drivers into the profession, including young drivers with long careers ahead of them?

During the conference workshop The Aging Population and Driver Shortage, the panel www.towprofessional.com

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welcomed the new federal government Safe Driver Apprenticeship Pilot Program which allows 18-yearolds to drive semi trucks across state lines (so long as companies implement vigorous mentoring and coaching programs to ensure safety). This is making possible a new initiative to recruit recent graduates from high school, who previously have been prohibited by age from starting a career in the industry. Many in Generation Z are looking to start their careers right away, turned off to college by the massive amounts of debt accumulated by those who came before them. It’s advantageous to try to interest them in driving now, not wait until they turn 21 and may already be well into a different career.

Quality of life issues are increasingly important to attract and retain drivers of all ages. Ensuring that drivers are back home at night as much as possible is critical, said conference attendee Jerry Sandler, owner of 51 Trucking and former long-haul driver himself. His company is conscious about what routes

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they accept or decline because some are just too hard on the driver. The days of a driver being away two or three weeks at a time are gone, he said, and with the rise of last mile delivery services like Amazon, carriers have to put the driver first or they’ll lose them to competition.

It’s time to follow other industries with a new approach to driver pay, said John Marienau, cofounder of Origin Trucking in Las Vegas. Origin pays their 10 drivers a “very good” salary, and provides healthcare and a 401k. Drivers want a reliable income and in return they are loyal, he says. Origin doesn’t have an issue with retaining drivers; indeed, it has a waiting list.

A silver lining to the current driver shortage is that it may spawn a renewed respect of those behind the wheel, which could lead to long overdue refresh of the image of this underappreciated profession.

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ADVERTISER INDEX COMPANY

PG

COMPANY

PG

COMPANY

PG

Alliance Funding ................................. 31

HAAS Alert........................................... 26

RP Consulting....................................... 42

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

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

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

Austin Insurance ................................ 43

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

Servicase.............................................. 21

AZUGA................................................... 11

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

Spill Diaper .......................................... 63

BalanceMasters.................................... 8

Holly’s Towing Dispatch..................... 39

Steck Mfg.............................................. 26

Bryants Wrecker................................. 39

INA Towing Network.......................... 14

The Will-Burt Company...................... 35

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

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

TOPS...................................................... 51

Custer Products................................... 25

Junk Car Buyer Academy.................. 45

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

Custom Built......................................... 19

Lodar...................................................... 27

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

CW Mill Equipment ............................ 43

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

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

Dynamic................................................ 13

Matjack................................................... 9

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

Eastern Wrecker Sales...................... 60

McMahon............................................. 61

Traxero................................................... 22

EasTract NA.......................................... 37

Mike Keith Insurance......................... 53

Tru-Hitch............................................... 45

Eckert & Associates........................... 63

OnlineImpoundAuctions.................... 37

TT Telematics Webfleet....................... 7

Eemerg.................................................. 35

ParkingPass.com................................ 51

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

ESA........................................................... 5

Prime Insurance ................................. 17

Wrecker Rentals.................................. 60

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

Progressive Insurance....................... 10

ZackLift.................................................. 23

Go Light................................................. 27

Recovery Billing................................... 18

Gunni Wheel......................................... 31

Robert Young........................................ 62

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