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

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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 Network^® (TRAA LAN^®)?

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.® (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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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Dan Messina

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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:

What services did they offer?
Did they provide a service I should be providing?
What services could I offer that they did not?
Who were their best employees?
Did they have anyone I might be interested in?
Who were their best accounts?
What problems have they had in the past?
What did they charge?
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:

We let our customers know about us (honesty, moral, and ethical). We let our customers know every day how we operate our business.
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.)
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.
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.
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.
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

New Light-N-Carry COB LED Flood Light

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Clore Automotive introduces a new 1500 Lumen COB LED Flood Light, Model No. LNC2251, from Light-N-Carry. The LNC2251 is an ideal answer when it comes to the tasks of Area/Flood/Site (A/F/S) light illumination. Whether on a building site, in an industrial environment or in an automotive garage, Light-N-Carry A/F/S lighting solutions provide bright illumination, long run times and easy recharging. The LNC2251 combines advanced COB technology, high lumen output, a removable battery, dust/water resistant housing and an easy-to-use micro-USB charging system.

The LNC2251 features three intensity settings (1500/1000/500 lumen), allowing the operator to select the setting that best meets their needs based on the application performed. Its work light function is powered by advanced COB LED technology utilizing a Citizen CITILED chip for clear, bright viewing, elimination of hard edges, cool, pleasing light and low power consumption.

The LNC2251 comes equipped with two removable batteries, which adds convenience and doubles your effective working time, allowing the light to perform for a full work day (each battery enables 4 hours of run time on the high output setting). Plus, each battery serves as a power supply, with a 1A USB outlet to charge small electronic devices. It features an IP64 dust/water ingress protection rating, magnetic 180˚ swivel arm for easy mounting and a protective rubber bumper casing.

The LNC2251 includes two rechargeable lithium batteries, a wall charger with braided charging cord and a Repair Service Coupon. The Repair Service Coupon provides for a low, one-time, fixed fee repair of the unit after the warranty period, regardless of the reason why the unit is no longer working (original coupon required to participate). The unit comes with a 1 Year Limited Warranty.

Clore Automotive is a leader in the design, development and manufacture of automotive service equipment for professionals and consumers, including jump starters, battery chargers, battery testers, power inverters and LED lighting solutions. Clore Automotive products can be found in a wide variety of outlets servicing professionals and automotive enthusiasts, including auto parts stores, mobile tool dealers, industrial MRO distributors, farm and ag outlets and more. More information can be found at www.cloreautomotive.com.

www.cloreautomotive.com

TRAA Launches New Certification Program

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The Towing and Recovery Association of America, Inc.® (TRAA) is proud to announce its launch of the all-new Towing & Recovery Support Certification Program™ (TRSCP™).

This innovative certification program, which took effect January 1st, is designed specifically for professionals that aid in incident clearance but are not themselves towing operators; the first program of its kind! Dispatchers, office managers, and administrative staff have a vital role to play in safe incident clearance that has yet to be fully appreciated. The TRSCP™ aims to inform, evaluate, and set the national standard for professionals working in this important capacity. The TRSCP™ covers a wide variety of content from customer service, on-scene and offscene considerations, traffic incident management, post incident activities, and more. The program is open to all eligible participants employed in an incident management field such as towing, fire, EMS, DOT, or law enforcement.

As a professional certification program, participants review a written study guide before taking a proctored exam objectively evaluating their content knowledge. Upon successful completion of each level, participants will earn professional designations: Nationally Certified Towing Support Professional™ for the Entry Level and Nationally Certified Towing Support Specialist™ for the Advanced Level. Professional designations, which are unique to professional certification programs, offer benefits for both the participant and their employer. Such as competitive advantage applying for contracts, added credibility, and increased employee satisfaction.

This is the first new certification program TRAA has launched since the longrunning National Driver Certification Program® (NDCP) premiered over twenty years ago in 1995. As with the NDCP, the TRSCP™ was developed with the encouragement and grant funding of the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration.

TRAA greatly appreciates the support of the Federal Highway Administration and the efforts of the TRSCP™ Advisory Committee for their invaluable contributions to this significant, industry changing project. The TRSCP™ is going to be the baseline for support personnel moving forward! Registration officially opened January 1, 2019; visit: traaonline.com/trscp to learn more!

www.traaonline.com/trscp

The California Tow Truck Association Elects State Officers for 2019

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On January 17th, 2019, the Board of Directors of the California
Tow Truck Association elected its Executive Committee for the
year. The California Tow Truck Association (CTTA) is a 501 c 6, not
for profit trade association for the benefit of Tow Truck Companies
in California offering education, discount programs, legislative and
lobbying activities as well as networking opportunities at regional
chapter meetings. The Association’s mission is to cultivate a community of professionals able to provide the highest caliber of towing and emergency road service for the motoring public.
The newly-elected State Officers are as follows:

President:
Quinn Piening, Central Tow & Transport – Fremont, CA
Vice President (TROC South):
Steven Hendrickson, Western Towing – San Diego, CA
Vice President (TROC North):
Sam Johnson, Capitol City Towing – Sacramento, CA
Vice President (Education South):
Sean Van Lingen, Van Lingen Towing, Inc – Torrance, CA
Vice President (Education North):
Doug Nelson, College Oak Towing – Sacramento, CA
Secretary:
Andrea Olivarez, Mike’s Towing – Stockton, CA
Treasurer:
Bruce Johnson, Extreme Towing – Diamond Springs, CA
Immediate Past President:
Terry Warford, Jr., Dollar Tow Company – Sacramento, CA
ERSCA Representative:
Craig Baker, Cupertino Towing – Antioch, CA
ERSCA Representative:
Steve Sgarlato, Dick’s Automotive – Campbell, CA

2019 marks the 50th Anniversary of the CTTA and these new leaders are eager to continue the Association’s growth as the largest state towing association in the United States. As the CTTA looks to the next 50 years of protecting the CA towing industry, the new President, Quinn Piening, is determined to focus on Member outreach, enhancing Member benefits, providing new cutting edge training solutions, continuing the fight for tow operations in our CA legislature, and so much more.

“There are many challenges facing towing company owners in our state and I could not be more excited to jump into the fray and fight for our Members,” said Mr. Piening (pictured at left with Immediate Past President Terry Warford, Jr.) after his election. “I want to thank all of the new State Officers sworn in beside me today for their dedication to our industry and their willingness to join me in creating the next chapter of CTTA’s story.”
www.ctta.com

Counterweighted Winch Bumper

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JERR-DAN

When industry experience counts, Jerr-Dan’s counterweight accessories for Standard Duty and Heavy-Duty Wreckers deliver.

The Jerr-Dan Counterweighted Winch Bumper is available with a Pre-Runner Bar and without a Pre-Runner Bar. The Counterweighted Winch Bumper (not painted) is the ideal aftermarket accessory with the following features:

• For Ford F450 and F550

• Model years 2017 to current

• 2,000 lb. Ramsey Winch

• Full weight bar tray with (5) 31.5 lb. removable weights

• Designed specifically for towing and recovery

• Stainless Steel Jerr-Dan logo

• Prepped for paint

• Universal mounting brackets for 6 LED lights (LED lights not included)

Adjustable Performance Counterweight for HD Wreckers

Jerr-Dan’s Adjustable Performance Counterweight is the smart way to improve your fleet’s performance. The counterweight puts weight where it’s needed to improve the performance of your truck.

• This accessory is available to most OEM Class 8 Chassis. Modular design for installation and removal.

• Hydraulically rotates down 90 degrees to allow the truck hood its full range of motion

• Manual pump override

• Fully adjustable counterweight between 1700-3600 lbs.

• This aftermarket base unit is 1,700 lbs and adjustable in 220 lb increments to a maximum capacity of 3,600 lbs to improve the tow performance of your wrecker.

Contact your local Jerr-Dan Distributor to find out more about this unit.

The California Tow Truck Association Elects State Officers for 2019

On January 17th, 2019, the Board of Directors of the California Tow Truck Association elected its Executive Committee for the year. The California Tow Truck Association (CTTA) is a 501 c 6, not for profit trade association for the benefit of Tow Truck Companies in California offering education, discount programs, legislative and lobbying activities as well as networking opportunities at regional chapter meetings. The Association’s mission is to cultivate a community of professionals able to provide the highest caliber of towing and emergency road service for the motoring public.

The newly-elected State Officers are as follows:

President: Quinn Piening, Central Tow & Transport – Fremont, CA

Vice President (TROC South): Steven Hendrickson, Western Towing – San Diego, CA

Vice President (TROC North): Sam Johnson, Capitol City Towing – Sacramento, CA

Vice President (Education South): Sean Van Lingen, Van Lingen Towing, Inc – Torrance, CA

Vice President (Education North): Doug Nelson, College Oak Towing – Sacramento, CA

Secretary: Andrea Olivarez, Mike’s Towing – Stockton, CA

Treasurer: Bruce Johnson, Extreme Towing – Diamond Springs, CA

Immediate Past President: Terry Warford, Jr., Dollar Tow Company – Sacramento, CA

ERSCA Representative: Craig Baker, Cupertino Towing – Antioch, CA

ERSCA Representative: Steve Sgarlato, Dick’s Automotive – Campbell, CA

2019 marks the 50th Anniversary of the CTTA and these new leaders are eager to continue the Association’s growth as the largest state towing association in the United States. As the CTTA looks to the next 50 years of protecting the CA towing industry, the new President, Quinn Piening, is determined to focus on Member outreach, enhancing Member benefits, providing new cutting edge training solutions, continuing the fight for tow operations in our CA legislature, and so much more.

“There are many challenges facing towing company owners in our state and I could not be more excited to jump into the fray and fight for our Members,” said Mr. Piening (pictured at left with Immediate Past President Terry Warford, Jr.) after his election. “I want to thank all of the new State Officers sworn in beside me today for their dedication to our industry and their willingness to join me in creating the next chapter of CTTA’s story.”

Launches New Certification Program

The Towing and Recovery Association of America, Inc.® (TRAA) is proud to announce its launch of the all-new Towing & Recovery Support Certification Program™ (TRSCP™).

This innovative certification program, which took effect January 1st, is designed specifically for professionals that aid in incident clearance but are not themselves towing operators; the first program of its kind! Dispatchers, office managers, and administrative staff have a vital role to play in safe incident clearance that has yet to be fully appreciated. The TRSCP™ aims to inform, evaluate, and set the national standard for professionals working in this important capacity. The TRSCP™ covers a wide variety of content from customer service, on-scene and off-scene considerations, traffic incident management, post incident activities, and more. The program is open to all eligible participants employed in an incident management field such as towing, fire, EMS, DOT, or law enforcement.

As a professional certification program, participants review a written study guide before taking a proctored exam objectively evaluating their content knowledge. Upon successful completion of each level, participants will earn professional designations: Nationally Certified Towing Support Professional™ for the Entry Level and Nationally Certified Towing Support Specialist™ for the Advanced Level. Professional designations, which are unique to professional certification programs, offer benefits for both the participant and their employer. Such as competitive advantage applying for contracts, added credibility, and increased employee satisfaction.

This is the first new certification program TRAA has launched since the long-running National Driver Certification Program® (NDCP) premiered over twenty years ago in 1995. As with the NDCP, the TRSCP™ was developed with the encouragement and grant funding of the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration.

TRAA greatly appreciates the support of the Federal Highway Administration and the efforts of the TRSCP™ Advisory Committee for their invaluable contributions to this significant, industry changing project. The TRSCP™ is going to be the baseline for support personnel moving forward! Registration officially opened January 1, 2019; visit: traaonline.com/trscp to learn more!

New Light-N-Carry COB LED Flood Light

Clore Automotive introduces a new 1500 Lumen COB LED Flood Light, Model No. LNC2251, from Light-N-Carry. The LNC2251 is an ideal answer when it comes to the tasks of Area/Flood/Site (A/F/S) light illumination. Whether on a building site, in an industrial environment or in an automotive garage, Light-N-Carry A/F/S lighting solutions provide bright illumination, long run times and easy recharging. The LNC2251 combines advanced COB technology, high lumen output, a removable battery, dust/water resistant housing and an easy-to-use micro-USB charging system.

The LNC2251 features three intensity settings (1500/1000/500 lumen), allowing the operator to select the setting that best meets their needs based on the application performed. Its work light function is powered by advanced COB LED technology utilizing a Citizen CITILED chip for clear, bright viewing, elimination of hard edges, cool, pleasing light and low power consumption.

The LNC2251 comes equipped with two removable batteries, which adds convenience and doubles your effective working time, allowing the light to perform for a full work day (each battery enables 4 hours of run time on the high output setting). Plus, each battery serves as a power supply, with a 1A USB outlet to charge small electronic devices. It features an IP64 dust/water ingress protection rating, magnetic 180˚ swivel arm for easy mounting and a protective rubber bumper casing.

The LNC2251 includes two rechargeable lithium batteries, a wall charger with braided charging cord and a Repair Service Coupon. The Repair Service Coupon provides for a low, one-time, fixed fee repair of the unit after the warranty period, regardless of the reason why the unit is no longer working (original coupon required to participate). The unit comes with a 1 Year Limited Warranty.

Clore Automotive is a leader in the design, development and manufacture of automotive service equipment for professionals and consumers, including jump starters, battery chargers, battery testers, power inverters and LED lighting solutions. Clore Automotive products can be found in a wide variety of outlets servicing professionals and automotive enthusiasts, including auto parts stores, mobile tool dealers, industrial MRO distributors, farm and ag outlets and more. More information can be found at www.cloreautomotive.com.

JERR-DAN

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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”

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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

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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

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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

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