What is the Access Tools Difference?Â
Since 1986, Access Tools has traveled the road to becoming the leading manufacturer of automotive lock out equipment for the towing industry. Our products have achieved the respect of car-opening professionals worldwide due to the highest quality control, consistent innovation, and superb customer service year after year.
Access Tools makes a wide variety of Long Reach Tools in all different lengths and for a variety of vehicles. The popular Quick Max Long Reach Tool shares many of the same features as the other Long Reach Tools, such as:
- a protective vinyl coating that prevents damage to a vehicleâs delicate painted surface
- a special EPDM rubber tip that provides excellent grip for manipulating buttons and switches
- a Store-N-Go Handle that holds extra tips for the long reach tool as well as a place to clip the accessory bag
- precise bends that put the tool in the right position for any job
Other tools in the industry are painted or powder-coated which easily scratches a vehicleâs delicate painted surface. A long reach tool can be used to pull a door handle, push an unlock button, pull a trunk or hood release lever, push a key fobs buttons, or grab a keyring.
Access Tools also makes a variety of Air Jack air wedges designed to help spread the door away from the vehicle, giving the user enough space to insert a Long Reach Tool. These include the:
- Mini Starter Air Jack for soft metal / painted b-pillars
- Standard Air Jack that is functional on virtually every vehicle
- Super Air Jack that tackles heavy-duty door frames
- Twin Air Jack that works well on stiff door frames.
All these Air Jacks share the same special features: ballistic nylon construction for durability and strength, triple-sealed edges for leak-proof functionality, replaceable inflation bulb and valve components, and an internal stiffener that aids in the insertion of the Air Jack. Vinyl and Rubber air wedges made by other manufacturers will tear a vehicleâs weather-stripping causing leaks and other issues.
The One Hand Jack and Super One Hand Jack are unique wedges that function as pry-bars grabbing just the lip of the door frame avoiding any contact with the weather stripping or other delicate parts of the door typically damaged by traditional wedges.
The Glassman Wedge is designed specifically for frameless window vehicles such as high-end BMWs, Mercedes, and other convertible vehicles. These vehicles are susceptible to easily broken windows when using traditional wedge methods, and so the Glassman Wedge functions as a protective double-sided wedge that distributes the force of your long reach tool over a wide surface of the glass, reducing the chances of shattering an expensive window.
The revolutionary Spare Tire Kit from Access Tools will change the way tire changes are performed by making the job faster, safer, and more effective. The Spare Tire Kit is a Multi-Piece Socket-Based system that allows for quick and easy spare tire removal during an emergency flat or routine service. The kit works on any SUV, Pickup Truck, as well as many other new vehicles where the spare tire is difficult to access, and a special key and crank are required to remove the tire from underneath the vehicle. Other kits on the market are big, bulky, and incomplete.
The Easy Off Twist Socket Set works like magic to remove all damaged or locked lug nuts without a key. With our exclusive sure-twist grip technology locked wheel lugs spin off with no effort. These sockets grip-lock nuts that threaded or wedge style sockets canât touch. Five socket sizes fit virtually every lock lug nut on the market and are so easy to use with a breaker bar, socket wrench, or tire iron.
Smash Film is the industryâs best crash and collision film available. This extra thick 4-ml. material is puncture resistant and features extended UV protection. With a high-tack adhesive that leaves behind no residue, this film is perfect for storing a vehicle on your lot or for protection during transport.
The Roadside Creeper is an extra thick low clearance creeper or roadside mat for any professional working on an automobile. Its weather-proof design makes it rain, mud, gravel, snow, and oil resistant. When deployed, it is an extra-large 2′ wide by 4′ long size, and folds in half to a small 2′ by 2′ footprint that fits behind any truck seat. The thick foam is durable and features a cut-out handle for easy transportation.
The popular One Hand Jack Set is the most widely used car opening tool set in the industry, consisting of the basic components like the Quick Max Long Reach, One Hand Jack Tool, Air Jack Air Wedge, and Button Strip Tool. The Ultimate Long Reach Kit shown here is the most complete Long Reach Tool set available from Access Tools and contains many of the tools manufactured by the company. With the right tools on hand, any job can be done quickly, efficiently, and safely. This is the Access Tools difference.
HINO TRUCKS INTRODUCES NEW MODELS AND CAB CONFIGURATIONS
Hino Trucks has been asking you for a few weeks now the simple question: What size are you? Well, now itâs time to answer that question. Hino has unified its entire lineup of trucks, including model names, to make it even easier for you to match the perfect Hino to you and your businessâ needs. Hino is excited to announce their new âM Seriesâ Class 4/5 COEâs and new âL Seriesâ Class 6/7 Conventional trucks, which combined with Hinoâs recently launched âXL Seriesâ Class 7/8 vehicles, creates a cohesive family of commercial trucks.
The badges are not the only updates either. Each vehicle now contains larger cab configurations, and a full suite of features adding safety, fresh designs, durability, flexibility and connectivity options, making it clear why Hino is the fastest growing medium-duty truck brand.
The new COE truck models carry Hino M4 and Hino M5 badging with the number in the naming scheme representing GVW class. For 2021MY, these trucks have been upgraded with an all-new grille design complete with optional LED headlights and HD 6-speed Aisin automatic transmission with gear hold feature. Available with the industryâs first OE fully integrated Lane Departure Warning System in this vehicle segment and then we get to the interior upgrades with a new shifter layout, steering wheel controls, an all-new gauge cluster including a 4.2â LCD multi-information display and driverâs seatbelt sensor.
The new Conventional line is represented by the Hino L6 and Hino L7 models boasting a bolder front fascia with optional LED headlights. The cab interior has been re-engineered with an automotive grade finish designed for commercial use and improved functionality, steering wheel controls, a large 7â LCD multi-information display, more storage and leg room. Hino also takes your safety very seriously, which is why there are now an array of safety systems available on the Hino L Series including Electronic Stability Control (ESC), Collision Mitigation System (CMS), Lane Departure Warning (LDW), Active Cruise Control (ACC) and driverâs seatbelt sensor. Adding even more functionality to your business are new wheelbase options and extended and crew cab configurations.
âHaving extended and crew cab choices will help us better serve our customersâ operational needs and open-up new markets for our trucksâ explained Glenn Ellis, SVP Customer Experience. âItâs impressive how accommodating and spacious both cabs are. Our engineering and design team really did an outstanding job with our new full line-up!â The 30â extended cab will have seating for 5 and the 44â crew cab will have full-size doors and seat 6 passengers and provide the comfort of rear zone A/C and heat.
The Hino XL Series also gets new advantages for 2021 model year including the extended cab and crew cab configurations and a snow plow package complete with an 18,000 lb. GVW front axle and front frame extensions. The Hino XL7 and XL8 will now come standard with a driverâs seatbelt sensor and available ACC building on the trucksâ ESC, CMS and LDW active safety solutions.
Hino Trucks dealers are now accepting orders for the new 2021 models. The extended and crew cab variants will be added in the Spring and the XL snow plow package in Summer timeframe.
Hino Trucks, a Toyota Group Company, manufactures, sells, and services a lineup of Class 4-8 commercial trucks in the United States. Hino Trucks is the premier heavy & medium duty nameplate in the United States with a product lineup that offers fully connected vehicles with low total cost of ownership, superior fuel economy, unmatched reliability and maneuverability and the most comprehensive bundle of standard features in the market. Headquartered in Novi, Michigan, Hino has a network of over 240 dealers nationwide committed to achieving excellence in the Ultimate Ownership Experience.
Learn more about Hino Trucks at http://www.hino.com or follow us on Facebook, Linkedin, Twitter and YouTube.
Jerr-Dan Promotes Heath Fassnacht to Director of Sales
Jerr-Dan Corporation, an Oshkosh Corporation company (NYSE:OSK) and single brand leader in the towing and recovery business, has promoted Heath Fassnacht to Director of Sales. He had been District Sales Manager for the southern region.
Fassnacht started his career in 1996 with Atlanta Wrecker and Carrier Sales, now known as Atlanta Wrecker Sales, a well-known Jerr-Dan distributor in the south. Following a progressive career with the company, he joined Jerr-Dan in 2015 as a national accounts manager before being named district sales manager.
âIâm humbled to have the opportunity to continue being a catalyst for Jerr-Danâs growth in the towing and recovery equipment industry,â said Fassnacht. âIâve been working in this business since graduating from college in 1996, and Iâm proud to be representing the single brand leader in the industry.
âWe have a great team in place across sales, operations, engineering and other key functions, and are poised to continue expanding into new markets, backed by the best distributor network in the country. I look forward to continue supporting our current customers and building relationships with prospective Jerr-Dan distributors.â
In his new role, Fassnachtâs primary responsibilities will include sales growth strategy, sales team management and expansion into new markets.
âWe are incredibly fortunate to have someone with Heathâs background in the industry willing to accept this responsibility,â said Richard Del Campo, vice president and general manager of Jerr-Dan. âIt is increasingly challenging to find senior leaders with track records like Heathâs who continue to push themselves and those around them. Jerr-Dan is proud to place our sales team alongside his leadership.â
For more information on Jerr-Dan products, visit www.jerrdan.com. Â
Donât Let it Happen to You – Protect Your Trucks
Its Monday morning, 8:21 am–itâs always Monday! The shop smells like metal and oil–burned oil.  Somewhere, the all familiar drip-drip of leaking fluids reminds you of another problem yet to be fixed. The clipboard in your hands contains work orders and vehicle inspections, all illegible, torn, and smeared. A call from a driver says they have been rear ended in an accident.  Wasnât there a note about a broken taillight? When did it break?  When was the last time the truck was inspected? Forms get ignored for being illegible. Inspections are delayed or insufficient from mismanaged schedules. Where are the inspections? They are at the bottom of a stack of smeared and illegible forms somewhere in a pile in the office.  In short, your fleet maintenance has suffered a breakdown of key elements, and itâs gonna cost you–time, customers, and money! SureEcosystems Fleet helps to protect your trucks and assets with an easy-to-use, web-based maintenance software, keeping you aware of day-to-day vehicle operations.
TELL ME MORE
Fleet creates a direct line of communication between you and your drivers, eliminating paper forms, allowing you to stay on top of your fleet maintenance. The software will alert you immediately when any issue is reported, so it can be properly addressed. Fleet offers complete work-order management, so you can create and assign work orders, track current status staying on top of hours of labor, total cost, and downtime.
WOULDNâT IT BE NICE
Wouldnât it be nice to have your drivers or technicians, who operate your vehicles, check out the vehicle and their tools prior to each shift? Obviously, we all hope our drivers do a walk around inspection, and we hope that they leave the shop or start their day with the tools required to perform their jobs. Using sureEcosystem Fleet, you can accomplish this and much more, as well as have a daily record and accountability. When a driver begins their shift, they perform an inspection completely customized by you. The site provides a template to work from with many questions already available for you to use in building your inspection. You can add other questions as well. In addition to checking the oil or the tire pressure, your drivers can also check to make sure that specific items are on the vehicle (or in the vehicle) that are needed to perform their work like insurance cards, for example.  Deficiencies can be tracked, drivers can restock vehicles, alerts can be set, or work orders generated into your maintenance tracking system. âWork Ordersâ can be set as well based on your preferences tied to the specific questions you use in your company. Many other types of inspections can also be performed including vehicle end-of-shift check in and appearance inspections. All these inspections are used in building reports that let you know what’s going on with your fleet and your business. It also lets you know which employees are performing the work you would like them to do in accordance with company policy.
TRACK THE MAINTENANCE PERFORMED ON YOUR VEHICLES
SureEcosystem also tracks all the maintenance performed on your vehicles. Whether it is in your own shop or outside shops. The site allows you to keep track of the costs of maintaining each vehicle individually. Work being performed on vehicles is tracked using work orders in sureEcosystem that can be assigned to internal technicians, external shops, or others.
Customizable thresholds allow you to maintain, inspect, and replace vehicle components on a regular schedule that you define. This may mean that you want to perform preventative maintenance on different schedules for different vehicles or to check brakes, tires, or other items at defined intervals. SureEcosystem even lets you track maintenance thresholds for the ancillary equipment attached to your truck or specific vocational bodies. Equipment such as tankers, tool bodies, ambulances, tow trucks, tree service equipment, and specialized vehicle components for many other industries.
WAIT, THERE ARE MORE COOL FEATURES!
There is a way to create alerts and proactively address preventive maintenance and service requirements. That way is through âVehicle Records,â a feature that allows one to manage permits, licensing, registration, and other time-sensitive documents.
ACCIDENTS HAPPEN
Drivers can report accidents directly from the mobile app. The app ensures that all the proper information is collected, including photos and audio recordings.  SureEcosystem also utilizes âDriver Qualification,â a feature that saves time managing and organizing your drivers with features including groups, attached documents, reminders on actionable items, and intelligent pre-populated driver information.
OH, ALMOST FORGOT ABOUT âWORK ORDERSâ
This feature assigns and manages tasks performed on your vehicles. âWork Ordersâ track useful data points including multiple service types, technician, parts required, costs, labor, and total downtime.
So, whether you are dealing with proactive vehicle maintenance, driver and work order management, or accident prevention and management, sureEcosystem Fleet keeps you aware of day-to-day vehicle operations and empowers you to effectively manage your staff and their daily work orders with this user-friendly, web-based maintenance software. The best way to see what sureEcosystem Fleet can do for your business is to simply start a free trial. All you do is go to sureEcosystem.com/fleet, click the free trial tab, and youâre up and running! You can also take the time to do a demo with one of our specialists and learn more about how to use all these tools in your specific business operations. Everyday does not have to be a Monday!
FACING THE CHALLENGES OF TOMORROW
Facing the Challenges of Tomorrow- âHell,â you say, âIâm happy if I can get through todayâs challenges and keep my customers happy.â Â I hear that kind of comment every week from towing and VSF owners, and yet many are light years ahead of their competitors. âWhy are they ahead?â you ask. Because they have learned the important rules of business: âPay Attention to your Customer Needs and Follow the Money.â To achieve the simple goal of understanding your customers historical needs and your companyâs financial situation, many have invested in effective management software. If you havenât yet licensed towing management software (TMS), then you should consider it a priority.
The onslaught of technology is changing everyoneâs future, and the towing, recovery, and vehicle storage industry is no exception. Our recovery vehicles have become more sophisticated, but technology is also making them easier and safer to use. Â Yet itâs the unseen advancements in software that is really changing the way in which we operate, and without doubt, it is a major part of our future! What used to be a hard division of duties between the office and tow truck is now becoming a blur due to web-based TMS programs and the mobile app.
The benefits of CLOUD computing and the use of mobile apps or remote browser-based tablet access are not only beneficial to small companies but offer efficiency and cost reduction benefits to any business regardless of size. Connectivity to your CLOUD-based TMS program via the Internet, can be from ANY DEVICE, ANYTIME, ANYWHERE; this would include a desktop PC, a laptop, Android or iPad tablet, or a smart phone.
As the end user of any product or service, it is not necessary to understand the in-depth nuances of how it works, only that it does what you need.
Investing in management software should achieve three primary goals:
- Simplify the operation of your business by creating standard operating procedures (SOP), which provide common sense, step-by-step actions.
- SOP will provide statistical reporting, track your customers historical needs, follow the money, and track your cash flow, allowing you to make better, more informed business decisions.
- Informed business decisions will ultimately reduce the number of people required to effectively operate your business without impairing customer satisfaction and thereby improving your profit margin.
The benefits of CLOUD-based TMS – If you are a small owner-operated company, it makes business sense to be able to manage your entire operation from the cab of your tow truck. VTS Systems offers both web-based CLOUD and PC/server based TMS programs. Why offer both? If your business location does not enjoy reliable high-speed Internet, then a PC/server TMS program may be better choice, as it does not require constant Internet access to provide full-time operability. Even in the largest US cities, there are areas zoned for industrial use that do not enjoy reliable high-speed Internet. Moreover, whatever Internet problems city towing companies face, their country cousins usually operate in a more challenging environment. Although hardwired or fiber-optic broadband services are the most efficient, cellular and wireless data often provide a viable fallback alternative. We suggest that you talk to a knowledgeable expert, not just a product salesperson to define your Internet options.
If you are considering new TMS software, invest time in defining your needs and researching various options. There are TMS software vendors who specialize in towing, whereas others provide full-service packaging which include:
- Unlimited towing,
- Variable driver commission/bonuses,
- Accounting A/R, invoices, and statements,
- State compliant Storage Lot Management and vehicle processing,
- Integrated, multi-state DMV owner and lienholder access and retrieval,
- Automated, on time notification/lien letter processing via electronic certified mail, return receipt requested,
- Integrated Public Auctions/Sales Processing and Title Documentation.
Considered by many to be a leader in TMS, VTS Systems has served the towing and vehicle storage facility industry for more than twenty years, and nobody does storage lot management better than we do, PERIOD. We offer full-service, comprehensive basic TMS packaging with optional feature/expansion modules. Included in the monthly licensing fee, VTS Systems provides full product support and software upgrades along with end user training. Since no two companiesâ needs are exactly alike, we suggest you only license what you need!
Should you have questions regarding the information in this article, please contact VTS Systems at 877.374.7225, Ext. 2 and ask to speak to Lisa Perez. Lisa Perez is a state-licensed tow-truck operator with more than twenty years of experience in operating and managing state licensed storage facilities.
âFollow the Leaderâ is an Invitation to Succeed –
What is âFollow the Leader?â For Beacon, itâs an invitation to towing and roadside assistance companies to step ahead of their competitors and take advantage of the number one dispatch software on the market. For businesses that require dispatch software, itâs a reminder that finding the right system takes work. There are lots of companies popping out of the woodwork, and it can be difficult to sort through the multitude of advertisements and flashy slogans.
Thatâs why Beacon keeps it simple. In August of 2019, Beacon Software began the âFollow the Leaderâ campaign in order to connect with towers and showcase 19 strong years in the towing and roadside assistance industry.
Itâs no wonder roadside assistance professionals around the world depend on Beacon to provide easy-to-use tools that help them efficiently dispatch their drivers and manage their businesses.
Beacon Goes the Distance
Customer expectations change with shifting technology and industry standards, which is why Beacon Software employees go the distance to keep their customers informed about product updates and training opportunities. When youâre on the road and you run into a question, you need an answer fast. In addition to regular email updates, Beacon Software delivers the friendliest support staff in the industry.
What makes Beacon Software different? Beacon was designed for towing and roadside professionals by industry veterans. Rudy Smith is the CEO of Beacon Software, and co-owner of Rudy Smith Towing and Recovery. This New Orleans-based towing operation is celebrating its 100th year in business. He cites the importance of using tow management software, âWithout accountability, itâs difficult to discern the best ways to improve your business and offer more efficient roadside assistance,â says Smith. âThings like map view, instant access to driver locations and payment processing changed the game completely.â Having spent years on the road himself, Smith recognizes how critical a robust software solution is to his business.
Companies consistently recognize Beacon for their flagship product, Dispatch Anywhere, the program that took the towing and roadside assistance industry into the future, but Beaconâs suite of software offers a solution for everyone. Most recently, Beacon Software introduced the GPS Map View feature to Dispatch Anywhereâs sister product, TowMagic. Now, companies of all sizes can track drivers and get ETAs for faster, more efficient dispatching.
First in Show
Beacon Software is known for its firsts, but most people donât know just how many features it introduced to the towing and roadside assistance industry. The following are just the top ten features that Beacon made possible with Dispatch Anywhere.
- 1st Cloud Based
- 1st Digital Dispatch
- 1st Computer Aided Dispatch
- 1st GPS Integration
- 1st Smart Phone Manager/Driver App
- 1st in Data Security
- 1st Multi-Division Management System
- 1st Mobile Credit Card Integration
- 1st Automated Motor Club Billing
- 1st Drag and Drop Dispatch
The best part about being first in the industry is that Beacon had the most time to develop and modernize its software. Today, Beacon Software looks a lot different than it did in the beginning–same great ideas with cleaner, modernized applications.
Your Next Employee of the Year
If you ask any Beacon customer, theyâll tell you one of their favorite employees is their Dispatch Anywhere system. Thatâs because owning a software that saves time and enforces accountability is priceless. Your software can never replace your dedicated, hardworking drivers and dispatchers. Rather, your software exists to support your team and help you connect with motor clubs, your staff and your customers.
One of the most important things a software company can do is listen to its customers. Beacon Software takes customer feedback and uses it to improve their platform. Most recently, Dispatch Anywhere updated to include automatic job import for IAA and Copart, enhanced its job tracking history and introduced more benefits for Square credit card users. Additionally, Dispatch Anywhere provides the following, integral features.
- A/R Accounting– As well as the ability to export to Quickbooks™.
- Smart Assign-Lightning fast recommendations to minimize time finding the best driver for the call.
- Track Assets– Know where your drivers and vehicles are in relation to their jobs on a map.
- Autocomplete– Minimize data entry with address autosuggest and pricing templates for quick and accurate call entry.
- Anywhere Mobile– Dispatchers are not chained to a desk. They can be mobile and manage every call.
- Dispatch Motor Club Jobs– Assign jobs that are sent from motor clubs.
- Continuous FREE Training- Never get left in the dark on new features. Faster ramp up for new employees.
Live Weekly Training with Matt
President of Beacon Software, Todd Althouse, realized that, as Beacon evolved, it would need to develop modern ways to communicate with its customers. âOne of our proudest achievements is our ability to connect with our customers. Mattâs regular training and demo updates allow our customers to communicate directly with and learn even more about their software investment,â says Althouse.
Keeping your employees fully trained and up-to-date on new features is one of the best ways to stay ahead of your competition. In order to better share updates and tutorials with Beacon Customers, Training and Support Manager, Matt Tortorici, hosts demos, training sessions, and informational assemblies live on YouTube every Friday at 1 pm EST.
Taking the Leap into Towing and Roadside Management Software
Making the switch to use dispatch software can be daunting, especially because the towing and roadside assistance industry is built on the back of tried and true methods. No one knows these methods better than Ronnie Smith, co-owner of Beacon Software and Rudy Smith Towing and Recovery.  Smith assisted in the recovery management efforts of one of the worst natural disasters to date, Hurricane Katrina. âWe could have never managed 17 towing companies, hundreds of tow trucks and recovered tens of thousands of boats and vehicles after Katrina if we had not developed Dispatch Anywhere. Itâs just a necessity and has made life so much easier,â says Smith. âNo one likes change, but once you make the switch to Dispatch Anywhere, you will wonder why you didnât years ago. It just makes your operation run so much more efficiently, relieves stress, and saves money.â
Auto Data Direct
The 2019 Legislative sessions in Florida and Georgia brought substantial change to tow and wrecker operators in those states. But Auto Data Direct has the industry covered when it comes to meeting new state regulations!
Florida Change Requires Third Party for Notification
In Florida, the notification process is changing. Effective January 1, 2020, all towing companies, title companies who process tow liens, mechanic shops, and body shops are required to send their notification letters for sale or lien through an approved third-party service. Additionally, the third party will be required to set up and maintain a publicly available website that allows owners, registrants, lienholders, and insurance companies to search for notices. If your company is an Auto Data Direct (ADD) customer and already processes letters through its DirectPost-Office (DPO) product, your business is all set. ADD has provided a high-quality, third-party notification system recognized by the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (DHSMV) since 2003!
Overhaul of Georgiaâs Tow Statute
Georgiaâs new law, which became effective September 1, 2019, resulted in a major overhaul to the towing statute. Tow companies must send the notification letter developed by the Council of Magistrate Court Judges by certified mail or hand delivery. There are also changes in the timeframe during which letters must be sent. Georgia tow and wrecker operators currently using ADDâs DPO service are ahead of the game! ADD modifies its system and letters to meet new requirements as they are implemented by the state, and its Georgia letter tools are ready and available to the industry.
Another big benefit for Georgia tow/wrecker companies utilizing ADDâs suite of tools comes with the recognition of its DMV123 owner/lienholder records and ADD as the departmentâs authorized vendor for motor vehicle records. For details on Georgiaâs statute changes and information on ADDâs designation as an agent for records, visit dor.georgia.gov/abandoned-vehicles.
ADDâs Suite of Tools Is a Tow Operatorâs Best Friend!
For those who arenât familiar with ADDâs DirectPost-Office (DPO) certified mail product, it was launched in 2003 to provide Florida towing companies an easier way to send notification letters to owners, lienholders and insurers by creating certified mail and inserting the letters into the USPS mail stream electronically. Since then, DPO has expanded its letter services for towing operators in Texas, Alabama, Connecticut, Indiana, Georgia, Mississippi, North Dakota, and Tennessee. DPO is a tow operatorâs best friend. It combines letter creation with state record searches to complete forms and send certified letters through the United States Postal Service without an aggravating trip to the post office! As notification requirements change, as has occurred in Florida and Georgia, ADD modifies it letters and processes specific to a state to meet the needs of its customers.
As a compliment to DPO, ADDâs multi-state real-time motor vehicle records save time, money, and frustration when it comes to getting notification letters out in a timely manner. Coined DMV123, ADDâs most sought after service allows its customers who qualify under the Drivers Privacy Protection Act (DPPA) to search through its secure system using a VIN and immediately retrieve the most current record available from a jurisdiction, in real time. As already mentioned, Georgia has designated ADDâs records as the official agent for records.
Using ADDâs National Title Pointer helps narrow down the search when the state of origin isnât easily identified. The Title Pointer uses data available in the National Motor Vehicle Title Information System (NMVTIS) to find the most recent state of title. Once identified, ADDâs customers can search the real-time database if that state is available or send a good faith letter directly from their ADD account to the appropriate jurisdiction.
Once a vehicle is towed, and the record is accessed, DPO allows the data to be merged into the appropriate form, saving keystrokes and ensuring accuracy. Once the letter is electronically submitted to the mail stream, DPO allows for tracking the certified letter every step of the way providing details on when the letter(s) was received, or if it was undeliverable. The DPO archive provided in an ADD account gives tow operators documented proof that notification requirements were followed if a question arises about whether the appropriate actions were taken to find the owner/lienholder prior to holding an auction.
For tow/wrecker operators who need to report junk or salvage vehicles to NMVTIS, ADD provides a solution from the same web-based account. Any entity that deals in more than five junk and salvage vehicles per year must provide specific vehicle information to the national database on at least a monthly basis. NMVTIS reporting applies to any vehicle a company parts out or crushes, or any vehicle for which a salvage certificate, a certificate of destruction, or similar document is obtained. If a business has the right to sell or re-title, rebuild, restore or crush the vehicle, and it is a junk or salvage vehicle under the federal definition, it must be reported to NMVTIS.
ADD’s NMVTIS upload tools are designed to help businesses fulfill the reporting requirement quickly and easily. Two account types are available to suit any size business or upload volume. Full-service accounts include individual vehicle entry, batch vehicle entry using a spreadsheet and business-to-business processing which can be arranged with the customer’s IT staff, all for a low per-report fee. Basic-service accounts include no-cost individual entry and emailed confirmation receipts.
Learn More About ADD and Get Started Today!
ADD provides innovative tools every step of the way for tow operators focused on ensuring their business processes are efficient, accurate, and cost-effective, all backed by the friendliest, most knowledgeable customer service in the industry.
If your company already has an ADD account but is not using DPO, just click the orange DirectPost-Office icon in My Apps to begin processing your notification letters. If you are new to ADD, click on the sign-up button on its home page to take advantage of these valuable business tools.
For more information on scheduled training classes and webinars, or to speak with one of our friendly and knowledgeable customer service representatives, call 850-877- 8804 or email info@add123.com.
ITRHFM Adds 28 Names to Its Wall of the Fallen
The International Towing & Recovery Hall of Fame and Museum added twenty-eight new names to the Wall of the Fallen during its recent annual ceremony honoring towing and road service operators who have died in the line of service.
The names include those from previous years as the details of fatalities become known. In all, the Wall of the Fallen now has over 450 names of men and women who have lost their lives while serving the motoring public in the towing and road service industry. (See below for complete list of towing operator names added in 2019.)
The Wall of the Fallen ceremony seeks to honor towing operators whose lives were cut short and the Survivor Fund provides a one-time gift to the families. Survivorsâ families also receive a Certificate of Honor at the ceremony.
âIt is with great sadness that we find ourselves in a position that requires the Wall of the Fallen,â stated Jeffrey Godwin, Wall of the Fallen and Survivor Fund co-chairman. âDespite the tragedy represented, we do find comfort in honoring our fallen operators and in serving their families in their time of loss.â
The annual ceremony also aims to boost motoristsâ awareness of Move Over laws in effect in all 50 states that require drivers to move over one lane and/or slow down when approaching an emergency vehicle.
Annually, the motoring publicâs failure to slow down or move over, in addition to drunken or negligent driving, unnecessarily claims many towersâ lives.
2019 Wall of the Fallen
(in alphabetical order)
| Honoree Name | State | Year |
| Phillip F. Amsden | IN | 2010 |
| Patric Noel Barrio | TX | 2019 |
| Michael Charles Buffington | MS | 2019 |
| Patrick Cisneros | NM | 2019 |
| Garold L. Cline | WV | 2018 |
| Jerry E. Davenport | AR | 2018 |
| Ernest Linden Dean | KY | 1945 |
| Steven E. Eldridge | NC | 2019 |
| Erwin Mendoza Geremillo | CA | 2019 |
| Trevor A. Haas | IL | 2018 |
| Richard Arturo Hernandez | CA | 1999 |
| Jesse Hettmann | WI | 2019 |
| Keith Holt, Sr. | TX | 2019 |
| Elwood Allan Humphries | VA | 2018 |
| Clarence C. Jones, Jr. | PA | 1963 |
| Charles C. McGough | TX | 2018 |
| Juan Manuel Morga | CA | 2018 |
| James Robert Morris | CA | 2019 |
| Terrell Dean Pack | TX | 2019 |
| Willie J. Passmore, Jr. | NE | 2011 |
| Edgar Arthur Pilon | Canada | 1954 |
| Kevin B. Raasch | KS | 2019 |
| Clarence Hugh Souther, Jr. | GA | 1962 |
| Benny G. Sprinkle | NC | 2019 |
| John L. Stewart | MO | 2018 |
| Paul Wayne Taylor, Jr | TX | 2018 |
| Jason Stuart Throne | IN | 2019 |
| Michael R. White | OK | 2018 |
About ITRHFM
The International Towing and Recovery Hall of Fame and Museum, located in Chattanooga, TN, houses an array of displays and exhibits showcasing the history of towing and recovery. The rotating collection includes early equipment by Manley, Holmes, Vulcan, and Weaver. The Hall of Fame honors individuals who have significantly advanced the industry. The Museum includes a theater, a library, and a gift shop selling souvenirs related to the towing industry. On the outside grounds is the Wall of the Fallen memorial, dedicated to towers who died in the line of service. The ITRHFM Survivor Fund assists the families of the men and women that have made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of service by providing a uniform financial gift at the time of their loss. ITRHFM is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization and accepts donations for its programs and operations from individuals, corporations and groups.
Learn more at www.towingmuseum.com
TRAA Joins Coalition to Halt Four Bills with âBurdensomeâ Unfunded Mandates
The coalition sent a letter on Sept. 16 to Sen. Roger Wicker (R-Mississippi), chairman, and Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-Washington), ranking member, of the Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation; and Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-Oregon), chairman, and Rep. Sam Graves, R-Missouri, ranking member, of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
The four bills are:
⢠The Stop Underrides Act (H.R. 1511/S. 665): which would require the installation of front, side and rear underride guards on all trailers with a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) that exceeds 10,000 pounds and all single-unit trucks with a GVWR greater than 10,000 pounds and a carriage that is more than 22 inches above the ground.
⢠The Cullum Owings Large Truck Safe Operating Speed Act of 2019 (S. 2033): which would mandate commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) over 26,000 pounds to be equipped with speed limiters set to 65 mph.
⢠The Safe Roads Act (H.R. 3773): which would require new CMVs to be equipped with and utilize an automatic emergency braking (AEB) system.
⢠The INSURANCE Act (H.R. 3781): which would increase the minimum liability coverage for motor carriers from $750,000 to over $4.9 million. This increase would apply to all businesses transporting property, not just long-haul trucking operations.
In addition to TRAA, the other members of the coalition are: the Agricultural Retailers Association; Agriculture Transportation Coalition; American Dairy Coalition; American Farm Bureau Federation; American Pipeline Contractors Association; American Pyrotechnics Association; Associated Equipment Distributors; Associated Oregon Loggers; Association of Professional Towers of Ohio; Corn Refiners Association; Distribution Contractors Association; Mid-West Truckers Association; National Asphalt Pavement Association; National Association of Small Trucking Companies; National Cotton Council; National Cotton Ginnersâ Association; National Council of Farmer Cooperatives; National Grain and Feed Association; National Hay Association; National Ready Mixed Concrete Association; National Stone, Sand and Gravel Association; National Utility Contractors Association; National Wildfire Suppression Association; NFIB; North American Millersâ Association; Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association; Police Towers of America; Power and Communications Contractors Association; Precast/Prestressed Concrete Institute; and United States Cattlemenâs Association.
Dynamicâs New Service Truck – A Solid Towing Industry Solution!
Dynamic Towing Equipment and Manufacturing has another solid towing solution to the industry! Dynamic worked with motor clubs and towers across the country to design a service truck specifically tailored to satisfying the customerâs needs. We spoke directly with those who already owned our trucks and even spoke to our potential customers who are considering them. Listening to what they said, we then turned their feedback into features that empower them to work more efficiently and quickly resulting in higher revenues and lower costs of operation.  Specifically, we found that an effective service truck needs plenty of storage, additional recovery capabilities, and increased safety, so here is what we did to design a service truck that delivers what our customers need:
WE CREATED PLENTY OF STRATEGIC STORAGE SPACE.
The Service Truck is equipped with four rollup-door storage compartments for safe and easy curbside access totaling an amazing 80-cubic feet of usable space. The fenders are poly, so no more rust, and they are lighter, so you can carry more cargo weight without the risk of being overweight. These huge compartments can be delivered with an optional adjustable rack system for vehicle batteries and can provide safe stowing of up to 36 batteries in large boxes able to hold enough batteries to cover most vehicles on the road. The boxes have adjustable shelves with tie-downs, so the batteries are always secured while in motion.  In addition, both sides of the Service Truck have wide toolboxes and another large storage compartment on the deck for a total of seven compartments. Accompanying deck space measuring 54â x 85â allows for plenty of space for dollies, go jacks, and additional storage options.
Also, tool-box compartments are installed to accommodate all normal roadside assistance tools and equipment as well as an air compressor with front and rear quick disconnects to allow the tech complete flexibility to service vehicles in all positions. Even with the additional storage boxes, the center deck is still open for additional storage of equipment, when equipped with out stealth unit.
WE INCREASED OUR TRUCKâS RECOVERY CAPABILITIES ELMINATING THE NEED FOR MULTIPLE VEHICLES.
We originally started with a 4000-lb. lift, then went up to a 5000-lb. under lift. We decided to add a 5000-lb. wheel lift with a recovery boom and an 8000-lb. Ramsey winch. A front push bumper is also available with an optional winch. We did this because after speaking to our customers, we found that they were wanting one vehicle to do as much as possible, so now you can do everything from a battery boost to a battery replacement to a tow or all the way up to a recovery with one vehicle.  The service technician can test the disabled vehicleâs battery and electrical system to get the vehicle running under its own power. If necessary, the tech can install a new battery in the vehicle at the breakdown site. However, as in many cases, the battery is not the cause of the breakdown.  After eliminating all the things a Service truck can do to assist the stranded customer, all you must do now is hook up the car.
Consequently, because of the increased capabilities of our Service truck, we donât have to dispatch a tow vehicle to complete the service call and tow the customer to their repair facility; our Dynamic service truck can handle the job. The customer does not have to wait for another vehicle to arrive, and you as an owner do not have to send multiple vehicles to the same breakdown location. We improve operational efficiency saving on fuel, vehicle wear and tear, and overhead while still providing the same high level of service our customers have come to expect.
WE IMPROVED SAFETY THROUGH OUR STORAGE-COMPARTMENT DOOR DESIGN.
Our units have roll-up doors that do not swing out into the path of traffic, but rather roll up into the truck. This eliminates the possibility of passing vehicles catching an open storage compartment door and creating a traffic incident with the service truck endangering the life of the tower or customer.
Now even though utility and safety for our customers are premium values to us, we didnât sacrifice aesthetics–we wanted our trucks to look good. As a result, the sleek body style makes this service truck a definite eye-catcher on the road and within the industry.
Dynamicâs new service truck is truly a solid towing solution to the needs of the industry with its practical and spacious storage compartments and enhanced recovery capabilities, all while providing more protection for the lives of towers. Itâs a Dynamic solution!
FEATURE HIGHLIGHTS:
- 4-year warranty
- Designed to us a 60CA OR 84CA chassis with an additional 24-in. tunnel box
- All poly-fender construction
- 4 large roll-up door compartments with shelving
- 3 fold-down door compartments with plenty of additional storage
- Optional adjustable batter racking system
- Optional 5000-lb. wheel lifts with or without winch and recovery boom.
- Open deck space to store dollies, go jacks, cones, and fuel and water tanks.
âBest Toolsâ You Can Depend On
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, âour lockout tools take a lickinâ and keep on pickinâ.â  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, itâs not just about success in the past making tools that that match the variety of needs, itâs also about being relevant to todayâs 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 âMega Bag,” a bigger air wedge with a strong insert to get through the toughest doors in the market. Another is the ” Average Joeâ which is a smaller version of the very poplar standard magic wand for those who have a shorter reach and need something more versatile. The âExtra Long Magic Wandâ is great for big trucks with a 70″ reach.  Also new is the âSlim-Pickerâ 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 âgrass rootâ business focusing on reaching out to the customer in a personal way. Remember, âWhen People Rely on You – You Can Depend on Us!â
You can check out their products through your local dealer, check them out online www.besttoolsusa.com or give us a call 800-541-8568. Maybe we will even see you a trade show!
