Road Tools

Surviving in the Towing Industry

by David Lambert

Ask a tower how they have survived years in the business without injuring themselves and minimizing damage and you’ll get some interesting answers. The most common answers seem to be the ones listed below and often include more than one:

Experience. There is no substitute for experience, which can make the tough jobs easier, quicker and safer. But if all vehicles and situations were the same, all we would need is “experience. ” If no new options were added to vehicles; if all ground was flat, level and barren; if the weather never changed—all we would need is experience.

Confidence and flexibility. With experience comes confidence. When the tower comes onto a recovery situation or even a new vehicle, their confidence helps them solve the immediate challenge. Flexibility helps them overcome any problems that might arise when tackling a new situation.

Training. Riding with an experienced operator provides the basics for towing, depending on the attitude and the knowledge the trainer possesses. Attending a structured, formal training program provides a wealth of information for both new and experienced towers. No matter how informative the ride-along was or comprehensive the training class, there were 1,000 things that weren’t discussed or demonstrated.

Common sense. It’s hard to pinpoint what common sense is and where it comes from; it is basically the knowledge and experience the person using the term thinks they have and expects others to have.

Some people call

it the little voice

inside their head;

others consider it

instinct.

Talking to other towers. How many times have you learned a bit of information from the other towers at work, online or a tow show that you later used? Some people call them “ war stories, ” but, aside from the embellishments, there is usually some real information to be had.

Luck. Despite all the training, experience and common sense a tower may have, something still can go wrong. If your lucky, no one gets hurt.

Instincts

While these are probably the most common answers, there may be another reason many of you have made it so long and still can count 10 fingers and 10 toes; your sixth sense. You’re loading a vehicle onto your truck or completed rigging for a recovery and started to winch when you hear that little voice or “just have a feeling. ” Some people call it the little voice inside their head; others consider it instinct.

Whatever you call it, something is telling you when things aren’t alright.

I think that voice or feeling comes from something you saw or heard but didn’t consciously register. (In my case, it’s like the wife talking to me while I’m watching college football. I hear but it might not register.)

Case Study I

Recently, a tower told me a story about an experience he had while preparing to load a new F-350 4x4 onto his flatbed. The truck was on a slight incline, and wouldn’t shift out of “park. ” He decided to drop the linkage before winching, rather than dragging it up on skates.

After engaging the parking brake, he climbed under the vehicle and immediately noticed two things: the oversized tire right next to his mid-section and the transfer case near his head. Knowing he had no escape if the continue to page 14