Cincinnati, Ohio, March 23, 2015

The Towing & Recovery Association of Ohio (www.trao.org) welcomes Rhonda Roberts as the new TRAO Administrator.

Rhonda is looking forward to working with the TRAO Board of Directors, TRAO members and Lobbyist Terry Fleming. She also plans to travel the state attending regional meetings, recruiting memberships and introducing herself to the TRAO members.

Tug Brock, TRAO Secretary states, “After many interviews of very qualified people, Rhonda stood out above the rest. Having grown up and working in the towing business, she brings with her many years of knowledge within the industry. Coupled with her outgoing personality and excellent people skills, she is the perfect fit for the job”.

The positions of TRAO Administrator and Midwest Regional Tow Show have been divided. Donna Brock-Mesaros will remain as the Tow Show Coordinator and assist Rhonda with training and support.

Vaughn Gobel, President of TRAO, said “As our association continues to grow, so has the need to hire additional personnel in our office to run the day-to-day operation. Rhonda’s experience and towing knowledge will be a natural fit for our members and our industry”.

For information on TRAO please contact Rhonda at her new email address: rhonda@trao.org or 513-791-3555.

For info regarding the Midwest Regional Tow Show contact Donna at dbrock@trao.org or midwest@trao.org. or 513-831-SHOW or 513-831-7469.

Joe Pedigo, after beating cancer 3 times, the 4th time proved to be too much, and Joe went home to be with the Lord on March 23, 2015. Stubborn to the end, Joe will be dearly missed by his family, employees and colleagues in the industry that he dedicated his life to.

Joe started his company, Joe’s Towing & Recovery, 46 years ago to support a house full of kids, and although it has changed greatly from the repair shop with a tow truck that it was in the beginning, we are proud to carry on the traditions that he started. Joe excelled at everything he did, from towing for the police departments to impounding illegally parked cars to recovering overturned tractor-trailers to working tirelessly for legislative changes that benefit the entire towing industry. He never took the easy way out, but constantly strived to do it better the next time.

Joe was active on the Legislative Committee for many years for both the Professional Towing and Recovery Operators of Illinois, as well as the national Towing & Recovery Association of America. He served 2 terms as President of the PTROI, and was the current President of the TRAA at the time of hispassing. His goal was to make the towing industry better for everyone as a whole. Joe was inducted into the Towing Hall of Fame in 2007, had TRAA Level 3 Heavy Recovery Specialist Certification as well was a WreckMaster 6/7.

Joe’s Towing & Recovery will continue on without a pause, he would want it that way.

We have lost a great leader in the towing industry!

Joe will be greatly missed by all of us at TRAA and by the towing community at large.

Joe Pedigo December 1, 1943 – March 23, 2015

As seen on TOW411

The Hidden Wheel Lift

Lift and Tow wheel lift units are built right here in the USA. From the first 3 Series unit that rolled out of the shop in 1999, to the Z Series we are building today, we demand the highest quality workmanship one comes to except for the towing industry. Lift and has become the “small” company in a “Large Towing Industry”.

We welcome competition. Nearly every day we answer the phone where people are shopping. After carefully comparing prices & quality, about 90% call back and order. We find that’s not the “salesmanship” that made them return, it is the quality of the product. Our units are user friendly, installation as well as use. As a matter fact, last week a customer up graded to the Z Series from a unit he has used for ten years. What a testament that is!

Lift and Tow not only prides itself on quality, but availability also. Most times, order a unit today and it will ship tomorrow. We build our units in house, from the main frames to the “T” bars, everything except the hydraulics. We make our own hoses; block mounts, wiring harness, and track trays. If a customer needs a part, it’s on the shelf. And, during business hours, the phone doesn’t ring more than three times.

Last but not least, you can pay with a company check, bank transfer, or any major credit card. We are here to serve our customers in the towing industry, period.

PRESS RELEASE
International Towing Museum Hires New Executive Director
Industry Veteran Angela Roper Joins Museum’s Leadership Team

Chattanooga, Tennessee, March 10, 2015 –The International Towing and Recovery Hall of Fame and Museum (www.towingmuseum.com) announced today that Angela Roper has joined the team as Executive Director. Angela comes with a wealth of experience in the industry,having owned a towing company in Texas and also worked for one of the industry’s largest towing companies in Chicago,Ill.

While active in the industry, Angela served in several volunteer roles within TRAA, the industry’s national association head quartered in Washington, DC and was instrumental in conceptualizing and creating the successful “Dress For Success” DVD that emphasizes the importance of ANSI approved safety apparel.

Angela joins the International Towing Museum with the goal of continuing to grow its prominence not only within the towing industry worldwide, but also as a stop for visitors to Chattanooga.

“I am looking forward to being a part of such a well-respected institution like the International Towing Museum,” Angela said.“Once you have been a part of our great industry, it’s hard not to be working for it and as a part of it.”

Troy Barnett, President of the Museum, said “Angela’s wealth of experience and industry knowledge will make her an excellent addition to the Museum team. We believe Angela will continue the great job begun by Cheryl Mish and expand the Museum’s reputation and membership.”

About The International Towing and Recovery Hall of Fame and Museum:
In September 1995, the International Towing and Recovery Hall of Fame and Museum opened to the public in downtown Chattanooga,Tenn. in its first permanent structure. Chattanooga was chosen as the museum’s home because it is the birthplace for the U.S.towing industry. In 2003, the museum moved to a larger facility on Broad Street where it is now located. In 2006, the Wall of the Fallen memorial was added to the outside grounds, and the first 94 names of towers who lost their lives in the line of service were added to the wall in 2007.

Contact
International Towing & Recovery Hall of Fame and Museum
Tom Tedford, Board Member
ttedford@unitedroadtowing.com

Dynamic Towing Equipment & Mfg. ,Inc. is now manufacturing front push bumpers in house. Computer designed for fit & function, they are available for most applications. Heavy Duty mounting brackets, frame braces and easy tow hook access. These bumpers also have the needed air flow openings and are designed to fit the contours of your truck. The face of the bumper is lined with heavy rubber or optional Polyethylene. Dynamic will also paint to match your bumper with a provided paint code or order the optional Speedliner coating for great protection in all weather. An optional grill guard is also available for added protection. These push bumpers will aid in clearing an accident scene quickly or moving a disabled vehicle safely to a quick location that is safe for both the driver and operator. An optional Ramsey front mounted 15,000# winch is securely mounted inside the body of the bumper. This is the perfect combination for Incident Management and Emergency Response Vehicles including Tow Trucks, Ambulances, Road Service Vehicles, Police Trucks, Swat Team trucks and more.Some of the advantages of adding our push bumper to your vehicle:
I.Will Increase the stability of your truck with the added front end weight
II.Safely push vehicles without damage
III.Custom designed to fit your application
IV.Paintable
V.Made in the USA

“Beacon software has done three major things for me. I never lose a dollar! I’ve cut down on my expenses in my dispatch department, and it’s made every truck I own more profitable.” -Bud Gruber Bald Eagle Towing.

Selecting the right software for your business is as important as the trucks you drive, the personnel you employ, and the accounts you work for. You have many options for software. Getting the right fit is crucial.

Dispatch Anywhere helps you get to the root of your business needs to optimize workflow. This cloud based solution is made to accommodate any size business. Our user friendly interface allows you to create, manage, track, report, store, and bill your daily activity. Your profitability and efficiency are enhanced by removing repetitive steps in your daily operations. Depending on your needs you can build upon Dispatch Anywhere by adding TowMagic and Motor club billing. These features allow you to integrate club/insurance calls and push them out to be paid. This creates efficiencies that reduce your need for additional resources and personnel.

Communication is streamlined with Dispatch Anywhere for Drivers. This mobile app puts the power of the call in your driver’s hands. You’ll have accountability for your team in the field with real time damage reports and paperless signatures. Information is entered one time, and everyone is on the same page. Tracking your vehicles gives you an ideal perspective on activity, so there’s no guesswork. Sending the right truck to a call creates an organized workflow that frees up wasted time, adding more calls per day. Empowering your drivers to capture job information and take payments in the field reduces the time spent talking to dispatch. In addition to our mobile solutions you can integrate with multiple GPS partners. Controlling your expenses increases profitability.

“Beacon Software has helped define the requirements for tow management software within the towing industry.Beacon’s integration with TomTom WEBFLEET ensures customers see the highest possible ROI on their software and telematics investment.This is achieved by improving decision making abilities, thus providing a more profitable tow with better operational efficiency and a reduction in fuel spend and maintenance costs.” -Ty Lambertt TomTom

Beacon Software sets itself apart from other solutions by remaining current in the technology available today. We keep you up to date so you have the best tools available. This is an exciting year for Beacon customers. New products and features will take your operation to the next level. We’re looking forward to providing premier solutions, and continuing to raise the bar. Customers should keep an out for changes as we progress into 2015. Check us out at the Florida Tow Show in April. Existing customers will receive invitations to a special event.

Beacon was born out of a third generation towing company. For 14 years we’ve operated at the benefit of the tower and always will. We are a development company that operates in-house. This allows us to control our destiny and keep a laser focus on what’s important to you. You need software that works as hard as you do, and adapts as your business grows. Make your decision for the future.

Beacon Software
www.dispatchanywhere.com
info@beaconsoftco.com
866-437-6653

Urgent.ly is a leader in what’s fast becoming known as the “on-demand economy,” where products and services speed to the customer rather than the other way around. For consumers it simply means when they need something, they expect an app on their phone will give it to them – now. For service providers it means more demand, potentially a great deal more.

“This is not just about offering to fill unused inventory of towing and roadside services via the terrific use of the latest technology,” said Chris Spanos, cofounder and CEO of Urgent.ly, a startup that launched in early 2014 and has since partnered with MapQuest and others to provide on-demand roadside assistance to thousands of customers nationwide. “It’s also about offering companies higher rates and bigger payouts.”

Credit location-based technology that can detect and project the exact location of a smartphone; blame it on Uber, the car service that allows anyone with a phone to tap a few buttons and watch as a driver speeds to pick them up. Either way,
the cat is out of the bag on the “I need it now!” reality.

“We saw this percolating a couple years ago and looked for areas consumers were being underserved,” said Spanos, CEO of Urgent.ly.

Urgent.ly co-founder, Chairman and CTO Surendra Goels agreed, saying, “It was clear to us, based on personal experience and our research, that roadside assistance was something ‘broken’ from the consumer’s perspective and also provided towing companies little return.”

The Urgent.ly approach from the beginning was to offer high margins for drivers and super-fast service to customers, while also giving them the ability to watch on their phone as help arrived. Urgent.ly uses customer iPhone and Android applications, as well as the Web.

“No more calling a roadside club’s 800 number and waiting around, hoping help will arrive soon,”Spanos said. “The world was and is moving away from those scenarios, leaning instead on a customer/location-centric approach.”

This location-centric focus is expressed through a pair of free smartphone applications — one for roadside assistance drivers and one for consumers.

“These apps allow for an automatic call and response, where a consumer can select the service she needs from a simple menu, then watch as the request is sent to Urgent.ly’s nationwide network of service companies — an algorithm determines criteria for who would receive the request,” said Rick Robinson, Urgent.ly’s co-founder and head of product. “Those nearby roadside and towing
providers in our network then receive and instant alert on their phones, allowing them to accept or reject the request — first driver to accept the job request gets it. It’s very democratic.”

Urgent.ly also allows customers to assure loved-ones will never be left stranded. With its FamilyView feature, Urgent.ly encourages free account holders to sign up family members from inside the app.

“This empowers, for instance, a father to sign up his daughter and when she requests help using the app, dad is alerted and can watch on his phone’s map as a service provider arrives,” said Spanos, who previously ran AOL’s Local division and held leadership positions at several startups. “We believe this to be another key differentiator of our service, an unmatched sense of security to friends and family.”

Urgent.ly started in the Washington, DC, region and launched nationally in November 2014, following a deal to provide MapQuest’s millions of customer’s roadside assistance.

“We continue to look for more opportunities to partner and provide even more customers the kind of instant services we’re offering today,” said Ric Fleisher, cofounder and head of business development.

“And that goes for our service partners in particular,” said Travis Keyser, Urgent.ly’s National Director of Service Network Operations. “We are working hard day and night to reach more roadside assistance companies both large and small, so they can take advantage of our superior rates and the convenience that comes from job requests that are geographically nearby.”

Servicers interested in signing up for free to immediately start receiving job requests via their phones (or via Urgent.ly’s integrated dispatch systems) should point their Web browser at http://signup.urgent.ly