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TOWERS TAKE SUMMER BREAK IN SAN ANTONIO, AUGUST 13-15

Women Leading the Way Roadside Safety Isnâ€™t Chance The Upsides of Synthetic Rope AT EXPO/Baltimore Registration towman.com

towmantv.com

towweek.com

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Departments Walkaround . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6

World Truck Towing of Seville, Ohio, recovered a tractor-trailer hauling a 58,000-lbs. coil.

News Share . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8 Road Tools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10 Beacons On! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12 Tow Engineer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16 AD Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .34 The Scoop . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .52 Tow Boss . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .60 Work Horse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .70 Repo Run . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .74 Towman’s Market . . . . . . . . . . . .78 My Baby. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .80

FEATURE CONTENTS

Coiled in Ohio Rotators worked in tandem to recover a semi and the 58,000-lbs. coil it was hauling in Ohio. by Jim “Buck” Sorrenti

Low Down . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .82 Adventures of A.T. . . . . . . . . . . . .90

2015 AT Expo

Cover Shot Campbell’s Towing in Warrior, Ala., calls their new 1999 Peterbilt 379/Century 5030T ‘Big Pete.’ Cover photo by Joel McCay.

Baltimore is coming soon, and here’s everything you need to know in advance, including a registration page.

Leading the Way A look at some strong women in the towing industry who are leading by talk and walk. by George Nitti

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The Road Less Traveled Is it that time of the year already? Yes, it’s time to take a sneak peak at what’s to come in November at the American Towman Exposition in Baltimore, Md. It’s a tower ’s dream marketplace with every possible product and service available for you to consider for your business. Are you a tow business owner looking to expand and increase business with a new rotator? Well, the biggest and the best offered from the top manufacturers in the industry will be at the show. The savvy towing veterans will start to make plans for the show by figuring out which seminars they will attend at the American Towman Academy during the Expo. With so much diversity in our conferences, it’s a good idea to strategize in advance which seminars you and your team will attend. The Expo is also a great way to catch up with all your old towing buddies from around the country and around the world, sharing experiences and information that could help you in your own town or state. And after the show you go back to your families (those that didn’t come with you to the show) to share in the Thanksgiving holiday. I will be particularly thankful this year for the time I had with my Mom, Mercedes Ortiz-Pacheco, aka “Mecha,” who passed away last month on June 6. She was a vibrant 84-year-old who lived life on her own terms and with great character. She loved to come to the Expo, as she appreciated the uniqueness and spirit of the industry. As an entrepreneur herself, she recognized the challenges that are faced and the rewards that are

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by Dennie Ortiz

gained by owning your own business. She started her own law practice, and was one of the few that gave lawyers a good name. She helped those less fortunate, worked with the battered women’s shelters and assisted anyone in need regardless if they could pay or not. She was a brilliant, remarkable, extraordinary, wondrous woman with a kind and generous soul. A luminary, Mecha embodied all of those qualities; she was and is a bright and shining star who profoundly touched anyone she met. She also was a motorhead doing her own repairs on her cars for most of those 84 years and she was still driving a manual stick-shift with an unforgiving clutch pedal. Mecha was a rare breed—just like towers. The following excerpt from Robert Frost’s poem, “The Road Not Taken,” reflects the spirit of towers and my Mom: I shall be telling this

First On The Scene! Dennie Ortiz Steve Calitri Brendan Dooley Charles Duke

Publisher Editor-In-Chief Editor Senior Editor

Randall Resch

Operations Editor

Terry Abejuela

Field Editor, West

Jim “Buck” Sorrenti David Kolman Bill Simmons

Field Editor, Northeast Chassis Editor Safety Editor

Emily Oz

On Screen Editor

Mark Lacek

Repo Run Editor

Editorial Board Tommy Anderson Don Archer Roy Carlson Debbie Collins Belinda Harris Bill Johnson Ron Mislan Kurt Wilson

Dallas, Texas Jefferson City, Mo. St. Paul, Minn. Las Vegas, Nev. Greensboro, N.C. South Hadley, Mass. Warren, N.J. Creve Coeur, Ill.

American Towman Staff Ann Marie Nitti Dennie Ortiz Ellen Rosengart Norma Calitri Miriam Ortiz Henri Calitri Toni Vanderhorst William Burwell Peggy Calabrese Ryan Oser Helen Gutfreund Emily Oz Steve Calitri

Page Layout Artist Advertising Sales Mgr. Senior Account Exec. VP of Accounts Subscription Manager Customer Service Publisher’s Assistant TIW Media Director Regional Advertising Sales iMarketing Manager Communications Mgr. ATTV Producer President

American Towman Media Headquarters 7 West Street, Warwick, NY 10990 800-732-3869 or 845-986-4546 E-mail: Publisher: dortiz@towman.com Editor-In-Chief: scalitri@towman.com Editor: bdooley@towman.com

with a sigh Somewhere ages and ages hence: Two roads diverged in a wood, and I– I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference.

Be safe out there and appreciate all the time and love of your family.

AT’S Digital Edition: itowman.com AT’S Website: towman.com AT’S Weekly: towindustryweek.com ATTV: americantowmantv.com Copyright ©2015 American Towman Magazine is published 12 times a year by American Towman Media, Inc. Subscription: $50–1 yr; $95–2 yrs • US $65 and $105 • International Editorial Policy: the act of mailing or delivering a letter or article to American Towman Magazine, shall constitute permission to publish that letter or article or any portion thereof. American Towman Magazine reserves the right to edit any and all material submitted.American Towman Media does not test or review products submitted for inclusion in its publications. All included information, specifications and abilities are as claimed by the equipment manufacturer who is solely liable for any defects or misrepresentations in its products.

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Tower Helps Tow Co. Sued for Negligence in Semi Crash Catch DWI Drivers A lawsuit ver, minibus Two people were arrested in Ithaca, N.Y., after a tower called police because he suspected a driver was intoxicated. The tower responded at 2:15 a.m. for a tow call; when he arrived at the vehicle he suspected the driver was intoxicated and called police. While police were at the scene, another driver pulled up to them and smelled of alcohol. Both drivers were given a field sobriety test and wound up charged with various misdemeanors for driving while intoxicated. Source: http://ithacavoice.com.

Suspect Captured in Fatal Tower Stabbing Detectives arrested a man with the unprovoked June stabbing death of a tower who helped the suspect’s mother change her car battery in Pico Rivera, Calif., authorities said. Tobias Ruben Cabrera, 39, is accused of slaying 35-year-old Raymond Zabala of East Los Angeles, according to a sheriff's release. Deputies booked Cabrera for murder. Zabala worked for Petra Towing & Auto Repair in Montebello and is survived by a girlfriend, a 2-monthold son and a stepson, according to manager Ron Lopez. Zabala arrived on the scene late in the afternoon after Cabrera’s mother called AAA for help with a dead battery in her minivan, officials said. As Zabala talked to Cabrera’s mother, the suspect approached and stabbed Zabala in the neck in a seemingly random attack before fleeing on a bicycle; he was at large three days before being apprehended. Source: www.whittierdailynews.com

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filed by the owners of a big rig that crashed on the Long Beach (Calif.) Freeway in Commerce in 2013, leaving the driver severely burned, alleges that the accident occurred when a wheel broke free from a minibus that was being towed. The truck company filed the negligence suit in Los Angeles Superior Court against the Long Beach-based towing company. The suit, which seeks unspecified damages, also names the tow truck dri-

owners and three auto maintenance companies that allegedly performed work on the minibus. A c c o rd i n g to the lawsuit, the big rig’s driver lost control of the truck when he struck a tire or wheel that came off the minibus as it was being towed. The suit alleges the towing firm was negligent in attaching the minibus to its truck and that the minibus was not properly maintained by its owners. Source: www.presstelegram.com.

STA Debuts Traffic Incident

Reporting System

The Statewide Towing Association of Massachusetts has established a Towing Traffic Incident Reporting System, which is a national online voluntary reporting system for the towing industry to report struck-by and near-miss incidents involving tow operators. A near-miss is defined as an unintentional unsafe occurrence involving a tow operator in a traffic incident management area or work zone that could have resulted in an injury, fatality or property damage. A struck-by incident is any incident where a tow operator or their work vehicle is hit by another vehicle or object within a traffic incident management area or work zone resulting in an injury, fatality or property damage. The goal of TTIRS is to collect and quantify data so member associations can utilize the data to advocate

The Statewide Towing Association of Massachusetts debuted its Towing Traffic Incident Reporting System at ttirs.com.

for Move Over enforcement and education, as well as develop safety protocol and training for the towing industry. Source: www.statewidetowing.org.

… The suit alleges the towing firm was negligent ... Hit-and-Run Killer Gets 12 Years Jewan Turner's family fought back tears as the drunk driver who caused the towman's death was sentenced to 12 years behind bars. Paula Oppel was sentenced in May for driving drunk and killing Turner in July 2014 when he stopped to help a motorist. The tower was working on the roadside when he was hit and killed. Oppel left the scene, but was arrested a short time later. She was sentenced to 12 years for second-degree manslaughter, driving under the influence, and leaving the scene of an accident. Source: www.wdrb.com.

State Patrol Cadet Killed Saving Tower People left flags and flowers on the side of the road in Boulder County, Colo., to remember cadet Taylor Thyfault who was killed as he saved the life of tower Rusty Melvin. “I was coming around the car and he told me, ‘Get back. Get back. Stay off the road,’ ” said Melvin. Thyfault knew a police chase was headed their way and seconds later, Christoper Gebers allegedly barreled through the accident scene. Investigators said he first hit another trooper who was putting out stop sticks. Melvin said Thyfault, a U.S. Army verteran, saved his life. He met with the 21-year-old cadet’s family the next day to thank them personally. “I said, ‘Thank you for raising such a brave son,’ ” said Melvin. “[His mother] had asked about my family and it seemed to bring her peace that she knew that I had a wife and kids and was going home to them.” Source: http://kdvr.com. Work the non-traffic Side–Stay Safe!

Move Over Advances in the West Montana towers marked a milestone just ahead of Memorial Day weekend when the state DOT installed new “Slow Down or Move Over” signage in time for the tradtional start of the busy summer travel season. A release from the Montana Tow Truck Association said its attention on Move Over is increasingly on educating the motoring public to increase awareness and include related instruction in the training of all the various responders that work on the roadways. *** Just south of Montana, Wyoming will become the 48th state to include tow operators in its Move Over law starting this month. Republican State Rep. Harlan Edmonds said he sponsored the recent Wyoming law to include tow truck operators after a number of near-hits in his state.

Montana towers marked a milestone when these signs went up around the state just ahead of Memorial Day weekend.

Wyoming already had protections for law enforcement and emergency responders, requiring drivers to move to the next lane if it’s safe or cut their speed to 20 mph below the posted limit. Sources: Montana Tow Truck Assocition; www.emergencymgmt. com.

Car Recovered from Pool Inch by inch and ever so slowly, a crew from Merl's Towing Service in Grand Rapids, Mich., successfully lifted a car out of a neighborhood swimming pool in May. Police said a woman was in a pharmacy's drivethru when she accidentally placed the car in reverse and stepped on the accelerator. The car Merl’s Towing retrieved an old sedan from a maneuvered backward, residential swimming pool recently. mlive.com crashing through a fence image. and into the empty pool. Merl’s was called shortly after the accident to recover the vehicle. Source: www.mlive.com.

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Check Out What’s NEW and HOT! Big Max Jack Set Access Tools’ Big Max Jack features the Big Max extra-long tool reaching 58” for working on large sedans and SUVs. This long-reach tool features the same protective coating and Store-N-Go handle of other Access products. The set includes the ballistic nylon Super Air Jack, One Hand Jack pry-bar style wedge, Button Strip Tool, heavy-duty carrying case, quick instructional manual and DVD.

www.caropeningtools.com Number 200 on Reader Card

Kid’s Gloves When kids are helping around the shop, don’t treat them with kid gloves … treat them to a pair of Kid’s Gloves

from Robert Young’s Wrecker Sales. They carry two sizes of Kinco kid gloves: Kids 3-6 and Kids 6-12.

www.robertyoungtrucks.com Number 201 on Reader Card

Wrap-A-Wreck Dom’s Wrap-A-Wreck is a clear self-adhesive film that resists punctures, provides 90 days of UV protection and doesn’t breakdown in the rain. Rolls are available in 3 mil and 4 mil true thickness, 18” or 36” widths and 100’ or 200’ lengths. Free shipping.

www.domswrapawreck.com Number 202 on Reader Card

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Mini Hazmat-Plug Kit Sava’s hazmat pipe plugs work fast on leaks and are made of special rubber that is suitable for chemicals and flammables. The DOT-compliant kit ensures worker safety in and around flammable environments. The inflatable plugs seal pipes from the inside; pipe plugs also seal round holes in tanks, barrels or pipes from the outside. The standard kit seals holes or pipe up to 6" in diameter. Larger pipe plugs can be ordered. Kits contain hand pump and grounding kit to prevent static sparking.

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Landoll Upgrades 400 Series Lights, Hydraulics Landoll’s 400 Series Traveling Axle Trailers are the first models that have received the company’s new hydraulic operating systems and all-new Grote lighting package. The upgrades increase operational speed, visual awareness and driver safety. Landoll said Grote’s high-intensity LED light has a 160-degree projection, making it the best choice for the side marker application. The new “A” series 440 and 455 were scheduled to be available this month.

www.landoll.com Number 204 on Reader Card

40-gal. Refueling Tank for Light Duty Transfer Flow introduced a 40-gal. refueling tank for 2010-’15 light-duty pickups, to manually fuel vehicles and equipment. This fuel system comes standard with a 12V refueling pump, wiring harness with cab-mounted power switch, 12’ hose and fuel nozzle, locking fuel cap and mounting hardware. The tank comes with a special permit from the Department of Transportation, making it legal for transport of gasoline, diesel, ethanol, methanol and aviation fuel.

www.transferflow.com Number 205 on Reader Card

Work the non-traffic Side–Stay Safe!

TOWMAN.COM - July 2015 • 11

Roadside Safety Isn’t by Chance by David Lambert

For tire changes, ensure the spare is inflated and usable before removing equipment out of the service vehicle.

roviding roadside assistance— whether light-duty service, a tow or recovery—is filled with hazards. Approximately every six days, a tower dies while helping others on the side of high-speed highways. It’s tragic, and it’s easy to blame the texting/sleepy/distracted/drunk motorist who caused it. In truth, there are several steps towers can take to protect themselves that many ignore. Over the course of the last 33 years in road service (in one job or another), I’ve handled thousands of service calls on high-speed highways. Based on my own experience, as well as input from tow companies and other trainers, I’ve compiled a list of safety practices that can go a long way in helping towers go home after their shift.

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1. If possible, keep light-duty service equipment on the passenger side of the service vehicle. Approximately 80 percent of all highway service requests will be located on the right side of the highway. 2. Wear ANSI-3 or equivalent, federally approved reflective clothing while performing all service requests. 3. Do not closely follow large vehicles that may block your view of the highway ahead. 4. Beacons should be activated when the service provider sees the disabled vehicle or approaching the breakdown location on the side of the highway. Individual states determine

if beacons are required when towing or transporting. 5. For light service (fuel, lockout, jump-start, tire change), park at least 1-1/2 truck lengths behind the disabled vehicle to create a buffer zone. 6. For tows, park in front of the vehicle and prepare the tow truck or flatbed to work before leaving the cab (lights, PTO, engine idle), and ensure the passenger door is unlocked. 7. Exiting or reentering the cab through the passenger side is an option in unsafe locations. 8. If possible, disengage the winch on flatbeds immediately after leaving the cab (unless you have a remote control that can do it).

If the operator knows the call is on a high-speed highway, they may consider disengaging the winch before leaving for the call or leave a little slack in the line so the winch might be disengaged easily. 9. Immediately move the customer to the non-traffic side of the vehicles and face traffic while speaking to them. 10. Once you’re ready to begin work, put the customer in your truck or have them remain in a safe location and keep an eye on traffic. 11. Consider moving vehicles further from the traffic lanes or tow them to the nearest exit or rest area before performing a light service request. 12. Consider putting out safety cones to help protect the scene. Five cones can effectively warn motorists and only increase the margin of safety. 13. If cones are used, walk towards traffic while placing them

Towers should always work the non-traffic controls of the tow truck or flatbed. down and while picking them up. 14. For tire changes, ensure the spare is inflated and usable before removing equipment out of the service vehicle. 15. Keep all tools as close as possible, away from traffic. 16. Vehicles can be put in neutral from the non-traffic side door instead of the traffic side before winching onto beds. 17. Towers should always work the non-traffic controls of the tow truck or flatbed. This could be the most important of all the suggestions and the one too often ignored.

18. Safety straps, safety chains, tiedowns and towing lights might be limited to only the non-traffic side of the towed vehicle in order to move it to a safer location before finishing securing the vehicle. The distance may only be a few feet or to the next exit or rest area. 19. When completing a service call on the right shoulder, it is safer to walk around the front of the truck and walk towards traffic before opening the cab door. 20. Complete all paperwork while sitting in the safety of the truck’s cab. 21. Never believe you are safe while working on a high-speed highway.

David Lambert is president and lead instructor for the North American Towing Academy (www.thenata.com), providing tow operator training and certification programs to state and national associations and individual towing companies. He assisted in editing TRAA’s Level I certification program and was a field editor for American Towman. The “Tow First” safety campaign asks all towers to move vehicles off interstates and turnpikes before changing flat tires, www.thenata.com/towfirst.

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Pros and Cons of Synthetic Rope by Terry Abejuela

Your winch drum is safe from damage from improper winding with synthetic rope.

ynthetic rope continues its advance into the world of towing and recovery. Synthetic rope manufacturers have been attending towing trade shows and trying to educate the industry on the benefits of their products. Sometimes, our industry is slow to accept change. (It happened with hydraulic wreckers and with nylon straps.) A few years ago, I wrote two articles for American Towman about synthetic rope because I believe they offer great benefits for our industry. A few years on now, this subject is ripe for review plus more input from the towing community—more towing companies have experience with syn-

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thetic rope now and we can learn from their experience.

Pros • Safety. A top benefit with synthetic rope is safety. Synthetic rope does not store as much potential energy when under load. This means that when a rope fails under load, the rope has less energy to release. “When we did have a failure of the synthetic rope, it recoiled back in a straight line to the truck. It did not whiplash like a wire rope does,” said John Collins of Ultimate Towing in Gaithersburg, Md. Tim Baumgartner of Crockett

Interstate Towing in Eugene, Ore., has been using synthetic rope for about eight years, including on a carrier winch and side-puller. “I intentionally broke a one-yearold used synthetic rope to see what would happen,” he said. “We used a forklift with a dead weight of 20,000 pounds to overload the rope and cause the failure. When the rope failed, it recoiled only about four feet straight back towards the winch.” • Floats. If you do water recoveries, you can appreciate the benefit of a winch rope that floats on water. The rope does not get rusty from exposure to water and is easy to see compared to

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Synthetic rope is more susceptible to cutting and abrasion damage than wire rope, requiring more care from tow operators.

wire rope. Steve Sedberry, of Buddy’s Wrecker Service in Union City, Tenn., likes the fact the synthetic rope floats on water. “We do some water recoveries and using a rope that floats is a great benefit,” he said. • Kink-free. Your winch drum is safe from damage from improper winding with synthetic rope. Improper winding of wire rope on the winch drum is one of the most common causes of damage to wire rope. When wire rope winds over itself and is buried under the next layer, it is very difficult to free spool and pull it out by hand. If you are able to get the wire rope pulled out, you will most likely cause permanent damage to wire rope: kinks and bends in the rope will result. 18 • July 2015 - TOWMAN.COM

Synthetic rope saves weight, making it much easier to get a rope and hook where you want it.

Synthetic rope is not damaged when wound over itself. • Weight. A 3/8” x 100’ length of synthetic rope with a hook weighs approximately 6 lbs. The same size/span of wire rope with a hook weighs approxi-

mately 35 lbs. This is a great benefit when carrying extension ropes down an embankment for a recovery. This also makes it easy to get the rope to go where

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SYNTHETIC ROPE continued from 18

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you want it by just throwing the hook and the rope will follow. “The lightweight rope is great when taking long extension ropes down a 600 foot embankment” Collins said. • Easy on hands. Synthetic rope is much easier on your hands than wire rope. When working with wire rope, tow operators have to carefully handle it to avoid injuries to the hands from small broken wires that may not be easily visible. Synthetic rope does not cause cuts to hands and can even be handled without gloves (though I suggest you still wear gloves when handling synthetic rope). • Non-conductive. Synthetic rope does not conduct electricity making it safer to use around electrical sources and electric/hybrid vehicles. It can’t cause sparks that may ignite leaking fuel at an accident scene. • Easy to pull. Pulling wire rope off of the winch drum when it is in free spool takes a considerable amount of effort. Some operators will stand under the boom-head sheave and pull all the rope they need off of the drum so they can use their body weight to assist them. Synthetic rope takes much less effort to pull off the winch drum in free spool. Even if the rope is crossed over itself, it will come off the winch drum much easier than wire rope. “One of the benefits is how easily the rope is pulled off the winch drum when free-spooling the winch,” said Sedberry. • Color. You can purchase synthetic rope in whatever color you want. Some companies use color to identify the size of the rope. For extension ropes this allows the operator to know which size rope they are grabbing by the color.

Cons • Cost. Synthetic rope can cost up to three times as much as wire rope. This is a substantial increase in cost, but it can be offset depending on how often you are having to replace your wire rope due to damage. If the synthetic rope lasts longer due to no damage from improper winding on the winch drum it may cost the same or less in the long run. If an employee avoids injury when a rope breaks, the rope will pay for itself. • Cuts, abrasions. There is no question that synthetic rope is more susceptible to cutting and abrasion damage than wire rope. Tow operators will have to be more careful to protect the rope. One way a synthetic rope can be cut is when the rope does not ride down in the groove of a sheave on the boom head or on a snatch block. If the rope is pulled against one side of the sheave it can climb up the side and ride over the top under load which will likely sever the rope. The tow operator must make sure the rope is riding in the middle of Number 158 on Reader Card

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the groove on all the sheaves the rope passes through. There are protective sleeves available for synthetic rope; protective sleeves and jackets also reduce the potential for damage from ultra violet rays from the sun. Baumgartner suggests using a sleeve especially to protect the first 5’ of synthetic rope; he uses an old garden hose and said one of his drivers uses duct tape around the first 5’ to see damage before it reaches the rope. • Chemical resistance. Synthetic rope is susceptible to damage from contact with chemicals such as acids or corrosives. Tow operators would have to protect the rope from contact with these chemicals. Again, a jacketed rope may be more resistant to chemicals. It looks like the pros outweigh the cons when it comes to synthetic rope, though there is still obviously a place for both in towing and recovery. Additional input and experience are necessary with synthetic rope, but so far all of the company Field Editor Terry Abejuela has 30plus years of light-duty towing-andowners I’ve recovery experience. He is also a contacted have light-duty Level 1 instructor for the California Tow Truck Association. been pleased with the results. Number 116 on Reader Card

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John Borowski Joins AutoReturn John Borowski has joined AutoReturn, the San Francisco-based dispatch company that police departments across the country have turned to for its municipal towing management and logistics. The former “Towman of the Year” has been appointed as the company’s new VP of Tow Industry Programs. “I was a critic of AutoReturn in the past,” Borowski said. “I had the same misperceptions about AutoReturn that some auto towers across the country had, but I took the time to investigate the company and I realized that our goals actually aligned. “I’ve always believed that the service AutoReturn offers municipalities has real value. But what became apparent was the value AutoReturn offers the towing industry, which has in fact materialized in several U.S. cities. “I told [AutoReturn CEO] John Wicker we could achieve a lot for the industry by working together. Next thing I know, I was offered a position that would allow me to contribute to the health of this industry.” In his new role, Borowski will work to enhance the benefits of being a towing partner with AutoReturn. “Inside AutoReturn, I have the president’s ear. I will continue to advocate for towers’ interests and a strengthened position with their town authorities. What’s best for the towing community is best for AutoReturn. Their interests are inseparable,” Borowski said. “You would be challenged to find someone with a more impressive and comprehensive background in the towing and automotive fields than John Borowski,” said Wicker. “He’s a legend in our industry and we feel privileged to have him on our team.” Borowski has an extensive history in the automotive, transportation, and emergency breakdown industries. Most recently, he served as Director of Municipal Contracts and Scene Supervisor for Hampshire Towing where he oversaw all facets and operations on 26 • July 2015 - TOWMAN.COM

ITRHFM Rated a Top Attraction

major accident scenes, including environmental cleanup. Borowski currently serves on the board of the Statewide Towing Association of Massachusetts as its Past President, is a two-time American Towman Medal recipient for heroism and an inductee into the International Towing & Recovery Hall of Fame. In the past two years he has been active in the founding of Police Towers of America, advocating progressive reform in police-tower relationships.

The International Towing & Recovery Hall of Fame and Museum in Chattanooga, Tenn., was recognized by TripAdvisor.com as a top attraction in the city. The world travel site awarded the museum a 2015 Certificate of Excellence for its consistently great reviews; the museum (www.towingmuseum. com) is currently No. 37 in the city’s 174 listed attractions.

San Antonio Hires United Road Towing

Roadside Assistance for Bicycles

The San Antonio (Texas) City Council voted on May 28 to hire a new company to handle the management and dispatch of police-initiated tows, creating a major shift in how disabled or abandoned vehicles or cars involved in crimes are hauled off roads. City officials gave Illinois-based United Road Towing a four-year contract, valued at $8.8 million a year, with options to renew. The city gave United Road Towing the highest score among the four applicants for the contract. As part of its proposal, United Road Towing said it would reduce response times after the first year to 20 minutes on highways and 25 minutes on city streets. United Road Towing will take over towing management for the city on Dec. 1, dispatching and overseeing subcontractors that would do the actual towing. Currently, the city is divided into six zones that are split up among three towing companies and two back-up companies. But the city wanted to move away from the zoned system, and late last year police said the towing companies were starting to lag on response times. In San Antonio, United Road Towing has managed a city-owned vehicle storage facility for impounded vehicles since 2008, and city officials said they have had no problems with the company. Source: www.expressnews.com.

AAA Mid-Atlantic extended its roadside assistance program to include bicyclists. “Unfortunately, the roads are covered with potholes and that poses a grave danger to cyclists,” said Tracy Noble, AAA Mid-Atlantic. “If you are riding your bike and you damage a wheel or blow a tire or even pop a chain, AAA Mid-Atlantic will come to your rescue.” AAA Mid-Atlantic covers northwest New Jersey to Richmond, Va. Current members of AAA MidAtlantic are automatically activated to the bicycle roadside service at each current level of membership. The bicycle towing mileage is the same as vehicle towing mileage and includes three miles for Basic members, 100 miles for Plus/Premier members and one 200-mile tow for a Premier member. The service applies to all twowheeled bicycles, including rental bicycles and tandem/trailers pulled by bicycles, and is limited to transporting a bicycle back home, to a bike repair shop, etc., due to breakdown disablement. Mechanical repairs are not included, including bicycle lock service. Bicycle service is provided for the rider whose bicycle is disabled and accompanying minors. Service is provided only along a normally traveled road or street and only within the AAA Mid-Atlantic territories.

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“Our technicians are not mechanics, so the service does not include repairs on the side of the road. What we can do is provide a towing service and get the bicyclist and the bike to a safe location,” Noble said. Source: http://nj1015.com.

Historic Motor Club Conference Delights “Getting Paid by the Motor Clubs,” the Motor Club Conference held during Tow Industry Week in Las Vegas in May, was a huge hit with both presenters and attendees. A total of eight motor clubs participated over the weekend of May 14-16 in a series of seminars that focused on their methods facilitating payment to tow companies. Presentations were

made by Agero, Allstate Roadside Services, Coach-Net, FleetNet, GEICO, Nation Safe Drivers, Road America and USAC/MD. Conference attendee Luis Chacon of Chacon Towing and Roadside Assistance in Atascosa, Texas, enjoyed the opportunity to talk face-to-face with motor club representatives. “You know you have GEICO, Allstate, all these folks that are bringing their folks out to tell us how to submit invoices, what extra things we can bill for, what’s not billable, how to just go through the process and that’s what everybody wants to know: how to get paid and how to get the most out of every call we go out on for these motor clubs,” said Chacon. “The only way you can learn all that is to actually come down to a conference and sit in

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one and learn from the folks that actually write the checks.” Kay Martin, GEICO national ERS zone manager, appreciated the opportunity to speak with providers in person. “We appreciated the opportunity to speak to service providers in an open format and the conference afforded us that,” said Martin. “Anytime you can improve communication it’s a good thing. We’ll always be willing to participate in any future ‘Getting Paid’ conferences or other subjects and opportunities.” One participating club reported that they even wrote new business as a result of the conference. “Nation Safe Drivers got three new contracts out of the conference,” said NSD Regional Network Manager Patrick Nahoum. “When you go into something like this, you’re working on the assumption that everyone there is already contracted with you; but there were people who wanted to learn more about NSD. They like what they heard, and they decided to contract with us.” As of press time, plans are underway to hold another “Getting Paid by the Motor Clubs” conference during the American Towman Academy at the American Towman Exposition in Baltimore, Md., Nov. 19-22.

Pa. Tow Companies Defend Practices The two companies providing police-related towing service in West Mifflin, Pa., have come under fire at recent borough council meetings—and both are defending themselves. Officials expressed frustration in May with the cost of service provided in a community where two companies, S&S Auto Service and K&L Automotive & Industrial Storage Service, alternate from month to month. Mayor Chris Kelly pointed to bills seeking hundreds of dollars for towing and storage. “They are charging people for days in storage when they are not open,” the mayor said. “I do not charge for the weekend,” Keith Kovalsky of K&L said. “I do not charge for the first day in storage. Fees are the same as five years ago (while I was at) Crossroads.” An owner of the family-run S&S said she will work with those who have to pay high towing and storage bills. “There is the occasional not-satisfied customer but we have tried to work with everyone,” Karen Fedor said. “According to the insurance companies they have no problem with us.” Councilman Steve Marone said the towing service in the two South Hills boroughs has “realistic towing fees.” Kovalsky said his fees are lower than those in Baldwin, Brentwood or Pittsburgh, and pointed to higher minimums in other communities such as North Huntingdon, where $790 has been charged. “I do what I can to help people as much as I can,” the K&L owner said. “These are police-requested tows,” Fedor said. “We tow 24 hours (a day) every other month. When they call, if it is 3 o'clock in the morning, you drop what you are doing.” Source: http://triblive.com.

Number 197 on Reader Card

Check out AT’s digital edition at itowman.com

Number 217 on Reader Card Work the non-traffic Side–Stay Safe!

TOWMAN.COM - July 2015 • 29

Coiled in Ohio Rotators Work in Tandem on 29-ton Lift

by Jim “Buck” Sorrenti

n October 2014, World Truck Towing & Recovery of Seville, Ohio, was called to recover a tractortrailer hauling a 58,000-lbs. coil. “[The semi] hit the guardrail head on. It sling-shotted over the guardrail in a construction zone and landed upside down 70-feet off the road, down in a ditch,” said Mike Schoen, owner of World Truck Tow-

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Working at night under the worklights on its boom, the Jerr-Dan brings up the tractor.

ing & Recovery since 2000. The company is a full-service towing, recovery and repair company that operates out of multiple locations in Ohio. “My dad owned a company called World Truck Transfer, so I grew up in this business,” Schoen said. “In 2000, I went out on my own.” Schoen’s 43 trained employees include heavy-duty operators, skilled recovery and truck rollover specialists, certified HAZMAT response specialists and ASE-certified mechanics. An extensive fleet of 73 units is complemented by specialty support equipment like an airbag trailer and roll clamp trucks. They first dispatched a Century 7035 35-ton straight stick to the scene. It features a 35-ton recovery boom

The wrecked trailer and coil off the road and 70’ down in the ditch.

Work the non-traffic Side–Stay Safe!

TOWMAN.COM - July 2015 • 31

The B&B lifting the coil on one of World Truck’s 48’ flatbed trailers.

and dual 35,000-pound winches which allows it to handle most lifting and recovery jobs, but the operator assessed the situation and felt that with the limited space and the size of the coil, it was best to call for the company’s rotators. Included in Mike’s fleet are a Jerr-Dan 60-ton HDR-1000 rotator mounted on a 2013 Kenworth T800

The coil is getting closer to the road.

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tri-axle 6x4 (the latest addition to his fleet), and a 2000 B&B 8050R 80-ton rotator mounted on a 1995 Freightliner Classic tri-axle. Mike went to the scene in the Jerr-Dan rotator and operator Jim Kaminski drove to the scene in the B&B rotator. They first rigged the tractor to the 60-ton JerrDan. “It was already dark and we had to recover the tractor and trailer at night working by the worklights of the Jerr-Dan,” Mike said. “I pulled the tractor up upsidedown and then rolled it in the air back onto its wheels. It was towed in with the Century 7035 that was dispatched earlier.” Then they rigged the coil and pulled it off and away from the trailer so they could winch the trailer up the hill unhindered. “Using the Jerr-Dan, I first flipped it back onto its wheels and then pulled it up. The driver of the 7035 came back with one of our bobtail tractors to haul it away,” Mike said. “Both the tractor and trailer went to our Bowling Green facility.”

I pulled the tractor up upside-down and then rolled it in the air back onto its wheels. Mike and his crew went back the next morning to recover the coil. The police had to shut down a lane so they could use both rotators. “There wasn’t enough room to work from the shoulder because there wasn’t much of a shoulder,” Mike said. “This was a part of the road they made as they were in the process of widening the freeway.” The rotators were positioned back to back with the booms over the side. Both units worked in tandem to lift the massive coil. “I first used the Jerr-Dan to drag the coil as close as we could up the embankment towards the road, which was about 25-feet closer. We then re-rigged it and used the drag winches from both the B&B and the Jerr-Dan to pull it the rest of the way.” Once the coil was back on the road, they rigged it to the B&B and it lifted the coil up and placed it on one of World Truck’s 48’ flatbed trailers. It was then hauled to their Bowling Green facility. “All of my trucks are built to work and both the JerrDan 60-ton rotator and the B&B 80-ton rotator performed beautifully on this job,” Schoen said. Jim “Buck” Sorrenti, a longtime editor of American Towman, has been our field editor for the past few years. He is a freelance writer and photographer with more than 40 years of experience covering motorcycle, hot rod, truck and towing culture. He writes weekly for TowIndustryWeek.com. Work the non-traffic Side–Stay Safe!

Number 184 on Reader Card

TOWMAN.COM - July 2015 • 33

AD INDEX Page # AAA 20, 21 Access Tools 23 Advantage Funding 24 Akins Body & Carrier Sales 19 American Transportation S 83, W 85 Atlanta Wrecker & Carrier Sales S 88 Austin Hinds Motors S 83 Austin Insurance S 88 Auto Data Direct 29 AutoReturn 73 B/A Products 91 B & Z Sales S 84 Century 14, 15 Chase Insurance Agency S 84 Chevron Commercial 29 Columbus Truck Center M 83 ComeUp USA 24 Crashfilm 28 Crouch’s Wrecker Equip. & Supplies 27 Custer Products 28 Dangelo’s Wrecker Sales 62 Dual-Tech Wreckers & Carriers 63 Elizabeth Truck Center 55 Equipment Sales & Service N 83 Extreme Toys 61 Florida Wrecker Sales S 87 Ford Commercial Truck 17 Ginn Carrier & Wrecker Sales 53 Insurance Auto Auctions (IAA) 55 Intek Truck Eq. Finance & Lease 69 Kavanaugh’s Towing Equip. M 84 Lift & Tow 69 Loganville Ford 57 MFR Express 13 Metro Tow Trucks N 87

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RS# 101 102 106 126 105 179 135 173 197 169 108 170 143 180 217 189 116 210 177 128 122 192 123 152 164 107 176 125 110 145 134 139 207 213 137

Fax to: 888-847-6035 Page #

Navistar International 2, 3 New England Truckmaster N 83 North American BanCard 5 NRC 51 OMG National 62 OnlineParkingPass 64 Pacific General Insurance Agency M 85 Pardo’s Sales & Services M 84 Rick’s Auto Sales 64 R.O.M. Corp. 57 R.P.M. Equipment W 87 Rush Towing Systems W 83 Safety Track N 86 Santander Bank 92 SavaCOMM 22 SavaTech 7 Sea Crest Insurance Agency W 84 Sirens & Emergency Beacons S 87 Smyrna Truck Center S 85 SpeedTech Lights 65 Sun Country Trailers N 87 The Order of Towman 76 Tow Expo Int’l 58, 59 Tow Industries W 86 TowLot.com 75 Towman Hero Award 77 TowMate 54 TRAO 25 Triple K Industries 56 Twin Cities Wrecker Sales M 83 TwinState Equipment W 88 Truck Body Sales W 84 Utility Trailer Sales S.E.TX W 85 WeldBuilt Wreckers & Carriers 33 Winches Inc. S 85 Worldwide Equipment 22

RS#

196 171 109 190 215 166 193 119 130 188 111 115 205 103 158 118 156 160 113 112 117 206 206 199 159 206 191 187 100 138 157 198 208 184 148 151

July 2015 ADVERTISER

ACTION PAGE

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Fee includes up to two persons per company.

Note: Sample air fares for November 19-22, as of June 20th

Special exhibits: Towman Monument, Towman Chopper, Hero, Towman Mural, LifeLines.

e Towman Mo f Th nu

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ER Ho m

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By advance-registering, the “Boss” and one guest are admitted free to Exhibit Hall. $5 fee applies to all others. Kids under 14 free.

Save on Events, Seminars & Hotels • Avoid On-Site Lines! AT Expo: Fax: 845-986-5181 • Mail: 7 West Street, Warwick, NY 10990 • Phone: 800-732-3869 / 845-986-4546 x214 •

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2. Secondary business (check those that apply): Towing/Recovery Salv/Auto Parts Auto Repair/Serv. Ctr. Truck Repair Repossession Auto Body Shop Transport/Trailer Serv. Service Station

DISASTER-RESPONSE CONFERENCE Working Within A Disaster Network Disaster Force Panel: The Response Disaster Force Panel: The Aftermath NEW REVENUE CONFERENCE Make Money Thru Traffic Control Private Property Towing & Technology New Money Thru Diversification Don’t Crush Your Cash Auction Unclaimed Cars Online

MOTOR CLUB CONFERENCE Getting Paid by the Clubs Agero Nation Safe Drivers Coach-Net Road America FleetNet USAC/MD GEICO OPERATIONS CONFERENCE Guarding Your Reputation Leading Customer Service Telematics For Everyone Effective Succession Planning TOWING & RECOVERY CONFERENCE Scooby’s Mystery Theatre Car Carrier Securement Techniques Synthetic Rope: Right For You? Bus & Coach Towing Recovery Night Light Duty Rollovers Made Easy

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Subscribe to 5. No. tow trucks in fleet: 1-3 4-7 8-12 13-16 17+ American 6. Types of tow trucks in fleet (check those that apply): Towman Light-Duty Wrecker Heavy-Duty Wrecker Transport/Trailers (or extend your current Medium-Duty Wrec. Carriers Class 7/8 Tractor subscription) and receive Service Vehicle Rotators the Official AT Expo Beer Stein on show floor. 7. Number of unclaimed vehicles sold to salvage or auctioned Advance-Registrants Only 10 20 30 40 50 75 100 each month:

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PRICING FILL IN PRICE AT EXPO: Thursday through Sunday, Nov. 19-22 EXHIBIT HALL , 2-5 pm, , 11 am-6 pm • , 10 am-4 pm, 11/20-11/22. Your badge is good for all days Yes, advance register me for the exhibit hall. 1st & 2nd registrants are free: addt’l $5 each. $5 PP ..........................$ ______ ACADEMY PASSPORT All Seminars, 11/19-11/21 $75 PP ..................................................................................$ ______ 1st registrant 2nd registrant 3rd registrant 4th registrant Register now & save: fee is $150 on-site. RECOVERY BILLING COURSE Sat. & Sun. 8-12 noon, Rec. Billing Unlimited $1850 (2 people per co.)..................$ ______ HEAVY DUTY RECOVERY WITH ROTATOR TRAINING WreckMaster instructors, Thurs. 8-5 pm Fri. 8-noon $595 PP: fee is $695 onsite. R ec o v er y B i l l i n g C ou r s e a n d R ot a t o r Tr ai n i n g i n c l u d es A c a d em y Pa s s p or t . .................................$ ______ AMERICAN WRECKER PAGEANT Fri.-Sun., 11/20-11/22 $100/$150...................................................................$ ______ One vehicle per class/three per company. Trucks enter Fri., stay in hall until Sun., 5 pm $100: Light (pre-2014) Light (2014-15)

POLICE TOWING CONFERENCE Special Requests From Law Enforcement Securing Municipal Contracts Working On High-Speed Highways On-Scene Survival

No 1. Is your Primary business Towing/Recovery :

Auto/Truck Dealership Vehicle Leasing Equipment Distributor Other______________

3. No. Employees: 1-5 6-10 11-20 21-50 51-100 4. Check one that best describes your purchasing authority: I authorize/approve purchases No authority I recommend

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Country:

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Service/Support Truck $150:

HD Single Axle

HD Tandem

Rotator

Carrier

CAPTAINS OF INDUSTRY DINNER & CONFERENCE Thurs. 11/19, 6:30 pm. Sponsored by American Towman Magazine, Renaissance Hotel; Surf ‘n Turf Dinner & Legendary Captains Long Table Limit: 2 per co. # of People ___ $75 PP .........$ ______ A.T. WELCOME CRUISE Thurs., 11/19, 6:30 pm Board, Cruise 7 pm, Dinner & Show. # of People ___ $75 PP...................$ ______ TOWMAN SKEET SHOOT Fri., 9 am, 11/20. Includes fees, lunch & transp. # of People ___ $75 PP..........................$ ______ RECOVERY LUNCHEON Balt. Conv. Ctr., Fri., 11/20, 12:00 noon, Donnie Cruse Awards Luncheon. All recovery specialists welcome. Co-Sponsored by B/A Products & AW Direct # of People ___ $35 per person...........$ ______ CALITRI’S CUBA-VIP Passport # Sponsored by Savatech. Fri., 11/20: 9 pm # of People ___ $20 PP ...............$ ______ Passport includes: (1) Premium AT Cigar, (1) Premium Cigar & Special Gift from Savatech, (1) Premium-Aged Cognac Drink Ticket

FESTIVAL NIGHT Int’l Feast, Medal Ceremony, Mike Corbin Band, Balt. Convention Ctr., Sat., 11/21, 6 pm # of People ___ $40 PP......$ ______ AT SUBSCRIPTION W/EXPO BEER STEIN* Order: 1 year/one stein: $50 2 years/two steins $100.........................$ ______ *AT Expo Beer Stein(s) must be picked up Friday through Sunday at the AT Store inside Convention Center.

BULL & PIG ROAST - FREE CALITRI’S CUBA - Cigar Smoker

TOTAL.......$ ______ : Sponsor: Miller Industries, Fri., 11/20: 7:30 pm...........#_______ people (1) free cigar compliments of Savatech. Fri., 11/20: 9 pm................#_______ people

at #

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Make out separate hotel check to Visit Baltimore/American Towman if not using credit card (1st night amount only)

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Arrival Date:______________, 2015 - Depart Date: _______________, 2015 Special Requests ____________________________________________________________________________ If reserving more than one room please list names for each room: # of Rooms __________ # of Guests in each room ___________ # of beds _________ Room #1___________________________________________ Room #2____________________________________________ Room #3__________________________________________ Renaissance Hotel View

HOTEL CHOICE - Please write in your 1st, 2nd, & 3rd choice hotels below. You will be emailed your confirmation.

___Renaissance Harborplace Hotel • $179 Sgl/Dbl AMERICAN TOWMAN HEADQUARTERS HOTEL, 4-Star, rooms w/harborview, fitness center, restaurant/bar, connected to Mall. Two blocks from Conv. Ctr. CAPTAINS OF INDUSTRY TAKES PLACE HERE! GUESTS RECEIVE FREE INTERNET. SHOW YOUR BADGE AND RECEIVE 10% OFF FOOD/MEAL PURCHASES AT HOTEL RESTAURANTS. TOWMAN BAR OR COFFEE SHOP SPECIALS ON FRIDAY AND SATURDAY NIGHT WITH BADGE. ___Marriott Inner Harbor • $177 Sgl/Dbl One block from Conv. Ctr., fitness center, restaurant. Complimentary Internet. Towman Specials when you show your badge. ___Days Inn Inner Harbor • $127 Sgl/Dbl Across from Conv. Ctr., bar & grill, fitness ctr.

___Sheraton Inner Harbor • $175 Sgl/Dbl, $195 T, $215 Q One block from Conv. Ctr. with a catwalk, indoor pool, fitness center.

___Holiday Inn Inner Harbor • $137 Sgl/Dbl One block from Conv. Ctr., indoor pool, fitness center.

___Lord Baltimore Hotel • $135 Sgl/Dbl Two blocks from Conv. Ctr., bar & grill, fitness center.

___Hilton Baltimore • $195 Sgl/Dbl, $215 T, $235 Q Next to Conv. Ctr. with a Catwalk, pool, fitness center.

___Hyatt Regency • $170 Sgl/Dbl, $195 T, $220 Q One block from Harbor and two blocks to Conv. Ctr., fitness center.

___Royal Sonesta Harbor Court • $169 Sgl/Dbl, $189 T, $209 Q 4-Star Hotel on Harbor. Two blocks to Conv. Ctr., fitness center, restaurants. Views of Inner Harbor from Light Street location.

Number 190 on Reader Card

Popcorn Truck

by Terry Abejuela

his 2002 International 4300 equipped with a Century 102” wide, 21’ Right Approach carrier bed was fitted to carry a 14’ tall box of popcorn to promote the Automobile Club of Southern California’s Discounts & Rewards program. The program and the truck debuted at the 2015 NASCAR Auto Club 400 race in March at the Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, Calif.; the “popcorn truck” will be visiting other events in Southern California. To transport the popcorn box on the highway, it has to be lowered to its side and secured to the deck. A frame mounted to the tie-down points at the front and middle of the deck were used to mount a rail system that allows the popcorn box to be pulled all the way forward with the winch. Hinges at the rear bottom of the box allow it to be lowered in a controlled fashion by tilting the deck and utilizing the winch. Two feet are screwed into the side of the box facing the deck so that it sits on these feet and not flat on the deck. Eyebolts are screwed into the top side of the box on all four corners to facilitate a four-point tie-down.

Field Editor Terry Abejuela has 30plus years of light-duty towing-andrecovery experience. He is also a light-duty Level 1 instructor for the California Tow Truck Association.

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The Popcorn Truck debuted at the AAA-Auto Club of Southern California display during the NASCAR Auto Club 400 at the Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, Calif.

Number 125 on Reader Card

Dog Incident Leads to AAA Probation A towing service in Huntington, W.Va., a combat veteran, his service dog and a Facebook post have combined a stir on social media. When the fuel tank on veteran Kevin Sloas’ truck ruptured in June, he called a tow truck. What happened after resulted in the tow service being investigated by AAA and put on probation as of press time. “We got a call from AAA about a stranded motorist,” said Roy Holley, general manager of Nicely’s Towing. “He never mentioned anything about a dog and neither did AAA. Our driver told him we couldn’t put the dog in the truck, but we could put it in the truck being towed or we could call a cab and pay for it. We also told him we could contact a family member to look after the dog.” Sloas claimed in a Facebook post and through other media outlets he

was given one option only: putting the dog in the truck being towed with the windows up. The dog is a companion canine Sloas received about six months ago for PTSD after serving tours in Afghanistan in 2008 and 2009. Holley said the tow truck driver called the office for instructions on how to proceed because of the company’s no-dog policy. Holley said he spoke with Sloas and informed him of the reason for Nicely’s no-dog policy. The problem, however, is the Americans with Disabilities Act allows a service or companion dog to accompany its owner anywhere he or she goes. A Facebook post by Sloas went viral. Holley said his office received calls from people all over the country threatening violence, with one caller threatening to bomb the business. The company’s only dispute was Sloas’ claim that he was given just one option, Holley said. Some veterans not affiliated with

Number 191 on Reader Card

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Nicely’s expressed staunch support, saying the business and its employees have always been supporters of veterans and veteran’s organizations. “AAA East Central has completed its investigation of Nicely’s Towing,” the organization announced on Facebook a few days later. “Nicely’s Towing has accepted responsibility for the incident, which caused one of our members great difficulty and was not in keeping with AAA’s roadside assistance standard of service.” According to AAA’s announcement, the re-instatement of Nicely’s affiliation with AAA is contingent on the owner: publicly apologizing, admitting error in the handling of this roadside assistance event; training his drivers on the care and handling of service requests involving certified service animals; terminate the tow truck driver who ran the service call at issue; and schedule sensitivity training for all employees. Source: herald-dispatch.com.

Number 123 on Reader Card

Number 110 on Reader Card Work the non-traffic Side–Stay Safe!

TOWMAN.COM - July 2015 • 55

They will discuss how to best utilize your equipment, preparing the casualty for recovery, proper rigging and how to think outside the box and assist in the ongoing needs of the DOT or police.

B/A Open House Set

Miller Industries’ Tom Luciano (middle) and John Hawkins III (right) will be instructing towers on coach and RV tactics during the 2015 American Towman Academy in Baltimore, Md.

Miller Ind. Trainers on Coach Recovery Tom Luciano and John Hawkins III of Miller Industries will present the challenges of hooking up coaches and high-end buses at the American Towman Academy on Saturday, Nov. 21, during the American Towman Exposition in Baltimore, Md. In their information-packed two-hour session, Luciano and Hawkins will present various scenarios in their slide presentation illustrating strategies that operate from the premise of “working smarter, not harder,” and that it’s not so much about heavy lift as it is about “incident management.”

Have you ever wondered how tow chains, straps and wire rope assemblies are made and tested? You can find out during the annual B/A Products (www.baprod.com) open house on Nov. 20. Shuttles will run between the American Towman Expo at the Baltimore (Md.) Convention Center and B/A’s factory. The company will have live product presentations, factory tours, destructive-testing demos and food.

New Curtiss-Wright Website Curtiss-Wright Corp.’s Industrial division launched a new website containing the full portfolio of products, services and capabilities offered by its Industrial Group of Arens Controls, Penny & Giles, PG Drives Technology and Williams Controls (www.cw-industrialgroup.com). “Our completely redesigned internet presence highlights the Industrial division’s full breadth of products and capabilities and, for the first time, provides a single location and cohesive overview [of the the company’s products],” said Industrial Group SVP Kevin Rayment. A brochure that serves as an overview of the CurtissWright Industrial Group’s applications experience, products, markets and design options has been published and is available to download from the new site.

Macquarie Acquires Advantage Funding

Number 100 on Reader Card

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Macquarie Group Limited entered into an agreement to acquire Advantage Funding Management Co. from Marubeni America Corp. in May. Under the agreement, Advantage Funding (www.advantagefund.com) will become a fully owned subsidiary of Macquarie’s Corporate and Asset Finance group. Advantage Funding provides transportation financing and leasing solutions servicing commercial and vehicle operators, dealers and manufacturers. “We look forward to working with Macquarie to provide our customers with a broader range of transportation financing solutions and product capacity,” said Advantage CEO Al Damiani. “Macquarie’s complementary leasing and financing expertise will help us expand our service in U.S. markets and position us to further support our clients’ continued growth.” “Advantage Funding has a demonstrated track record of client satisfaction and strong operational performance. The acquisition builds on the strong growth of CAF’s global leasing business,” said Macquarie’s CAF Group Head Garry Farrell.

Number 188 on Reader Card

Number 207 on Reader Card Work the non-traffic Side–Stay Safe!

TOWMAN.COM - July 2015 • 57

Number 206 on Reader Card

The Dangers of Vehicle Abatement by Randall C. Resch

The most common problem associated with abatement vehicles are sun-rotted tires; contents that have been closed-up for months (or years) could produce potential medical risks. U.S. National Archives photo.

s part of law enforcement and municipal contracts, abatement vehicles are common to inner cities. Abandoned and unattended vehicles left parked on private and commercial properties tend to become havens for junk, hazmat and potential dangers. Some find them desirable for smashing windows and other vandalism that contributes to urban blight. The abatement process holds potential for extreme violence against responding towers. Knowing the 60 • July 2015 - TOWMAN.COM

administrative process is important, but not nearly as important as knowing what could appear at the time of removal. Forcibly removing a vehicle from someone’s property (and against their will) could result in them coming after you. Your situational awareness must be on high alert; never consider this a routine impound. Abatement is the legal mitigation of parked vehicles deemed unsafe to the public good. Bad paint and dented fenders don’t make an abatement vehicle; condition and circumstances gen-

erally go far beyond what’s considered a simple eyesore. At the point of police contact or notification, emotions from vehicle and property owners vary based on circumstances in which the vehicle was parked in the first place. Generally, there are two kinds of vehicle abatement processes. Voluntary Abatement: Officers contact property owners after they have requested or applied to have a vehicle removed. These circumstances generally occur when there’s a death

in one’s family and there are no papers in which to legally scrap a vehicle, or, the vehicle was on the property when initially purchased. Involuntary Abatement: Neighborhood complaints or code enforcement officers may determine an eyesore vehicle should be removed. For example, in the City of San Diego, Calif., it’s illegal to leave an operable or inoperable vehicle parked for more than 72 consecutive hours without being driven at least 1/10th of a mile on a public street. It’s also illegal to park any abandoned, wrecked, dismantled or inoperable vehicle on private property in public view.

Emotions Run High Most American communities have vehicle and municipal code statutes to define what constitutes abandoned vehicles. Property owners heatedly argue against removal: “the vehicle isn’t hurting anyone,” “it’s parked on private property,” “it’s a project waiting to be completed,” “it was a parent’s gift,” “my dad’s old car,” etc. No matter what the reason, they’re emotionally connected to the vehicle and don’t want Big Brother coming onto their property telling them what they can and can’t do. Written notifications that abandoned vehicles are subject to impound will cite specific reasons and statutes. When property owners are contacted regarding immediate removal of a vehicle from their property, emotions run high and a dangerous and compromising impound process begins. In most cases, property owners are given opportunity to remove their vehicles before execution of impound is initiated. When they don’t remove them, most abatement impounds start with the police request for a tow truck at a location that’s easy to find. The appropriate truck and driver meets an officer there who explains the nature of the impound and identifies a property owner. In most cases, the property owner is cooperative (voluntary abatement), however, that’s not always the case. • Don’t begin the tow-away process until authorized to do so; wait for total instructions. • If possible, avoid discussions with property or vehicle owners. If conversation is necessary, choose words carefully that aren’t threatening or condescending. • Refer any questions back to the impounding officer. • Work the tow truck or carrier’s controls in a defensive position farthest from the residence. Be aware and ready to react to yelling, threats, aggressive behaviors, etc. • Work quickly; watch your back.

What’s Your Plan? Towing abatement vehicles usually means the hookup itself will be problematic. If access is easy, Number 164 on Reader Card Work the non-traffic Side–Stay Safe!

TOWMAN.COM - July 2015 • 61

flatbed carriers are best suited to a whole laundry list of problems that arise during abatement tows. Having a tow-away plan may vary depending on vehicle location and difficulty of access. When abatement vehicles sit deep within a property’s driveway or behind a fence, the tower’s creativity comes into play. When removal is voluntary and the property owner is present, providing solutions helps ease potential tension. Many subject vehicles are filled with trash, yard junk, animal feces or other hazardous materials. Contents that have been closed-up for months (or years) could produce potential medical risks to the tower—specifically inhalation and absorption injuries if chemicals have seeped through barriers. Abatement vehicles are favorite places for pests. Snakes and scorpions tend to hide underneath and within, while bees and wasps construct hives inside fenders and engine compartNumber 122 on Reader Card

Number 215 on Reader Card

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ments. Knowing up-front that stinging/biting insects may be present suggests sending drivers who aren’t deathly allergic to insect stings and bites. Abatement vehicles commonly are missing major components like tires, wheels, engines and transmissions. Missing components become problematic for towers and create potential dangers during removal: No tires, wheels. Use caution when loading vehicles stacked on rims, jackstands or blocks for fear of falling. Never get into any positon where a vehicle could slip from the stack and fall on you. Sun rot. The most common problem associated with abatement vehicles are sun-rotted tires and valve stems. If tires look low on air, they may have miniscule leaks in the tire’s sidewalls and not be capable of being towed. Front-end shimmy. When disintegrated by age, ball joints and tie-rod

ends are typically destroyed. If rear towing by wheel lift and not loaded on dollies, watch your passenger-side mirror for front-end shimmy on the towed vehicle. If front tires begin to shimmy, there’s a huge possibility that the vehicle’s steering is about to let go. Immediately decrease your travel speed and proceed to the shoulder to avoid catastrophic steering failure. Accidental rollaway. A tower responded to an abatement impound (in a sling truck) behind an apartment complex. The vehicle was nosed into the space with slight downhill slope backwards towards the alley. Upon arrival, he observed a brick blocking the tire on the downhill side. He lowered the sling into position, stretched the sling out under the vehicle and then applied J-hooks. When lift was initiated, the vehicle rolled over the brick, crushing the tower ’s legs between the tow truck’s tailboard and the vehicle’s rear bumper. The vehicle was missing its motor and transmis-

sion … this scenario could have been fatal. Trash. What about vehicles full of trash, debris and mattresses? Abatement vehicles are famous for being packed full of debris. Mattresses and large household items should be left on the property or moved to a dumpster provided by the property’s owner or city cleanup. Mattresses and furniture aren’t vehicle parts and shouldn’t accompany towed vehicles. Loose parts. It’s the tower ’s responsibility to secure all parts, especially hoods and doors. On abatement vehicles, open the engine compartment to see if the engine and transmission are there. Especially important for vehicles with engines removed with transmission still in place, check if the torque converter is laying inside the bell-housing; secure where necessary. Loose batteries, power-steering pumps and radiators are commonly left hanging; they too must be secured. Depending on laws authorizing

abatement impounds, some agencies provide approval for extreme abatement vehicles to be delivered directly to a dismantler’s facility. Ask the impounding officer if the abatement can be directly delivered. This is the best-case scenario where the vehicle isn’t brought to your facility, but is delivered directly to a salvage yard. The total incidents of abatement requests are few, however, it’s a valuable service you provide to your community. And, where your tow company has a great rapport with the department’s abatement or code enforcement officer, they may provide you heads-up that they’re working an abatement case.

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. Email Randy at rreschran@gmail.com.

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Trail-Eze Debuts Website Trail-Eze recently debuted an allnew website to allow customers a better view of its offerings (www.traileze.com). The site includes new Info pages, Request a Quote, Newsletter, Parts & Service and more, plus access to information by category.

New Commercial Recovery Agent Certification Program Recovery Industry Services Company unveiled its Certified Commercial Recovery Agent National Certification Program to help agents who specialize in commercial asset recovery, an area that caters to commercial lenders that manage portfolios exceeding $900 billion.

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The CCRA program (www.riscus. com) was authored by AT columnist Mark Lacek, who has more than 25 years experience in the commercial asset recovery industry and is certified in both federal and state court to consult and provide expert opinions on Wrongful Repossession litigation. The CCRA is designed specifically for recovery agents who provide collateral recovery services to the commercial lending industry. The recovery of commercial assets requires the recovery agent to be trained and prepared for circumstances that are very different from standard automobile and other consumer loan repossessions. The CCRA is the first national program for those who offer commercial asset recovery services and the numerous reviews by commercial lenders indicates the need for this unique program.

Navistar Appoints SVP for Truck Sales Navistar named longtime Paccar executive Jeff Sass as senior vice president of North America truck sales and marketing for the International Truck team (www.internationaltrucks.com). Sass will be reporting to Navistar Truck and Parts President Bill Kozek and will serve on the company’s senior leadership team. He joins Navistar after a 20-year career at Paccar in marketing, dealer development, customer service and sales. He was most recently the national sales manager at Paccar Parts. “Jeff is an experienced and respected leader in the industry and has a strong track record in developing new business, generating sales and supporting customers in the North American truck industry,” said Kozek. “I know he’ll bring new insights, high energy and excellent leadership to our International Truck sales and marketing team.”

dees. Attending the summit were ISU insurance brokers and industry underwriters. The desired outcome of the summit was better-informed underwriting decisions resulting in a more stable marketplace, competitive pricing and long-term partnerships. “I am very pleased with the results of ISU’s summit. Prior to this event, I was surprised at how little each group knew about each other despite being closely tied. Everyone walked away

from this meeting with a better understanding and respect for our respective industries,” said Ted Dixon, CEO of ProStar Towing. As an exciting outcome of the summit, ISU, in partnership with the carrier market dedicated to this industry, will be releasing new safety programs in 2015. Based on input from industry leaders, the ISU Tow Program will continue to be refined to meet the ever-changing and challenging needs faced by the Tow Industry.

Peter Fuerst, of the International Institute of Towing & Recovery, provides industry technical training during a summit for ISU underwriters.

ISU Hosts InsuranceTower Summit ISU Insurance Services, a national property and casualty brokerage specializing in towing, hosted a Tow Insurance Industry summit at Pro-Star Towing in Milpitas, Calif., recently. During a two-day meeting, a panel of CEOs and other industry executives engaged with select ISU brokers (www.ISUGroup.com) to discuss major insurance concerns encountered by the tow industry. Peter Fuerst of the International Institute of Towing & Recovery provided technical education to the attenNumber 112 on Reader Card Work the non-traffic Side–Stay Safe!

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Leading Way the

Women Who Command Attention Vanice Serrano

Debbie Collins by George L. Nitti Linda Unruh

t’s often said that behind every successful man is a woman. That’s known to be true in the case of many successful men, especially in the towing industry where so many companies are family owned and operated, requiring the participation of both family heads. Yet, there also are women who are a force unto themselves, driving their companies to grow and expand through their unique initiatives and leadership capabilities. They wear many hats and have gained distinction for themselves and their respective companies through sacrifice and dedication. A number of intangibles are involved in any success story. No doubt personal drive is one factor, as the following companies show. In Jacksonville, Fla., owner Vanice Serrano helped take ASAP Tow from a one-truck operation to a large fleet, now

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serving five locations. Taking the initiative to start the company, she put down an equal share to become a co-owner. “My husband and I each went in 50/50,” Serrano said. “Acting on instincts, we bought a piece of land that prior was a towing company. It was a rent-to-own situation. By year one, we were operating three trucks and were able to take over the property.” In Tucumcari, N.M., Linda Unruh started All-Rite Towing 30 years ago. It took her four years to get the license required by the state to operate a tow truck; since then her pink fleet of tow trucks has grown to six flatbeds, two heavies, two mediums and several lightduty service trucks. “I was more than just a pretty woman,” she said, referring to her modeling days before she entered the tow business. “I was determined to succeed from the start.”

She admits it took time to gain the respect of others in the industry and to get work, especially when she was pursuing the motor clubs, which would later become the basis of Pinkies Towing, an offshoot of All-Rite. Debbie Collins is growing Big Valley Towing in Las Vegas phenomenally after taking over the company following her husband’s tragic death on the roadside. Her motivation started with some insensitive comments at her husband’s funeral of all places. “At my husband’s memorial, someone said to me, ‘Honey this is a man’s industry. You should just think well of selling the business,’ ” she said. “I didn’t like people telling me I couldn’t do something.” Some of the company’s employees helped her stick it out, she said, “Now we’re up to 11 trucks, 10 employees, and have outgrown the building and are

looking for a larger space. … I have big plans for the business.” Alongside personal drive, it also takes a great deal of sacrifice to become a tow boss, as many towers in the business will attest. Joanne Hitz of Hitz Towing in York, Neb., said that her firstborn came into the world on a Monday and was riding around in her truck on Friday; there was no maternity leave and no extended hiatus from the business. Sacrificing family time is not unusual in towing. “During the first three years, my husband had to work another job so I was the one hustling with the business. I didn’t take any paychecks for the first two to three years and even worked as a tower when there were shortages of drivers” Serrano said. “It was very demanding. My first daughter worked in the business with us, but we didn’t always have enough time for our family life.”

duty wreckers amongst their mixed fleet of light-, medium- and heavy-duty trucks. Richcreek’s hands-on nature has served her well at the head of her company. “I don’t like being called a boss. We’re co-workers and partners with our employees. I get things done,” she said. “They call me MOM: Master of Multitasking.” When Unruh started out, she had plenty to learn. She asked lots of questions; her never-ending curiosity, coupled with her past experience as a model, helped her business grow. “My approach was not a mom-andpop kind of thing. I dressed in a business suit. When I was a model, I had to market

including providing educational opportunities to make training available for towers in the state, working to organize a Nebraska Tow Show, fighting mandates on towing fees in Omaha, and promoting important legislation. “Do you know what it’s like to get a bunch of guys moving in the same direction? When I became involved in the association, the guys were sputtering. They had lots of good ideas but nobody took action,” she said. “We were very successful in repealing legislation that imposed restrictions on the length of a heavy-duty tow. … Thanks to the new legislation, we are exempt from weight and length.”

Multi-tasking We might say that women seem naturally gifted as multi-taskers, but learning to wear different hats requires throwing yourself into new situations, taking risks and doing what needs to be done. In this industry that might include working sales, dispatching, billing, payroll, marketing, operations management, networking and even towing, depending on the day of the week. All of these women have had to meet those challenges, extending their range of responsibilities to become dynamic players in their field. For Serrano, she built on her eight years of experience in the banking industry where she learned a lot about following procedures, implementing policies and the importance of customer service, all of which carried over in her role as a tow boss. Heidi Jo Richcreek of HJ Towing and Recovery in Carlisle, Pa., and her husband started out like many—running a tow company from their home only to quickly outgrow circumstances, find another space and then grow by leaps and bounds. Since 2003, when they first started out with only one truck, their business has grown to 24 employees and 12 heavyWork the non-traffic Side–Stay Safe!

Joanne Hitz, second from right, at a bill signing for tower exemptions in Nebraska on weight and overall length, that she helped push through as president of the Nebraska Towing Association.

me, which is no different than putting a portfolio together and marketing my business,” she said. She learned she needed to set herself apart and went with pink trucks—an idea extended by her foreman of 26 years. A former career helped Collins as well, who brought managerial skills from her time overseeing billing for 10 healthcare clinics in Southern California. She has a knack for understanding the customer. “I was a manager for a significant number of years. I don’t think you can learn how to be a good leader. You can hone your skills, though, to be the best leader you can be,” she said. Duty to the industry for some goes beyond their own company. Hitz’s many duties include serving as acting president of the Nebraska Towing Association. Since she became president, she has been at the forefront of initiatives

Rewards Becoming your own tow boss and leader in this industry comes with a variety of rewards for the diligent. For Serrano, who was named the Small Business Leader of the Year in 2013 by the Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce, she has found more time to balance her once hectic life with her family needs. “It’s gotten somewhat easier,” she said, “as I have more time for my other two kids, twins who are 14. I can drop them off and pick them up from school activities and be home when they arrive.” Unruh’s success led to her induction into the International Towing & Recovery Hall of Fame, a rare distinction for any woman and an awareness that you can get what you want when you go after it. “If you really want to work you just

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LEADING THE WAY cont. from pg 67 keep coming back,” she said. “If you really want something, the dreams are there. You just have to follow through.” Richcreek feels rewarded in giving back to the range of causes she chooses to support, including the Make a Wish Foundation and the company runs a truck to benefit breast cancer awareness as an homage to local women she has known and loved. “Many of us know people who have suffered from breast cancer—a mother, sister, grandmother and friend. We had a former field hockey coach in our town recently diagnosed. I went to high school with two women who had breast cancer. I worked with two women from a previous job who had it, and have ridden motorcycles with women that have had it as well,” she said. “All of their names are on the back of our truck.”

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. Number 145 on Reader Card

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Navistar Debuts Trucks, Track by Brendan Dooley

International recently debuted some updated Class 5-8 chassis at its new test facility in New Carlisle, Ind.

n mid-May, Navistar officially opened its new proving grounds in New Carlisle, Ind., by debuting a host of new and revamped International work trucks to the media. (For me, as an old-car guy, one of the cool things about the grounds is that they are the former Studebaker Proving Grounds built in 1926.) The 675-acre facility will be used to test the company's Class 5-8 trucks, buses and military vehicles, whether on the three-mile banked oval, offroad trails or various road surfaces. Chassis twisting, brake testing, chattering cobblestones and gravel, extreme grades and more will be inflicted on developmental trucks. “Beyond testing our latest vehicles and innovative technologies, we will also use the site as a customer center to

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showcase new products and give customers an opportunity to experience our vehicles firsthand,” said Bill Kozek, president, Navistar Truck and Parts. During the day of testing International's upgrades and new technologies on the various tracks, there were few flaws to be found. Among the medium-duty offerings were DuraStar 4300 models with 220-hp Cummins ISB engines and a 4400 with the 275-hp Navistar N9. Each utilized Allison automatics. The 4400 was a stakebed truck, and the 4300s were a box truck and a Century rollback. All of the trucks were wellappointed and smooth driving, with comfortable cabs and easy-to-read dashes. Working the DuraStar 4300/Cen-

tury 12 Series LCG around the course was a breeze. The steering was snug and the truck made it into, and out of, some tight corners with ease, even after coming up a steep grade. The Class 8 rigs (ProStar ES, TranStar, LoneStar and 9900i) were all very comfortable cabs, quiet and smooth driving around the track. The 9900i was extremely cool, retro, like a truck should look as my Teamster relatives might say. Any of these would be well-suited to the transport side of a tow fleet. The various Bendix Wingman Fusion technologies on display in some of them was impressive with the lane-drift warnings and speed-limit alerts (see sidebar). My bus driving experience is extremely limited, so I can't say much about how the IC CE models compare

The DuraStar 4300/Century 12 Series LCG was an easy ride, including up some steep slopes and around tight curves.

with other brand's buses. However, in comparing the propane model vs. a diesel model side-by-side, the PSI 8.8L propane engine had plenty of take-off speed and ran quiet and smooth paired to the Allison 2500 PTS transmission and the International Ride Optimized Suspension. The Cummins ISB 260-hp diesel-powered bus was a bit louder and the mechanical suspension was more noticeable. I think towers looking to make their fleet greener would see benefits adding that propane option among their mediumduty tow vehicles.

The medium-duty DuraStar models on display each utilized Allison automatics.

The International Class 8 rigs were all very comfortable cabs, quiet and smooth driving around the track.

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Bendix Wingman Fusion One of the coolest, and most disconcerting, parts of the International ride-and-drive was getting a full, live demonstration of the Bendix Wingman Fusion technology. In a nutshell, the combined parts of the software brought a ProStar bobtail to a halt from 20-plus mph, in spite of driver input, because an obstacle was in the path (inflatable car on this day). As a passenger in the cab, I observed the driver not do anything to avoid the rapidly approaching obstacle and reflexively wanted to reach for the wheel as my right foot pressed into the floorboard. The system gave audible warnings before bringing the truck to a complete stop, inches before collision, without the driver.

Truly, the only disconcerting thing was just how … weird … it felt to have the truck stopping on its own. Of the technology's aim, there is nothing disconscerting in the least: reducing roadside accidents and casualties. In this industry, where we lose an average of a tower a week, we should be champi-

oning this kind of advance and looking to make it or similar tech standard on highway-going vehicles. "We're committed to providing our customers with industry-leading technologies and bringing them to market quickly," said Denny Mooney, Navistar SVP, product development. "Being

This ProStar cab housed the Bendix Wingman Fusion technology and was brought to a stop as it approached the obstacle vehicle. A rendering of the display the driver sees when lane speeds are at odds (above).

The severe-duty models (PayStar 5900, WorkStar 7500 and 7600) were all responsive and easy to drive for someone who doesn't jump into a big truck every day. Whether powered by Cummins ISX or the Navistar N13 and N10 engines, each pulled just fine up grades and were comfortable to be in and feel in control. I felt equally at home working the gears with the Eaton Fuller 10speed manual as I did letting the automatics do the work (Eaton UltraShift and the Allison 3000 RDS). 72 • July 2015 - TOWMAN.COM

One of the best trucks to drive was a WorkStar 7300 4x4 bucket truck powered by the 260-hp Cummins ISB with an Allison 3500 RDS transmission; because we got to drive it offroad through some big bumps and mud and slide around a good bit. (Truth be told: I really, kinda, wanted to get it stuck so we'd have to bring the DuraStar/Century 12 Series LCG over to get it out, but it didn't have a sidepuller or multiple snatch blocks to run enough lines to the load. Frankly, I'm

the first to introduce the Bendix Wingman Fusion to our heavy-duty line-up is an important step toward that goal." Bendix Wingman Fusion combines Bendix advanced safety technologies—radar, camera, the vehicle's brake system, and SafetyDirect by Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems—into a comprehensive driver assistance system that inlcudes collision-mitigation technology and lane departure warnings

not sure we could have gotten stuck either. Maybe that makes it a good option for a medium-duty off-road recovery truck?)

Editor Brendan Dooley joined AT in January 2011 after serving as the editor of two magazines covering the auto repair industry for shop owners, techs and tool distributors. His experience includes hard news on daily newspapers and editorial leadership at vintage motorcycle and car magazines. Brendan is WreckMaster 6/7A certified.

Company Suspended over Facebook Post The mayor of Hazleton, Pa., said a disparaging remark posted on a social media site led to the suspension of one of the city’s towing firms. But a representative from the firm that received the three-year suspension said she’s not responsible for the posting and is contemplating legal action against the city. Mayor Joseph Yannuzzi said that the suspension was issued in response to a comment the towing company allegedly posted on Facebook. The mayor said the posting accuses him of accepting a bribe from one of the city’s towing vendors. The posting has since been removed, but Yannuzzi said he has a copy of it in his possession. “It really disturbed me when they called me a thief,” Yannuzzi said. “That kind of statement really got to me. I thought it went above and beyond and violated a (city) policy.” The company is one of four towing vendors that operate on a twoweek rotation for the city. The company’s representative claimed that her personal social media page had been “hacked” and that neither she nor her business has anything to do with the remark. She is considering legal action and said she ultimately wants her company put back on the towing rotation. The owners of the company supported the mayor’s opponent in a recent primary election, but the mayor said the suspension has nothing to do with politics. Source: standardspeaker.com.

The Move Over law is part of the Virginia State Police’s “Drive 2 Save Lives” campaign aimed at decreasing traffic fatalities overall and lowering the number of public safety professionals and highway workers who are injured or killed. Virginia’s “Move Over” law went into effect 13 years ago to protect first responders working on the highway and was expanded in 2010 to include highway maintenance vehicles and tow trucks equipped with amber lights.

During June, Virginia State Police posted to the department’s Facebook page weekly photos of sworn members, their families and colleagues about why “moving over” matters. Additionally, the Fredericksburg Regional Traffic Incident Management Coalition created a 2015 public service announcement about the law as part of “Move Over Awareness Month.” Source: www.vachiefs.org.

June Marked for ‘Move Over’ Awareness Virginia is for the Move Over law, and designated June as “Move Over Awareness Month.” The designation continued the effort to raise drivers’ attention about the law. Number 169 on Reader Card Work the non-traffic Side–Stay Safe!

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Sometimes Everything Goes … as Planned

t was great to meet so many people at this year’s American Towman ShowPlace in exciting Las Vegas, Nev. The third annual event took place in May at the beautiful SouthPoint Hotel & Casino and marked the first year the event included back-to-back repossession-based seminars in the conferences. By the time the three-hour repossession conferences were over, the room was packed with attendees. The two seminars, “Repossession Certification is Necessary” and “Operational Procedures for the Repossession Business,” were a huge success. Thanks to Joe Taylor of Recovery Industry Services Company for being part of such an informative event. Taylor and I answered questions for over an hour at the seminar’s conclusion. (In case you missed it, no worries as you can still reserve a spot in the repossession seminars at the American Towman Academy in San Antonio, Texas, in August. Find more information in this issue on page 35.) That I would be spending a few days in Las Vegas didn’t go unnoticed at the desk of one of my clients. While gathering my gear for the Vegas event, a long-time client and friend (with 30 years in business, some loyalties run strong) called me because he heard I was conducting a seminar there. “Will you have time to help me with a small problem?” he politely asked. I have been doing business with “Ron” for many, many years. He said a seriously past-due customer, “Slim,” had been off the grid for more than a year. Ron said Slim’s ex-wife reported he was living in his truck at a truck stop just north of Las Vegas. The exwife told Ron that Slim hadn’t paid her child support in over six months and that he was also “shacking up

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During my repossession seminar at the American Towman ShowPlace-Las Vegas, I was just a couple hours removed from making a longtime commercial account very happy.

with some young waitress.” She thought if he wasn’t paying child support, he shouldn’t have the truck either. With some reluctance, I agreed to work the delinquent account while in Las Vegas. It didn’t take more than a few minutes for Ron to send the repossession assignment. The collateral was a fire-engine-red 2013 Peterbilt 389 with a 53’ stainless-steel Great Dane reefer trailer. The client requested I deliver the collateral to the nearest Peterbilt dealership. I put all the paperwork inside my briefcase and continued to pack my bags. For those of you who don’t know me well, I am a workaholic. It is only because I enjoy my job. I enjoy the thrill of the hunt as well as the recovery process. I will not take any risks during the repossession process. If I think there might be the slightest element of danger, I will always return later when I am 100-percent positive the recovery attempt is safe. I will often work weekends and holidays. On this Vegas trip, I made a promise to

by Mark Lacek

my wife I would take some time to enjoy myself and have some fun. First things first: the Repo seminar was a huge success at the AT ShowPlace as I spent over an hour answering questions from attendees. On the elevator up to my room, I remembered the recovery assignment in my briefcase. It was about 6:30 p.m. I figured I could take a cab to the truck stop, look around a bit and be back in my room by 9 p.m. My wife and I still would have time to enjoy a nice dinner at one of the great restaurants in the SouthPoint Casino. In my research during the fivehour flight to Las Vegas, I’d found the closest truck stop north of Las Vegas is a Pilot Truck Center. Getting into the cab in front of the SouthPoint, I figured I would have the cab driver do a quick in and out at the Pilot Truck Center, then back to my dinner plans with the wife. I did not figure on the Peterbilt being at the Pilot on a Thursday evening when most guys are on the road. As we pulled into the truck stop, it took only a couple of seconds to spot the red Pete lined up in the back row— hooked to the shiny stainless-steel Great Dane reefer. This beauty stood out like a sore thumb backed into a spot with a dirty old cab-over Freightliner on one side and your standard white Volvo high-top on the other. I knew from my research on the flight that the nearest Peterbilt dealer was located in North Las Vegas. (What I did not realize was the dealer was only about two miles away from the truck stop.) I looked in my briefcase and with great pleasure found my lock pics next to the assignment paperwork. I asked the cab driver to drop me off at the front entrance of the truck stop where

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most automobile patrons walk in to buy gasoline. As I walked through the truck stop, I stopped near the back window of the plaza for a few minutes. I stared at the Peterbilt parked about 200’ from where I was standing. I noticed what looked like a white paper posted on the passenger-side windshield. There was no activity around the truck and trailer or near the trucks parked along side of it. I realized it was a safe time to get this show on the road. I walked up to the truck—looking like a driver on his way to his truck. I looked at both trucks parked alongside the Peterbilt; nobody home. As I walked on the passenger side of the Peterbilt, I focused my attention on the note on the windshield. It said, “Move this truck or it will be towed.” Walking down the side I looked at the air lines to be sure they were hooked up; check. I looked at the landing gear to see if they were cranked up; check. I rounded the back of the trailer to find the doors locked with no seal (trailer is most likely empty).

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I made my way up the driver side of the Pete looking into the mirror and could see nothing but an empty seat. As I passed by the front of the trailer, I checked the VIN; bingo. Next I looked at the rear of the sleeper and verified the VIN on the Pete; bingo. No one was paying any attention to me as I stood up and looked into the driver’s side window to find the cab was empty. I have a favorite lock-pick for Peterbilt doors and ignitions. The door unlocked in less than five seconds with the help of the double-ball pick. After I looked back into the sleeper to make sure there were no surprises, I looked out of the windshield to see if I drew any attention. Nothing. Just a few seconds later the engine was running using the very same pick. With 90 lbs. of air pressure in the tanks, I released the brakes and eased my way out of the parking space and headed towards the truck stop exit. A smooth right turn onto the road and within 15 minutes I was pulling into

the Peterbilt dealer. With an exchange of signatures and locking the truck and trailer in the back lot, I caught another cab back to the SouthPoint Hotel & Casino just in time to take my wife out to a nice relaxing dinner. I love Las Vegas and I can’t wait until next year. Sometimes everything happens just as planned. Being prepared and understanding the importance of safety measures will determine the success of an assignment. At the American Towman ShowPlace, the Certified Commercial Recovery Agent national certification program was introduced. I spent the last year writing the program; I spent the last 30 years working on the content. For more information on how to become certified in commercial repossession, go to www.RISCUS.com.

Repo Editor Mark Lacek has more than 30 years of recovery experience and is the former editor of “Professional Repossessor” magazine. Email him at Mark@commercialassetsolutions.com

To Advertise In Towmanâ€™s Market Call 800-732-3869 Ellen Rosengart x 203 erosengart@towman.com Dennie Ortiz x 213 dortiz@towman.com 78 â€˘ July 2015 - TOWMAN.COM

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Tech Highlights

‘Big Pete’

Chassis: 1999 Peterbilt 379 sleeper. Wrecker: Century 5030T. Engine: 600 Cat. Trans: Eaton 10-speed. Winches: Dual 30,000-lbs. Ramsey. Builder: Austin Hinds Motors. Equipment: Strap kit, chains, snatch blocks, shackles, assorted hooks. Extras: Chrome stacks, reflective graphics. Design: Sherrell Family Paint & Body; Sign Source. Moving loaded containers.

ors and clean, while being bold at the same time,” Richard said. “It took six weeks to do the paint and graphics. All graphics are reflective. “The most important attribute this unit brings to our business is that it’s a BIG truck. It’s sheer size, at 345-inch wheelbase with the 14-foot CAMPBELL’S down the side, ‘Big Pete’ is a rolling billboard for us.”

Editor’s Note Jim “Buck” Sorrenti, a longtime editor of American Towman, has been our field editor for the past few years. He is a freelance writer and photographer with more than 40 years of experience covering motorcycle, hot rod, truck and towing culture.

Lifting a firetruck in the yard.

by Jim “Buck” Sorrenti

ampbell’s 24-Hour Towing & Recovery offers a wide range of towing and roadside services in Warrior, Ala., and has for quite some time. “I’ve been in business since 2004 under my current name, but my granddad, Hessie Campbell, started Campbell Trucking in 1947. My family has a long history in trucking and towing and is well known in these parts,” said Richard Campbell, president. Campbell’s performs towing and recovery, lockouts, winch-outs, jump-

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starts, flat-tire services and fuel/fluid deliveries from light-duty vehicles to loaded semis. “We are the elite provider of heavy-duty towing and recovery services on I-65 in middle Alabama. We specialize in heavy-duty towing and are able to tow tractor-trailer combinations, loaded or not. Whatever the needs are for heavy-duty, we can handle it,” Richard said. The company has eight employees and 14 vehicles including two heavies, one medium-duty, two light-duties,

three carriers, two service trucks, one Hazmat unit, two auto transport units and a courtesy vehicle. The newest addition to this fleet is Campbell’s heavy “Big Pete,” this 1999 Peterbilt 379 sleeper/Century 5030T 30-ton heavy-duty wrecker. A 600 Cat engine mated to an Eaton 10-speed transmission moves it. Austin Hinds Motors in Arab, Ala., built this rig. The Century 5030T is designed for efficient weight distribution and maximum towing capabilities with the ability to scale legally under most

applications. This 30-ton unit is equipped with dual 30,000-lbs. Ramsey winches and an integrated underlift with power tilt and the capability of lifting 16,000-lbs. at full extension of 114”. Adam and Abbey Sherrell at Sherrell Family Paint & Body and Phil Green at Sign Source did all of the graphics and lettering. Both companies are located in Warrior, Ala. “What inspired the paint job was just a vision to keep it classic Pete col-

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TOWMAN.COM - July 2015 • 81

Industry’s First Disaster Conference

he American Towman Exposition continues to break new ground; its Disaster Conference this November marks the first time that towers will come together to discuss disaster-response issues and learn from those who have that experience in responding to the likes of Hurricanes Katrina and Sandy, floods and tornadoes, massive highway pileups, catastrophic spills, etc. Jim Hurst of United Road Tow will be one of the seminar presenters. Jim is leading the company’s Disaster Response Team, which itself is breaking new ground. American Towman is including a panel headed by towers; Bruce Campbell, Scott Eger and others who have disaster response experience. Dave Lander of Savatech, with law enforcement and disasterresponse experience, will be on that panel as well. Issues like integration with disaster, incident management, expectations and equipment, payment and insurance will be covered. WreckMaster is contributing to the Disaster Conference, building a presentation that discusses responding to incidents that include hazardous spills and massive highway catastrophes. You can expect towers of high leadership skills to attend the Disaster Conference, the same kind of towers who are out there responding to disasters if for no other reason than they want to be where the action is. These are the kind of towers who have sent men and equipment to faraway cities in need of assistance. While many towers have contributed to disaster response for no or little pay, there have been significant revenue opportunities in disaster response. After all, this is a free enterprise society. Emergency services per-

82 • July 2015 - TOWMAN.COM

by Steve Calitri

Devastation in Staten Island, N.Y., after Hurricane Sandy. Breen Brothers Towing photo.

sonnel get paid to do the work they are trained to do. Governments have emergency funds to pay for response and cleanup. The issue of disaster pay and the state and federal agencies involved, such as FEMA, will be discussed. The Disaster Conference is part of the American Towman Academy, which also features the Motor Clubs Conference on Getting Paid. This one broke new ground in May in Las Vegas during Tow Industry Week and was enthusiastically received by the towers attending. In Baltimore, eight clubs are scheduled to present individual seminars on how their payment systems work, and the ins and outs of compliance for quick payment. Another new seminar this year straddles two conferences: Traffic Control as a Revenue Opportunity. This seminar has some application to disaster response issues, but AT is presenting it under the Revenue Opportunities banner. Bruce Campbell has pioneered Traffic Control with his towing company. Like accidentcleanup, traffic control is an exciting opportunity for towers to make new money on old practices.

American Towman wants towers to have safety top of mind— everybody wants you to go home each night. This month includes a story from industry trainer David Lambert about not taking chances when there are proven steps you can take to reduce risk. Likewise, on TIW, safety is a common feature. Recently, Operations Editor Randall Resch wrote about the dangers to your safety, and liabilities, if you use seatbelts in your recoveries. Though you may see a cool shortcut, it’s a perilous one to take.

On American Towman TV, Emily Oz covered some late winter storms in Texas where Jody Wade, president of Big Daddy’s Towing, talked about seeing drivers texting while driving on ice. Distracted driving—whether on ice or not— remains a constant threat to towers’ safety. RepoTimes.com, part of TIW, focuses on repossession news and updates each week. One recent story covered an agent’s last ride after being shot during the repossession attempt. Some at the funeral blamed TV “reality” shows that portray the profession in a poor light at best. Being safe getting collateral will be covered during the Repo Conference will be featured next month in San Antonio, Texas, at Tow Expo Int’l Aug. 13-15.

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Interview Pro cess

by Don Archer

Create a schedule that includes equipment training, recovery training, safety training, driver etiquette, proper invoicing habits, damage avoidance and customer service training.

NORTH 84 • July 2015 - TOWMAN.COM

Six Tips to Find Drivers Who Will Work for You

odd walked into my office looking for a job. Forty-ish, he looked decent enough. No facial tattoos, no flip-flops and he wore decent clothes. He flashed a Class A commercial driver’s license and had my attention. I gave him an application. He filled it out and we sat down for an unscheduled interview. I asked about his previous work and he said that he’d driven for an over-the-road trucking company—one of the biggest trucking companies in the United States. As we talked, he began to go into detail about everything he believed to be wrong with this company. He’d only been there for three months, but from his complaining, you’d think it had been a decade. After a few minutes … I sort of stopped listening. Instead of cutting the interview short and kindly escorting him to the door, I decided to use this interview as a learning experience. So I donned my white lab coat, grabbed my legal pad and pencil and, in an instant, turned into a researcher who wanted to know more. I wanted to know why he had gone into such detail about the previous job. I wanted to know the real reason he left. What did he believe he was getting into in the first place? And why didn’t it work out? What had me perplexed more than anything was how this huge company with its many resources could do worse than I when it came to hiring and retaining employees? My interest paid dividends. It turns out that part of the reason he

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TOWMAN.COM - July 2015 • NORTH 85

left was because he believed he wasn’t being properly trained. His expectations were high because of what was promised during recruiting and the initial training to get the CDL. But after a few months, he claimed the trucking company dropped the ball. They promised all this stuff to get him in the door but didn’t deliver once he was committed. The pay wasn’t what they said, home time wasn’t as expected and he felt like he was being treated as a number rather than a person. The way he saw it: he did his part, gave his time and went through the complimentary CDL training, but they didn’t do their part. Employees and employers alike need to know exactly what they’re getting into. If used properly, the interview process can provide a unique opportunity to do just that and to determine if there’s a match. Rather than promising high and delivering low, you should start by being brutally honest.

Use the interview as a tool to set reasonable expectations. As an employer, there are six things you can do right off the bat to avoid investing time and money into an employee who isn’t going to work out. • Brutal Honesty. Be 100-percent honest and up front about what you expect from the relationship. You’re hiring for the position of tow truck operator. Explain that the nature of the business and the position being offered requires the successful applicant to be available at odd hours and to participate in after-hours work as needed. Doing this will scare away some, but undoubtedly those will be the ones who wouldn’t answer their phones anyway.

• Pay. Tell them exactly what they’ll be paid. If their wages are hourly then inform them of any hurdles that must be crossed before advancement. If commissioned work, provide them with the precise percentages they’ll be paid for the differing types of work. • Training. Inform them as to the training that will be provided and the schedule you expect them to adhere to. Then … • Train them properly. Create a schedule that includes equipment training, recovery training, safety training, driver etiquette, proper invoicing habits, damage avoidance and customer service training. • Create and Communicate Consequences. This alerts your new hire to the fact that should they fail to keep up with training and learn all that’s required of them, consequences exist. Create and properly communicate those consequences before you hire them. • Follow Through. You must then follow through. Adhere to the consequences put in place. This last part is crucial. If you’re seen as someone who “lets things go,” they’ll take advantage and, before you know it, everyone’s doing substandard work while expecting above-average pay. Use the interview as a tool to set reasonable expectations and to lay out exactly what you will provide if the applicant decides to become part of your team. Doing this will save you time and money and go a long way toward building a sustainable business. Editor’s note: This story originally ran on AT’s sister site, towindustryweek.com, which features industry news, training, recoveries, new products and more. Don’t miss out—make sure to read it each week.

Don Archer lives and works in Jefferson City, Mo., where he and his wife, Brenda, own and operate Broadway Wrecker, a 12-truck operation that’s been in business since the 1950s. He writes a weekly column for TowIndustryWeek.com. Email him at don@broadwaywrecker.com.. Number 205 on Reader Card

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‘Gronk’ Catches Yet Another ‘Pass’ Two Boston, Mass., tow truck operators didn’t want to go down as the guys who hauled off New England Patriots star Rob Gronkowski’s party bus, so they let him off the hook—and the Pats’ tight end couldn’t have been happier. Todisco Towing was called to Howl at the Moon in Boston on May 31 to haul off a bus that was parked illegally in a private lot. Despite the bus being adorned with a Body Armor logo (which Gronkowski endorses) and his No. 87 uniform number, the tower claimed he had no idea he was about to tow “Gronk’s” ride. Once the bus was up on the truck and ready to go, Matthew of Todisco Towing says several patrons began asking him, “Don’t you know whose bus that is?” Then, someone from Gronkowski’s entourage came out and promised to

move it, and Matthew decided to let the famed tight end “off the hook.” “I didn’t want to find out what the end result would be if I had towed the truck,” said Matthew. “You know Pats fans wouldn’t have that.” So Matthew let the truck down and that’s when the Patriots’ star emerged, and posed for a few pics. Source: www.tmz.com.

Boston May Eliminate Towing in Certain Areas The Boston (Mass.) City Council scheduled a vote on a pilot program to increase fines in pilot zones where towing was “too punitive.” Under the program, designated areas would raise parking fines incurred during street cleanings by more than double. The committee report suggested the council ought to pass an amendment to the city code, creating ordinances that increase parking fines for cars during street cleanings from $40

to $90. Similarly, the 21-day late fee would jump from $13 to $30. The increased severity of the monetary payment means violators would no longer be committing a towable offense. Source: bostinno.streetwise.co.

Man Strikes Tower in Effort to Avoid Tow A Brockton, Mass., man who wanted to avoid having his car towed struck the tow truck driver and his truck before fleeing, police said. Lynch’s Towing was called to pick up an unauthorized vehicle at an apartment complex, police said. As the tower was hooking the car, Darryl James Ingram, 46, began to argue with apartment security workers. Ingram got in his car and drove off, striking the tower and the tow truck, police said. The victim was injured and was taken to Good Samaritan Medical Center nearby. Police responded and a short time later Ingram returned. After being interviewed by police, Ingram was arrested and charged with leaving the scene of personal injury and leaving the scene of property damage. Source:m.wcvb.com.

Pa. Lawmaker Wants to Curb Chasers Pennsylvania State Rep. Dom Costa plans to introduce a bill aimed at reining in tow truck drivers who listen to scanners and rush to accidents. He is calling for municipalities to put a small number of legitimate towing companies under contract — and make them the designated towers. Costa’s bill would also make the police officer in charge of the scene. Tow truck drivers would not be allowed to speak with the accident victim and the car would not be towed until the police officer gives the OK. Costa was inundated with calls from the motoring public in his area after a series of reports by a local Pittsburgh television station on “chasers.” Source: pittsburgh.cbslocal.com. NORTH 88 • July 2015 - TOWMAN.COM

Send your thoughts/suggestions on the Adventures to scalitri@towman.com or American Towman, 7 West St, Warwick NY 10990

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TOWMAN.COM - July 2015 • SOUTH 83

$2M in Vehicles Recovered

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The Wilkinson County (Ga.) Sheriff’s office say they’ve seized more than 50 vehicles in the theft charges brought against repo agent Tracy Ford. Ford is accused of stealing more than 60 vehicles and using stolen tow trucks to operate an auto recovery business; 51 have been found in Wilkinson County. “We didn’t realize it was going to be this big,” said Sheriff Richard Chatman. He said this is the largest vehicle theft case he has ever seen. Chatman believes most of those vehicles were stolen in the Atlanta area. He said they began looking into Ford’s businesses after a tip that the vehicle his son was driving could be stolen. “Matter of fact he was on our wrecker call list,” said Chatman. The vehicles, from pick-up trucks to motorcycles, filled three different impound lots. Chatman guessed the total value is about $2 million. Finding the original owners has not been an easy process. Right now, the Sheriff’s office is working with the insurance companies to try to track down the owners. Chatman said that the repo service, with lots full of cars, was the perfect cover for this massive operation and added that Ford is the only suspect right now. The District Attorney’s office is still deciding how many more charges Ford will face. Ford is being held in the Wilkinson County Jail. Source: www.13wmaz.com.

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TOWMAN.COM - July 2015 • SOUTH 85

Interview Process

Six Tips to Find Drivers Who Will Work for You

by Don Archer

SOUTH 86 • July 2015 - TOWMAN.COM

Create a schedule that includes equipment training, recovery training, safety training, driver etiquette, proper invoicing habits, damage avoidance and customer service training.

turns out that part of the reason he left was because he believed he wasn’t being properly trained. His expectations were high because of what was promised during recruiting and the initial training to get the CDL. But after a few months, he claimed the trucking company dropped the ball. They promised all this stuff to get him in the door but didn’t deliver once he was committed. The pay wasn’t what they said, home time wasn’t as expected and he felt like he was being treated as a number rather than a person. The way he saw it: he did his part, gave his time and went through the complimentary CDL training, but they didn’t do their part. Employees and employers alike need to know exactly what they’re getting into. If used properly, the inter-

view process can provide a unique opportunity to do just that and to determine if there’s a match. Rather than promising high and delivering low, you should start by being brutally honest. As an employer, there are six things you can do right off the bat to avoid investing time and money into an employee who isn’t going to work out. • Brutal Honesty. Be 100-percent honest and up front about what you expect from the relationship. You’re hiring for the position of tow truck operator. Explain that the nature of the business and the position being offered requires the successful applicant to be available at odd hours and to participate in after-hours work as needed. Doing this will scare away some, but undoubtedly

those will be the ones who wouldn’t answer their phones anyway. • Pay. Tell them exactly what they’ll be paid. If their wages are hourly then inform them of any hurdles that must be crossed before advancement. If commissioned work, provide them with the precise percentages they’ll be paid for the differing types of work. • Training. Inform them as to the training that will be provided and the schedule you expect them to adhere to. Then … • Train them properly. Create a schedule that includes equipment training, recovery training, safety training, driver etiquette, proper invoicing habits, damage avoidance and customer service training. • Create and Communicate Consequences. This alerts your new hire to the fact that should they fail to keep up with training and learn all that’s required of them, consequences exist. Create and properly communicate those consequences before you hire them. • Follow Through. You must then follow through. Adhere to the consequences put in place. This last part is crucial. If you’re seen as someone who “lets things go,” they’ll take advantage and, before you know it, everyone’s doing substandard work while expecting above-average pay. Use the interview as a tool to set reasonable expectations and to lay out exactly what you will provide if the applicant decides to become part of your team. Doing this will save you time and money and go a long way toward building a sustainable business.

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Editor’s note: This story originally ran on AT’s sister site, towindustryweek.com, which features industry news, training, recoveries, new products and more. Don’t miss out—make sure to read it each week.

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Drivers Salute Fallen Tower

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About 200 tow truck drivers brought their trucks to the funeral of Michael Kennedy, who was affectionately known as “Turnpike Mike,” in May. Kennedy, 56, of Ravenna, Ohio, was struck by a tractor-trailer as he was assisting a driver with a flat tire on Interstate 80 in Hudson. The drivers rolled along a fivemile processional route from a Ravenna church to the cemetery where Kennedy was laid to rest. “We all became one even though we’re all individual companies. Today, we’re all one brotherhood,” said John Trgo, the owner of Interstate Towing. Kennedy worked for Interstate for many years. Funeral attendees and friends of Kennedy said they hope the powerful convoy sent a message to be careful and move over. A fund has been established to help Kennedy’s family. Contributions can be sent to the “Michael Kennedy Memorial Fund” at Huntington Bank, 230 W. Cedar Ave., Ravenna, Ohio 44266. Source: www.newsnet5.com.

Towing Company Appreciated by Motorist An Anderson, Ind., resident recently expressed thanks for a Lima, Ohio, towing company for going above and beyond when the family vehicle broke down 200-plus miles from their home. In a letter published in “The Lima News,” Jill Winter explained that she and her husband were en route home when her husband hit something and blew the inner wall of the car’s tire. Stating that there was no spare tire and there was only a repair kit incapable of fixing the tire, she called her roadside assistance program who sent Able Towing to the accident scene. Number 134 on Reader Card

MIDWEST 84 • July 2015 - TOWMAN.COM

“I want to thank them in a huge way,” wrote Winter, “Not only did they go way above the call of duty to make sure we were safe, Kyle (of Able Towing—Ed.) was the most wonderful person to have come to our rescue as he tried and tried to find someone who could fix our damage at 6:30 p.m. on a Saturday. “Finding a Wal-Mart auto shop that agreed to stay open past their regular hours, Winter and her husband were towed there by Able Towing. However, there was one more situation that had to be dealt with. … “(Kyle’s) boss Cheryl had even gone way above her call of duty and made sure that we had proper lodging for the night because we were stuck there until morning with no extra funds on us or anyone to come and get us,” said Winter. Writing that she didn’t know if “The Lima News” had or the city had a way of honoring such citizens, Winter concluded her letter by saying if such recognition existed she would be the first to nominate Able Towing and “especially Cheryl and Kyle” to be honored. Source: www.limaohio.com.

$2M in Vehicles Recovered The Wilkinson County (Ga.) Sheriff’s office say they’ve seized more than 50 vehicles in the theft charges brought against repo agent Tracy Ford. Ford is accused of stealing more than 60 vehicles and using stolen tow trucks to operate an auto recovery business; 51 have been found in Wilkinson County. “We didn’t realize it was going to be this big,” said Sheriff Richard Chatman. He said this is the largest vehicle theft case he has ever seen. Chatman believes most of those vehicles were stolen in the Atlanta area. He said they began looking into Ford’s businesses after a tip that the vehicle his son was driving could be stolen. “Matter of fact he was on our wrecker call list,” said Chatman. The vehicles, from pick-up trucks to motorcycles, filled three different impound lots. Chatman guessed the total value is about $2 million.

Finding the original owners has not been an easy process. Right now, the Sheriff’s office is working with the insurance companies to try to track down the owners. Chatman said that the repo service, with lots full of cars, was the perfect cover for this massive operation and added that Ford is the only suspect right now. The District Attorney’s office is still deciding how many more charges Ford will face. Ford is being held in the Wilkinson County Jail. Source: www.13wmaz.com.

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Finger Bitten During Repo Attempt What started as car repossession ended with the car owner facing assault charges and a bitten finger for the repo agent. According to police, the June incident happened at a gas station in Sioux Falls, S.D. A man who worked for a repossession company spotted a 2006 Chrysler 300 that had been designated for repossession. When the man attempted to repo the car, the car’s owner, a 36-year-old man, confronted him. Police said the suspect shoved the repo man into the car, which caused him to drop his cellphone in the car. When he reached to pick the phone up, the suspect bit his finger, then drove away. The victim suffered a broken finger due to the bite, Clemens says. Source: www.ksfy.com. Number 193 on Reader Card Work the non-traffic Side–Stay Safe!

TOWMAN.COM - July 2015 • MIDWEST 85

Interview Pro cess

by Don Archer

Create a schedule that includes equipment training, recovery training, safety training, driver etiquette, proper invoicing habits, damage avoidance and customer service training.

MIDWEST 86 • July 2015 - TOWMAN.COM

Six Tips to Find Drivers Who Will Work for You

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TOWMAN.COM - July 2015 • MIDWEST 87

Pay. Tell them exactly what they’ll be paid. If their wages are hourly then inform them of any hurdles that must be crossed before advancement. If commissioned work, provide them with the precise percentages they’ll be paid for the differing types of work. • Training. Inform them as to the training that will be provided and the schedule you expect them to adhere to. Then … • Train them properly. Create a schedule that includes equipment training, recovery training, safety training, driver etiquette, proper invoicing habits, damage avoidance and customer service training. • Create and Communicate Consequences. This alerts your new hire to the fact that should they fail to keep up with training and learn all that’s required of them, consequences exist. Create and properly communicate those consequences before you hire them. • Follow Through. You must then follow through. Adhere to the consequences put in place. This last part is crucial. If you’re seen as someone who “lets things go,” they’ll take advantage and, before you know it, everyone’s doing substandard work while expecting above-average pay. Use the interview as a tool to set reasonable expectations and to lay out exactly what you will provide if the applicant decides to become part of your team. Doing this will save you time and money and go a long way toward building a sustainable business. Editor’s note: This story originally ran on AT’s sister site, towindustryweek.com, which features industry news, training, recoveries, new products and more. Don’t miss out—make sure to read it each week.

MIDWEST 88 • July 2015 - TOWMAN.COM

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HOA Pays $300 Bill

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A Las Vegas, Nev., homeowner’s association decided to reimburse a woman whose car was towed. Virginia Lenderman, 71, is dealing with a heart condition and while she was in and out of a local hospital, her car was towed by the homeowner’s association where she lives. Lenderman says she received a warning about her minivan having outdated registration, and thought it was resolved when she displayed paperwork on her windshield that indicated the tag was on its way from Texas. Despite the paperwork, the car was towed and Lenderman’s family paid nearly $300 to get the car out of impound. Community Management Group, the company that oversees the association, says they were informed the towing stemmed from having the car parked in the same spot for more than 72 hours and the tow was legal and valid. However, a representative of CMG said because the incident caused some confusion the association would cover the near $300 towing fee. Source: www.news3lv.com.

OKC Man Opens Fire Over Repossessed Car An Oklahoma City, Okla., man is in jail accused of opening fire at an auto body shop. The owner says it was all because he got mad that his car got repossessed. Genaro Juarez Cuadros, 30, is facing six counts of shooting with intent to kill and is being held on a $128,000 bond. Besides the owners of the shop, there was a woman and her three children parked in the shop lot when bullets started flying. “I’m here and he punched me in the head,” said the shop owner. “And I grabbed something and hit him.” This owner says he hired Cuadros to do odd jobs around his Number 156 on Reader Card

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shop, but then became the target of his rage. He does not want to be identified out of fear of retaliation. The report states Cuadros had bought a car from the owner and his wife at the auto body shop, but had failed to make payments. When his wife took back the car at the shop, Caudros went crazy and started shooting his gun. The owner says Caudros then took off running down the street and police were able to track him down to a car lot nearby. Source: www.news9.com.

Man Killed Trying to Stop Tow

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The owner of an SUV in Dallas, Texas, was crushed beneath the wheels of a tow truck as it was towing his vehicle for parking illegally. Carlos Weeks, 53, was killed while trying to stop a tow truck driver from towing his car in June. Weeks saw his 2004 Lincoln Aviator being towed for a parking violation. He ran outside to try to stop the truck, police said. Weeks went to the driverâ€™s side of the truck but lost his balance and fell. He was run over by the rear tires of the truck, police said. He was pronounced dead at the scene. The tow truck driver has not been charged with a crime. Source: http://crimeblog.dallasnews.com.

Man Rear-Ends SUV in Repo Attempt San Antonio, Texas, police said a man is facing charges after he allegedly crashed into the back of an SUV in an apparent attempt to repossess the vehicle with the driver still inside. Police say the SUV was spotted by the repo man near a car wash in the area. He followed the driver to a nearby intersection where he apparently rear-ended her SUV with his car, according to police. Another man, a tow truck driver, then immediately positioned his tow truck in front of the SUV and blocked the woman in the SUV from being able to drive away. WEST 86 â€˘ July 2015 - TOWMAN.COM

Police say the tow truck driver then tried to hook the vehicle up to the wrecker while the driver sat inside. The driver was taken to a nearby hospital with back injuries. The suspect driving the car told officers he had repossession orders, but he decided against towing the SUV after police arrived on the scene. Police did not arrest the repo man, but say he does face charges of assault causing bodily injury. Source: www.foxsanantonio.com.

Surveillance Video Captured Shooting A Houston, Texas, man accused of gunning down three people at a car dealership in January will remain behind bars without bail, a judge ruled. James Tinsley IV, who has been charged with multiple counts of capital murder appeared before state District Judge Brad Hart who declined to set bail for the 21-year-old. Two brothers, Jesse and Tony Con-

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treras, each were shot in the head on Jan. 8 at the family-owned Immaculate Auto Sales in Houston. Investigators believe Tinsley was upset that a car he had bought at the dealership had been repossessed. Tony Contreras’ son, 22-year-old Casey, also was shot in the head. He was alive when a mechanic discovered the victims in a pool of blood in the office, but died the next day. Prosecutors said surveillance video shows Tinsley walking into the dealership with a backpack, taking a gun out of the pack and shooting the three men. Tinsley is then seen taking out a gas can and trying to set the office on fire. Source: www.chron.com

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business; 51 have been found in Wilkinson County. “We didn’t realize it was going to be this big,” said Sheriff Richard Chatman. He said this is the largest vehicle theft case he has ever seen. Chatman believes most of those vehicles were stolen in the Atlanta area. He said they began looking into Ford’s businesses after a tip that the vehicle his son was driving could be stolen. The vehicles, from pick-up trucks to motorcycles, filled three different impound lots. Chatman guessed the total value is about $2 million. Finding the original owners has not been an easy process. Right now, the Sheriff’s office is working with the insurance companies to try to track down the owners. Chatman said that the repo service, with lots full of cars, was the perfect cover for this massive operation and added that Ford is the only suspect right now. Source: www.13wmaz.com

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