Power Heavy Duty Welcomes Eastern Truck & Trailer to Distributor Network

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Eastern Truck & Trailer provides heavy-duty truck parts, tools and equipment and provides service and critical parts delivery.
With three locations, the company serves the central and northeast Ohio regions.
Customers include owner-operators, service facilities and fleets.

Crystal Lake, IL. – Eastern Truck & Trailer has joined the Power Heavy-Duty distributor network. Eastern Truck & Trailer provides heavy-duty truck parts, tools and equipment as well as shop supplies to its customers including owner-operators, municipalities, bus garages, independent service facilities, and national fleets. The company also provides mobile service, critical parts delivery, and truck and trailer repairs.

Eastern Truck & Trailer is based in Grove City, Ohio and has three locations to serve the central and northeast Ohio regions.

“Eastern Truck & Trailer has a strong commitment to its customers. The business was built on understanding customer needs and meeting those demands as efficiently as possible,” said Jim Pennig, Vice President of Business Development, VIPAR Heavy Duty. “We welcome Eastern Truck & Trailer to the Power Heavy-Duty Network and look forward to supporting them as they continue to grow their business.”

To find out more about Eastern Truck & Trailer, please visit https://easterntruck.com/. For more information on Power Heavy Duty, contact info@powerheavyduty.net, or visit www.powerheavyduty.net.

TRAA® ADDRESSING LINE-OF-DUTY DEATHS

By

Darian Weaver

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We’re only two weeks into 2020, and the official count of line-of-duty deaths for U.S. towing operators is already at four (4), with some unofficial counts being higher. Losing a tow operator impacts not only their families but also the entire towing community. We’d like to assure the industry that TRAA® is doing everything possible to combat the multifaceted issue of Line-of-Duty Deaths (LODD).

While not all our activities are readily apparent, TRAA® is pursuing multiple tracks:

Legislation- TRAA® is working behind the scenes directly with lawmakers to support and encourage legislation that will address LODDs including working with the U.S. Government Accountability Office (U.S. GAO). The GAO is the government agency that provides auditing, evaluation, and investigative services for the United States Congress.
Regulation- TRAA® is working behind closed doors on possible regulatory solutions within FMCSA and FHWA. There are several options available we’re exploring including reclassification.
Supporting “Move Over” Law Awareness- TRAA® strongly supports the efforts of the International Towing & Recovery Hall of Fame & Museum, several state associations, and other entities to increase consciousness among the motoring public.
Collaborating with Industry Parties- TRAA® is combining the forces of multiple industry players to unify efforts and increase our impact on LODDs and “Move Over” law awareness. Keep an eye out for more information soon.
Promoting Operator Education- TRAA® was one of the first, and remains one of the fiercest, advocators for the education and professionalism of tow operators. We believe strongly that everyone working within the industry, on or off-scene, should at minimum take the National Traffic Incident Management (TIM) Responder Training. The better educated operators are in scene management, PPE, quick clearance, etc. the less exposure and likelihood of being involved in a struck-by or near-miss incident. From TIM training, to NDCP or TRSCP® certification, to private training programs, an operator cannot be over educated in their profession.

In order to support our efforts, this is what TRAA® needs from you: http://traaonline.com/

Towing Traffic Incident Reporting System (TTIRS)- Our ability to push legislation and regulation relies heavily on the availability of quality data. Please report any and all near-miss or struck-by incidents to the TTIRS database.
National Incident Response Awareness Week- TRAA® is asking all state associations and individual members to do their part in promoting “Move Over” law awareness within their communities. The best time of year to do this is during the annual National Response Incident Awareness Week in November which coordinates the efforts of all incident management partners for maximum exposure. However, there’s never a bad time to promote move over law awareness so do your part whenever you can!
Legislative Action Workshop- To really make an impact consider registering for TRAA’s Legislative Action Workshop in DC which will give you the opportunity to meet directly with your legislators to discuss LODDs and move over law awareness. Registration closes February 5, 2020, so act quickly.

Like a duck, stoic on the surface and paddling below the waterline, TRAA® is working energetically behind the scenes. We appreciate all your support as we work together to make positive changes for every tow operator out there on the roadways

For more information, visit traaonline.com

Jerr-Dan Financial Solutions Program Offers Options to Towers

By

Darian Weaver

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Hagerstown, MD (Dec. 4, 2019) – Jerr-Dan Corporation, an Oshkosh Corporation company (NYSE:OSK) and single brand leader in the towing and recovery business, is now partnering with Ascentium Capital, a leading provider of equipment and technology financing solutions. The exclusive retail lending program is designed to give distributors and end-users a simple and seamless funding experience for towing and recovery equipment.

The dedicated Jerr-Dan Financial Solutions (JDFS) team, much like Jerr-Dan, comes with years of experience in the towing and recovery industry and a deep understanding of the challenges companies can face throughout the lending process. The program offers a simple online application process, and qualified buyers may be eligible for up to 100 percent financing, flexible lending options, and competitive interest rates with terms from 24 to 82 months.

“Ascentium has extensive experience in the towing and recovery industry and has the hands-on expertise necessary to facilitate lending options in conjunction with a customer’s authorized Jerr-Dan dealer,” said Heath Fassnacht, Director of Sales at Jerr-Dan. “JDFS works with customers every step of the way to make sure they are purchasing the right equipment with a lending program that is most conducive to the success of their business.”

“The last time I bought a truck for the operation, I needed it the same day,” said Tod Coumbe, owner of White Glove Towing. “I went to my Jerr-Dan distributor, picked out the truck, and we worked with the JDFS team to put it together, and I drove away with it. I’m definitely going to work with the JDFS team the next time I need a new truck.”

Through the JDFS program, Jerr-Dan customers can also receive assistance with disposal of used assets as well as free consultation with industry experts to plan vehicle financing needs. Distributors and end-users can work directly with JDFS before going to the dealers to get pre-approved.

To learn more about Jerr-Dan Financial Solutions, visit www.jerrdan.com/financing.

XINSURANCE

By

Darian Weaver

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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/.

The Current Status of Towing Insurance

By

Darian Weaver

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We have seen the current market for towing insurance just go crazy. Even if you don’t have any claims, the increase in premiums is at least 44%. What can be done?

The answer is simple: “take the bull by the horns” and get away from standard carriers by looking into a captive insurance program.

A captive insurer is generally defined as an insurance company that is wholly owned and controlled by its insureds. Its primary purpose is to insure the risks of its owners, and its insureds benefit from the captive’s underwriting profits. Underwriting profits can be generated by reduced claims and investments.

Zellner Insurance Agency has teamed up with a Managing General Agency that has experience in setting programs up for specific industries that were experiencing premium increases. The results have been tremendous! Claims have been reduced because they are either settled for less money or not initiated at all, members received dividends, and safety increased.

We anticipate that initial insurance premiums will be better than what we are seeing now, but the real benefit is in years two and three. To participate, the members will make an initial investment and pay their premium. The amount of the initial premium will be determined by the data we collect showing current claims as well as premium size for each member. The investment can be paid in full or over time.

The key to the success of this captive relies on you implementing the safety requirements that have been proven to work. For instance, wouldn’t it be nice to have a claim be denied or made to go away for a nominal cost instead of the large payouts you have experienced?

I can forward you links that will explain a captive in more detail, as well as videos that were used to stop a claim dead in its tracks. We are interviewing companies now and would like to speak with you if you think this will fit your needs. This is an investment in the future of your business and the industry as a whole. Please contact Jeff Spadafora at Zellner Insurance Agency at 904-626-9522 or email jeff@zellnerinsurance.com.

Weiss Insurance

By

Darian Weaver

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Horn, Janice LaVitte, and Bryan Westfall are a unit at Weiss Insurance that specializes in various transportation risks. They 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. They understand your business and your business needs. They wear many hats as independent agents, representing various insurance companies, which allow them to “design” a policy for you. Towing, Transportation, Repossession, Cargo, Excess Cargo, Garage and or Repair Facilities, and Auto Sales are some of the types of business that they write. They have markets for worker’s compensation, group health, property, general liability, and personal insurance.

For more information, visit www.weiss-ins.com.

Mike Keith Insurance

By

Darian Weaver

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Originally established in 1950, Mike Keith Insurance (MKI) has four Missouri locations offering a broad range of insurance products and services. Throughout these years, we have taken pride in helping our customers understand and select the right balance between affordability and quality of coverage. MKI focuses on keeping the interest of our client’s first and all employees strive to exceed customer expectations on every level.

A niche agency, MKI has been successful in the Towing & Recovery Industry by partnering with major Tow & Recovery carriers and fostering these relationships to be able to offer our insureds the best prices and the most comprehensive coverage in the industry. With a growing base of “A” rated carriers, we are able to offer coverage in most states with no radius restrictions.

Our team of Towing & Recovery specialists includes Curtis Cooper, CPCU, Amy Berry, CIC, Amy Sockwell, CISR, Jamie Harrelson, CISR, and our claims coordinator, Susan Evanoff, all of which are dedicated to our Towing & Recovery customers. This team offers timely service, on-time renewal quotes, quick new business quotes and the knowledge and expertise required to make sure your operation has the proper coverage while not breaking the bank. Virtually available 7 days a week, this team will impress you with their speed, knowledge, and friendliness.

Mike Keith Insurance has become the agency of choice in the Midwest and is quickly reaching beyond as we expand our services to all areas of the map. Let us utilize our 60+ years of insurance experience to show you what we have to offer in the arena of Auto Liability, Auto Physical Damage, Garagekeepers Liability, On-Hook/Cargo, Property, Workers Compensation, and more. As your full-service agency, we look forward to speaking with you soon regarding your Towing & Recovery Insurance needs.

For more information, visit www.mkeithins.com.

Austin Insurance

By

Darian Weaver

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Austin Insurance has specialized in Towing & Recovery insurance since 1991, and they are dedicated to quality service. By working with many different companies, they can offer a competitive insurance package. No matter if you own one truck or 30, are located on the East coast or the West, they are willing to fulfill your insurance needs.

Austin Insurance, Inc. has specialized in providing coverage for towing opera-tions for many years. They have many companies to offer comprehensive pack-ages to provide protection for all aspects of your business.

Austin Insurance, Inc. provides REPOSSESSION INSURANCE, including “wrongful repossession,” hold harmless, and employee bonds. Also as a service our agency will offer Help in complying with D.O.T. & OSHA regulations and guidelines…While we are agents for sev-eral Towing Programs, We are also an Agent for the TOWER…

They also offer the following other coverage’s. Please contact them for fur-ther information or with any questions you may have.

• Auto Transporters

• Trucking Insurance

• Motor Truck Cargo

• Salvage/Recyclers

• Pollution Coverage

• Umbrella

• Workers Compensation

• Bonds

At Austin Insurance, Inc., “We’ll come see you” isn’t just a catchphrase. They want to provide you with not only insur-ance, but a full understanding of your coverage’s, and they will do all that they can to make that happen, including com-ing to see you!

For more information, visit www.wreckerins.com.

The Right Insurance Agent

By

Darian Weaver

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Instead of shopping for the right 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 as 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 fourth 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 last year 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, he 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. Claims 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. We provide our partnered tow companies and service providers with a network that allows them to manage requests, track their truck locations in real-time, and more. The best part: it costs nothing for a tow company or a service provider to register with TowTrax. Our approach was to identify industry problems between service providers and tow trucks and fix them.

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 can 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, Tiffany Corey 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 J&F 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, 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 or a second location 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 at 877-412-3434 or email him hal@kresseragency.com.

Top Products 2019 – Custom Built Manufacturing

By

Darian Weaver

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Custom Built Mfg. LLC came to be after 30 years in the Towing industry and 35 in the Auto Body Industry as Dangelo’s Auto Body and Repairs.

At Custom Built Mfg. LLC., it has always been about three things:

1)The Customer, 2) The Customer, 3) The Customer

That has carried over into the heavy-duty towing vehicles manufactured in Kane, Pennsylvania with the care and pride that only the small town attitude brings to the table. That being true, team work and the very BEST our trucks can be all of the time. Quality is number One at Custom Built Mfg. LLC. using quality American made; steel, aluminum, fasteners, hydraulics, cables, winches, lights, rings and pinions for our rotators, and as many accessories whenever possible. Custom Built means just that, hand-crafted and hand-fit for precise long life operation. From metal forming, welding to assembly our technicians have eyes on every step of the maufacturing process as well as Derek Dangelo’s (Owner) personal supervision occurs at every step of the manufacturing processes. You will even see Derek involved in hands-on when issues arise.

For more information, visit www.custombuiltmfg.com.

Top Products 2019 – Mobile Create USA

By

Darian Weaver

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The Professional IP Radio Platform in Mobile Create USA will provide you an excellent experience of using efficient 2-way radio communication with the crystal-clear voice quality and the coast-to-coast connection. Our platform also is integrating the precise GPS tracking.

Reducing Your Operation Cost and Boost Your Business by Quick Starting Our Platform

Our platform BUNDLES the 2-Way communication, the GPS tacking, and the device rental fee which will reduce your communication cost or GPS system cost. For easy and quick start for using our platform, we also offer the month-to-month device rental plan in the AFFORDABLE PRICE to avoid spending the huge capital expenditure upfront for our customers. Our platform is using the cellular network which is NOT REQUIRED to take the FCC LICENSE.

For more information, visit www.mcusainc.com

Top Products 2019 – Winches Inc.

By

Darian Weaver

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Winches Inc. with their three brick and mortar locations, is committed to providing your company application solutions for equipment like a new winch, control, PTO, hydraulic or pneumatic product or even an entire system.

Winches Inc.’s pricing on services saves time, money, and resources. They sell, service, and design nearly every product you would need for hydraulic or pneumatic lifting, while standing behind every piece of equipment that leaves their stores. They also have experienced and professional support staff that are dedicated to bringing value to and continuously improving the products and services they supply.

Winches Inc. in the market of winches, has one goal: to thoroughly know winches and winch applications. In Tulsa, their staff has extensive product knowledge in many other brands such as DP, BRADEN, Ramsey, Warn, and more and a highly trained customer service department to take care of any winch or hoist-related situation.

For more information, call us at (877) 495-9721 or visit us online at www.WinchesInc.com.

Top Products 2019 – Best Tools

By

Darian Weaver

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Best Tools is a family-owned and operated business which started over 35 years ago handcrafting lockout tools in the USA striving to have the best quality lockout gear in the industry. From day one, all Best Tools lockout-tool equipment was, and still is, 100% made in the USA along with using raw materials right here in America. Every lockout tool we make is produced from scratch right here in Northwest Arkansas. Because quality means durability, “our lockout tools take a lickin’ and keep on pickin’.” In addition to support businesses here, we are committed to learning from and growing with the ever-changing needs of all the industries we serve.

In the last 5 years, Best Tools decided to make a jump to carefully rebrand and re-market the image and expand the product line outside of what we manufacture. We started hitting the streets getting the name out there and by request from a variety of customers, Best Tools grew. After diligently picking only the elite manufactures out in the market, we wanted to grow with only the best from wireless tow lights, emergency lighting, rigging and recovery equipment, tie-down straps, skates, transport and trucking products, wire rope, winches, and industrial radio wireless remote controls, suspension enhancement products to much, much more. The list will always be evolving to serve the customer in the best way. Best Tools offers a full domestic line with an imported option to satisfy every customer throughout all the different industries we serve. To this day, some of the dealers and relationships we have made with customers throughout the variety of industries we serve are still with us growing together.

Also, in the last five years, we invested in a van that would hit the ground fully stocked with all kinds of products calling on industries from towing companies, mechanic shops, dealerships, body shops, construction companies, trucking companies, police and fire stations to municipalities. If we feel you could use Best Tools products, we will stop and see you, now that we have two vans hitting the streets. Talking to customers face-to-face and establishing a relationship, we have modified and improved our lockout tools and have designed new products to help the towing industry. Just to name a few items, our Silver Snatcher lockout tool (our version of the Axle chain and Steering Wheel strap) has been a huge hit in the market.

Now for us, it’s not just about success in the past making tools that match the variety of needs, it’s also about being relevant to today’s challenges, so there is always something new we try to bring to the industry every year. In the last year, so far, we have developed a hand full of newer products by high demand requests from our customers: One is the “Mega Bag,” a bigger air wedge with a strong insert to get through the toughest doors in the market. Another is the “ Average Joe” which is a smaller version of the very popular standard magic wand for those who have a shorter reach and need something more versatile. The “Extra Long Magic Wand” is great for big trucks with a 70” reach. Also new is the “Slim-Picker” which is great for mustangs and convertibles with a slightly smaller diameter than the magic wands.

So, you can not only get dependable, quality lockout gear from Best Tools, but now you can also get top notch rigging and recovery equipment, transport and trucking straps and restraints, emergency lighting and strobe light heads, truck accessories and work lighting, safety gear, wireless tow lights and wireless control systems, skates, winches, wire-rope and synthetic slings to much more. All of this is from a company committed to providing cutting-edge technologies inspired by direct customer feedback. Best Tools has always been a “grass root” business focusing on reaching out to the customer in a personal way. Remember, “When People Rely on You – You Can Depend on Us!”

You can check out our products through your local dealer, check us out online www.besttoolsusa.com or give us a call 800-541-8568. Maybe we will even see you a trade show!

Top Products 2019 – Holly’s Towing Dispatch

By

Darian Weaver

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Holly’s Towing Dispatch answers and dispatches solely for the towing and recovery industry, and is available to you 24/7, 365 days a year. Your company chooses when Holly’s Towing Dispatch works best for your company. Do you need help on nights and weekends? 24/7? We accommodate your needs no matter what time of day. With 20 plus years’ experience, Holly’s Towing Dispatch takes and dispatches all calls directly to drivers, an on-call manager, or in-house dispatcher. Whatever works best for you, we can accommodate. Our goal and purpose are to get your drivers on-scene quickly by providing fast and accurate service. Give us a call today at 800-730-3909 to find out how Holly’s Towing Dispatch can help YOU.

For more information, visit us at www.hollystowingdispatch.com.

Top Products 2019 – Wrecker Rentals Inc.

By

Darian Weaver

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Wrecker Rentals, Inc. provides full-service tow truck rental for the lower 48 states. They provide short-term (three-day minimum) and long-term tow truck rental of late model light-duty wreckers and roll-back tow trucks. They distribute trucks from Atlanta, Georgia, & Dallas, Texas, and, in most cases, can have a truck to you within 24 hours of approval.

For more information, visit www.rentawrecker.com.

Top Products 2019 – Recovery Billing

By

Darian Weaver

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The average towman is excellent at what he does best, and that’s towing and recovery. Billing can be complex and when starting out in business, it can be a challenge to design the right billing and invoicing systems to take advantage of the recovery work that’s being performed. Think about it. You could be losing thousands per month for unbilled services for what is essentially a clerical oversight. Bob and Eric bring their expertise to seminars throughout the year in Massachusetts and across the continent. Groups are small with only 20 towing companies per session, which makes for a more focused, one-on-one learning experience and higher success rates.

We especially take care to help other businesses overcome the red tape and wall of legal babble that prevents towing companies from being paid. We will help you to navigate the legal roadblocks and red tape, helping you to get paid for your work without fail. All it takes is a robust system which you can apply to every job that you complete.

For more information, visit www.recoverybillingunlimited.com.