MatJack – Top Products of 2019

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MatJack introduced Landing cushions in 2005 and are the standard in the industry by which all others are held. Capable of controlling any and all loads up to 80,000 per cushion MatJack Landing cushions have helped with thousands of uprights from tractor-trailers to excavators to mobile homes without fail, call us for details.

MatJack has introduced 3M’s Peltor brand headsets.

MatJack has introduced into the towing market 3M’s Peltor brand headsets which link up by simply turning them on and being on the same channel with an unlimited amount of users at any one time in either basic or Bluetooth! With over a 1-mile range and no line of sight necessary, this affordable system comes in several styles, contact us for details.

Hurricane Jumbo cushion sets- MatJack, the worldwide leader in air cushion technology in its never-ending quest to answer the needs of our customers have developed the Hurricane Jumbo system. The ever-dependable Jumbo is now capable of uprighting an overturned tractor/trailer in as little as 5 minutes. You need to clear the road quickly and want to use your cushions, this is your solution. Call us for details.

MatJack has always been at the forefront of technology and safety in the industry. Adding to that is our new line of PMI Advantage helmets which sets the standard in the fire service for rescue and confined space along with being NFPA certified. PMI Advantage helmets are lightweight and come in 6 colors, call us for details.

For more information, visit www.MatJack.com

Lodar Makes Tow Professional Top Products 2019 List

By

Darian Weaver

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“Lodar is the smartest move I ever made,” shares S&S Mobile. Our wireless actuator systems are the top performing product for 2019. Our systems wirelessly control your hand levers, so you can operate your truck from a safe distance. Choose from systems that work with air (up to 16 functions) or electric (up to six functions) levers.

For more information visit www.lodar.com or call: 888-685-6327.

3 BigEasy Solutions make Tow Professional’s Top Products 2019

By

Darian Weaver

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BigEasy GLO with Easy Wedge & Carrying Case

Glow-in-the-dark powder coating allows you to see the tool at night or through tinted windows.

55 inches long.
Improved non-marring wedge. Now it’s wider, longer, and smoother.
Lock Knob Lifter for cars with flat lock knobs at the top of the door.
Easy Wedge for inflatable controlled opening of door for insertion of the BigEasy
Paint Protector reduces friction between the car door and the BigEasy
Carrying Case with convenient pockets for holding all of your lockout tools.

BigEasy Night Light

Suction cup LED light illuminates dark car interiors. A great addition to your BigEasy kit, the BigEasy Night Light allows hands-free illumination of the vehicle interior at night to allow tow driver, lock-out technician, officer and/or first responder to locate the door lock or keys while using the BigEasy Lock Out tool or other similar devices. Suction-cup design adheres the Night Light to the windshield or window of the vehicle. Powerful LEDs illuminate the interior, so you know exactly where to position the BigEasy tool.

BigEasy Loop

A simple and inexpensive device to assist the technician in using the BigEasy to open locked cars by grasping door handles and window cranks.

The BigEasy Loop snaps on to any of our BigEasy Lockout Tools to provide easy leverage to pull door handles and window cranks during the door unlocking process. Handy accessory tool easily snaps on the end of the BigEasy Tool avoiding need to purchase additional and more costly specialty tools. BigEasy Loop is made from high-density polyethylene which provides a strong but flexible tool to adapt to any angle required to complete the unlocking process. It is mold injected with reflective substances which will ‘Glo’ after absorbing sunlight for use with tinted windows and headlights for night time lockouts. BigEasy Loop is easily stored in pant’s pocket or BigEasy Carrying Case.

For more information visit www.steckmfg.com

Clore Automotive – JNCAIR 12V Jump Starter / Portable Power Supply / Air Compressor

By

Darian Weaver

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The JNCAIR takes multi-function professional jump starting to the highest level. It features our exclusive Clore PROFORMER battery technology, specifically designed for vehicle jump starting. It delivers high peak amps, extended cranking power, numerous jumps per charge, and a long service life. Plus, with automatic charging from a built-in charger, extra-long cables and a rubberized base that won’t mar a vehicle surface, the JNCAIR is as convenient as it is powerful.

Its integrated Air Delivery System can fill a 15” vehicle tire from flat in four minutes, features a 12’ coiled air hose, utilizes an accurate and easy-to-read gauge and has a screw-on chuck that won’t scratch customer wheels. Includes a coupon for a one-time, fixed-fee ($150) out-of-warranty repair, no matter how old the unit is or why it is broken. Simply box it up and send it to us with a check for the coupon amount, and we will repair or replace it, even if it is five or seven years old. Power you can depend on, that’s Jump-N-Carry!

For more information, visit www.cloreautomotive.com

Dynamic “Python”

By

Darian Weaver

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4-YEAR WARRANTY

5000LB FULLY EXTEND WHEEL LIFT

8000LB TOW RATING

82 INCHES OF REACH

25 DEGREES OF POWER AND NEG TILT

OPTIONS:

PLASTIC POLY FENDER WHICH ARE LIGHTER, YET STRONGER AND WILL NEVER RUST

8000LB RAMSEY WINCH

STAINLESS STEEL PYLON

OUR Customers have been asking for a unit that would:

Lift faster & higher

Provide better weight transfer

Have the sleek appearance of the Lightning Body design

Have large tool boxes and easy access to hydraulics.

For more information, visit: www.dynamicmfg.com or anthonydynamic@mac.com

Collins Hi-Speed® Dolly

By

Darian Weaver

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SAFEST

Safety First! Safety RatchetSystem — for Tower Safety — Prevents accidents and provides more options in difficult environments, (like snow, ice, gravel, slopes, tight spaces), when loading.

MOST SERVICEABLE

No expensive replacements or repairs — no cutting,welding or downtime. Replace damaged parts on the spot with common hand tools in just minutes.

LIGHTEST

Heavy‐duty. Light‐weight. Industry’s lightest‐weight dolly. Weighing only 54 lb. with static load capacity at nearly 80x its own weight (4,280 lb. with 5.70×8 tires).

Collins Carrier Dolly System An innovation borrowed from Collins’ early designs — the Damage‐Free solution to loading Carriers: Rolling instead of dragging up the bed. CLEARANCE High‐Ends and Low Profiles. Carrier Dolly lifts vehicles higher off the ground to easily clear carrier bed with low load angles. DAMAGE‐FREE Damage‐Free Loading. No hooks, chains or cables ever touch the vehicle. Vehicles simply ride the dollies up and down the bed. WIDE‐RANGE Load hybrids, high‐end, electric, all‐wheel or fourwheel drive vehicles with nohook points. The Carrier Dolly System also doubles as a motorcycle dolly.

For more information, visit www.collinsdollies.com

Proactive Training or the School of Hard Knocks?

By

Darian Weaver

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I’ve been told I’m abrupt and a little brash. I prefer the idea that I’m a realist; therefore, I call things like I see them. This industry has no place for hurt feelings and bruised egos; we’re doing dangerous work out there, and if you don’t take that seriously, no one will take YOU seriously. I’d much rather have a friend or advisor who is honest with me instead of someone blowing smoke up my exhaust pipe and telling me how good I am.

I hear and read about people in the towing industry continually complaining because they’re not treated with the same respect as other first responders. I think there’s a good reason for that. Most police officers attend daily status and training briefings at the beginning of each shift after going through an extensive academy and extended time with a field training officer. Most firefighters conduct some sort of training daily. EMS personnel are required to continually update and maintain medical certifications. If you want the same respect as the rest of first responders, then train yourselves like first responders train.

I’ll travel in time back to 1987 when I drove my first civilian tow unit. The business owner showed me how to activate the manual PTO and move the winch levers on the sling truck, tossed me the keys after three minutes of playing with the levers, and sent me out on a police call to pull a rolled over Oldsmobile out of a ditch. I tore that car up during that recovery. The business owner didn’t care because he said it was already totaled, but that’s a whole different subject and article. Suffice it to say that every vehicle and its every part has salvage value, and so you, the tow operator, shouldn’t tear a car to pieces because some parts are already damaged. It’s just not your call to make.

I was thrown the keys and told “good luck,” which is the exact manner that hundreds and thousands of us in the industry got our initial “training.” In such a dangerous career field, and one in which damage to towed vehicles and to our equipment can produce staggering repair bills, a few minute’s worth of training or riding with another driver for a couple of hours just doesn’t cut it. Ours is the only industry where organizations like OSHA don’t do stroke-inducing audits and will shut a business down for poor safety practices. Perhaps OSHA should pay much more attention to our industry.

Many times, after the initial “training,” which isn’t very much, tow operators get no further training whatsoever. They immediately form bad habits and then reinforce those bad habits daily by doing the same thing in-and-out for years. In this case, just because you claim to have years of experience, it doesn’t count if you’re not doing it right. I’ll give you a case in point-the red C7 Corvette on the flatbed in Oklahoma. The young driver secured the car half-sideways on the deck and used large J-hooks for the rear tiedown. I applaud the idea that he used two chains on the rear, but he secured them with the points of the hooks up, meaning that if either one gets loose, it could fall off, and the left side was very loose. Also, the biggest issue is using a J-hook at all on the incredibly expensive aluminum rear lower control arms on the Corvette. You’ve all but guaranteed a stress fracture in those aluminum components, and they’re expensive. OEM replacements are $1,220 per side. Is a $3,000 claim with parts and labor worth it on a $100 tow? This isn’t the 70s–we have straps available just for applications like that. Once that car gets to a shop and the technician or shop manager sees that, what do you think they’d do? They surely don’t want to assume the liability for damaged suspension components, so they’ll call the customer, all but guaranteeing a damage claim.

Training on and understanding towing and recovery methods pays off in large amounts of increased professionalism in our industry. Professionalism pays off in better contracts and rates, stronger customer bases, and prolonged equipment life–all of which increases profitability. It’s a win/win for everyone. You can train as a company every day. Every day, we have a little down time – turn it into some sort of training session, inside the shop during bad weather, outside in the sunshine during the summertime. When you do these impromptu training sessions, document it. Just use a Word document with a quick summary of what you covered, date and time, list the attendees, and get signatures. Check out my article titled “This One Got to Me” about the incredible value of training documentation.

Back to the throwing the keys to someone and telling them “good luck.” I’m not directly knocking the “school of hard knocks” manner of training. Here’s how that works: You have no training or knowledge in a specific area like how sensitive and low the oil pan is on a Freightliner Cascadia with the Detroit engine. You use forks and grab the front axle, and away you go. Since you didn’t use tall enough forks, the truck bounced a bit, and you nailed the fragile oil drain plug and cracked the oil pan. After the experience, you tell everyone you know about it and advise others to do a double-pick and use taller forks. Wouldn’t it be better, though, to pass on that training nugget to people WITHOUT the obligatory hard lesson learned, an angry customer, a large damage claim, and embarrassment?

There’s a better way to train than the “school of hard knocks.” You can bet that our brothers and sisters in police agencies, fire departments, and EMS units don’t halfway do their training with some 5-minute “here’s how you do it” unofficial class with no documentation. THAT is the difference in our field and first responders.

If the tow industry doesn’t step up our voluntary training efforts, we will never be accepted as fellow first responders. The desire to be accepted as first responders is strong throughout the industry now, but it is my contention that 90% or more of the towers out there aren’t ready to play at the varsity level. So, if you want what other first responders have, then do what they do which is proactive and continual training; it can be less expensive than the bill from the school of hard knocks!

Planning for 2020

By

Darian Weaver

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I just got back from a tow show in Atlantic City, and the show gave me an opportunity to talk to a lot of tow companies. Many of the companies I talked to were new while others have been in business for years and are still struggling. As I walked the show floor and looked at prices for things it takes to run a tow company, it made me happy I no longer ran a tow company when you look at things like:

1. Price of Trucks

2. Price of Software

3. Price of Chains and Straps

4. Price to Market your Company

5. Price of Insurance

6. Price of Gas

This does not even take into consideration the other things it takes to run your company like staff, rent, phones, and office supplies. Before the new year starts, it’s time to sit down and ask yourself what 2020 will look like. When I owned my tow company, my wife and I would take a vacation for a week and try to define our business for the next year. Nothing has changed. I am starting a new business, and the week after Christmas we are going to New Orleans for a few days to discuss our new business.

GOALS FOR 2020

The 1st thing we do is set a goal for 2020. It could be any of the following:

1. What customers should we go after?

2. What will our business hours be?

3. Do we need to increase our staff?

4. What will we charge for our services?

5. How we will double our revenue?

6. How much office space is required?

7. What markets do we want to offer our services to?

To me, this is the fun stuff in your business. You are out of the daily routine, and you are blue skiing what your company should be. I can’t express enough how important this time is to you and your business. It will relieve the stress between you and your wife while improving your business for the next year. Make this a business trip and write it off and enjoy yourself at the same time.

I spent some time at the tow show with a tow company owner that tells me he has 400 cars to dispose of but can’t find the time to do it. I explained the money he is sitting on that could be used to improve his company or personal life.

REVENUE IDEAS

With the economy the way it is, all small businesses are struggling to survive. As I talk to tow company owners, I tell them there are two ways to improve your bottom line: you can increase your revenue or lower your expenses. Next month, we will talk about expenses, but for now, here a few revenue ideas to think about:

Tow junk cars and run them across the scales.

Utilize empty space in your storage yard. If you have a storage yard, let other companies tow to your yard. That is the big thing in Texas. Also, store vehicles for private owners, for trailer rental companies, and new car dealers.

Open additional businesses. One company opened a tanning salon at his yard, and another opened a small convenience store.

Start to think outside the box, and you will find many opportunities in your neighborhood that will generate revenue.

HOW TO GROW YOUR BUSINESS

Growing your business is a necessity for your business’ survival. What can you do to grow your business? Here are a few things you can do to get started:

Target Your Existing Market

The first thing that comes to mind when thinking of growing your business is getting new customers, but it’s easier getting additional business from your existing customer base.

Ask for Referrals

If you provide a good service, it will be easy to ask your existing customers for referrals. Doing a great job and just assuming that your customers are passing the word about your business isn’t going to do much to increase your customer base; you have to actively seek referrals. During or after every job or sale, ask your satisfied customer if he or she knows anyone else who would be interested in your services.

Innovate Your Service

Discovering and promoting new services is a great way to get existing customers to use you more and attract new customers. Look at your trucks and storage lot and identify what new services you can offer by utilizing your trucks and lot in different ways. To do that, drive around your neighborhood and see what other people might have a need for that you can offer. Also, look at your competition and see what they are doing that you are not. Attend a trade show and talk to other towers to see what they are doing in different parts of the country. Think duct tape! How few of these would have actually been sold if they only had one use!

Extend Your Market Reach

There are several ways of growing your business by making your services available to a new pool of customers. The most obvious is to open offices in new locations on a different side of town. This could increase your rotations with the city and save on gas by having trucks on that side of town. Opening an office in another city could also be an option if you can cover the expense to get started. (Here is where motor clubs can be of help). New locations can also be set up through the internet such as a website with online services. Learn how to take advantage of the internet. Another approach is to extend your reach through advertising. Once you’ve identified a new market, you might advertise in a select media that targets that market.

Participate in Trade Shows

Trade shows can be a great way of growing your business because they draw people who are already interested in the type of services you offer. The trick is to select the trade shows you participate in carefully seeking the right match for your service. “Trade Show Tips” will help you get the best return on your investment. The more your name can be seen by potential customers the better off you are.

Conquer a Niche Market

Remember the analogy of the big fish in the small pond? That’s essentially how this strategy for growing your business works. The niche market is the pond-a narrowly defined group of customers. Think of them as a subset whose needs are not being met and concentrate on meeting those unmet needs. Most towers go after companies that have fleets. Think of places that have groups of people: churches, schools, chain stores, apartments, and small companies that have 50 to 60 employees. Then go in and offer them a towing service for their people.

Contain Your Costs

Surprised? Bear in mind that when we’re talking about growing your business, we’re actually talking about growing your business’ bottom line. There are several approaches to cutting costs: stop providing services that cost the most money (heavy duty towing) and improve your services by utilizing your trucks in the best way. Here comes the motor club approach again or one of those new customers you added.

Diversify Your Services

The key to successfully growing your business through diversification is similarity. Look at your existing customers and see if there are other businesses that might have similar needs. You may tow landscaping equipment when it breaks down, but where does he store his equipment in the winter time which is another use for your storage lot.

Over the past 8 years, I have put on seminars at trade shows or wrote articles for all the magazines trying to show you tips on how to run your business. What I am doing is taking all my articles and putting them in a book and making it available to you. This book will show you what is expected as an owner and how to perform functions that don’t fit your DNA. It will address all kinds of employee issues, help you set business goals, and compete and win in any market you want. It is being put together now, and I will let you know when it’s ready.

3rd ANNUAL ALABAMA “SLOW DOWN, MOVE OVER” RALLY

By

Darian Weaver

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The 3^rd Annual Alabama “Slow Down, Move Over” Rally was held December 1, 2019 to raise awareness of the “Slow Down, Move Over” (SDMO) laws and the dangers that towers face daily. 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 which is serving others, and many are not going home to their families afterwards.

The 3^rd Annual “SDMO” Rally was put on by Classic Towing which is owned by Wes Passmore. Three 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 300 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.

A Very High Profile Recovery

By

Darian Weaver

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A red Porsche Boxster convertible, was “traveling at a high rate of speed” when it hit a median and eventually crash-landed into the second-story offices of Exit Realty Elite.

The car was driven by Braden DeMartin, 22, police said. DeMartin and his passenger, 23-year-old Daniel Foley — both of Toms River — were pronounced dead at the scene, according to police.

The building, which the real estate agency shares with a software company and a family therapist, has been deemed “unsafe.”

Isaac Kesserman, owner of the building, said no one was inside at the time of the crash. The accident occurred on Hooper Avenue between Indian Hill Road and College Drive around 6:30 a.m. The area was shut down for about seven hours.

Accurate Towing Service of Toms River, NJ handled the recovery on scene. Accurate has been in business 30 years. The recovery was performed by owner, Thomas j Makuch/level 3 heavy recovery specialist/supervisor, Alex Mace TRAA certified wrecker operator and Wreck-master, and Kaitlyn Mace operator/ground safety TRAA/Wreck-Master certified.

Jerr-Dan Unveils New Multi-Car Carrier at American Towman Expo

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 launched its new multi-car carrier at the American Towman Exposition, Dec. 4-7, 2019 in Atlantic City, New Jersey. The new carrier allows a fourth car to be towed with the optional underlift.

Jerr-Dan’s current multi-car carrier – which was built on a 7.5-ton single/tandem axle subframe – is being replaced by an 8.5-ton frame. This makes Jerr-Dan the first in the industry to offer a low profile (XLP) three-car carrier with a fourth car option on this level of frame capacity.

Mounting the three-car carrier to a larger subframe offers additional benefits, such as:

Reducing the carrier deck off the top of the frame height by two inches
Lowering the center of gravity of the load for more stability
Providing an additional one-ton structural capacity
Reducing the main deck height to allow for transport of taller loads, making navigation under bridges and through tunnels more efficient
Delivering easier access to the lower deck for tasks such as securing tie-downs

“Our new multi-car carrier delivers a more innovative product at the same investment level as our original design,” said Mike VanAken, director of product management and marketing at Jerr-Dan. “This new carrier has the high-quality features of our 7.5-ton carrier including an optional wheel lift system that can transport up to four cars.”

Jerr-Dan’s new multi-car carrier is backed by its 1/3/5 XLP product warranty, which includes one-year full coverage, three-year hydraulic coverage and five-year structural coverage.

To learn more about the new carrier, visit www.jerrdan.com/equipment/carriers/multi-car.

Jerr-Dan University Launches at American Towman Show

By

Darian Weaver

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Jerr-Dan University, Jerr-Dan, American Tow Show

Hagerstown, MD (Dec. 4, 2019) – Jerr-Dan Corporation, an Oshkosh Corporation company (NYSE:OSK) and a single brand leader in the towing and recovery business, introduced Jerr-Dan University, an industry-first product training program, at the American Towman Exposition, Dec. 4-7, 2019 in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Participants can view live demos of various course offerings, register for online training and create a training dashboard to get started.

Courses are presented using visual, interactive and text-driven training. An 80 percent score or higher is needed to successfully pass each course. Following completion, users will receive a badge and printable certificate.

“We launched Jerr-Dan University as a way to support towers who bravely serve as first responders in the field,” said Hal Wyatt, director of aftermarket support at Jerr-Dan. “In addition to the quality equipment we design and manufacture, this online training provides an additional step to enhancing on-the-job safety.”

Current courses include educational training for both Jerr-Dan’s JFB 50/60 Rotator and the Heavy-Duty Wrecker line. In February 2020, a new service and maintenance training module for Jerr-Dan’s Standard Duty Carrier will be available and other modules are in development.

“In the future, Jerr-Dan University will serve as a comprehensive training library suitable for distributors and the industry at large,” said Wyatt. “This online tool allows users to fully understand the uniqueness of Jerr-Dan products from both an operational as well as a service and maintenance perspective.”

For more information or to register for Jerr-Dan University, visit https://jdu.jerrdan.com/

Will-Burt and Latta Null Interview with Sirion and HDT

By

Darian Weaver

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About The Will-Burt Company

The Will-Burt Company, located in Orrville, Ohio, is the world’s premier manufacturer of telescoping mast and tower elevation solutions – the world’s one-stop-shop offering virtually every payload elevation solution from one source – for military, fire, cellular, broadcast, entertainment and other applications. Will-Burt also offers a variety of manufacturing services backed by an ISO 9001:2015 certified quality system. Incorporated in 1918, Will-Burt is 100% employee-owned and is classified as a small business.

For more information, visit www.willburt.com

Are You Kidding Me?

By

Darian Weaver

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This morning I saw one of the most monumentally dangerous things that I’ve ever seen, and it was preventable in at least 14 different ways. This issue transcends the towing industry and applies to anyone working with equipment or tools.

I was on I-30 eastbound in Benton, Arkansas, and a flatbed tow truck was in front of a car to be towed, which was at the front of a state police cruiser. The smooth steel bed of the flat bed was in the down position, sitting at a typical 30-45ﾟangle, and the tow operator was up on the bed and had about 3-4′ of cable pulled out and was yanking on the cable ferociously to unstick the rat’s nest that was the cable spool.

So, he was on the side of the freeway during a police response tow, doing this this particular task; it was raining lightly, so the normal oil residue resulting is on the flat bed of the tow truck; the truck bed is angled, and he is ferociously yanking on this cable. He could have received 6 different injuries from his actions, so here are my questions:

Why was the cable spool a rat’s nest to begin with? The deck winch is one of the most important pieces of that truck and is actually very easy to maintain in an orderly fashion, so when you release the free wheel, you can pull cable out easily. After every call, you put a little tension on the line, and you make sure that it winds up correctly. Additionally, at least once a week, go out and pull out all the cable and wind it up with tension to make sure it is neat and orderly.

Why didn’t the guy take care of the cable before he went on the call knowing he was going to be on the side of the interstate and in front of a state trooper? You look like an idiot and an unprepared fool in front of the actual person who you are contracted with for police tows.

Why doesn’t a company manager or owner check their trucks frequently to make sure things like this are handled, addressed, trained into people’s heads, and executed properly?

Why has this person not received safety and procedure training that was strong enough to make him do the right thing in the first place?

Please bear in mind that this is the exact type of operator who might loudly declare himself all knowledgeable in the industry, swear he’s been doing it for several years, has never had a problem, and might even offer to train a new guy. As my fellow training and supervision people can attest, this guy is one hundred times more dangerous than a brand-new person with no experience. I deal with liability cases in this industry where people have little or no training and go out and do something that hurts or kills someone. As little as an hour a week of training would make a huge difference in situations like this.

Towing Professionals – ESA Interaction

By

Darian Weaver

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In this short video we welcome towing professionals to learn what to expect when calling the ESA for a risk analysis of a hybrid or electric vehicle post incident.

Advanced Tips & Tricks for the Collins Hi-Speed® Dollies

By

Darian Weaver

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