Motivating Your Team Creates a Healthier Work Environment
I canât tell you how many times Iâve heard this question over the last decade or so, âHey, DJ can you come motivate my people?â Every year without question, I would receive a similar call from one dealer who owned 4 different car dealerships. His dealerships were doing okay but his people needed periodic motivation. Without question, he would let it go on until almost too late to correct it. This dealer would beat up his people, never say a kind word to any of them, but needed me to put motivational band aids on their wounds. Since heâs passed on now, let me tell you exactly what he was like. Â
According to this man, no one that worked for him had a brain. They were all stupid. As he said, many times to me, âYou canât fix stupid.â Unfortunately, he never told anyone who worked for him thank you or that they did a good job not even if they did something right or gave a customer good service. NEVER! Until I got there, they never celebrated a birthday of a team member either. After I was hired to help motivate his team, there was a Christmas tree in every store. They started participating in the Marines Toys for Tots campaign and gave food to the soup kitchen located near each store. When an employee had a birthday, there was a birthday cake in the break room that day for everyoneâs enjoyment. Soon, we started a gift exchange program with fellow team members. What I really liked was if an employee did a good job, he or she would receive dinner for two at a local restaurant. From then on, all his employees worked hard to earn that reward. Â
In connection with that reward, we also started a âHATTABOYâ program where other employees would recognize someone going out of their way to help a customer. With the way culture is now, theyâve probably changed that programâs original name to something else by now. As the years progressed, the bad and negative change occurred, creating something healthy and positive, and their motivation went from bad to good. Change didnât happen overnight, but it certainly was unmistakable. Saying âthank youâ isnât hard to do; it takes only a second to recognize someone for a job well-done, but for some reason management these days still find it hard to say âthank youâ to their team.
My oldest brother, Bill owned his own business and would bring donuts and coffee to a job site to let his people know how appreciative he was of them for their hard work. One day, I was at the jobsite while Bill was talking with a Burger King project manager who bet my brother $100 that we couldnât line this large parking lot with bricks by the end of the day. They shook on it, and the bet was on!  My brother left and returned with plenty of rolls and coffee for everyone on the job. While they ate, Bill told everyone about the bet. At 4 PM that afternoonâŚ.ONE HOUR EARLYâŚ.Bill had the Burger King project manager come to the site with his $100. To the surveyorâs surprise, Bill took his money from the project manager and divided it up between the workers right in front of him. His response was, âNow I know why your people go the extra mile.â  Not only did the project manager get a surprise but Bill acknowledged the good job his people had done in front of a customer. Billâs thankfulness for his peopleâs good work has stuck with me through the years. Â
Youâre probably thinking that you donât do parking lots. Maybe not, but here are some suggestions that you can implement in your business right now. When was the last time you told a dispatcher that they did a great job? How about the âDriver of the Monthâ award which blesses someone with dinner for two at a local steak house? How about a $1,000 bonus for having a new baby or adopting a child? My daughterâs company implemented a âNew Baby Bonusâ and her employees love it. There are other ways to show recognition. Just about everyone enjoys a good movie and food. So, how about 2 tickets to a local theater for a ânight outâ, turkey or ham of your choice at Thanksgiving and Christmas or perhaps a FREE car wash for their own car. Hereâs something Iâve done.
When I had 22 employees, we celebrated everyoneâs birthday with a birthday cake. They could take their birthday off with pay OR get double pay for working on their birthday. If the birthday fell over the weekend, they received 6 daysâ pay in their next paycheck. And too, if I could create it in time, I would read a funny poem created about them just before they blew out the candles on their birthday cake. Work should be fun and serious. Creating fun and appreciation doesnât take much effort because it takes more time to replace a valuable person who felt unappreciated. Want to stay in business? Create a healthier work environment.  You can do it. See you next time..Â
Information is Everything
I wrote an article a while back where I talked about having the right information that will help you to make decisions. I will talk about my company first, and then give you a few tips on how to use the information you have to grow your business.
We decided that we want to increase revenue over the next three months. We have been running customers for just over a year so we have data to look at to help us make decisions. Our goal is to double our tows over the next three months. Here is how we can do that using the data we collected. Here is the data we are looking at:
1. We know how many markets we are in
2. We know how many tows our customer gives us for each market
3. We know how many tows we are completing in each market
4. We know how many tow companies there are in each market
5. We know how many tow companies are registered with TowTrax in each market
6. We know the tow rate the tow companies are looking for in each market
Itâs fun when you have current data to work with. Take your company and the data you have and identify what you want 2022 to look like.
Tip 1.Â
Set your goals. Identify how much you want to increase your revenue, what expenses you want to cut or what new expenses you will have.
Tip 2.Â
 Identify the resources you will need to execute your plan. It might be adding staff, adding additional trucks, or making other investments
Tip 3.Â
Write your goals down so you look at them every day. Get your staff involved. You will be surprised at what they will bring to the table to accomplish your goals. If getting a new truck is a goal, hang a picture of it on the wall. This may motivate your drivers to do more.
In order for me to double my volume, I need to add staff; I need to make some system changes that allow my app to be more user-friendly to tow companies. (Allowing the tows I get from my customer to go through their dispatch) There will be travel involved such as tow shows or sales calls. The system changes are completed so I just need to add staff which will be a big step in reaching my goals. As the driving force behind my business, I need to make sure I am in a position to do the things necessary for me to accomplish my goals.
Tip 4.Â
As you well know, towing can be stressful. You have to make sure your health will not be an issue that could cause problems. When you set your goals make sure you have the resources necessary.
Tip 5.Â
Make sure you pay yourself first so you have the motivation for you to continue executing your plan. Go to a tow show and make it a mini-vacation and an educational experience that benefits you. That is an expense that will pay great dividends.
Iâm working with two small tow companies that included my company in their future growth. The company in Detroit started out with 2 to 3 tows a day. He put together a plan and set goals that have allowed him to grow his business to 40 calls a day with TowTrax. We have talked and he wants to grow even more. Iâm working with him to make that happen.
I have a small tow company in Syracuse that started out good with TowTrax. Then inflation hit and the price of gas is creating a problem for him. Then to make matters worse a competitor came into town and is offering tows at 40% less than the market allows. This affects all the tow companies in that area. What he did was come to me and told me he needs more money from me to offset the business he is losing. I explained to him some things he can do to get back on track.
Tip 6.Â
I know millionaires that live on $55,000 a year. Thatâs how they became a millionaire. The same is with towing. When you start facing problems like my friend in New York I told him other things he can do to generate more business and make more money without adding additional expenses.
Tip 7.Â
Find alternative ways to make money do things like:
a. Store cars for other people
b. Rent u-haul trailers out of your storage yard
c. I had one friend whose wife opened a tanning salon at their storage yard.
d. At your storage yard you have security and you are 24/7. Find someone who needs that environment.
In my business I have markets where I do not get many tow offers, so I will not spend a lot of resources in those markets. On the other hand, I have markets. I am missing 20 calls a day because I donât have the tow companies to support the volume.
Tip 8.Â
Think big and out of the box. I want to double my volume and I have to make sure my goals are realistic. They may not be realistic but when I look at the data closely and come up with a plan, they are very achievable.
Tip 9.Â
Donât be frightened by failure
With my business, I will address what I am paying the tow company so they want to use TowTrax for their tows, and I will address the fees I am charging my customers allowing me to increase the tow fees. I provide a great service and I have to show the value to both the tow company and the customer.  Using the data I have will allow me to make a few simple changes allowing me to reach my goal...
Mental Health
A little background â Iâve always kept a primary job since I donât make enough income from my expert witness and writing work to support my household. Iâve also witnessed some colossal meltdowns where towing company owners or managers have thrown tools, equipment, slammed truck doors, or berated an employee or two. Never, though, have I witnessed, first-hand, where a company owner made a half-hearted attempt (Iâll explain later) to commit suicide, and then ended up in an argument with me over whether I would help him die to put himself out of his misery. That happened last week, and truly, I still havenât recovered from the ordeal, and likely wonât for quite some time.
We need to talk about mental health, and more importantly, be man enough or woman enough to ask for help. The stresses of running a small business fluctuate daily in intensity, and how we deal with those issues dictates the condition of both our mental and physical health. I realize that there are egos involved, and usually a lot of pride, and asking for help may seem weak to some â like youâve failed in life and in business. Please look at it another way â if you continue to go down whatever rabbit hole youâre in and your business fails because of it, isnât it the same thing? To prevent further damage makes a ton of sense â saving your life, health, and business?
In the towing industry, just like any other field in the first responder world, we see some awful stuff. We see mangled bodies, injured children, injured pets, and of course, thousands of dollars in property and equipment damage. Military combat troops, police officers, firefighters, EMS personnel, doctors, and nurses have all made the realization that it’s ok to NOT be ok after seeing some of the things weâve seen and dealt with what we do. Putting up that façade of being ok and tough is great and all when you want to impress your buddies, but I think youâre foolish for thinking that all those experiences donât impact you significantly. Â
Our industry, like the others, has a few people who get help, talk it out, and use wholesome outlets to get rid of the stress, anxiety, and shock of the daily job. Others, though, hide in a bottle. Some use drugs. Some use drugs to excess after being prescribed something fairly normal for a routine injury. Some people have affairs. Some gamble. Some just buy more toys, thinking that having toys makes them appear successful and they can go play on their boat or bike and âget away.â
Letâs talk about that bike. I have a friend in Texas who owns a towing company. He was always worked up and pissed off and decided one day to buy his dream bike â a Harley Davidson CVO Street Glide. $42,000. Dude was beaming when he got it, and he rode it regularly for a few weeks. Get that â a few weeks. I talked to him after the bike had sat collecting dust in the shop for about six months, asking him why he didnât ride it more often. He said he felt guilty. His crew was out working. He was playing. He had a $700 bike payment to make, and he worried that if he didnât take quite a few calls himself that heâd come up short. His toy â his purchase â had made things worse for him. He had added a bill, felt guilty about riding it, and worked more hours than he did before he bought it. All in the name of stress relief. It didnât work.
A guy I worked with for almost a year drank to excess. Heâd show up for a call and Iâd have to make him sit in the truck so he didnât get busted by the police on scene. His recent bitter divorce had him losing sleep, staying up until all hours, sleeping late, and not doing anything with the business. He wanted his son to take over the business, but he was damaged, too, by his parentâs divorce and the horrible business battle involving two towing locations â and the son was part-time, at best. The son came around and started doing more with the business but drank and smoked pot while he was on-duty. He had his girlfriend with him on a long-distance tow, both were drinking, and the son crossed the center line and hit a big truck head-on. He and his girlfriend were killed. His dad all but vanished, let the business go downhill, and ended up taking his own life. I look back at that scenario that I first encountered quite a few years before and wonder how I could have helped. I pushed, made suggestions, even had a few screaming matches â but nothing worked, and I moved on.
The half-hearted suicide attempt? Two months earlier, this guy had been arguing with his wife on the phone while he was 2,500 miles from home, on Facetime, and pulled out his gun and stuck it to his head. He pulled the trigger, but missed, because he âpulledâ the shot. In my unfortunate experience of being on-scene at several suicides, the common thread is that the person didnât say anything to anyone. They didnât threaten suicide, have a screaming match, or try to make some kind of show out of it. What a significantly awful thing to do to your wife or other loved one. I got the rest of that story the night I decided to grab a rental car and get away from the guy. He had actually asked me to kill him, knowing that I have a gun on me most of the time. I felt like I was in a hostage negotiation situationâŚI was driving a loaded truck down the road, he was in the passenger seat, and he knew my gun was in my bag. Never again do I want to be in a similar scenario.
Weâve all had to deal with our own âdemons.â Iâve certainly had mine. It wasnât until this guy showed me his âdemonsâ this past week that I realized how prevalent mental health issues are, and you just never know what someone is going through. Â
Iâm going to ask you to put your pride on the shelf. Ask for help. Itâs really ok. You donât have to make anything public. Talk to a counselor, a friend, a pastor, or just someone who will lend an ear. By the time youâre knee-deep in a bottle or doing drugs, or buying your fifth boat or bike, it may be too late to save your business â and more importantly, may be too late to save your health or your life. Â
Hereâs another idea â reaching out and helping someone else by talking things out has a really cool way of letting you help yourself. You may see your own issues in the person youâre talking to â and as a result, solve your own problems. It surely has worked with me on several occasions.Â
Industry Report: Highlights Adoption of Emergency Lighting In Response to Increasing Roadway Fatalities
In the first two weeks of 2020, seven roadway responders were struck and killed by vehicles. Thatâs seven lives in 14 days with three of those lives belonging to tow truck drivers. More than a year later, the fatalities continue to accumulate. In 2021, another 65 roadway responders were killed.
In an era of distracted drivers, tow companies are adopting new emergency lighting and vehicle conspicuity practices to better alert drivers and divert oncoming traffic away from the scene. The Emergency Responder Safety Institute (ERSI) released its yearly report showing an uptick in struck-by-fatality deaths of U.S. roadway responders, climbing from 46 in 2020 to 65 in 2021. Another 44 deaths were documented in 2019 by ERSI, marking the first report of its kind to include mobile mechanics and tow truck drivers among first responders. Another study, analyzing data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, found that 191 tow workers were killed between 2011 and 2016 with 64 percent of those deaths being attributed to motor vehicle incidents. So, what can be done? As part of the 35-page report, the ERSI suggested several mitigation strategies:Â
THE IMPLEMENTATION OF APPARATUS TRAFFIC ADVISORSÂ
The ERSI documented a number of organizations that have adopted traffic advisors, lit amber/yellow arrows sticks that improve visibility, and give clear direction to approaching motorists. Additionally, the report recommended multi-level or high-rise light systems above obstructing views and to create visibility farther away from the scene. While some advisors utilized directional pulsing light bars, the study found that large arrow boards were especially effective at diverting motorists away from the scene.Â
Command Light, an industry leader in emergency scene lighting for more than 25 years, manufactures a series of Traffic Flow Boards that can rotate up to 360 degrees, giving drivers the ability to direct the advisor toward oncoming traffic as they position the rig for recovery operations. When not in use, these Traffic Flow Boards fold down for a low-profile design. Command Light offers three different traffic pattern variations powered by 12V DC.Â
THE USE OF LIGHT TOWERS FURTHER ENHANCE ROADSIDE SAFETY
The report also addressed bright white lights, which often cause glare and visibility problems for crews and motorists when these LEDs are not properly elevated. The report strongly suggests elevating and positioning white light to illuminate only work areas. Light towers are one of the most effective ways to control lighting.
In fact, these towers offer up to 360 degrees of rotation, while the light tower clusters and elevates the light, much like sports stadium lighting, to improve illumination for recovery teams while creating non-glaring light that alerts motorists of the incident ahead. To illuminate dual work areas, Command Light offers optional backlight that enables the bottom row of lamp heads to rotate 180 degrees, and Command Lightâs design allows the tower to overhang the vehicle in a streetlight position, directing the light down as suggested by the ERSI report.Â
Command Light offers more than 20 different DC-powered light towers in varying heights and eight different fixture choices. To see the full tow industry catalog, visit commandlight.com/catalogs.And to ensure more companies can equip their trucks with a light tower, Command Light commissioned HiViz LED Lighting, a FireTech brand, to create an economical fixture for its Knight Series, Shadow Series, and Straight Shadow models. This LED shaves the cost of a new light tower by 33% while delivering a 14,000-lumen output per fixture.Â
âWe canât say enough about elevating scene lighting, whether your crew is deploying a traffic advisor or a light tower,â said Roger Weinmeister, Command Light President. âSeven lives in 14 days. Itâs unacceptable. The ResponderSafety Team said it best after releasing its ERSI report, âWe simply cannot wait another day to make this a top priority.ââ
The ERSI has made its tracking of 2020 struck-by-vehicle deaths to date available to the public at www.respondersafety.com/FatalityReports. The ERSI also produces ResponderSafety.com and the ResponderSafety Learning Network (learning.respondersafety.com), which offer online training and traffic safety certification programs.
Custer Products Covers Your Lighting Needs
Custer Products was formed in 1993. Custerâs first products were manufactured on assembly lines in North Canton, Ohio. These products included Magnetic Work Lights, Retractable Battery Jumper Cables, Trouble Lights and Magnetic Tow Lights for RVs.  Custer has had many changes since the early days in the 1990s. When we started, we were manufacturing products for large retail stores. Many of the stores we manufactured for were driven out of business or merged with even larger big box stores. Custer adapted by manufacturing and private labeling products for manufacturers that wanted to add to their product line who had presence in the larger stores. In fact, today, Custer still has products that are private labeled in larger retail stores.
Another step of the evolution was to enter the towing market. We became involved in the towing market somewhere around 1995. This was one of the best decisions that we ever made. Iâm sure there are some people who remember Al. Al would attend the Tow Shows and would show our latest products and look for distributors or potential distributors to sell the products. As the sales increased, we expanded our product offerings. We went from offering only a few items to offering hundreds of items. The LED Lights and Safety Strobe lights were a great addition to the product line. This allowed us to meet and talk to many towers who were interested in updating their trucks from incandescent lighting to the new LED lighting. Â
In 2013, we expanded the product line again by acquiring Blades Tow Right, Inc. This allowed us to expand our line of tow lights to include the larger tow bars and wireless tow lights. We spent several years updating the technology for the wireless line and are confident in or high-quality bars. Please consider a Lite-It Wireless when making your decision on a light bar. In 2018, Custer Products moved from North Canton, OH to Massillon, OH. We still do a lot of manufacturing at the Massillon facility including all of the Lite-It Wireless and magnetic tow lights.
Custer Products is most recognized as a lighting company. All of Custerâs lights are quality made to specifications that are higher than similar products. All of our lights are warrantied.
Custer Products can be found at many of your favorite towing distributors. If your distributor does not sell the Custer or Lite-It line, contact us and we will help you find the product. Also, if  you would like more information on our products, look on www.custerproducts.com or call us at 1-800-490-3158.Â
Improving the Safety and Efficiency of Nighttime Operations
A towmanâs job is difficult and dangerous. The calls increase when conditions are the worst â torrential rains, ice, snow, and darkness make a tough job even tougher. You know every job should be approached with a plan of action; one that is methodical and logical with safety in the forefront of your mind. A great plan is essential, but a great plan is not enough. You need the right tools to maximize your safety and efficiency, especially at night.
This article will review the lighting tools and technology available today that will significantly improve your safety, and some can even improve the bottom-line of your business.
Long gone are the days of halogen lights where you could fry an egg on the light housing and a generator was needed to power them. Most of todayâs lights are LED which consume 90% less power and generate much less heat while providing brilliant illumination at an affordable price. No need to pack a generator, these lights can be powered directly from your vehicle.
Do keep in mind the age-old adage, âyou get what you pay forâ which absolutely applies to LED lights. LED lights with heat management circuitry will provide a constant level of light output throughout the job and will last much longer than cheap LED lights. LED lights can be found on truck-mounted light towers that are powered by the alternator.
What benefits do truck mounted light towers provide?
A telescoping light tower such as Will-Burtâs Night Scan HDT provides light from up to 15 feet above your truck which enables the light to spread across a wide area to illuminate more of the scene â as much as an entire football field! This height also allows oncoming traffic to see you long before they arrive on the scene. The powerful light also will not blind the crew because it comes from above, like sunlight. Lastly, the height provides the ability to direct the light into a ditch or ravine.
The lights on top of the tower are remotely controlled to direct the light nearly anywhere, regardless of the position of the truck. Some towers like the Night Scan Powerlite HDT with two banks of lights, enables you to direct the light banks in two different directions which gives you 360° of light coverage. Optional cameras can be added to a light tower which allows the action to be viewed locally, remotely, or recorded.
Lastly, several tow companies charge customers for the deployment of a light tower, sometimes up to $250 / hour. We have been told that companies have been able to pay for a heavy wrecker just from the money they make on the light tower!
A truck-mounted light tower is not the only way to get light above the scene. You can use the height of your vehicle and mount a remote-controlled light positioner such as the Night Scan Spot on the roof, headache rack, or boom. This is a lower cost option to enjoy the benefits of overhead light, but you will not be able to achieve the same lumen output as a light tower. Â
Another option with height is the Night Scan Pump-Up light tower. This product is flexible enough to be used by any size tow company. A small pneumatic mast that is elevated with an onboard hand pump has 40,000 lumens of light on top and has the flexibility to be mounted in a 2â hitch receiver, tripod or drive-on stand. In fact, this tower is so versatile, you can leave the tripod attached to the mast permanently and still put it in the hitch mount or drive-on stand. Because the lights are powered by 12-volt DC current, you can power the Night Scan Pump-Up light tower from your truck. This easy-to-use light tower can be elevated in less than 60 seconds.
An autonomous flight, tethered drone with LED lights and camera is the ultimate in leading edge technology for illuminating and monitoring the scene. Will-Burtâs Mobile Sentry tethered aerial system is portable, allowing it to be placed nearly anywhere. It is simple to operate, set the height and it will automatically launch and hold its position. Need to redirect the light? The tethered drone can be guided by the wireless controller to the desired location. A standard height of 150â will give you a birdâs eye view that you can monitor from your wireless controller or remote location.
A little closer to the ground, there are a variety of lights that can improve safety. Truck-mounted LED scene lights are more popular than ever. They are flexible enough to be mounted about anywhere and if you buy a quality light, they can last the life of your vehicle. Make sure to mount them strategically around the vehicle so you can light the scene from any angle. More flexibility can be achieved by adding a push-up pole on each side of the vehicle or even every corner. A push-up pole can add up to 60â of height and 20,000 lumens of light each and can be manually turned and tilted to optimally illuminate the scene. This is a very affordable method to get light on the scene.
Portable lighting that is not attached to the vehicle provides additional flexibility. Cost-savings can be realized by sharing this lighting across your fleet. Technology has had a positive impact in this lighting category as well.
LED technology is now available for the âballoon lightsâ that have seemingly been around forever. The Night Scan Air is available with up to 110,000 lumens on a 10 ft. tripod. This balloon light projects usable light evenly in a 45,000 sq. ft. circle.
If you need the ultimate in portability, look for LED lighting that is powered by long-lasting and lightweight lithium-ion batteries. Rugged handheld flashlights that convert into stand-alone tripod lights with 16,000 lumens are versatile enough to find a place within any towing company. Another option is a ruggedized, wheeled case that contains not only the batteries but extendable poles and two 20,000 lumen LED lights â the power of a light tower on the go!
The safety of you and your crew is not the place to cut corners. Invest in quality lighting products and you could see a reduction in accidents and an increase in efficiency.Â
The Magic To Being Seen: A Present Day Guide
For as long as there have been production automobiles, there has been a need to tow and recover them. From the rudimentary tractor pull of a vehicle from a ditch to a rotating hydraulic-powered boom mounted to a 100,000+ pound truck raising a casualty from a ravine⌠the profession of towing and recovery has come a long way. During the same 100+ years these advances have been taking place, drivers have exponentially become less concerned with the actual act of driving. This has led to far too many fallen souls along the highways of this great country, and indeed the world over. So, is there an answer to the problem at hand? A way to pull the proverbial ârabbit from a hatâ and end the madness? While there may not be an absolute solution, TowMate continues to focus its product engineering efforts on improving the situation. Considering the ever-changing dynamics of the work environment, along with the continued improvements of the technology at hand, this article aims to outline an up-to-date, balanced, and effective approach to staying safe on the modern recovery site.Â
First and foremost, drivers must be aware of your presence in order to avoid a collision with you. That does not necessarily mean the best approach is to max out your amperage to be bright like the sun. There is one thing that remains constant though, and that is that the cornerstone and mantlepiece of this equation is the overhead light bar. Perhaps the earliest example of a widely used piece of equipment for visibilityâs sake, the overhead light bar, or beacon, comes in more varieties than one can shake a stick at. The PCX61U from TowMate serves as a benchmark in light bar technology, with its two-wire installation and high LED count, in addition to its functionality. Covering the bases with strobe, traffic control arrows, work lights, and wireless Stop/Tail/Turn functionality, the real magic is a function of its optics. The PCX61U light bar boasts the cutting edge âperipheral parabolic technology.â That is the terminology used to describe how the light is projected. With these optics, the light bar is distinctly visible up-close but appears brighter at a distance, reducing the possibility for drivers or recovery crew from becoming disoriented within the immediate area while simultaneously maintaining a distinct visual footprint in the eye of the vehicleâs operator.Â
A step up from the simple road-flare of the past, and effective for some time, the overhead light bar has become more-or-less insufficient as a stand-alone safety precaution for visual awareness in the present day. Enter a myriad of options for flashing lights of all descriptions to mount anywhere and everywhere on a truck one could imagine. But as the age-old adage goes⌠âjust because you can, doesnât mean you should.â There is also the undeniable fact that there is such a thing as too much lighting. But when done the right way, with the right placement, a good lighting package can make all the difference when it matters most.Â
The Power-Link combination marker/strobe/work light and STT/strobe/work light combination lights are likely the easiest to install warning lights in the world, utilizing factory wiring to operate. Plug them into the factory connector and install your Power-Link controller (included with the above-mentioned light bar or purchased a la carte), and away you go. For a more conventional approach, TowMate has recently designed the new SS470 super slim surface mount LED strobe. Containing 12 high-intensity LEDs with linear optics, these puppies pack a punch. They can be single color or multi-color, and used as a marker, a signal, a work light, in addition to being a warning light depending on the exact configuration. Better yet, they can be synchronized to maximize the visual impact. An effective approach is one without overkill. Therefore, two to four LED strobes in the grill, two to four LED strobes on the rear, and perhaps a couple on each side of the truck, and viola, you are done! Running the strobes on the body and grill, coupled with the traffic arrow on the overhead light bar to encourage drivers to move over, really is all you need for warning lights on the truck. Anything more and the message begins to get jumbled. Too much of a good thing all too often results in a not-so-good thing. In other words, keep it simple.
This is pretty well how most trucks are purchased from a local dealer. A light bar, a few strobes, and out the door. So why are we still seeing so many towers getting taken out on the side of the road? Well, it goes back to drivers becoming less concerned with the act of driving and even less so concerned with amber warning lights while en route. Even though it is clear that red and blue lights are far more successful in traffic management, most states still do not allow tow operators to use them on their trucks, even while stationary. But where there is a necessity, innovation follows. TowMate has introduced what appears to be a ârabbit from the hatâ in the form of the Life Saver cone-mounted warning light system. Bryan Anderson, the owner of TowMate and inventor of wireless tow lights, has received several calls from towers in the field just to express their gratitude and amazement of the product.
âIt was just like magic, the cars all moved to the far lane as soon as he set it out,â said Dave Stephens of Kelloggâs Service & Towing in Mead, Washington while recounting the first experience his driver had with the Life Saver.
What looks like a cannonball with a handle and a flat face, the Life Saver features two Red/Blue LED strobes that alert traffic of your presence while in use. The rechargeable unit will operate for up to 24 hours on a charge and simply slides over the top of any traffic cone. Since the unit is not mounted to the truck, nor is it used on the truck or in motion, it is not considered âtruck lighting.â Therefore, it is a true difference-maker in bringing the benefits of red/blue lighting to tow operators.
The Life Save can be configured to amber/white by swiping a magnet over the lights as well, for those who simply want to enhance their existing setup. One thing has crystalized as a certainty, however. The Life Saver holds true to its name. That is why TowMate is donating a portion of the proceeds from each unit sold to the International Towing and Recovery Hall of Fame and Museum Survivor Fund. The fund, which is overseen and allocated by the museumâs board of directors, provides relief to the families of those who have fallen while on duty in the towing industry.
There is nothing to indicate driver awareness is going to improve on its own any time soon. And as we know, doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results is for the birds. With the dynamic issue of tower safety ever-evolving, manufacturers and operators alike must evolve in their approaches too. Between the PCX61U light bar with specialized light-projection that reduces the risk of disorientation on the scene, the subsequent grill and body lights that make the truck âpop,â and the Life Saver cone-mounted warning light system offering the benefits of red/blue warning lights to towers, the products and technologies are available to substantially increase your safety on the job. A little investment today can go a long way towards avoiding paying the ultimate price tomorrow.
For more information, visit www.towmate.com
SPILL DIAPER
Being a provider in the towing industry is a constant hazard on its own; working long hours in treacherous conditions, risking our safety to provide safety for others. It is never a 9-5 job and calls are always a negative situation. We must promptly adapt to each situation and overcome the job, turning the negative situation into a positive. Our services are rarely appreciated in the aspect to have insurance companies say coverage is denied, our charges are aggressive, and third parties and attorneys can profit from our services. We are the ones who have accepted the liability to provide the service for others. It is our ass on the line. It is up to us to deduce our liabilities and maximize our profits per job. Utilizing Spill Diaper is a way to minimize risk when taking custody of a vehicle, while also adding another line item to the job to pay for continuing services. Â
When accidents are accepted, we accept the liability while at the scene, and the recovery and transportation of the vehicle while in our custody. The governing agency has called and transferred the liability to us. When the municipality dispatch call for a vehicle accident, they are essentially stating that they have a property damage that needs immediately cleaned up. We drop everything at a moment notice and expedite to the scene. The tow rotation ordinance has already stated that the city nor state is liable for any further injuries once we have gained custody. When controlling an accident scene, we must clear the vehicle, and all contents from the vehicle; being solid debris and liquid debris. We have agreed to this by accepting the âtow rotationâ and submitting our memorandum. However, even though we have accepted to clear the scene, we get confined on our rates. Limiting our rates either has us looking at ways to turn our heads and cut corners on the job or add other line items to maximize profits from each call. We are not a paid by the city, state or federal. We are not municipal. Our rates are justified by the expense of us needing to immediately control a negative situation for others. Turning our heads on spilled or leaking debris only raises our liabilities while lowering our profit margins.  Â
Each city has a litter control ordinance making it an infraction to âlitterâ upon a street or highway. In this, âlitterâ is classified as anything dropped or deposited from a motor vehicle that could injure a person or cause a traffic hazard. When we take custody of a vehicle, anything dropping or leaking from that vehicle is our responsibility. A secondary accident caused from anything dropped or leaking from that vehicle is then our liability. Allowing these fluids to drip and leak could be classified as negligence on our side. If the vehicle is leaking, placing a Spill Diaper on a vehicle at the accident scene would limit the liability of allowing a vehicle to leak fluids from an accident scene back to the drop facility. This is a mitigation to property damage and would fall under the vehicleâs liability insurance. This mitigation is mandatory under each cityâs âlitter ordinancesâ, each stateâs, âLitter Control Actâ, and the Federal Clean Water Act; limiting contamination.
With all of this justification, majority of leaking cars are still towed onto lots, allowing properties to become contaminated while diminishing property values. Make it your policy to not allow leaking vehicles onto your property without a secondary containment. Make it your policy to not contaminate repair shops and collision centers by dropping leaking vehicles onto their properties. This policy professionalizes your company and keeps your property an asset versus liability. Â
If you are a company under a rotation contract who has a regulated memorandum; unable to charge for limiting your liabilities, have a discussion with your city or state authority about your liabilities at the scene. Explain to them about the statutes that make it mandatory for you to clean the scene and not allow vehicles to leak while in your possession. Set a rate that is justifiable for you and your department to place a secondary containment on breached containers, and not let vehicles leak while in your possession. Control the negative situations and generate a profit simultaneously. Look at the future and keep your property an asset versus a contaminated liability.Â
For more information call (217) 712-0357 or visit www.spilldiaper.com.
You Can Be the New Game in Town
The year 2020 will be remembered by most as a nightmare for the tow & recovery industry. Many looked for new revenue ventures that would fit in with their existing tow business with existing employees able to handle new tasks. Spill response was the most logical answer as many towers received HAZWOPER training that is compliant with the Code of Federal regulations set forth by OSHA, EPA and DOT rules and regulations. Having the certification is becoming a standard with many law enforcement agencies requiring towers who handle heavy recoveries be HAZWOPER certified to completely handle accidents involving damaged fuel tanks to spilled cargo as to minimize further contamination.
OSHA also requires that all personnel responding to a spill site be trained in accordance with the Laws relating to the CFR standards. (This means by the letter of the law. If you are not trained in accordance with 29 CFR 1910.120, you are not legally able to perform that task). This is not a new standard; however, Hazmat Response is becoming a more key issue in cleaning up all debris involving fluids and returning impacted sites back to their original state. To engage in the proper approach to a spill, requires knowledge of what levels of Personal Protective Equipment, PPE, to deploy for those responders in accordance with laws governing the Environmental segment. Having the right equipment for different scenarios means planning and equipping for various needs that may arise due to traffic mishaps. Having operated a towing company for years and creating a hazmat response company resulted in forming a training and equipment manufacturing entity that caters to the needs of tow and recovery professionals. Logos, Inc. manufactures tools known as âFlowStopâ for the hazmat trade for tow companies and first responders alike.
For more information, visit flowstop.net
Are You Ready?
SoâŚ. Who is Perry Beaty? Perry Beaty grew up in the towing business in Charlotte, North Carolina. He took over the company reins, Beaty Towing and Rcovery, after a two-year stint in the Army (drafted in early 70âs). Perry took the towing service to new heights and became involved with trpnc in 1980. He later served as its president, 1992-1995, introducing a scholarship program through wreckmaster for its members. Beaty was awarded âTowman of the Yearâ in January of 1992 from TRPNC and named one of the âTop Ten Wreckmastersâ of 1997. Perry attained several levels of wreckmaster certification and received hazwoper certification in the early 90âs after realizing a need for quicker and more efficient cleanup response to highway incidents in the carolinas for emergency management, law enforcement, fire, and his towing customer base.
Perry created and founded Piedmont Environmental Response Team, âPERT,â later selling both companies in 1998. Beaty formed Logos, Inc. in 2004 for the purpose of developing and creating a lightweight, low air pressure drainpipe plug with flow through capabilities for hazmat operations. He applied for and received a patent for an invention described as âinflatable flow control apparatusâ and associated method. The name âFlowStopâ is trademarked. Perry also completed and was designated âHERSâ, Highway Emergency Response Specialist, through SERTC in Pueblo, Co in 2018. Training through hazmat responder network has grown to offer cargo tank awareness training with focus on transport tank trailers hauling class 3, 6 & 8 primarily, using tank simulators for hands on training..
Beginning in the 90âs, which seems very long ago the federal government charged three of their agencies, (epa, dot and osha) with creating a source of training for emergency spill response not only at industrial plants and manufacturing facilities but also to include emergency response to off site spills and unplanned releases of chemicals and fuels.
Thus, was created âHAZWOPER,â hazardous waste operations and emergency response!
Employers were tasked with having their personnel train in accordance with the 29 cfr 1910.120 rules and regulations that govern the awareness, defensive and offensive measures, proper protective clothing along with decon methods.Â
Epa officials began arriving on truck accident scenes to assure that fluid spills and releases were mitigated so as to prevent cross contamination.
Only certified personnel were permitted to engage in clean up operations. This requirement resulted in the need for all on scene employees to be hazwoper certified according to their level of involvement on scene. As in billing for towing and recovery, consideration now has to be given for certification, experience, safety concerns, equipment involvement, equipment and personnel de-con, hazmat transport and disposal, replenishing disposable equipment and, of course the admin fees for required reporting. What becomes quite apparent is the new billing structure created for hazmat remediation. While these charges can be quite extensive, they are never to be considered as âa license to steal.â Integrity, honesty and reputation are your most valuable assets!!! Â
Hazmat responder network enjoys an alliance with partners for extended methods of response such to include treatment products and test methods to enhance reduced time on scene and off the road quicker.
Training enables your team to be more efficient and conduct operations safer. By utilizing an âIAPâ incident action plan and âSOPâ standard operating procedure. Teams function at a higher standard and thus less confusion and / or accidents. Investing in training employees builds self esteem and helps with retention and minimizes worker turnover.
By offering total site remediation, tow & recovery companies position themselves to manage all phases of the mishap which pleases the authorities in dealing with only one entity.
Hazmat responder network introduces safe and practical working methods along with products offered by flowstop which were developed for quick and safe results. Absorbents as well as treatment materials and test equipment are demonstrated during the hazwoper course to enable participants to understand approach and secure of discharge materials.
Take your business to the next level and dominate the scene!
Are you ready? Call 877-356-9767 for your training!Â
Trade School Talent Ryan Lawrence, Beautiful Tow Truck Restoration
Ryan Lawrence, a senior at Boyertown/Berks Career and Technology (BCTC) Auto Collision Repair Technology program, knows the value of a vintage car. He has been restoring and fixing cars with his father since he was 10 years old. âIâve learned a lot about engines from my dad, but I wanted to train in a different area. I chose to attend BCTCâs Auto Collision program so I could continue repairing cars while learning how to restore them,â Ryan explains.Â
Ryanâs passion started with a 1932 Coupe he and his father restored together as a hobby. âI always looked forward to helping him on nights and every weekend,â Ryan stated. The Coupe is a beloved vehicle of car enthusiasts and was made famous by the Beach Boysâ 1963 hit âLittle Deuce Coupeâ. The 1932 Coupe and other cars they have restored can be seen at local car shows.
While searching Facebook Marketplace for additional vintage cars to purchase and repair, Ryan came across a 1972 tow truck for sale in New York. After some research, Ryan discovered the tow truck was custom designed for a Chrysler dealership in Carlisle, PA to be used as a maintenance vehicle. The tow truck included a snowplow and was painted in powder blue and white, Chryslerâs corporate colors in 1972. The tow truck was sold and had passed through several owners during its life. Over the years, it was used as a tow truck, a snowplow, and even in a wedding ceremony. Eventually, the plow was removed and sold, repairs were made to keep it running, including having the floorboards replaced. Last year Ryan made the drive to New York to purchase the tow truck with the goal of restoring it to its 1972 fresh off the factory floor look.
In the fall of 2021, Ryan drove the tow truck into BCTCâs Automotive Collision and Repair Technology program to begin the work. âI am happy all the students were able to help in this project. It is a great opportunity for them to restore a vintage vehicle.â Ryan added, âthe wrecker or back of the tow truck with the hoists, was the biggest challenge to the project. There were a lot of parts that had to be disassembled, cleaned, painted, and reassembled. The parts were laid out all over the Auto Collision shop.â The restoration of the tow truck was completed in January 2022 with a better than new 1972 Dodge Tow truck. Ryan plans on entering the truck at local car shows this year and putting the truck to use by offering towing services. Additional goals set by Ryan include working at his familyâs business, Lawrence Site Contractors, and opening his own body shop.
Congratulations Ryan Lawrence! Job well done!Â
In the Crosshairs!
We are so extremely excited to be planning the 2022 Midwest Regional âFamily Towing Affair.â in Mason, Ohio. The pandemic has affected us all and kept many confined so we are ready to get you out of the shop and give you an opportunity to mingle and do business in 2022! With forty-three annual Tow Shows under our belt, we pride ourselves in working for each person in attendance. This will be our 15th year at the Great Wolf Lodge indoor water park with our focus on a professional and family trade show. This show enables us to have the finances to fight for the betterment of the Towing Industry. We use the funds to pay for lobbyists, to assist injured drivers financially while out of work, to provide AD&D policies and much, much more. Without a show of this magnitude, all these things would not be possible which brings me to the next subjectâŚ.
Association shows are under attack by a well-known force in our Industry that would like to take over Tow Shows in the Ohio area and other markets for personal gain. We need support from every person, whether a vendor or attendee, to prevent this from happening. We never need to reach the day when bettering the Towing industry is less important than putting money in our pockets.
We are an Association ran Trade show and we appreciate your support and sponsorship in making Ohio one of the largest shows in the country! A special thank you for the associations that have continually supported this show: Towing & Recovery Association of Ohio (TRAO), Towing and Recovery Association of Kentucky (TRAK) and West Virginia Towing and Recovery Association (WVTRA).
In 2022, sign up Exhibit, Attend, Be Here! It is the difference between the dollars to provide Safety Training, lobbying for Legislation, and a family friendly show that will continue to invest deeply in future generations to come! Â
For more information contact Bruce Bender at 513-831-7469 or email at bruce@trao.org.
HAAS Alert
HAAS Alert, the industry standard in digital alerting, is improving and modernizing safety for tow operators, public safety professionals, and roadway workers across the country. The companyâs service Safety CloudÂŽ sends digital alerts to drivers as they approach active towers and other emergency vehicles on the road, alerting them to Slow Down and Move Over.Â
This month, global automaker Stellantis is adding Safety Cloud digital alerts to over 4 million Dodge, Jeep, Ram, Chrysler, and Alfa Romeo vehicles on the road today. Drivers will receive âSlow Down and Move Overâ alerts directly in the infotainment screen of the vehicle when approaching active towers. For drivers of other vehicles, Safety Cloud alerts are also delivered through the free navigation app WAZE, which is used by more than 30 million drivers nationwide.
HAAS Alert will be at the Florida Tow Show in April. This will be a great opportunity to experience Safety Cloud in-person and see for yourself how digital alerts keep towers safe out on the road.Â
HAAS Alert is working to bring digital alerting to as many drivers, vehicles, and platforms as possible. Be sure to sign up for the HAAS Alertâs newsletter in order to stay up to date on the companyâs work in the months ahead!
About HAAS AlertÂ
HAAS Alertâs mission is to build lifesaving mobility solutions to make vehicles and roads safer and smarter. Our vision is a connected, collision-free world where everyone gets home safely. HAAS Alertâs Safety Cloud vehicle professionals and towing fleets to nearby drivers, vehicles, and infrastructure. The company is a proud member of towing associations nationwide.
To learn more, visit haasalert.com. Â
FMCSAâs Entry-Level Driver Training (ELDT) Rule
Changes in Washington are once again posed to impact your business operations. Under FMCSAâs Entry-Level Driver Training (ELDT) rule the requirements for entry-level CDL trainees are getting stricter effective February 7, 2022. If you have not already heard of it, the ELDT rule sets minimum training standards for both those applying for a CDL and those providing training. First published in the Federal Register on December 7, 2016, the compliance date was pushed back from February 7, 2020 to February 7, 2022 to give state driverâs license agencies time to update their infrastructure, procedures, and budget allocations to meet the increased data collection and reporting requirements. With the date fast approaching, its essential that our members understand the changes and start preparing now.Â
New CDL Applicant Regulations
Under the FMCSA rule change, applicants must complete CDL training from an approved provider listed on the Training Provider Registry (TRP) before taking a CDL skills test or hazardous materials (H) endorsement knowledge test. The new regulations apply to applicants who want to:
- Obtain a Class A or Class B CDL for the first time.
- Upgrade an existing Class B CDL to a Class A CDL.
- Obtain a school bus (S), passenger (P), or hazardous materials (H) endorsement for the first time.
You did not read that wrong. Even if a driver already has a CDL, they will need to meet the new regulations if they are upgrading or applying for an S, P, or H endorsement for the first time on or after February 7, 2022. Completion of an approved training course will be verified by the applicantâs state driverâs license agency prior to administering the relevant skills or knowledge test. The good news is that the rule is not retroactive, so individuals issued a CDL or an S, P, or H endorsement prior to February 7, 2022 do not need to meet the new training requirements. Additionally, anyone with a Commercial Learners Permit (CLP) issued before February 7, 2022 will not be subject to the new requirements if they obtain the CDL before their CLP expires.
It is important to note that Entry-Level Driver Training (ELDT) regulations do not apply to those exempted from CDL requirements under 49 CFR part 383 including:
- Individuals applying under § 383.3(c), (d), or (h);
- Individuals applying for a restricted CDL under § 383.3(e) through (g);
- Military personnel who meet all requirements and conditions of § 383.77; or
- Individuals applying for a removal of a restriction in accordance with § 383.135(b)(7).
New CDL Training Standards
The rule change also sets minimum standards for CDL training providers. Under the new regulations, training courses must include both knowledge/ theory and behind the wheel (BTW) components. For the theory component, training providers can use lectures, demonstrations, computer based, and online learning. Required topics for the theory curriculum include basic operation, safe operating procedures, vehicle systems, reporting malfunctions, and non-driving activities information such as hours of service (HOS). Trainees must score at least 80% on the knowledge assessment to pass the theory portion. The behind the wheel training component must include an instructor-narrated drive to demonstrate basic vehicle control skills and proficiency in basic maneuvers. Simulators do not count towards the BTW training requirement. It is also important to note that the rule does not set a minimum number of hours for behind the wheel or knowledge training, just that CDL trainees have received the training and demonstrated proficiency.
Any CDL training provider wishing to be approved for the Training Provider Registry (TRP) will have to meet FMCSAâs requirements for curriculum, facilities, instructors, state licensing, and vehicles. Training providers are also required to electronically upload the traineeâs credentials to the TPR no later than midnight of the second business day after the training is completed.Â
If you are not already doing so, now is the time to start preparing for the new regulations and enroll your drivers in an approved CDL training program. If you have any drivers with valid CLPs issued before the deadline, we strongly recommend that you work with them to prioritize obtaining the CDL before their CLP expires.Â
For additional information on the ELDT rule, https://tpr.fmcsa.dot.gov. Â
Jerr-Dan Celebrates 50 Years of Excellence
Jerr-Dan, an Oshkosh Corporation company (NYSE:OSK) and a single brand leader in the towing and recovery industry, proudly announces its 50th anniversary. Jerr-Dan will celebrate the milestone anniversary throughout 2022 with activities planned for team members, distributors, and customers in honor of its five decades of innovation and commitment to quality and reliability.
Founded in 1972, Jerr-Dan initially built carriers and trailers and introduced the first aluminum carrier in 1977. Over the past 50 years, Jerr-Dan has become recognized globally as a leading manufacturer of light, medium, and heavy duty wreckers, carriers, and rotators.
Jerr-Dan has earned several patents for its products. These include the vehicle transporter, removable/replaceable wear pads, underlift assembly, independent wheel-lift, and underlift control.Â
âAs a company, we are proud of our 50-year legacy of innovation and performance, and our team is proud to provide the highest quality products every day to the operators that rely on our trucks to get the job done. Our mission isnât just to build the most reliable equipment in the industry. Itâs also to empower the men and women who make sacrifices every day to help others in need,â said Bob Nelson, vice president and general manager of Jerr-Dan. âAnd we are looking to develop innovative products for the next 50 years so we can continue to do just that.â
For more information, go to www.jerrdan.com.
About Jerr-DanÂ
JerrDan, LLC, an Oshkosh Corporation [NYSE: OSK] company, is a leading manufacturer of towing and recovery equipment. Its full line includes light-, medium- and heavy-duty carriers and wreckers, industrial transporters and four-car carriers. The company is headquartered in Hagerstown, MD., and its products are backed by industry leading warranties and a strong service network dedicated to the towing professional.
To learn more about Jerr-Dan, visit www.jerrdan.com.
About Oshkosh Corporation
At Oshkosh (NYSE: OSK), we make innovative, mission-critical equipment to help everyday heroes advance communities around the world. Headquartered in Wisconsin, Oshkosh Corporation employs nearly 15,000 team members worldwide, all united behind a common cause: to make a difference in peopleâs lives. Oshkosh products can be found in more than 150 countries under the brands of JLGÂŽ, PierceÂŽ, OshkoshÂŽ Defense, McNeilusÂŽ, IMTÂŽ, Jerr-DanÂŽ, Frontline™, OshkoshÂŽ Airport Products, London™ and Pratt Miller.
For more information, visit www.oshkoshcorp.com.Â
