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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
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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
-

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
-

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
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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

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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.

TLC Truck & Equipment Products Spotlight – PETERBILT 337 LOADED WITH JERR-DAN 22FT X 102 INCHES WIDE XLP LOW PRO CARRIER/ROLLBACK

By
Darian Weaver
-

PETERBILT 337 LOADED WITH JERR-DAN 22FT X 102 INCHES WIDE XLP LOW PRO CARRIER/ROLLBACK

  • 260HP PX-7 CUMMINS 6.7L ENGINE
  • ALLISON 2200RDS AUTO TRANS WITH PARK GEAR AND PUSH BUTTON SELECTOR ON DASH
  • AIR BRAKES, AIR RIDE SUSPENSION
  • 22.5 LP TIRES, ALUMINUM WHEELS
  • STAINLESS STEEL WHEEL HUB AND LUG COVERS
  • CUSTOM 20″ CHROME BUMPER
  • CHROME HEATED & POWER MIRRORS
  • CHROME DROP VISOR
  • CHROME DEF TANK COVER
  • LOGO SHIELD ROUND AIR HORNS
  • ALUMINUM FUEL TANK
  • AIR RIDE DRIVER SEAT, 2 PERSON PASS SEAT
  • 26000GVWR. 10,000LB FRONT, 20,000LB REAR

JERR-DAN BED

  • 22FTXLP (LCG) 6TON CAPACITY ALUMINUM BED 102 INCHES WIDE
  • 5- FUNCTION WIRELESS REMOTE FOR BED FUNCTIONS
  • 3,500LB WHEEL LIFT WITH L-ARMS
  • METALLIC PAINTED COLOR OF CHOICE CROSSBAR
  • METALLIC PAINTED COLOR OF CHOICE SIDES AND HEADBOARD
  • FIXED ALUMINUM BLADE RAILS
  • CUSTOM STAINLESS-STEEL HEADBOARD SIDE COVERS
  • CUSTOM STAINLESS TAILLIGHT BUCKETS
  • 2- 96 INCH X 24 INCH TOOLBOXES WITH PAINTED DOORS
  • CUSTOM STAINLESS STEEL SIDESTEPS
  • CUSTOM REAR FENDERS OR FLARED FENDERS
  • 50FT HOSE REAL ON DRIVERS SIDE
  • REMOVABLE TRASH CAN MOUNTED ON PASSENGER & DRIVER SIDE TOOLBOX
  • 8K RAMSEY WINCH WITH MANUAL DUAL FREE SPOOL
  • 22 HEAD FEDERAL LED LIGHT BAR

** STROBE AND LIGHT PACKAGES AVAILABLE**

  • STEPSIDE CONFIGURATION CAN BE UPFITTED ON A VARIETY OF CHASSIS WITH A JERRDAN BODY 6 TON XLP CARRIER

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

Hino Celebrates Grand Opening Of New Manufacturing Facility

By
Darian Weaver
-

Hino ushered in a new era of manufacturing capability during a Grand Opening Ceremony that was attended by Governor Justice, Senators Manchin and Capito, Congressman McKinley, local government officials, dealers, customers, suppliers and media. The attendees took part in a tour of Hino’s nearly 1,000,000 sq. ft. facility in Mineral Wells, WV, a tree planting tradition and a Kagami- Wari ceremony to consummate Hino’s growth commitment to the U.S.

Hino Motors Ltd. President and CEO, Yoshio Shimo, attended the event and commented, “Hino is committed to building its trucks and products in the market it operates in. We have committed $100 million in capital investment into our new state-of-the-art manufacturing facility, generating 250 new jobs. Today, I am excited to announce an additional commitment of $40M in investment to meet increased demand and product configurations, creating an additional 250 new jobs, totaling 800 team members.”

“Hino has been a tremendous partner to the State of West Virginia since 2007,” stated Governor Justice. “With 800 West Virginians planned to be employed by Hino, they continue to be one of West Virginia’s biggest employers. We thank Hino for their continued investment in the great state of West Virginia.”

Hino’s first truck rolled off the assembly line at the new plant in June where it will continue to assemble all class 6, 7 and 8 conventional trucks, including its newly released class 7 and 8 XL Series. The new facility can produce 15,000 trucks a year on one shift, providing Hino the capacity it needs to continue to grow in the U.S. Hino continues to be the fastest growing commercial truck brand in the U.S. in its competitive class.

About Hino Motors Manufacturing and Hino Trucks

Hino Motors Manufacturing U.S.A., Inc. (HMM) headquartered in Novi, MI, is a wholly owned subsidiary of Hino Motors, Ltd., and sister company to Hino Motors Sales, Inc., (Hino Trucks) also headquartered in Novi, MI. Together, HMM and Hino Trucks manufacture and distribute America’s fastest growing premier truck brand in both the medium and heavy duty commercial truck markets. With a national network surpassing 240 dealerships, and a combined seven facilities spanning five states supporting manufacturing, R&D, Sales and Parts Distribution, the two companies employ over 1,450 people.

Learn more about HMM at http://hmmusa.com. Learn more about Hino Trucks at http://www.hino.com

Jerr-Dan Announces New Partnership With Trux Accessories, An Innovator In The Truck Accessory Marke

By
Darian Weaver
-

Jerr-Dan Corporation, an Oshkosh Corporation company (NYSE:OSK) and a single brand leader in the towing and recovery business, announces a new partnership with Trux Accessories to begin selling its assortment of Headlights, Dual LED and Worklights to Jerr-Dan distributors at a competitive price.  Trux Accessories is a leading manufacturer and innovator in aftermarket LED lighting, chrome and stainless accessories offering original accessories with detailed design and quality for the trucking industry.

“We are very excited to work with Trux Accessories on this new business partnership. With more than 19 years of industry experience in the accessory trucking industry, Trux is one of the leading companies in their category and will be a key partner for us as we look to expand our Aftermarket parts,” said Maria Mestre, parts manager at Jerr-Dan.  “Our goal is to be an assortment one-stop source for our customers.”

This brand-new assortment of Trux lights includes easy to install and retrofit Worklights and Headlights; direct light replacement into any brand of truck as well as the Dual LED Lights (additional installation required) allows for truck light customization.

“We are honored to partner with a leader in the towing and recovery business such as Jerr-Dan, known for their innovative towing equipment and commitment to excel in customer service.  Our company has built a reputation on providing the most unique and innovative accessories for the trucking industry and we feel this partnership is a perfect fit for us,” said Ian Fodor, senior director business development for Trux Accessories. “Customer service and attention to design and detail is what has made us pioneers in the industry of chrome and LED lighting.”

Jerr-Dan and Trux Accessories has a committed team of product, pricing, purchasing and customer support professionals ready to assist with any parts needs.  To take advantage of this new business partnership, customers are encouraged to contact their local distributor.

To purchase and take advantage of this new parts offering locate a Jerr-Dan distributor at www.jerrdan.com.

Leading By Example – Your Words Account For Your Integrity

By
Darian Weaver
-

Taylor Swift–why is an expert witness and training guy in the towing industry opening an article with Taylor Swift?  Because when Taylor Swift has a bad breakup or a problem with someone, she’ll write a song about it – and she’s been very successful with that approach.  I’m going to follow suit.  When I hear about or witness a bad situation, I’m going to write an article about it or maybe even a book–it’s what I do.  I’ll preface with the idea that I don’t want people to stop talking to me.  I keep things confidential, but I allow just enough information to get out, so people can learn from other’s mistakes.  I’m going to lay out a few scenarios where I had a “delayed epiphany,” and perhaps you can see the same things I did.  This all involves leadership, ethics, and integrity.

My most recent scenario occurred during and right after I gave a seminar built around my new book, “The Psychology of Staying in Business.”  I had a great class, learned some things, decided to make a few adjustments in my presentation, and got great interaction from several of the audience members.  When I started talking about how gossiping and complaining impacts your bottom line, one guy gave me great feedback about how he runs his business and how tightly he controls things like that. After that class, we talked some more, and he told me about the standards he holds his guys to and how he follows up with Facebook photos taken by the public to ensure his people do proper securement and adhere to road laws.

Fast forward to the next day, and we’re talking again – this time, we talked about heading home and the routes we’d take.  He explained that he knew lots of backroads and how to bypass all the scales on the main roads.  He explained that he’d bought several used trucks from quite a few states away from his home state (three, four, five states); he did the “backroad shuffle” to avoid scales and didn’t buy permits for moving an unlicensed truck on each occasion and didn’t use his DOT number or plate the truck ahead of time.  In at least three trips from as many as five states away.  I shook my head a bit as I wouldn’t handle things like that, but I also noted this guy’s penchant for excessive talking and “over-sharing.”

The epiphany hit me the next morning at about 5:00 a.m.–in fact, it woke me up.  For all this guy’s training, follow-up, demands, employee handbook signing, and holding employees accountable, I knew darned good and well that he’d told his guys this same story; I could tell that it was a practiced speech. He was bragging, and he was proud of himself for “running outlaw.”

Epiphany: Despite all that good talk, time, and effort with his crew, once he told them that story (as many as three times), his people knew that he wasn’t sincere about anything–not a thing!  In fact, his unintentional message was “you don’t have to do anything I say, since I don’t care about state laws, registration regulations, insurance requirements, or DOT rules.”  Especially since he’d bragged about running straight through from five states over.  You can’t do 1,400 miles straight legally, no matter what!

His time was wasted, his people lost respect, I’m sure; and more than anything, they now believe that the rules don’t matter since he bragged about not following them.  I would say to him, “When one of your guys takes a shortcut, and you ask yourself why, just remind yourself about the time you told that story.”

In 2011 in North Texas, I was training for a small company, and I ran a flatbed for police calls in addition to running a heavy.  The company had a Dodge 5500 flatbed, but I preferred the International 4700 although that one was special (I don’t know why.), it was far more capable, and the boss rarely went out in it.  With that said, I had a police call one Saturday night with a Nissan Maxima about 125 feet off the road.  The Dodge 5500 only had 75 feet of cable.  The International had 100 feet plus a 50-foot extra section with loops.  Once I got on scene and saw that I couldn’t get the car with what I had, I called the owner and asked him to bring out the International or the 35-ton heavy; I needed more cable.

The guy showed up and walked directly to me, avoiding the police officer. He asked me to position the International and do the recovery while he went and sat in the Dodge.  I thought that was odd, but after the recovery and getting the car loaded, the police officer left, and the owner told me that he’d drank half a bottle of Wild Turkey since 7 p.m.  It was 10:30 p.m.

Epiphany:  All the hours that guy and I sat and talked about where he wanted his business to go, and how he wanted his people trained, how professional he wanted his company to look, and then he drove a tow truck at probably a .25 or .30 blood alcohol content.  I made him get into the truck with me, took him back to the shop, and then drove my SUV out to get the Dodge.

In 2012, I was hired by a guy in Abilene, Texas to come in and run his company, train his people, do some marketing, and get his trucks on police rotation.  I jumped on the chance, perhaps a little too quickly, because I love Abilene and know the town well – I used to deliver pizza part-time when I was in the Air Force there back in the late 80s.  I relocated my motorhome to Texas from Washington only to find out that instead of 15 trucks in his fleet, there were 7 trucks on his lot, but only 3 ran, and only 2 were licensed.  His “crew” consisted of one full-time guy who’d had 8 DUIs and a part-timer who only knew rigging and had no driver’s license.

Of course, I was angry, but tried to make the best out of it.  Even after the local Volvo/Mack service manager told me that he wouldn’t let a truck come in on the hook from that guy even if they paid him to do it, I knew there was trouble.  I begged the guy, and he finally said he’d give me a try.

I got a call two days later for a loaded tractor/trailer just outside Sweetwater. It had an EGR issue and wouldn’t run. So, at a $250 hookup and $7.50 a loaded mile, it was a $587.00 tow.  I went out to start the 35-ton, and it wouldn’t start.  I ran back inside the shop to get the jump box, and the owner stopped me.  He said he was busy right then but wanted to be there when I started the truck so he could see if a light was left on or something to make the battery go dead.  I explained that I had a call RIGHT NOW and that I’d gotten him back in the door at Volvo.  He made me wait over 30 minutes because wanted to chew on somebody for leaving the lights on or whatever, and that was more important – to teach his guys a lesson!

You have already guessed how it played out.  There are three other companies in Abilene, so when Volvo called for an ETA, and the guy said he was waiting for something, Volvo called another company, and we lost the tow blowing our second chance at working with Volvo.

Epiphany:  Blaming someone and chewing them out was more important to this guy than reviving his failed business.  His leadership skills revolved around blaming and yelling instead of doing what was best for his company.  It takes a great deal to make me give up on someone or something, but there was just no helping this guy.

Even though the following would not make good lyrics to a Taylor Swift song, they will help you grow your business: Having integrity in all the areas of your business fosters employee respect, bolsters morale, and keeps you from replicating double standards in your employees’ work ethics.  Keeping the main thing the main thing also keeps your company moving forward not missing business because of misplaced priorities.  Having a desire to grow your business without a desire to grow your own personal life will end up in self-sabotage.   Successful tow companies are not just about towing successfully; they are about leadership, ethics, and integrity; and your leadership is demonstrated every day in your words and actions.  What are you demonstrating?

Competitor/ Pricing

By
Dan Messina
-

If I asked you what the biggest problem is that you have with your competitors, you would probably tell me they charge too low to get the business. You then think that you have to charge a lower price to compete. You don’t, and if you do, you are going to lose money. The towing business is a service business, and the best service always wins. In 2003, I started a towing company with one truck and no accounts. Eight years later, I sold the company that had 14 trucks, 1250 accounts, and was the largest private-property towing company in the Southwest.

I also started one of the largest towing associations in the U.S. It runs with its own office with four full-time people and a budget of over $200,000 a year. That’s unheard of for a towing association. I am now starting another company, TowTrax, that will get tow companies tows they never had before. These businesses are or will be successful; all will be competitive, and pricing will play a big role in their success. In any of the businesses I was involved in, performance and service were the driving factors. I made my competition compete with me by providing a good service. I worked very hard to do the right things that provided the service necessary to outdo my competition. At the end of the day, it’s all about good service, and when it comes to service, I win. That’s where you need to get to.
The first thing I did when I started these businesses was find out who was going to be my competition. Things I wanted to know were:

  1. What services did they offer?
  2. Did they provide a service I should be providing?
  3. What services could I offer that they did not?
  4. Who were their best employees?
  5. Did they have anyone I might be interested in?
  6. Who were their best accounts?
  7. What problems have they had in the past?
  8. What did they charge?
  9. How many locations did they have?

All the companies I am competing with are driven by the price of the product. Some of the hardest questions you face are: What will I charge for the service I perform? Will I be competitive? Will I make a profit? If you are going to get into a bidding war with your competitor over the lowest fee for service to get the business, you are not going to make a profit. Price is the key. You don’t have to be the lowest bidder to get the business. There many other things you can address that will allow you to grow your business. As you read this article, I haven’t mentioned price once. The reason is that it’s all about service, and service wins out at the end.

Ten years ago, I talked to tow companies nationwide, and they all complained about that one company that has no insurance, does not know how to tow, and charges the lowest price. Here I am ten years later talking to tow companies, and it still the same story. I was with a group of towers at a tow show recently and one tower pointed out another tower that was making it hard in his area because that tower low balled all the other companies. My answer was simple, let him have that business, he will be out of business soon. You can’t afford to do a tow at a low-ball price.

I’ve discovered over the years that towers are their own worst enemy. One tow company comes in at one price for the tow, and their competition comes in lower. After they go back and forth a few times getting the price so low they can’t make a profit, one of them will give up. I am working with a lot of motor clubs right now, and you all know how they low ball the price. What I’ve learned at the end of the day is that price does not matter. Towing is a service business, and the best provider wins the business.

If you want to win over new customers, try a few of the following things that worked for me:

  1. We let our customers know about us (honesty, moral, and ethical). We let our customers know every day how we operate our business.
  2. We developed a staff and sold them on our way of doing business. We let our customers know that we hired the best people, trained them, drug tested them, and ran criminal background checks. (The key is to not give them the results if they don’t ask.)
  3. I joined the right organizations. My customers or potential customers saw me at various social meetings, and in some cases, I would sponsor lunch for the meeting. Customers or potential customers saw me everywhere they went because I joined the right organizations. It was important to join industry organizations or associations to stay on top of any changes or to see what my competition was doing.
  4. I subscribed to industry magazines and other industry subscriptions. This informed me on all the experts or people who were strong in the industry. Once I knew who to follow, I learned from them. Surround yourself with people smarter than you and learn from them.
  5. I purchased state-of-the-art equipment (new trucks, GPS, cameras and some bling) I believed in looking good. I had a competitor once tell me that he bought different colored trucks so his customers knew he had more than one truck. In my marketing brochures, I used technology to show as many trucks as I wanted. When I started, I showed 5 trucks when I only had three.
  6. Let’s talk about personal awards: founder of the largest towing association in the U.S., “2009 Towman of the Year,” largest private-property towing company in the Southwest. A week did not go by that I did not let my customers know about my successes. You might get the impression that I am bragging, but I just looked at it as good marketing. I use to read about a fellow tower all the time in a magazine. I asked him how he was so successful to which he replied, “Marketing-it’s all in how you spin it.” He spun stories to make him stand out in the industry emphasizing the positives of his business, not the negatives. He has a successful tow company because he knows how to market himself. He never once complained to me about price wars.

I hope 10 years from now I am not writing about the competition and how they low ball their price. I love the towing industry, and it can be fun and very rewarding if you run the business right. Know your competition, but don’t let them get in the way of how you run your business.

“Good service is king!”

For more information, visit danmessina.com

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