We are so extremely excited to be planning the 2022 Midwest Regional “Family Towing Affair.” 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 subject….

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!  

For more information contact Bruce Bender at 513-831-7469 or email at bruce@trao.org.

Changes in Washington are once again posed to impact your business operations. Under FMCSA’s 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 driver’s 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. 

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 applicant’s state driver’s 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 FMCSA’s requirements for curriculum, facilities, instructors, state licensing, and vehicles. Training providers are also required to electronically upload the trainee’s credentials to the TPR no later than midnight of the second business day after the training is completed. 

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. 

For additional information on the ELDT rule, https://tpr.fmcsa.dot.gov.  

Speedbinders add efficiency, ergonomic advancement, and longevity to load securement and tie-down applications. We asked Joe Spelman, assistant product manager at The Crosby Group, how they do it.

Trucking professionals are leveraging the advantages of the Speedbinders Torque Drive product line that has recently been added to the portfolio offered by The Crosby Group, a leading global manufacturer of lifting, rigging, and load securement hardware.

US-based Speedbinders, a designer and manufacturer of pioneering load binders for heavy-duty load securement, was acquired by The Crosby Group this spring. The drill-operated Speedbinders not only provide faster tie-down and release times for drivers but also improve ergonomics and reduce strain injuries.

The product is targeted at anyone who operates, services, and maintains trucks and trailers. A broad range of professionals in equipment rental, manufacturing, steel, haulage, recovery, and logging have already leveraged its benefits—and The Crosby Group will widen utilization much further.

Solutions include the torque drive load binders, which use a portable power drill to secure loads, eliminating the need for repetitive, manual operations common with lever and ratchet binders. The product is available in three sizes:

• 5/16”-3/8”: working load limit (WLL) = 6,600 lb. (for 5/16” G70 chain)

• 3/8”-1/2“: WLL = 9,200 lb. (for 3/8” G70 chain)

• 1/2”-5/8”: WLL = 13,000 lb. (for 1/2” G70 chain)

Joe Spelman, assistant product manager at The Crosby Group, said: “The Torque Drive technology enhances worker safety and improves productivity for drivers, it is a winning combination! The reasons to choose a Speedbinder over a regular binder are many and include the fact that they’re quicker and easier to use; they save time and money; and strain injuries are dramatically reduced. Speedbinders provide additional opportunities for our valued channel partners, and together, we are bringing this innovation to end users worldwide.”

User Guide

You must own / operate a drill to use Speedbinders, but there are some other features that you should be aware of before putting the product to use:

•  Reaction bar: ensure that the handle is firmly against the deck or load. The handle is not a traditional ratchet handle; it is a reaction bar that is loaded with approx. 50 lb. of force. This helps keep the chain tension when driving over bumps, but it is important that the angle of the handle to the deck / load is low to ensure that good contact is retained. The handle is offset to one side to help ensure a low angle. If the handle cannot rest against the deck, it may be flipped to rest against the load instead.

•  Tightening sequence: with the increased tension achieved with the Speedbinder, it is important that the binders are tied down in sequence, tightening the slack first and then pulling to correct tension.

•  Drill operation: the drill will give better rotational torque over an impact’s hitting torque allowing optimal final tension. Ensure that you hold the drill with both hands to counter-act the natural twist of the drill.

Using Speedbinders on your trucks

Commercial truck operators need to make informed decisions about buying and maintaining equipment, while monitoring industry best practices and new technologies. Many of these operators already utilize Crosby shackles, hooks, chains, and other products, while smaller-scale customers that use trucks and farming equipment might be more familiar with the Speedbinder brand itself.

Spelman explained: “We are excited to strengthen and expand the strong community of Speedbinders users.  It was important to us that Steve Helline, founder of Speedbinders, continued to work with us after the acquisition to best support this critical customer base.”  

Helline responded: “It has been an incredible journey to see this business from concept to significant adoption and now a partnership with a world leader in load securement. I can’t think of a better steward of my business going forward and I look forward to supporting the continued adoption of Speedbinders in the market.”

The Crosby Group has already moved manufacturing operations from Ohio into its facility in Longview, Texas. Regular training sessions are delivered to existing dealers, focusing on the product’s key benefits, starting with safety. Users report that worker compensation claims have been significantly reduced since implementing the product, and their most experience drivers have extended their careers due to the elimination of repetitive ratcheting motion. 

Operated with a drill

The Crosby Group advises use of specific Milwaukee and DeWalt drills, but Spelman stressed that a high quality 18-20 volt, high-torque drill is ideal for best operation. These drills allow tie-down time reductions by up to three times, resulting in less fuel burned, less maintenance, and further time and money savings. Anybody, regardless of strength, can achieve higher tension than using a traditional binder. This higher tension is achieved by 24:1 gear ratio and continuous torque with equal pull on the chain, resulting in tighter tie-downs, less movement of loads, and reduced risk of binders loosening in transit.

One user said: “I have driven that load more than 700 miles, and I have not had to tighten a single binder down—not a single binder was loose the entire trip. I am completely sold on these binders and will be getting four more to make sure I have enough for all the future loads I will be pulling using my chains and Speedbinders.”

Speedbinders are also suited to use in confined spaces because there is no need to ensure there is enough space for a handle to move. This is particularly useful when working in the middle of steel coils, over equipment, or flat against the deck, which cannot be achieved using traditional ratchet binders. Other advantages include tamper resistance, as a tool is required to loosen loads; and longer life, largely because a sealed gearbox keeps dust, sleet, salt brine, etc. out. 

Overall, more and more drivers are switching to Speedbinders to add efficiency, ergonomic advancement, and longevity to their load securement and tie-down applications.

About The Crosby Group

The Crosby Group is a global leader in the innovation, manufacturing and distribution of products and services used to make lifting and load securement safer and more efficient, with premier brands such as Crosby, Gunnebo Industries, Crosby Straightpoint, Crosby BlokCam, Acco, McKissick, Crosby Feubo, Trawlex, Lebus, and CrosbyIP.

With global engineering, manufacturing, distribution and operations, the company provides a broad range of products and solutions for the most demanding applications with uncompromising quality that exceed industry standards. www.thecrosbygroup.com