CAMERAS that fit a towing business

The towing industry is very unique and presents challenges that most telematics and camera companies struggle to provide the type of service needed. None of them will be perfect or provide every desire of your heart as you are talking about sophisticated technology strapped to a tow truck. It’s just important that your cameras fit your business, and basic dashcams don’t give most towers the amount of protection they need.

By now most tow company owners have either purchased or looked into dash cams for their trucks and, if not, your insurance company will be talking to you about it soon for a multitude of reasons.

You will of course be able to use it to fight fraudulent claims or to know when to settle a claim. It’s like that after school special slogan… The more you know!

As a commercial vehicle, you are a target for ambulance chasing attorneys because they know it is in the insurance companies’ best interest to settle. Many times, they can settle the claim for less than what it would cost them to fight it and win. Mainly, this is because they can’t prove your innocence and no matter what the other party doesn’t have in the way of proof… the “burden of proof” is on you. When you have video proof, you own the truth and can use it to fight the claim or to know that your driver was at fault and settle out of court if possible.

With the right system you can limit bumper or damage claims- How many times have you gotten a call that your driver damaged my bumper or my vehicle?

What if every time you engaged your PTO, your cameras could automatically save a video of the vehicles you have assisted. Would that help? What if you could reduce the amount of damage claims by 50%. Is money right back in your pocket? This is fully possible with today’s technology, but you will need a system that has a rear facing exterior camera and that is PTO enabled in order to make it happen.

Protect your drivers from fraudulent harassment or distracted driving claims- After speaking with many insurance companies and risk managers, the new issue to fight is distracted driving or sexual harassment of people being towed. I know, I know. Drivers don’t like the interior cameras, and I get it but it is truly for their protection. Tell them you don’t want to watch them pick their nose or listen to them argue with their girlfriend all day. You just need to be able to protect them and your business if something comes up.

People looking to sue know that claiming your driver was texting or looking at their phone is the easiest path to winning a lawsuit, and again all they have to do is claim it. The burden of proof is on you. Also, allowing customers into the cab of your vehicle comes with its own possible issues - sexual or other forms of harassment. Having an interior camera and especially one that will help you train and keep drivers from being on their phones can save you from fraudulent claims and help change the behavior of your drivers going forward.

As you are looking, here are things that need to be at the top of your wish list:

1) You need to be able to access them live whenever you want via your computer or on your phone. This allows you to be on scene even when you can’t physically be on scene. In towing, sometimes you just have to be there. This sucks when you are in bed after a long day and you have someone on scene who just needs your help. It’s nice that no matter if you are in the office or in bed you can quickly see what the camera sees in real time.

2) Make certain that you access the cameras from the same platform as your telematics, not a thirdparty platform. Third-party platforms have proven over time to not be reliable and just add another failure point and unneeded expense. The K.I.S.S. method applies here (Keep It Simple Stupid).

3) Rear and/or side cameras are essential. Eighty percent of the jobs with towing businesses take place on the back of the truck so be certain that they can provide rear facing cameras too. Be weary of any company who wants you to add a third-party camera to the system. Again, there have been many who have tried this and, unfortunately, found out only when they needed video that they had connectivity issues and didn’t get the footage they needed.

4) Also, rear cameras help you with driver safety. Most towers spend lots of money training their guys on how to properly load and secure vehicles, as well as, use proper safety procedures to prevent injuries and unnecessary events. But as soon as you aren’t there, they get amnesia or just don’t care. With a rear facing camera, you will have the ability to view each time they are on the roadside. The next thing you can do is once or twice a week call them in and watch how they do. Go over with them mistakes they made or ways they can improve. This will be a great time to coach them but also allow the ones who are intentionally not doing it correctly know that you can see what they are doing every time they load a vehicle on your truck. It will encourage them to do it right, follow safety procedures, and discourage any moonlighting other funny business.

Telematics and cameras are important tools that can protect your business, make you more efficient, and keep you compliant but they are just that - tools. If you take a shovel and lean it against a tree, it won’t accomplish anything. But if you want to use these tools to help your business, they must be installed correctly and should be affordable. You need to be trained so you and your staff know how to use them as well as be able to access them when needed. Also, know immediately if they aren’t working.

At Azuga, we offer state of the art equipment and service that can help you meet all of these challenges and needs. We offer telematics, asset tracking, fully live camera systems with rear cameras available, E-logs, custom reporting, maintenance programs, and we are the primary integration partner with Towbook. Our integration with them helps you get additional benefits from your Towbook including, more accurate vehicle location, ignition on/off, vehicle speeds, idling times, PTO engagements, automatic driver updates, and coming very soon video. Our goal is to make it so your dispatchers and managers never need to leave Towbook or switch screens... everything you need in one pane of glass.

To learn more about how you can get a system that fits your needs go to www.offer.azuga.com/towbook or call 205-728-9135

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.

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