Will-Burt and Latta Null Interview with Sirion and HDT

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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

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Darian Weaver

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New JNC770 from Clore Automotive

By

Darian Weaver

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What is the Access Tools Difference?

By

Darian Weaver

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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 vehicle’s 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 vehicle’s 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 vehicle’s 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 can’t 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 industry’s 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.

SafetyVision – Mobileye

By

Darian Weaver

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MO37 Wireless Tow Light – Feature Packed, Heavy Duty, and the New Industry Standard

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Tow Professional

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Jerr-Dan – Employee Testimonial – Jake Perron

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Tow Professional

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Custer Products – Wireless 23″ Light Duty Tow Light

By

Tow Professional

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HINO TRUCKS INTRODUCES NEW MODELS AND CAB CONFIGURATIONS

By

Darian Weaver

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Hino Trucks has been asking you for a few weeks now the simple question: What size are you? Well, now it’s 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 business’ needs. Hino is excited to announce their new ‘M Series’ Class 4/5 COE’s and new ‘L Series’ Class 6/7 Conventional trucks, which combined with Hino’s recently launched ‘XL Series’ 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 industry’s 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 4.2” LCD multi-information display and driver’s 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 7” 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 driver’s seatbelt sensor. Adding even more functionality to your business are new wheelbase options and extended and crew cab configurations.

“Having extended and crew cab choices will help us better serve our customers’ operational needs and open-up new markets for our trucks” explained Glenn Ellis, SVP Customer Experience. “It’s impressive how accommodating and spacious both cabs are. Our engineering and design team really did an outstanding job with our new full line-up!” The 30” extended cab will have seating for 5 and the 44” 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 driver’s seatbelt sensor and available ACC building on the trucks’ 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

By

Darian Weaver

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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.

“I’m humbled to have the opportunity to continue being a catalyst for Jerr-Dan’s growth in the towing and recovery equipment industry,” said Fassnacht. “I’ve been working in this business since graduating from college in 1996, and I’m proud to be representing the single brand leader in the industry.

“We 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.”

In his new role, Fassnacht’s primary responsibilities will include sales growth strategy, sales team management and expansion into new markets.

“We are incredibly fortunate to have someone with Heath’s background in the industry willing to accept this responsibility,” said Richard Del Campo, vice president and general manager of Jerr-Dan. “It is increasingly challenging to find senior leaders with track records like Heath’s who continue to push themselves and those around them. Jerr-Dan is proud to place our sales team alongside his leadership.”

For more information on Jerr-Dan products, visit www.jerrdan.com.

Don’t Let it Happen to You – Protect Your Trucks

By

Darian Weaver

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Its Monday morning, 8:21 am–it’s 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. Wasn’t 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 it’s 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.

WOULDN’T IT BE NICE

Wouldn’t 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. “Work Orders” 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 “Vehicle Records,” 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 “Driver Qualification,” 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 “WORK ORDERS”

This feature assigns and manages tasks performed on your vehicles. “Work Orders” 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 you’re 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

By

Darian Weaver

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Facing the Challenges of Tomorrow- “Hell,” you say, “I’m happy if I can get through today’s challenges and keep my customers happy.” I hear that kind of comment every week from towing and VSF owners, and yet many are light years ahead of their competitors. “Why are they ahead?” you ask. Because they have learned the important rules of business: “Pay Attention to your Customer Needs and Follow the Money.” To achieve the simple goal of understanding your customers historical needs and your company’s financial situation, many have invested in effective management software. If you haven’t yet licensed towing management software (TMS), then you should consider it a priority.

The onslaught of technology is changing everyone’s 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. Yet it’s 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 companies’ 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.

“Follow the Leader” is an Invitation to Succeed –

By

Darian Weaver

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What is “Follow the Leader?” For Beacon, it’s 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, it’s 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.

That’s why Beacon keeps it simple. In August of 2019, Beacon Software began the “Follow the Leader” campaign in order to connect with towers and showcase 19 strong years in the towing and roadside assistance industry.

It’s 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 you’re 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 100^th year in business. He cites the importance of using tow management software, “Without accountability, it’s difficult to discern the best ways to improve your business and offer more efficient roadside assistance,” says Smith. “Things like map view, instant access to driver locations and payment processing changed the game completely.” 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 Beacon’s suite of software offers a solution for everyone. Most recently, Beacon Software introduced the GPS Map View feature to Dispatch Anywhere’s 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 don’t 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.

1^st Cloud Based
1^st Digital Dispatch
1^st Computer Aided Dispatch
1^st GPS Integration
1^st Smart Phone Manager/Driver App
1^st in Data Security
1^st Multi-Division Management System
1^st Mobile Credit Card Integration
1^st Automated Motor Club Billing
1^st 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, they’ll tell you one of their favorite employees is their Dispatch Anywhere system. That’s 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. “One of our proudest achievements is our ability to connect with our customers. Matt’s regular training and demo updates allow our customers to communicate directly with and learn even more about their software investment,” 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. “We 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. It’s just a necessity and has made life so much easier,” says Smith. “No one likes change, but once you make the switch to Dispatch Anywhere, you will wonder why you didn’t years ago. It just makes your operation run so much more efficiently, relieves stress, and saves money.”

Auto Data Direct

By

Darian Weaver

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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 Georgia’s Tow Statute

Georgia’s 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 ADD’s 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 ADD’s suite of tools comes with the recognition of its DMV123 owner/lienholder records and ADD as the department’s authorized vendor for motor vehicle records. For details on Georgia’s statute changes and information on ADD’s designation as an agent for records, visit dor.georgia.gov/abandoned-vehicles.

ADD’s Suite of Tools Is a Tow Operator’s Best Friend!

For those who aren’t familiar with ADD’s 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 operator’s 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, ADD’s 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, ADD’s 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 ADD’s records as the official agent for records.

Using ADD’s National Title Pointer helps narrow down the search when the state of origin isn’t 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, ADD’s 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.