TOWING & RECOVERY + HAZMAT, “I DON’T KNOW”

TOWING & RECOVERY + HAZMAT, “I DON’T KNOW” - A familiar phrase in this industry is, “ I don’t know”! That can’t pass as an excuse in this day and age because of all the available resources found on the internet. By simply typing a subject in the search bar, multiple answers show up. This gives quick remedies and directions for several topics of various questions we may have. There are a couple of categories for people that use this phrase, “I don’t know” or “I don’t care.” These are individuals that don’t care to change and have no desire to learn. This also indicates a lack of understanding with no desire to learn more. It takes sufficient motivation to reach challenging goals and to expand business opportunities in order to experience higher profit levels. Many business owners are constantly exploring new ideas for service offerings to enhance their business platform. Tow and recovery equipment has been constantly changing since the mid 70’s, from conventional car and truck slings to under reaches, recovery techniques have changed due to vehicle designs and proper transport tie down points. Law enforcement along with DOT, DMV and Traffic Incident Management are becoming more involved in accident clearance, requiring operators to be trained to a certain set of standards. Technicians are required to perform their duties proficiently as well as maintaining their equipment to handle recoveries of all types of vehicles. Competition drives the equipment updates as far as the latest and greatest in tow and recovery vehicles ex; Rotators for heavy recovery. Owning the proper and necessary equipment also brings about a level of training of recovery techniques that enhance the operator’s performance level. This applies to accident clean ups as well. Spill response requires a vast array of equipment and knowledge which enables correct procedures to be obtained for safe remediation and disposal of materials. While few government agencies require certification for towing companies to engage in highway accident recovery, the Federal Government has standards in place for unplanned and unwanted releases of spilled materials which are sometimes a result of a highway accident. This required certification is known as “HAZWOPER”. HAZWOPER is the acronym for Hazardous Waste Operations Emergency Response which is also referred to as CFR 1910.120. Congress tasked the federal departments of OSHA, EPA and DOT with publishing rules and regulations governing the clean-up and disposal of contaminates and hazardous materials. I personally was introduced to the HAZWOPER standard at an accident scene where the local EPA was present and had more jurisdiction than law enforcement. I was instructed to stand down until the damaged fuel tank was pumped off before removing the vehicle from the travel lane of the highway. The EPA official on site stated that a private HAZMAT team had been contacted to respond for necessary actions. After a two hour wait, the summoned company arrived and after performing their duties, I was allowed to tow the vehicle away. During the period of waiting, the EPA official explained to me that cross contamination was averted by vacuuming the tank contents into a drum to prevent spreading the fuel over a larger area. I was also informed about the required certification to perform these tasks. So

Towing Insurance Program

Eligibility

Single and multi-state operation

• 1 to 100 trucks

Interline Risk Services’ towing package is a policy that is designed for professional towing operations that are involved in auto repair, body shop, salvage yards, auto transporting, gas sales and more. Our program is backed by an A+ rated insurance company. We offer very broad driver guidelines, along with the most flexible coverages available in the market today.

Coverage

• Auto Liability - $100,000 to $1,000,000 CSL with no deductible or radius restriction Physical Damage comprehensive and collision deductible – $500-$2,500

• Auto Medical Payments – $1,000 to $5,000

• Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist (non-stacked) – Basic limits or as required by law

• Personal Injury Protection – Basic limits or as required by law

• General Liability – $100,000 to $4,000,000 CSL (General liability covers premises and operations - even operations away from the premises such as road side)

• Hired and Non Owned Liability – Limits equal to General Liability

• Garage Keeper’s Legal Liability – Maximum limit per location $500,000 CSL

• On Hook/Cargo – Maximum limit per auto $300,000 with excess policies available a. Loading and unloading is included in our cargo form, and will cover the cargo while it is in the process of recovery until it is delivered or stored. b. Our cargo form is the broadest in the industry with coverage for equipment hauled as well as autos. Contents of vehicles are covered as well. c. NO DRIVE TRAIN EXCLUSION - we do not exclude drive train damage on our cargo form. d. Debris removal is included in our cargo form with a sub-limit of $2,500.

Other Available Coverage

• Accidental Death and Dismemberment of $10,000 per life on the policy is included on all accounts offered

For more information: 877-578-1516 | info@interlinerisk.com the “I don’t know” excuse on my part wasn’t a line of defense to be used. After a few more incidents resulting in being unable to tow or recover a vehicle (due to a slack response time of a summoned hazmat team), I decided to obtain the required certification for myself and form a response team of my own to streamline the time of road closures. The certification training was the first step, then acquiring the necessary equipment was paramount to handle different materials. My purpose for entering this type of business was basically response and quick action to open the highway.

As more spill clean ups were conducted, the need for special equipment increased. Some tools weren’t available or didn’t exist so fabrication of what I needed created a line of equipment and supplies that would enhance a quick and easy method of use… which brought about a product line known as “FLOWSTOP”. The design and development of a lightweight, impervious inflatable storm drain plug with flow through ports was the first of many hazmat products offered. Other tools offered with the FlowStop brand included Vac Pump Caddy of 1’’ & 2’’ for hydrocarbons and chemical application, Dome Lid Clamps, Block Locks, Weep Hole Kits, Decon Mat, Adaptor/Reducer Kits, Ground and Bonding Set ups and the well-known FlowStop Football / Containment Plugs.

So…how did HAZMAT RESPONDER NETWORK get its start? While demonstrating the FlowStop Golf balls/Footballs at a trade show, I gave a brief “background” to some interested towers. I was asked, “Perry, why don’t you teach us how to do what you did to get into the Hazmat Industry?” Basically saying, “I Don’t Know, But I Want to KNOW”! That’s it…that question made me realize that I could contribute to the towing Industry…give back to the industry that had given me so much. The word “NETWORK” carries much weight in bringing more knowledge and sharing of ideas to a fairly new aspect of the towing industry. Also, innovations afforded by industry leaders such as Hanby Test Systems for onsite soil and water testing and OMG-SOL LLC, ( ELMN8 ) for soil and water treatment, help streamline cleanup times with accurate results. HRN conducts HAZWOPER training at different locations for tow professionals in various areas around the country. Training with HRN consists of classroom studies and “hands on” techniques that provide knowledge to the responding individual. HAZWOPER certification is valid for twelve months followed by an annual refresher training of eight hours required by the federal government. HRN realized that attending the required yearly refresher is a great opportunity to learn about the latest tools, products, and techniques. By adding trade specific information/“hands on” training to the eight hour refresher class, the time invested becomes a valuable “win/win”! The question is…”do you want to know” and grow a beneficial new aspect of your towing company? HRN would love to have you join the “network” of towers/Hazmat Responders nationwide.

Alliance Funding Group (AFG), was founded in 1998 and has grown to become one of the largest privately held equipment finance companies in the U.S. Having funded over $2 billion in equipment, we can offer complete credit and asset flexibility.

Call 877-356-9767 for your training!