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Phoenix USA, Inc. introduces corrosion resistant galvanized toolboxes

Phoenix 1
Phoenix USA, Inc. introduces new galvanized steel toolboxes. These boxes are specifically designed to withstand the corrosive elements of calcium chloride – commonly used to clear ice and snow covered roads.

These toolbox bodies, made with hot-dipped galvanized steel and a black, automotive powder-coat finish, showed considerable resistance to corrosion when tested to more than 1,000 hours of exposure to calcium chloride.

The toolboxes are available in two sizes: 36”W x 18”H x 18”D and 48”W x 18”H x 18”D.

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For more information, press only:
Leigh Ann Netherton, Phoenix USA Inc. • 51 E. Borden Street, Cookeville, TN 38501
931.526.6128, www.phoenixusa.com

Next Generation Tool Company is pleased to introduce our new Pink Reach-It Tools.

next generation

These are available in both 58-inch lengths and 44-inch lengths and come with a super-grip silicone tip.

In honor of two friends, a donation will be made to Breast Cancer Research with the sale of every Pink Reach-It.

This is a permanent commitment by Next Generation Tool Co., not a seasonal promotion.

For more information, call us at 800.874.5625.

Evans Cooling

evans
Evans Waterless Heavy Duty Coolant has a boiling point of 375°F, and although it operates at normal temperatures, Evans has the capacity to safely operate and protect the engine at temperatures well above the boiling point of water. Evans coolant will not form vapor and operates at a much lower, safer pressure, eliminating hotspots and overboil, reducing downtime. This means continual productivity – and no worries of overheating. Evans coolant also protects an engine from corrosion, electrolysis and cavitation erosion. Evans waterless formula protects from -40°F to 375°, lasts the life of the engine, and never needs changing out. With less downtime and decreased maintenance costs, Evans is a cost-effective alternative to water-based coolants.

Call 860-668-1114 or visit www.evanscooling.com.

AW Direct® Low-Profile V-Strap Bridle w/Cluster Hooks– TPV3C

AW Direct
This Low-Profile V-Strap Bridle has a patented connecting link that attaches to your rope hook with point facing sideways instead of upwards. This reduces the risk of punctures in objects underneath the vehicle—oil pan, transmission pan, valance, etc. Works best with swivel-style hooks. Comes with double-ply, gray AW Direct® or yellow polyester straps, Grade 70 5/16” cluster hooks and 3’L legs. 4,700-lb. WLL. USA made. Not for recovery.

(800) 243-3194
www.awdirect.com

ITI® Control Arm Skates – ITCAS4 and ITCAS6

29NT92_AS02

These ITI® Control Arm Skates are perfect when you’re working with a damaged vehicle that’s missing a wheel. The radius at both ends enables ease of loading and unloading without moving or reinstalling. Available in small (18”L x 3-1/2”W x 3-1/2”H) and large (19-1/2”L x 5-1/2”W x 5-1/2”H) sizes. Both are made from recycled materials and resist rust, oil and grease. USA made.

(800) 243-3194

www.awdirect.com
www.awdirect.com

See it! Shoot It! Send It!

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Let’s Get Social! Jerr-Dan…Carrier, Wrecker, Rotator! You love it, we want to see it! We’d love to share photos of your Jerr-Dan trucks on our Facebook page. Email us photos from your recoveries, your truck or anything about your over-the-road
journeys that inspire.

Send your photos to marketing@jerrdan.com. Don’t forget to include your name, company & location.

For a list of all guidelines, rights and submission information, contact:
marketing@jerrdan.com.

Jerr-Dan

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We would like to thank you all for taking time to visit our booth during PWOF 2014, Orlando. It was a pleasure to meet you personally, giving us the great opportunity to share and discuss our products with you all.

Over 40 Jerr-Dan wreckers and carriers were exhibited at this year’s show. 3 NEW 50/60 Ton Rotators with the JFB Body Series and the NEW 8.5 Ton Carrier were on full display!

Several Jerr-Dan Distributors participated in the show: Florida Wrecker Sales, TruckMax, TLC, Atlanta Wrecker, Ward’s Wrecker, Rush Towing Systems and World Wide Equipment.

We appreciate your business and can’t wait to see you next year!

Find your local Jerr-Dan Distributor: www.jerrdan.com

Twin State Equipment of Las Vegas ZACKLIFT’s Newest Dealer

zacklift

Nevada’s premier towing equipment distributor is now proudly offering the full line of Zacklift FIFTHWHEELERs and permanently mounted underlifts. The Nevada distributor was hearing a demand for quality add-on underlifts, and now customers seeking a road-ready transporter have an economical solution. Zacklifts are in stock at Twin State’s showroom and service center, 4495
Cooper Sage Street, Las Vegas. Sales contacts for Twin State Equipment are Adam Osterloo and Scott Rahner. Check out www.twinstateequipment.com and contact them at
sales@twinstateequipment.com, (702) 269-1471. Watch the Zacklift FIFTHWHEELER drive on and off at www.zacklift.com.

Tracker Management Systems, Inc.

tracker 1
Tracker Management Systems, Inc., was founded in 1987 by James M. Weaver, who is Chairman, Chief Executive Officer, and majority shareholder. The company has provided business management systems expressly designed for towing operations.

Brad McIntosh of Sandy’s Towing stated, “We have used Tracker for many years now, and it really does a great job of helping us run our company. The dispatch functions are very useful and efficient. The report options truly give you a detailed look at every segment of your business. We recently made the switch to Tracker Touch for our dispatch operation. This is one of the smartest decisions that we have ever made. This system does all of the thinking for you and makes your call coverage as efficient as possible. The tracking and reporting capabilities have put our drivers on notice and has helped us make
sure our trucks are only running when authorized. The speeding reports, idling reports, etc. give you every possible piece of information that you could ever need to increase efficiency. This system is definitely the future of the towing industry.” -Sandy’s Towing, Mason, OH: 85 Trucks.
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Just because we have developed and support the best systems for towers doesn’t mean we’re satisfied. We are constantly looking for ways to add new capabilities to our existing systems. We also are developing new applications to run alongside our core products for tow dispatch and management. Our customers can and do expect the best ideas from us. We pledge to keep striving to make our solutions the best available.

For more information on how we can help your company step to the next level, visit
www.trackermanagement.com
or give us a call today at 800-445-2438.

Reduce Risk, Lower Costs and Improve Safety with GPS Vehicle Tracking

network fleet
Each day, towing and recovery companies are challenged to find new ways to better manage expenses while maintaining superior service levels. GPS vehicle tracking with telematics technology can help achieve these goals by improving safety, lowering costs and increasing efficiency.

Reduce Risk and Improve Safety

For towing and recovery companies, risk can present itself in many forms. Poorly maintained vehicles can breakdown more frequently, putting your drivers at risk. Your company’s revenue and reputation is also on the line, as improperly routed vehicles can delay service response times to customers in need.

Managing these threats begins with having a clear understanding of your vehicles’ specific risk exposures and a commitment to operating them safely. You can also reduce your risk by monitoring engine health through remote diagnostics to reduce vehicle breakdowns. In addition, you can reduce accidents by limiting miles driven and reducing aggressive driving habits. GPS
tracking also safeguards your business against vehicle theft and protects drivers against false claims.

Lower Fuel Costs and Streamline Routing

As fuel costs continue to fluctuate, businesses are looking for ways to keep expenses under control. But unless improving fuel efficiency becomes a company-wide effort, any cost savings are likely to be minimal at best.

Having a GPS tracking system in place gives everyone in the company – from managers to drivers – the information and tools they need to help improve fuel efficiency and cut costs.

By using precise GPS tracking, you can locate the closest driver to dispatch and route vehicles more efficiently. This streamlines routing and reduces fuel usage. In addition, understanding the idling patterns of your vehicles with near real-time alert notifications will help you to minimize unnecessary idle time. You can also lower fuel mileage by eliminating harsh acceleration and aggressive driving behaviors. At the same time, you can prevent fraudulent transactions with the
ability to track and verify fuel purchases.

Operate Efficiently with Preventive Maintenance

A well-maintained fleet is a safer and more efficient fleet. With remote diagnostic monitoring, you can increase the safety of your drivers and the health of your tow trucks by detecting potential problems, such as engine malfunctions or bad brakes, before they become serious issues. In addition, you can reduce vehicle wear and tear by decreasing off hour usage and
lowering miles driven.

The benefits for GPS vehicle tracking don’t stop there. You’ll be able to bill more accurately by monitoring routing history and improving job dispatching. Many systems are easily integrated with other applications, such as with Garmin devices to facilitate turn-by-turn navigation and direct communication with drivers. Once you start using GPS vehicle tracking, you will wonder how you ever got along without it.

For more information, contact:

Verizon Networkfleet
866.869.1353
sales@networkfleet.com
www.networkfleet.com

TRAO Continuing Education

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TRAO held an Educational Seminar on May 10 at Great Wolf Lodge. The class was sponsored by Insurance Auto Auctions. Guest speakers included: Ray Rodecker, Ron Walters, Jay Howell & Renee Rios representing IAA, discussing Don’t Crush Your Cash/’How to make money and save money’; Bill Giorgis/Saginaw, MI discussed How to Define Equipment ‘Loss of Use’; Doug
Nelson/Canada on ‘Why are Towers maintaining the roadways without being paid?’; and James Traficant/Ohio, the voice for the working class.

Members were introduced and ask questions of our new Lobbyist, Terry Fleming, and our ongoing legislative issues, followed by a General Membership meeting.

All TRAO members who attended the class have received a Training Certificate.

HAZMAT RESPONDER NETWORK

HazmatLogo

HAZMAT RESPONDER NETWORK is a training program designed to certify Towing and Recovery Professionals to engage in the practice of cleaning up and disposing of spills related to transportation incidents, however not being limited to traffic accidents.

Hazmat Technician training course satisfies the requirement of OSHA 29 CFR, 1910.120(q). That encompasses the “Awareness through Technician” training requirements of the OSHA standard. Our course will focus on the releases encountered by the towing professional and those participating in the product recovery to include appropriate disposal of spilled material(s). You will be trained to perform all functions of the Hazardous Materials Technician based on the OSHA standard, which includes serving in a given role in the Incident Management System.

Hazmat Technicians are generally those who perform offensive countermeasures (stop and confine) spills of hazardous substances including the ability to perform defensive operations to confine spillsbeyond the point of release.

This Certification is valid for one ( 1 ) year upon completion with HRN offering an eight ( 8 ) hour annual refresher course.

For More Information, contact Perry Beaty at 877-356-9767.

TIRED OF SHOUTING?

Your team will appreciate the calm communication!

eartec

Take your team’s skills from ordinary to EXTRAORDINARY. Communicate at whisper levels and perfect your process – up to eight crew can talk simultaneously no shouting necessary. Save time and money – your tows will be faster and safer!

COMSTAR is not voice activated, and there are no transmit buttons or delays. To operate, simply turn the system “ON” and talk. System includes “All-In-One headsets – no beltpakcs needed!

John W. Callaway, owner of First Call Towing & Recovery, Inc., along with employee Erik Cober, are very pleased with the communication headsets purchased from the Eartec company, saying, “We feel they have stepped up our ability to improve safety and save time. We can communicate without even seeing each other at recoveries now. The other day, we were able to coordinate using 2 heavy recovery units along with a safety director without having any type of hand signals or eye contact. We feel these headsets have been an asset to our recovery business and we highly recommend them.”

Contact Eartec or visit our website to experience Eartec’s renowned professional courteous service.

Certified for worldwide non-licensed use.

www.eartec.com/tow.html

800-399-5994

Research, Development, and Growth Dynamic Towing Equipment & Manufacturing

Dynamic Towing Equipment & Manufacturing president, Anthony Gentile, recognizes that a high level of investment in research and development is essential for sustainable business growth. He said, “Our market is a competitive one, and it is important that we continue to listen to our customers and fulfill their needs by producing products that make their jobs easier and more efficient.”
Dynamic service truck
When designing and developing Dynamic’s SV100 Service Truck, Gentile and his staff spoke with numerous auto club owners and employees, repair shop owners, municipal members, and highway assistant employees, asking, “What would make the ideal service vehicle?”

Gentile’s engineers took the information gathered and worked long hours, day and night to achieve designs that would accommodate needs for “the perfect road service vehicle.” The result was a very versatile service vehicle that contained not
only storage for batteries, floor jacks and emergency repair equipment, but is also equipped with an optional Dynamic “Stealth” wheel lift. When a call is received, the dispatcher just needs to dispatch one truck and one driver, saving fuel, manpower, response time, and less equipment in a company’s fleet. If the driver is unable to repair on the scene, the driver is able to self-load the vehicle on the optional “Stealth” wheel lift and tow the vehicle into the shop for proper repair.
dynamic service truck 3
The key to achieving their goals for growth at Dynamic is an open innovation strategy that enables their staff to listen to market needs, research and develop efficient practices, and collectively work together to introduce new and exciting products and increase competitiveness.

Gentile said, “We are proud of our new and improved SV100 Service Truck. It was built with our end-users in mind. We just took their suggestions and developed an affordable truck that would fulfill their needs, as well as last a lifetime. That’s the
Dynamic way, to build equipment that’ll last. We have a number of projects in the works, so keep an eye out for new equipment to be introduced in the near future!” For questions or inquiries on Dynamic’s SV100 Service Vehicle, contact Dynamic Sales at (800) 831-9299 or contact a distributor near you.

Education for the Towers in our State and Beyond

We continue to strive to help our members as an association. For the California Tow Truck Association, one of our main focuses is education. Our Level 1 and Level 6 programs are both certified by the California Highway Patrol. Level 1 is our two-day course for light duty towing, with classroom and hands-on training. Students are taught not only technique but also the theory, safety, and professionalism for drivers. The Level 6 is a 3-day course, again with classroom and hands-on training. The Level 6 course is really focused on recovery and understanding more about how to get a variety of commercial vehicles upright, dealing with varying situations, and preparing the vehicles to be towed safely. Our new Level 2 is a real asset for our owners operators. It serves as a refresher for the Level 1, and is only one day, so the driver is only off duty / on
the payroll for a single day. We’re added some info, so it’s more interesting to an experienced tower that’s liable to have been through several classes. And, like the others, it’s CHP approved.

California is just getting started with the Traffic Incident Management Systems (TIMS) program, and we already have 3 people from our education team certified as “Train the Trainer” instructors. Again, any program that promotes safety and professionalism is critical. We know this will be a slow roll out with the number of different agencies whose teams require the training, but want to expedite it for our members. The CHP has determined that TIMS certification will be required to be on their towing list in the future. Our goal is to have all of our towing instructors certified as TIMS trainers, always looking to improve the relationship with law enforcement, fire, and other agencies.

In addition to training for drivers, we are working on business management classes for our owners. So often someone with great technical skill is spending all their time with the towing process and they don’t or can’t afford to hire a business manager. Our new Education Committee chair is committed to this. We are starting with a dispatching, fleet management, and customer service type of class. We also want to get some basic bookkeeping and human resource courses out to them. We are lucky to have some great associate members with expertise in these areas, so we anticipate being able to develop some seminars and entry classes quickly.

From a continuing education standpoint, we’re really excited. Our staff is reformatting all of our manuals, so we have a consistent look and layout, so our students will be comfortable and familiar with each additional class they take. This will also allow us to quickly adjust to changes in standards or processes, as we can simply insert a page or section or remove one as needed. It also gives us flexibility as we train in other states so we can also tailor the course for local needs.

With education being one of the pillars of our association, we are committed to continual improvement and making our industry professional, safe, and profitable for our members.

American Towing and Recovery Institute

American Towing
American Towing & Recovery Institute proudly presented a check for $7640 to International Towing & Recovery Museum to be distributed between the general operating fund along with the Survivor Fund.

The proceeds were generated from several sources:

  1. From class attendees choosing to play an estimate the force game at American Towing & Recovery Institute Training & Certification courses held in 2013 and 2014 first quarters.
  2. Auctions held during 2013. The first auction was on www.tow411.net and the second auction held during the Tennessee Tow Show
  3. Funds were generated from the reproduction agreement of manuals-brochures-ads from Miller Industries Towing Equipment, i.e. Holmes Wrecker, Century, Challenger, etc.
  4. All items donated to the Museum that were sold at the gift shop.
  5. Monies donated from the general operating fund from the American Towing & Recovery Institute

International Towing & Recovery Museum & Hall of Fame is a nonprofit trade organization that serves the interests of the professional towing operators worldwide. Activities include education, preserving the history of the industry, the Survivor Fund, Wall of the Fallen, networking and civic volunteer projects.

AT&RI would like to thank the class attendees and the following Associations who allowed us to conduct these fund raising events during their classes:

  • Alabama Towing & Recovery Association
  • Tennessee Tow Truck Association
  • Texas Towing & Storage Association
  • Virginia Wrecker Operators Association
  • Miller Industries
  • www.tow411.net
  • Tennessee Tow Show
  • Along with everyone who bought a manual-brochure-ad

American Towing & Recovery Institute is a not for profit membership based organization founded in 2013 to promote safety, education, positive public relations and networking. AT&RI provides and promotes hands-on towing and recovery education seminars, Public Service Announcements promoting issues of common concerns between motoring public and the professional towing industry along with exclusive member discounts for products and services, business consulting, expert witness, recovery bill mediation or review, networking opportunities between members and outside clients and community events i.e. toys drives, etc.

For additional information on International Towing & Recovery Museum & Hall of Fame, visit their website, www.internationaltowingmuseum.org , or contact ITRHFM at 423-267-3132.

For additional information on American Towing & Recovery Institute, visit www.americantowingandrecoveryinstitute.org or contact AT&RI at 910-747-9000 or info@americantowingandrecoveryinstitute.org.