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T he G reat C omeback AT Expo XXXII Gallery
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CLASSIC WRECKER WRECKER
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FEBRUARY 2022
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AmericanTowman.com | February 2022 • 1
Contents
Cover Feature
Volume 46 Issue 2
February 2022 82
New Series:
Classic Wrecker
This ’55 Chevy hot rod is way cool! by Steve Temple
’55 Chevy, fitted with massive 19.5-inch Mickey Thompson meats in the rear. The truck’s chassis is outfitted with a Holmes 450, running a beefy mechanical PTO winch.
Features
35
AT Expo XXXII Gallery
64
Fire Drill
Challenging recovery performed by Anytime Towing. Wins Donnie Cruse Recovery Award.
68
Rose Parade Readiness
Towers are the real heroes of this high-profile annual event. by Steve Temple
4 • February 2022 | Towman.com
Departments 6
The Walkaround
8
News Share
10
Road Tools
11
Zoom In
12
Tow Boss
19
An American Towman
22
Safety
26
Tow Manager
34
Ad Index
74
Case Closed
78
Towman’s Toy
82
Classic Wrecker
84
Towman’s Market
86
My Baby
90
Lowdown
92
Tow Engineer
97
Adventures of A.T.
First on the scene since 1977
The Walkaround
Saying Goodbyes to Jim Sorrenti
I knew Jim Sorrenti both professionally and personally. We were married for ten years. During that time he was editor of American Towman and we raised a son Dennie Ortiz together. I saw firsthand his unbridled passion for life, Publisher his family and friends, and this industry. Jim held a great regard and admiration for towers. His unadulterated enthusiasm about everything towing and recovery earned him a deep respect within the industry. Jim Buck, as he was known by many, was amazed by the spirit and grit of the people that make up the towing industry. He connected with the towers and felt an intense camaraderie. Being a motor head himself. he immediately gravitated to the specialized equipment in this industry. Jim could be found at many American Towman shows in the wrecker pageant area fawning over all the equipment. He couldn’t get enough of them —both the towers and trucks! He also played a key role seeing to it that the Towman Chopper was designed with wrecker-like features. Jim was fortunate in that he truly enjoyed writing and it showed. He simply loved covering recoveries performed by our readers and especially savored interviewing towers about their lives, businesses and beautiful rigs. We wanted to share a few of the many tributes for Jim Buck Sorrenti. He was a larger than life personality and will be missed by so many and remembered by all. RIP Jim Buck! Although I only spoke to Jim Buck Sorrenti a couple of times, I have read his articles and followed his posts for years. His passing will be felt across the towing industry and he will be missed. Rest in Peace, Jim.—Keith Grover, Las Vegas, NV Really sad to hear of the loss of a dear friend, Jim Buck Sorrenti. He was a mentor to me in my early writing days for American Towman Magazine & Expositions and just always real and kind. Fly with angels my friend.—Stacey Tucker Canterbury, Chico Towing, WA I’m so sorry to hear of Jim’s passing. I always enjoyed his recovery articles and his dedication to the towing industry. His passing will leave a huge void. —Whitehall Body Shop & Auto Repair Jim was a great writer and wrote many articles for American Towman about Shawn and Sheridan’s wrecks. I always loved that he included Billie. He understood it’s a family business. He will be greatly missed as a writer and a friend. —Hope and Shawn Norberg, Green River, WY
6 • February 2022 | Towman.com
You were a staple in the towing community and you will be missed by many my friend.—Timothy Travers So sad to learn of the passing of Jim, whilst I never got to meet him I have read his articles in AT for many years and recently was friends on FB. His articles were always very interesting and informative.—John and Aileen Coupland, Castle Recovery on behalf of the UK Towing industry RIP Jim Buck Sorrenti, you were always a dear friend and were family to me, my wife and my boys. I will miss our long conversations at night. The best editor of American Towman magazine. You were so dedicated to our industry. I will dearly miss you my friend GODSPEED pal until I see you again. —Brian Hawkins Hawk’s Towing & Recovery, Trenton, NJ Rest in Aloha Jim Buck Sorrenti. Thank you for always doing such nice write ups and articles of our jobs in the American Towman magazine. Someday we will meet again, Aloha my friend! —Kenny Tom Advanced Towing & Recovery
Dennie Ortiz Steve Calitri Steve Temple Randall Resch Terry Abejuela Jim “Buck” Sorrenti David Kolman John Borowski Mark Lacek Brian Riker George Nitti Henri “Doc” Calitri
Publisher Editor-In-Chief Editor Operations Editor Field Editor, West Field Editor, Northeast Chassis Editor Safety Editor Repo Run Editor Contributing Editor Contributing Editor Contributing Editor
Editorial Board Tommy Anderson Roy Carlson Debbie Collins Belinda Harris Bill Johnson Ron Mislan Kurt Wilson
Dallas, Texas Saint Paul, Minn. Las Vegas, Nev. Greensboro, N.C. South Hadley, Mass. Warren, N.J. Creve Coeur, Ill.
American Towman Staff Art Director Advertising Sales Mgr. Senior Account Exec. Customer Service Subscription Manager Regional Advertising Sales iMarketing Manager ATTV Producer President
Gina Johnson Dennie Ortiz Ellen Rosengart Henri Calitri Patrice Gesner Peggy Calabrese Ryan Oser Emily Oz Steve Calitri
American Towman Media Headquarters 2 Overlook Drive, Suite 5, Warwick, NY 10990 800-732-3869 or 845-986-4546
E-Mail: Publisher Editor-In-Chief AT’S Digital Edition AT’S Website AT’S Weekly ATTV
dortiz@towman.com scalitri@towman.com itowman.com americantowman.com towindustryweek.com americantowmantv.com
Copyright ©2022 American Towman Magazine is published 12 times a year by American Towman Media, Inc.
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All material published through American Towman Media (AT), to include American Towman Magazine, iTowman.com and TowIndustryWeek.com, including advertisements, editorials, articles and all other content is published in good faith. However, AT accepts no liability for any errors or omissions, and does not endorse any companies, products or services that appear. AT does not test or review products submitted for inclusion in its publications. AT does not accept responsibility for the accuracy of content, warranties or claims made or implied by its advertisers. The views expressed are the authors’ alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of AT. The act of mailing or delivering a letter, email or article to AT shall constitute permission to publish that letter or article or any portion thereof. AT reserves the right to edit any and all material submitted. No part of the magazine or websites may be reproduced without prior written consent of AT. AT reserves the right to not publish advertisements that disparage competitors or call into question the integrity of a competitors product or service.
News Share Virginia Honors “Titan of Towing,”
Glenn A. Trent
Jim “Buck” Sorrenti Passes
Long-time American Towman editor and writer Jim Sorrenti passed away on Wednesday, December 29. Sorrenti had been admitted to Good Samaritan Hospital in Suffern, New York with pneumonia several weeks ago after catching the Covid-19 virus. Sorrenti had been fighting a life-threatening lung condition for many years and suffered a heart attack a year ago. He is survived by his five grown children, Jason, Jessica, Derrick, Damon, and Chance and his wife, Justine Karadontes. Sorrenti was American Towman’s editor from 1999 to 2008, and the recovery editor since then, with articles appearing monthly in the magazine and weekly on TowIndustryWeek.com. “Jim’s enthusiasm for the diverse work towmen perform was a gift to the magazine and its readers,” said AT’s Steve Calitri. “When he started with AT he went and got trained and certified by WreckMaster.” John Borowski shared similar comments about him. “Jim had a real eye for this industry,” John added. “He was real keen on craftsmanship and workmanship of wreckers, and thousands of readers zeroed into his My Baby column each month, featuring a stand-out wrecker.” “I only crossed paths with Jim last summer in my new role as editor, and I was immediately struck by his passion for towing, and great respect for towmen. He left big shoes to fill here at AT” added Steve Temple. “For over two decades, Jim helped make AT the magazine that it is today. We will miss him,” said Calitri.
On Thursday, January 6, tow trucks from across Central Virginia gathered to remember and pay their respects to Glenn A. Trent, considered an icon in the tow industry. Referred to as the “Titan of Towing,” Trent started his business in 1943. Some 75 years later, his company merged with Colony Tire and Mitchell’s Towing. “There’s nobody in the towing business that doesn’t know Glenn A. Trent,” said Roger Wright, a longtime friend and employee of Trent’s. Jimmy Williamson, of Williamson Towing, knew Trent for six decades. “If he needed help, he called me, I showed up,” Jimmy recalled. “If I needed help, I called him, he showed up.” Other towers expressed similar sentiments. “Towing’s really a brotherhood. We may be competing companies, but you’ll notice one company is towing a vehicle, another is parked behind them keeping that guy safe;” said Mark Wright of Mitchells Towing. “We all have to look
8 • February 2022 | Towman.com
Virginia towers drive in procession to Glenn A. Trent’s funeral. after each other.” Mark Hudson, also with Mitchells Towing noted,”When I was 18 years old, first time I needed a tow, it was done by Trent.“ As a fitting tribute that led up to his funeral, two booms were raised to form an arch like a, “Gateway to Heaven,” observed Chuck Mays of Piedmont Fleet. Source: wset.com
Tampa Towers Rally to Spread Word Towers from Tampa crossing the Sunshine Skyway Bridge to spread word to Slow Down/Move Over.
Towers from Tampa, Florida gathered on Sunday, January 2, to send the message to Slow Down/ Move Over. They said a prayer before turning on their lights, honking their horns and then driving over the Sunshine Skyway Bridge. “You know we’re out here trying to help people. We’re supposed to be your angels,” said Denny Raulerson. “Our lights are there for a reason. I just need you to slow down and move over
for them.” The initiative comes about as a painful reminder of a road ranger who was recently hit and paralyzed, in addition to the memory of a trucker who was killed five years ago by a drunk driver. Over the next week, the Skyway Bridge will be lit in yellow lights for the cause. Source: wfla.com
News Share
Tower Awarded
for Giving Heads Up Warning Tower Jack Lowe is presented with a plaque by Maine police.
On December 22nd, police from York, Maine praised and gave thanks to tower Jack Lowe for giving a shoutout warning. It enabled a police officer to narrowly escape being struck by a car drifting towards the side of the road of Route 1. For his alert action, the police presented Lowe with a plaque of appreciation. The incident took place on October 23, when patrolman Jonathan Rogers had pulled over a vehicle for an alleged illegal license plate and had called in a tow truck to take the vehicle away. In a 12-second dashcam video of the incident released by the YPD, Lowe, who was preparing to tow the vehicle, shouted, “Watch it! Watch it!” as a car drifted toward Patrolman Rogers,
allowing him to leap out of the way at the last second. The car missed him by inches. Rogers raced back to his cruiser to follow the car that nearly hit him. After pulling over the car that nearly struck him, Rogers arrested the driver for allegedly operating under the influence. “Without Jack warning K-9 Officer Rogers, this could have turned into a tragic event,” stated the police posting on social media. After the driver was processed at YPD headquarters and bailed out on the DUI charge, police issued an additional summons for improperly passing an emergency vehicle using lights. Source: news.yahoo.com
California Tower Arrested for Arson Police in New Mexico have taken into custody a tower who allegedly set a California tow business on fire and then fled the scene in a stolen flatbed, a 2016 Dodge Ram 5500. The tower, 39-year-old Burton Kanehailua, entered C&D Towing in El Cajon, California, around 11 p.m. on December 14, where police alleged that he poured what appeared to be gasoline inside an office, setting the building ablaze. As the fire spread, Kanehailua fled in a company tow truck, which has now since been recovered. Kanehailua called police in El Cajon to turn himself in and was
Work the non-traffic side - Stay Safe!
The fire at C&D Towing in El Cajon, California started due to arson by an employee. arrested by New Mexico authorities. He will be extradited to California, and is expected to face charges of arson and auto theft. Source: fox5sandiego.com
Tower Killed in Off-Ramp Accident
Tower Edward Smith, Jr., who was making a lefthand turn onto Rt. 1 in North Brunswick, New Jersey, was hit by a tractor trailer and killed, according to North Brunswick police spokesman Brian Hoiberg. The incident occurred around 12:20 a.m. Smith, who was thrown from the wreck, was later pronounced dead at the scene. The tow truck also hit a vehicle parked at a car dealership at the intersection. Hoiberg did not disclose the identity of the trucker. Based on the preliminary investigation, Hoiberg said charges were unlikely. The road was closed for several hours for clean-up of a large debris field, a fuel spill and the replacement of a utility pole. Source: nj1015.com
TRAA Touts 2021 Achievements and the Year Ahead
As the final days of 2021 unfolded, TRAA, through its vigilance and advocacy, reported several major achievements. One achievement is the inclusion of the apprenticeship pilot program for under-21 CDL holders that was part of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. Included in that Act is Protecting Roadside First Responders while minimum liability insurance for towers has not been increased. TRAA has also stood firm against legislation for a government mandate on financial institutions to report inflows and outflows of more than $10,000 into a personal and business accounts. As of today, such a provision has not been included in the Build Back Better Act and the organization remains steadfastly against it. In 2022, TRAA will remain committed to its number one priority: promoting public policy to protect the lives of towers, including federal Slow Down, Move Over Law provisions. The organization will also stay focused on other priorities such as implementation of the CDL pilot program, weights and measures amendments, and more. Finally, in March, TRAA is looking forward to their annual Legislative Action Workshop & Hill Day and will be seeking tow industry participation.
AmericanTowman.com | February 2022 • 9
Road Tools Raptor Controls
Miller Industries Towing Equipment Inc. now offers a Raptor control package for rotators with manual controls. Debuted at the American Towman Expo in Baltimore, the Raptor control package features dual touchscreens at both the driver and passenger sides of the unit, two tailboard keypads, and a proportional wireless remote control with digital readout screen. This new offering allows operators of traditional manual control units to have easy access to electrical function controls and load sensing at the rear of the unit. The patented Raptor proportional control system has been available on Miller Industries’ line of Century and Vulcan rotators for years. This new offering, however, opens the door for integration of the patented Raptor system into units where operators prefer manual rear controls over the newer style, proportional joystick-style controls. The manual control Raptor option gives operators the best of both worlds, and is now available from all Century and Vulcan distributors.
Millerind.com
Throw Me a Lifeline!
Howesproducts.com
Inspector Gadget
Denso’s VehicleMRI is a powerful, cutting-edge tool that standardizes the internal electronics inspection while saving the technician time during the multi-point inspection. The unit’s predictive analytics helps eliminate the guesswork of the vehicle’s health by allowing technicians to quickly run up to 700 tests and produce a complete report that uncovers underperforming systems, saving mechanics and their customers time and money.
10 • February 2022 | Towman.com
Dealing with a breakdown in frigid temperatures is never a good position to be in. Diesel drivers can face serious problems if they’re not prepared when winter weather hits. Gelled fuel and frozen fuel filters can cause any diesel engine system to stop working, leaving you stuck in cold and potentially dangerous situations. Keeping a bottle of Howes Diesel Lifeline in your rig can immediately rescue a diesel vehicle that has become gelled up. Lifeline works to chemically modify the melting points of both ice and wax. Lifeline can be used at 100 percent concentration in the fuel filter without harming the engine in any way. This eliminates any need for mixing it with diesel. Furthermore, it does not require fuel filter changing, making it an easier and more cost effective solution. Which makes it stand out as an additive. “The unique benefits of Diesel Lifeline distinctly set it apart from any other product on the market,” stated Rob Howes II. “Crystal clear and unlike harmful alcohol-based products, Lifeline has been designed to have the combustion properties of diesel fuel, with a nearly identical flashpoint. This means no engine knocking, no corrosion to engine components or fuel lines, and clean emissions identical to that of fuel. It is also fast acting, in most cases taking just 15 minutes to take effect.” All told, Lifeline is able to remedy a difficult, cold-weather problem quickly and right on the roadside.
Vehiclemri.com
Bringing Back
Zoom In
a Medium-Duty Favorite Miller Industries Towing Equipment Inc. has not only resurrected Holmes 600R medium-duty rotator, but also added fresh technology, with a newly redesigned “knee boom” -style underlift. What prompted its return and upgrades? This 16-Ton rotator is one of the most versatile medium-duty towing and recovery units on the market. The 600R comes equipped with a two-stage recovery boom that offers operators a single-stage extension for an impressive 220-inch maximum hook height. The recovery boom features 32,000 pounds of retracted capacity at 30 degrees off the tailboard, along with an impressive 12,000 pounds at the same position when fully extended. This Holmes rotator also provides 213 degrees of boom rotation, making this rotator ideal for roadside recoveries. Add a fully wireless remote control, dual 15,000-pound-rated planetary gear recovery winches, and hydraulic outriggers for stability, and the 600R stands ready to tackle light and medium-duty vehicle recoveries. But there are even more features now: With the addition of a 12,000 pound.-rated “knee boom”-style underlift, the 600R offers a new advantage as it sets the stage for medium-duty towing versatility. The addition of a “knee boom”-style underlift over the previous style expands the unit’s towing capabilities by adding an impressive 81 inches of reach from the tailboard of the wrecker to the centerline of the towing fork. This redesigned 600R underlift also provides towers with the flexibility of 41.5 inches of maximum horizontal height for towing in a variety of applications. Also, the list of standard equipment is extensive: 4,000 pound rated light-weight aluminum scoops, 6,000 pound rated steel “L” arms, pivoting receivers, removable wheel retainers, three sets of cast steel towing forks, and a knee boom underlift with a fully extended rating of 9,000 pounds. All, these features make the 600R ideal for towing everything from unibody passenger vehicles to fixed-frame inner-city trucks. In addition, the Holmes 600R comes with plenty of toolbox storage and lots of options and accessories. the
Millerind.com
Work the non-traffic side - Stay Safe!
AmericanTowman.com | February 2022 • 11
Tow Boss
The “X” spray-painted on the windshield of this wrecked vehicle indicates that it has been searched for accident victims.
No Victims Left Behind What’s Underneath Those Airbags? By Randall Resch
Photos by Randall and Christine Resch
Y
Operations Editor Randall C. Resch is a retired California police officer and veteran tow business owner, manager, consultant and trainer. He writes for TowIndustryWeek. com and American Towman, is a member of the International Towing & Recovery Hall of Fame and recipient of the Dave Jones Leadership Award. Email Randy at rreschran@gmail.com.
our dispatch office receives a call to respond to a multivehicle collision. It’s raining and it’s dark. As you arrive at the scene, there’s a flurry of orchestrated chaos with firefighters and paramedics working to extricate a vehicle’s driver and occupants. Although the motorist’s injuries were critical, the vehicle’s airbags were instrumental in his surviving the crash, with EMS transporting him to a medical facility. But after the extrication was completed and the totaled vehicle loaded onto your carrier’s deck, did you look inside to see if any other crash victims were still inside—“after-the-fact”?
RELATED CONCERNS
When responding to vehicle crashes and recoveries, two important considerations come to mind. One, could someone still
12 • February 2022 | Towman.com
be inside the vehicle? And two, are tow operators’ legally accountable to search for victims prior to departing the scene? What would you do? Something? Nothing? The towing and recovery industry has plenty of odd happenings that occur, from a simple double-dead battery to recovering the car from hell. It’s for these reasons that towers should keep this safety mindset: “There are no routine calls.” Such advice is especially true when responding to solo crashes or multivehicle collisions where extrications are common—and after airbags have been deployed. The advances in occupant protection have long been a number one priority of automobile manufacturers as a result of federal safety requirements. At one time, vehicles built in North America came equipped with a single airbag built into a car’s steering wheel.
◀
VEHICLES WITH THE MOST AIRBAGS
In recent years, the number of airbags in vehicles has increased markedly in number, increasing the chances of an accident victim being concealed from view.
Fast forward to modern vehicles in today’s market. As a result of making cars safer, many cars are now equipped with as many as ten airbags.
blame on responders and workers involved in recovery, investigation, transport and ultimate storage of crashed or impounded vehicles.
MISSING PERSONS REPORT
There are plenty of industry related stories to be told, but there’s nothing more psychologically depressing or haunting than finding an injured or deceased child or adult still inside a vehicle stored in a tow yard. From 2007 to 2020, a total of 25 bodies were discovered in vehicle interiors or vehicle trunks, sometimes days or even weeks after being towed or impounded. Although 50 percent of those persons found in towed vehicles were homicide victims, an equal number of crash victims were seemingly left behind. When the dust from a media storm ultimately settles, there’s an assumption that asserts, “Someone’s not doing their job!” So, whose job is it? To answer that question, this article emphasizes the need to avoid incidents that place direct 14 • February 2022 | Towman.com
Keep this
safety mindset: “There are no routine calls.”
While the industry isn’t directly responsible for injured victims being discovered in towed or stored vehicles, the media is quick to ostracize the tow industry by blaming towers. This narrative brings focus to a reality that someone may still be inside a towed vehicle after the vehicle is removed from the scene.
ARE TOWER’S ACCOUNTABLE?
Fact: In 50 years of being involved in this industry, I’ve
Jeep Grand Cherokee Honda Civic Chevrolet Impala Chevrolet Malibu Toyota Camry Nissan Sentra Hyundai Elantra Mini Cooper 2-Door S-Hardtop Volkswagen Golf Sportwagen reviewed or responded to countless law enforcement (contract) bids. And never have I seen reference to any written mandate requiring tow operators to search vehicle interiors for victims. When a crash or crime related victim is discovered after-the-fact in towed or stored vehicles, there’s obviously some explaining to do. But are tow operators responsible? Technically speaking, I don’t believe so, but this article provides a proactive, “on-scene procedure” to help ensure someone wasn’t overlooked, after rescue extrication and EMS services were performed.
WHO’S TO BLAME?
Consider the following accounts as instructive examples: On November 2016 in Odessa, Texas, a three-year-old toddler was found alive, albeit in serious condition, after the vehicle she was riding in was rear ended. Her injured, crumpled body was discovered on the vehicle’s front passenger floor nearly three hours later by a tow truck driver after the crashed vehicle was delivered to the tow facility. In Knoxville, Tennessee, in
December 2016, an operator towed a Dodge van that, “Had been wrecked with the airbags blowed.” In an interview with the responding tow operator, he told a reporter that troopers on-scene allegedly advised him that the crashed vehicle was unoccupied and stated the van’s driver had “fled back to wherever he was coming from.” The wrecked van was back at the tow company’s storage facility. As the operator was parking the van, he opened the wrecked van’s door to shift its transmission to Park, and observed that a man’s legs were, “Protruding from under an airbag.” In April of 2003, a 62-year-old grandma was discovered deceased inside her 2000 Pontiac, three days after being towed to a tow facility. The woman’s family argued that grandma might have remained alive if a state trooper had noticed her. Because the narrative was racked with emotion and blame, an investigation was launched. The media reported that grandma’s car skidded off the highway and into a steep ditch, two miles from her home. A trooper on patrol allegedly found the car abandoned and impounded it per department policy. A local tow company recovered the car from the ditch and transported it to the company’s yard. Because the family was concerned when grandma hadn’t shown for work, they contacted the town’s police department to report her missing. Investigators retraced dispatch records and determined a 2000 Pontiac had been towed. Detectives returned to the tow yard only to discover the deceased grandma inside. An initial on-scene report was completed by the impounding trooper, which read, “No driver at the scene of this collision.” To discerning minds, that would Work the non-traffic side - Stay Safe!
TOW OPERATOR’S RESPONSIBILITIES • Operators are required to conduct visual inventory or take photos based on agency requirements • Use a gloved hand to push deployed airbags inward for visual inspection • Be ready for the unexpected: “There are no routine calls.” • Look especially on lower floor areas below dashboard of vehicle • Immediately contact agency of jurisdiction
AmericanTowman.com | February 2022 • 15
trooper’s directions indicated the vehicle was abandoned, would a reasonable tow operator believe a crash victim was still inside? Although a wrecked vehicle lies at the bottom of a steep embankment and needs recovering, is it necessary for towers to enter the crashed vehicle? Or would operators simply rig for recovery, winch it out, load it and go?
BOUND BY CONSCIENCE
Deployed airbags block a clear view of a car’s interior, and possible victims still inside.
suggest the car wasn’t occupied when it was recovered. When the story hit drive-time news, fingers of blame pointed everywhere, especially at the trooper and tow operator who ultimately towed the car.
SECOND GUESSES
The media jumped to conclusions. In this case reporters speculated that grandma’s body was hidden from view because of deployed airbags and darkness. And, due to her petite size, she may have been tossed to the vehicle’s floorboards on impact. In this case, the family’s gut feelings were accurate. Other theories suggested that due to the steepness and angulation of the vehicle’s resting position, the trooper didn’t enter the vehicle, but called a wrecker. Additional speculation suggested the trooper didn’t enter the car because it was raining, he didn’t want to get wet, or, the tow operator simply winched it from the ditch and towed it away without going inside the vehicle. An autopsy determined that grandma died from blunt force injuries. consistent 16 • February 2022 | Towman.com
in vehicle crashes. Nonetheless, the circumstances suggest that neither trooper nor tow operator entered the vehicle with intent to see if anyone was inside.
HOW’D THAT HAPPEN?
Unfair as it seems, I believe there are reasonable possibilities as to why the victim wasn’t discovered by the tow operator. Consider the following points as to what you would do when faced with a similar situation: • You’re an experienced operator that has impounded hundreds of cars. When law enforcement requests a tow truck, you’re trained to follow their orders on-scene. In this case, is it possible the operator was told by the trooper that the vehicle was being impounded only as “an abandoned vehicle” and no evidence holds were mentioned? • When vehicles are impounded, most towers take the officer’s words as accurate regarding the details of the tow. Tower’s aren’t supposed to ask questions right? If the
To address these questions, note the following incident report. A southern California tow operator responded to impound a stolen car torched by arson. As the burned hulk was dragged onto the carrier, the operator noticed what he thought was a burned body. The operator’s observations were correct. It was determined the vehicle was stolen and the arson fire was the end result of homicide. The original request was to tow a stolen car. However, what ensued was something far more sinister than a routine impound. Remember, nothing in this work is, “routine.” Since there’s no written requirement for tow operators to search for incident victims afterthe-fact, this topic introduces a “Damned if you do, damned if you don’t,” reality that challenges the industry’s ethics, morals and professionalism. Is it your company’s policy to conduct a cursory interior search of all vehicles once the vehicle arrives at the tow facility, or do towers rely simply on what law enforcement says? You decide.
TELLTALE SIGNS
If you’ve ever seen crashed vehicles marked by yellow police tape, or painted with large X’s, these designate that the vehicle has been
searched. Police and firefighters generally wrap cars with caution tape to let other responders know that he or she doesn’t need to call emergency personnel because the vehicle has already been searched. But what about crashed vehicles showing no obvious signs of being marked or searched? Tow operators should make a judicious effort, while still on-scene, to ensure someone’s child or grandma isn’t concealed behind deployed airbags. At the very least, towers should take the back of a gloved hand, push back on deployed airbags and anticipate the possibility there still might be someone inside the vehicle. Especially on front or rear passenger-side floors. Doing so may spare you and your company the embarrassment—and potential lawsuit—likely to arise when blame is pointed your way. Make an effort to look, so you know there are no victims left behind!
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AmericanTowman.com | February 2022 • 17
An American Towman
QUINN PIENING Owner, Central Towing & Transport; Fremont, Calif. President, California Tow Truck Association
President, Emergency Road Service Coalition of America
Quinn Piening owns Central Towing and Transport in Fremont, California, and is the president of the California Tow Truck Association and Emergency Road Service Coalition of America.
Association Driven By Charles Duke
American Towman Magazine Senior Editor Charles Duke has written and served as editor for trade, music and nonprofit publications. He also serves as the editor for AT’s online sister publications Tow Industry Week and Tow Industry Today.
Q
uinn Piening is a man of vision and hands-on involvement. Aside from celebrating his 40th year as the man behind Central Towing & Transport in Fremont, California, Piening has also served as president of the California Tow Truck Association (CTTA) since 2019. He also serves as president of the Emergency Road Service Coalition of America (ERSCA). Piening was inducted into the International Towing Hall of Fame in 2019. How does he juggle so many responsibilities? “I have good support and good teams on all fronts,” Piening said. “I think that’s probably the biggest thing that (has driven) my success. I have great team players that are a part of my organizations, whether it be Central Towing and Transport or CTTA and ERSCA. Having great people around you makes it a lot easier to do the job.” Keeping him busy of late is his involvement with ERSCA, whose mission is to promote collaboration and education in the towing industry, with a focus on
Work the non-traffic side - Stay Safe!
safety and advocacy. About 18 months ago Piening helped facilitate a licensing agreement between ERSCA and CTTA to provide training. “Their vision was to do a training program. CTTA went into a licensing agreement with ERSCA, and as things evolved, we merged and re-labeled the training program: ‘The Essentials.’ The foundation is the CTTA program; but it’s now being re-written, updated, modernized and is more in tune to do exactly what it is called.” CTTA and ERSCA brought in experienced heavy-duty industry trainer Shane Coleman as a lead instructor. Piening explained that as he and Coleman found that there were many similarities between the work firefighters and towmen do (they both have firefighting backgrounds), they’ve incorporated many of the same approaches and strategies into “The Essentials.” ERSCA connects with the industry through the coalition’s website and
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AmericanTowman.com | February 2022 • 19
REWARDING RECOVERY
ERSCA was recently presented with a donation from the Association of Professional Towers–Ohio for their grassroots efforts to hire a federal professional lobbyist to fight Senate Amendment 2137 regarding non-consent rate regulation during the AT ShowPlace - Las Vegas.
social media, promoting online and in-person classes and trainings. Thus far, heavy-duty trainings are planned for Oklahoma and Ohio in March and April, respectively. ERSCA also plans to do four “Train the Trainer” classes throughout the United States in 2022. ERSCA also keeps the industry aware of issues affecting towers, such as the proposed Senate Bill 2137 amendment that would regulate non-consent towing—a bill that Piening says would be detrimental to the industry. To that end, ERSCA has undertaken a grassroots fundraising campaign to offset the costs of hiring a federal lobbyist to look out for the industry’s interests. With his three locations of Central Towing & Transport, Piening said that his training regimen for new drivers can last anywhere from three weeks to two months, depending on the driver’s skill level and aptitude. The training includes ERSCA’s introduction to towing, TIM training, “The Essentials,” and certification. Like many other tow owners, Piening said one of his biggest challenges of late is finding 20 • February 2022 | Towman.com
employees—not just drivers, but dispatchers, accountants and salespeople as well. He said that the same challenges exist with staffing CTTA. “Technology definitely has hurt us,” Piening admitted. “The school system today, with not having any type of shop class, working with your hands—we don’t have any of that anymore. It’s very hard to find anybody who wants to do that kind of work.” He noted one possible solution that might be worthwhile would be for local school systems and colleges to introduce vocational training programs with the automotive industry as their focus. Motivation is another key element in his success with at ERSCA, CTTA and Central Towing & Transport. “Why am I doing what I’m doing today for the industry?” Piening posed. “Why am I separating myself from my business and getting into the associations so deeply? It’s actually a very easy answer. It’s tough to understand, but it’s because I was inducted into the Hall of Fame. That was a humbling experience; yet at the same time, I realized there’s so much more to do
This year, Central Towing and Transport will celebrate its 40th Anniversary in business. Over time, it has grown to three locations: Fremont, Livermore and Tracy, California, and has grown to a fleet of 29 tow trucks. Piening recalled what he felt was his most rewarding tow, which took place in the early 1990s. Central Towing recovered a highly impacted vehicle that was pinned against a tree on its roof with an occupant inside, and the driver side down. The roof itself was against trapped against the tree. The fire department could get access into the car, but they couldn’t get the passenger out. How did Piening’s capable crew handle extricating the victim? “We were able not only to stabilize the car, but also winch it away from the tree enough where the fire department could remove the roof, get the occupant out, and save her life,” Piening related. “Through rehab, the occupant was able to fully recover.” for this industry.” Family support is another important factor too. “I’m afforded the opportunity today,” he continued, “by my children (daughter Aubrey Jeffries and son Matthew Jardine) being here in my business. To be able to jump away from my business and give that time and energy to better this industry–because I intend on leaving this industry far better than when I came in.”
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AmericanTowman.com | February 2022 • 21
Safety
Reality Check Your Safety Depends on Your Equipment By Paul Stephens
Paul Stephens is a towing industry trainer with more than 34 years of towing experience. He has served as a consultant for many automobile manufacturers, equipment manufacturers, and companies for service provider education, towability and road service procedures.
Be sure your operators know the difference between the working load limit (WLL) and breaking strength.
T Special thanks to Allstate Roadside and their commitment to tow operator safety.
AT’s Safety Focus sponsored by
owing and recovery operators are generally well-prepared, with a tool or item for anything that pops up. And if it’s not on their truck, then they usually have it back at the shop, readily available. But the more an item is used, the sooner it might need to be replaced. To avoid accidents on the job, it makes good sense to educate yourself on often-used equipment’s proper application, along with manufacturers’ specifications for safety and replacement guidelines. These items require regular inspections, frequent cleaning, and an awareness of how to identify damage related to usage, wear, or abuse, in order to make sure they are always ready for the next job. They also must be pulled from service when they fail inspection and before they see a failure.
PROACTIVE APPROACH
Your inspection process, depending on how thorough you are, can help 22 • February 2022 | Towman.com
identify the need to replace a tool long before it reaches its life expectancy. That way, you’ll have enough time to get the replacement on the way, or have it ready to go into service when the old is ready for retirement. Some items can be harder than others to inspect, as damage may not be so obvious. For instance, inspecting a chain can be difficult. If it is not a clearly compromised link, then visually comparing one chain with another is usually the next logical step. But what if both of your chains have been stretched? Your visual inspection could be faulty, because they look the same. Yet both are damaged and should be replaced immediately. Checking with a tape measure using random links, or checking across each link using several samples as your guide, can give you a better understanding of your chains’ condition. A good rule of thumb is to plan ahead when you are considering replacing an
item such as a wire rope, which can be relatively inexpensive to keep an extra in your shop. If you have one that gets compromised or damaged abruptly, it can cost a lot more in down time, and also rush-ordering one to get back up and running. The supply-chain issues of the last two years have taught us it is better to be well prepared than to wait until the last minute.
FACT FINDING
We often hear of equipment failures in the field through social media post, gossip, and picture sharing. They usually are accompanied by someone’s comments who wasn’t on site or privy to all the information or parameters of the job or failure. There is a difference between an equipment failure from age, and one from overloading due to abuse, negligence, and improper usage. These failures, if related to a catastrophic damage or injury, are always scrutinized multiple parties and agencies and can sometimes fall back on the responsible individual in the company, and not always the operator. Over the years, I have been involved in several injury and death investigations that have experts from every area of our field— truck manufacturers, police, insurance, training, and product liability experts. The one common thread between all parties is to be open minded and let the facts steer the direction of the investigation. They always seem to go back to a proper inspection process, lack thereof, or a misunderstanding of the products’ usage. After teaching more than 900 classes related to proper OEM towing, recovery, and equipment usage standards and requirements, I am sometimes baffled by operators’ explanations of their equipment Work the non-traffic side - Stay Safe!
and breaking strength. Knowing the design factor for each item is equally important. The equipment you use on your trucks is obviously of critical importance, and their quality, condition, and age all play a factor in their overall performance and their dependability. Choosing a chain, strap, snatch block, etc. should be done with some form of usage or application understanding. If you do not know, then you are dependent on the purchaser for your company, be it the owner, manager, or purchasing department.
Plan ahead when you are considering replacing an item such as a wire rope, which can be relatively inexpensive to keep an extra in your shop. This proactive approach avoids downtime and the extra expense of a rush order.
IMITATION VS ORIGINAL
ratings. The most common answer when asked what the 3/8-inch wire rope currently on your truck is rated for is 10,000 pounds. This figure is almost breaking strength, which tells me we are not educating at the owner and manager level related working load limits (WLL), but instead to design factors. There are many different types of wire rope compositions which determines the actual strength. You also need to factor in fatigue, decreased WLL due to traveling over radius, and age deterioration.
IMPROPER USAGE
Then we have the operators who attach the wire rope hook right back to the rope and break the fibers. These are all areas that could result in failures, damages, and possibly injuries. We can do better as an industry in training on product awareness, product inspections, and proper usage so that every operator knows the difference between the WLL
In today’s markets, just about everything has been copied or reproduced in varying degrees of quality, so seeking out the original might be in your favor. Hopefully that is the one that has been tested thoroughly before heading to market and into the tow industry. There are many things to look for when purchasing a piece or tool for you truck. The quality of the product should always be the main concern in the decision process due to the dependability and the safety testing that go into it. Make sure you have confidence in your purchases, and also the knowledge behind each product. Evaluate your tools and materials carefully as some are much better than others. Safety should be the driving force behind your business. Profits and growth are great, but having a safe employee and customer is the foundation of your success.
For more safety information or to become an Allstate Roadside provider, please visit AllstateRoadsideServices.com
AmericanTowman.com | February 2022 • 23
Tow Manager
DPF Dilemmas
Diesel Emission Control Systems—Friend or Foe? By Brian J, Riker
Brian J. Riker is a third-generation towman, with 26 years of experience in the ditch as a tow operator, and president of Fleet Compliance Solutions. He specializes in helping navigate the complex world of federal and state transportation regulatory compliance. He can be reached at brian.riker@fleetcompliancesolutions.net
A
s towers we need reliable equipment, no doubt about it. Unfortunately, heavy-duty towers are all too familiar with diesel emissions control system failures on modern trucks. As such many have been tempted to “fix” their trucks by removing the “extra” equipment from their engines. What harm could it cause, right? Being honest here, most of us probably long for the days when diesel engines were fairly simple, easily reaching a million miles or more without all that much maintenance. Not so much today. Sadly, the average heavy-duty diesel engine will require significant maintenance by 400,000 miles.
WHY HAVE EMISSIONS SYSTEMS?
In 2000, the EPA adopted updated standards to reduce tailpipe emissions that, beginning in 2004, required exhaust gas recirculation. EGR is the process where unburnt solids were returned to the combustion chamber in an effort to clean the exhaust stream. By 2007 on-highway diesel engines in the United States had diesel particulate filters (DPF) to further reduce ash and other particulate matter in the exhaust gas. From 2010 onward diesel engines have had a combination of these technologies plus
selective catalyst reduction (SCR) aftertreatment systems that use a Diesel Oxidation Catalyst (DOC) material and diesel exhaust fluid (DEF) to chemically scrub harmful substances from tailpipe emissions. Although problematic for fleet owners and maintenance technicians, these systems do a good job (when functioning and maintained properly) in cleaning up the exhaust output. The tradeoff is a loss of horsepower, meaning you will need a larger engine to get similar performance when compared to engines with a lower tier of pollution control technology. Plus these systems require increased upkeep. For towers these pollution devices have been a mixed blessing. When these systems first hit the market, heavy-duty companies could not keep up with the demand to tow broken trucks into dealerships. Fast forward more than a decade and now most towers have some form of modern diesel engine in their fleet, meaning they also face the increased maintenance and potentially reduced reliability issues.
SEVERE PENALTIES
What to do? As problem solvers many owner operators and towers alike have decided to simply remove these systems from their trucks. Not so fast! Several states have some for of heavyduty diesel emission system inspection. Whether it is a visual anti-tampering inspection, or a tailpipe smoke opacity test, it will likely be noticed if you delete or modify your Enviromotive’s Evacu System offers equipment for cleaning a diesel DPF, which not only can keep towers’ trucks on the road, but also serve as an additional revenue stream for a tow business.
26 • February 2022 | Towman.com
emission control systems. It is also worth noting that tampering with these emission control systems is a Federal offense punishable by heavy fines ranging from about $5,000 up to $50,000 per violation. Deleting will void your warranty and may cause your dealership (often the only source of some specialized repairs) to refuse to work on your truck. Note, too, that dealerships will also report you to the EPA in order to avoid stiff penalties for their business. It is worth noting there have been several high-profile prosecutions for folks that have aided in deleting DPF and SCR systems—and it isn’t just the shop owners getting in trouble. In recent cases in Utah, Performance Diesel Inc agreed to a civil penalty of $1.1M dollars and the stars of the hit TV show Diesel Brothers were fined $851,451 for their role in tampering with engine emission control systems. Even major vehicle manufacturers like Volkswagen have been penalized. VW agreed to a $20 billion settlement to address software they had installed on several 2013-2014 model vehicles to defeat emission testing programs, allowing their vehicles to emit up to 40 times more pollutants than permitted by U.S. law. In a case more likely to happen to a tower, the U.S. District Court in Pennsylvania sentenced five individuals to probation, community service and fines up to $15,000 for their roles in disabling required emission control systems, in violation of the Clean Air Act. Three of the five defendants were company employees or truck owners at a company servicing the fracking industry. One of the other defendants, fined $10,000, was the owner of a Pennsylvania garage that provided state inspections and repairs on these deleted vehicles. In dozens of other cases garages or retailers have been caught because they had billboards along the highways, websites, magazines and forum Work the non-traffic side - Stay Safe!
postings advertising these services. Even well-known companies like Bully Dog Tuners have had to modify their products and services to avoid running afoul of the EPA. So ask yourself, is it really worth it?
A BETTER ALTERNATIVE
Since you can’t simply remove these systems from your trucks, and knowing your customers face the same problems you do, why not turn these lemons into lemonade? There is a hot market
for servicing DPF, DOC and SCR systems and the process isn’t that complicated when you have the right equipment. With dealerships backed up for weeks or even months, many truck owners have turned to outside repair shops for services including DPF cleaning, replacement and service of the SCR components. According to Ryan Koukal of Clean Diesel Specialists (an emissions specialist based in Southern California, which also
◀
AmericanTowman.com | February 2022 • 27
offers Enviromotive’s Evacu System equipment), with proper service intervals DPF and DOC components can be cleaned and restored with up to 96 percent efficiency, compared with the original specifications, in as little as 24 hours. While many drivers might think that a regen cycle (the process developed by truck makers to control exhaust
28 • February 2022 | Towman.com
restriction within a DPF), is all that is needed to maintain their after-treatment systems, that is false. There still is ash inside the DPF that needs to be physically removed during the cleaning process. Speaking of preventative maintenance designed to keep your emission control systems functioning, did you know DEF has a relatively short shelf life and can crystallize in as little as six months if improperly stored, causing damage to the SCR system? Sourcing high-quality DEF and storing it properly is important to the health of the SCR system. (Editor’s note: for more details, see “What’s the DEF?” article in our January issue.) According to Burkett Oil, a distributor of Blue Sky brand DEF, diesel exhaust fluid should be stored in a cool, dry and well-ventilated area. Ideal storage temperature range is between 17 to 77 degrees F. Keep in mind DEF is a water-based solution (32.5 percent urea, 67.5 percent water) and will freeze at 12 degrees F. In colder climates the DEF dispenser system on vehicles is heated to defrost the fluid and allow it to be injected into the exhaust stream. To avoid impurities that can damage your SCR system never use a metal funnel, transfer DEF into other containers or refill used DEF containers. DEF stored at or below 65 degrees F can have a shelf life of up to two years if kept out of direct sunlight. As you can see there are some great opportunities for additional revenue streams providing more than just basic roadside repairs and preventative maintenance services. Since you need to fix your own trucks anyway, and with how expensive downtime can be, waiting for a dealership to have an open bay is not a viable option. So why not expand into DPF and SCR cleaning or repairs service?
LITE-IT UP WITH
CUSTER PRODUCTS
www.custerproducts.com • 800-490-3158
32 • February 2022 | Towman.com
Supplier Scoop
Digital Data for Towers
As a pioneer in the towing, recovery, and car-haul industry for 40-plus years, B/A Products Co. is now developing new technologies as well. Over the past 24 months, this firm has been undergoing a major digital transformation. What does this mean for towers? The company will finally have real-time data at its fingertips to provide better and faster service, versus the 1980s system it has been operating on. Adding to this momentum, B/A is also rebuilding its website, in order to enhance towers’ ability to communicate and obtain data important to their business. And B/A reps are always available and ready to assist the needs of towing businesses. The planned go-live date for operating this new platform is February 1, 2022. B/A expresses its appreciation for the loyalty and support of towers through both the good and challenging times. The entire B/A team is eager to have greater ability to better serve the towing community.
AD INDEX
February 2022
Akins Body & Carrier Sales.........................33
Len Zermenos......................................24, 25
SafeAll Products.........................................17
All American Jerr-Dan.............. N, S 91, M 93
Lodar USA..................................................72
Santander Bank...........................................3
Allstate Roadside.......................................32
Lynch Truck Centers...................................29
Sea Crest Insurance Agency...................W 91
Atlanta Wrecker Sales................................76
Matjack Jumbo Safelift..............................21
ServiCase..................................................13
Captain Recovery..................... N, M 96, S 93
McMahon Truck Center..........................M 91
Smyrna Truck & Cargo...............................34
Chevron Commercial..................................80
Metrocom..................................................80
Steck Mfg. Co............................................28
Crouch’s Wrecker & Equip. Sales................73
Miller Industries...........................................2
Towbook Management Software...................7
Custer Products.........................................32
Mobile Control Systems..............................71
Tow Brokers Insurance...........................W 95
DP Winch/Tulsa Winch..................................5
Mobile Video Computing Solutions..............21
Tow Industries.......................................W 95
Dual-Tech Wreckers & Carriers...................81
North American Bancard............................63
TowMate....................................................75
Dynamic Towing Equipment.......................69
OMG Tow Marketing...................................83
TowTract....................................................77
Edgetec.................................................W 96
Pacific General Insurance.......................M 95
Trail King Industries...................................67
Elizabeth Truck Center................................83
PeakPTT....................................................75
Ultra Built...................................................67
Enzo’s Cleaning Solutions............. N 95, M 96
Peak Wrecker Sales...............................W 91
Utility Trailer Sales of S.E. TX..................W 93
FCar Tech USA...........................................81
Performance Advantage Company..............99
West End Service.......................................85
GM Consultants..........................................85
PWOF...................................................30, 31
Winches Inc...........................................W 96
G.Stone Commercial.............................. N 93
Quick Draw Tarpaulin System.....................71
XINSURANCE.......................................... N 95
Hino Trucks..............................................100
Recovery Billing Unlimited..........................77
Zacklift International..................................17
Intek Truck & Equipment............................85
RimSling....................................................27
Zip’s / AW Direct..................................15, 18
ITI..............................................................28
34 • February 2022 | Towman.com
THE GREAT COMEBACK in Baltimore
American Towman ballyhooed its great comeback in Baltimore after the world’s largest tow show had been shut down by government forces in 2020 in responding to the pandemic. The question running through most minds among the suppliers inside the Baltimore Convention Center was, can AT pull it off, as it had following 9/11 and after the Bank crisis in 2008. The droves of towers streaming into the hall all three days of the Exposition answered that question. It was one of the largest draws in the show’s history. Equipment exhibitors reported heavy transactions within an hour after the show opened. They brought in all the wreckers, carriers and trailers they could to meet the pent-up demand that was a consequence of how the pandemic affected commerce and supply chains. All in in all, it was estimated that sales on the exhibit floor exceeded $100,000,000. Considering the discussions between towers and call providers, around one billion dollars was at stake with motor club service providers that trekked to Baltimore. The following gallery captures some of the diverse action at the American Towman XXXII.
AT Expo XXXII Gallery Work the non-traffic side - Stay Safe!
AmericanTowman.com | February 2022 • 35
AT’s publisher Dennie Ortiz led the marching brass band into the opening day of the Expo. 36 • February 2022 | Towman.com
Even a future American towman got into the trophy presentation—literally.
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AmericanTowman.com | February 2022 • 37
Miller Rocks! at the Hard Rock Cafe. 38 • February 2022 | Towman.com
Attendees savor Calitri’s Cuba Cigar Smoker at Luckie’s Tavern, sponsored by both AutoReturn and Police Towers of America.
Miller Industries sponsored a lively night with a Bull & Pig Roast at the Hard Rock Cafe.
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AmericanTowman.com | February 2022 • 39
Numerous towers showed for WreckMaster’s heavy-duty, rotator training at the nearby Camden Yards stadium area.
40 • February 2022 | Towman.com
Shane Coleman of ERSCA showed towers how to turn things around.
Floor entertainers roamed AT Expo.
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AmericanTowman.com | February 2022 • 41
ACE Awards presentation sponsored by Allstate Roadside, GEICO and NSD.
Ron Meyer of Pine Tree Towing & Recovery gave the keynote address at the Captains of Industry reception. He pointed to the value of quickclearance procedures for towers’ safety.
42 • February 2022 | Towman.com
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AmericanTowman.com | February 2022 • 43
The American Towman Academy featured over 30 seminars.
Saluting fellow towers at the Ceremony of the Order of Towman.
44 • February 2022 | Towman.com
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AmericanTowman.com | February 2022 • 45
Festival Night
2021 American Towman Medal Recipients Since 1989 American Towman magazine has been awarding towers the American Towman Medal “For the Simple Act of Bravery.” Below are the stories of the towmen that received the medal during Festival Night November 13, 2021.
Alex Petruccio TREAT’S GARAGE WINDSOR, NJ
Towman Alex Petruccio, a driver for Treat’s Garage in Windsor, New Jersey, was sent on a call at the beginning of the evening rush on July 30, 2019. A disabled Honda was parked on the left shoulder of the New Jersey Turnpike — a spot Petruccio called one of “the most dangerous places” because of its narrowness. Petruccio went carefully about loading the car, while the occupants got into his truck. However, the man with the Honda never followed the woman into the truck. He was standing on the white line, almost in the fast lane. Suddenly, Petruccio heard a load screech and then a bang. A car had hit a Jeep Cherokee in the left lane, sending the Jeep into the Honda and into the man. Debris flew everywhere. Petruccio then saw the man laying on the truck’s bed—with one leg completely severed and bleeding profusely. Grabbing his own belt, Petruccio wrapped it around the man’s severed leg and applied pressure. A retired EMT stopped to help wrap the leg. A State Police trooper cleared traffic to allow landing of a helicopter medivac for the injured man. Troopers agreed that had Petruccio not taken such swift and decisive action, the man would have bled out and died.
46 • February 2022 | Towman.com
Bobby Kohler ULTIMATE TOWING & RECOVERY MOUNT AIRY, NC
A severe, 50-mph windstorm in Dobson, North Carolina, on March 6, 2020, caused a large pine tree to fall on Matthew Kirkman’s mobile home, pinning his 23-month-old daughter Bailey in her bed. It took a heavy-duty tow rotator to remove the 60-foot tall pine tree and rescue the baby. Towman Bobby Kohler of Ultimate Towing in Mt. Airy was a part of a large team of first responders involved in the rescue. The rescue squads had called Ultimate Towing when they found that they could not move the tree. Kohler’s actions were key in saving the baby’s life, as the way the tree was positioned, it could have crushed her to death. The baby’s eyes had “rolled,” and she lost consciousness for a few minutes as her access to oxygen was compromised by the weight of the tree on her lungs. Kohler and two others in his crew delicately rigged the strategic areas of the fallen tree to give them the best angle to pull it off the baby. Kohler and the Ultimate Towing team looked on as the baby regained consciousness and was transported to a local hospital.
Frank Nee
Derrick Hamilton ABER’S TOWING
24 HOUR TOWING & RECOVERY
ASHLAND, OH
MILWAUKEE, WI
On the evening of July 29, 2020, towman Derrick Hamilton of Aber’s Towing and Crane Service in Ashland, Ohio, was awakened by an alarming call from his dispatcher: “I’ve got a real bad one for you,” dispatch stated. Troopers had pulled over a Saturn Outlook SUV along Interstate 71. Dash cam footage showed that the vehicle had come to a stop in the right-hand lane. As the trooper instructed the driver to move off the roadway, it was struck from the rear by a semi. The Saturn was pushed off the roadway into a tree line, with the semi resting on top of it in a ditch. Four of the seven passengers were pronounced dead at the scene. Hamilton directed the firefighters to cut down nearby trees which cleared a hole for him to work within. He then entered the area of the semi from a 45-degree angle. On a steep slope, Hamilton was able to rig the semi, then pull it off the SUV. The other responders were able to get the survivors out. A paramedic said that two of the girls would have died within minutes had they not gotten them out. Fire Chief Rick Anderson said Hamilton’s actions, “…clearly saved the lives of the three survivors.”
Clarence “Skip” Speed SPEED’S GARAGE HUDSON, NY
David Pelis SPEED’S GARAGE HUDSON, NY
Robert “Robbie” Speed SPEED’S GARAGE HUDSON, NY
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Jamie Walker RAY’S TOWING | MILWAUKEE, WI Riding home on Sunday night, January 24, 2021, towman Frank Nee of 24-Hour Towing & Recovery in Milwaukee, Wisconsin noticed smoke and amber lights in the distance on I-43 South. Arriving at the area, he encountered towman Jamie Walker of Ray’s Towing, who was attending to a car that had crashed on a sharp turn on the interstate. As Frank approached he found Walker pulling a man out of the burning car. His girlfriend, the driver of the vehicle, was in the middle of the freeway trying to flag people down. Her boyfriend had overdosed and was hanging halfway out of the car, unconscious. Meanwhile, mini-explosions caused the fire to completely engulf the car. Walker and Nee both dragged the man away from the flaming car and started chest compressions. Walker thought the passenger was dead, as he didn’t have a pulse and had lost a lot of blood at the scene. Nee got Walker’s air blower from his CPR briefcase to attempt to revive him. Responders arrived with a stimulator to continue the chest compressions, while the county sheriff arrived and administered Narcan to the passenger. The ambulance then took him to the hospital and the man survived.
On May 26, 2020, Speed’s Towing of Hudson, New York, was called by the Chatham Fire Department to a tractor-trailer rollover with the driver trapped inside the cab. Arriving on the scene, Clarence “Skip” Speed, his son Robbie and his grandson David Pelis found the truck upside down in a ditch, which was carrying a load of concrete that was estimated to be 118,000 pounds. Responders were heard stating that they were unsure that the tractor-trailer operator, Kristian Halvorsen of Massachusetts, would be rescued alive. Robbie and David assessed that when Halvorsen went upsidedown, the cab slid in the ditch and bent the column back, pinning him. Robbie advised the fire chief of the complexity and risk of the needed hookup and recovery in order to safely allow the rescue to proceed. The chief then shouted to the other first responders, “The scene is now Robbie’s—Robbie’s in charge of what we’re doing!” Utilizing two heavy-duty tow trucks and working closely with other responders, Speed’s hooked to the tractor and lifted the truck. Halvorsen was then extricated and flown in a helicopter to Albany Medical Center. The entire job took roughly one hour and forty minutes. Two days after the accident, Halvorsen came to the shop looking for him. He said that all Halvorsen remembered while being trapped was hearing, “Robbie’s in charge.” And soon after, he was freed.
AmericanTowman.com | February 2022 • 47
AT EXPO EXHIBITOR ENCORE
*Supplier names in bold are display advertisers in this issue with their ad page number cross-referenced
360 Payments AAA Access Tools AEO Space Wheel AirDown All American Jerr-Dan - See pgs. N, S 91, M 93 all-Grip Vehicle Recovery Systems Alliance Funding Group Allstate Roadside - See pg. 32 Amdor American Safety & Supply American Towman Magazine Anchor Graphics ARI-Hetra Ascentium Capital AT&T - The Wireless Experience Atlanta Wrecker Sales - See pg. 76 Aussie Rimshine Austin Insurance Auto Data Direct Azuga B/A Products Bad Dog Tools Baremotion Battelini Wrecker Sales Bay Street BBSI Beacon Funding Beacon Software Benchmark Payment Breg Environmental Brown & Brown Insurance Car-Part.com CardConnect Century Chevron Chevron Commercial - See pg. 80 Collins Dollies Copart Auto Auctions Core Holistics Crawford Truck Sales Crouch’s Wrecker & Equip. Sales - See pg. 73
48 • February November 2022 2021 | Towman.com | Towman.com
Custer Products - See pg. 32 Custom Built MFG Dedicated Funding NY DewEze Mfg. DK2 Warrior Winches DP Winch/Tulsa Winch - See pg. 5 Drive DriverLocate.Com Dual-Tech Wreckers & Carriers - See pg. 81 Dynamic Towing Equipment - See pg. 69 East Coast Truck & Trailer Sales East Penn Truck Equipment Emergency Road Service Coalition of America / ERSCA Energy Security Agency Enviromotive Environmental Chemical Solutions Enzo’s Cleaning Solutions - See pgs. N 95, M 96 Excel Sportswear EZ Spare Wheel EZ Tow Assist FCar Tech USA - See pg. 81 Federal Signal First Business FleetNet America Flitz International FlowStop Gantt Insurance Agency GEICO Goosetown Communications GovDeals Haas Alert Hale Trailer Brake & Wheel Hino Trucks - See pg. 100 Holmes Honk Technologies Hooks Towing & Equipment Hunter Engineering i Buy Remotes IAA ICW Group Insurance Independent Auto Transporters Alliance /
IATA Int’l Towing & Recovery Hall of Fame & Museum Integrated Veh. Equip. Leasing Intek Truck & Equipment Leasing/ Financing - See pg. 85 International Trucks Isuzu Commercial Truck of America J & R Products & Towing Accessories JB Towing Jerr-Dan Joyride Junk Car Buyer Academy USA Kalyn Siebert Landoll Corporation Lien Enforcement, Inc. Lift And Tow Lift Marketing Group Lighthouse Insurance Services Lodar USA - See pg. 72 Lucky’s Trailer Sales Lynch Truck Centers - See pg. 29 Mach 1 Services Magnetworks / Stamp Works Manufacturer Express Martens Johnson Insurance Maryland Carrier & Wrecker Sales Matheny Motor Truck Co. Matjack Jumbo Safelift - See pg. 21 Menzel Technologies Metro Tow Trucks Metrocom - See pg. 80 MFC International Midland Equipment Finance Miller Industries - See pg. 2 Millner-Haufen Tool Mobile Road Service Solutions Mobile Video Computing Solutions - See pg. 21 Myers Benner Corp. Mytee Products Nation Safe Drivers (NSD) Nite Beams Noco Jump Packs
Nottingham Insurance NRC Industries Olson & Company Omadi OMG Tow Marketing - See pg. 83 One Team One Goal / Thin Yellow Line SDMO OnlineParkingPass.com Opti-luxx ParkingPass.com Peddle Penny Pockets Penske Truck Leasing People’s United Equipment Finance PGM Recovery Systems Phoenix USA Photo Card Specialists Podium Corp. Pop - A - Lock Purpose Wrecker QuakeLED QuestX Towing Services Quick Cash for Remotes R&A Insurance Ram Trucks Ramsey Winch Ranger SST Razor Wraps RC Industries Recovery Title Solutions
Roadside Protect RoadSync Robert Young’s NRC Sales & Service Rockaway Recycling Roush Clean Tech RP Recovery Consulting Safety Vision Santander Bank - See pg. 3 SBA Loan Group ServiCase - See pg. 13 Specialty Vehicle Equip. Funding Spill Diaper Spill Tackle Spray Buddy Steck Mfg. Co. - See pg. 28 Stephens Truck Center/ Bad Ass Tow Products Stertil-Koni, USA Superwinch Talbert Mfg. TCF Capital Solutions TEZ Technologies Time-Out Seated Massage Corner TJR Equipment Tow Canada Tow Life Towbook Management Software - See pg. 7 TowCap Premier Towing & Recovery Assoc. of America
2021 SPONSORS MILLER ROCKS! BULL & PIG ROAST
LUXURY VEHICLE EDUCATION
REGISTRATION COUNTERS
BADGE INSERTS
ATTV SPONSOR
Towing.com TowMate - See pg. 75 TowTruckLocator.com towXchange Tracker Management Sys. Trail King Industries - See pg. 67 Truck Crane Solutions TW Products Two Way Radio Gear U-Haul International UHS Hardware Urgently US Fleet Tracking Verdant Commercial Capital Vulcan W Star USA Inc. Warn Industries Webfleet Solutions West End Service - See pg. 85 Whelen Engineering Co. Whiterail Reviews Will-Burt Company Worldwide Equipment Sales WreckMaster Xpress-Pay Ynot Services Zacklift International - See pg. 17 Zellner Insurance Zip’s AW Direct - See pg. 15, 18
Events and Specialty Items CALITRI’S CUBA
EXPO INFO CARD
DONNIE AWARDS
ACE AWARDS
TOWMAN ORDER
CAPTAINS OF INDUSTRY AT ACADEMY FESTIVAL NIGHT
LANYARDS
WRECKER PAGEANT VOTING BOOTH SHOW BAGS
WRECKER PAGEANT TROPHIES HOTEL ROOM KEYS
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AmericanTowman.com AmericanTowman.com| |November February 2022 2021 • 49
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American Wrecker Pageant
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LIGHT DUTY PRE 2020
AIMES COLLISION
Freeport, NY 2014 Ford F550/Chevron 512
CASINO AUTO BODY
Arverne, NY 2019 Ford F550/Century 312
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3
rd
RAY’S TOWING SERVICE
Glen Cove, NY 2017 Ford F450/Jerr-Dan MPL40
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HEAVY DUTY TANDEM AXLE
BOB’S GARAGE & TOWING
Painsville, OH 2021 Peterbilt 389/Jerr-Dan 50 Ton
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CHAMBERS
Seaford, DE 2019 Peterbilt 367/ Grant 88 Ton Double Barrel
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MILFORD TOWING Milford, OH 2022 Kenworth T880/ Custom Built CB30
AmericanTowman.com | February 2022 • 51
American Wrecker Pageant
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LIGHT DUTY 2020-2021
MORTON’S TOWING & RECOVERY INC. Clarksburg, MD 2020 Ford F550
CITY TOWING SERVICES New Castle, DE 2021 Dodge Ram 4500/ Jerr-Dan MPL40
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3
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LONESTAR TOWING & RECOVERY
Baytown, TX 2021 Ford F450/Jerr-Dan MPL40
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VINTAGE CLASS
MICHAEL’S TOWING
Fredricksburg, VA Kenworth W900/Holmes 750 with a Zacklift
MECHANICS PLUS TOWING & TRANSPORT Emmaus, PA 1972 Ford F900/Holmes 750
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BILL’S SERVICE OF STAMFORD
Stamford, CT 1972 AutoCar/Holmes 750
AmericanTowman.com | February 2022 • 53
American Wrecker Pageant
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CAR CARRIER
MCKINNEY’S TOWING & ROAD SERVICE Dover, DE 2022 Peterbilt/Century 30
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MORTON’S TOWING & RECOVERY Clarksburg, MD 2021 Freightliner
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CRAWLEY’S SERVICES Sugarland, TX 2021 Peterbilt/Century 16
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ROTATOR
PAYNE’S TOWING & RECOVERY Ruckersville, VA 2022 Kenworth W900/Century 1075
BILL’S SERVICE OF STAMFORD
Stamford, CT 2020 Peterbilt 389/Century 1150
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PRIORITY WRECKER SERVICE Batavia, IL 2021 Kenworth T880/ Century 1135
AmericanTowman.com | February 2022 • 55
American Wrecker Pageant
1
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SERVICE & SUPPORT
LIL PETE’S AUTOMOTIVE 2 Mahopac, NY 2018 Ram City Master
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HORTON’S WRECKER SERVICE Manassas, VA 2021 Peterbilt 388 Heavy Haul Tractor
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American Wrecker Pageant
MEDIUM DUTY
BLAIR’S TOWING & RECOVERY Falls Church, VA 2018 Freightliner / Chevron 512
HEAVY DUTY SINGLE AXLE
BILL’S SERVICE OF STAMFORD Stamford, CT 1985 Mack R688/NRC 27 Ton
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AmericanTowman.com | February 2022 • 57
American Wrecker Pageant BEST OF SHOW
MINNICK’S TOWING & RECOVERY Winchester, VA 2015 Kenworth T880
58 • February 2022 | Towman.com
American Wrecker Pageant
BEST THEME/PRESENTATION
K&L GERST TOWING
Severn, MD 1996 International 4700/Jerr-Dan 19 ft Deck
BEST WORKING CLASS
TOWFESSIONAL AUTO REPAIR Queens Village, NY 2020 Ford F450/Jerr-Dan
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AmericanTowman.com | February 2022 • 59
Brandon Watson of K&L Towing not only showed off a great flatbed, but also a cool street rod.
60 • February 2022 | Towman.com
The American Wrecker Pageant Hall. Towman Monument outside Baltimore Convention Center.
Towman Hunt - Skeet. Work the non-traffic side - Stay Safe!
AmericanTowman.com | February 2022 • 61
See You Next Year at AT Expo XXXIII Nov. 17-19, 2022
62 • February 2022 | Towman.com
FIRE DRILL
Getting a Truck Out of the Muck
Courtesy of Anytime Towing and WreckMaster
ALL Recovery Specialists Qualify: Choose the most challenging recovery your company has performed with excellence. Send in your photos or video of the recovery along with your name, company, address, phone # and email, and you may be contacted for further details. Recovery must have been performed between 2001 and 2021.
2021
Donnie Cruse
Recovery Award
Presented by American Towman Magazine and WreckMaster
64 • February 2022 | Towman.com
Co-Sponsored by:
&
The Miller rotators had to work opposite from each other and pivot the fire engine in behind the 60-ton Rotator.
O
n June 17, 2019, a recovery team from Anytime Towing was requested by a local fire department to dispatch two rotator wreckers after an engine company had left a two-lane roadway, continued off the shoulder and proceeded deep into a ditch. When it came to rest, it was heavily mired in mud. On one side of the apparatus was a fence and on the other was the roadway, and the fire engine was wedged between them. Using two rotators, both Peterbilt 389 trucks outfitted with a three-stage boom and outriggers from Miller Industries, Anytime Towing prepared to lift the casualty with spreader bars.
2021
Winner:
Donnie Cruse Memorial Award
Anytime Towing
During the survey, the recovery team determined that the casualty weighed 45,000 pounds. To handle this heavy load, spreader bars were assembled and rim slings were selected to connect the spreader bars to the fire apparatus. To execute the recovery, the first rotator was staged near the front of the apparatus. A spreader bar was suspended from the winching lines, above the fire truck. Rigging was installed between the steering-axle rims and the spreader bar. The second rotator was positioned at the rear. In similar fashion, rim slings were installed between the second spreader bar and the drive-axle rims.
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AmericanTowman.com | February 2022 • 65
Spreader bars and rim slings were secured both front and rear, in preparation for lifting the truck out of the mud.
Once both ends of the casualty were rigged to the wreckers, the front of the casualty was lifted in preparation to swing it toward the center of the road. Next, the rear of the apparatus was lifted. What followed was a carefully orchestrated and well-executed maneuver. Simultaneous operation of the rotators caused the engine to be steered between the recovery units. After the casualty had been repositioned over the paved surface, it was safely lowered onto the roadway. After the casualty had been successfully recovered from the ditch, the rigging was removed and the chassis carefully inspected. The apparatus was found to be safe to operate and the fire and rescue personnel were able to drive the unit back to their station. This recovery by Anytime Towing was selected as a recipient of the Donnie Cruse Memorial Recovery Award because of its unique circumstances and outof-the-box thinking. Additionally, it is an excellent demonstration of techniques taught by Team WreckMaster. This recovery proves that real-world application of WreckMaster’s advanced techniques work in a challenging situation.
RESPONDING EQUIPMENT
Once both ends of the fire engine were rigged and secured, the Miller 60ton rotator lifted the front of the casualty and began to move it toward the road. Working in tandem, the Miller 75-ton rotator then lifted the rear and moved it toward the road.
66 • February 2022 | Towman.com
2006 Peterbilt Power Unit with a Miller 60-ton Rotator body with three-stage boom and outriggers 2007 Peterbilt Power Unit with a Miller 75-ton Rotator body with three-stage boom and outriggers Spreader bar kits Wheel straps
A.J. Johnson receives the 2021 Donnie Cruse Memorial Heavy Duty Recovery Award from Justin Cruse, president of WreckMaster.
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AmericanTowman.com | February 2022 • 67
Behind the Scenes With Tow Operators Along the Route
By Steve Temple
Steve Temple has many years of experience as an automotive photojournalist and editor of numerous magazines, both consumer and trade. He has a passion for diesel engines, and one of his personal rigs is a one-ton Dodge dually with an upgraded Cummins turbodiesel, often used for both towing and hauling.
68 • February 2022 | Towman.com
A
s the old song goes, “I love a parade!” And that includes towers, too, who every year support the Rose Parade in Pasadena, California on New Year’s Day. One of our regular writers, Terry Abejuela, who also works as a motorsports and events supervisor for AAA, organizes a group of three dozen or so operators to lend a hand in case one of the floats breaks down, and needs a tow to keep the parade moving. ◀
Finish Line Towing’s Carlton Howlett helped the Louisiana float complete the parade route, after its engine began smoking.
Towman Tim Butler stayed on station with a smile for the whole event.
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Which happens every year— more often than some might realize, as it’s not always shown on the TV coverage. Terry estimates about three float tows per year on average. That’s why all the floats, which are required to be covered with flowers over every square inch, also have a trailer hitch attached to the truck chassis’ typically used as a driving platform. True to form, one float needed to be hooked up at the 2022 event. When the engine began smoking, Finish Line Towing’s Carlton Howlett came to the rescue, and towed it to the viewing area at the end of the parade route. Otherwise the entire parade would have stayed at a standstill. Mark Tornow, who heads up Finish Line Towing, has been supporting the Rose Parade for at least a decade. It’s mostly a volunteer effort, though AAA does provide some compensation
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Terry Abejuela organizes all the tow operators, making sure they are well fed too.
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AmericanTowman.com | February 2022 • 71
About three dozen operators in all were involved in the Rose Parade.
to cover fuel expenses, and Mark also gives his drivers a monetary spiff as well. That’s not the real motivation for attending all these years, though. “It’s an opportunity to give back to the community,” Mark says. “The drivers can bring their family with them, and share the experience, too.” Not only that, the operators get some really good recognition, having saved the day—and parade—many times. “Spectators enjoy looking at the tow trucks more than anything else,” he points out. “People lining the sidewalks yell out to towers, ‘You’re the heroes of the parade!’” As another example, a couple
People lining the sidewalks yell out to towers, ‘You’re the heroes of the parade!’ years ago, a ball and receiver snapped on a disabled float, and it couldn’t be hooked up. So a heavy-duty unit with frame forks had to be called in. This incident led parade officials to require a change in the float hitches for this year, going from a 2-inch ball to a bigger a 2 5/16 ball with a 30,000 pound rating (using a thicker shank in the receiver).
Mark says it takes several months planning for the parade arrangements, and also thoroughly prepping the trucks two weeks before the day of the event. This year their receivers had to be re-drilled for the bigger shank. Special new uniforms were created as well. In a previous incident, a two-part float caught fire from leaking hydraulic fluid and jackknifed on the parade route. Again, a towman jumped into action to keep the floats moving. So clearly tow operators provide a valuable service for this high-profile, televised event. All so the Rose Parade comes off without a hitch—or rather, with a hitch!
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72 • February 2022 | Towman.com
Case Closed
Risky Business
Managing the Hazards of Recovery and Towing By Josh Brown, Esq.
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Josh Brown is an attorney at Cassone Law Offices, LLC. where he represents dozens of small businesses throughout Ohio as business counsel and litigator.
hat would happen if your snatch block accidentally killed a passing driver, when it snapped due to under-capacity for the load? How will your acts be assessed by the courts? What can you do to ensure that you do not end up in that situation? Human beings have to learn to live with a certain level of risk. No matter what you do, you are exposed to risk of harm. Mitigating risk comes with a cost. We could end most, if not all, motor vehicle accidents today, but only by taking extreme and unacceptable measures. For instance, we could forbid driving unless you drive five mph and drive an armored vehicle with a roll cage. However, the cost of imposing these requirements outweighs their benefits. Instead, we attempt to strike a balance between the risk and the cost of risk mitigation. In today’s world, we have a serious problem understanding risk management. Due to fear, people fail to understand the distinction between perceived risk and actual risk, and fail to understand the importance of balancing risk with the cost of risk mitigation.
HAZARDOUS EQUIPMENT?
As an example, in my high-school shop class, our teacher asked the class what was the most dangerous piece of equipment. While students guessed that the bulky, loud, imposing machines were the most dangerous, the teacher pointed to the smallest, quietest standing machine in the shop—the band saw. It has a tiny, flimsy blade and is barely audible. He said that more fingers are cut on that machine than any other. This is because people do not respect it, and didn’t perceive the band saw as risky. Even so, this teacher still allows the band saw to remain standing in the shop— because otherwise we would have to 74 • February 2022 | Towman.com
saw several cuts by hand. And he takes reasonable steps to ensure that kids will not cut their fingers on the band saw. Even so, despite the signs, verbal warnings, and constant risk avoidance, one kid cut half his finger off on the band saw anyway. Nobody is expected to completely reduce all risk, as that is impossible. Rather, whenever you engage in activity that poses a risk of harm, you have an associated duty to take reasonable measures to reduce that risk. If you do not fulfill your duty to manage that risk in a reasonable way, you commit “negligence.” The teacher in the above scenario took every measure he could, short of taking the band saw out of the shop altogether. So he was not negligent, despite the outcome.
SEVERITY OF RISK CATEGORIES
What does this all have to do with recovery and towing hazards? First, identify which potential harms to focus on, given that tow and recovery companies face dozens of risky situations and do not have the resources to take extraordinary measures regarding every risk. The solution is based on “reasonably foreseeable” harms. Tow and recovery companies cannot just do their jobs mindlessly or rely on standard practices at every turn. Every company must assess what the foreseeable harms are, and take measures to reduce the risk of that harm. To define our terms, “recklessness” means you engaged in an act where the risk of harm was almost 100 percent. The classic example is shooting an arrow into a crowd. You may not intend to harm anyone, but you committed an act where someone almost certainly would be harmed. Being convicted of wrongdoing here would require evidence that you did not care if anyone was hurt or not.
So when you face a situation with risk, and someone gets hurt, the lawyers are going to debate which of these four main categories you’d fit into. The categories are: 1) Not negligent: you fulfilled your duties and someone was harmed despite your efforts; 2) Negligent: you did not fulfill your duties to reduce risk; 3) Reckless: you ignored the fact that someone would almost certainly be harmed 4) Intentional: you intended to harm someone. Obviously, the sentencing from being convicted for these types of acts gets worse as you move up in categories. To illustrate, note the following case study.
DEADLY SNATCH BLOCK
In State v. Peck, in Ohio, the Court wrestled with this very
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AmericanTowman.com | February 2022 • 75
issue. A tower used a snatch block to pull a semi-truck out of a highway median. The snatch block’s load capacity was too low for the weight. It broke, flew into the highway, and killed a driver. The tower’s main problem was his own testimony—he did not check the rating of the snatch block in advance. But he also said that he normally did not check the rating in this situation. The tower testified that he had ten years of experience. He also claimed, and it was not disputed, that he properly rigged the snatch block and all other equipment. The semi’s owner informed the tower of the weight being pulled. He simply used the block that came with the truck, making an assumption that it was strong enough to pull a semi out of a median. After all, that is less weight than what his tow-truck was built for.
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The tower testified that he had no idea this snatch block would fail. In fact, he had never heard of a snatch block breaking before. Nor did he get any warning before this snatch block failed. He did not look at the snatch block’s rating, but knew that he had used it before to help tow a heavy barge. The snatch block was the only snatch block on the heavy tow truck, so the tower assumed it was capable of pulling a heavy tractor-trailer. So the question is: which one of the four levels did the tower fit into? The trial court found that the tower acted recklessly. The appellate court disagreed and said he acted negligent.
WHY THE DIFFERENCE?
The appellate court said that the difference in negligence and recklessness is one of “kind, rather
than degree.” In other words, a negligent act does not become reckless because it was very negligent. Rather, the difference is in the awareness the tower had of the type of risk. If the risk was one that called for a duty of risk reduction—then it is negligence. If the risk is one that called for not engaging in the act at all, because it would almost certainly harm someone, then it is a reckless act. We can safely assume that tow and recovery work is not like shooting an arrow into a crowd— it is not reckless. But it is risky. We tolerate that risk because of the cost of forbidding recovery and tow work is too high. But we impose “duties” on the tower to reduce the foreseeable risks with reasonable measures. If he does not fulfill those duties, the tower is negligent.
COURT’S FINAL DECISION
So, did the tower fulfill his duties? The tower relied primarily on his 10 years of experience. His experience informed him that he had no duty to check the rating of his snatch block. He had used it before on this type of load and it worked just fine. The tower saw this vehicle recovery as routine. He did it before. He used the equipment before. He relied on the equipment that came with the truck. Regardless, the court found him negligent. Here is my view of why. There are two duties at play here—our tower only took the first step and failed to take the second step. The first duty is to follow the rules and standard procedures. The second duty, where he failed, was in his duty to apply his professional judgment to the individual facts of the situation.
RISK MANAGEMENT
First, the tower must do all that he normally does and meet all standards. Second, in addition, the tower must actively assess the risks of every action he takes—and respond to those risks. He cannot ignore what happens around him, and then merely say, “Well, I complied with the standard and did it that way we normally do it.” There was probably something about the circumstances surrounding that recovery that either increased the truck’s weight or compromised his snatch block’s integrity. Maybe it was the weather or maybe it was the hard mud. I don’t know. I also don’t know if the problem was “foreseeable.” But I do know the tower failed to convince a court that he fulfilled his duties when he merely used the explanation, “We always do it that way” defense. That defense only gets you half-way there.
MORAL OF THE STORY
The law imposes a duty to follow rules and standards of operation. But the law also imposes a duty to reasonably investigate the entire situation before putting people at risk. Nobody else has that duty. The tower must understand that duty and assert it fully. He must take command. That may mean telling his boss, a police officer, or vehicle owner something they do not want to hear. Tow and recovery companies must foster a culture of personal responsibility among their towers in the field. And towers must remember that they cannot let their guard down for even the most routine recoveries. Like the band saw, they must respect the risks of everything they do in this profession.
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AmericanTowman.com | February 2022 • 77
Towman’s Toy
Mini Mac
At First, Just for Fun By Steve Temple
New Feature Series! Editor’s note: Have a special ride you’d like to show off in American Towman? Email some sample photos and a short description to: stemple@towman.com
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e’ve all heard that line about life being “like a box of chocolates,” with all the surprises you find inside. The thing is, it’s really true. The “Mini Mac” seen here is rolling proof. This cute little clone started off as a whim, just a change of pace from all the work done at Mechanics Plus in Emmaus, Pennsylvania. Founded and owned by Mark Feiertag in 2004, this family firm runs a fleet of 60 or so trucks, and has a 16 garage bays. It handles a lot of recoveries and repairs, along with contract towing for the nearby Mac truck factory. The Power Wheels electric toy truck was already at the factory as a showpiece, but Mark’s son Shawn bought it and decided to paint and wrap it to imitate his 2021 Mac Granite, fitted with a 35-ton Vulcan V-70
78 • February 2022 | Towman.com
tow rig from Miller Industries. “We thought it was just a neat idea— not to promote anything,” he admits. “My graphics company, Landis Graphics, got all excited as well, and had it done right away.” But then Shawn decided to take his Mini Mac project to the next level, pulling an all-nighter right before the AT Expo in Baltimore to fabricate a small-scale hook and boom (from a couple of leftover Jeep Gladiator suspension arms, made to look like an old Holmes 750). When the matching pair of trucks showed up in Baltimore last November, they were a big hit, gathering all sorts of attention from spectators taking lots of photos. As a subject for our new Towman’s Toy department, these two trucks came as
This cute
little clone
started off as
a whim…
somewhat of a surprise to us as well, since we really were thinking in terms of towers’ muscle cars, motorcycles, street rods and the like. But this pair was so popular at the Expo, we couldn’t resist.
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AmericanTowman.com | February 2022 • 79
Currently the Mini Mac is a mascot for the shop, and employees’ kids enjoy playing with it in the lobby. How do customers react? “It brings joy to people’s faces!” Shawn exclaims. “We plan to continue showing the trucks together at other shows.” And you never know what surprises he’ll find there too! Mark and Linda have come a long way since founding Mechanics Plus in 2004. Their son Shawn was at the shop from the age of two months, in a crib right next to the dispatch desk. Today he runs a 2021 Mac Granite, fitted with a 35-ton Vulcan V-70 tow rig, and created a matching Mini Mac.
80 • February 2022 | Towman.com
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AmericanTowman.com | February 2022 • 81
Classic Wrecker
Hot Rod Tow Truck
’55 Chevy Qualifies for Company’s Showroom By Steve Temple
Photos by Angel Dooly
A
Editor’s Note: Know of a cool classic wrecker? Send us some sample photos and a short description for a possible feature in American Towman: stemple@towman.com
t the San Antonio TowXpo last s u m m e r, the pageant displayed an impressive array of wreckers and rotators, but one unusual rig in particular really stood out. Although not the biggest or baddest truck on display, this flame-red ’55 Chevy from RPM Equipment sure caught everyone’s attention. It rolls on massive, 19.5-inch Mickey Thompson meats in the rear that look like Super Specials, giving it the proper nose-down rake. And the original chassis is outfitted with a Holmes 450 from the same era, running a beefy mechanical
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PTO winch. “That was the hot setup back in the ‘50s,” notes Lonnie Schwem of RPM. “It looks like it came off a Mac truck, way overbuilt with a big bull gear.” Not only that, the truck is a solid performer on the street. “I’ll talk to you— and fry the hides,” he reveals. How did this righteous rod end up at a tow show? Well, first a bit of background about the owners. Ryan Marshall of RPM Equipment is a long-time hot rod builder. His dad Brian founded the company in the yard of a farm house way back in 1981. He’d wet down the grass and spray paint on a vehicle right on the front lawn. Over the years, Brian and Ryan went on to build a couple dozen hot rods. They also accept customized vehicles in trade for all the tow trucks they build, today as many as 400 per year, now exclusively using the Miller Industries line. “We take rods, motorcycles, RVs, just about anything in trade,” Ryan says. “Even if you have some cattle, we’ll talk.” As for the ’55 Chevy, a sales rep named Warren Govinchuck for Miller Industries knew of RPM’s reputation as a Texas trader and rodder. So when he came across this rig, owned by a tow operator who had
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AmericanTowman.com | February 2022 • 83
recently passed away, he immediately gave Ryan a call. “We’ve got a hot rod tow truck for you!” he exclaimed. Well, it wasn’t actually his, but he hooked up Ryan with the estate of the former owner. Even though it had sat for a while, and needed some exercise, the condition of the truck was actually pretty decent. It came with a Chevy 350 V-8 under the hood, and Lokar shifter for the TH400 transmission. But Ryan took it to the next level—and he’s not done yet. Besides dressing up the engine with a Holley air filter, he buffed out the paint and upgraded the interior panels and carpeting, and added diamond plate to the door sills. Even more touches are planned, and should be done by the TowXpo in Fort Worth, Texas this coming June 16-18, where he plans to display the truck once again, since it’s the company’s showroom truck. So don’t try asking Ryan if he would let you take it in trade for a herd of cattle! 84 • February 2022 | Towman.com
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AmericanTowman.com | February 2022 • 85
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AmericanTowman.com | February 2022 • 87
My Baby
Pageant Prep
What Does it Take to Win a Trophy? By George L. Nitti Photos by Steve Temple
George L. Nitti has written for American Towman since 2009. He started out as a news writer and now writes a weekly feature on TowIndustryWeek.com, Tow Illustrated, which spotlights the tow truck graphics.
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hen Joseph Sandoval’s 2022 Peterebilt 567, fitted with a 50ton Custom Built tow rig, earned the Best of Show award at the Las Vegas ShowPlace last fall, it actually came as a surprise to him. “I didn’t expect to win,” he admitted. “There were a lot of beautiful trucks there, and I went more for the fun of it.” But that doesn’t mean he didn’t put in a lot of preparation. How so? A winning concept often originates with pen and paper, as one begins to put down ideas and add details to shape a vision.
88 • February 2022 | Towman.com
That’s the case for the Sandoval’s General Towing & Transport of Fontana, California. After first noting some background about the company, we’ll then dig into the details of the design. This family-owned firm, founded by Eliseo Sandoval in 2005, began operations with one tow truck, a GMC 6500 Kodiak with a 19.5-foot Chevron flat bed. The company now has grown to five rigs, from light- to heavy-duty, with two more on the way later this Spring. What prompted the Sandovals to go with the Custom Built tow rig?
Tech Highlights
“More economical,” Joseph points out. After visiting Custom Built in Kane, Pennsylvania, he also noted how everything was done in house, and liked the personal attention provided there. As already noted, the design and branding of this new rig shown here started with a simple sketch, and now prevails on on all their tow trucks. Their approach was simple and direct. “We wanted something that would catch other’s attention,” he recalls. The next step was taking their design to a professional graphics company. After checking out the social media profile of Gator Graphics, a company located nearby in Ontario, California, they were hooked. Soon, their distinctive brand was born. “There’s no pattern to it—it’s eye-popping,” Joseph says. Eddie Vasquez of VTTR (Vasquez Tow Truck Repair), which handled additional customizing of the truck, says it reminds him of the sci-fi movie Tron—futuristic, trendsetting. The graphics come to life with three key elements: lines, colors and logo. With lines stretching out in all directions, in uneven lengths, shapes and thickness, some proportionally matched, others not, the design carries an abstract Work the non-traffic side - Stay Safe!
It took us two days, around the clock, washing and fully polishing it. We were up
’til midnight
the night before the show. and modern quality. Yet the visual treatment is well balanced across the canvas of the wrecker. The lines are further accented with contrasting colors of charcoal gray, red and navy blue. The company logo is an embellishment of the family name, “Sandoval’s,” written with a curvature and distinct scripted font, where it lays center stage on both the body and boom of the rig. Gradient colors from the lettering radiate and further enliven the design. As for the pageant in Las Vegas, what sort of extra preparation did he Joseph and his crew do? “It took us two days, around the clock, washing and fully polishing it,” Sandoval recalled. “We were up
Chassis: 2022 Peterbilt 567 Wrecker body: Custom Built Engine: Cummins X-15, 605 hp, 2050 lb/ft torque Equipment: Custom Built 50-ton boom and wheel lift Built by: Custom Built VTTR (toolboxes, lighting, flooring, headliner, audio system) Gator Graphics (custom lettering and graphics) ’til midnight the night before the show.” While this careful detailing was key, his 567 Peterbuilt carries other features that enhance the overall effect of its graphics. Sandoval points to this model’s big cab and sloped, rounded hood. “It’s roomier inside, and more aerodynamic,” he observes. “The cab is real comfort zone—better for over-the-road.” He also gives a big nod to VTTR for organizing the toolboxes, and hand-fitting wood flooring. Plus the nightlight headliner, sound and camera system, and flashing marker lights and the red underglow of the whole truck. The stylish looks are all well and good, but how well does the rig handle a recovery? The first one involved a heavily loaded tractor trailer that tipped over in a sink hole created by heavy rains. After securing wire rope to the corners of the can, Sandoval’s was able to right it in short order. So this rig not only looks great, but gets the job done!
◀
AmericanTowman.com | February 2022 • 89
Lowdown
A Towman Original By Steve Calitri
Jim Sorrenti and I first teamed up at the 1998 American Towman Exposition. He volunteered to help me out at the show, whatever was needed. I asked him to guard the Towman Monument the night it was brought into the Convention Center and set on the ballroom floor covered with a red clothsheet. It was transferred in the dead of night so no one would see it. Jim helped guide it out of a large wood crate and made sure it was placed and fastened securely upon its base, which held the names of over 100 sponsors that supported its creation. Knowing what this monument meant to me, the magazine staff and the entire industry, he camped out near this veiled mystery until daybreak. On Festival Night, as I spoke at the podium to draw the eyes of 1000 towers to myself, Jim slipped off the red veil from the monument. “Ladies and gentlemen,” I announced, “for you, your children and your children’s children, I present the Towman Monument!” They all turned around to look behind them, as the red veil was sliding down the Monument. You heard a grand chorus of oooohs and ahs throughout the room. That’s how Jim Sorrenti first earned his bones with me. Soon after I learned he had a passion for motorcycles and all things automotive, and had done some freelance writing. As we were looking for a new editor at the time, I decided to give Jim a shot at the job, something he had absolutely no experience in. Jim soon earned the respect of Randy Olson because of 90 • February 2022 | Towman.com
Steve Calitri and Jim Sorrenti at the debut of the Towman Monument.
his enthusiasm for towing equipment and the jobs they performed. (Randy at the time was VP of Marketing with Miller Industries.) They became friends, Randy appreciating Jim for his understanding of wreckers and recovery work. Jim relished the work towers perform, but found the nuts and bolts of editing more challenging— which required some coaching on my part. “Jim, you’re going to have to learn to type if you’re going to get a handle of this job,” I told him. He immediately went at the typing tutorial on his computer. In a couple weeks he was typing satisfactorily. At that time the magazine was still receiving articles and press releases by hard copy, not the digital documents we receive today. So typing was critical for an editor to do the job efficiently and meet deadlines.
Two years later I noticed Jim had reverted back to hunting and pecking on the keyboard. Jim went back into the typing tutorial and again his fingers relearned the typing method that makes for speed and accuracy. Some years after, I was befuddled to see Jim had gone back to his old ways of hunting and pecking on keys. We were both at a loss as to why he kept reverting back. Twice over he had proudly mastered the typing skill. Still, he had a positive attitude and was game to try again. This time around I sent him to take a live course in typing at the community college. The instructor listened to the problem he was having, and in fact gave him some psychological insight. So, for the third time Jim learned to type. I relay this story because it speaks to how much Jim loved covering all things related to towing and recovery, and how he never quit. Eventually, I changed Jim’s role to exclusively writing recovery articles, My Baby (tow equipment) pieces and tackling special assignments, like his trip to Japan to cover an Isuzu Truck event, an experience he never stopped talking about. No writer in the world has written more articles on recoveries and wreckers than Jim Sorrenti. Writing for the magazine and TowIndustryWeek.com, he has authored over 1,500 recovery articles and another 250 My Baby articles. During his time at American Towman, he befriended thousands of towers across the country and throughout the world. This industry will sorely miss him.
Tow Engineer
Rapid Response Swift Handling of a Portable Fire Extinguisher By Terry Abejuela
I Field Editor Terry Abejuela has 40-plus years of light-duty towing and recovery experience. He is also a light-duty Level 1 instructor for the California Tow Truck Association.
s your tow truck properly equipped with a portable fire extinguisher? Many states require tow trucks to carry one. For instance, the California Vehicle Code (CVC) states that tow trucks must carry a fire extinguisher capable of extinguishing four units of B or C type fire. Also, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations requires a commercial motor vehicle to be equipped with at least a 5 B:C extinguisher (capable of covering five square feet of fire) for DOT compliance. Some tow operators, though, might not be familiar with these types of fires (see
list below for details). Nor have they been trained to use a portable fire extinguisher. So what follows are a few tips on portable fire extinguishers.
REQUIRED TRAINING
In the towing and recovery business, it is common to find a portable fire extinguisher in the office, in the shop area and in tow and service vehicles. If employees are expected to use a portable fire extinguisher, then the employer is required to provide information, instruction, and training on its use. All tow truck operators, office and yard personnel should attend a formal training class on the proper use of a fire extinguisher before the need arises. Not just once, but every other year. A company called FireMaster provides a short half-hour classroom presentation, and then requires each driver to put out a small fire using a five-pound portable fire extinguisher. The company uses a small metal pan with gasoline to set the fire and each driver then suppresses it with the extinguisher. This procedure is done under the close supervision of highly trained professionals. Do not attempt to conduct this type of training without qualified supervision and the approval of the local fire department. You might also want to notify neighbors of what you will be doing so as not to alarm anyone. Upon completion of the training, FireMaster provides certificate of completion for each driver. The firm tailors the training to automobile fires, since this is what our tow operators would most Be familiar with the basic elements of a portable fire extinguisher so you know it’s charged, inspected and ready for a rapid response.
North 92 • February 2022 | Towman.com
likely encounter. (Note that even though I have personally attended a lot of portable fire extinguisher training classes over my career, this article is not a substitute for formal training.)
IMPORTANT SPECS
Make sure that your portable fire extinguisher meets the legal requirements in your state. As mentioned above, in California, CVC 27700 requires tow trucks to carry one or more portable fire extinguishers of the dry chemical or carbon dioxide type with an aggregate rating of at least 4-B, C units. It must also bear the approval of a laboratory nationally recognized as properly equipped to make the approval. Most tow trucks are equipped with a five-pound A, B, C dry chemical portable fire extinguisher. The portable fire extinguisher
Work the non-traffic side - Stay Safe!
must be inspected and serviced once a year by a licensed company and visually inspected monthly. An employee on a monthly basis should inspect all portable fire extinguisher to ensure: 1. Correct mounting and labeling. 2. No blockage and not hidden. 3. The pressure gauge needle is in the green. 4. Pin and seal are in place. 5. No signs of damage.
the floor in a horizontal position. If an extinguisher gets free of the mounting bracket it can roll and cause an accidental discharge. (This happened to me once, and I have had several other drivers tell me it happened to them as well.) On the other hand, when extinguishers are mounted in a toolbox, the outside of the box must be marked “Fire Extinguisher Inside.”
All portable fire extinguishers should be mounted in a prominent location that is easily accessible and clearly marked. It’s not a good idea to mount fire extinguishers inside the cab of a tow truck, in the event of an accidental discharge while driving, which would obviously cause a driving hazard. Often when extinguishers are in the cab of a truck they are mounted to
What type of fire does an A, B, C portable fire extinguisher work on? Here’s a simple way to remember what the A, B, C mean: A stands for Ash—anything that turns into ash is an A-type fire. Common combustibles such as wood, paper or cloth, are A-type fires. B stands for Boil—Fluid fires such as gasoline, diesel, oil or
KNOW YOUR LETTERS
◀
AmericanTowman.com | February 2022 • North 93
Vertical mounting of a fire extinguisher is safer, and preferably not inside the cab of a truck, due to the hazards of an accidental discharge.
lifting the hood or trunk lids. A vehicle on fire can create a hazard where a hydraulic shock-absorbing bumper or gas shock heats to a point where these parts become a red-hot projectile shooting off the vehicle with tremendous force. Tow truck operators must stay clear of the front or rear of a vehicle when the vehicle is on fire.
HANDLING TIPS
grease fires are B-type fires. C stands for Circuit or Current—Live electrical equipment fires are C-type fires. There is also a D-type portable fire extinguisher which is for combustible metals such as magnesium. This type of fire requires a special type of extinguisher. Your A, B, C portable fire extinguisher would not be effective on a D type fire. There is also a K-type portable fire extinguisher that is specifically designed to work on fats, grease and oil fires you would typically need in a restaurant environment. In electrical, data or sensitive equipment areas, a Halon portable fire extinguisher can be used to reduce the potential for damage to the equipment.
FLAME GEOMETRY
Are you familiar with the “triangle of fire”? Fire can only exist if it has the three elements in the triangle of fire. Fuel, heat and oxygen are required to start or sustain a fire. If you take away any of the three elements the fire will go out. The fire must have a fuel source or it will extinguish. Tow operators should especially keep in mind that in automotive fires the fuel could be gasoline, upholstery, rubber, carpet or any common combustible. If you let a
car burn, it will eventually go out once all of the fuel is burnt. The fire also has to have heat. If you take away the heat the fire will extinguish. Lastly, the fire has to have oxygen. If you take away the oxygen the fire will extinguish. Many fire extinguishers work by taking away the oxygen. A dry chemical fire extinguisher will smother the fire by taking away the oxygen.
KNOWING WHEN TO STEP BACK
A five-pound portable fire extinguisher, commonly found on tow trucks, will only last about 15 seconds. If a vehicle is engulfed in flames, you will not be able to extinguish it with a five-pound fire extinguisher. Request the assistance of the fire department. Only attempt to extinguish very small fires, and only if the fire department is not on scene yet. Know too that vehicles on fire will emit toxic fumes from the burning of rubber, plastic, upholstery and fluids. These fumes will quickly overcome anyone not wearing the proper breathing apparatus. Other hazards to tow truck operators around a vehicle fire are the hydraulic shock-absorbing bumpers on older vehicles, or the gas shocks used to assist with
North 94 • February 2022 | Towman.com
To properly use a portable fire extinguisher, stand upwind when possible, and approximately eight feet away from the fire. And think of this acronym: PASS. P - Pull A - Aim S - Squeeze S - Sweep “P” stands for pull. Pull the safety pin on the fire extinguisher. Make sure you are not putting pressure on the trigger when you try to pull the pin. Twist the pin to break the small tie wrap that holds the pin in place, and then pull the pin out. “A” stands for aim. Aim the portable fire extinguisher at the base of the fire. Hold the extinguisher upright with one hand and aim the hose with your other hand at the base of the fire. “S” stands for squeeze. Squeeze the trigger to expel the firefighting agent on the base of the fire. “S” stands sweep. As you aim the fire extinguisher at the base of the fire use a slow side-to-side sweeping motion to extinguish the fire. Hold the portable fire extinguisher upright for it to work properly and expel the most amount of fire-fighting agent. Most portable fire extinguishers have a tube the runs from the bottom of the portable fire extinguisher
to the top, which picks up the firefighting agent. Holding a portable fire extinguisher incorrectly may affect the efficiency of the fire extinguisher. Do not stop until the fire is extinguished or the portable fire extinguisher is empty. Important caution: Make sure to maintain an escape route so you do not become trapped by the fire. The international symbol for an empty fire extinguisher is to lay it on its side. Once the fire extinguisher has been used, lay it on its side even if there is still some fire fighting agent left in it. Lastly, it bears repeating that all tow truck operators, office and yard employees must be provided professional portable fire extinguisher training conducted by qualified instructors at least every two years (or better yet, annually). So when the need arises, they will have the knowledge and confidence to perform a rapid response effectively, efficiently and safely.
Work the non-traffic side - Stay Safe!
AmericanTowman.com | February 2022 • North 95
North 96 • February 2022 | Towman.com
Episode 10
Copyright©2021 American Towman Magazine. Characters and stories are fictitious; no resemblance to real life characters is intended.
Send your thoughts/suggestions on the Adventures to scalitri@towman.com or American Towman, 2 Overlook Dr #5, Warwick NY 10990
Tow Engineer
Rapid Response Swift Handling of a Portable Fire Extinguisher By Terry Abejuela
I Field Editor Terry Abejuela has 40-plus years of light-duty towing and recovery experience. He is also a light-duty Level 1 instructor for the California Tow Truck Association.
s your tow truck properly equipped with a portable fire extinguisher? Many states require tow trucks to carry one. For instance, the California Vehicle Code (CVC) states that tow trucks must carry a fire extinguisher capable of extinguishing four units of B or C type fire. Also, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations requires a commercial motor vehicle to be equipped with at least a 5 B:C extinguisher (capable of covering five square feet of fire) for DOT compliance. Some tow operators, though, might not be familiar with these types of fires (see
list below for details). Nor have they been trained to use a portable fire extinguisher. So what follows are a few tips on portable fire extinguishers.
REQUIRED TRAINING
In the towing and recovery business, it is common to find a portable fire extinguisher in the office, in the shop area and in tow and service vehicles. If employees are expected to use a portable fire extinguisher, then the employer is required to provide information, instruction, and training on its use. All tow truck operators, office and yard personnel should attend a formal training class on the proper use of a fire extinguisher before the need arises. Not just once, but every other year. A company called FireMaster provides a short half-hour classroom presentation, and then requires each driver to put out a small fire using a five-pound portable fire extinguisher. The company uses a small metal pan with gasoline to set the fire and each driver then suppresses it with the extinguisher. This procedure is done under the close supervision of highly trained professionals. Do not attempt to conduct this type of training without qualified supervision and the approval of the local fire department. You might also want to notify neighbors of what you will be doing so as not to alarm anyone. Upon completion of the training, FireMaster provides certificate of completion for each driver. The firm tailors the training to automobile fires, since this is what our tow operators would most Be familiar with the basic elements of a portable fire extinguisher so you know it’s charged, inspected and ready for a rapid response.
South 92 • February 2022 | Towman.com
likely encounter. (Note that even though I have personally attended a lot of portable fire extinguisher training classes over my career, this article is not a substitute for formal training.)
IMPORTANT SPECS
Make sure that your portable fire extinguisher meets the legal requirements in your state. As mentioned above, in California, CVC 27700 requires tow trucks to carry one or more portable fire extinguishers of the dry chemical or carbon dioxide type with an aggregate rating of at least 4-B, C units. It must also bear the approval of a laboratory nationally recognized as properly equipped to make the approval. Most tow trucks are equipped with a five-pound A, B, C dry chemical portable
Work the non-traffic side - Stay Safe!
fire extinguisher. The portable fire extinguisher must be inspected and serviced once a year by a licensed company and visually inspected monthly. An employee on a monthly basis should inspect all portable fire extinguisher to ensure: 1. Correct mounting and labeling. 2. No blockage and not hidden. 3. The pressure gauge needle is in the green. 4. Pin and seal are in place. 5. No signs of damage. All portable fire extinguishers should be mounted in a prominent location that is easily accessible and clearly marked. It’s not a good idea to mount fire extinguishers inside the cab of a tow truck, in the event of an accidental discharge while
AmericanTowman.com | February 2022 • South 93
Vertical mounting of a fire extinguisher is safer, and preferably not inside the cab of a truck, due to the hazards of an accidental discharge.
All portable fire extinguishers should be
mounted in a prominent location that is easily accessible and clearly marked.
driving, which would obviously cause a driving hazard. Often when extinguishers are in the cab of a truck they are mounted to the floor in a horizontal position. If an extinguisher gets free of the mounting bracket it can roll and cause an accidental discharge. (This happened to me once, and I have had several other drivers tell me it happened to them as well.) On the other hand, when extinguishers are mounted in a toolbox, the outside of the box must be marked “Fire Extinguisher Inside.”
KNOW YOUR LETTERS
What type of fire does an A, B, C portable fire extinguisher work on? Here’s a simple way to remember what the A, B, C mean: A stands for Ash—anything that turns into ash is an A-type fire. Common combustibles such as wood, paper or cloth, are A-type fires. B stands for Boil—Fluid fires such as gasoline, diesel, oil or grease fires are B-type fires. C stands for Circuit or Current—Live electrical equipment fires are C-type fires.
There is also a D-type portable fire extinguisher which is for combustible metals such as magnesium. This type of fire requires a special type of extinguisher. Your A, B, C portable fire extinguisher would not be effective on a D type fire. There is also a K-type portable fire extinguisher that is specifically designed to work on fats, grease and oil fires you would typically need in a restaurant environment. In electrical, data or sensitive equipment areas, a Halon portable fire extinguisher can be used to reduce the potential for damage to the equipment.
FLAME GEOMETRY
Are you familiar with the “triangle of fire”? Fire can only exist if it has the three elements in the triangle of fire. Fuel, heat and oxygen are required to start or sustain a fire. If you take away any of the three elements the fire will go out. The fire must have a fuel source or it will extinguish. Tow operators should especially keep in mind that in automotive fires the fuel could be gasoline, upholstery, rubber, carpet or any
South 94 • February 2022 | Towman.com
common combustible. If you let a car burn, it will eventually go out once all of the fuel is burnt. The fire also has to have heat. If you take away the heat the fire will extinguish. Lastly, the fire has to have oxygen. If you take away the oxygen the fire will extinguish. Many fire extinguishers work by taking away the oxygen. A dry chemical fire extinguisher will smother the fire by taking away the oxygen.
KNOWING WHEN TO STEP BACK
A five-pound portable fire extinguisher, commonly found on tow trucks, will only last about 15 seconds. If a vehicle is engulfed in flames, you will not be able to extinguish it with a five-pound fire extinguisher. Request the assistance of the fire department. Only attempt to extinguish very small fires, and only if the fire department is not on scene yet. Know too that vehicles on fire will emit toxic fumes from the burning of rubber, plastic, upholstery and fluids. These fumes will quickly overcome anyone not wearing the proper breathing
apparatus. Other hazards to tow truck operators around a vehicle fire are the hydraulic shock-absorbing bumpers on older vehicles, or the gas shocks used to assist with lifting the hood or trunk lids. A vehicle on fire can create a hazard where a hydraulic shock-absorbing bumper or gas shock heats to a point where these parts become a red-hot projectile shooting off the vehicle with tremendous force. Tow truck operators must stay clear of the front or rear of a vehicle when the vehicle is on fire.
HANDLING TIPS
To properly use a portable fire extinguisher, stand upwind when possible, and approximately eight feet away from the fire. And think of this acronym: PASS. P - Pull A - Aim S - Squeeze S - Sweep “P” stands for pull. Pull the safety pin on the fire extinguisher.
Make sure you are not putting pressure on the trigger when you try to pull the pin. Twist the pin to break the small tie wrap that holds the pin in place, and then pull the pin out. “A” stands for aim. Aim the portable fire extinguisher at the base of the fire. Hold the extinguisher upright with one hand and aim the hose with your other hand at the base of the fire. “S” stands for squeeze. Squeeze the trigger to expel the firefighting agent on the base of the fire. “S” stands sweep. As you aim the fire extinguisher at the base of the fire use a slow side-to-side sweeping motion to extinguish the fire. Hold the portable fire extinguisher upright for it to work properly and expel the most amount of fire-fighting agent. Most portable fire extinguishers have a tube the runs from the bottom of the portable fire extinguisher to the top, which picks up the firefighting agent. Holding a portable fire extinguisher incorrectly may affect the efficiency of the fire
extinguisher. Do not stop until the fire is extinguished or the portable fire extinguisher is empty. Important caution: Make sure to maintain an escape route so you do not become trapped by the fire. The international symbol for an empty fire extinguisher is to lay it on its side. Once the fire extinguisher has been used, lay it on its side even if there is still some fire fighting agent left in it. Lastly, it bears repeating that all tow truck operators, office and yard employees must be provided professional portable fire extinguisher training conducted by qualified instructors at least every two years (or better yet, annually). So when the need arises, they will have the knowledge and confidence to perform a rapid response effectively, efficiently and safely.
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When a portable fire extinguisher is mounted inside a toolbox, its contents should be clearly labeled for quick identification.
Work the non-traffic side - Stay Safe!
AmericanTowman.com | February 2022 • South 95
South 96 • February 2022 | Towman.com
Copyright©2021 American Towman Magazine. Characters and stories are fictitious; no resemblance to real life characters is intended.
Send your thoughts/suggestions on the Adventures to scalitri@towman.com or American Towman, 2 Overlook Dr #5, Warwick NY 10990
Tow Engineer
Rapid Response Swift Handling of a Portable Fire Extinguisher By Terry Abejuela
I Field Editor Terry Abejuela has 40-plus years of light-duty towing and recovery experience. He is also a light-duty Level 1 instructor for the California Tow Truck Association.
s your tow truck properly equipped with a portable fire extinguisher? Many states require tow trucks to carry one. For instance, the California Vehicle Code (CVC) states that tow trucks must carry a fire extinguisher capable of extinguishing four units of B or C type fire. Also, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations requires a commercial motor vehicle to be equipped with at least a 5 B:C extinguisher (capable of covering five square feet of fire) for DOT compliance. Some tow operators, though, might not be familiar with these types of fires (see
list below for details). Nor have they been trained to use a portable fire extinguisher. So what follows are a few tips on portable fire extinguishers.
REQUIRED TRAINING
In the towing and recovery business, it is common to find a portable fire extinguisher in the office, in the shop area and in tow and service vehicles. If employees are expected to use a portable fire extinguisher, then the employer is required to provide information, instruction, and training on its use. All tow truck operators, office and yard personnel should attend a formal training class on the proper use of a fire extinguisher before the need arises. Not just once, but every other year. A company called FireMaster provides a short half-hour classroom presentation, and then requires each driver to put out a small fire using a five-pound portable fire extinguisher. The company uses a small metal pan with gasoline to set the fire and each driver then suppresses it with the extinguisher. This procedure is done under the close supervision of highly trained professionals. Do not attempt to conduct this type of training without qualified supervision and the approval of the local fire department. You might also want to notify neighbors of what you will be doing so as not to alarm anyone. Upon completion of the training, FireMaster provides certificate of completion for each driver. The firm tailors the training to automobile fires, since this is what our tow operators would most
◀
Be familiar with the basic elements of a portable fire extinguisher so you know it’s charged, inspected and ready for a rapid response.
Midwest 92 • February 2022 | Towman.com
Vertical mounting of a fire extinguisher is safer, and preferably not inside the cab of a truck, due to the hazards of an accidental discharge.
likely encounter. (Note that even though I have personally attended a lot of portable fire extinguisher training classes over my career, this article is not a substitute for formal training.)
IMPORTANT SPECS
Make sure that your portable fire extinguisher meets the legal requirements in your state. As mentioned above, in California, CVC 27700 requires tow trucks to carry one or more portable fire extinguishers of the dry chemical or carbon dioxide type with an aggregate rating of at least 4-B, C units. It must also bear the approval of a laboratory nationally recognized as properly equipped to make the approval. Most tow trucks are equipped with a five-pound A, B, C dry chemical portable fire extinguisher. The portable fire extinguisher must be inspected and serviced once a year by a licensed company and visually inspected monthly. An employee on a monthly basis should inspect all portable fire extinguisher to ensure: 1. Correct mounting and labeling. 2. No blockage and not hidden. 3. The pressure gauge needle is in the green. 4. Pin and seal are in place.
5. No signs of damage. All portable fire extinguishers should be mounted in a prominent location that is easily accessible and clearly marked. It’s not a good idea to mount fire extinguishers inside the cab of a tow truck, in the event of an accidental discharge while driving, which would obviously cause a driving hazard. Often when extinguishers are in the cab of a truck they are mounted to the floor in a horizontal position. If an extinguisher gets free of the mounting bracket it can roll and cause an accidental discharge. (This happened to me once, and I have had several other drivers tell me it happened to them as well.) On the other hand, when extinguishers are mounted in a toolbox, the outside of the box must be marked “Fire Extinguisher Inside.”
KNOW YOUR LETTERS
What type of fire does an A, B, C portable fire extinguisher work on? Here’s a simple way to remember what the A, B, C mean: A stands for Ash—anything that turns into ash is an A-type fire. Common combustibles such as wood, paper or cloth, are A-type fires. B stands for Boil—Fluid fires
Midwest 94 • February 2022 | Towman.com
such as gasoline, diesel, oil or grease fires are B-type fires. C stands for Circuit or Current—Live electrical equipment fires are C-type fires. There is also a D-type portable fire extinguisher which is for combustible metals such as magnesium. This type of fire requires a special type of extinguisher. Your A, B, C portable fire extinguisher would not be effective on a D type fire. There is also a K-type portable fire extinguisher that is specifically designed to work on fats, grease and oil fires you would typically need in a restaurant environment. In electrical, data or sensitive equipment areas, a Halon portable fire extinguisher can be used to reduce the potential for damage to the equipment.
FLAME GEOMETRY
Are you familiar with the “triangle of fire”? Fire can only exist if it has the three elements in the triangle of fire. Fuel, heat and oxygen are required to start or sustain a fire. If you take away any of the three elements the fire will go out. The fire must have a fuel source or it will extinguish. Tow operators should especially keep in mind that in automotive fires the fuel could be gasoline, upholstery, rubber, carpet or any common combustible. If you let a car burn, it will eventually go out once all of the fuel is burnt. The fire also has to have heat. If you take away the heat the fire will extinguish. Lastly, the fire has to have oxygen. If you take away the oxygen the fire will extinguish. Many fire extinguishers work by taking away the oxygen. A dry chemical fire extinguisher will smother the fire by taking away the oxygen.
KNOWING WHEN TO STEP BACK
A five-pound portable fire extinguisher, commonly found on tow trucks, will only last about 15 seconds. If a vehicle is engulfed in flames, you will not be able to extinguish it with a five-pound fire extinguisher. Request the assistance of the fire department. Only attempt to extinguish very small fires, and only if the fire department is not on scene yet. Know too that vehicles on fire will emit toxic fumes from the burning of rubber, plastic, upholstery and fluids. These fumes will quickly overcome anyone not wearing the proper breathing apparatus. Other hazards to tow truck operators around a vehicle fire are the hydraulic shock-absorbing bumpers on older vehicles, or the gas shocks used to assist with lifting the hood or trunk lids. A vehicle on fire can create a hazard where a hydraulic shockabsorbing bumper or gas shock heats to a point where these parts become a red-hot projectile shooting off the vehicle with tremendous force. Tow truck operators must stay clear of the front or rear of a vehicle when the vehicle is on fire.
“A” stands for aim. Aim the portable fire extinguisher at the base of the fire. Hold the extinguisher upright with one hand and aim the hose with your other hand at the base of the fire. “S” stands for squeeze. Squeeze the trigger to expel the firefighting agent on the base of the fire. “S” stands sweep. As you aim the fire extinguisher at the base of the fire use a slow side-to-side sweeping motion to extinguish the fire. Hold the portable fire extinguisher upright for it to work properly and expel the most amount of fire-fighting agent. Most portable fire extinguishers have a tube the runs from the bottom of the portable fire extinguisher to the top, which picks up the fire-fighting agent. Holding a portable fire extinguisher incorrectly may affect the efficiency
of the fire extinguisher. Do not stop until the fire is extinguished or the portable fire extinguisher is empty. Important caution: Make sure to maintain an escape route so you do not become trapped by the fire. The international symbol for an empty fire extinguisher is to lay it on its side. Once the fire extinguisher has been used, lay it on its side even if there is still some fire fighting agent left in it. Lastly, it bears repeating that all tow truck operators, office and yard employees must be provided professional portable fire extinguisher training conducted by qualified instructors at least every two years (or better yet, annually). So when the need arises, they will have the knowledge and confidence to perform a rapid response effectively, efficiently and safely.
HANDLING TIPS
To properly use a portable fire extinguisher, stand upwind when possible, and approximately eight feet away from the fire. And think of this acronym: PASS. P - Pull A - Aim S - Squeeze S - Sweep “P” stands for pull. Pull the safety pin on the fire extinguisher. Make sure you are not putting pressure on the trigger when you try to pull the pin. Twist the pin to break the small tie wrap that holds the pin in place, and then pull the pin out. Work the non-traffic side - Stay Safe!
AmericanTowman.com | February 2022 • Midwest 95
Midwest 96 • February 2022 | Towman.com
Copyright©2021 American Towman Magazine. Characters and stories are fictitious; no resemblance to real life characters is intended.
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Tow Engineer
Rapid Response Swift Handling of a Portable Fire Extinguisher By Terry Abejuela
I Field Editor Terry Abejuela has 40-plus years of light-duty towing and recovery experience. He is also a light-duty Level 1 instructor for the California Tow Truck Association.
s your tow truck properly equipped with a portable fire extinguisher? Many states require tow trucks to carry one. For instance, the California Vehicle Code (CVC) states that tow trucks must carry a fire extinguisher capable of extinguishing four units of B or C type fire. Also, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations requires a commercial motor vehicle to be equipped with at least a 5 B:C extinguisher (capable of covering five square feet of fire) for DOT compliance. Some tow operators, though, might not be familiar with these types of fires (see
list below for details). Nor have they been trained to use a portable fire extinguisher. So what follows are a few tips on portable fire extinguishers.
REQUIRED TRAINING
In the towing and recovery business, it is common to find a portable fire extinguisher in the office, in the shop area and in tow and service vehicles. If employees are expected to use a portable fire extinguisher, then the employer is required to provide information, instruction, and training on its use. All tow truck operators, office and yard personnel should attend a formal training class on the proper use of a fire extinguisher before the need arises. Not just once, but every other year. A company called FireMaster provides a short half-hour classroom presentation, and then requires each driver to put out a small fire using a five-pound portable fire extinguisher. The company uses a small metal pan with gasoline to set the fire and each driver then suppresses it with the extinguisher. This procedure is done under the close supervision of highly trained professionals. Do not attempt to conduct this type of training without qualified supervision and the approval of the local fire department. You might also want to notify neighbors of what you will be doing so as not to alarm anyone. Upon completion of the training, FireMaster provides certificate of completion for each driver. The firm tailors the training to automobile fires, since this is what our tow operators would most Be familiar with the basic elements of a portable fire extinguisher so you know it’s charged, inspected and ready for a rapid response.
West 92 • February 2022 | Towman.com
likely encounter. (Note that even though I have personally attended a lot of portable fire extinguisher training classes over my career, this article is not a substitute for formal training.)
IMPORTANT SPECS
Make sure that your portable fire extinguisher meets the legal requirements in your state. As mentioned above, in California, CVC 27700 requires tow trucks to carry one or more portable fire extinguishers of the dry chemical or carbon dioxide type with an aggregate rating of at least 4-B, C units. It must also bear the approval of a laboratory nationally recognized as properly equipped to make the approval. Most tow trucks are equipped with a five-pound A, B, C dry chemical portable fire extinguisher. The portable fire extinguisher
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must be inspected and serviced once a year by a licensed company and visually inspected monthly. An employee on a monthly basis should inspect all portable fire extinguisher to ensure: 1. Correct mounting and labeling. 2. No blockage and not hidden. 3. The pressure gauge needle is in the green. 4. Pin and seal are in place. 5. No signs of damage.
the floor in a horizontal position. If an extinguisher gets free of the mounting bracket it can roll and cause an accidental discharge. (This happened to me once, and I have had several other drivers tell me it happened to them as well.) On the other hand, when extinguishers are mounted in a toolbox, the outside of the box must be marked “Fire Extinguisher Inside.”
All portable fire extinguishers should be mounted in a prominent location that is easily accessible and clearly marked. It’s not a good idea to mount fire extinguishers inside the cab of a tow truck, in the event of an accidental discharge while driving, which would obviously cause a driving hazard. Often when extinguishers are in the cab of a truck they are mounted to
What type of fire does an A, B, C portable fire extinguisher work on? Here’s a simple way to remember what the A, B, C mean: A stands for Ash—anything that turns into ash is an A-type fire. Common combustibles such as wood, paper or cloth, are A-type fires. B stands for Boil—Fluid fires such as gasoline, diesel, oil or
KNOW YOUR LETTERS
◀
AmericanTowman.com | February 2022 • West 93
Vertical mounting of a fire extinguisher is safer, and preferably not inside the cab of a truck, due to the hazards of an accidental discharge.
grease fires are B-type fires. C stands for Circuit or Current—Live electrical equipment fires are C-type fires. There is also a D-type portable fire extinguisher which is for combustible metals such as magnesium. This type of fire requires a special type of extinguisher. Your A, B, C portable fire extinguisher would not be effective on a D type fire. There is also a K-type portable fire extinguisher that is specifically designed to work on fats, grease and oil fires you would typically need in a restaurant environment. In electrical, data or sensitive equipment areas, a Halon portable fire extinguisher can be used to reduce the potential for damage to the equipment.
FLAME GEOMETRY
Are you familiar with the “triangle of fire”? Fire can only exist if it has the three elements in the triangle of fire. Fuel, heat and oxygen are required to start or
sustain a fire. If you take away any of the three elements the fire will go out. The fire must have a fuel source or it will extinguish. Tow operators should especially keep in mind that in automotive fires the fuel could be gasoline, upholstery, rubber, carpet or any common combustible. If you let a car burn, it will eventually go out once all of the fuel is burnt. The fire also has to have heat. If you take away the heat the fire will extinguish. Lastly, the fire has to have oxygen. If you take away the oxygen the fire will extinguish. Many fire extinguishers work by taking away the oxygen. A dry chemical fire extinguisher will smother the fire by taking away the oxygen.
KNOWING WHEN TO STEP BACK
A five-pound portable fire extinguisher, commonly found on tow trucks, will only last about 15 seconds. If a vehicle is engulfed in flames, you will not be able to
West 94 • February 2022 | Towman.com
extinguish it with a five-pound fire extinguisher. Request the assistance of the fire department. Only attempt to extinguish very small fires, and only if the fire department is not on scene yet. Know too that vehicles on fire will emit toxic fumes from the burning of rubber, plastic, upholstery and fluids. These fumes will quickly overcome anyone not wearing the proper breathing apparatus. Other hazards to tow truck operators around a vehicle fire are the hydraulic shock-absorbing bumpers on older vehicles, or the gas shocks used to assist with lifting the hood or trunk lids. A vehicle on fire can create a hazard where a hydraulic shock-absorbing bumper or gas shock heats to a point where these parts become a red-hot projectile shooting off the vehicle with tremendous force. Tow truck operators must stay clear of the front or rear of a vehicle when the vehicle is on fire.
HANDLING TIPS
To properly use a portable fire extinguisher, stand upwind when possible, and approximately eight feet away from the fire. And think of this acronym: PASS. P - Pull A - Aim S - Squeeze S - Sweep “P” stands for pull. Pull the safety pin on the fire extinguisher. Make sure you are not putting pressure on the trigger when you try to pull the pin. Twist the pin to break the small tie wrap that holds the pin in place, and then pull the pin out. “A” stands for aim. Aim the portable fire extinguisher at the base of the fire. Hold the extinguisher
upright with one hand and aim the hose with your other hand at the base of the fire. “S” stands for squeeze. Squeeze the trigger to expel the firefighting agent on the base of the fire. “S” stands sweep. As you aim the fire extinguisher at the base of the fire use a slow side-to-side sweeping motion to extinguish the fire. Hold the portable fire extinguisher upright for it to work properly and expel the most amount of fire-fighting agent. Most portable fire extinguishers have a tube the runs from the bottom of the portable fire extinguisher to the top, which picks up the firefighting agent. Holding a portable fire extinguisher incorrectly may affect the efficiency of the fire extinguisher. Do not stop until the fire is extinguished or the portable fire extinguisher is empty. Important caution: Make sure to maintain an escape route so you do not become trapped by the fire. The international symbol for an empty fire extinguisher is to lay it on its side. Once the fire extinguisher has been used, lay it on its side even if there is still some fire fighting agent left in it. Lastly, it bears repeating that all tow truck operators, office and yard employees must be provided professional portable fire extinguisher training conducted by qualified instructors at least every two years (or better yet, annually). So when the need arises, they will have the knowledge and confidence to perform a rapid response effectively, efficiently and safely.
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AmericanTowman.com | February 2022 • West 95
West 96 • February 2022 | Towman.com
Copyright©2021 American Towman Magazine. Characters and stories are fictitious; no resemblance to real life characters is intended.
Send your thoughts/suggestions on the Adventures to scalitri@towman.com or American Towman, 2 Overlook Dr #5, Warwick NY 10990