Tow Professional - Volume: 11 Issue: 4

Volume 11 • Issue 4 • 2022 www.towprofessional.com

TM

Professional Your Resource for Towing & Recovery

Outfitting Your Facility/

SERVICE & MAINTENANCE Balance Masters | Servicase | Webfleet

PLUS: EXPERT WITNESS:

Very Little Formal Training

INSIGHTFUL TALK: Things No One Told Me About Towing

FUEL 4 THOUGHT:

Product Spotlight: MatJack Lift Bags

An Onslaught of

EV’s

Tips to Remember

Women of Towing

NEW & IMPROVED

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TOW PROFESSIONAL

CONTENTS

Volume 11 • Issue 4 WWW.TOWPROFESSIONAL.COM

18 |

INDUSTRY NEWS TOWING & RECOVERY

6|

GUNIHUB

12 |

Zeus

8|

Hino

14 |

Console Vault

TRAA

16 |

HAAS Alert

10 |

Outfitting Your Facility/ SERVICE & MAINTENANCE

AN EXPERT WITNESS

BY

JAMES

E.

Women of Towing

LEWIS

34 |

20 |

Chicken lights, chrome, and electronic doo dads, but very little, if any, formal training?

ServiCase

INSIGHTFUL TALK

BY

24 |

DAN

MESSINA

Things No OneTold Me About Towing

40 |

Webfleet

46 |

Balance Masters

52 | Is the Towing Industry ready for an onslaught of EV’s?

FUEL 4 THOUGHT

BY

28 |

D.J.

HARRINGTON

CSP

Tips to Remember

48 |

MatJack

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 4 WWW.TOWPROFESSIONAL.COM

TM

Professional Your Resource for Towing & Recovery

PUBLISHER Darian Weaver

It’s Tow Show Season!

A

s this Issue hits your hands summer is at full tilt, and trade show season is at hand. The PWOF started us off with the Florida Tow show, the # 1 International show in this market. The show was fantastic and was a great opportunity to get out and see the latest products and catch up with good friends! As the season starts with many Tow shows to come, we will do our best to highlight those top products and services that could be a key to your business in 2022.

In this Issue DJ Harrington gives us his “Fuel for Thought,” we take a look at “Tips to Remember,” you do not want to miss this read! Dan Messina’s talks about lessons learned the hard way starting out in towing. This installment of “Insightful Talk,” has useful information on “Things No One Told Me About Towing!

In this Issue Chris Young asks, “Is the Industry Ready for an Onslaught of EV’s?” This is a suitable time to look at tools for your facility. Servicase and Webfleet provide us with insight on products for service & maintenance.

Software that can help you stay on track with your fleet, and in the black with your cash! We take time to honor our Women of Towing with a story on WTRAA member and past recipient of Tow woman of the year Geri Roskopf.

This will be a part of an ongoing series to honor the women of towing for their support, direction, and service!

President & Publisher darian@towprofessional.com

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

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS D. J. Harrington CSP James E . Lewis Dan Messina Chris Young

Make sure if you have never been, take your family to the most family friendly show in towing: www.midwesttowshow.org Find Tow Professional on Facebook, www.towprofessional.com, or listen to our Tow Professional Podcast, “Your Voice of the Industry.” https://www.buzzsprout.com/1884084 Till next time, stay safe and may you and your family be safe and blessed with heath and prosperity!

Darian Weaver President & Publisher, Tow Professional

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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. www.towprofessional.com

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INDUSTRY NEWS TOWING & RECOVERY

GUNIHUBTM Universal Free Rotating Hub Assembly From the makers of the original, award winning GUNNIWHEELTM

GUNIHUB™ 45 universal rotating hub is used when brakes are disengaged or when a car is stuck in the parked gear. Just install the GUNIHUB to any 4 or 5 lug pattern for full wheel rotation. The ultimate tool to move a car onto a tow truck or to another safe location FOR NON-MOTORIZED USE ONLY. USE WITH GUNIWHEEL 45 ONLY. • • • • • •

Rotary bearing for instant mobility No specal lubricatio needed to spin Locking pin included Works with OEM bolts and Nuts Use with GUNIWHEEL 45 and 45S Ready to roll in under a minute!

For product questions, call 1-888-554-6464 or visit www.guniwheel.com.

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AUDI BMW GENERAL MOTORS FORD KIA HONDA MERCEDES BENZ TESLA TOYOTA AND MANY MORE!

INDUSTRY NEWS TOWING & RECOVERY

Hino Logo Label

Hino To Join Hydrogen Demo Study in California Ports NOVI, MI – Hino USA (Novi, MI) announced that it has been awarded a grant provided by the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO), a Japanese governmental agency, to promote new technology for energy and environmental sector, along with Hino Motors, Ltd. The grant supports the demonstration of Hino’s Class 8 hydrogen fuel cell trucks in real world operations in California ports. This joint study will run through March 2026 and is a collaboration project with Toyota Tsusho Corporation, Toyota Tsusho America Inc., Mitsui E&S Machinery Co. Ltd. and PACECO CORP, along with Hino.

The NEDO grant is in support of improving air quality through zero-emission truck technology, which is expected to be a beneficial approach for specifically targeting port Hino Motors Sales Ltd. All rights reserved. operations and environmentally burdened©2017 disadvantages communities that California’s initiative concerns. It provides

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PRESS QUALITY PDF Vector Art Open in Illustrator to re-size For Authorized Press and Media use only Questions? Contact marketing@hino.com

funding to encourage and support the introduction of new, zeroemission technologies. Hino, ToyotaTsusho and Mitsui’s technology of choice for this project is advanced hydrogen fuel cell electric trucks.

The team plans to demonstrate zero-emission operation generated by hydrogen power units in daily MINIMUM REQUIRED SPACE: Always provide a ‘buffer zone’ around drayage operations, in and around the Hino Logo equal to the size of the red “HINO” symbol several the ports. Hino will provide of its prototype Class 8 Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles (FCEV), recently revealed at the ACT Expo this past August as part of a joint development effort with Toyota.

Also included in the grant program, will be monitoring and analysis of the operational and maintenance interval data to optimize the efficiency and safety of the vehicles by Hino and its partners.

Hino sees this project as a viable contributor to its “Challenge 2025” strategy, which aims to lower Hino’s global emissions footprint through reduced GHG emission.

INDUSTRY NEWS TOWING & RECOVERY

TRAA Opposing FMCSA Proposed Rulemaking Requiring Speed Limiters On May 4th, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) announced a proposed rulemaking on Speed Limiting Devices [Docket No. FMCSA–2022–0004]. The proposal would require that “(CMVs) in interstate commerce with a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) or gross vehicle weight (GVW) of 11,794 kilograms or more (26,001 pounds or more), whichever is greater, that are equipped with an electronic engine control unit (ECU) capable of governing the maximum speed be required to limit the CMV to a speed to be determined by the rulemaking and to maintain that ECU setting for the service life of the vehicle.” A speed has not been determined, but previous proposals mentioned rates of 60, 65 or 68 miles per hour.

TRAA understands the intention of FMCSA, NHTSA, and other groups to improve roadway safety and reduce roadside fatalities. However, TRAA opposes the proposal based on our belief that CMV speed limiters would in fact have the opposite effect. While there are several problems with the proposal, our primary concerns are the following:

•

•

Increased Risk of Traffic Incidents: Speed limiters prevent operators from changing speeds as necessary to move with traffic flow. Variations in speed increase the rate of interactions between vehicles which in turn increases the rate of incidents. Operators must be able to slow down or speed up based on the traffic conditions, location, and environment to limit interactions with other vehicles.

Increased Danger to Responders: Commercial vehicle operators must be able to move with the flow of traffic and change lanes as needed. Any efforts that prevent an operator’s ability to do so increases the risk of death or injury to any responder or motorist along the roadside. Nothing should prevent an operator’s ability to Move Over.

TRAA has implemented a two-prong strategy for opposing this proposed rulemaking.

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1.

2.

Comment of Opposition: Firstly, we are in the process of submitting a comment of opposition on the official register. We are asking our affiliate state associations to sign-on and submit coordinated comments. Please email the office for more information.

TRAA Joins Coalition: Secondly, TRAA is again joining forces with other organizations that are also in opposition to the proposal including OOIDA and others. While we don’t agree on everything, we do agree that this proposal is bad news and TRAA’s participation on similar coalitions for the insurance mandate, Dr. Weil’s nomination, etc. have yielded the desired outcomes. We’ll keep the membership posted on the coalition’s progress.

As your voice on Capitol Hill, TRAA is proud to be advocating on behalf of the industry and our members. We appreciate the support of each and every member; we couldn’t do this critical work without you!

For more information visit: www.traaonline.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

Zeus Electric Chassis Partners with AUSEV to Enter Australian Vocational Class 4-6 Electric Work Truck Market LONG BEACH, Calif.-- Zeus Electric Chassis, Inc., a leading North American manufacturer of class 4-6 purpose-built, severe-duty, electric work truck solutions, announced to the industry the details of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with AUSEV during a media event held at the Advanced Clean Transportation Expo, on May 11, in Long Beach, California. AUSEV is a subsidiary of Boss Capital Holdings (Boss) dedicated to the manufacture and distribution of electric vehicles.

The MOU will provide opportunities for the companies to collaborate in the distribution, service, and marketing of the Zeus Electric Chassis all-electric cab-chassis in Australia and the broader Oceania market. Zeus will be exporting a new, right-hand drive (RHD) version of its Z-19 Power Platform to Australia as part of the MOU. Boss Managing Director Edward Kocwa said an agreement, when signed, will unlock exciting opportunities to launch the electrified work truck market in Australia. “The mission at AUSEV is to accelerate the adoption of RHD electrical vehicles into the market, and an agreement will allow us to do that and become a leading distributor of heavy-duty RHD 4x4 electric trucks in Australia.”

A purchase commitment for 100 Zeus vehicles - a combination of fully assembled cab-chassis and partially assembled units (knock-down kits (KDKs) – will be central to the agreement. The MOU provides for final assembly of the KDKs in Australia.

“Our subsidiary, Advanced Manufacturing Queensland, located in Brendale, has the ability to manage the assembly of initial knock-down kits,” noted Kocwa.

Kocwa said that he appreciates the excellent working relationship AUSEV shares with the Zeus team: “Partnering with Zeus was an obvious choice due to their solution-ready offering to the market. We recognized the value in a fully engineered solution that not only allowed speed to market for AUSEV, but could also provide onpurpose configurations of vehicle body types for fleet and asset managers who are being mandated to lower their CO2 emissions.”

For Zeus, a strategic agreement will allow it to leverage AUSEV’s presence and expertise in Australia and 12

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throughout the Oceania region at large to generate revenue and growth outside of North America.

“There will be continued opportunity for joint development of the Power Platform to integrate with different vocational truck bodies as AUSEV and Zeus work together to penetrate the Australian EV medium-duty truck space,” said Zeus CEO Bob Grinstead.

Moving forward, Zeus will continue to support the expansion of its product portfolio. As part of the impending agreement, Zeus will provide business development and marketing related content, target market analysis, total cost of ownership and return on investment analyses, ongoing engineering support and new options for chassis design.

Headquartered in White Bear Lake, Minnesota, Zeus recently introduced its all-electric Power Platform cabchassis designed exclusively for the vocational work truck industry. Its Class 4-6 cab-chassis is designed from the ground up to accommodate the widest possible variety of truck bodies and to operate all traditional truck-mounted equipment.

JOIN US 44th

SEPTEMBER 22 ND -25 TH , 2022

GREAT WOLF

LODGE

Hosted By

MASON, OHIO

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

Don’t Miss a Great Time at a Great Location

• Live Demos • Seminars • Light Show • Beauty Contest • 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

INDUSTRY NEWS TOWING & RECOVERY

An Interview with the founder of Console Vault

TP: You saw this as an upgrade to current lockable storage in many vehicle platforms?

Tow Professional: Scott how did this product first come about?

Scott Bonvissuto: This first started as a solution to a common problem. Where do you put your valuables, firearm, etc. With confidence, Console Vault started as a hobby in 2001 and quickly outpaced my current full-time job. We cut our teeth in the gun community engineering a solution for secure storage.

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Scott: Yes! Most vehicles are not very secure. They may have a locking console or glovebox; however, on a scale of 1 – 10 for security, at most, would score no better than 2 on protection.

We designed a way to add an extra layer of security around the factory console without any modifications.

Our products are designed to be a simple do-it-yourself installation. The Console Vault is hidden, secure, and adds an extra layer of security.

TP: How many current models do you have?

Scott: Currently 150 + sku #’s for cars and trucks, and even

that is near and dear to my heart is the First Responders Children’s Foundation. This past year, we were able to present them with a $12,000.00 donation.

a vault for your Harley Davidson baggers. We are also an OE for Ford, and welcome opportunities with other OE’s. With 20 + years in the market, we take pride in our products and customer service!

TP: Scott, I certainly love your products and feel like they would have a fit in the towing industry has well!

TP: Why do you feel this is such an important product this day and time?

Scott: Statistics show that 80% of gun violence crime are from firearms stolen from vehicles that are not properly secured. The Console Vault adds peace of mind for storing your valuables, firearms, etc. and an extra layer of safety preventing access to firearms from any children in your vehicle.

TP: I understand you also have a passion for giving back.

Scott: Darian, I certainly do! We have a long list of charities

Scott: Darian, I agree! Whether you install our production in your personal or service vehicle, the vault will simply add protection from theft and limit liability keeping firearms and valuables safely secured away from customers.

TP: Scott, thanks again for your time, and your fantastic products!

Scott: Thanks again, Darian!

We have hundreds of different applications, designed for light trucks, SUVs, and select sedans across many makes, models, and years.

For more info, or to find the product that fits your application visit: www.consolevault.com.

that we enjoy giving to each year. One that stands out

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.

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.

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INDUSTRY NEWS TOWING & RECOVERY

NHTSA’s 2021 Traffic Fatality Report is a Call to Action

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.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reported that 42,915 people died in motor vehicle crashes in 2021 – the most traffic fatalities since 2005. Traffic fatalities rose by 10.5% in 2021 compared to the year before, marking the largest-ever annual percentage increase in the nearly five-decade history of the Fatality Analysis Reporting System. NHTSA’s report also shows increases in almost every type of roadway death, including: • Fatalities involving pedestrians up 13% • Fatalities occurring on urban roads up 16% • Fatalities from multi-vehicle crashes up 16% • Fatalities from crashes involving at least one large truck up 13% • Fatalities from speeding-related crashes up 5%.

Worst still, some states experienced even sharper increases in their fatality data. TxDOT recently reported that traffic crashes in the state’s work zones last year claimed the lives of 244 people, a 33% increase over 2020. In the 2021 NHTSA figures, Texas experienced an 18% increase in motor vehicle fatalities over 2020. NHTSA’s report indicates that almost half of all states - 23 total - experienced an annual increase of over 10.5% in traffic fatalities, with only five states registering a year-to-year decline.

In 2020, transportation experts hoped that diminished motor

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vehicle traffic related to COVID shutdowns would lead to a drop in overall fatalities on the road. When the final traffic fatality figures were released for 2020 last year, though, the figures showed the opposite, demonstrating that the risk of fatality on the road increased despite a decrease in traffic. The release of these figures for 2021 confirm the continuation of a dangerous and deadly trend in the wrong direction.

Addressing this trend requires coordinated effort across the country. This January, United States Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg stated the challenge clearly: “We face a crisis on America’s roadways that we must address together.” From state and local transportation planners and vehicle designers, emergency responders and roadside assistance fleets, to work zone operators and everyday drivers and road users, we all must actively work together to save lives and prevent tragedies.

Even a single life lost in a preventable crash is tragic enough; nearly 43,000 preventable deaths in just a year is a true crisis, and it demands new efforts, innovative initiatives, and creative partnerships. Most importantly, it requires action today - there is no time to wait for solutions that may be years away from full deployment, as lives hang in the balance.

The good news? We don’t have to wait for new solutions: we have everything we need to start addressing this problem today.

Digital alerting offers communities across the United States a low-cost, high-value solution that significantly reduces the likelihood of collisions between drivers and emergency vehicles, work zones, towing and recovery vehicles, and other moving

hazards on the road, which altogether account for nearly 300,000 collisions and close to 1,000 fatalities a year. By using cellular networks to notify drivers inside their vehicle of hazards ahead of them, studies have shown that digital alerting reduces the likelihood of collision by up to 90% while reducing hard-braking by 80%. Thanks to emergency vehicle manufacturers that have already embraced digital alerting as a safety standard for new vehicles, as well as critical efforts by federal legislators to fund the deployment of digital alerting, thousands of public safety fleets nationwide are equipped with the technology today and delivering alerts to drivers directly in vehicle dashboards and through the world’s most popular navigation applications.

As more communities adopt digital alerting in the months and years ahead and awareness on the road begins improving, drivers, responders, and roadway workers will all benefit. In a world where motorists and vehicles are equipped with timely information about hazards ahead of them, everyone has a better chance of getting home safely at the end of the day. There’s no doubt that a safer and smarter transportation system is available to us today, if we choose to take action.

Here are some steps you can take right now to help bring digital alerting to your community: • If you’re an emergency responder, work zone operator, or roadway worker: Contact us today to learn more about equipping your fleet with digital alerting. From

•

•

easy-to-install hardware options to direct integrations on fleet telematics and tracking platforms, it’s easier than ever today to get the protection you deserve every moment you work on the road.

If you’re a transportation planner or policymaker: Reach out to us to learn how digital alerting helps to achieve Vision Zero and Safe Systems objectives without the need for cost-prohibitive infrastructure investments, and get more information about state and federal funding available to your agencies to purchase and deploy digital alerting in your community.

If you’re an everyday driver: You can receive digital alerts today on the most popular navigation applications on mobile devices today, as well as directly in the infotainment screen of 2018-and-newer Jeep, Dodge, Ram, Chrysler, and Alfa Romeo vehicles. In the months ahead, even more vehicle brands will offer Safety Cloud digital alerts directly in vehicle dashboards. If digital alerting hasn’t arrived in your community yet, reach out to your local public safety agencies and tell them you’d like them to add Safety Cloud protection.

Together, we can turn the tide on this deadly trend and build a safer, more connected transportation system for everyone.

For more information: www.haasalert.com.

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!

overone.org www.towprofessional.com

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Women of Towing

Geri Roskopf

It Isn’t Easy W hat do you say to your husband when he comes home from work one day and says he wants to start his own tow company? We had two little ones at home and although I was working part-time at a bank, I was still worried about so many things, like how were we going to pay our home mortgage, and what exactly did we need to start a business?

I put my trust in my husband as I knew he was a hard worker and taking a leap of faith, we leased a twobay service station, took out a second mortgage to fill the gas tanks, put $1,000.00 in a business bank account and hired the mechanic who was 18

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working at the station.

I soon found out we needed a lawyer, insurance agent, banker and accountant. We, also, found out we needed guidance with the day-to-day operations of owning a towing business and so we joined the Wisconsin Towing Association and the Towing & Recovery Association of America.

We have never regretted joining these two associations. The information and updates regarding the towing and recovery industry have been invaluable; especially with legislative issues. For myself, joining WTRAA, The Women of The Towing & Recovery Association of America was the best decision I ever made. I

www.towprofessional.com

finally found other tow ladies who totally understood what it is like for a woman in the towing industry.

The members of the Wisconsin Towing Association have become my towing family. Some may be our competitors, but they are, also, our colleagues. Having a small towing company, you soon find out you can’t service your customers in a timely manner if they were broken down in other parts of the state. Networking with other WTA members has been invaluable.

Both my husband and I became actively involved with TRAA and the Wisc. Towing Association and myself with WTRAA. While it was a struggle at times to find the money

and the time to get away from the shop to attend meetings, we are so thankful our employees stepped up to cover for us. It was important to stay involved in these associations as issues facing the towing industry ultimately affected our company.

I was recently asked if I knew then what I knew now, would I have started a towing business. I had to think on that for a minute as the challenges in running a 24/7/365 towing and recovery business are many.

I guess for me, the most important thing I would change would be to insist on more family time. My husband missed out on so many of the children’s activities along with many family events.

The business is important, but so is family. I feel both the kids and I missed out and sacrificed a lot, too.

When you believe in something,

you help to make it better. I just “do what I do”. When I was awarded the WTRAA 2003 Tow Woman of the Year Award and inducted into the Towing and Recovery Hall of Fame Class of 2018, I was truly humbled with these

honors. I, know, too, that I could not do what I do without the support of my husband, family, employees, friends, community and towing family.

Headaches, worries, anxiety, lack of sleep and not being appreciated are just some of the challenges of being a woman in this industry.

Having the many friendships and support from other tow ladies and my towing family has certainly helped me through many of those challenges. It took me a while, but I have learned to say “no” and to make time for “me”.

I probably quit work once a week, drank too much coffee, and indulged in too much chocolate to help me get through, but I really don’t think I would ever have said “no” to my husband wanting to start a towing business. It isn’t easy, but that’s life in towing.

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AN EXPERT WITNESS BY

JAMES

E.

LEWIS

///

Chicken lights, chrome, and electronic doo-dads,

but very little, if any, formal training?

W

hen I was stationed in Korea, I went to the Philippines to evaluate a military exercise. I saw something I’d never seen, and they were way over the top – the taxi drivers there drive “Jeepneys” – generally a Jeep chassis and drivetrain, open-body styling, and decorated with more 20

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lights, horns, and graphics than most people could imagine. They look absolutely ridiculous, but surely get attention, and when you’re a taxi driver competing for fares with lots of tourists and military people to move around, your Jeepney needs to stand out from the crowd. Now, you may ask, what in the world does a taxi in the Philippines have to do with tow

www.towprofessional.com

trucks in the United States?

It’s very simple – we’ve reached a point where we spend thousands of dollars on vehicle wraps or custom paint, gnarly decals, enough disco lights to fill up a dance club, and all the latest and greatest electronic and mechanical doo-dads (toys)…but I’ve witnessed something in the past few years that shows we’re spending our

money incorrectly – our egos are getting the best of us – and we forget that training and good experience is far more important that having the flashiest truck on the road. All that bling doesn’t do a bit of good if you wreck or flip your truck…more on that in a moment.

In my home state of Texas in recent years, I know of more than ten heavy wreckers that have been flipped while doing recoveries. Most were totaled, a couple were saved, but still sustained major damage and were out of commission for months while repairs were made. Given that most towing companies only have one or two heavies, think of the huge hit they take on their bottom line while that truck is down.

About ten years ago, I was on scene in Oklahoma City where a tow op pulled a loaded trash truck out of a concrete ditch and had the

front wheels of his wrecker six to eight feet in the air – I approached the guy and asked about the strain and stress on the winches and lines, as well as the winch mounts, frame rails, and mounting hardware – he said he’s always done it like that. I asked about using snatch blocks or dead man rigging to take a large part of the load off the truck…he told me he didn’t believe in either one. The guy bragged about his $400 boots and $200 sunglasses. That $600 could have been more wisely spend by attending a training class so he could understand physics.

Also, in Oklahoma and dealing with the same company, I witnessed a guy off-loading a huge forklift from a stepdeck flatbed trailer to the ground, using a Landoll trailer. The operator never once asked about the weight of the forklift before backing his Landoll and tractor up against the

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rear of the stepdeck. Turns out the forklift weighed over 46,000 pounds and was used inside a beer bottling/ canning facility. The operator ran the tandems on the Landoll forward to raise the bed slightly, making it even with the stepdeck. The truck driver (stepdeck) got in the forklift, started it up, and rolled it onto the rear of the Landoll. As soon as both axles of the forklift were on the Landoll, the front of the Landoll shot up, lifting the drive wheels of the tow company’s tractor about four feet off the ground…and the whole assembly started rolling away from the stepdeck and towards the parking lot. The tow operator freaked out, didn’t know what to do to stop the situation, and the truck driver (in the forklift cab) was reasonably worried as well. I ran over and started moving the Landoll’s tandems and the tractor’s drive tires came down

Scan the QR code to get a free quote or contact 877.585.2853 info@xinsurance.com www.xinsurance.com

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AN EXPERT WITNESS BY

JAMES

E.

LEWIS

and stopped the runaway. I knew this was hard on the hydraulics on the Landoll, but we couldn’t have the whole assembly rolling out into the street. The tow operator asked me not to tell the company owner when we got back to the yard. I’d been interviewing for a safety position there and decided not to take it.

///

Wheels in the air, improper rigging - these are things our predecessors used to do commonly and would produce disastrous results at times – or at the very least, extreme abuse to our equipment.

Many of us, over the years, learned from mistakes like that and learned how to do it better.

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

Keeping the paper trail

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

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

Accident scene clean up

Billing on property damage liability insurance only

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.

Have you heard that your customer is not covered?

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.

Guest speakers Lawyer and Insurance Executive

1,000s of companies attended!

Proven process to increase your bottom line!

Hundreds of positive testimonials!

Upcoming Seminars July 29 & 30 Massachusetts

September 22 & 23 Las Vegas Tow Show

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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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Many people in our industry absolutely love to talk about other people, especially when a mistake is made. Ironically, the person running their mouth usually has less training and experience than the person making the mistake. Add in lots of ego, and stir in a dose of social media, and we have a perfect storm. In our social media environment, when someone makes a major mistake, thousands of tow operators, shop owners, vendors, insurance reps, and other business owners will see it live on video within a day or two. Radical events spread outside our industry and have garnered several million hits on either YouTube or TikTok. Ego is a funny element. It both entices us to do stupid things, and it encourages us to make fun of others.

Significantly bad blend of chemicals there…

Here’s what I know - there are two ways to develop confidence: one is through training and experience; the other is through arrogance and assumption.

Guess which path is dangerous and costly? Think about that for a second as I tell you about something I witnessed last month in a fast food place inside a truck stop. I was done with my day and was going to eat and then shower, and when I walked into the restaurant, I saw that the ice dispenser on the soda fountain was blowing out ice cubes like a slot machine throws out coins. A young girl was rotating five-gallon buckets, trying to catch the volume of wayward ice, and then dumping each bucket outside as the other filled up. Ice flowed over the soda fountain’s drain and into a big pile on the floor.

The restaurant manager was literally yelling and freaking out, hands in the air, screaming, “Oh Lord, help us!” I smirked, since it was only ice cubes, not fire. No one was going to die. And this truck stop had two more soda fountains. This

simply wasn’t a catastrophe. Still, the manager ran around with her hair on fire (proverbially) while several other employees live-streamed the event like it was some celebrity in concert.

The foundation of the problem is that not a single person working in the restaurant, including the manager, knew how to shut off the ice dispenser. Not a soul. No idea at all. The truck stop manager came over quickly and started removing panels and figured out how to shut it off – within about a minute. He had no training, but he took action, and fixed the problem, at least temporarily.

The concept is simple - in an emergency or other difficult situation, you will respond how you have been trained and have practiced. If you have not been trained and have not practiced, you will do nothing. Or you will take incorrect actions that will make the situation even worse.

We have $300,000 50-tons, $600,000-$1,000,000 rotators, and even $125,000 flatbeds and light duty trucks – instead of initially committing to $10,000 for a vehicle wrap and another $5,000 in chrome, why not invest in training? You can put a driver through the entire program (in steps) for three major training companies that I know of… for under $4,000. Instead, our ego gets the best of us. We spend all that money on the truck and won’t spend a dime on training…or won’t buy a $200 wheel basket securement system or $400 for a real set of tow lights. We’d rather show off, and just run the disco beacons and the flashers on the towed vehicle because our ego ran us out of money.

The only problem I see with formal training is also related to ego. Your ego may get the best of you. Your ego will tell you that you already know everything you need to know.

That is likely what those people who flipped over hundreds of

thousands of dollars’ worth of tow trucks thought, as well.

One more thing – here’s something that’s FREE. Inspect all of your cables, chains, bridles, and endless loops.

Replace as needed. Don’t try to cut corners. Equipment failure is the other issue that causes trucks to flip.

Factor this in – if you or your

people flip a truck, damage a vehicle being recovered, or cause some other major embarrassment to your company, the embarrassment isn’t what you should be worrying about. It’s the distinct possibility of a fatality, major injuries, and the strong guarantee of ruining the reputation you’ve worked so hard to build.

INGENUITY AMERICAN CRAFTSMANSHIP custombuiltmfg.com www.towprofessional.com

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INSIGHTFUL TALK BY

DAN

MESSINA

///

Things No One Told Me About

TOWING

I

n the last article I told you about using my business skills to build a business plan for my company. We learned a lot from the tow show in Florida and now it was time to apply it to the business. Before I get stared I want to remind you that my background was in computers and running a white color business. Just as we thought life was good and we knew what we are doing let me tell you about the real side of private property towing that I was not ready for.

1. Drivers - As I found out quickly everyone needs drivers. I would hire people that had experience 24

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and hoped they work out. Not always the case. I had gas cards for my drivers so they can keep the trucks on the road. I got a bill one time for one driver that spent $13,000 in one night. The card was new and the card company set no limits in the card. The driver went to a gas station and started selling gas to others, using my card. It was mostly big rigs, and he sold them gas for 50 cents on the dollar. I split the bill with the credit card company because I should have had a limit on the card.

Lesson learned.

2. I had a driver call dispatch and the last thing he told the driver was “he has a gun!” and the line went dead. We called the apartment he was at and they could not find him. We called the police and they could not find him. We then got a call from a complete stranger who said he was coming out of the emergency room at the hospital, a tow truck pulled up and the driver fell out the door. The stranger took my driver’s phone and called the last number on it and it was us. It turned out my driver took five bullets from two drug dealers, but was able to drive himself to the hospital. I rushed to the hospital and found my driver in intensive care with tubes and needles hooked to every part of his body.

My driver gave me a hand signal to come close; as I leaned over he told me he got two shots off at his attackers. Lesson learned.

3. I had a truck that was hit by a drunk driver who was here illegally. He did a lot of damage to my truck.

The police came and arrested the drunk driver who also had no license. Two months later this guy sued

me for $20,000. Because of the politics involved the insurance company paid the $20,000. Another lesson learned.

4. Dispatchers – I had a dispatcher and over a period of time I made her a manager and treated her like my daughter. We hired another young dispatcher that was very good at her job. She got engaged to another employee, so I paid $2,500 for their wedding. Well, the manager got together with this dispatcher and they doctored my books on cars released from impound. They ended up with $10,000 before I caught them. We filed charges on them and built a strong case. When I went to the detective to see where he stood with the case he said the DA dropped it. The DA made the decision that because the manager was minority and it was an election year, he could not afford a loss or the publicity so he dropped the case.

5. I emptied out the safe one night and found $1,000 missing. I had a video of my dispatcher using a

ServiCase is powered by the sureEcosystem digital dispatch platform used by FleetNet America and others. ServiCase allows fleets and event providers the ability to locate your company and dispatch jobs electronically.

BUILD YOUR BUSINESS GET LISTED ON SERVICASE Register your company today at servicase.com www.towprofessional.com

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Follow ServiCase

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INSIGHTFUL TALK BY

DAN

MESSINA

///

hanger to get into the floor safe. This dispatcher weighed 450 pounds and I explained to him that if I fired him no one would hire him. I gave him a second chance. He paid me back and turned out to be a good employee. Another lesson learned.

6. I had two locations in two different cities. I had a manager who ran the office. I had a driver from that location come to me and said my dispatcher and another driver were ripping me off. We had properties that would give us sticker list to tow from. They would make up their own sticker lists.

The driver would go to a property and write a bunch of cars on his list. He would give it to the dispatcher and she would enter them into the system. I would pay the drivers for the cars and they would split the money. These cars would show up 30 days later on the inventory/auction report, but I could never find the car. I went to the property he said he towed it from and found the cars still there.

I went back to the office and asked the manager to show me these cars on the yard. She could not, so

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I fired her along with the driver. She filed for unemployment. We had a hearing because I did not want to pay the unemployment. Even though she stole from me I lost my hearing and paid the unemployment. Another lesson learned.

I guess we could all sit around the camp fire and tell stories. These events took place in the early stages while I was still learning about the business. Another lesson that I learned is that owning a tow company makes your skin tough and you learn valuable life lessons. I just told you stories about 7 or 8 people. Over the years I have met thousands of towers. They are great people in a great industry and that’s why I’m staying. In future articles I will write about the tow shows, industry magazines, selling my business and starting a new business. Until then drive safe.

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FUEL 4 THOUGHT BY

D.J.

HARRINGTON

CSP

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Tips to Remember :

I

t’s only been a few months at the podcast center that we had our guest, Dalan Zartman from Energy Security Agency. While doing the podcast, my phone rang when it should have been on silent, but I answered it anyway. Since the sound was on ‘speaker mode’, Chuck Camp, the producer of The Tow Professional podcast heard the call. When the caller asked, “Can you hear me?”, Chuck vigorously motioned for me to say “NO,” like I was being thrown out at first base. So, I said, “NO”.

Tenacious telemarketers try to get you to say, “YES”

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so they can record your voice agreeing to buy who knows what from them.

Tip #1. Try NOT to say “YES” after they say, “Can you hear me?” You’ll be glad you didn’t because it will prevent that $399 set of whatever arriving at your doorstep.

Now, for Tip #2. Since God gave us two ears and only one mouth, he wants us to do twice as much listening as talking. I know that is sometimes hard to

do when you’re excited about something but try it. The person you’re having a conversation with will appreciate your allowing them to speak.

One of my favorite tips is Tip #3. Write this on a piece of paper. ID, the number 10 and then T. What does it spell? If you said, IDIOT, you’re right. I tell team members to say it over the intercom this way, “We have an ID Ten T on Line 2”. Sounds funny, doesn’t it? However, when you deal with some person who just woke up on the wrong side of the bed, you’ll be glad you had a chance to warn the next person who picks up the phone. With the gas prices rising and inflation still climbing, we will have more unhappy people on the other end of the phone line. I, for one, am tired of hearing about student loans or warranty running out on my car. Enough already! So, use the phrase, ID 10 T. Tip #4. Remember to book appointment 15 minutes before or after the hour. Doing so makes it easier for prospects to remember the time selected. 43% of

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FUEL 4 THOUGHT BY

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D.J.

HARRINGTON

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CSP

www.towprofessional.com

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Americans who have been in the country at least two or more years and graduated high school will remember a quarter hour before or after the hour appointment much easier than an appointment set on the hour. That’s why your dentist books your appointment at 1:45 or 2:15. It also makes it sound to you that you won’t be there that long.

Tip #5. When getting off the phone, don’t say, “Take Care” or “Bye-Bye”. It’s always better to say something about where you work. Try using the company name at the end of your conversation. If you work at Weller Auto Parts, end your call with “Thanks for thinking Weller.” If they’re buying recycled parts, we want them to “Think Weller”.

Tip #6. Customers always buy you 1st. Your company 2nd and your product and services 3rd. And, they buy in that order. So, if you want them to buy from you, what should you be doing and saying that would make them choose you? Sell yourself first. The very first picture a customer sees of your business is through their ear. Therefore, make sure the person who answers

the phone is up-beat and has a kind voice. “Attila the Hun” should not be answering your business phone.

Lastly, Tip, #7. Before I end this article, Tony Robbins has a new book out that Ron Matthews from Car-Part.com mentioned to me. The book is titled, Life Force. It covers the aspects of precision medicine and how it can transform the quality of your life and those you love. It covers topics, such as: energy, strength, focus and mood, healing and regeneration, stem cells, addiction, anxiety/PTSD, back pain, weight loss, cancer, heart disease, diabetes, dealing with Alzheimer’s, and much more. It’s a book of answers to life’s most important health questions.

Life Force should be shared with your family and friends. By the way, it was easy to find my copy at Walmart. After implementing these tips, let me know how they helped you.

Thanks for sharing The Tow Professional podcast with your friends. Because of you and your support, we are the fastest growing podcast in the industry and for that, I thank you.

See you next time.

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Benefiting for the families of our fallen

If each company in the industry gave just $5 when a tragedy occurs, we could generously support the families of our fallen in so many new ways.

Can you give $5 when a tower dies?

Help us support those left behind by the dangers of our profession.

The Survivor Fund The “Survivor Fund” was created in 2006 to complement the International Towing and Recovery Museum’s Wall of the Fallen. This fund was established to help those families who have lost a loved one in the line of service.

A Survivor Fund committee was formed of people from all over the United States from the towing industry. The committee is given the information

Survivor Fund Continuing Support

regarding the fallen and the application is

To ensure the longevity of these benefits as we work

processed within 24 hours of receipt. Once the

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

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

company and organization in the industry to

family to assist with immediate financial issues

participate in supporting the Survivor Fund and these

during this tragic time in their lives.

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

Company owners, family members, or friends can

represents a commitment to our industry.

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

As a Continuing Support Partner, you will receive an

found on the website at www.thesurvivorfund.com

e-mail from the Survivor Fund when a tragedy occurs

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

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

Fourteen years of service to the towing and recovery

Survivor Fund will handle direct payment to the

industry worldwide

families. We will simply solicit your contribution in the

Managed by industry professionals

pledged amount to replenish and build our fund after

Pledges replenish funds and allow payout growth

each approved payout. The e-mail you receive will

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

provide information on the current tragedy as well as

Immediate funds to help at the time of tragedy

information on how to remit the payment to honor

Funded by donations only

your pledge.

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

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

Outfitting Your Facility/ SERVICE & MAINTENANCE

BREAKDOWN PLATFORM

For Carriers and Fleet Managers

B

reakdowns occur every day across the country, and as freight transportation increases, so does the renewed demand for service providers to get freight moving again. One of the ways that technology is making operations more efficient for fleets is by making roadside breakdown management transparent and predictable. Carriers who are utilizing technology eliminate the hassle of searching the internet for a provider, the back-and-forth phone calls 34

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of confirming information, requesting ETA’s, and critical updates,ultimately reducing handling time making for a more manageable experience.

ServiCase is Good for Business ServiCase is a breakdown management system, powered by the sureEcosystem digital dispatch platform, and used by event providers like FleetNet America.

ServiCase allows fleets and event providers the ability to

locate service providers and dispatch jobs electronically via sureEcosystem, which recently crossed a milestone of over a half-million events handled on the platform.

The system allows trucking companies, drivers and fleet managers to locate towing and roadside mechanical service providers quickly and establish electronic interactions. ServiCase can also be used as a case management system for carriers to track breakdowns and events through to completion. Other available electronic updates include event status updates, photo uploads, invoice uploads, and more. ServiCase also provides carriers access to over 70,000 service providers with the ability to store private notes and ratings for each service provider they engage.

ServiCase: Improving Your Bottom Line When your company is listed in the ServiCase network, you become a part of one of the most sophisticated systems available to roadside breakdown.

As more and more carriers adopt ServiCase as their breakdown platform, your business is exposed to those fleets as well as public searches, all looking for the services you offer.

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Outfitting Your Facility/ SERVICE & MAINTENANCE

ServiCase and Customizing Your Listing ServiCase is different from other search services in that the provider has the ability to update their own information such as services offered, rates, insurance

coverage, contact numbers, hours of operation, and more. Service providers are not charged for jobs they receive through ServiCase, and there is no bidding for higher positions in the results listings. Unlike “Uber” type towing platforms, ServiCase does not charge variable fees for large markets and does not dictate rates.There are no markups through ServiCase because payment is made directly to the service provider by the carrier or fleet.

Is ServiCase Just Another Directory?

Absolutely not. While there may be similarities in the process of searching for a roadside provider, that’s where the resemblance ends. ServiCase is unique in that it provides carriers and other fleets the ability to manage, maintain and keep private records about preferred providers and rates, along with the ability to electronically dispatch and manage events when the service provider is connected to the sureEcosystem platform. These unique features are in demand by fleets nationwide. ServiCase is also different in that the service provider is not charged for events or jobs they receive.

Again, there is absolutely no upcharge for receiving the 36

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call, and under no circumstance are rates mandated. ServiCase does not mark anything up because payment is made directly to the service provider.

How ServiCase Works When a breakdown occurs, fleet managers create a case in ServiCase by providing information about the vehicle, location, and the required type of service. When the service provider is digitally connected into sureEcosystem, jobs can be assigned directly to the provider’s dispatch software. The case information is sent to the provider’s software package, providing an alert and information about the new job. The service provider reviews the request and replies with an ETA and potentially other information. Once the ETA is accepted by the event provider, the service provider is dispatched and a live call is created in dispatching software.

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Getting Listed on ServiCase There are several options to get your company listed on ServiCase.

The most popular offering is the VIP Package which provides the company with the most visibility and includes a fully customizable ad banner provided by the team at ServiCase.

This premium listing provides critical information about your company to those who are searching and includes an expanded search radius as well as a fully updatable company profile including rates, hours of operation, insurance, and more.

Step 1: Service providers can search to see if they are already listed on ServiCase.

To do this, the provider simply visits www.servicase.com and searches their location and a basic service they provide, i.e.: “Light Duty Towing”. If the company

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Outfitting Your Facility/ SERVICE & MAINTENANCE is displayed in the results, the provider can click a “Claim This Business” link to update their existing company record.

Step 2: What if the provider does not find themselves in search?

The provider can simply visit www.servicase.com and click the “Service Providers” link at the top of the page to choose their listing package and register their company. Once their company is registered, they will be able to update their company information including locations and services offered.

Updating Information The information that is provided for a service provider’s company will be utilized by carriers and fleet

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managers as they work through their service provider selection process.

Service providers are encouraged to fill out their information as completely and accurately as possible. They can update this information at any time by logging in to the ServiCase website with their username and password.

Companies whose profile do not include their locations, services offered, or a phone number will not be displayed in the search results.

Each service provider location can have its own service offerings and multiple qualifying locations can be displayed in the search results.

Mailing addresses are not considered in the search results, but service provider profiles include physical addresses which can be assigned services to be found by those searching for providers.

ServiCase Connects Carriers to Towing & Mechanical Dispatch Software ServiCase is exceptional in that it can connect fleets looking for service directly to service providers through many of the commercially available towing and repair shop software platforms. The sureEcosystem platform is currently integrated with over twenty software packages including Beacon, InTow, Omadi, TOPS, and Towbook.

Connecting Dispatch Software to ServiCase To get started, users create a new Customer account in their Dispatch Software, naming it “ServiCase” and selecting C.O.D. for payment terms. Once the account is added, the service provider simply contacts

support@sureecosystem.com to let the sureEcosystem support team know they are ready to get connected. A confirmation email is sent to the service provider, and the team at ServiCase reaches out within a couple of business days to finish connecting and testing the new digital account.

Staying Connected The team at ServiCase has set up several social media accounts where they will be communicating updates and announcements. ServiCase can be found on Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, and Twitter. Follow ServiCase today to stay up to date on the latest news regarding ServiCase and sureEcosystem.

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Outfitting Your Facility/ SERVICE & MAINTENANCE

Which factors increase the

Handle all your preventive maintenance at the tip of your fingers

REPAIR & MAINTENANCE COSTS Digitize the inspections and maintenance process of your trucks

of your truck fleet?

K

Vehicle Check digitizes your PROCESSES drivers’ day-to-day 1. INEFFICIENT MAINTENANCE eeping your trucks in peak condition is no New Webfleet walkaround inspections. The mobile app minimizes paperwork and Haphazard scheduling and inconsistent vehicle easy feat. It is, however, vital for safety and streamlines the compliance process, meaning you can act quickly to and tire checks directly increase the likelihood compliance. Studies suggest that many resolve vehicle defects for safer operating conditions. of costly downtime and a greater spend on truck towing operators are taking risks with their maintenance further down the line. maintenance. Of course, maintenance also represents a cost. So, there are two key cost challenges here: 2. UNSAFE DRIVING- Drivers taking risks, braking efficiently maintaining your fleet to extend its lifetime heavily, accelerating unnecessarily, or behaving and controlling the amount you spend on doing so.

009 unsafely on the road will take their toll on various TRANSPORT 009 parts of your vehicle. Wear and tear build up over Some of the Available factors that drive up repair and time and leads to higher repair costs. maintenance related costs:

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ENGINE OIL

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e

resolve vehicle defects for safer operating conditions.

3. LATE DETECTION OF DAMAGE- Even if you schedule regular maintenance checks unless you have visibility over issues as soon as they emerge, there’s a risk small faults can be left to develop into major problems that require serious, high-cost repairs.

4. LACK OF MAINTENANCE INFRASTRUCTURESome towing operators suffer either from not having adequate resources to handle the maintenance of their vehicles or tires in-house or from outsourcing maintenance to an unreliable partner.

5. TIRE LIFETIME- While replacing tires will, at some point, be necessary for any vehicle owner, extending the lifetime of existing tires will help lower the overall spend.

How can Webfleet help?

WEBFLEET offers a range of hardware, software, products, and solutions that can help you decrease your costs. By choosing the right combination for

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Streamlines after auction paperwork – invoices available immediately after car sells!

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Outfitting Your Facility/ SERVICE & MAINTENANCE your fleet, you can ensure that, at every step of your journey, you are efficiently bringing down your overall spend.

Using the WEBFLEET fleet management solution, it is possible to track data related to the routes you drive and the stops your vehicles make.

based on real-time mileage information rather than a set period. Also, vehicle diagnostic and engine trouble codes are sent instantly to the fleet manager. This means you can take action in a controlled way to solve issues before they develop into serious, costly problems. A maintenance task is automatically scheduled as soon as a vehicle reports a trouble code. All of this helps avoid repairs, vehicle downtime, and administrative distractions.

Encourage more cost-effective driving.

WEBFLEET gives you access to a range of data points, creating complete visibility over how your drivers perform behind the wheel. The OptiDrive 360 approach provides valuable insights across eight key areas: speeding, driving events, idling, fuel, constant speed, coasting, green speed, and gear shift.

Optimize your maintenance with vehicle data With WEBFLEET, you can set maintenance tasks

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Plan better routes, use less fuel.

Even the best driver can use more fuel than is necessary if they are on the wrong route. The

reports and keeps track of open defects. Create a maintenance task with just a click to resolve defects in time for safer operating conditions.

professional truck navigation of the PRO Driver Terminal series from Webfleet shows truck drivers the most suitable routes for them, so there’s less chance of driving unnecessary miles. It also offers access to up-to-date traffic information to keep you out of traffic jams where idling can increase fuel consumption.

Gain visibility over how you use fuel Manually tracking fuel usage across your entire fleet is a time-consuming operation.

A fleet management solution like WEBFLEET takes care of it for you. It allows you to monitor how fuel is consumed in real-time and analyze historical fuel usage to improve. Not only can you compare how fuel is used over time, but you also spot exceptional events, trends, and anomalies and use these insights to optimize fuel

Improve driver vehicle inspections with a simple checklist WEBFLEET Vehicle Check digitizes your drivers’ day-today walkaround inspections.

The mobile app minimizes paperwork and streamlines the compliance process, meaning you can act quickly to resolve vehicle defects for safer operating conditions.

Access vehicle checklist

THE UNDERLIFT THAT HANDLES LIKE A SEMI-TRAILER • • • • • • •

Attaches in minutes No Permanent Connections 32K Lift Capability Safely Tows Up To 140K GCWR Distributes Weight Properly Scales When Others Can’t Economical To Operate

Tru-Hitch Inc.

16 W. West Hill Road Barkhamsted, Ct. 06063

Toll Free 1-800-450-8659 www.truhitch.com

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Outfitting Your Facility/ SERVICE & MAINTENANCE usage and operational costs.

Improve driving behavior and lower insurance with integrated camera technologies Integrated technologies, such as in-cab cameras, can add even more value to your telematics. For example, while WEBFLEET will show you that a driver may have braked harshly, camera footage will reveal why they took that action and whether it was justified.

This makes your vehicle and driver data even more valuable when it comes to encouraging more costeffective driving. It also helps you quickly settle disputed insurance claims after an incident or accident on the road, reducing insurance premiums. Plus, inward-facing cameras can detect driver fatigue and distractions, reducing risk.

Taking the right measures to manage fleet costs could be key to keeping your trucks on the road and your business moving forward.

Contact us http://www.webfleet.com| +866-224-9451

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ARE YOU EXPERIENCING ANY OF THESE PROBLEMS?

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• No revenue for expansion • Lack of calls due to COVID-19

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Are you going broke relying solely on motor clubs and/or looking for ways to add additional revenue to your towing business?

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WE CAN HELP! OUR PROGRAM FOR TOWING COMPANIES WILL ALLOW YOU TO: • Generate additional revenue with automobile recycling automation • Overhead cost is extremely limited as you already have the tools necessary • Reach more customers by turning recycling customers into tow customers

junkcarbuyeracademyusa.com 404-682-6766 44

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Comes in a shader waterproof case #1 trailer glad hand #1 brake caging socket #1 brake caging bolt #1 pacar air fitting #1 International air fitting #1 air compressor fitting #3 3/8 assorted quick connector lines #1 adjustable wrench #6 1/4 assorted quick connector lines #3 wrenches #1 female air coupler #1 male air coupler #1 air fitting

Shannon Bryant’s Wrecker

334-222-6100

Andalusia Al 36420 Bryantswrecker@gmail.com

NE XT D I GI TAL Q U A RTERLY

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

Q2

Quarterly

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

Tow Professional Quarterly Digital Edition • • • • • • •

Comes out 4 times a year Mobile and accessible for readers to use and for towers on the go.

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

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

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

Cost effective Full Page and Half Page sizes.

Editorial Coverage

Cost For Full Year

QUARTER 1

FULL PAGE

Towing Software and Lighting

QUARTER 2

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

Specs: Price: $ 3,000

HALF PAGE

QUARTER 3

Specs: Price: $ 2,000

QUARTER 4

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

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

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

TP Q2

FEATURED SUPPLIERS & DIRECTORY

Q2 2021 FEATURED SUPPLIER’S DIRECTORY Quarterly

Tow Professional Quarterly Digital Edition Featured Supplier Directory •

PREMIUM SUPPLIERS ROTATORS, HEAVY EQUIPMENT, WHEEL LIFT & REPO EQUIPMENT JERR-DAN Headquartered in Hagerstown, Maryland, we proudly manufacture our vehicles in McConnellsburg, Pennsylvania. Jerr-Dan believes there are few professions that can match the heart and soul of a tow owner/operator.

(800) 926-9666

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

(757) 624-1360

info@jerrdan.com | www.jerrdan.com

anthonydynamic@mac.com | www.dynamicmfg.com

Custom Built

Austin Hinds Motors, Inc.

Custom Built Manufacturing was founded by Derek Dangelo, owner of Dangelo’s Auto Body and Repairs.. Custom Built opened with a focus on manufacturing the highest quality, custom heavy duty wreckers for the towing industry.

Let Austin Hinds Motors show you how easy it is to buy a quality new or used car in Arab . We believe fair prices, superior service, and treating customers right leads to satisfied repeat buyers.

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(256) 586-8161

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www.austinhindsmotors.com

McMahon Truck Centers of Columbus

Rick’s Truck & Equipment

Is your full-service headquarters for commercial truck solutions. We offer an extensive inventory for commercial truck sales, leasing and rentals, as well as comprehensive parts, maintenance solutions, and financing options to ensure the best selection, repair and service experience. info@mcmahontrucks.com I www.mcmahontrucks.com

Rick’s Truck and Equipment offers a wide selection of competitively-priced vehicles as well as parts and service. Call us today and let our professional staff help you find what you’re looking for.

(800) 639-4537 www.ricksrollbacks.com

43 | Tow Professional | Q2 21 | www.towprofessional.com

• • • •

25-30 Word Company Description Company Logo Phone Number Contact Email Link Website Link

TP Q2

FEATURED PRODUCTS

2

Quarterly

2021

FEATURED PRODUCTS

WHEEL LIFTS & REPO EQUIPMENT

DYNAMIC “PYTHON”

4-YEAR WARRANTY 5000LB FULLY EXTEND WHEEL LIFT 8000LB TOW RATING 82 INCHES OF REACH 25 DEGREES OF POWER AND NEG TILT

OPTIONS PLASTIC POLY FENDER WHICH ARE LIGHTER, YET STRONGER AND WILL NEVER RUST 8000LB RAMSEY WINCH STAINLESS STEEL PYLON

Tow Professional Quarterly Digital Edition Featured Products • • • •

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

OUR Customers have been asking for a unit that would: • Lift faster & higher • Provide better weight transfer • Have the sleek appearance of the Lightning Body design • Have large tool boxes and easy access to hydraulics.

For more infomation, visit: www.dynamicmfg.com or anthonydynamic@mac.com.

38 | Tow Professional | Q2 21 | www.towprofessional.com

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

Outfitting Your Facility/ SERVICE & MAINTENANCE

Getting more out of your trucks

SPENDING LESS TIME & MONEY!

T

HE CHALLENGE...

Simply put...to find a way to get more out of your trucks while spending less time and money to maintain them.

THE SOLUTION...

Balance Masters® Self-Adjusting Wheel Balancers which offer you guaranteed performance and savings.

Balance Masters® Continuous Active Balancing System works by centrifugal force which precisely positions the liquid Quick Silver in counter-weight positions. This technology eliminates the lumping effects caused by shot filled hub mounted and tire fluid products. Balance Masters® also works with gravity to created down force effect to hold the tire down on the road. This gives the tire more footprint and better control in cold, icy and wet conditions.

SPIN BALANCE WHILE YOU DRIVE! Any out-of-balance condition in the wheel-tire assembly creates uneven tire wear, reducing tire life.

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Balance Masters® will prevent this condition and increase tire life up to 50% or more. Balance Masters® mounts directly behind the wheel assembly and has a 6 months unconditional money back guarantee with proof of purchase. They also has a Lifetime factory warranty against defects in material and workmanship.

Balance Masters® will help to reduce wear rate on steering suspension, driveline, brakes and wheel components ordinarily subjected to excessive vibration as well as help to reduce trailer bounce during hard stops, driver fatigue, improves passenger comfort and reduces costly downtime. Balance Masters® offers a

clear solution to the challenge of better performance, both for your trucks and your bottom-line profit.

Balance Masters® offers a clear solution to the challenge of better performance - both for your trucks and your bottom-line profit. Any out-of-balance condition in the wheel-tire assembly creates uneven tire wear, reducing tire life. Balance Masters® will prevent this condition and increase tire life up to 50 percent or more.

HOW BALANCE MASTERS® WORKS Balance Masters® works on the basic principles of physics.

Vibrational Resonance is the up and down vibration pattern created by a rotating tire and wheel that is out of balance, forcing the fluid (Quick Silver) which is free-moving within the ring to positions along the ring, which exactly offset any light and heavy spots, thereby eliminating the vibration and creating equilibrium within the rotating mass. Once properly positioned, Centrifugal Force holds the fluid in that position unless a different vibrational resonance pattern develops from tire wear or from stones, mud or ice sticking to the tire or wheel, which instantly forces the fluid to its new equilibrium positions.

In short, Balance Masters® precisely, continually, instantly and dynamically self-adjusts to tire and wheel imbalance because nature MUST have equilibrium, and natural forces will act on the counter-balancing fluid to eliminate vibrational resonance and disequilibrium.

However, when sudden braking or slowing occurs, the fluids continue to spin for several revolutions until they slow down to the wheel speed. Therefore, the fluid moving at high speed and weighing nearly 28 ounces per wheel whip around the ring at ten to fifteen revolutions per second. This weight, when pulled by gravity over the top of the wheel, “falls” over the front side of the wheel where the force is created which “pulls” the wheel down onto the pavement-JUST WHEN YOU NEED IT TO-on sudden braking over hard bumps or across sheets of water to create a road-hugging controlability and anti-

sway, anti-drift and anti-trailer hop and bounce effect that amazes so many of our customers, especially the flammable and chemical haulers who religiously put Balance Masters® on their trailer axles.

Balance Masters® utilizes the natural forces created by 20,000 plus pounds of truck rolling down the highway to reduce vibration and create better handling in a very simple yet effective way. The physics were understood and put to work as early as 1908 by German scientists.

American engineers perfected the idea in the late 1930’s and early 1940’s when they needed to find a way to perfectly, precisely and continuously balance a newfangled invention...the jet turbine engine.

The Balance Master is a tested and proven device which works on long understood and basic engineering principles.

The major components of the Balance Masters® are the ring and the fluid (Quick Silver), both an integral part of what makes the balancer work. Both work in cooperation and are precisely proportioned in order for the physics to function properly.

For more information visit: www.balancemasters.com

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PRODUCT

SPOTLIGHT

MatJack cushions have been helping a variety of industries worldwide in countless applications!

M

atJack is an industry-leading custom manufacturer of air lifting bags and cushions. Throughout our 40 years in business, we’ve established a reputation for quality products and superior services. MatJack offers low pressure, medium pressure, & high-pressure lift bags, jumbo recovery cushions, catch bags, headsets, and helmets and much more. Customers across the globe know they can rely on us to meet their air lifting needs.

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LOW PRESSURE AIR LIFTING CUSHIONS MatJack low pressure lifting cushions require only 1-3”/ 25-75mm clearance and can lift tons of weight with as little as 2psi/ .14bar.

MatJack low pressure lifting cushions work best in cantilever or “hinged” style lifts but can also be used for vertical lifting if rigged correctly so lateral movement of the weight being lifted is restricted. MatJack low pressure cushions work on volume rather than pressure to create the lift, working from8-10 psi/.5-.7 bar depending on the model.

Hypalon and Neoprene for unmatched durability and strength, which is why they are the number one choice for low pressure equipment among rescue squads, all branches of the U.S. military and civil defense agencies worldwide.

MatJack low pressure cushions not only come in 12 standard sizes, but they can also be made any size to meet a customer’s individual needs.

MatJack low pressure cushions have a 5-year warranty, but with normal care and maintenance, they should work well over 20 years trouble free.

MEDIUM PRESSURE LIFTING CUSHIONS

MatJack low pressure cushions, unlike high pressure air lifting bags which lose capacity as they inflate, lift the weight they are rated for the full lift stroke of the cushion.

MatJack low pressure cushions are made with

MatJack Medium Pressure Lifting Cushions require only 1-3 inches clearance for insertion with the main advantage over low pressure cushions being they provide heavier tonnage lifting capacities for similar size low pressure cushions while requiring less work area and taking up less storage space. MatJack Medium Pressure Lifting Cushions work best in cantilever or “hinged” style lifts but can also be used for vertical lifting if rigged correctly so lateral movement of the weight being lifted is restricted.

MatJack medium pressure cushions work on volume rather than pressure to create the lift, working at 15 psi / 1 bar of pressure and can lift as much as 35,000 lbs./ 15,900 kgs. up to 40”/ 1000mm, which is the major difference between low and medium pressure cushions. Both provide more height than high pressure for accessibility with the medium pressure lifting providing more weight capacity than low pressure due to the higher operating pressure.

MatJack medium pressure cushions, unlike the highpressure air lifting bags, lift the weight they are rated for the full height of the cushion.

MatJack medium pressure cushions are made with Kevlar/ Aramid fiber reinforced Neoprene for unmatched durability and strength, which is why they are the number one choice for medium pressure equipment among rescue squads, civil defense and military agencies worldwide.

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PRODUCT

SPOTLIGHT

HIGH-PRESSURE AIR LIFTING BAGS AT MatJack

Our high-pressure air lifting bags are designed to lift and move up to 86 tons at a touch of a button with an initial clearance of only 1 inch. They are made with four full layers of aramid fiber per side. This unique construction makes them a strong but lightweight lifting solution for some of the most rugged, demanding, and heavy-duty applications. They can be used in adverse environments, such as sharp gravel, muddy banks, wet grass, and icy ground.

Key features include: • Simple handheld controls. The controls can have pushbutton, Deadman, or joystick controllers that allow for independent, single-bag or simultaneous, multi-bag operation. The pushbutton control variations have one button for inflation and one button for deflation.

• 20-foot high-pressure hose. The long hose ensures operators are not under or near the load as it is lifted or moved. It is color-coded to eliminate confusion in situations where more than one bag is operated at the same time.

• Carry handles or tabs/eyelets. These elements facilitate lifting and fixture attachment.

• Raised, conical, and interlocking surface. They are covered with five layers of neoprene rubber for an outer surface that grips load and provides traction.

• Distinct tonnage rating marking. Each bag is marked with a bullseye containing the tonnage rating for easy centering under the load and identification in fast-paced, low-visibility situations.

MatJack high-pressure air lifting bags are 100% made in the USA and ISO 9001:2008 and CE certified. They also come with a five-year unconditional warranty.

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JUMBO TURBO SAFELIFT RECOVERY CUSHIONS

Jumbo Turbo Safelift cushions are the first choice of Recovery personnel worldwide when it comes to up righting overturned tractor/trailers, aircraft recovery or any recovery which requires the best quality, heaviest duty air cushions and equipment available.

Jumbo’s come in both sloped and flat top design.

Jumbos are the only slope topped bag, with its patented design to exclusively follow a lift all the way up without ever losing contact with ground or the load, MatJack Jumbo bags are the only cushions manufactured which can make this claim and prove it! MatJack Jumbo flat top cushions are primarily used for aircraft recovery.

Jumbo Turbo cushions come in complete sets or individually. Everything is included in each set to get you up and working within a matter of minutes. From our Support set, designed to replace worn out existing sets with still functional (1 or 2) large cushions which can be converted to Turbos, up to our Comprehensive Set, with 8 Jumbos and 3 starters, you get all the unsurpassed quality, service and training you have come to expect from MatJack.

LANDING SAFELIFT BAGS Since 2005, MatJack Landing Bags have provided users the ability to do recovery uprights on tractor trailers, heavy tracked equipment, box trucks, overturned mobile homes, etc.… without the use of a “catch” vehicle. Landing bags work due to a constant airflow and require it to stay inflated. Landing bags are placed under a load with the intention of not allowing the load to gain speed during up righting operations and descent of the load past fulcrum point. Landing bags lift, support and control vehicles as they come over while allowing the air to escape through 3 ported openings in each cushion increasing control of the vehicle and rate of descent. This is critically important to

avoid further damage to equipment. Rapid, uncontrolled descent of any equipment is dangerous and should be avoided to prevent potential injury or loss of life!

MatJack Landing Bags are typically used under wheels of vehicles to control descent but have also been used under frame sections to catch box trucks and mobile homes and even track drives on cranes.

Single lane uprights are now accomplished in a much easier fashion with less set up and quicker dismantle time for those “quick clear incident” situations. Any upright recovery is now quicker, safer and more professionally done when using MatJack Landing Bags!

Landing Bags come in complete sets or individually.

Everything is included in each set to get you up and working within a matter of minutes.

Landing Bags are made of a special material designed to resist tearing but allow quick repair if damaged in the field. The large Camlock fittings provide for quick assembly and disassembly of the system.

All MatJack Landing Bag systems will provide you with years of trouble-free use and come with the same outstanding warranty, service, training and care you have come to expect from MatJack.

MatJack also offers headsets and a variety of helmets.

MatJack offers easy to use headsets providing hearing protection and a convenient way for your team to communicate in noisy environments. Voice activated both FULL DUPLEX and BASIC. PMI Advantage Helmets offer classic styling, maximum comfort and minimum impact. PMI Advantage Helmets have industrial Kevlar head protection and plenty of detail-oriented comfort.

Fully adjustable ratchet headband and straps make this a helmet for almost any size head. Meets NFPA 1951 as a Utility Technical Rescue Protective Helmet Standard.

When it comes to your next recovery MatJack has you covered! For more information visit us at www.MatJack.com.

®

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EV TOWING

Is the Towing industry ready for an

onslaught of EV’s?

By: Chris Young

A

ccording to InsideEV’s, Q1 2022 new registrations of EV’s was up 60% to just over 158,000 units. Coming as no surprise, Tesla led that charge with 113,882 units alone. Kia, Ford, and Hyundai rounded out the top four all with considerable YOY gains in units delivered. This is a new record of 4.6% market share 52

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for Electrics all while new car sales were down 18%, 3.4 million units, due to ongoing supply chain complications If you ask a tower what EV’s they’ve towed, the overwhelming majority of the responses will be “Tesla”. It’s been 10 years since the first Tesla Model S hit the street and the company has done an

exceptional job working with Towing and Roadside to ensure serviceability and deliver positive customer experiences for their owners despite unfortunate breakdown events. They’ve accomplished this with an in-house Roadside Team who manages each roadside event from beginning to end and providing readily accessible Towing and Roadside resources for their service providers. This level of service provider support is one of many reasons Tow Companies want to work with Tesla. Domestically, Tesla has supported nearly 1.4 million vehicles, based on sales through Q1 2022.

While Tesla’s roadside model is an anomaly in the space it’s a small fraction of total annual dispatched events originating from OEM’s. The balance of disabled EV dispatches coming from all other OEM’s, through their Roadside Networks, might appear insignificant if not for the units handled through insurance carriers and cash calls on aging units, now out of warranty. Traditional Roadside Networks; AAA, Allstate, Agero, Honk, NSD Urgently, etc all have the bandwidth and service provider portfolios to take on a surge in dispatch volume.

The struggle will come in the name of product awareness as numerous new to market EV platforms launch with no Towing & Roadside guidance for the operator on the street tasked with handling a vehicle they’ve never experienced, possibly never seen.

This means some pivots in thinking, handling, and equipment, very minor changes for some, wholesale changes for others. So what’s the winning formula with EV’s?

When receiving a dispatch on an EV you or your company has no previous experience with, request the towing and roadside resources for the vehicle if they’ve not been attached to the dispatch. Networks providing services to OEM clients should have these documents. Too many times operators go straight to social media looking for information. I browse these groups/pages regularly and there is no shortage of misleading, or outright incorrect information. It’s honestly more bad information than good. If all else fails, get into the Owner’s Guide for the vehicle. EV’s have extremely comprehensive guides; it may take some hunting and time to determine several steps required to get through the job, but it’s a source

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EV TOWING

when you have none. Ideally you want curated resources here on the front-end minimizing exposure on busy roadways while simultaneously delivering positive customer experiences.

Handle the vehicle only as recommended by the OEM. Be it connection points for loading to jump starts, don’t make the assumption all EV’s are handled the same way. What’s permissible on one platform may very well be off limits on another so it’s of paramount importance operators know precisely how to handle the vehicle platform they been dispatched and not make any assumptions.

• Loading – No metal gear on any suspension components Rivian R1T, R1S, EDV – connection point for loading to a carrier is front lower controls arms and ONLY with a wrap around nylon bridle Ford F-150 Lightning – transport slots in bottom of frame rail behind front sway bar mounts with nylon bridle Hummer EV – front or rear tow hooks Audi e-Tron, VW ID.4, Porsche Taycan – Tow Eyelet

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• 12 Volt Jump Starts VW ID.4 – Positive on the battery, negative on the ground lug Audi e-Tron – no field jumps, bring to dealer and they will charge 12 Volt; this one can be deceiving as there are jump posts available Ford Mach E – Remote jump leads in front bumper to access, then remote jump posts Rivian R1T, R1S – As of right now, no access to battery, subject to change with some validation On tire change events, jack the vehicle only in the defined locations prescribed by the manufacturer.

Long gone are the days of stabbing vehicles with floor jacks on the rocker panels, axles or suspension.

Ford F-150 Lightning now has an independent rear suspension with aluminum control arms, jacking locations on the frame rails are clearly defined at each corner with an arrow stamped through the frame. Rivian R1T/R1S has an extremely technical front and rear suspension, factory jack adapter inserts into jacking points in belly of vehicle, raise suspension to full height, activate “Tire Change Mode”. The spare tire is an option on the Rivian, a flat

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EV TOWING

here can turn into tow really quick. Audi e-Tron has jacking points on the frame rails defined by an arrow on the rocker, collapsible spare tire/compressor, and “Wheel Change Mode”. Negligently jacking EV’s can lead to considerable damage, misplacement of a jack on the vehicle’s propulsion battery could lead to an expensive battery replacement claim.

The love affair with the mechanical park override has finally come to an end; they’re gone in the EV’s. Park in some models is nothing more than an application of the Electronic Parking Brake, the nemesis of all operators, or a park pawl in the electric motor. On the models with a park pawl you not only need to get the vehicle into “neutral” but also disengage the EPB. It’s time to brush up on skills with skates.

Every EV loaded to a carrier goes down on an 8 point kit; it’s not up for debate. I wrote training material on a new launch pickup truck last year, and if I said I was surprised to see one of the first vehicles towed on a carrier run down on the winch and large J-Chains, by the suspension, I’d be lying.

The batteries in many of these platforms are an integral part of the vehicle. Stretching them out on both ends with the winch is a recipe for disaster, 56

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and to reiterate, could lead to an expensive battery replacement claim.

EV’s are heavy. Most of the models I’ve put on scales recently end up weighing about 10% MORE than what’s stated in its specifications, a few come in at spec. The greatest concern is with the large sedans, pickup trucks, and package vehicles. But don’t be fooled by the smaller platforms, VW ID.4 & Mach E are both short of 5000 lbs, Audi e-Tron is almost 6000 lbs. Rivian R1T starts around 7200 lbs, Ford F-150 Lightning is just under 7000 lbs, Hummer EV is reported to be in the neighborhood of 9000 lbs. Companies with fleets running Ram 5500 & Ford F-550/600 carriers will need to look really hard at what their trucks weigh fully rigged with fuel tanks topped off. Pay close mind to what’s available on the rear axle as that’s about all you have to work with on 120” CA, steel deck carriers with wheel lifts. Since most EV’s maintain a 50/50 weight distribution you no longer have that front heavy bias of traditional ICE (Internal Combustion Engine) vehicles to roll some weight into the front axle of the tow truck.

Almost, if not all of it goes on the rear axle.

The Towing Community is well equipped to support this increasing numbers of EV’s but as with

every automotive evolution to date, Towing and Roadside will need to evolve as well. Towers are expected to have the solution to every problem.

OEM’s anticipate this from the towing community; it’s why we’ve seen the removal of mechanical park releases from German platforms for the last 10 years with no replies to the demands for bringing them back. What operators face with EV’s is far more technical and the time has come to lean in hard on education and training. This is also a time for the towing community to find its voice and actively request resources from roadside partners dispatching roadside events for OEM’s. What’s starting here with passenger vehicles and light trucks will find its way into Commercial Trucking sooner than later. Embracing it now is going to be a whole lot easier than playing educational catch up down the road while simultaneously chasing your competition who got in front of the curve.

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HONORING OUR

VETERANS! We want your stories of Veterans in your family!

Men & Women that served our country, that came back and put their heart of service back into their community towing!

Lets Honor them on our pages!

Send to: Darian@towprofessional.com

DEALERS PLACE

13401 US 70 Business Hwy West Clayton, NC 27520

www.easternwrecker.com • 919-553-4038

Stock # F0120 - 2022 F600, 6.7L Powerstroke, Automatic, SwapLoader SL-105, US Tarp System

Stock # F3564 - 2022 Ford F450, 4x4, 6.7L Powerstroke, Automatic, Jerr-Dan MPL-NGS Self Loader

Stock # D4168 - 2021 Dodge 5500 4x4 Crew Cab, 6.7L Cummins, Auto, Jerr-Dan MPL40 Twin Line

INVENTORY PICTURED SUBJECT TO CHANGE NEW AND USED TRUCKS ARRIVING DAILY PROUD LANDOLL, JERR-DAN AND SWAPLOADER DISTRIBUTOR Stock # L3001 - 2022 Landoll 440B-50 Traveling Axle Trailer

PARTS AND SERVICE FOR ALL YOUR NEEDS!

Stock # F8882 - 2021 Ford F650 Ext Cab, 22ft Jerr-Dan SRR6T-WLP Carrier

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

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800-288-0839 COLUMBUS | 800-288-0849 MARIETTA

2022 Kenworth W990 450 HP X15 Allison Auto equipped 15 ton Jerr-Dan 28’ x 96”

2022 Ford F750 Ext 300 HP 6.7 Ford TorqShift 10 Speed Auto equipped 6 ton Jerr-Dan 22’ x 102”

2023 Kenworth T880 20K FA 40K RA 450 HP X15 Allison Auto equipped 15 ton Jerr-Dan 28’ x 96”

2022 Ram 5500 CC SLT 4x4 360 HP ISB 6.7 Cummins 2022 Ford F550 Ext 4x4 6.7 Ford TorqShift 10 Aisin Auto equipped w/Jerr-Dan HPL-60 Speed equipped Jerr-Dan MPL-40

2023 Ford F600 4x4 Gas 7.3 Ford TorqShift 10 Speed equipped 6 ton Jerr-Dan 20’ x102”

2023 Volvo VNX6400 X15 Cummins Eaton-Fuller 18 2020 Kalyn Siebert KHSA, Traveling Axle, Air Speed equipped Jerr-Dan 50 ton (4th Quarter) Ride, Body Material STEEL, Stock#: K001

2020 Kalyn Siebert KSHRG Lite, Lowboy, Air Ride, Tonnage 50, Stock#: K003

Be Sure to Check Out our Complete Inventory Online

www.McMahonTrucks.com Visit our 2nd Columbus location 1305 US 42, London, OH 43140

Paul Blackston, Equipment Sales pblackston@mcmahontrucks.com (740) 215-9012 David Long, Outside Parts Sales - Columbus dlong@mcmahontrucks.com (614) 907-6206 Ryan Secoy, Parts Sales - Marietta rsecoy@mcmahontrucks.com M: 614-252-3111 C: 740-215-90122

DEALERS PLACE

“Pro’s that need to know, that are on the Go! Your voice for the Towing Industry!

Find us everywhere podcasts are available.

Bringing the latest in technology, products and services giving you the information needed to grow your Business!! New episodes weekly!

Find us on Facebook, Instagram (Towpromag), LinkedIn, or www.towprofessional.com SPONSORED BY: LIVE FROM THE STUDIO 62

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Market PLACE

SPILL DIAPER TURN YOUR LIABILITIES I N TO P R O F I T

217-712-0357 | Lee Edington www.spilldiaper.com

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

NATIONWIDE DOWNTIME 1-800-DOWNTIME & PROPERTY DAMAGE RECOVERY info@downtimeclaims.com

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

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ADVERTISER INDEX COMPANY

PG

COMPANY

PG

COMPANY

PG

Alliance Funding.................................. 37

Gunni Wheel......................................... 37

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

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

HAAS Alert........................................... 30

RP Consulting....................................... 57

Austin Insurance ................................ 51

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

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

AZUGA..................................................... 5

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

Servicase.............................................. 25

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

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

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

Bryants Wrecker................................. 44

Holly’s Towing Dispatch..................... 43

Steck Mfg.............................................. 30

Budget................................................... 53

INA Towing Network.......................... 17

The Wilburt Company......................... 38

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

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

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

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

Junk Car Buyer Academy.................. 44

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

Custom Built......................................... 23

Lodar...................................................... 19

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

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

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

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

Dynamic................................................ 39

Matjack................................................. 11

Traxero................................................... 26

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

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

Tru-Hitch............................................... 43

EasTract NA.......................................... 41

Mike Keith Insurance......................... 57

TT Telematics Webfleet....................... 9

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

OnlineImpoundAuctions.................... 41

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

Eemerg.................................................. 38

ParkingPass.com................................ 53

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

ESA........................................................... 7

Prime Insurance ................................. 21

ZackLift.................................................. 27

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

Progressive Insurance....................... 15

Go Light................................................. 31

Recovery Billing................................... 22

OLD

EARN MORE PER ACCIDENT AND TAKE COMPLETE CHARE OF THE SCENE ONE CALL PUT YOU ON THE SCENE AUTHORITIES APPRECIATES ONE ENTITY TO HANDLE ALL PHASES OF CLEAN UP AND VEHICLE RECOVERY

BE EQUIPPED TO HANDLE FUEL SPILLS THROUGH HAZWOPPER CERTIFICATION

FOR MORE INFO CONTACT US AT 877-356-9767 PERRY@HAZMATRN.COM WWW.HAZMATRN.COM

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