JERR-DAN

JERR-DAN ADDS TO ITS BEST-IN-CLASS CARRIER LINEUP WITH DEBUT OF HEAVY DUTY JD10XLP CARRIER

Carrier features lighter weight, higher performing industrial bed.

Carrier features lighter weight, higher performing industrial bed

Hagerstown, MD (November 17, 2018) – Jerr-Dan Corporation, an Oshkosh Corporation company (NYSE:OSK) and a single brand leader in the towing and recovery business, has unveiled the all-new JD10XLP Carrier. Steering in a new enthusiastic era for Jerr-Dan, the JD10XLP reflects the company’s years of accumulated engineering innovation and industry experience and is available for ordering now.

“We are thrilled to introduce a new carrier for our customers in the towing and recovery industry, showcasing productivity, versatility, and durability,” said Mike VanAken, Jerr-Dan director of product management and marketing. “This innovation is only possible because of our leading engineering team’s expertise and commitment to bring a ground-breaking product to the towing industry.”

Some of the JD10XLP Carrier’s standard features include the following: a dual operating box located on each side of the carrier, allowing operators to effectively identify functions and operate the carrier; all steel deluxe headboard with integrated 24” long grab handles and chain racks; hardwood decking made with Brazilian Apitong wood available in 24 ft., 26 ft. and 28 ft. length; anti-skid yellow paint treatment; four function wireless remote control, LED lighting and a deck-mounted 3-step fold-out ladder.

VanAken added, “Unlike the competition, these are standard features instead of options that require add-on pricing. Jerr-Dan has made the decision to include these key features on our carrier equipment fleet to ensure that our customers are getting the full spectrum of our engineering innovations. In turn, end users get a truck that is ready to tackle work on day one.”

In addition, the JD10XLP Carrier features a lower deck height to reduce overall height clearance. The carrier also comes standard with Jerr-Dan’s exclusive No-LubeTM technology, and the company’s new, one-year (full) and five-year (structural) warranty. The JD10XLP Carrier has straightforward service and maintenance requirements, making it an attractive addition to any towing equipment fleet.

For more information on Jerr-Dan products visit the website at www.jerrdan.com.

“Bobby’s Law”

Tow Professional

Linda Unruh says “Move Over One” in New Mexico

Last month while in Baltimore, I had the pleasure of meeting Linda Unruh. Linda has been in towing for 30 years, and I learned that it all came about because of a bet: Two friends of Linda’s told her that there was no way a woman could ever run a towing business in New Mexico. Linda accepted the challenge and, in a very short time, became the first woman and first Native American in the state’s history to own a towing company. Linda then hired the two gentleman that made the bet with her to assist in overseeing day-to-day duties with the company. Pinky’s was established and became a thriving business in New Mexico.

Linda’s business not only offered towing, but also had a mechanic shop with 6 bays for trucks and heavy equipment and 6 bays for auto repairs. Linda’s entire fleet of wreckers were pink, except for one truck that was black. That truck was her son Bobby’s truck and was his pride and joy. Linda’s son was very proud of the business his mother built and took a lot of pride in the job he did daily helping people that were in need.

Bobby Unruh, 37, of Tucumcari was killed on February 19, at mile marker 317 on I-40 near Montoya, New Mexico while attempting to tow a commercial vehicle. Linda was devastated–she had just talked with Bobby and asked him to be careful minutes before he was struck. Bobby had seen the 18-wheeler that was coming towards him, he made a conscious decision to move out of his safe haven to help a fellow brother pushing him into the toolbox into safety, Bobby was only steps away from being at front of his truck when he was struck. Bobby’s last act was to help someone in need before securing his own safety.

Linda Unruh, stated that “New Mexico was the only state left that didn’t have a Slow Down Move Over Law.” This law had been under discussion and tried to pass for 3 years prior to Bobby’s death. Linda took the pain of loss, her passion for the industry, and the need to protect others and used it to fuel her efforts with help from towers across the state to local legislatures.
“Bobby’s Law,” Senate Bill 76, was passed on April 6th and signed by Gov. Susana Martinez. Senate Bill 76 states that motor vehicles traveling on state or interstate highways are required to move over or slow down for certain vehicles flashing emergency or hazard lights, including recovery or repair vehicles.

Linda Unruh went on to get a three Hundred Thousand dollars awarded for education in schools, bill boards, advertising, etc. This money will be used to educate our future drivers on awareness and on “Bobby’s Law,” and the value of giving a lane, so our men and women that are first responders can make it home to their families after helping yours in a time of need. We celebrate our women of towing! Thank you, Linda, for being the strong, courageous woman you are; our prayers for continued strength in your fight for towers’ protection are with you. God Bless!

2ndAnnual “Slow Down,Move Over” Rally

Tow Professional

In the state of Alabama on December the 9th, towers across the state gathered at Garywood Assembly of God for the 2nd Annual “Slow Down, Move Over” Rally. Wes Passmore of Classic Towing & Recovery started the rally on the anniversary of the death of his driver and friend, John Hubbard. John Hubbard was struck on the side of the road while assisting a motorist December of 2016. Over 200 trucks were there at the rally to help spread the word. They led a procession from Hueytown, Alabama to Tuscaloosa, Alabama. First responders, police from Vestavia, Cordova, Bessemer, Jefferson County, and local Alabama State Troopers assisted in escorting the rally.

John’s family wants to make sure that other towers get back home to their families safely. The “Move Over” law says that drivers should move over a lane for any vehicle that’s parked along the side of the road with lights on. If you can’t move over, by law, you are expected to slow down. Jared and Jason Hubbard put it simply:” Slow down! Move over! Give a lane! Save a life!”

We preach the “Slow Down, Move Over” laws in every issue of Tow Professional Magazine; however, we only reach the owners that already know the importance of the law. Several local media affiliates were on hand to help get the message out. We need towers across the country to reach out to the local news and radio stations. We must get this message to the general public and help them to understand that towers are first responders. The towers are someone’s son, father, husband, daughter, wife, and mother that have loved ones at home that desperately need them to make it back. Help us spread the message!

Decisions, Decisions, Decisions

Tow Professional

As the owner of a tow company you have to wear many hats. You have to be a sales person, and accountant, a computer expert, a mechanic, a tow truck driver, not to mention all the employee problems you will face. Decisions, decisions, decisions, you make them all day long.

When I ran my company I was no different than you. I faced the same decisions you had to make, but my success was based on how I handled the decisions I was faced with. My company consisted of 36 full time employees running 17 trucks to support close to 1,000 customers. My wife and I would talk about our 36 employees and how they relied on us to feed their families. That made decision making top priority.

Here are a few things that will help you make the right decision:

Know Your Business – Gather all of the facts and necessary information that impacts your business. This is important, because you do not want to miss critical information that could make a difference in how you run your business.
- Who are your best customers?
- Who are your worst customers?
- Who are your best employees?
- Who are your worst employees?
- What trucks do I repair?
- What trucks do I replace?
- What are my monthly expenses?
- What is my monthly revenue?
I knew exactly how many tows I needed each month to make my numbers, and on the beginning of each month the score card went to zero and you started all over.
Results from my decision – Think about the decision you are about to make and what the results will be. Will the decision allow me to reach the goals I set for my company? If the decision is wrong, how will it affect my business? Think before you react.
Ask others – I had 36 employees and I often let them help me make decisions relating to the business. I think it was because I always made them feel like a part of the company. If I had to make a decision on what type of truck to buy who better to ask than the driver of the truck. If I need to make a dispatch decision I would let my dispatcher make the decision and I would live with the results. Sometimes the wrong decision was made but we lived with it and kept on going.
Relax – If it was a major decision like dealing with an employee problem I always want to make sure I was in the right frame of mind. Take a few deep breaths and try to do something that will make you feel more relaxed such as taking a 10-minute walk, listening to the radio or doing something that would help you de-stress. You will feel better and gain a fresh perspective on your current situation.
Don’t Procrastinate – Don’t put off important decisions, and don’t worry about your past mistakes just keep focusing on what is best for your company. To determine the best outcome for your business, always listen to your customer needs and have your finances and expenses organized. Customer satisfaction and making sure your company doesn’t run out of money are some of the important priorities of your business. If your business is going in the wrong direction call me and I’ll see if I can help.
Learn from your mistakes – If you make the wrong decision then the next step is to learn from your mistakes and go from there. Learn what you did right and learn what you did wrong.

Remember you are not in this alone. There are many resources in the industry that would be glad to help you at no cost to you.

Even if they are just a sounding board for you to bounce ideas off of. If you do not have the expertise in a given area assign the task to someone else. I’m sure people ask you if you are a morning person or an afternoon person. It’s good to know when you are at your best. If it’s in the a.m. make your major decisions then. Do not do it when you are stressed. It’s good to know your stress level. When you hit overload take a break for 10 minutes. Allow yourself some down time to do the things you like to do like fish or hunt. When you are setting up your schedule for the day allow 25% of the day for yourself. I can’t tell you how important this was for me. I had good employees that I trusted to run my business which allowed me to do fun things with the family, the customer, or my employees. All these people were part of my decision making so I always found time for them. Decision making is easy when you have the resources to help you.

I’ve talked about things that help you make decisions, now let me point out a few things that will keep you from making good decisions:

Being Lazy – This is where you don’t check the facts or gather input necessary to make the right decision.
Unexpected Events – Think about things that can happen that you did not count on such as a death in the family, a key employee quitting, or an accident with one of your trucks. Always think ahead and anticipate things that could happen.
Can’t decide – You try and gather to much information or analyze the problem too much and the decision never gets made. Your fear of making the wrong decision will have a big effect on the business so you don’t make any decision.
Living in the past – Some people make poor decisions because they’re using the same old data or processes they always used. Such people get used to approaches that worked in the past and tend not to look for approaches that will work better.
Rely on others – Some decisions are never made because one person is waiting for another, who in turn is waiting for someone else’s decision or input. Effective decision makers find a way to act independently when necessary.
Lack of Technology – Technology is changing and you have to be prepared to change with it. Phone apps and GPS are a big part of today’s environment and you will have to change to stay in business.
Lack of Knowledge – You can’t know everything in all areas.

As the owner of the business you will always be faced with making decisions. Some will be big and some small. In a lot of cases there will not be a right or wrong answers. Learn to get other people involved with what you are doing so the decisions you face will be easy to make. Use your employees, your family, your friends, or call me. Use your resources and decision making will become easy.

Towing Industry Software and Creative Destruction

Tow Professional

Before we discuss software, and more specifically VTS Systems software, let’s talk about technology. The problem with technology is that it is always changing; stepping back in time to our great grandfather’s era when Ernest Holmes created the first tow truck, the concept was revolutionary and this man’s vision created the tow industry we know today.

This evolution was brought about by man’s creative destruction. What you may ask is creative destruction? Simply put its man’s need to explore and create new ideas, with the end result being efficiency and profit. Unfortunately, there is a destructive side to men’s creativity. Just as the farm tractor supplanted thousands of agriculture workers, and the automobile replaced the horse and buggy, creative destruction will inevitably change your towing or VSF business.

There are many parts of your business in which creative destruction will bring about change, but non-more so than the move towards an automated office. Most in our industry rightfully see the tow truck as the revenue generator and in the foreseeable future that will not change. What some do not acknowledge, and others fully comprehend, is importance of the office; the flow of information it is designed to process, directly reflects how efficiently you manage your business, your money and ultimately your company’s profit.

Creative destruction is shaping the office of the future, and unless we collectively make a concerted effort to embrace and understand the creative changes that are coming, many will become the dinosaur that we all fear. If every office computer and software application could be fixed with a squirt of oil, a screwdriver and a wrench, every tow company owner would have two in the garage next to his/her favorite truck. Sadly, they are not mechanical in nature, but electronic, and for many this may require a whole new skill set. Acquiring a basic understanding of how computers work is relatively easy, ask your children, or better still, your grandchildren. If that is not an option, call your local community college and inquire about basic computer courses for adults. More difficult, is understanding software; software cannot be seen or touched; it has no smell and no taste. However, there are enough people associated with our industry that can provide knowledge, guidance, training and support. VTS Systems is such a company. “Call us.”

If you are not yet thinking about the creative destruction that will inevitably continue to be part your business, then you should be. Ultimately, the office of tomorrow is in cyberspace, where the “Internet of tomorrow” can be accessed from anywhere and by anyone from any PC, smartphone, or tablet. Depending on the size of your company you may or may not need full-time office staff, as fully automated processes and pricing will eliminate bottleneck questions, entry errors and labor costs.

However, where you live and the location of your business, will often dictate the quality and dependability of your Internet service, and this should play a decisive role in your decision-making process.

How do I start you might ask? – You already have a roadmap; you are reading a trade magazine which provides ideas and resources. Companies that advertise in Tow Professional and other journals offer specialty services in automating the office and the Internet of tomorrow.

What should you look for? – Although not all companies are created equal, most will provide you with basic software that will enhance your business. The Internet of tomorrow is a journey; not a destination. Learn as much as you can from anyone who has knowledge of the towing industry, and is technically IT competent. Do your homework, visit industry tradeshows, search the web, talk not only to the company salespeople, but ask if you can talk to a senior staff member, or customers who you feel have similar life experiences. Before sharing any of your company’s intimate details, best practices suggest the signing of a joint nondisclosure agreement.

You already know your business, make a list of features that you deem essential, cover the basics and ask about specific features. Currently, there are two kinds of software available, PC-based, where all of your data and information resides in your computer at your place of business and your company’s Internet connection is less important. Cloud or web-based software is the new alternative where nothing is stored at your place of business and every keystroke you make from any input device travels via the Internet to the software company’s hosting server at a remote location. Cloud-based technology requires not only good Internet service, but someone to engineer a fail soft internet solution to reduce the possibility of downtime.

You should feel comfortable in asking for comparisons and specifics regarding features and office tasks. Talk about how you currently process tow tickets and other data and the time it takes to accomplish a given task. Whereas it is important that “software be designed to work the way you do,” you should bear in mind that generally the people who wrote the software gathered the information from a huge operational database, choosing the efficiency of best practices before deciding on the operational structure of the software.

VTS Systems offers both server/PC and cloud-based solutions and considers ongoing “best practices” support for its clients to be as, if not more important, than an endless list of features. VTS Systems believes in “Relationships built on trust, one client at a time.” Call to inquire how we can help 281.373.3072 or visit our website www.vts-systems.com

Towbook

Tow Professional

In today’s highly competitive market, the never ending battle to improve performance has owners and managers always looking for new ways to reduce costs and increase productivity. Never before have businesses been challenged to operate as efficiently as they are in today’s environment.

Towing software, in particular cloud-based towing software, is a tool that’s making a big difference for companies looking to gain an edge. Cloud-based software is software that’s hosted, managed and supported by the company that makes the software. You never have to worry about backing up data, worrying about what machine your data is stored on, or having computers in your office upgraded.

The truth is, you can’t be in the office all the time. With cloud-based software, you and your team have access to your system anywhere you have internet service, including on your smart phones. That means you’re always connected, making it much easier to manage your operation while you’re on the move.

Software that features mobile apps for managers, dispatchers and drivers is critical. When jobs from customers are sent right to your smart phone, and you can dispatch that call to a driver from anywhere, giving you a lot more flexibility.

Towing software becomes more powerful when combined with GPS technology that helps manage the utilization of your equipment. The investment you make in trucks and equipment is simply massive, and increasing your ability to track and manage that equipment is essential.

Towbook is the unquestioned leader in cloud-based towing software. Our team at Towbook has been hard at work adding new features and updating the software to meet the needs of our customers. A few of the key features Towbook offers are listed below.

Mobile Apps. Towbook’s mobile apps make it simple for managers and dispatchers to receive calls on their phone, dispatch calls to drivers and monitor operations. You can send calls to your drivers and they can take photos that get added to the call automatically. They can use the plate to VIN feature, get a signature from the customer on the phone and even email or text a receipt.

Motor Club Digital Dispatching. Towbook’s family of Digital Dispatching partners continues to grow – with more on the way soon. Digital dispatching allows you to receive jobs directly from the motor club inside Towbook. New calls appear in Towbook and you simply add an ETA and select Accept or Reject – no phone call is required.

GPS Integration. Towbook is also integrated with leading GPS companies like TomTom, allowing you to send calls directly to the GPS unit in your truck. Drivers can use the GPS unit to navigate to the service location, and when they update the status of the call on the GPs unit it will automatically update their status in Towbook. Your Towbook app can also use the GPS location from your trucks and display that on a map in Towbook. There are many other fantastic features of GPS units that help you manage and maintain your fleet. Our list of GPS partners is growing fast as they work to provide a seamless system for customers.

Plate to VIN. Towbook’s plate to VIN feature is a great way to save time and eliminate mistakes. Simply key in a plate number and the state and Towbook will return the full VIN, plus the make model and year of thevehicle.

Automatic Mileage Calculation. Another great feature in Towbook is automatic mileage calculation. When you enter a valid address, Towbook will return the recommended mileage for the call, including loaded and unloaded miles.

Mapping. Towbook’s mapping feature allows you to monitor the location of your active jobs and trucks inside your dispatching software. You can even run the map on a separate screen. This helps you know which drivers are free and who to assign the next job to. Our team continues to add many more features to the system, while working to keep Towbook the easiest to use software in the Towing and Recovery business.

Free Trial, Free Setup, Free Support. Keep in mind that with Towbook, you get a 30 Day free trial, plus free setup and support and there are no contracts either. About Towbook Towbook Management Software is headquartered in Michigan and has provided cloud-based towing software for over 8 years. With 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 customersupport. Support is free and available 24/7/365 – even on holidays.

http://www.towbook.com
sales@towbook.com
810-320-5063

Dispatch Software and GPS Solutions working for you

Tow Professional

By: Mike Haney

Your daily operation requires the right tools. When it comes to your office none are more important than dispatch software and GPS tracking. Fortunately todays options offer you some effectivesolutions. Most of the leading software companies have integration with your top GPS providers. The level of tracking will determine your price point, and return on investment.

In many cases software and GPS integration is for tracking only. This means the dispatch software can pull a signal from the tracking unit installed by your GPS provider. Other options offer one or two-way communication with your drivers. This means job information can be sent to dash mounted units in your fleet. In the case of two-way, vital job information can be returned to dispatch as well. Options like this are more expensive because they require two pieces of equipment in each vehicle.

Your dispatch software may offer its own tracking. Beacon Software’s Dispatch Anywhere allows you to track your driver’s smartphones or tablets when you’re dispatching to a mobile app called DA for Drivers. This can also be paired with a tracking only GPS solution to give a crisp field response. Lately this has become a more popular choice. There are several reasons for this. Mobile apps have become more advanced by offering payment options, paperless tickets, signature capture, adding photos from the field, providing tow specifications, and recording existing damage. These tools aren’t available from a GPS solution. However, the tools provided from a good GPS tracking device can exceed in other areas. Reporting is a powerful tool when determining your ROI. TomTom’s Webfleet solution not only gives you tracking, but also reports on driving behavior, maintenance, history, Logs/hours of service, fuel ups, and geo-fences. These are items that are not always available from a dispatch package.

You can usually find a GPS solution that has some dispatch function or a dispatch software that has a GPS function, but pairing the best of both worlds has proven to deliver the highest quality solutions. GPS solutions require hardware that is built for one specific purpose with higher performance. Software solutions using mobile applications are always evolving. This means you have a constant refresh on vital tools for the job. Your business needs will determine what the best solution is for you. A premier software paired with a proven GPS solutions will deliver the highest quality.

Digital Dispatch with GPS Technology: A Ticket to Play

Tow Professional

In today’s service-based economy, every service experience becomes a “moment of truth” with each customer. Even when an unfortunate event has disrupted the customer’s day, an excellent roadside assistance experience has been proven to increase that customer’s loyalty to the brand providing the service. This is as true for service providers building their own tow businesses as it is for the automotive manufacturers, insurance carriers, and other warranty providers they sometimes represent.

Combined with the changing expectations of an increasingly “connected” customer base, we’re already seeing the entire roadside and towing industry – service providers and motor clubs – pushing to deliver a better customer experience by embracing the advantages of location-aware and real time technology.

A few years ago investing in digital dispatch with GPS technology was a costly proposition. GPS devices that need to be installed in every truck and then integrated into a Dispatch Management system could cost anywhere from $400 to $800 per vehicle. But there are many benefits: lower fuel costs, safer drivers, less accidents, fewer delays, less stolen equipment, and larger discounts on insurance premiums. It took only six to twelve months for the investment to pay for itself, but it’s never been easy for smaller operations to shell out a few thousand dollars to get a new system up and running.

However, in the last few years, less expensive options have been coming into the market, with some fleet management packages now offering financing options with zero money down. At the same time – and perhaps more importantly – the use of smartphones has become widespread. Smartphones and data plans are not inexpensive, but many drivers have already made the personal investment: Today over 75% of Americans have a smartphone. And more and more business owners are requiring their drivers (and many other employees) to carry one. The rapidly growing smartphone market has customers demanding real-time information on everything from taxi services and food delivery to real-time traffic patterns and updates on when their tow truck will arrive.

Because customers are demanding more, every industry is seeking ways to meet their expectations. Offering roadside assistance coverage as a benefit of warranties, credit cards, and cell phones is more popular than ever, leading to increased dispatch volume. With more volume comes more responsibility and tow companies are seeking to proactively manage each dispatch to ensure ETAs are met, customer satisfaction is high, and fleet utilization is optimized.

Tools that accomplish this, such as Digital Dispatch with GPS technology, allow service providers to make their businesses more efficient and create a better customer experience. At the same time, more and more motor clubs are bringing mobile applications to the market, such as Agero, which in January 2011 was the first motor club to unveil a service provider mobile app. Other clubs have since followed suit. Since the release of Agero’s mobile app, Roadside Connect™, there have been several major upgrades and additions to the platform, enabling service providers to raise customer satisfaction and loyalty while increasing their dispatch volume. Apps like RoadsideConnect offer numerous benefits for your dispatchers such as accepting jobs without having to take a phone call and assigning a driver with the push of a button. The app also allows your drivers to remain hands-free and still provide status updates when they have location services turned on in their smartphone. As these mobile apps inevitably become even more useful and even more convenient to use, we’ll see universal adoption across the industry.

Nearly 40% of tow trucks have a hard-wired GPS device already in them. Of the remainder, 45% have drivers who carry a smartphone capable of running a digital dispatch with GPS app or a third party dispatch system such as Beacon Software, TowBook or Ranger. The remaining 15% of trucks and their drivers are not yet connected. To stay competitive, nearly all tow companies will need to adopt some form of digital dispatch with GPS technology – or they will lose more and more business as they become out-of-date. The rules of the game are changing quickly and sharing status and location updates with the customers and motor clubs is rapidly becoming a ticket to play.

Written by Frank Klemovitch, Director of Product Management at Agero

What’s new with SpeedTech Lights?

Tow Professional

SpeedTech Lights just celebrated 10 years in business while maintaining an A+ Customer Service rating from the BBB for all 10 years! As a big player in the emergency lighting market, product insight and innovation have always been key factors to SpeedTech Lights’ success, while maintaining the best prices in the industry. With direct buying ability off of the website (www.SpeedTechLights.com) and dealer relationships around the world, it is easy to find SpeedTech Lights’ products anywhere you go. From full-size light bars and mini bars, to interior, exterior, hide-a-way warning vehicle lighting and sirens, SpeedTech Lights has a product to fit any of your emergency vehicle lighting needs. SpeedTech also carries performance LED off-road lighting and even a full line of IP68 rated, water proof flashlights. To give you an idea of STL’s products, below are the different light bar series and off-road/work lighting:

STL K-Force II Series

The STL K-Force II Series light bars feature a rugged, weather-proof, double-layer aluminum housing and range all the way from a 12-inch micro bar to a full-size 71-inch tow bar, including stop, tail and turn functionality. These light bars feature Generation III – 1 watt LEDs, with 3-watt LEDs for work and alley lights. With TIR or Linear optics, these light bars come with traffic advising functionality and 15 available flash patterns. Multicolor LED modules are available to switch easily from flashing colors (ex. red & blue) to amber traffic advising. The K-Force light bars are very reasonable priced from $179.99 to $929.99, with SpeedTech Lights’ 5-year warranty.

STL Prime II Series

The STL Prime II Series light bars feature a sleek, durable, poly-carbonate housing, with fully encapsulated LED modules. This series is available in multiple sizes, from 18 to 55-inches, including a tow package featuring stop, tail, and turn functionality. These light bars are available in TIR or Linear optics, with Generation III 1-watt LEDs and 3-watt LEDs for work and alley lights. Featuring left, right, center out traffic advising and 15 flash patterns, multicolor modules are available to easily switch between the two. The Prime II Series is competitively priced from $199.99 to $749.99, with SpeedTech Lights’ 5-year warranty.

STL Aries II Series

The STL Aries II Series light bars feature a hybrid aluminum, polycarbonate enclosure, with fully encapsulated LED modules. The Aries II Series are available in multiple sizes, ranging from 24 to 60-inches, with TIR or Linear optics, including a tow package, featuring stop, tail, and turn functionality. These light bars feature Generation III 1-watt LEDs, and 3 watt LEDs for take-down and alley lights. The Aries Series light bars also come with traffic advising functionality and 15 available flash patterns, with optional multicolor modules to easily switch between traffic advising and flash modes. The Aries II Light Bar Series is competitively priced from $229.99 to $769.99, with SpeedTech Lights’ 5-year warranty.

STL Carbine Series: Off-Road/Work Lights

The STL Carbine Series off-road/work lights are available in quad, single, and dual carbine product lines. All of the STL Carbine Series lights feature SpeedTech Lights’ weather-proof, IP68 rated aluminum housing, are available in multiple sizes, and come with spotlight, floodlight, or hybrid optics. The square shaped STL Quad Carbines include sixteen, double stacked, 3-watt LEDs, outputting 3,520 lumens, with a75 degree reflective angle. The STL Single Carbines are slim and come in sizes from 5.5 inches to 23.5 inches. These light bars feature (3-15) 10-watt CREE LEDs, with a 55 degree reflective angle, outputting 3,000-15,000 lumens. The STL Dual Carbines are available from 5 inches to 50 inches, featuring (8-100), double stacked, CREE LEDs spanning the bar. These light bars have a 50 degree reflective angle and output 1,760 to 22,000 lumens, depending on the size of the bar. The STL Carbine Series offroad/work lights are priced from $59.99 to $419.99 and all come with SpeedTech Lights’ 2 year warranty.

Next Generation Landoll Trailer

Tow Professional

This July marks the arrival of the Next Generation Landoll Trailer. The Landoll Trailer Line is leaping forward with the introduction of the new hydraulic operating systems, nicknamed H.O.S.S., and High Visibility Lighting package. The 400 “A” Series Traveling Axle trailers will be the first models with these added standard features.

H.O.S.S. cuts the overall operational time in half. The axle traveling forward has increased by 36% and moving back by 58%. Tilt deck positioning has increased to nearly 63%,while winch in and out speeds are closer to 66%. This improvement will allow for more loads to take place.

“The speed is the most noticeable change, but the long term value is the damage and downtime prevention,” said Gary Dwerlkotte, Landoll Trailer Sales Coordinator. Removal of restrictors eliminate considerable back pressure, resulting in cooler operational temperatures and a quieter environment. Continuous oil encasement of valves in the control panel require less maintenance. Previously, oil circulated through the entire system before returning to the tank, allowing for only a 14 GPM flow. Oil now only travels through the closed center inlet and back to the tank, creating a 20 GPM flow.

Brad Bergman, Landoll Engineering Project Manager, stated “there was extensive field testing with three prototype valves in real life harsh environments before ever going into production.” Testing occurred in the New England Region, as well as Northern Alberta and Quebec provinces of Canada. Long term testing will continue to gather data for future development. The chosen closed spool valve system was designed and built in Italy. Jim Ladner, Landoll Corporation’s National Trailer Sales Manager, explained “the Italians are world famous for their expertise in hydraulics.We are bringing world knowledge and technology to the Landoll trailer.”

“For several years we’ve needed to clean up the system to be more user friendly,” commented Dwerlkotte. The control panel is at chest height, encouraging ergonomic and visual improvement, versus being located on the lower arm of the gooseneck. Controls are in five predetermined hydraulic function locations, cutting out the need for modifications to the frame.

H.O.S.S. is the quick, quiet, and quality hydraulic system offered by The Landoll Corporation. For additional information on these new features or detachable trailers, call The Landoll Factory at 800-428-5655 or e-mail trailersales@landoll.com.

For more editorial information, contact Transportation Sales Group
transportationsales@landoll.com
PH (785) 562-5381 ● FAX (888) 293-6779 ● www.landoll.com
1900 North Street, Marysville, Kansas 66508

The American Towing and Recovery Institute is proud to announce the NEW home study “Towing Continuing Education and Recovery Training” (T.C.E.R.T.) Program.

Tow Professional

The American Towing and Recovery Institute is proud to announce the NEW home study “Towing Continuing Education and Recovery Training” (T.C.E.R.T.) Program.

The T.C.E.R.T. continuing education and recovery training program does not replace actual classroom and hands on towing and recovery training. It allows you as a company to provide continuing levels of training for your employees by showing proven methods including safety techniques. The program provides third party Certification/Verification that supplies your employees with the correct information and helps ensure that you are doing everything possible to provide a safe work force in your community.

We are currently producing more DVD training modules of the live education we have provided for years. Each T.C.E.R.T. package will include exams which are to be completed and returned to the ATRI office. If the exam(s) receive a passing grade the recipient will receive the appropriate training credit(s). We also plan on utilizing additional training information from other sources such as, Federal Highway Administration, OSHA & NFPA, etc. This will allow you to obtain other opportunities to achieve additional training credits and obtain the latest information from the Federal Government and other standard setting agencies.

Once an individual earns enough credits for each level; he/she will receive an identification card, wall certificate and patch for each level achieved.
• Towing Awareness Level: 12 Credit Hours
• Towing Operations Level: 24 Credit Hours
• Towing Technician Level: 36 Credit Hours
• Towing and Recovery Specialist Level: 48 Credit Hours

The American Towing and Recovery Institute members are entitled to our 1st installment which is our Heavy Duty Training Boom Load DVD 1.0, 3 sets of worksheets and 3 exams at no cost. Each member company is currently receiving this packet in the mail.

For Pricing for Non Members and additional copies for ATRI Members please contact;
The American Towing & Recovery Institute
www.americantowingandrecoveryinstitute.org
PO Box 007 Wade, NC 28395
Office (910) 747-9000 Fax (910) 486-8930
Email: info@americantowingandrecoveryinstitute.org

AW Direct

Tow Professional

Tow Pro Hooked Up Ads, Issue 6

Collins® Carrier Dolly System
Item# CCDS
A versatile system designed to reduce the risk of damage while loading a casualty onto a flatbed. Use this dolly system to load both vehicles and motorcycles without having them ever touch chains, hooks or cables that could cause damage. Made with the strength of aircraft-grade 6061-T6 aluminum, this system has a 4,000-lb. load capacity (2,000-lbs. per dolly).

(800) 243-3194
awdirect.com

Feniex Apollo™ Mini-X Mini Lightbar
Item# FMB514
This mini lightbar is designed for brightness, compactness and durability. The lightbar is only 8.25″ wide and features 6, 4-watt LEDs in each module head. It includes a built-in waterproof, encapsulated driver and features water-sealed and weather-damage resistant construction. The Mini-X also features 67 flash patterns.

(800) 243-3194
awdirect.com

Press Release – Certificate of Excellence

Tow Professional

June l,20l5 Chattanooga, TN – The International Towing &Recovery Hall of Fame and Museum is proud to announce that TripAdvisor, has awarded the museum with a prestigious award that can only earned through consistently great reviews of the business, published onthe world’s largest travel site.

The museum is listed as #37 out of 17 4 atffactions, on the “things to do in Chattanooga” list. At this time, there ate 7 5 reviews, which helped us receive this prestigious award!

For more information or to plan a visit to The International TowingMuseum, visit www.towingmuseum.com

Zacklift gives owner’s the chance to Have It Their Way

Tow Professional

Zacklift gives owner’s the chance to Have It Their Way. The FIFTHWEELER can hit the road running, all decked out with the complete package of standard equipment including a wide range of forks and receivers, and the highest quality US manufactured valve and equally high quality remote control. Plumbed, wired and ready for action, the FIFTHWHEELER has buildable options. Choose to add them at the get-go, or build any of them on down the road. Always in-demand are the 20K or 30K Warn planetary winches. Mounting, valve, hydraulic plumbing, directional cable guide- everything is handled for you. A tremendous compliment to the winch, “Only at Zacklift” Hydraulic Stifflegs are indispensable. The Stifflegs feature 25,000 pounds of powerful push in each leg, and Zacklift’s trademark Flip Feet provide either the digger-claw for serious load holding or flat steal pads for roads. For one more buildable add-on, Zacklift’s custom aerodyne tool boxes with polished aluminum gull-wing doors, provide tremendous storage capacity, while being engineered with head-turning style.

Financing is an all-important option. A funding company that know the industry is critic to great rates, and an easy process. At 60 months, a loaded Zacklift FIFTHWHEELER is $579.00 a month. Bundle up the Winch and Stifflegs and for $265.00 more, you’ve got the package. Find all the information at Zacklift.com, or call 844-ZACKLIFT.

May and June has been a very sad and busy month for TRAO

Tow Professional

Interstate Towing out of Macedonia, Ohio lost one of their drivers on the job, 56 year old Michael Kennedy known as “Turnpike Mike” was hit by a semi on May 8th while assisting a disabled vehicle on the Ohio Turnpike. Mike DID have on all his lights on the truck as well as ALL his required REFLECTIVE WEAR. The semi driver said he was aware of the Slow Down Move Over Law but said because of traffic he could not get over. More then 200 Towers from around the State of Ohio showed their support for Mike and his family by joining in the funeral procession.

On May 28, Mesaros’s Towing of Youngstown, lost one of it’s own. David Mesaros passed away due to ongoing health issues. Towers drove their Tow Trucks to the funeral and joined in the procession to show their respects for a fellow tower.

On June 4th, 48yr old Alfred Bliss employed by Crump’s Towing in Boardman was apparently working under a vehicle at his place of employment. When the vehicles weight shifted and fell on Mr. Bliss. Again, fellow towers showed their respect for yet another fallen tower and his family, by joining in aTow Truck procession.

TRAO continues to work on the legislative issues at hand and has a petition for the Move Over, Slow Down -It’s the Law logo to be on a License Plate. If you have an Ohio Drivers License and have not yet signed this petition please contact the TRAO office at 513-791-3555.

TRAO held an informational seminar June 8th in Columbus, where Towing Solutions & Consulting presented information on how to stay in compliance with the new laws regarding the towing industry and filing for affidavits.

TRAO is hosting another FREE Seminar by Towing Solutions & Consulting to its members. The date will be August 20th at the Comfort Inn 5425 Clarkins Rd Austintown, Ohio . The seminar will begin at 10AM . For registration please contact rhonda@trao.org.

Just a reminder… if you HAVEN’T marked your calendar yet for the Midwest Tow Show. You need to! Because this is one of the best tow shows you will attend. It has gotten the name “A Family Affair” because it is just that a family affair. Plan on attending and bring the entire family September 24-27th at Great Wolf Lodge in Mason Ohio.

A New Opportunity for Tow Operators…. Adding The Portable Self Storage Solution

Tow Professional

Did you know that it’s possible to tap into a 3 billion dollar industry that compliments towing by utilizing your existing resources? The portable self storage industry is barely 15 years old and growing rapidly. A new company called Snappy Box Moving and Storage, is making it easy for towing operators to use the resources they already have (such as standard rollback trucks and a storage yard) to easily generate additional revenue simply by adding portable storage units.

Portable Storage was created to provide a more convenient option for customers needing self-storage. The portable storage container is brought to the customer’s home or business where they packit up. Once it is packed, it can be stored at the customer’s property or brought back to a portable storage company’s secure outdoor storage lot or warehouse.

Portable Storage containers are extremely durable, typically have a 30 year life cycle, are waterproof, secure, can carry up to 10,000 pounds and withstand winds up to 120 miles an hour. They are commonly 12, 16, and 20 feet in length.

Portable Storage compliments the Towing Industry perfectly and helps operators have a more stable and diverse revenue stream. The typical portable storage container rents for $170 per month and staysrented an average of 6 months. That is $1020 on average of gross revenue generated off just 1 container rented. Multiply this by 50, 100, or 200 containers and towing operators can generate a significant profit.

Towing Operators can get into the portable self-storage industry with significantly reduced investmentcompared to companies that only do Portable Storage like PODS® and 1-800-Pack-Rat®. Most portable storage companies require an initial startup cost of more than $3 Million dollars in order to purchase a suitable facility, buy specialized trucks, a forklift, purchase 300-400 containers and hire staff. This is the cost to just get many of these franchise locations to break even. Under the SnappyBox® model, Tow Operators can break even with as few as 6 containers rented and this factors in the cost of financing. SnappyBox® makes it easy for Towing Operators who already have rollback trucks, drivers, and extra space on a secure lot to add portable storage to their existing business. They provide a good source of high quality, light weight, containers that are specifically designed to be moved loaded with rollback trucks. They also manage all aspects of the portable storage business so the tow operator canfocus on their towing operation. They have 10 years of experience in the portable storage industry andthey use this knowledge to provide a turn-key, full service Portable Self-Storage Management program to Tow Operators. To find out more about their services, check them out at snappybox.com/towing.

If you are looking for a way to diversify your towing business, create another source of revenue for your business and utilize your trucks and drivers through slow times, then SnappyBox® Moving and Storage may be a great solution for you. To find out more about their services, check them out at snappybox.com/towing or call them at 888-363-2720.

1...323334...54 Page 33 of 54