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SDMO Gear Launches New Site for Products

By
Darian Weaver
-

SDMO Gear, LLC announced today the initial launch of its new online store offering fresh designs in Slow Down Move Over branded items to consumers.  The business is about raising awareness of the issue from the inside of a for-profit business model while being tasteful and respectful of those professionals in the industries most impacted by the public’s lack of awareness or concern for those in harm’s way.  SDMO Gear also plans to help the families of those who tragedy befalls by supporting the non-profits who are dedicated to specific groups whose constituency is on the roadside taking the risks every day as they pursue their careers.

The company has chosen to focus on numerous public safety disciplines and to identify some specific groups who are highly impacted by the lack of compliance with the existing Slow Down Move Over laws in all 50 states.  Primary responders like Police, Fire, Towing, and EMS were the most obvious choices due to the on-demand nature of their response and the additional dangers of being on the roadside in situations where your presence is unplanned.  Additionally, SDMO Gear has specifically called out the Mobile Mechanic role, Road Construction workers, and Flaggers, all of whom face many different types of situations and deal with the same driving public as the others.  There are certainly more to be recognized but SDMO Gear is also working to setup the relationships with the best organizations offering support to the various groups.

Simply put, SDMO Gear aims to raise awareness, save lives, make money, and support those left behind when tragedy strikes.

Learn more at www.sdmogear.com.

GPS Fleet Management Solutions

By
Darian Weaver
-

GPS Fleet Management Solutions, which is headquartered in Raleigh, NC, has been distributing and supporting fleet telematics since 2000. Their full-featured solutions help businesses better manage their drivers and assets by extracting accurate and actionable intelligence from real-time and historical data.

The Geotab GO9 allows you to lead your fleet into the future w.th expanded capacity for further native vehicle support, improved fuel usage support, electric vehicles and global expansion.

GPS Fleet Management Solutions serves and supports hundreds of fleets of all sizes, and thousands of assets of all types and makes world-wide.  They are a turn-key solutions provider, offering onsite installation services, company account development, personnel training, and unrestricted access to all available support services. GPS Fleet Management Solutions provides business owners with unfiltered data, provide absolute awareness, ensure efficiency and cut waste from its source, increase profits and promote driver safety.

GPS Fleet Management Solutions’ relationships are centered upon a handshake agreement. They do not have contracts or term limits to define a relationship and they work hard to ensure flawless product performance while providing the support to make certain that your solution is utilized to its capacity. Simply put, this is the way they have always done it and the way it should be.

GPS FMS’ Free Demo Unit program, which they reference as “Proof before Purchase”, allows customers to try a device for 14 days and they state,  If you’re not convinced that this is the most efficient solution to ensure employee accountability and live asset management, we will send a call tag to pick up the unit. NO QUESTIONS ASKED!

For More Info Contact:
Renee Depuydt, Director of Sales
GPS Fleet Management Solutions
616-550-2812
renee@gpsfms.com
www.gpsfms.com

HINO TRUCKS COMMEMORATES MILESTONE TRUCK DELIVERY TO PENSKE TRUCK LEASING

By
Darian Weaver
-

Just one day after Hino Trucks held the grand opening of their new manufacturing facility in Mineral Wells, WV, they celebrated another milestone – the 20,000th truck delivery to Penske Truck Leasing (PTL).  In a ceremony held at the plant to commemorate the delivery, members of Hino Trucks, including President and CEO Shigehiro Matsuoka were on hand as Hino Motors Ltd president Mr. Yoshio Shimo presented the key to the 20,000th truck to Roger Penske.

“Hino is an important supplier of trucks to our leasing and rental business”, said Penske Truck leasing Chairman Roger Penske.  “I am honored to accept delivery of the 20,000th truck produced by Hino in the United States on behalf of Penske Truck Leasing and would like to congratulate the entire team at Hino on the achievement of this significant milestone.”

The 20,000th truck is a 2020 model 268A a part of Hino’s line-up of Class 6 & 7 conventional trucks that have garnered an industry reputation for providing the lowest cost of ownership in its class.  Hino’s 268 model is specifically well suited for the lease and rental market segment where Hino has grown to 10 percent of the market. The 20,000th truck will be a part of Penske Truck Leasing’s commercial rental fleet.

“This has been a landmark week in the history of Hino Trucks.  We have officially opened the doors of our new 1 million sq ft manufacturing plant, and are commemorating a milestone delivery to our longstanding partner Penske Truck Leasing.  They continue to guide and support our growth in North America and we look forward to continuing to provide them with best in class trucks,” said Shigehiro Matsuoka, President & CEO for Hino Trucks.

“We’re honored to receive the 20,000th Hino truck into our fleet. We congratulate the entire Hino and Toyota organizations on achieving this milestone,” said Brian Hard, President and CEO of Penske Truck Leasing. “Hino is a valued and trusted supplier and we appreciate their ongoing support and collaboration in our work together.”

About Hino Trucks:

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 230 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.

About Penske Truck Leasing:

Celebrating its 50th year in business, Penske Truck Leasing Co., L.P., headquartered in Reading, Pennsylvania, is a partnership of Penske Corporation, Penske Automotive Group and Mitsui & Co., Ltd. A leading global transportation services provider, Penske operates more than 326,000 vehicles and serves customers from more than 1,100 locations in North America, South America, Europe, Australia and Asia. Product lines include full-service truck leasing, contract maintenance, commercial and consumer truck rentals, used truck sales, transportation and warehousing management and supply chain management solutions.

Visit GoPenske.com to learn more.

What Do We Face in the Future?

By
Darian Weaver
-

Two weeks ago, I was invited to the Montana State Association tow show.  They paid my expenses, and I was a guest speaker at their dinner and held a 3-hour seminar on towing business in general.  Some of the topics were:

  1. The Owner – As an owner, you wear many hats, and you better be prepared to fit in each one of them.
  2. Leadership – Some people were not meant to be leaders, yet, as the owner, you are expected to lead.
  3. Business Plans – It is important to have a business plan, so what does it take to create one?
  4. The Budget – Following a good business plan, we created a budget and discussed at length the importance of knowing your business.
  5. Avoiding Burnout – How many times have you woken up and said, “I do not want to go to work today” especially in an area where the climate might be below zero or over 100 degrees. I guess no matter where you are, there is always something.
  6. When to Sell – This is a topic they wanted to talk at length on. It was not that they were ready to sell but knowing how to sell would make their business better. Here are a few things we discussed:
    1. Know when to sell the business. Timing is everything.
    2. Don’t be afraid to ask someone to help you put together the sales package. It was the best $500 I spent when I sold my business.
    3. Don’t have high expectations. You can get what you think it’s worth, but you must work to get there.
    4. Tell your employees what you are planning and make sure they are happy.
    5. Make sure your customers are happy and let them know you may be selling.
    6. Pay off as much debt as possible. The first time someone wanted to buy my company I was disappointed because they offered me almost nothing.  They showed me how they evaluated my company.  For the next 6 months, I prepared to sell based on what I was told.  When I sold, I got more than I was asking.
    7. Have a good list of assets.

Even though the tow companies were not ready to sell, our discussions gave them things to work on to improve their business.  I got the feeling towers are in it for the long haul.

I’ll say one thing about the tow companies in Montana–they all were like family.  Their show was small with maybe 500 towers, but they covered a lot of information.  They held several classes besides mine and made valuable information available.  It seemed like we were always eating or drinking.  Their hospitality was 2nd to none, and I can’t say enough about the state of Montana.  I had all day Sunday to explore, and we did.  My wife and I put over 800 miles on the car just on Sunday.  What a beautiful state even if they just got 40 inches of snow!

Let’s get back on track.  The major part of our class was our discussion about employees, especially drivers.  I learned over the years how tow companies are constantly complaining about their drivers.  I never understood that because that’s the biggest asset you have.  I tell everyone in my classes that we all have the same trucks, dispatch software, and we can go after the same accounts.  The only difference between you and your competition is your employees.  I talked to a lot of tow companies and for some reason, they don’t like their drivers or get along with their drivers.  When I ran my company, I would hug my drivers every chance I got.  They made me money, and I treated them like gold.

One of the main topics we discussed for over an hour was “Where do we find the driver of the future?”  We had 40 tow companies in the room, and the discussion was awesome.  It seems like all the associations worry about training, and not the next generation of towers.  Just about every tow company needs drivers.  We talked about things like:

  1. Starting some type of classes in high school like mechanics or anything relating to mechanics will help students transition into tow-related jobs. When I ran my business, I went to a high school in Dallas and took 2 students twice a week for a half a day and let them work at my storage yard.  I ran my own auctions, so they started cars for me.  They got school credit, made a little money, and were happy to be at my storage yard.   My company got recognition for helping the Dallas school district.  Keep in mind that not every student is meant for college.  I recently paid a plumber $145 for an hr. to fix my toilet.  There were two tow company owners in the class that had college degrees, but they were not using them.  There are no degrees in towing.
  2. The second topic of discussion was a trade school for towing. If 40 tow companies in Montana came up with an idea for a trade school for towing, think what a few associations could put together if they tried.  Take three retired towers, pay them a small salary, and let them work with high schools and trade schools to create drivers for the future.  If the national association backed a program that created drivers, it would get the support of all the associations nationwide.
  3. The president just initiated a program to take ex-convicts and find them a good job in society. Since they all have tattoos anyways, let’s make them tow truck drivers.  If we worked at it, we could probably get some government assistance to pay for their education.  We could work with truck manufactures and let the government help buy trucks.  Now you have an educated driver with his own truck ready to make you money.

As an industry, these are the things we should be discussing rather than more testing.  I’m ready to take this to the next level if anyone is with me.

Worldwide Equipment Sales, LLC Selects Jeffrey Irr as New CEO

By
Darian Weaver
-

Pritchard Companies, parent company of Worldwide Equipment Sales, LLC, announced Jeffrey Irr as the company’s Chief Executive Officer.

The selection of Irr compliments the goals and core values of Worldwide Equipment Sales, LLC, a nationwide tow truck and recovery business delivering first class customer service for sales, parts, and service.

Irr has been in the transportation industry for 31 years. Prior to his new role with Worldwide Equipment Sales, LLC, Irr spent 5 years with Jerr-Dan Corporation, a Division of Oshkosh, where he managed sales, marketing, and day-to-day operations. Among his career achievements at Jerr-Dan, Irr grew sales and developed the current JDFS Financial Solutions Program. His leadership and knowledge of the Class 6-8 truck and towing markets ensured Jerr-Dan’s position as one of the top manufacturers in the towing industry. The addition of Irr will ensure the successful future of Worldwide Equipment Sales, LLC.

“We are fortunate to have someone of Jeff Irr’s caliber and experience leading us into the next era of growth,” said Pat Winer, Founder of Worldwide Equipment Sales, LLC.

Irr graduated from Eastern Nazarene College in 2003, with an MSM and B.S. in Business Management. He lives in Greencastle, Pennsylvania with his wife, Amy, and their three sons, Ben, Sam, and Zach. They enjoy staying involved in their community and in youth sports.

Trifecta!

By
Darian Weaver
-

A trifecta is usually a good thing. In the gambling world, it means that you’ve hit progressively three times in a row.  Trifecta is a recent addition to the English language. It first appeared in the early 1970s as a term for a horse-racing bet in which the first, second, and third place finishers are chosen in the correct order.  The word has since broadened in meaning: it can now also refer to a group of three (usually desirable) things.  It is found in everything from advertisements to media company names to casual speech.  Trifecta combines the prefix “tri-“ (meaning “three”) with the last element in “perfecta,” a word of American Spanish origin that refers to a horse-racing bet in which the first- and second-place finishers are chosen correctly.

In towing, I have found a “trifecta” which are three of the most common issues I come across in our industry: The first two issues are summarized in common statements I hear:  “If it fits, it ships.” and “I haven’t lost one yet.”  The third are the poor choices on using social media. The irony of it all is that those who use the phrases or unwisely post on social media are proud of it when the opposite should be true as they are putting everything they own at risk! Let’s take a look at all three:

“If it fits, it ships”

The accompanying photo makes me cringe.  If it doesn’t make you cringe, it probably should, or should at least get your attention.  If you’re not bothered by it, you may not have all the facts (Just read on, and you will.). It may be that when you know the facts you still may not care, and if so, you’re directly contributing to a lazy and uncaring attitude toward the industry, and you don’t care how much you pay for insurance.

We have a Freightliner M2 extended cab flatbed towing a Dodge 5500 flatbed.  Let’s look at how many things we can count that are wrong:  Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) on the Freightliner is 26,000 lbs.  The maximum the truck is allowed to carry, including the weight of the truck, fuel, driver and passengers, and cargo, is 26,000 lbs.  It isn’t a suggestion; it’s Federal statute!  There’s a decal on the door frame displaying the GVWR for anyone to see, including the driver, company owner, and of course, law enforcement.

The “tare” weight on the Freightliner M2 is 16,800 lbs.  Tare references all weights involved as discussed in the last paragraph, but without cargo.  26,000 minus 16,800 equals 9,200.  So, Federal law and the vehicle’s manufacturer says that the MOST weight you can carry is 9,200 lbs.  The deck is rated for 10,000 lbs. just for information.  The Dodge 5500 with a steel flatbed weighs 14,600 lbs.  Hmm.  No matter what, no matter what circumstances, or what anyone says, you’re 5,400 lbs. over manufacturer’s stated GVWR and at least 4,600 lbs. over the deck rating.

But wait – there’s more!  The rear axle of the Freightliner M2 is rated at 18,000 lbs.  I promise you on a stack of Monopoly money that the rear axle of that setup in the photo weighs more than 18,000 – there’s the tare weight of close to 11,000 lbs. (rear axle, Freightliner) and a large portion of the 14,600 lb. weight of the Dodge hanging on the rear tires.

Look at several things with me:  the very rear edge of the bed on the Freightliner is flexing and bending from too much weight.  The rear tires are squatting hard, and the front end has very little weight on it, so you may need to stab the brakes to get the steer tires to stick while you try to brake or turn.  That may sound funny, but it’s incredibly dangerous.  In a nutshell, this is a very unsafe and illegal load.

An elder member of my family and I have gone ‘round and ‘round about towing and capacity. He has a 1982 Chevrolet S-10 4×4 (2.8 V6 with 5-speed manual), and he’s towed a 28-foot Terry travel trailer with it.  I told him that the 8,500 lb. trailer was way over the capacity for that truck.  He argued that it could move it just fine!  I explained that just because you can move something, doesn’t mean you can control it.  Heck, any one of us could pull a truck with a rope on level ground and get it moving – now, try to control it with your hands and body when it takes off down a hill or around a corner.  Again, just because you can move something doesn’t mean you can control it.

And that’s exactly what these capacity numbers are there for – the manufacturer takes into account the braking system, steering system, body sway mechanisms, and engine power.  The attitude of “if it fits, it ships” is not only insanely ignorant, it’s downright dangerous and can cost you your entire business due to your negligence when you knowingly abuse your equipment.  Talk about lawyers having a field day!  You’ve gift-wrapped a great case for them.

“I haven’t lost one yet!”

And yes, there’s even more!  “I haven’t lost one yet!”  That phrase scares the life out of me.  It’s usually uttered by people who have been doing dangerous, unprofessional things in the name of saving a couple of minutes or being lazy, and karma hasn’t caught up to them yet.  Is over-using your equipment, using only one chain on a flatbed, or using no wheel straps on a wheel-lift truck really saving you that much time and effort?  When you have an accident, and you will – it’ll cost you everything you own.

That statement is also used in conjunction with the notion that “I’m only going across town.”  Let me ask you this:  If you loaded a car on a flatbed while right off a highway exit, got on the freeway, set the cruise control, took an exit 50 miles down the road and unloaded it right there, how much stress would be placed on your securement during that trip?

Now, hook the same car, roll across town, slowing down for school zones, slamming on the brakes because someone squealed out of a parking lot and cut you off, and you hit 47 stop lights. How much stress is on your securement?  “I’m only going across town” is a hundred times more dangerous to you and your equipment than a 50-mile freeway ride, yet “across town” is where I see the most securement shortcuts.

Poor Social Media Choices

Last, but not least, tell him what he’s won!  This photo was posted on social media–Facebook, to be exact.  We can share the photo and original post with a single click and drop it onto Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, or several other sites, as well as copy and paste it into a text message or email.  You’d better bet that all kinds of people in the industry will see it – both for good and bad reasons, for laughter and for training. Also, when that company is involved in an accident, law enforcement, insurance adjusters, attorneys, and expert witnesses like me can dig it up with ease – and hang the company out in the breeze.

“If it fits, it ships” – please stop saying and doing that!

“I haven’t lost one yet” – please stop being lazy and unsafe!

Concerning social media, watch what you post because I assure you – everyone else is!

A Super Car Towing Customer Testimonial for TLC Truck & Equipment

By
Darian Weaver
-

“I purchased my first TLC truck at the 2019 Orlando Tow show. When I saw the truck, I was in awe. I was so impressed with the workmanship and the detail that was put into the truck. So, I spoke with Lisa and the staff at TLC and we made a deal on it. The customer service has been amazing from the day we purchased it till today. I absolutely love the StepSide Classic… The truck is built solid & I have never had an issue with truck or the fiberglass fenders. This truck has also increased my business by landing accounts with exotic car dealers. People request to have their cars delivered to them on this truck. I recently just purchased another new truck from Lisa at TLC. This will be our second truck in 5 months from them, and I wouldn’t buy anywhere else. I would for sure recommend TLC for anyone’s new or used truck needs. They have really exceeded our expectations on every level.

Thank you TLC!”

–
TJ Fletcher | A Super Car Towing | Tampa, FL

To find your next truck visit: www.tlctruckandequipment.com

Modernizing Your Towing or Roadside Assistance Business with Towbook

By
Darian Weaver
-

Many towing and recovery operators count on towing software to manage their business, and software is a key tool that companies use to succeed in today’s competitive business world. If your company works with motor clubs, police, manages private properties, or does transport work, chances are that software will help you to run a more efficient company.

Towbook Management Software is built for the cloud, so that you and your team can work from just about anywhere.  With important features like digital dispatching, mobile apps for iPhone and Android, QuickBooks integration, and GPS tracking, Towbook supports companies of all shapes and sizes. It’s quick and easy to set up, and the software can be operational in only a few hours.

Here are a few highlights of the features available with Towbook Management Software:

Digital Dispatching: Towbook offers digital integration with most major motor clubs, and you can receive digital requests to your iPhone or Android device—no phone call required.

Sticker App: One of Towbook’s fastest-growing features is our Sticker app. With the Sticker app, you can create a virtual sticker in Towbook and “tag” those vehicles that you might be able to tow after a few hours or a few days. When the sticker expires, you receive a notification that the vehicle can be towed if it is still in the same location.

Mobile Apps: Mobile apps for iPhone and Android have become so powerful that managers and dispatchers can do most of their work right from their phones. With the Towbook app, you can receive dispatch requests, create calls, and dispatch calls to drivers from your iPhone or Android phone in seconds.

GPS Integration: With integrated GPS, Towbook makes it simple to view the location and status of all active jobs, drivers, and trucks. Towbook offers integration with leading GPS companies such as TomTom, allowing you to send calls directly to the GPS unit in your truck. Drivers can use their GPS unit to navigate easily to the service location while updating the status of the call on the GPS unit automatically updates the driver’s status in Towbook.

Replay: Replay helps you to analyze the routes that your team travels over a period and allows you to take a deeper look at events that occurred on certain calls. The Replay tool can also be used as a training aid for drivers, helping them to choose better routes and to avoid certain areas.

Automatic Mileage Calculation: Towbook can automatically calculate the estimated mileage of each call using Google Maps, saving you time and preventing driver mistakes.

Direct Billing: Towbook allows you to submit invoices directly to many motor clubs, which will save you a tremendous amount of time. Towbook also makes it easy for you to track and manage all calls with an open balance.

Roadside.io: Towbook’s Roadside.io feature delivers the latest customer experience capabilities to your fingertips, allowing you to provide an “Uber-like” experience to your customers.

With Roadside.io, you have the option to share service information with customers while the service is in progress, which helps customers to understand the details of their service without calling for an update. You even have the option to send the customer a satisfaction survey once the job is complete. Roadside.io makes it simple for a customer or family member located far from the serviced vehicle to monitor the service progress from wherever they may be.

QuickBooks Integration: If your company uses QuickBooks to manage its finances, you can sync your towing invoices directly with the QuickBooks desktop or QuickBooks online platform.

Letters and Forms: In Towbook, you can generate the necessary letters and forms for each impound with the click of a button.

Pre-Trip and Equipment Inspections: Your driver can complete a pre-trip equipment inspection using the Towbook mobile app. Each inspection can be customized for your business to include the inspection checklist your drivers should use each shift. These inspections are available in a report that can be printed or e-mailed.

Online Tow Requests: You can create a web request form for any account, your website, and your Facebook page with just a few clicks. This makes it easy for your local accounts and cash/private calls to send new tow requests.

Impound/Storage Management: You can track impounded/stored vehicles from start to finish with ease using Towbook; generate state letters, property release forms, release vehicles from the mobile or web application, track the history, and keep all pertinent information all in one place for future reference.

Sticker App: One of Towbook’s fastest-growing features is our Sticker app. With the Sticker app, you can create a virtual sticker in Towbook and “tag” those vehicles that you might be able to tow after a few hours or a few days. When the sticker expires, you receive a notification that the vehicle can be towed if it is still in the same location.

Damage Forms:  Using Towbook’s mobile apps, you can complete a vehicle damage report for any call, which protects you against damage claims. Add photos to the damage form, and ask the customer to sign off on the damage in the app. You can even e-mail the forms to your customer from the side of the road!

Accident Reports: To facilitate insurance claims, we’ve made it simple to create professional accident reports in Towbook. Accident Reports can include notes, photos, and detailed charges for each job. We help you to generate a great report in minutes so that you can collect as much information as possible for each job.

Plate to VIN: No VIN—no problem. Towbook’s plate-to-VIN feature saves time and eliminates mistakes. Simply enter the plate number and the state in which the vehicle is licensed, and Towbook will return the full VIN with the make, model, and year of the vehicle.

Request Customer Location: Today’s consumers expect you to find them quickly—even if they have no idea where they are. Towbook’s “ping” feature makes it easy to send a text to your customer, and if they approve the location tracking request, their phone will send the location of your vehicle to your dispatch screen.

Driver Commissions: Tired of answering questions about the commission that your driver earned on a call? Towbook shows drivers the estimated commission of each call on the mobile app.

About Towbook

Towbook is the unquestioned leader in cloud-based towing software. We provide tools made possible by the latest technology, and we help companies to raise their level of service while lowering their operating costs.

Free Trial, Free Setup, Free Support

Towbook offers a 30-day free trial with free setup and support, and there are no contracts. Plus, you don’t need a separate Towbook license for each employee—your subscription includes unlimited user accounts!

Towbook Management Software is headquartered in Michigan and has provided cloud-based towing software for over eleven years. Integrating the industry’s most advanced and flexible software, Towbook supports all types of towing and recovery operations. At Towbook, we take great pride in having the industry’s best customer support. Support is free and available 24/7/365—even on holidays.

For more information: http://www.towbook.com | sales@towbook.com | 810-320-5063

Take Control of Your Business with Software You can Trust!

By
Darian Weaver
-

Towing operations across the country are enjoying the stability, accountability, efficiency, and transparency the suite of products TOPS has delivered since its release to the market in the year 2000. Nineteen years and forty-four million tow requests later, operators nationwide continue managing successful operations using TOPS (sold by towXchange, a division of TXI Systems, Inc.). To date, six TOPS customers have taken over one million tow requests each in the software, and two have taken over two million. This is a testament to the stability and usability of the TOPS software, and the quality of the products that TXI Systems delivers.

Customer Spotlight: Merl’s Towing / Grand Rapids Towing of Grand Rapids, Michigan is the most recent of TOPS customers to achieve one million tow requests processed through the TOPS software.  Merl’s Towing / Grand Rapids Towing is consistently recognized as an industry leader in the region and provides towing services for public, commercial, motor club, private-property, and municipal customers.  Congratulations to Merl’s Towing / Grand Rapids Towing and thank you for your confidence and commitment to TXI and to the TOPS software systems.

TOPS, which is short for Towing OPerations Software, is designed to manage all aspects of a towing operation from the initial tow request to the vehicle’s final disposition.  The TOPS system provides a unified and sophisticated platform for call-taking, dispatching, inventory management, lien processing, and auction administration.  Used by some of the most successful towing operations nationwide, TOPS supports single and multi-location businesses as well as multi-company operations and provides individual company and roll-up accounting and management reports.

TOPS will enable your staff to work smarter with advanced tools that include powerful mobile applications for drivers and lot managers, all designed for the iPhone, iPad, Android mobile phones and tablets.  With TOPS Driver, drivers can acknowledge tow requests, update call status times, navigate to pickup and drop-off locations, upload and store call-related photos, and even create new calls in the field – all from their smart phone.  In addition, with the optional Square payments integration, drivers can accept credit-card payments in the field.  To complete the paperless process, drivers can email call receipts to customers directly from their web-enabled mobile device.  The TOPS Inventory application is designed to be used by impound lot personnel to enter and update vehicle information, take photos, and scan barcodes for simple and fast physical lot inventory management.

Within the TOPS application, users enjoy enhanced data accuracy and improved employee productivity through drop-down menus, short code or type-ahead field entry, pre-population of call information and integrated swipe devices (where applicable) for quick data entry.  Workflow is improved and employee accountability is enhanced with features such as automated pricing, tow ticket management, and driver and release clerk payment management systems. In addition, TOPS integrates with GPS, motor club, insurance, police and municipality systems to simplify call creation and increase your business profile.

The TOPS system protects your interests by offering screen and field level security that is built around role-based access rights.  These access rights and restrictions keep employees focused on their specific tasks, limiting their visibility into systems that are outside of their area of responsibility.  The TOPS role-based user access provides sophisticated security that is customizable to your company’s needs.

With TOPS, you gain a better understanding of the big picture of your business with detailed management, customer activity, and driver and truck productivity reports.  To close the loop on the financial aspects of your operations, TOPS imports directly to QuickBooks to take advantage of the accounting tools within that product.  If QuickBooks is too much to take on for your operation, TOPS provides a simple billing system that allows you to send invoices and statements and get standard accounting reports such as aging and sales.  Big or small, the TOPS suite of software products will make your operation work smarter and more efficiently, and with more management controls than ever before.

towXchange also offers supplementary products which complement the TOPS experience:

Motor Club Digital Dispatch Options

towXchange offers two digital dispatch platforms for Motor Club service requests.

TOPS Motor Club receives digital tow request from ADS, Agero, Allstate, GEICO, NSD, Quest, Road America, Roadside Protect, Tesla, USAC, and FleetNet. As tow and service requests are received and negotiated, calls are pushed directly into TOPS as an unassigned call offering an efficient transfer of information into TOPS for dispatch to the best driver/truck resource for the job.

Digital Dispatch by towXchange is a standalone application geared to those operators who simply need a way to receive a digital dispatch from a motor club without the need for a full-service towing management application.

TOPS Link – With TOPS Link, your customers can use the Internet to request service, check status of calls in progress, inquire about vehicles in inventory, and more. This tool offers a one-to-one relationship between the requesting company or municipality (your customer) and you, the tow operator. TOPS link users can request services, monitor dispatch status, and view inventory lists for stored vehicles, all from a secure internet portal.

TOPS offers a fully integrated fleet tracking application marketed under the name BudgetGPS.

BudgetGPS is a vehicle and fleet tracking solution geared for any industry but specifically tuned to support fleet management within the towing industry. BudgetGPS integrates with TOPS to offer a true visual dispatching tool where users can view current vehicle locations as well as unassigned pickup locations and drop-off information on the same map. Icons are color coded allowing for a visual picture of calls which are in-process and those which are about to clear. Knowing when and where drivers will clear from their current call enables dispatchers to send the best / closest resource to the next job. This saves time and money. Additionally, users can monitor ETA’s based on mapping calculations of drive time between the truck and pickup locations.

BudgetGPS delivers a full set of features for a single low price. Features include: Live Map with 20-second vehicle updates to the map with live Google traffic and map or satellite views, Historical breadcrumb view with 6 months of history; Alerts and Monitoring for PTO, GeoFence, Ignition, and Speeding. Reports include Driver Distance, State Mileage, Stops, Speeding and more.

BudgetGPS uses industry- leading hardware which is mounted discreetly inside the cab of the vehicle. We offer several models of hardware including OBD pluggable devices (for vehicles equipped with an OBD II port) as well as asset tracking devices.

BudgetGPS recently converted to a new refreshed website offering a new user interface experience which scales seamlessly to any internet-connected device from PC to tablet to phone.

BudgetGPS offers a month-to-month service with low upfront and monthly cost. BudgetGPS is developed and supported in-house by BudgetGPS!

For more information or to schedule a demonstration, please call 866-800-8677 Opt 2 or visit their websites – TOPS –  www.towxchange.net  BudgetGPS – www.budgetgps.com.

Why Ranger SST?

By
Darian Weaver
-

So, why should I switch to the Ranger tow management solution?   This is the most frequent question we field in calls from tow companies who are dissatisfied with and/or have outgrown their current software.    The answer from our customers would be: “You’ll make more money!”  Our customers have experienced the promise of value that has guided the development of the Ranger solution over the last 15 years — more calls per driver while using less fuel!   However, for potential customers, it seems to come across as too simplistic and is generally greeted with skepticism.  They are looking for more tangible specifics – in the words of an old Wendy’s ad:  “Where’s the beef?”

The capabilities of most tow management systems have improved over the last 15 years, so the distinctions that make a difference in bottom-line performance require more than a superficial review of just dispatching–so–Why Ranger?

Revenue-Focused Innovation

Beyond delivering the operational basics of assigning trucks and providing accuracy in accounting (which may not be so “basic” in other software), Ranger provides capabilities to improve bottom-line performance, but also to grow the top line, assisting customers in:

  • Building direct (B2C) relationships with residents in their local market – diversifying their “channels” to these customers to include more than insurance companies and/or motor clubs. Residents can support both towing businesses in their community and local charities.  Tow companies receive geo-located requests for help through Ranger, “cut out the middleman,” provide responsive service, and set fair pricing for the value delivered.
  • Providing “Self-Service” options for their (B2B) key business customers, including the on-line entry of service requests, and access to reporting (e.g., property managers can review activity in Ranger’s PatrolWorksTM)
  • Assessing sales/marketing opportunities using Ranger’s Heat Maps which highlight underserved locales

Specialized Capabilities: Lot Management

Ranger’s LotMasterTM provides all the functionality expected in a storage lot solution and much more.  In addition to the integration with Auto Data Direct, and lien letter preparation:

  • A purpose-specific mobile application for those attending the lot that enables picture-taking (the scope then extends from the tow through to discharge) for added protection against litigation.
  • Easy physical inventory management of vehicles – placing inexpensive “QR Codes” (bar codes) on vehicles at Admit, that creates an electronic tag that can be scanned for periodic comparisons to the list in the Ranger solution
  • Workflow Management to track the progress of a vehicle against process milestones – e.g., Lien Letter Sent

Specialized Capabilities: Commercial / Heavy Hauling

Ranger’s TransportOpsTM  is aimed at three market applications:  transporting construction equipment (e.g., between a rental location and a building site), moving containers (e.g., to/from multi-modal shipping points), and relocating automobiles for auction (e.g., from a towing company storage lot to a regional auction facility).  The process capabilities enable dispatchers to:

  • Plan/schedule their loads for the next day (or “next week”) by truck and driver
  • In late afternoon, send advance notices to drivers. Text messages are sent by Ranger to each driver on their personal smart phone (and updates as needed).
  • Automatically dispatch assignments to the driver’s Ranger mobile device the next morning at login, eliminating the morning congestion in Dispatch
  • Empower drivers to enter and track mult-task jobs on the mobile app (load, pick-up, drop-off), that are recorded with the job record and printed on the invoice
  • Identify emerging issues before they become a major problem (e.g., a driver that has overslept)

Pricing Made Easy

Pricing in Ranger has two distinctive pillars – first and foremost is ease of use.  In response to customer suggestions:  “we don’t want to work for the technology; the technology needs to work for us,” Ranger developed the “Pricing Factory.”

The Pricing factory makes it easy for dispatchers to handle the complexity of diverse requirements in towing and recovery:

  • From consistent pricing that has been negotiated with Key Accounts, to “pricing on the fly” in special situations such as snowstorms or hurricanes
  • From split invoices for motor club calls (isolating the amount to be paid by the customer) to quotes that can be saved and emailed to a customer
  • From pricing all SKU’s of AAA batteries (Retail, Pro-Rated, Member, Warranty), to complex recoveries (or HD repair) with as many extras (or parts) as needed

The second pillar is that pricing is fully integrated with the Ranger mobile app.  Account-specific pricing goes to the mobile app with the call.  Dispatchers don’t need to figure it out and send messages to the driver.  The driver doesn’t need to figure it out.  The device has all the needed formulas and calculates the correct pricing – including the customer-pay portion of an invoice.  And, drivers can pre-authorize and process credit card payments in the field.

Easy and Effective Dispatching

With Ranger’s SmartDispatchTM, dispatchers are equipped to excel – with capabilities that aid both seasoned dispatchers, and recent hires.

SmartDispatchTM enables visual, drag & drop dispatch from the map.  Dispatchers can see ALL open jobs, and ALL available trucks, on ONE screen to make better deployment decisions — shortening ETA’ s and lowering fuel costs.

Perhaps less transparent, there is a significant benefit in shifting how dispatchers spend their time — from talking to drivers, to talking to customers (pinpointing locations so that drivers arrive sooner while providing updates to achieve higher levels of customer satisfaction).

In addition, GPS tracking and mapping (built on Google maps) is fully integrated into the Ranger solution – No separate bolt-on product for GPS is needed. 

Specialized Capabilities: Relocation/Private-Property Enforcement

Ranger’s PatrolWorksTM for private-property enforcement supports an existing core business line or provides an opportunity for diversification and growth.  Distinctive capabilities include:

  • Incorporating parent/child account structures – corporations to properties to lots
  • Configuring specific requirements by lot by violation (e.g., grace periods, tagging, approval requirements)
  • A special app to record/update violations that can easily be used by company spotters in a personal vehicle, a company driver in a tow truck, a third-party enforcement agency patrolling in their own vehicles, or even self-service by property managers
  • A built-in “rules engine” that determines the readiness to tow a vehicle with one or more violations, including:
    • Tracking policies so that tows comply with property requirements
    • Automatic sending of approval requests to the designated Property Manager on their mobile device

Mobile-Enabled Functionality

As noted above, Ranger has three robust mobile apps – for Towing (Android and Apple), Lot Management (Android) and Private-Property Enforcement (Android).  The purpose of the mobile apps is not only convenience.  Ranger’s guiding principle for mobile app design is to extend the processes in the office to work seamlessly with resources in the field to:

  • Shorten the time to cash – collect call/customer information needed for invoicing
  • Reduce legal liability – e.g., customer signatures that authorize service and include damage waivers, signatures to acknowledge pre-existing damage
  • Improve customer service – drivers can create a new call themselves when needed, and with permission, send invoices when clearing a call

The Numbers Are Right

“Easy” seems like an overarching goal until the accounting reports are wrong.  Ranger is more than a spreadsheet that allows changes to any number by anyone whenever it suits.  Ranger is easy-to-use, but with the requirements for accounting accuracy in mind:

  • Process “guardrails” to prevent errors – including well-intended actions that seem expeditious in the moment, but that jeopardize accounting integrity
  • User permission structures to align allowed actions with responsibilities/skills
  • Audit Trails to track what went wrong and training needs

Reliability

Functionality without reliability (e.g., high uptime, no app “crashes”) is of little value.  Reliability is often an afterthought until the system is not working.  Ranger has more experience in successfully operating a completely “cloud-based” tow management solution (SaaS – Software as a Service) than anyone else.   Ranger has 15 years of “lessons learned” – eliminating the “glitches” that others are still discovering.

Also, Ranger has invested heavily for reliability/uptime.  The solution is hosted in a commercial data center with redundant internet, power, and cooling — with the latest in physical and logical security.  All data is backed up nightly.  There is redundancy built into each component of the Ranger infrastructure architecture.  And in a “worst case” scenario, Ranger even has a disaster recovery solution in place to fail-over to a different data center location.  Ranger functionality comes with reliability.

Why Ranger SST?  —   advanced technology for superior performance.  If you are looking to grow your top and bottom lines, give us a call and let us put Ranger Service Solutions Technology to work for you!

For more information, visit www.rangersst.com

Dynamic Python

By
Darian Weaver
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FEATURES:

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

Their Customers have been asking for a unit that would:

  • Lift faster & higher
  • Provide better weight transfer
  • A product that would have the sleek appearance of the Lightning Body design
  • Large tool boxes, and easy access to hydraulics.

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

GEICO / Wreck-A-Mended and Recycled Rides Car Donation

By
Darian Weaver
-

On August 10 at the Southern Tow show held at the Orange Beach Event Center in Orange Beach, Alabama, GEICO and Wreck-A-Mended Collision through the National Auto Body Council’s (NABC) Recycled Rides™ program donated a vehicle to Eye Heart World.
Eye Heart World was founded to take action against human trafficking. Through its work in Northeast Wisconsin and South Alabama, Eye Heart World’s programs provide aftercare resources for trafficking victims, prevention for at-risk youth, and training for professionals and community members.

GEICO, the second-largest auto insurer in the U.S., insures more than 28 million vehicles. For more than 80 years, the company has worked to make people’s lives better by protecting policyholders against unexpected events. GEICO is on pace to donate 200 vehicles to the NABC’s Recycled Rides™ program to help individuals, families, or organizations in need of a hand.

Wreck-A-Mended Collision and its employees have volunteered their time and labor to refurbish the vehicle to a like-new condition. This is the collision center’s 6th repair with GEICO.

 

Click the following links for additional information on GEICO, Wreck-A-Mended Collision, Eye Heart World, and the NABC Recycled Rides™ program.

An INTERVIEW with TODD PITTS of PITTS & SONS WRECKER SERVICE

By
Darian Weaver
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WHERE IT STARTED

Darian Weaver – Thanks for the time you have given me to learn more about your company, and how you have grown through the years. So, how did Pitts & Sons get started?

Todd: My grandfather, Leon Pitts, started the company in 1948.  My grandfather had a heart for people, so he owned a service station and wrecker service–his first truck had a hand crank! Leon had a heart for service and growing the business, so he brought his son (my father), Sammy Pitts, up in the business. Sammy, like his father, instilled the same passion for people and for quality service in his own kids, me and my brothers.  Sammy opened wrecker service in Saraland in 1982, and we grew to 122 trucks and currently are at 95-plus trucks. We have not only grown in the number of trucks, we have also expanded to different locations here in Alabama based in Birmingham, Mobile, and Saraland and even out of state to locations in Memphis TN, and Milton, Florida. 

GROWTH DECISIONS

Darian- What was a factor that really grew your business?

Todd- In 2007, insurance and driver pools were affecting our growth as a company, so we made the decision to scale back and put more emphasis on employee training and retention.  Once dispatched, the driver is the one who interacts with the customer and other first responders, collects key information, performs the tow, making it all happen.  Because of that, we put a major focus on enlisting quality drivers. The better your driver, the better your business.  We also split towing and heavy hauling right down the middle.  So now, between hauling and towing, we are busting out at the seams.

TEAM AS “FAMILY”

Darian – So, how would you describe your team at Pitts & Sons Wrecker Service?

Todd – We have a real strong team because when we hire new employees, we tell them that we will treat them like family because we won’t ask them to do anything that we have not already done.  This explains why we have such a strong employee retention. Our employee with the longest time has worked with us for 35 years.  Other employees have been with us for 20, 18, and 15 years. People stay when you treat them like family, and that is what we do.

KEYS TO SUCCESS

Darian – What would you say are the keys to your success?

Todd – First is a commitment to family. We are a family-owned and family-run business. My grandfather started the towing business as “Pitts Wrecker Service.” When my oldest brother, Jerry Pitts, came along, the name changed to “Pitts and Son Wrecker Service.” When my youngest brother, Darrell Pitts and I came along, it became, “Pitts and Sons Wrecker Service.”  My grandfather was passionate from the beginning about the towing business, so he invited us to join him as a family which is reflected in the in how our business name changed through the years. Second is a commitment to the community. Our company’s purpose is to the serve the city assisting people when times are bad and when they need help picking up the pieces–we want to be there for them. For us, it is more than just towing or recovering a vehicle, it’s about helping people. These are the very reasons I personally went into the towing business myself: to carry on the family tradition and serve the community when they are in need.

BIGGEST CHALLENGE

Darian – What has been one of your biggest challenges in business?

Todd – “One of the biggest challenges has been finding the right drivers that you can count on. You can find truck drivers, but you can’t always find tow truck drivers. When you do find a tow truck driver and he is trained already, you still want to train him on how you do it.”  Once we do find the right tow truck driver, one of the most important and frequent things we say to train him in how we do it is, “Take care of your equipment and your customers. Because your customers are number one, roll out the red carpet for them!”

IN-HOUSE EQUIPMENT MAINTENANCE

Darian – With 15 light-duty wreckers, 10 medium-duty wreckers, and a 60-ton rotator truck with air cushion recovery, how do you reduce the waiting time for a customer from equipment or truck issues?

Todd – Getting to the customer in the timeliest way with a truck and equipment that is working and ready to go is a premium value for us. Because of that, we employee 3 full-time mechanics to service all our trucks, so breakdowns are less likely because of proactive and proper maintenance.  Any issue that arises can be dealt with by a mechanic who knows the trucks and can make any repairs quickly and efficiently that might be needed.

RANGE OF SERVICES

Darian – What is the range of services you offer the public?

Todd – Being HazMat and WreckMaster certified, we offer a wide range of towing services: we have towing and recovery experience in automobiles, 18-wheelers, airplanes, boats, and anything you can drive.  So, whether you have a small car that needs towing or have overturned heavy equipment needing air cushion recovery, we offer a 24- hour/seven days a week full-service towing and recovery for any size job.

MOST CHALLENGING RECOVERY

Darian – What is one of your most challenging recoveries that you have done throughout your time in the business?

Todd – One of the most challenging recoveries we had was a tractor trailer that was carrying sulfuric acid that turned over on top of a bridge. Part of the trailer was hanging off the bridge touching the ground below while the rest of the trailer was on the top of the bridge along with the tractor and tank which had a hole punched in it and was pouring acid out on the bridge.  It was the extent of the cleanup that was unforgettable.  It highlighted the importance of being ready for a very toxic spill cleanup while at the same time recovering a vehicle that was in a very complicated and compromised position. 

BEST MEMORIES

Darian – Of all the things you have experienced in the towing business, what would say are your best memories?

Todd – I have to say my best memories are the times when I got a new truck, and I would take it over to my grandfather.  When he saw it, he would light up every time; it made his day and mine too! We are a family business, and in the end making that family happy is what counts!

Darian – Thanks for the time you have given me in sharing your story of Pitts and Sons Wrecker Service.  We appreciate your commitment to family and to the community you serve appreciating what you and all our readers do for the public risking your lives to help those in need.

 

Suburban Towing, Inc. – “Can’t Isn’t in Our Dictionary!”

By
Darian Weaver
-

HOW IT ALL STARTED

In 1969, with a strong drive to support his family, Irvin Johns established Suburban Wrecker Service with a used 63 Chevy 1-ton wrecker painted orange and white.  Irvin started the company under “Suburban Wrecker Service.”  He chose to use “Suburban” because: “Another guy started a towing company called Downtown Wrecker Service; I thought, the suburbs are bigger than the downtown, so I named it ‘Suburban Wrecker Service’” says Irvin.   “If you know him personally, that’s exactly how his brain works, always thinking about the bigger picture,” says Gina, his wife.  Billy Bogart let Irvin park his truck at his gas station in the early years, and he worked with Billy until he retired in 2017. In the first year, Irvin bought a second truck because of his success, and as the years progressed, Irvin continued to add to his fleet. In 1991, his company moved to a new state-of-the-art facility on 412 acres with a 14,000 sq. ft. and 3,200 sq. ft. office space. Suburban Wrecker Service continued to prosper until March 1997 when the company was acquired in a rollup. During the next 5 1/2 years, Irvin stayed on as terminal manager.

SUBURBAN TOWING WAS BORN

On December 3, 2002, Irvin and Gina regained all assets of the company and renamed it “Suburban Towing, Inc.”  Now having reclaimed the company and changed the name, the challenge was on to once again build Suburban Towing up to the level of service and quality it had prior to the rollup. Irvin updated the complete fleet by adding new low boys, rotators, and painting all the equipment orange with the new addition of blue. For easy identification in addition to the strong colors, the current fleet number is 55 which is also on the support equipment. Today, 50 years later, Suburban Towing is the largest towing company in Kentucky specializing in equipment transport and heavy-duty towing & recovery along with continued light-duty service, air-cushion recovery, heavy hauling, load shifts and transfers, and emergency equipment support. Facing hard challenges head on, Suburban Towing has come out on top. As Gina says, “Can’t is not in our Dictionary.”

KEYS TO THEIR SUCCESS

Maker:S,Date:2017-12-1,Ver:6,Lens:Kan03,Act:Lar02,E-Y

Irvin Johns and Gina, believe the success of their company comes in part from the dedication of their managers, dispatchers, bookkeepers, shop technicians, and drivers. Finding quality drivers has been a major plus as they take pride in their job by keeping their trucks polished and making sure their trucks are safe for the road.  On a personal level success comes from being kind and have a heart for both their employees and their customers while getting the specialized knowledge to handle the challenging towing and recovery situations that call in. Another major key to the success of the company is “Our team being quick to jump on an opportunity when it arises and to do so in faith,” says Gina.

EXCELLENCE IN CUSTOMER SERVICE

On Suburban Towing’s website it says, “We are committed to offering our customers the quickest response times, trained operators, latest model equipment, expert knowledge, and excess liability insurance to protect your precious cargo!”  The reward Suburban Towing receives is the praise of the local police departments when they respond with the proper equipment and highly trained employees to clear the roads and interstates in a professional and timely manner. Customers breathe a sigh of relief when the bright orange trucks show up. Suburban Towing’s motto is, “We are Tow-tally the best!”

MAKING A DIFFERENCE

Gina said the only non-orange truck is their pink truck, and she refers to it as hers. Irvin had this wrap made for her in 2014. She is a breast cancer survivor since December 2011.  Ironically in September of 2011, she started what she believes was the first “Towing for a Cure” logo/phrase. We had T-shirts printed and sold them with all the money collected split between the American Cancer Society and Susan G Komen, a tradition they still do each year now!

NEVER DREAMED IT WOULD BE THIS BIG

Gina asked Irvin one day if he ever dreamed he’d be this big, his response was “no, I think back to my little old shabby office where mice ran across the floor, and when I told Billy (Bill Bogard), ‘If we can just get three runs a day we’d have it made!’”  Irvin hasn’t driven a truck in years, but the long hours he put in when he did drive was a sacrifice he made to support his family! Now Irvin is 75, and he does drag racing runs in the U.S. Nationals Superstock. Towing is not only about towing; its about dreaming and dreaming big Like Irvin Johns did in 1969-an ironic year for dreams!

For more information, visit www.suburbantow.com

2019 Southern Tow Expo and Beach Bash An Orange Beach Blast!

By
Darian Weaver
-

This year was our best yet for Southern Tow Expo and Beach Bash in Orange Beach, Alabama! It’s been three years now since Tow Professional magazine, based out of Birmingham, Alabama, began this national towing trade show.  With representatives from 26 different states, we had attendees from Oregon to Pennsylvania, from New Mexico to Virginia, from New York to Florida, and more representing towers from across the nation! We want to thank all those who helped us with a great line up of training, events, and fun crafted for a blast of a trade show in one of the most beautiful places in nation Orange Beach, Alabama!  We could not have done it without you! So, here are the details of the show:

WEDNESDAY: WreckMaster Training

We kicked off our Southern Tow Expo with our WreckMaster Training Level 2/3 led by certified instructors Kurt Wilson and Scott Aey. Several of our local towers offered their equipment, trucks, and inventory to make the training sessions a great “hands on” experience for towers wanting to improve their skills:  We thank Todd Pitts with Pitts and Sons providing a school bus and two cars, Aubrey Morris from Little Bitty Towing who provided a light-duty truck and a rollback, Mac Fletcher with Fletcher’s Towing who provided medium-duty wrecker, and Tony and Daniel Wade with Tony’s Towing who provided a medium-duty wrecker.  With a full class, the guys got hands-on experience and certification to take their skills to the next level with some of the best towing instructors in the nation.

THURSDAY: WreckMaster Training, Deep-Sea Fishing Tournament, Association Dinner

While the second day of WreckMaster training continued, Southern Tow Expo also headed out to sea for our Deep-Sea Fishing Tournament Thursday morning with Reel Surprise Charters launching from the SanRoc Cay Marina returning that afternoon.  After a day of fishing, wrestling the waves, woozy feelings, feisty fish, and the hot sun, we had vetted tournament winners!  Joel Littleton won the “Chumming Award” for the most seasick! Zachary Burghardt from Beacon Funding won “Smallest Fish,” and Todd Wiles from Best Tools won “Largest Fish.” The fishing tournament was held on an impressive 40 x 100 ft. boat called “Weather or Not” which was sponsored by Jerr-Dan.  We have grown every year with 35 participants the first year, 42 the second, and 52 this year providing a timely opportunity to do some great fishing while forging and solidifying trusted business relationships for years to come!

We came back just in time to get ready for our 3rd Annual Tow Association Dinner in the largest meeting room the Springhill Suites had-the Canal Room.  Booked to capacity with 100 presidents, vice presidents, and key members from across the nation along with first responders from Orange Beach, Baldwin and surrounding counties, we had one of the largest inter-association and first responder dialogues in the nation!

Ken Grimes, the Orange Beach City Administrator, greeted our crew on behalf of Mayor Tony Kennon and his staff. Chris Litton, the City of Orange Beach Logistics Coordinator, also joined us for dinner representing the city.  With D.J. Harrington, the Tow Doctor, emceeing our discussion with leaders from across the Southeast, Midwest and more, the attendees were able to discuss creative ideas on how to grow their associations.  From offering healthcare, to discounts books, to golf tournaments, and other fund raisers, associations are finding ways to grow and increase their streams of revenue.  The associations were encouraged to use their associate members to help sponsor training and other association fund-raising events.  Key to the dinner, future issues were highlighted that towers must be aware of, such as the issue of cars that are now reporting directly to insurance companies faster than first responders are getting notified and making it to the scene.

We were privileged have Linda Unruh from the New Mexico Trucking Association join us for our dinner; she is a member of the TRAA Legislative Advocacy Network® (TRAA LAN®), but she also is the first woman and the first native American to own a trucking business in New Mexico. Because of her effort, the “Move Over” law was expedited and passed in her state. She responded to the loss of her own son, Bobby, (37 years old) who was killed while attempting to tow a commercial vehicle by lobbying for the last state in the union to adopt the “Move Over” law, and they did!  We were also glad to have Cynthia Martineau, Executive Director of the TRAA, along with TRAA board members, Gay Rochester and Michelle Topel representing national leadership at our dinner.

We thank Auto Data Direct, INA Towing Network, and Jerr-Dan for sponsoring the dinner that was catered by Alabama Coastal Catering who provided a delectable beef tenderloin, a perfectly seasoned herb chicken, crunchy almond green beans, a tasty, assorted-veggies medley topped with gourmet deserts with buttercream icing! Growing from 50 attendees our first year to 70 attendees our second year to 100 attendees our third, we have put to rest the idea that tow associations will not come together, work together, or dialogue together—dinner helps!  During the meeting, towers were able to share what they need from police

while the police were able to share what they need from towers-a key first responder dialogue.  The dinner sponsors who spoke for their companies were:  Tom Drake, Towing Services Manager, shared on behalf of Auto Data Direct. Gay Rochester, CEO of INA Towing Network and current president of the WTRAA shared on behalf of INA Towing Network, and Jacob Perron, Jerr-Dan North American Sales Representative, spoke on Jerr-Dan’s behalf.

We enjoyed representatives from Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Missouri, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Texas and the District of Columbia!  Everyone was able to bring something to the table and take something away—and it was more than just the beef tenderloin and chicken!

FRIDAY: Seminars, Beach Bash, Planned TIMS Event

Friday morning, we started the day with an outstanding opportunity for business growth, development, and liability awareness with lineup of progressive seminars.  We appreciate Jim Lewis (jlewiswrites), Perry Beaty (FlowStop), Michael P. McGovern (Tow Lawyer), Patrick Mobley (Zellner Insurance), Charles Fator (Hanby Environmental), Randy Cook (OMG), Jessica Innocenti (OMG), Dan Messina (TowTrax), D.J. Harrington (Tow Doctor)—all who led informative and practical seminars for attendees wanting cutting-edge information to grow their business and to troubleshoot their challenges.  Friday evening, we headed out to the parking lot for the Beach Bash sponsored by Santander and TowMate for some of the best fried shrimp and pulled BBQ pork and fixings from a local, Brad King with Brad King’s Catering. Brian Chandler also was a hit with his samples of Clyde Mays whiskey which didn’t take long to be history!  With good food, good beer, and good whiskey it did not take long to enjoy the good tunes from a local Alabama band, Ruff Water, who played several classic favorites.

As the sun went down, the 36,000-lumen light from Ron Pullen of R. P. Recovery Consulting went up along with the anticipated energy for the Planned TIMS Event.  Ron’s light started off in a box and then inflated into a 10-foot light bulb illuminating the front area of the event.  The Will Burt Company provided the lighting system positioned at the front of the bus that lit the whole scene up.  The WreckMaster instructors, Kurt Wilson and Scott Aey, gave a play-by-play of everything that was happening, so those watching could see the decisions being made and understand why they were made. Ironically enough as we were setting up for the event, random cars and trucks drove right through the middle of the event scene just like in a real-life recovery scenario.

Thanks goes to Interim Fire Chief Kimmerling and Kevin Lanford, Asst. Chief-Training, who helped to organize the fire and EMS first responders from the Orange Beach Fire Department, and thanks goes to Police Chief Fiero from the OB Police Department for their participation in securing the recovery scene. Thanks goes to Todd Pitts at Pitts and Sons Wrecker for providing the school bus and the Honda Civic casualties for the event. The accident scenario was a school bus which had “fallen” on top of a car with a manikin trapped inside the car. Steven Weil from Weil’s Wrecker who was the tower who did the recovery used MatJack airbags to lift the bus off the car. The receiving bags on the opposite side of the bus were inflated to catch the bus as it was returned to an upright position.  Since airbags were used on both sides of the bus, the Air Bag Crew used headsets provided by Sonetics to coordinate the effort without having to yell instructions back and forth adding to the chaos of the situation.   After removing the bus off the car, the OBFD used the “jaws of life” to cut the roof off the car. They then removed the “injured” from the car on a backboard to the EMS vehicle and transported it to safety for treatment.  The major emphasis for the Planned TIMS Event was to highlight the “Slow Down, Move Over” campaign to raise the public’s awareness, so they will move over one lane anytime they see someone on the side of the road especially first responders which include towers since their “office” is six inches from the white line.  It has been said that every six days a tower is killed on the road here in the US.  Let’s all practice “Slow Down, Move Over,” so everyone can go home safely to their families. To give the message of protecting first responders greater reach, Darian Weaver, TP Publisher, and his wife, Holly, petitioned the Alabama governor, Kay Ivey, to make August “Slow Down, Move Over” Awareness Month, and Gov. Ivey approved it.  To learn how your state can do the same, email Gene at gene@towprofessional.com, and we will be glad to share the process we went through for approval. To check out the Alabama TIM website, go to: https://alabamatim.org/about.html.

SATURDAY: Car Presentation, Tow Truck Rodeo, Product Demo, Flora-Bama Party

On Saturday, we started the morning off with the GEICO and NABC’s Recycled Rides Presentation. They awarded a 2014 Chevy Cruze to “Eye Heart World,” a human-trafficking prevention organization. We appreciate GEICO’S leadership who organized the event:  Dwayne Fuller, ERG Zone Manager, J.R. Carter, Auto Damage Adjustor, and Paul Lorenza, the Regional Event Marketing Coordinator. The car was refurbished by Wreck-A-Mended Collision and received by Crystal Wood, the representative from Eye-Heart World. It’s great to see companies giving back to the community!

After the seminars, Jerr-Dan conducted a Tow Truck Rodeo in which towers were able to test their skills of using a rotator’s boom to lift a large water barrel and then progress it through a challenging obstacle course without spilling any water.  Jerr-Dan’s goal was to give operators (over 50 of them!) an opportunity to run the controls of their 50/60T Rotator through this challenging obstacle course.  This would include current Jerr-Dan operators, along with operators that run competitive equipment.  The course displayed the agility and proportionality of the remote while only allowing the operators to facilitate select functions as part of the challenge.  The course also demonstrated Jerr-Dan’s ability to achieve 41 ft. of reach off the side for those hard to reach recovery scenarios.  The winners of the men’s competition were: 1st Place– Patrick Linton of Linton Wrecker Services; 2nd Place–Joel Linton (son of Patrick); 3rd Place–Neil Lee of Hayles Towing, MS.

On the heels of the Jerr-Dan Tow Truck Rodeo, the finale party for Southern Tow Expo was held at the world-famous beach bar-the Flora-Bama! We appreciate Jerr-Dan and Waters Truck and Tractor joining Tow Professional in sponsoring the event for both our towers and exhibitors to enjoy a free drink and great food!  With five different bands playing all in one iconic location, there was something for everyone whether it was some of the best drinks in the south, one of the best scenic views of the ocean being right on the beach, or just enjoying some excellent food! The Flora-Bama was also having “Whiskey Jam” while we were there which revved the energy and excitement even more – a great closing event for a great show.

Getting More Involved Q & A

By
Darian Weaver
-

The Towing and Recovery Association of America, Inc.® (TRAA) has been a hot topic of conversation recently, so we sat down with Elizabeth Martineau-Dupuis, TRAA’s Director of Education, to learn more about the organization and how members can get involved.

Let’s talk about members: who’s your membership?

TRAA is a membership organization first and foremost. As with most towing associations, our membership includes towing companies, manufacturers, industry associates, and even individual towers. Legislative representation is a primary goal for us, and only by working together and forming a united front, can we get anything done politically.

How does someone get more involved in TRAA?

It’s actually very easy for a member to get more involved with TRAA. They can come to an event, whether it’s our Legislative Action Workshop in DC or one of the several events we host in conjunction with tow shows across the country. Member representatives can also volunteer for one of TRAA’s many committees. Most of our standing committees reset biennially with the election cycle. When that happens, we solicit our membership for qualified volunteers. If a member has an expertise in a certain area, they’re encouraged to apply for that committee. This year we had a bunch of new volunteers for committees, so that’s great.

Is the process the same for the TRAA Legislative Advocacy NetworkÂŽ (TRAA LANÂŽ)?

Because of the slow nature of legislative change and the political process, the TRAA LAN® has a slightly different procedure. First, their terms are for six years instead of two. Second, each LAN representative’s application is reviewed and voted-in by a majority of the TRAA Executive Cabinet. It’s a check and balance: the TRAA LAN® makes legislative recommendations, but they can’t take any action on behalf of TRAA without the Executive Cabinet’s permission.

Why is volunteering so important?

There are so many reasons why volunteering is important! TRAA is “the voice of America’s towing industry.” In order for that to work, we need everyone to work cooperatively towards solutions. Especially politically where strength comes from numbers. Our other incident management disciplines know this and do a great job of getting their voices heard because of it. TRAA has a federal lobbyist now, which has been fantastic in opening doors, making connections, and furthering our goals, but we still need the input, expertise, and activism of members to get this critical work done. Help us help you-engage and get involved!

To learn more about the Towing and Recovery Association of America, Inc.ÂŽ (TRAA), please visit traaonline.com.

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