TRAA News Update

There’s always a lot happening at the Towing and Recovery Association of America, Inc.® (TRAA) and this summer has been no different. Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, TRAA is still hard at work protecting and improving the towing and recovery industry. We’ve been keeping our members updated with resources throughout the pandemic while still focusing our legislative efforts on the 2020 INVEST in America Act, the Protecting Roadside First Responders Act, and laying the groundwork for a federal Move Over Law.

Additionally, one of TRAA’s key focuses is bringing new people into the industry. In June TRAA launched its newest book, How to Become a Tow Truck Operator which is now available for e-reader and paperback on Amazon. This is a short, no-nonsense guide to a career as an operator in the towing and recovery industry. The book provides an overview of the work towers do, a tow truck driver job description, a look at tow truck driver requirements, information on tow truck driver income and salary, tips on finding a job in the towing industry and more. How to Become a Tow Truck Operator is a must-read for anyone considering a career in towing and recovery!

If you want to get involved in TRAA’s federal legislative efforts, registration is now open for TRAA’s 3rd annual Legislative Action Workshop set for March 9-11, 2021. This event is the towing and recovery industry’s only national “hill day”. Each year TRAA members unite to focus on particular topics that align with our collective legislative agenda. The legislation addressed during this year’s event included a federal Move Over Law, supporting the Drive SAFE Act, and critical weights and measures changes. During the event, we were able to secure co-signers and essential support for bills that will help all towers be safer and operate more efficiently. This is your opportunity to meet with members of Congress and make real, substantial change for the whole community. Register now to reserve your spot at http://traaonline.com/events/legislativeactionworkshop/!

Hiring & Firing Tactics That Might Just Get You Sued

James E. Lewis

A confused man in black clothes with a box of office supplies. Dismissal from work. Loss of jobs. The shock of losing your job. The closure of the firm. Unemployment. Economic crisis.

Times have changed, so have people. Hiring and firing used to be simple and straightforward.

Lawyers now advertise on television, the internet, and the radio – in fact, during just about every television program you watch, they drop eight or ten lawyer commercials per hour. While most are mainly covering slips and falls or car accidents, more and more firms are getting into employment law. This is one of those areas where I can’t recommend enough to get up to snuff on the rules of engagement and learn how to avoid penalties.

Unlike dealing with a vehicle damage claim, having to handle a wrongful termination suit, or worse yet, constructive discharge claim is often more detrimental to your business. First, employment claims generally aren’t covered by any form of insurance like a truck wreck or vehicle damage claim may be – these come straight out of your pocket. And with margins as tight as they are, especially now with shutdowns and drops in business levels, writing that $50,000 or $100,000 check is just something most people can’t afford to do.

That money could very well be all the extra money you have for the year, after you pay everyone, pay yourself, reinvest in trucks and equipment, and pay all the other bills like fuel and insurance. You finally have some cash sitting on hand, and something one of your employees does to another employee might cost you significantly. I’ll get to that in a moment.

Before we get started, let’s establish something – a damage claim, wrecking one of your trucks, or even a wrongful termination suit are pretty much cut-and-dried scenarios. A constructive discharge claim, which I’ll fully explain, isn’t cut-and-dried at all. It can name you separately from your business as a “separate civil litigant.” It can also name one or more of your employees, especially managers and dispatchers, as separate civil litigants. You can’t protect them. You can pay their attorney’s fees, but there’s no protection for them, or you, under your LLC or incorporation.

A safe and legal hiring process is all about documentation. Don’t make promises you can’t keep, and if you make any promises, be sure to drop them into an initial employment agreement and get signatures with your countersignatures.

The hiring area where most employers fail or come up short is over-promising and under-delivering. If you tell someone they’re going to make $75,000 per year in an interview, and you know in your own mind that it would take 40+ hours per week of overtime, three big truck wrecks per week, and to have all the planets in alignment to get that done – you probably shouldn’t make the statement. Many, many employers get all giddy and excited about hiring a well-qualified and experienced person and they tend to let their mouth overload their backsides…and it bites them in the butt.

The best-case scenario that happens after you make promises you can’t keep is that you have an angry employee who feels like you lied to them – and of course, they start looking for another job once they figure it out. They might even talk to other employees who may also make the realization that you stretched the truth. I’ve actually seen five people out of an eight-person crew quit in one week because of that.

That’s a bad scenario in and of itself with losing half or more of your crew. What’s worse is a constructive discharge suit brought on by those mile-high promises you made and couldn’t deliver on.

Terminations are a whole different animal. In an “at-will employment” state, you don’t generally need to document every little mistake made by an employee before terminating them, but it surely helps. It also helps to go over those details before you drop the hammer, so to speak.

It IS NOT generally a wrongful termination if you don’t tell someone why you’re letting them go. That myth is just that – a myth.

Treat them with respect, make sure you can get all of your property back, from keys, to phones, to gate codes and other things. Cover yourself and use a witness during the entire termination process – not just that last five minutes. And then write an after-action report with your witness helping, just in case the terminated person wants to litigate, or threaten litigation.

When it comes to threatening litigation, having worked closely with attorneys for twenty years, I can tell you that no one who ever threatened litigation has ever followed through. Most people who say they’re going to sue you don’t know an attorney, have never met an attorney, and have no idea what the basis for a lawsuit with merit would even be. You should still cover yourself, regardless of how serious you may take them.

One bit of advice I can give that will likely save you time, headaches, and drama is that if an employee or former employee – or even a customer – threatens to sue you, stop the conversation immediately, tell them politely that you can no longer speak to them, and that if they’ll have their attorney send you a formal contact request, you’ll forward it to your attorney.

Don’t let your ego or your will to argue get in the way – the other person is angry and is grasping at straws. Shut them down and don’t say or do anything that might compromise your business.

Now – there’s the one suit that an employer can’t blow off, and the scenarios involved in one of these have likely happened in your business several times. Yes, you’ve probably done these things. Maybe we all have.

One guy is annoying, doesn’t do a great job, and other employees complain about him. So, you refuse raises or promotions, and you give him all the crap jobs you can think of. Sweeping, mopping, stocking items in the shop, doing extra dirty jobs…making him work weird shifts, canceling days off…all in an effort to get him to quit on his own so you don’t have to fire him.

How about making promises you can’t deliver on, or treating someone with less respect than others? Or one I’ve witnessed recently, outright lying to the employee, and then making him work menial tasks when he is highly qualified and has a great background and reputation, but the ego of one or more of your managers won’t let him work to his potential so he can make decent money.

These are all examples of constructive discharge, and it’s actually very much illegal. It’s like in the trucking industry where a truck driver whines and cries about miles and money, and the dispatcher gets tired of hearing it so they hold back good runs from the driver and make sure he only gets about half of what everyone else does for miles and income…and the driver quits. That’s constructive discharge, and it’s illegal.

He hasn’t been fired – he quits because he wasn’t treated fairly or with respect, or you as an employer created a scenario that caused him to realize things weren’t working out in his favor.

Remember that “separate civil litigant” statement? In a constructive discharge suit, whoever made things happen that impacted the employee can and will be named in a suit separately from your company. That person will then have to defend himself. How many of your dispatchers or managers can drop $2,500 – $10,000 to pay an attorney to defend them, especially when what they’ve done likely can’t be defended? Are you planning to cover those costs for them? After all, you as a manager or owner let whatever happened happen.

The official, legal definition of constructive discharge is when an employee resigns because they can no longer stay on the job due to a hostile work environment. This differs from a typical resignation, firing, or other types of separation of employment as the employee is leaving because of intolerable working conditions.

Unbearable working conditions might include discrimination or harassment, mistreatment, or receiving a negative change in pay or job duties for reasons that aren’t work-related.

In a constructive discharge scenario, the law treats it like a wrongful termination, only the normal elements like harassment or discrimination based on age, national origin, pregnancy, race, religion, sex/gender, and disability don’t apply – this is all about the environment you’ve allowed to be created for the employee.

One last thing. Most states have statutes surrounding wrongful termination – if a person were discriminated against, there are limitations provided to actually protect the employer – awards to a plaintiff are generally limited to their wages for a year, times two or three, perhaps. With a constructive discharge, especially in a jury trial, emotions and feelings come into play and the jury essentially gets to write the check. Not a situation you want to be in. The sky is the limit.

Protect yourselves and your employees – if a manager or dispatcher is playing favorites or treating someone like a red-headed stepchild, acknowledge it, especially to the person getting favors or being treated badly, and step in and stop it.

It’s all about your bottom line and your reputation. Imagine for a minute what a constructive discharge suit could do to your future employment efforts. These, like all suits, become public at some point, plus people talk. Especially wrecker drivers!

Jerr-Dan Financial Solutions

Darian Weaver

Whether you own one truck or a full fleet, count on the Jerr-Dan Financial Solutions (JDFS) for the same innovative approach and customer service you’ve come to expect from Jerr-Dan.

Comprised of tow truck operators, sales and finance professionals who know the towing and recovery industry inside and out, the JDFS team has more than 60 years’ collective experience. And, they not only know the language of the towing industry, but they know the equipment and accessories you need.

JDFS will put together the lease or loan package that’s right for your business, without the hassle of dealing with a bank who sees only numbers and doesn’t fully understand the value of the asset or its importance to the success of your business.

Backed by Ascentium Capital, a wide credit window allows JDFS to find solutions to even the toughest finance scenarios.

JDFS prides itself on the simplicity of its process and dedication to finding solutions for both new and established buyers to deliver a best-in-class customer experience and value that extends beyond the asset itself.

Benefits of the program include:

• Free Customer Consultation to Identify Equipment and Finance Needs

• Online Credit Application Process

• 24-Hour Turnaround on Credit Submissions

• Up to 100% Financing for Qualified Buyers

• Up to 84 Month Financing for Qualified Buyers

• Competitive Rates

• Flexible Lending Options

• Assistance with Trading in your Current Trucks

Count on JDFS to design an innovative financial program that works for you in every business situation and every economy.

For more details, see your nearest Jerr-Dan distributor or call 866.923.JDFS (5337) or visit www.jerrdan.com.

FleetNet America Receives 500,000th Electronic Status Update

Darian Weaver

CHERRYVILLE, N.C., Dec. 2, 2020 /PRNewswire/ – FleetNet America®, an ArcBest® company (Nasdaq: ARCB), is pleased to announce it has received its 500,000th electronic status update through sureEcosystem^®.

Bit Fleet Service submitted the 500,000th status update on an event to FleetNet through sureEcosystem on November 23, 2020.

To meet our customers’ needs of more information quicker, FleetNet made investments to improve customer experience by using sureEcosystem, an electronic platform that enables service providers to connect and communicate directly with FleetNet.

By connecting electronically with FleetNet, service providers can deliver more real-time updates from the field to improve the data and information customers receive. The platform also allows service providers to upload event photos, invoices, and notes from a mobile device or desktop. They can also connect their dispatch software directly to sureEcosystem.

“FleetNet is proud to be leading the industry in electronic communication with our service providers. This tool is an incredible benefit to us, our service providers and, most importantly, our customers,” said Don Doty, vice president of Roadside Operations and Vendor Relations. “We are continuing our success to move the industry further into digital solutions that provide customers quicker visibility to their equipment status and give service providers better communication tools in the field.”

INA TOWING NETWORK wishes “Seasons Blessings” for our Industry!

Darian Weaver

INA Towing after earlier in 2020 adding a state-of-the-art facility stands poised to help others during this current market. Gay Rochester CEO stated: “We are thinking of, and praying for our Industry during our current times. We appreciate all of the continued support that has come our way this year!”

As 2021 approaches INA Towing continues their efforts and support for the “Slow Down, Mover Over laws,” as they work effortlessly through their program “Over One- Lose None Program,” at the state levels with their towing association, and at the National level with TRAA.

Gay Rochester stated, “We do all for the best benefit of this industry.” We Love and appreciate our customers and wish them all a Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, and that 2021 will be a blessing of safety, health, and abundance for them all!

www.overone.org

Austin Insurance

Darian Weaver

Austin Insurance is a family-owned business, that has specialized in providing insurance to the Towing Industry since 1991. We have dedicated ourselves to providing quality service and a quality product to our customers. We work with several different companies that allow us to give you a quality product for the most competitive price possible. We can give our customers the basic of all towing policies or we can mix and match to make sure they are covered for every kind of risk possible.

Austin Insurance has been providing insurance for nearly 30 years and has insured tow companies from all 50 states no matter if they are a 1 or 50 truck account and everything in between. Every company is unique and is different from each other. “We’ll Come See You” is not just a catchphrase, we will come see you and make sure that you have a full understanding of the coverages and answer any questions that you might have.

When you have a claim, we will work with you to decide the best course of action regarding the claim. We will walk you step by step of the process of reporting a claim and getting the claim settled as quickly as possible.

As a bonus, we are more than happy to help you in complying with any DOT/FMCSA & OSHA compliance Audits. While we are agents for the insurance companies, we are also agents for the Tower as well. Please see the list below of all the coverages we provide, please visit the Website below and give us a call, we will be glad to set up a time where “We’ll Come See You”. (270-444-6818) www.wreckerins.com

• Towing Insurance

• Repo Insurance

• Transporting Insurance

• Trucking Insurance

• Heavy Hauler’s Insurance

• Salvage/Recyclers Insurance

• Motor Truck Cargo Coverage’s

• On-hook Coverage

• Umbrella’s

• Workers Comp

• Bond’s

THE RIGHT FINANCING IN A CRUCIAL TIME

Darian Weaver

accountant working on desk using calculator for calculate finance report in office

Finding the right financing is so crucial in the towing industry especially during these challenging times. Often it can make or break the cash flow and profitability of the business. With so many companies and dealer financing options out there, the industry can be enmeshing and mind boggling for owners. To bring clarity for good decision making, I am highlighting key factors that I have learned through my twenty-one years of truck-financing experience that can help guide your choice of a finance partner.

Support Availability, Not Distancing

It appears this world is trying to operate with minimal human contact. Though this may be helpful on the spread of infection, it is not helpful from a finance service-provider standpoint. Do yourself a favor and choose a partner that will answer the phone or will promptly call you back. When you are expanding your business or replacing needed trucks which have gone down, you need a finance partner that is knowledgeable, efficient and, for sure, available. Helping you to navigate quickly through processing and titling, the right support will save you needless aggravation and help your business get where you are taking it. Combine this with a finance manager whose character and experience you can trust, and your mind will be at ease. We have received feedback from repeat customers whose have experienced this:

“Jeremy is a stand-up guy and has been financing my equipment for more than seven years. I have never found anyone so willing to help the customer.” Mark Denson- Onsite Towing, Houston, Texas.

Direct Lender Over Broker

Another key factor that I have experienced is to find a finance company like Alliance Funding that is a direct lender on the balance sheet as opposed to a broker. Although a broker can be important for lower-credit scenarios, direct lenders can offer fast processing times, more competitive products by avoiding broker margins, and have the ability to structure the lowest rates, longest terms, and a balloon-payment structure. Our goal is not just a sale for you, but a lifetime of sales earned through excellent service:

“Jeremy Tsakiris is the man. He hooked me up more than once and has definitely earned my business for life.” Trevor Sherrer –California

Collateral-Specific Financing

Equipment finance should be specific to the collateral you want to fund. This may be a confusing statement, but what I have seen through my tenure is that many banks, credit unions, or other equipment finance and capital funding companies will file a blanket lien or incumbent on the business. Alliance Funding, along with a couple of other finance companies that focus on the towing industry, will only file a lien on the title. They do not take advantage of the customer by burying the blanket lien language in the fine print.

Early Payoff Numbers at the Beginning

In same context of “buried” info, note what the real prepayment or early payoff numbers look like at the beginning of your decision making. Be specific in your questions, so you can learn what all your financing options are. A good of example of options is leasing. Most of my customers prefer to do a lease purchase for tax benefits. However, in an early buyout situation, a small penalty on the “Principle Remaining Balance” is massively more beneficial than having to pay the whole remaining schedule.

Leasing’s Tax Advantage

As some of you may know, the tax advantage of a lease purchase program far exceeds that of a traditional loan. A lease purchase program is 100% tax deductible as an expense to the company. A traditional loan is considered an asset where a standard depreciation schedule is applied. This results in a fraction of the write-off to the business.

A common misconception is that a lease-purchase program is more expensive. When, in fact, after factoring in the expense deduction, the result is most beneficial to the entity. The underwriting requirements do not differ whether I structure the agreement as a lease or a loan. Most financing companies, Alliance Funding included, can do either type of agreement. The lease purchase agreement allows for a longer balloon payment (i.e. 10-30% balloon payment). By doing this type of structure, you are simply allowing yourself more options when the term is over and giving yourself a lower monthly payment through the term. This will allow the business to have a quicker cash flow helping the monthly budget:

“Jeremy from Alliance Funding, helps my customers to whom I sell trucks by structuring their agreements with a balloon payment which helps them meet their monthly budgets.” Ed Stroth, Sales, Twin City Wreckers

In conclusion, financing equipment and trucks is a requirement for many businesses across this beautiful country. Finding a finance partner you can trust in challenging times or times of boom is crucial to the process. When that time comes, you need a partner who is not just knowledgeable and available, but who is also competitive and can approve the financing with your budget and needs in mind. We don’t just want you to survive during this time, we want you to thrive, so please contact us here at Alliance Financing by calling us at 800-978-8817 or visiting us at our website at https://alliancefunding.com/ Stay safe, and God bless this great country!

The Strength of the Towing Industry is the People

Darian Weaver

Great employees and success - the idea that Great employees helps to achieve success in business, work and life symbolized by English word and a newton cradle, 3d illustration

After twenty-five years in the towing industry, I finally figured out the strength of the industry, it is the people. When I would do seminars at tow shows I would tell the towers, any of you can walk out on the floor and buy any of the following:

1. You can buy a truck

2. You can get it financed

3. You can get it insured

4. You can buy all the equipment for it

5. You can even register with motor clubs to get tows

The only thing that makes you different from the guy sitting next to you is your employees.

I can remember when I started my tow company, I needed to hire dispatchers, drivers, and other employees I did not even know I needed. I was new to the industry and had no idea the type of people I needed. I did know who I was and what I wanted my company to look like. I was a competitor in sports, and I built a lot of successful teams, so I figured building a tow company cannot be any different.

I wanted:

1. People skilled in the positions I needed

2. I wanted all my trucks to be the same

3. I wanted all my employees to look good and wear uniforms

4. I wanted the best accounts that generated tows

5. I wanted lots of bling with everything in my company.

As I started putting it all together there were a lot of people to help me. Even my competition showed me the ropes of the industry. We all worked together and became friends. I remember sending my wife to a tow show in Florida one month after we opened the doors. Everyone was great and extremely helpful. It did not take long for me to be where I wanted to be.

After running my business for a year, the state of Texas was making changes on how they would regulate the towing industry. I decided it was time to start a towing association. My wife and I jumped in the car and drove all over Texas meeting with hundreds of tow companies and letting them know how we would be regulated going forward. I remember being in Houston in front of three hundred tow companies with a state rep trying to explain what was coming. After about 30 minutes of arguing we had to call the police. It was then I knew this industry was for me. I was working with a bunch of people that worked hard and was ready to fight for what they believed in. Our travels paid off as we ended up with over 1100 members in our association. Nine years later we are still going strong.

In 2009 American Towman Magazine put my wife and I on the cover of their magazine as towman and woman of the year. Working with American Towman and Tow Times I met thousands of tow companies. I did seminars and I was able to help a lot of people. I was doing a seminar and after it was over two young brothers approached me and started to give me shit about the class. We became good friends and 15 years later I refer to one of them as my son. Over the years I learned the people in this industry would do anything for me.

Shortly after that I remember walking through a parking lot in Ohio. The show was over for the day and I wanted to look at trucks. When I was not expecting it a huge hand reached out and grabbed me. This person told me he was starting a tow magazine and needed my help. I felt this was an opportunity to give back to the industry, so I started to work with Tow Professional Magazine, and ten years later I am still writing articles for them. Darian and I are best of friends. Again, it is all about the people.

After over 25 years in the business, I was fortunate enough to sell my company and retire. It did not take long for me to realize I was not the retiring type. I decided to start another company that would help the industry and solve some major problems. I developed TowTrax, a logistics software company that would find the closest tow truck to the stranded motorist. I was able to help tow companies get tows they never had before.

We brought on our first customer, and we were helping my customer service the Syracuse, New York area. I found a young tow company that really supported my company, and I was able to help him grow his business at the same time. Needless to say, I now have two adopted sons in the industry.

I remember when I started TowTrax I needed some investors to help me get started. I had a few investors lined up when the virus hit, and they all went and hid under a rock. I decided to go to the industry that has been helping me for years. I put together a stock plan for TowTrax and I presented it to the industry. I have nine tow companies that stepped up and became a part of TowTrax. It amazes me that I have complete strangers investing in my business and will help me become successful. When I am done, I hope to have 25,000 tow companies that I can work with in the coming years.

From Pennsylvania to Oregon to Alabama to Florida, tow companies have taken a chance on me. Again, what an industry! I look back now at my twenty-five years in towing and I have met thousands of great people, successful investors that will help TowTrax be successful, and two adopted sons.

I want to thank all the people that have touched my life and helped me live my dreams. As the owner of the company I want you to walk out on the floor and hug, or thank all your employees because it’s them that separate you from the rest.

XINSURANCE

Darian Weaver

Business trip — Mature tow truck driver making reports on clipboard against sky

There are few things as troubling as hearing that you’re not covered by your insurance policy. By providing you with access to customized liability insurance policies that cover gaps in your traditional insurance coverage, XINSURANCE helps minimize exposures and maximize peace of mind.

The reality is most liability insurance provides adequate protection for homeowners, business owners, and employers. Unfortunately, in today’s litigious society, there are huge areas of exposure in the event of a lawsuit. XINSURANCE fills that liability insurance void for you.

TROUBLE GETTING COVERAGE?

XINSURANCE also specializes in helping individuals and businesses who live a lifestyle or participate in activities that make them difficult for traditional carriers to insure. If you’ve been denied, non-renewed, or canceled coverage, don’t give up quite yet. Chances are XINSURANCE can help.

FOR TOWING AND REPO COMPANIES

When a vehicle has been towed or repossessed, there is no way to know the kinds of damages that could occur during the transportation or holding period. At XINSURANCE, our goal is to provide coverage for those gaps to those who need it most where regular insurance companies do not. Whether you need insurance for wrongful driver repossession, risks in the transportation of goods, liability insurance for risks associated with garage keepers and watchdogs, or something else, XINSURANCE is the insurance partner you want for the coverage you need.

TOWING AND REPO INSURANCE

With XINSURANCE, you can purchase customized liability insurance coverage that will protect you in all the areas that your homeowners, employers, and business insurance policies won’t or can’t. Our underwriting team brings you over 30 years of experience, along with the ability to offer customized limits, coverage, deductibles, and premiums to create the perfect plan for your personal protection.

For more information on XInsurance’s products & services, go to https://www.xinsurance.com/risk-class/towing-operations-repossession-companies/.

Stated Amount vs Cost New

Darian Weaver

Is your Comprehensive and Collision coverage for your power units and/or trailers written on a Stated Amount or Cost New (ACV) basis? Not knowing the difference could cost you thousands at the time of a loss.

Imagine, your prized heavy-duty wrecker was just the subject of an unforeseen accident and your insurance company has deemed it a total loss after identifying the extent of the damages. How and on what basis your full coverage (comprehensive and collision) insurance was written could be the difference between being in an equity or inequity position which could ultimately cost you thousands. According to their contract, the insurance carrier owes the fair market value toward the replacement of the insured power unit regardless of how much is owed to the respective lienholder. If your policy is written on a Stated Amount basis, that amount is the MOST the insurance company will pay, minus your deductible toward the replacement of your power unit regardless of its fair market value. Conversely, if your policy is written on a Cost New basis, the insurance company will pay the fair market value even if it is more than what is listed as the COST NEW amount on the actual policy.

Example:

Your insured power unit is listed on the policy for $100,000. At the time of the loss, the market value for your power unit is $120,000. When written on a Stated Amount basis, the insurance company will pay $100,000 minus your deductible.

Given the same example, if the policy is written on a Cost New basis, the insurance carrier would pay $120,000 minus your respective deductible.

Of note, the insurance policy will not pay for the Federal Excise Tax of 12%.

In conclusion, when your insurance policy is written on a Stated Amount basis, you should review the value listed on the policy with your insurance agent to make sure it corresponds with the fair market value. Since power units depreciate, it is vital to adjust these values downward annually with your representation on an annual basis. If your agent sits down with you at renewal, that is the perfect time to work out these fine details. Also, and of note, when a power unit is added by endorsement during the policy term, be certain to let your agent know the value of the power unit or trailer given the current market value in your respective operating territory.

Premium comparisons between polices written on Stated Amount vs Cost New are roughly the same given the overall underwriting criteria on an account-to-account basis. Meaning some policies written on a Stated Amount are more premium dollars than policies written on a Cost New basis…and vice versa.

For additional information on this or any other insurance topic you are dealing with, please email or give us a call!

For more information, visit www.mkeithins.com.

WEISS INSURANCE

Darian Weaver

Our team, Cindy Horn, Janice LaVitte and Bryan Westfall of Weiss Insurance specialize in various transportation risks. We wear many hats as independent agents. We tailor design your insurance policy to fit your insurance needs. Not all risks are identical. Years in business, your own loss experience, driver experience and type of business will affect your insurance cost.

We understand your business and your business needs. COVID has made 2020 a challenging year, we expect 2021 to be equally challenging. Our insurance markets are A rated, and in most states. Towing, Transportation, Repossession, Cargo, Excess Cargo, Garage and/or Repair Facilities and Auto Sales are some of the types of business that we will write. We have markets for worker’s compensation, group health, property, general liability and personal insurance.

For personalized service, give us a call … Cindy Horn @ 636-534-7226 or cindyhorn@weiss-ins.com

Hal Kresser Agency

Darian Weaver

Big personal insurance companies spend billions each year on TV ads convincing people that price is all that matters when shopping for insurance. In the commercial world, that is horrible advice. Instead of shopping for the cheapest insurance, you should be shopping for the right insurance agent. Just like not all insurance is the same, not all agents are the same. Towing is a niche market for us because Hal Kresser, the agency principal, is very interested in the industry. He worked for a towing service when he was young and even today he is Wreckmaster Level II certified and can operate your equipment. Can your current agent do that? Hal is also involved in the industry. He is an active, participating member of the Towing and Recovery Association of Ohio. In fact, he is so well respected that he was nominated and elected to be president of the local region and is currently serving his fifth term. Before he was an insurance agent he spent 20 years as a cop. He is certified in accident reconstruction and knows the laws and how to deal with police officers. He’s good to have as an advocate in some of the collision claims that happen when there are disputes as to fault and he can help you decide when to fight traffic tickets and violations and when not. For example, we had one two years ago where a person on a bicycle rode into the side of a rollback that was making a right turn. The police officer listed the driver at fault for violating a crosswalk. After talking to the driver, Hal learned that the bike hit the truck by the back axel. That meant the truck was almost fully through the turn before being struck. That makes it the bicyclist’s fault. He contacted the traffic supervisor and discussed how the report was improperly written and explained why it was not the driver’s fault. The supervisor agreed and got the officer to re-write the report correctly. This saved the customer from having a chargeable accident on his record and saved the insurance company from paying a personal injury claim. Claim adjustors are trained to take a police report as gospel. Unfortunately, not all crash reports are written correctly. Hal has the experience to know and can help when it happens to keep our clients from being unjustly charged with accidents.

When you choose the right agent, he will be able to place you with an insurance carrier that best suits your needs. As an independent agent we have the ability to add new companies that enter the market. We have seen companies come into the towing market for a few years and then get back out. When that happens, you can lose your insurance through no fault of your own. A good agent is on top of that and can make transitioning to another carrier seamless. You need to build a relationship with your agent. He can help you decide when to file a claim or when to pay out of pocket. He can advise you on ways to keep your rates down as well as help you implement plans to avoid liability claims. We recommend things like putting cameras in the trucks to document crashes. They can be invaluable in situations where fault is in dispute.

Choose the right agent and build the relationship on trust and integrity. The agent should be viewed as a stakeholder in your business. In a recent Google review of our agency, Tiffany Corey of John Wayne Towing wrote “even when we were told there was no hope by everyone else, they didn’t give up and kept pushing forward. I work for John Wayne Towing and we are a small company so something as major as insurance can really make or break a company. So, if you are needing insurance, I would highly recommend giving them a chance.” You need a good, well managed insurance portfolio to help your business be successful and the agent needs your business to be successful to make his business successful. If you are contemplating any big expansion plans such as adding a new building or moving to a larger facility in another part of town, or adding more trucks you should involve your agent during the planning stage to find out in advance what the impact on the insurance will be. Many times, I get the call to add something like a building, a second location, or a 50 ton rotator to the policy after the fact. Then the insured is upset when he sees how much it costs. Now it’s too late.

To learn more call Hal Kresser today! 877-412-3434 or email him hal@kresseragency.com.

4th ANNUAL ALABAMA “SLOW DOWN, MOVE OVER” RALLY

Darian Weaver

The 4th Annual Alabama “Slow Down, Move Over “Rally was held December 6th, 2020 to raise awareness of the “Slow Down, Move Over” (SDMO) laws and the dangers that towers face daily. This event has grown over the last 4 years and again was a tremendous success! Over 200 + trucks and 500 + attendees were on hand Sunday to stand in Solidarity for protection of their brothers and sisters. Currently, we are losing one tow operator every 6 days which is higher than other first responders who average losing one every 30 days. Our 1st responders’ office space is often mere inches away from the white line of inattentive motorists driving dangerously close in their vehicles at high speeds. These men and women towers are out doing what they love to do, serving others, and too many are not going home to their families afterward.

The 4th Annual “SDMO” Rally was put on by Classic Towing, which is owned by Wes Passmore, and the event was sponsored by Insurance Hub, Austin Hinds Motors, Tow Professional Magazine, Classic Printing, Knox Auto parts, and Passmore Automotive. Four years ago, Wes lost a driver, John Hubbard, to a motorist who did not move over one lane when approaching a first responder giving aid on the side of the road. Since then, Wes has worked tirelessly and persistently to spread the word to all to move over one and protect fellow towers so that no more are lost to inattentive drivers. Consequently, over 500 participants came from as far as Louisiana and Mississippi to help support the rally and then drove from Hueytown, AL to Tuscaloosa, AL with other first responders to raise awareness across the state.

Tow Professional Magazine and Alabama Towing & Recovery Association presented a proclamation to the Governor of Alabama. Governor Kay Ivey proclaimed December as the month to honor and raise awareness for “Slow Down, Move Over Law.” We will continue to strive for the education of our public so we may protect our men and women of towing!

Urgently-Affiliated Tow Professionals Help Drive Smarter, Safer Roadside Assistance

Darian Weaver

Roadside safety is top of mind as more Americans choose road-tripping as an alternative to other forms of travel in 2020. A recent survey by global mobility and roadside assistance platform Urgently reveals 84.5% of consumers consider safety “very” to “extremely” important related to roadside assistance.

This is why Urgently is committed to powering proactive mobility and roadside assistance for a smarter, safer roadside experience. The Urgently platform intelligently connects motorists in need with the nearest available and qualified service providers.

Urgently demonstrates its commitment to safety in a number of ways – from donations to the International Towing and Recovery Hall of Fame and Museum’s Survivors Fund, to sending out local weather alerts, to delivering greater transparency throughout the roadside experience. The use of mobile technologies, innovative processes, and business standards are important aspects of Urgently’s commitment to safety and transparency.

In addition, Urgently requires service providers to maintain standards that set them apart: things like a minimum level of insurance, experience, customer ratings, branded uniforms and vehicles, background checks, service technician photos and information shared with motorists in advance. These standards have resulted in a highly qualified service provider network. And it’s because of this network that Urgently has been able to partner with premium global automotive, insurance, telematics and transportation technology brands.

From the beginning, the Service Providers in Urgently’s network – some 80,000 digitally connected and accountable service providers nationwide – have been vital to Urgently’s success. Urgently has built this network by treating service providers as partners, driving network loyalty and superior service quality to help grow their business and increase efficiency. By treating service providers as true partners, Urgently has created a high-performing, technology-savvy and responsive network for servicing today’s needs, while ensuring service capability for the future.

Service providers also benefit from being part of the Urgently network. Urgently supports the network with tools and training to help service providers adapt to changes in the mobility market and take advantage of opportunities to grow their business. In a recent survey of service providers, Service partners that are embracing new technology like Urgently are experiencing above average growth. Urgently also ranked at the top for providing the best overall experience for service providers, for proximity to jobs, dispatch portal, payment process, technology and support. Urgently was also identified as the roadside assistance brand service providers would most likely recommend to a friend or colleague.

Global automotive and new mobility companies are increasingly designing and marketing more transportation options with varying tasks, sizes and complexity – from electric and autonomous vehicles, to micro-mobility options, drones, robotic delivery and more. For this reason, Urgently has built its service provider network with the future in mind. Its network consists of roadside assistance and towing professionals whose business goals and practices align with the expanding future of the mobility ecosystem.

Urgently will continue to build its service provider network to support the expanding mobility assistance market, and welcomes towing professionals that share the company’s commitment to ensuring a smarter, safer roadside experience.

Towing professionals can learn more about Urgently and how to join its service provider network by visiting the company’s website or by emailing towsupport@urgent.ly.

THE APP THAT WORKS FOR YOU!

Darian Weaver

Mach1 is not a motorclub, at least not in the traditional sense of bidding wars and ETA’s. Mach1 is different because it puts the power in your hands. Mach1 customers order service direct, not from insurance companies or other motorclubs. This means, you actually determine the final price to the customer. There is a price window estimate that the customer sees, and our software lets you adjust the price within that window and even add additional fees if needed.

There is no bidding wars or ETA competition, the Mach1 dispatching system finds the closest provider to the customer and sends that provider the request first. It is all done automatically through the system, and there is no call center deciding who the call will go to. The first provider can either accept or decline the call, and if they decline it will go to the next closest provider, and so on, until the call is accepted.

There is no need to provide your business hours. Providers simply mark themselves available or unavailable if they are done for the day.

Once the provider has accepted the call, turn-by-turn navigation begins, taking the provider directly to the customer, without having to run multiple apps. While enroute to the customer, the provider (and customer) can call or text each other using burner numbers, so no one gives out their personal information.

When on-scene the provider marks themself as arrived and takes care of the customer. Next, the provider checks out and adjusts the price within the window and adds any pre-negotiated fees with the customer.

The customer signs the providers device and then the money is transferred automatically from the customer to the providers payment account every 24 hours (48 rolling). An invoice is created automatically as well so there is zero paperwork.

Then providers can leave service call notes that get stored in Mach1’s system, and the customer rates the provider. After the call is complete, the provider becomes available to our dispatching system for future calls.

Providers are loving the way we give them the flexibility to make more money. It’s the streamlined and automated processes that have really helped to make them be more efficient and give them more time as well. We’ve literally had providers tell us they will gladly get out of bed to help Mach1 customers because they can make twice as much money.

“As a small business owner having a user friendly program for bringing in customers is extremely important. After trying multiple platforms I came across Mach 1. It was extremely helpful with everything from bringing in customers, billing and even dispatching. With other platforms when I have a question customer service may take days to reply. Not Mach 1, A customers service rep was on the line with an answer within minutes. Overall an amazing experience!” –Jordan

We’re a hard working, veteran owned company, trying to change the industry for your good. If all this sounds good to you, don’t wait to get started! We are onboarding providers across the U.S. and are opening new cities quickly.

As you can see in this county map, we currently cover certain markets from Texas over to Florida, up to Maine, and over to Minnesota. Even if you don’t see your area highlighted, there has never been a better time to begin your application. Now is the time to get started with Mach1!

To create your account, please visit https://provider.mach1services.com/. Mach1 providers have the flexibility to sign up for the services they wish to offer. Currently there are eight different services available to Mach1 customers. Providers will complete their signup with a background check, insurance COI and payment method. Once they become active they’ll be able to sign into the app and mark themselves available.

Our motto is “People Helping People,” and we’re here to support you, just as you support our customers. If you need to reach out to us for any reason, please do not hesitate to contact us. Toll Free (844) 511-0002 or provider@mach1services.com . We look forward to working with you and safe travels!

BigEasy Lock Out Kit for Professionals

Darian Weaver

Tow Drivers unlock cars in seconds without damaging car doors by using Steck Manufacturing’s BigEasy Lockout Tool. Over the last 15 years this one tool has become the tool of choice for tow truck drivers. It is simple to use by first inserting the Easy Wedge into the top of the door to allow enough room to then insert the BigEasy tool to press or hook the door lock from inside the window rather than using the door panel. The ease of the BigEasy to open doors from inside the window reduces liability issues with traditional lockout tools which have the potential to disable wiring systems inside the door panel.

Also available is our optional BigEasy Night Light (P/N 32933) which is flexible PVC suction cup illuminates the inside of a vehicle at night to allow the tow drivers to locate the vehicle interior door lock or keys while using the BigEasy Lock Out tool or other similar devices to unlock the vehicle. Also available is our BigEasy Carrying Case (32935) which stores the BigEasy and all of the components.

We also have many accessories to assist the Tower and shops like our new 4th Wheel Loader (71480) to assist moving vehicles with damaged wheels, Tie Rod Pliers (71465) and Tie Rod Coupler (71470) for temporary steering assistance.

Kits and products are available at most truck and parts supply dealers as well as from local tool supply jobbers.

Check it out with smart phones and computers on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/SteckMfg#p/u. Further information check our website for a complete listing of all our products www.steckmfg.com and videos or by contacting Steck Manufacturing at Sales@steckmfg.com or calling 1-800-227-8325.

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