Tow Professional - Volume: 9 Issue 9 by Over the Mountain Media, Inc

Volume 9 • Issue 9 • 2020 www.towprofessional.com

PLUS: TOWING INSURANCE FINANCE IN A CRUCIAL TIME AN EXPERT WITNESS: Hiring & Firing Tactics That Might Just Get You Sued INSIGHTFUL TALK: Great Employees Create Great Success

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TOW PROFESSIONAL

CONTENTS

INDUSTRY NEWS TOWING & RECOVERY

6| 8| 10 | 10 | 12 |

Jerr-Dan

14 |

Tow Boy

Volume 9 • Issue 9 WWW.TOWPROFESSIONAL.COM

FEATURES: 25 |

Tow Professional Top Products 2020

TRAA Fleetnet INA Towing 4th Annual Alabama “Slow Down, Move Over” Rally

an expert Witness BY JAMES E. LEWIS ///

16 |

HIRING & FIRING Tactics That Might Just Get You Sued

TOWERS

INSURANCE

51 |

52 |

Austin

55 |

INSIGHTFUL TALK

Hal Kresser

Mike Keith

54 |

Weiss

56 | XINSURANCE

BY DAN MESSINA ///

20 |

Great Employees Create Great Success

57 |

THE RIGHT FINANCING

IN A CRUCIAL TIME

IN EVERY ISSUE 4| 59 | 2

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Editor’s Letter Dealers Place

63 | 64 |

Market Place Ad Index

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PUBLISHER’S

LETTER

Volume 9 • Issue 9 WWW.TOWPROFESSIONAL.COM

Professional Your Resource for Towing & Recovery

PUBLISHER Darian Weaver President & Publisher darian@towprofessional.com William Burwell VP of Marketing & Sales w.burwell@towprofessional.com

2021 A New Beginning 2021 is on us! This past year has been a mess between the overwhelming fear of Covid-19 and an election that was full of twists and turns. This is a great time to clear our vision, put blinders on, and

PRODUCTION Shirley Ogburn Editor Clint Cabiness Creative Director clint@dialedinmediagroup.com

pay particular attention to the market. What new things can be done in your business that will take you, your employees, and your customers to the next level in service excellence? Over the Mountain Media and Tow Professional (TP) magazine are celebrating 10 Years in the Industry with this Issue. We love and appreciate our customers and pray for blessings on your business for giving us your trust! This issue features “Top Products & Services” that stood out to our staff in 2020. When you as a tow company owner are making your goals for 2021, take TP’s “Top Products” for the year, review where your company needs to grow, and pull from this excellent summary

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Todd Althouse – Beacon Software Robert Brockett – TXI Systems Elizabeth Martineau-Dupuis – TRAA Anthony Gentile – Dynamic Mfg. Matt Gunzenhause – TT/ Webfleet James E. Lewis Bill Maddox – Urgently Dan Messina Julian Packin – Access Tools Jeremy Tsakiris – Alliance Funding

of some of the best products available to the towing industry. In this issue, Dan Messina edit reminds us that our strength is in our employees with his “Insightful Talk” and James Lewis highlights the value of a “Good hiring & firing process to avoid being sued” in this “Expert Witness Feature.” This issue is a great companion for your 2021 planning sessions. Let us all meet at the next level and help one another along so we all might have a great 2021! We wish your family a Merry Christmas, and a safe and Happy New Year!

Darian Weaver President & Publisher, Tow Professional

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Executive and Advertising Offices 2007 Old Montgomery Hwy, Suite B Birmingham, AL 35244 Toll free: 888-802-8544 Fax: 205-978-1550 www.towprofessional.com Tow Professional is published nine times a year by Over The Mountain Media, Inc., 2007 Old Montgomery Hwy., Suite B, Birmingham, Alabama, 35244, USA. Tow Professional is distributed free to qualified subscribers. Non-qualified subscription rates are $57.00 per year in the U.S. and Canada and $84.00 per year for foreign subscribers (surface mail). U.S. Postage paid at Birmingham, Alabama and additional mailing offices. Tow Professional is distributed to qualified Towing & Recovery’s Top Decision Makers. Publisher is not liable for all content (including editorial and illustrations provided by advertisers) of advertisements published and does not accept responsibility for any claims made against the publisher. It is the advertiser’s or agency’s responsibility to obtain appropriate releases on any item or individuals pictured in an advertisement. Reproduction of this magazine in whole or in part is prohibited without prior written permission from the publisher.

For a new free subscription, address changes or corrections, please visit www.towprofessional.com and click on the “subscribe” tab.

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INDUSTRY NEWS TOWING & RECOVERY

hether you own one truck or a full fleet, count on the Jerr-Dan Financial Solutions (JDFS) for the same innovative approach and customer service you’ve come to expect from Jerr-Dan. Comprised of tow truck operators, sales and finance professionals who know the towing and recovery industry inside and out, the JDFS team has more than 60 years’ collective experience. And, they not only know the language of the towing industry, but they know the equipment and accessories you need. JDFS will put together the lease or loan package that’s right for your business, without the hassle of dealing with a bank who sees only numbers and doesn’t fully understand the value of the asset or its importance to the success of your business. Backed by Ascentium Capital, a wide credit window allows JDFS to find solutions to even the toughest finance scenarios. JDFS prides itself on the simplicity of its process and dedication to finding solutions for both new and established

Tow Professional | Volume 9 • Issue 9

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buyers to deliver a best-in-class customer experience and value that extends beyond the asset itself. Benefits of the program include: • Free Customer Consultation to Identify Equipment and Finance Needs • Online Credit Application Process • 24-Hour Turnaround on Credit Submissions • Up to 100% Financing for Qualified Buyers • Up to 84 Month Financing for Qualified Buyers • Competitive Rates • Flexible Lending Options • Assistance with Trading in your Current Trucks Count on JDFS to design an innovative financial program that works for you in every business situation and every economy. For more details, see your nearest Jerr-Dan distributor or call 866.923.JDFS (5337).

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TRAA NEWS UPDATE By Elizabeth Martineau-Dupuis, TRAA’s Director of Education There’s always a lot happening at the Towing and Recovery Association of America, Inc.® (TRAA) and this summer has been no different. Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, TRAA is still hard at work protecting and improving the towing and recovery industry. We’ve been keeping our members updated with resources throughout the pandemic while still focusing our legislative efforts on the 2020 INVEST in America Act, the Protecting Roadside First Responders Act, and laying the groundwork for a federal Move Over Law. Additionally, one of TRAA’s key focuses is bringing new people into the industry. In June TRAA launched its newest book, How to Become a Tow Truck Operator which is now available for e-reader and paperback on Amazon. This is a short, no-nonsense guide to a career as an operator in the towing and recovery industry. The book provides an overview of the work towers do, a tow truck driver job description, a look at tow truck driver requirements, information on tow truck driver income and salary, tips on finding a job in the towing industry and more. How to Become a Tow Truck Operator is a must-read for anyone considering a career in towing and recovery! If you want to get involved in TRAA’s federal legislative efforts, registration is now open for TRAA’s 3rd annual Legislative Action Workshop set for March 9-11, 2021. This event is the towing and recovery industry’s only national “hill day”. Each year TRAA members unite to focus on particular topics that align with our collective legislative agenda. The legislation addressed during this year’s event included a federal Move Over Law, supporting the Drive SAFE Act, and critical weights and measures changes. During the event, we were able to secure co-signers and essential support for bills that will help all 8

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towers be safer and operate more efficiently. This is your opportunity to meet with members of Congress and make real, substantial change for the whole community. Register now to reserve your spot at http://traaonline. com/events/legislativeactionworkshop/!

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INDUSTRY NEWS TOWING & RECOVERY

FLEETNET AMERICA RECEIVES 500,000TH ELECTRONIC STATUS UPDATE CHERRYVILLE, N.C., Dec. 2, 2020 /PRNewswire/ – FleetNet America®, an ArcBest® company (Nasdaq: ARCB), is pleased to announce it has received its 500,000th electronic status update through sureEcosystem®. Bit Fleet Service submitted the 500,000th status update on an event to FleetNet through sureEcosystem on November 23, 2020. To meet our customers’ needs of more information quicker, FleetNet made investments to improve customer experience by using sureEcosystem, an electronic platform that enables service providers to connect and communicate directly with FleetNet. By connecting electronically with FleetNet, service providers can deliver more real-time updates from the field to improve the data and information customers receive. The platform also allows service providers to upload

event photos, invoices, and notes from a mobile device or desktop. They can also connect their dispatch software directly to sureEcosystem. “FleetNet is proud to be leading the industry in electronic communication with our service providers. This tool is an incredible benefit to us, our service providers and, most importantly, our customers,” said Don Doty, vice president of Roadside Operations and Vendor Relations. “We are continuing our success to move the industry further into digital solutions that provide customers quicker visibility to their equipment status and give service providers better communication tools in the field.”

INA TOWING NETWORK WISHES “SEASONS BLESSINGS” FOR OUR INDUSTRY!

Towing after earlier in 2020 adding a state-of-the-art facility stands poised to help others during this current market. Gay Rochester CEO stated: “We are thinking of, and praying for our Industry during our current times. We appreciate all of the continued support that has come our way this year!” As 2021 approaches INA Towing continues their efforts and support for the “Slow Down, Mover Over laws,” as they work effortlessly through their program “Over One- Lose None Program,” at the state levels with their towing association, and at the National level with TRAA. Gay Rochester stated, “We do all for the best benefit of this industry.” We Love and appreciate our customers and wish them all a Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, and that 2021 will be a blessing of safety, health, and abundance for them all! www.overone.org 10

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Our mission is to: • Evoke the public conscious to understand they are the most powerful source to define life and death on our Nation’s highways. • To educate and make them aware they need to make a life change so first responders can live theirs! • To unite all common industry first responders to train, educate and motivate the public we serve to just

OVER ONE – LOSE NONE!

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www.towprofessional.com

Volume 9 • Issue 9

Tow Professional

INDUSTRY NEWS TOWING & RECOVERY

Kristina Insley, VP of Insurance Hub, was on site for the event.

4th ANNUAL ALABAMA “SLOW DOWN, MOVE OVER” RALLY By Darian Weaver –Tow Professional

he 4th Annual Alabama “Slow Down, Move Over “Rally was held December 6th, 2020 to raise awareness of the “Slow Down, Move Over” (SDMO) laws and the dangers that towers face daily. This event has grown over the last 4 years and again was a tremendous success! Over 200 + trucks and 500 + attendees were on hand Sunday to stand in Solidarity for protection of their brothers and sisters. Currently, we are losing one tow operator every 6 days which is higher than other first responders who average

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losing one every 30 days. Our 1st responders’ office space is often mere inches away from the white line of inattentive motorists driving dangerously close in their vehicles at high speeds. These men and women towers are out doing what they love to do, serving others, and too many are not going home to their families afterwards. The 4th Annual “SDMO” Rally was put on by Classic Towing, which is owned by Wes Passmore, and the event was sponsored by Insurance Hub, Austin

Hinds Motors, Tow Professional Magazine, Classic Printing, Knox Auto parts, and Passmore Automotive. Four years ago, Wes lost a driver, John Hubbard, to a motorist who did not move over one lane when approaching a first responder giving aid on the side of the road. Since then, Wes has worked tirelessly and persistently to spread the word to all to move over one and protect fellow towers so that no more are lost to inattentive drivers. Consequently, over 500 participants came from as far as Louisiana and

Mississippi to help support the rally and then drove from Hueytown, AL to Tuscaloosa, AL with other first responders to raise awareness across the state. Tow Professional Magazine and Alabama Towing & Recovery Association presented a proclamation to the Governor of Alabama. Governor Kay Ivey proclaimed December as the month to honor and raise awareness for “Slow Down, Move Over Law.” We will continue to strive for the education of our public so we may protect our men and women of towing! . www.towprofessional.com

Volume 9 • Issue 9

Tow Professional

INDUSTRY NEWS TOWING & RECOVERY

“TOW BOY - SERVICE PROVIDERS ARE TAKING BACK THE TOWING INDUSTRY”

e have been hearing for years that the global towing and roadside assistance market is undergoing a transformation to the digital age. As a towing professional that has been in the towing industry for nearly a decade, I am here to share that the transformation continues, with a mobile solution that focuses on customer service excellence. The solution is a self-service mobile application similar to Uber or Amazon with direct contact between the customer and the towing professional with no third-party intervention. This new solution is currently in development and planned for release in the summer of 2021. “Tow Boy - Service providers are taking back the towing industry”

• Take pictures of their vehicle to share with the service provider. • Select from drivers in their immediate area to expedite service. • Track the driver in real-time throughout the completion of the job. Service providers will: • Be certified prior to being added to the application. • Dedicated to providing excellent service while “Active” in the application. • Receive a reasonable rate for services (not sharing a large percentage of the rate with a third-party provider).

Customers will be able to: • Select from a menu of services.

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11/9/20 4:56 PM

an expert Witness BY JAMES E. LEWIS ///

HIRING & FIRING tactics that might just get you sued T

imes have changed, so have people. Hiring and firing used to be simple and straightforward. Lawyers now advertise on television, the internet, and the radio – in fact, during just about every television program you watch, they 16

Tow Professional | Volume 9 • Issue 9

drop eight or ten lawyer commercials per hour. While most are mainly covering slips and falls or car accidents, more and more firms are getting into employment law. This is one of those areas where I can’t recommend enough to get up to snuff on the rules of engagement and learn how to avoid penalties. Unlike dealing with a vehicle damage claim, having to handle a wrongful termination suit, or worse yet, constructive discharge claim is often more detrimental to your www.towprofessional.com

business. First, employment claims generally aren’t covered by any form of insurance like a truck wreck or vehicle damage claim may be – these come straight out of your pocket. And with margins as tight as they are, especially now with shutdowns and drops in business levels, writing that $50,000 or $100,000 check is just something most people can’t afford to do. That money could very well be all the extra money you have for the year, after you pay everyone,

pay yourself, reinvest in trucks and equipment, and pay all the other bills like fuel and insurance. You finally have some cash sitting on hand, and something one of your employees does to another employee might cost you significantly. I’ll get to that in a moment. Before we get started, let’s establish something – a damage claim, wrecking one of your trucks, or even a wrongful termination suit are pretty much cut-and-dried scenarios. A constructive discharge claim, which I’ll fully explain, isn’t cut-and-dried at all. It can name you separately from your business as a “separate civil litigant.” It can also name one or more of your employees, especially managers and dispatchers, as separate civil litigants. You can’t protect them. You can pay their attorney’s fees, but there’s no protection for them, or you, under your LLC or incorporation. A safe and legal hiring process is all about documentation. Don’t make promises you can’t keep, and if you make any promises, be sure to drop them into an initial employment agreement and get signatures with your countersignatures. The hiring area where most employers fail or come up short is over-promising and under-delivering. If you tell someone they’re going to make $75,000 per year in an interview, and you know in your own mind that it would take 40+ hours per week of overtime, three big truck wrecks per week, and to have all the planets in alignment to get that done – you probably shouldn’t make the statement. Many, many employers get all giddy and excited about hiring a well-qualified and experienced person and they tend to let their mouth overload their backsides…and it bites them in the butt. The best-case scenario that

happens after you make promises you can’t keep is that you have an angry employee who feels like you lied to them – and of course, they start looking for another job once they figure it out. They might even talk to other employees who may also make the realization that you stretched the truth. I’ve actually seen five people out of an eight-person crew quit in one week because of that. That’s a bad scenario in and of itself with losing half or more of your crew. What’s worse is a constructive discharge suit brought on by those mile-high promises you made and couldn’t deliver on. Terminations are a whole different animal. In an “at-will employment” state, you don’t generally need to document every little mistake made by an employee before terminating them, but it surely helps. It also helps to go over those details before you drop the hammer, so to speak. It IS NOT generally a wrongful termination if you don’t tell someone why you’re letting them go. That myth is just that – a myth. Treat them with respect, make sure you can get all of your property back, from keys, to phones, to gate codes and other things. Cover yourself and use a witness during the entire termination process – not just that last five minutes. And then write an after-action report with your witness helping, just in case the terminated person wants to litigate, or threaten litigation. When it comes to threatening litigation, having worked closely with attorneys for twenty years, I can tell you that no one who ever threatened litigation has ever followed through. Most people who say they’re going to sue you don’t know an attorney, have never met an attorney, and have no idea what the basis for a lawsuit

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Volume 9 • Issue 9

Tow Professional

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an expert Witness BY JAMES E. LEWIS ///

with merit would even be. You should still cover yourself, regardless of how serious you may take them. One bit of advice I can give that will likely save you time, headaches, and drama is that if an employee or former employee – or even a customer – threatens to sue you, stop the conversation immediately, tell them politely that you can no longer speak to them, and that if they’ll have their attorney send you a formal contact request, you’ll forward it to your attorney. Don’t let your ego or your will to argue get in the way – the other person is angry and is grasping at straws. Shut them down and don’t say or do anything that might compromise your business. Now – there’s the one suit that an employer can’t blow off, and the

scenarios involved in one of these have likely happened in your business several times. Yes, you’ve probably done these things. Maybe we all have. One guy is annoying, doesn’t do a great job, and other employees

complain about him. So, you refuse raises or promotions, and you give him all the crap jobs you can think of. Sweeping, mopping, stocking items in the shop, doing extra dirty jobs…making him work weird shifts, cancelling days off…all in an effort

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to get him to quit on his own so you don’t have to fire him. How about making promises you can’t deliver on, or treating someone with less respect than others? Or one I’ve witnessed recently, outright lying to the employee, and then making him work menial tasks when he is highly qualified and has a great background and reputation, but the ego of one or more of your managers won’t let him work to his potential so he can make decent money. These are all examples of constructive discharge, and it’s actually very much illegal. It’s like in the trucking industry where a truck driver whines and cries about miles and money, and the dispatcher gets tired of hearing it so they hold back good runs from the driver and make sure he only gets about half of what everyone else does for miles and income…and the driver quits. That’s constructive discharge, and it’s illegal. He hasn’t been fired – he quits because he wasn’t treated fairly or with respect, or you as an employer created a scenario that caused him to realize things weren’t working out in his favor. Remember that “separate civil litigant” statement? In a constructive discharge suit, whoever made things happen that impacted the employee can and will be named in a suit separately from your company. That person will then have to defend himself. How many of your dispatchers or managers can drop $2,500 – $10,000 to pay an attorney to defend them, especially when what they’ve done likely can’t be defended? Are you planning to cover those costs for them? After all, you as a manager or owner let whatever happened happen. The official, legal definition of constructive discharge is when an employee resigns because they can no

longer stay on the job due to a hostile work environment. This differs from a typical resignation, firing, or other types of separation of employment as the employee is leaving because of intolerable working conditions. Unbearable working conditions might include discrimination or harassment, mistreatment, or receiving a negative change in pay or job duties for reasons that aren’t workrelated. In a constructive discharge scenario, the law treats it like a wrongful termination, only the normal elements like harassment or discrimination based on age, national origin, pregnancy, race, religion, sex/ gender, and disability don’t apply – this is all about the environment you’ve allowed to be created for the employee. One last thing. Most states have statutes surrounding wrongful termination – if a person were discriminated against, there are limitations provided to actually protect the employer – awards to a plaintiff are generally limited to their wages for a year, times two or three, perhaps. With a constructive discharge, especially in a jury trial, emotions and feelings come into play and the jury essentially gets to write the check. Not a situation you want to be in. The sky is the limit. Protect yourselves and your employees – if a manager or dispatcher is playing favorites or treating someone like a red-headed stepchild, acknowledge it, especially to the person getting favors or being treated badly, and step in and stop it. It’s all about your bottom line and your reputation. Imagine for a minute what a constructive discharge suit could do to your future employment efforts. These, like all suits, become public at some point, plus people talk. Especially wrecker drivers!

www.towprofessional.com

Volume 9 • Issue 9

Tow Professional

Integrates with every major towing software Our latest integration, HAAS Alert, protects your drivers and help save lives.

Let’s drive business. Further. For more information:

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INSIGHTFUL TALK BY DAN MESSINA ///

fter twenty-five years in the towing industry, I finally figured out the strength of the industry, it is the people. When I would do seminars at tow shows I would tell the towers, any of you can walk out on the floor and buy any of the following: 1. You can buy a truck 2. You can get it financed 3. You can get it insured 4. You can buy all the equipment for it 5. You can even register with motor clubs to get tows The only thing that makes you different from the guy sitting next to you is your employees. I can remember when I started my tow company, I needed to hire dispatchers, drivers, and other employees I did not even know I needed. I was new to the industry and had no idea the type of people I needed. I did know who I was and what I wanted my company to look like. I was a competitor in sports, and I built a lot of successful teams, so I figured building a tow company cannot be any different. 20

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I wanted: 1. People skilled in the positions I needed 2. I wanted all my trucks to be the same 3. I wanted all my employees to look good and wear uniforms 4. I wanted the best accounts that generated tows 5. I wanted lots of bling with everything in my company. As I started putting it all together there were a lot of people to help me. Even my competition showed me the ropes of the industry. We all worked together and became friends. I remember sending my wife to a tow show in Florida one month after we opened the doors. Everyone was great and extremely helpful. It did not take long for me to be where I wanted to be. After running my business for a year, the state of Texas was making changes on how they would regulate the towing industry. I decided it was time to start a towing association. My wife and I jumped in the car and drove all over Texas meeting with hundreds of tow companies and letting them know how we would be

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regulated going forward. I remember being in Houston in front of three hundred tow companies with a state rep trying to explain what was coming. After about 30 minutes of arguing we had to call the police. It was then I knew this industry was for me. I was working with a bunch of people that worked hard and was ready to fight for what they believed in. Our travels paid off as we ended up with over 1100 members in our association. Nine years later we are still going strong. In 2009 American Towman Magazine put my wife and I on the cover of their magazine as towman and woman of the year. Working with American Towman and Tow Times I met thousands of tow companies. I did seminars and I was able to help a lot of people. I was doing a seminar and after it was over two young brothers approached me and started to give me shit about the class. We became good friends and 15 years later I refer to one of them as my son. Over the years I learned the people in this industry would do anything for me. Shortly after that I remember walking through a parking lot in Ohio. The show was over for the day and I wanted to look at trucks. When I was not expecting it a huge hand reached out and grabbed me. This person told me he was starting a tow magazine and needed my help. I felt this was an opportunity to give back to the industry, so I started to work with Tow Professional Magazine, and ten years later I am still writing articles for them. Darian and I are best of friends. Again, it is all about the people. www.towprofessional.com

Volume 9 • Issue 9

Tow Professional

Now you can locate and monitor all of your vehicles, trailers and other powered assets with one easy to use system. Let’s drive business. Further. For more information:

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INSIGHTFUL TALK BY DAN MESSINA ///

After over 25 years in the business, I was fortunate enough to sell my company and retire. It did not take long for me to realize I was not the retiring type. I decided to start another company that would help the industry and solve some major problems. I developed TowTrax, a logistics software company that would find the closest tow truck to the stranded motorist. I was able to help tow companies get tows they never had before. We brought on our first customer, and we were helping my customer service the Syracuse, New York area. I found a young tow company that really supported my company, and I was able to help him grow his business at the same time. Needless to say, I now have two adopted sons in the industry. I remember when I started TowTrax I needed some investors to help me get started. I had a few investors lined up when the virus hit, and they all went and hid under a rock. I decided to go to the industry that has been helping me for years. I put together a stock plan for TowTrax and I presented it to the industry. I have

nine tow companies that stepped up and became a part of TowTrax. It amazes me that I have complete strangers investing in my business and will help me become successful. When I am done, I hope to have 25,000 tow companies that I can work with in the coming years. From Pennsylvania to Oregon to Alabama to Florida, tow companies have taken a chance on me. Again, what an industry! I look back now at my twenty-five years in towing and I have met thousands of great people, successful investors that will help TowTrax be successful, and two adopted sons. I want to thank all the people that have touched my life and helped me live my dreams. As the owner of the company I want you to walk out on the floor and hug, or thank all your employees because it’s them that separate you from the rest.

BUILDING THE BEST WIRELESS TOW LIGHTS IN THE BUSINESS!

Proudly Made in the USA

Contains Auto-grade circuitry Individually serialized to prevent cross-talk & protect against theft

Toll Free: 800-490-3158 CusterProducts.com 22

Tow Professional | Volume 9 • Issue 9

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STRYKER ST SERIES

ST SERIES FEATURES • Multiple Unit Selector Function -Allows for independent control of 2 units with 1 remote • Home Position Function - On-Command return to 0° home • New Wireless Technology Benefits - Simultaneous Pan + Tilt - Multiple users can operate lights in close proximity without interference • Smart Programming Logic - Quick and simple pairing without dipswitches • Flourescent Remote Buttons • UV and Saltwater Resistant • Stainless Steel Mounting Brackets (perm mount) • 5 Year Limited Warranty

GOLIGHT INC | 800.557.0098 | 308.278.3131 | golight.com

Every year, we give you our roundup of the hottest products and services that have come across our desks from manufacturers, dealers, and service providers in the towing market.

his year’s list spans an impressive amount of categories, including towing software, GPS, damaged vehicle movement systems, synthetics, tools, lights, and many others. This issue should be your company’s wish list going into the new year, as you continue to evaluate and select products to help you operate your towing facility more effectively and efficiently. In every issue through the year, every single product or service we cover in the magazine is there because we think it’s something that you will find useful, so we’re excited about each and every one in all of our issues. Our sole mission is to help you make purchasing decisions, so we’re all about products, all the time. This list reflects the “best of the best.” It is a great time to be an owner of a towing or repossession company, because the market is overflowing with options for great products and services for your facility. Here are some of the products and services that stood out to us this year:

Jerr-Dan’s

err-Dan Dual Position Fork Receivers allow for a wider variety of fork positioning than standard receivers. Utilizing these receivers adds four inches of width to the fork positions, allowing you to hook up to a broader range of vehicles that require wider attachment points. Jerr-Dan’s Fork Receivers offer two fork holes per receiver, giving the operator more width adjustment options compared to standard single hole receivers, and can be installed in either the high or low position. These versatile receivers are especially useful in towing applications that require non-standard fork placement - like some fire apparatus, coach buses, off-road equipment and more - and will fit any 5”x 5” heavy duty crossbar. For more information on Jerr-Dan’s Dual Position Wide Reach Fork Receivers, contact your nearest distributor or visit: https:// www.jerrdan.com/distributor-search

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Volume 9 • Issue 9

Tow Professional

TOW PROFESSIONAL TOP PRODUCTS 2020

Safety Vision 37 Series Camera-37 series | safetyvision.com The 37 series IP camera provides excellent picture quality in full HD 1080p resolution. With built-in IRs for night vision up to 30m, a high and wide dynamic range to display details in the brightest and darkest areas, allows the small but powerful Observer 4401-Observer™ 37 series IP camera to deliver 630 HD Camera- 630HD | 4401 HVR | safetyvision.com outstanding video no matter the safetyvision.com he Observer 4401 HVR records time of day. The 630HD exterior camera features up to 5 channels of crisp 1080p an ultra wide angle of 150-degrees, resolution, supporting 4 HD cameras offering superior vehicle coverage and 1 IP camera.The Observer 4401 to drivers. With HD picture quality at HVR comes fully loaded with built-in 720p resolution, the 630HD camera wireless and cellular networking provides sharp images in both day capabilities, integrated GPS, and a and night time operations. Equipped built-in G-force sensor, offering fleet with normal and mirror imaging, the operators a cost-effective recording 630HD is ideal for rear view, forward solution they can rely on. facing or other vehicle exterior camera placements.

RUGGED LED LIGHTS BUILT FOR YOUR WORLD Safety

Revenue

Modular Light Bar

HDT Work Lights

www.nightscan.com 26

Tow Professional | Volume 9 • Issue 9

Speed

Night Scan Spot

330-684-4000 www.towprofessional.com

FlowStop’s Hazmat Products

lowStop’s Hazmat Products, “ Equipment & Supplies,” are designed by a veteran of the towing, recovery and spill response service for a quick and easy solution to minimize exposure when dealing with roadside mishaps.

FlowStop has a proven track record for dependability for the task at hand. Check out the FlowStop Product line at www.flowstop.net or call us at 877-356-9767 for details and pricing.

VAC PUMP CADDY

•

• • •

DOME LID CLAMPS Designed for MC 306 / DOT 406 Tank Trailers Quick & Easy Deployment for Rapid Results 5 Aluminum Locking Clamps

FLOWSTOP’S AIR DRILL KIT REVERSIBLE AIR DRILL INFRARED TEMP GUN LENNOX 2’’ HOLE SAW LENNOX 4’’ HOLE SAW 2) OATEY 2’’ PLUGS 2) OATEY 4’’ PLUGS 50’ X 3/8’’ AIR HOSE STORAGE/CARRY CASE

CARGO TANKER VAC STINGER

• • AIR DRILL KIT

• • •

Reversible Air Drill Infrared Temp Gun Lennox 2’’ Hole Saw Lennox 4’’ Hole Saw 2) Oatey 2’’ Plugs 2) Oatey 4’’ Plugs 50’ X 3/8’’ Air Hose Storage/Carry Case

Achieve 3 Separate Lengths with 2 Vac Stingers! 3’ x 2” Aluminum Vac Stinger Fits Through 4” Opening with Easy 3’ x 5” Aluminum Vac Stinger Lock Couplers 8’ x 2” With Both Stingers Grounding Tabs on Stingers Connected! Aluminum Dust Caps for Male 3” Sight Glass to 2” Vac Pipe Couplers Aluminum Strainer Pelican Case for Storage & Transport

Yamada 1” Dual Diaphragm Pump Aluminum Housing Excellent for Hydrocarbons & Light Chemicals 1 Year Warranty Air Regulator 2 Aluminum VAC Stingers: 1, 48“ and 1, 30” Aluminum VAC Wand 30“ 4, 25’ x 1” VAC & Discharge Hoses 50‘ x 3/8“ Air Hose w/ Quick Couplers Mounted Plastic Tool Caddy for 90 Degree ELL & 2” Plugs Mounted on 600 lb. Handtruck Pneumatic or Hard Tires (option) Ideal for quick evacuation of damaged saddle tanks, IBC’s and drums.

FlowStop Football, a spill containment repair plug - The FLOWSTOP Football-shaped, polyurethane impregnated, water activated foam plug is used to temporarily STOP the flow from a leak in anything from a pipe, to a tanker, to a rail car, even a boat hull! From an initially pliable plug ready to insert into a void, it quickly expands and hardens to fill the void - it can even be applied below the water line!

www.towprofessional.com

Volume 9 • Issue 9

Tow Professional

TOW PROFESSIONAL TOP PRODUCTS 2020

TowMate

TM-FLUX

ith the fastest charge of any wireless tow light, no batteries to replace EVER, and a life span of millions of charges, this light bar will make all your other tow lights pale in comparison. Made in the USA, and includes the TowMate lifetime warranty.

MO37Li Feature-packed, long-lasting power and MADE IN THE USA. The MO37Li packs wireless STT, strobe, worklight, and traffic control all-in-one heavy-duty light bar. Includes the TowMate lifetime warranty.

PCX61U w/Touchscreen Our new PCX overhead light bars are the new industry standard for emergency and industrial lighting. Made from a solid aluminum extrusion, multi-color strobe function, wireless STT that controls your TowMate tow lights, and controllable via our touchscreen controller; this is the future of vehicle lighting. For more information, visit www.towmate.com.

Tow Professional | Volume 9 • Issue 9

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Will-Burt Night Scan HDT:

he Night Scan HDT as been developed to meet the unique needs of the Recovery and Towing industry. Heavy wreckers and rotators benefit from the maximum height and light output of the Night Scan HDT Powerlite. The Powerlite version is available as a surface-mount folding version when there is sufficient space or a vertically-mounted model that requires only a 12” x 12” space for installation. Both are 15’ tall when extended, have dual-tilt light heads that cast 120,000 lumens of LED light in all directions to insure you don’t miss a thing. The height of the six Night Scan XL200 LED lights turns night into day and will not blind your crew. Oncoming traffic will be alerted to the scene from a safe distance. Night Scan HDT comes with everything needed for installation. The major truck manufacturers can install the light tower during a new build or the light tower can be installed by dealer or upfitter. They can even be installed on older equipment by your own shop. Best of all, no generator is needed to power the light tower –

M O B I L I T Y

•

F L E X I B I L I T Y

the efficient Night Scan XL200 LED lamps operate from your truck’s power system. Night Scan HDT is available in smaller sizes for rollbacks and tow trucks, and we also offer a full range of specialized LED lighting for every vehicle. www.nightscan.com.

•

S I M P L I C I T Y

•

S E C U R I T Y

Nobody Does Storage Lot Management like We Do,

Period !

Don’t lose your mind and profits paying endless regulatory fines for storage lot errors.

Call today for more details. 877.374.7225 Ext. 2 Or visit vts-systems.com

Quit wasting time and money on non-compliance fines, VTS software will keep you legal and profitable!

www.towprofessional.com

Volume 9 • Issue 9

Tow Professional

TOW PROFESSIONAL TOP PRODUCTS 2020

Lodar

“L

odar is the smartest move I ever made,” shares S&S Mobile. Our wireless actuator systems are the top performing product for 2019. Our systems wirelessly control your hand levers, so you can operate your truck from a safe distance. Choose from systems that work with air (up to 16 functions) or electric (up to six functions) levers. FIND US: www.lodar.com CALL US: 888-685-6327.

American Safety & Supply Waterproof /Insulated Pants

• • • • • • •

100% waterproof rip stop polyester Teflon coating repels water, oil and stains Zippered cargo pockets on both sides Zippered on bottom of legs for easy on/off Elastic waist w/drawstring Sizes S/M, L/XL, 2XL/3XL, 4XL/5XL 8711 - Lime, 8713 - Black

Warm & Comfortable Acrylic Beanie

•

Rechargeable LED light can be charged in USB port Available in YELLOW or BLACK

ANSI Class III WATERPROOF Bomber Jacket

• • •

Warm fixed QUILTED LINER Available in Sizes S – 7XL Multiple Pockets

For more information, call toll free at 800-472-3892 or visit, www.americansafety.com.

Tow Professional | Volume 9 • Issue 9

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Access Tools Roadside Creeper The Roadside Creeper is a extra thick lowclearance creeper or roadside mat for any professional working on an automobile. It can be used roadside when lying down to hook up a vehicle from underneath, or when kneeling to work on a wheel or tire. The thick foam is durable and features a cut-out handle for easy transportation.

Ultimate Long Reach Kit The Ultimate Long Reach Kit includes every tool and accessory you need to open virtually any vehicle on the road today using the long reach method. This 21-piece kit is the most comprehensive and complete long reach tool set ever made.

Air Jack Air Wedge

Easy Off Twist Socket Set The Easy Off Twist Socket Set works like magic to remove all damaged or locked lug nuts without a key. With our exclusive sure twist grip technology, locked wheel lugs spin off with no effort. Five socket sizes fit virtually every lock lug nut on the market and are so easy to use with a breaker bar.

Access Tools also makes a variety of Air Jack air wedges designed to help spread the door away from the vehicle, giving the user enough space to insert a Long Reach Tool. These include the: • Mini Starter Air Jack for soft metal / painted b-pillars • Standard Air Jack that is functional on virtually every vehicle • Super Air Jack that tackles heavy-duty door frames • Twin Air Jack that works well on stiff door frames. For more Information, visit www.accesstoolsusa.com. www.towprofessional.com

Volume 9 • Issue 9

Tow Professional

Benefiting for the families of our fallen

If each company in the industry gave just $5 when a tragedy occurs, we could generously support the families of our fallen in so many new ways. Can you give $5 when a tower dies? Help us support those left behind by the dangers of our profession.

The Survivor Fund The “Survivor Fund” was created in 2006 to complement the International Towing and Recovery Museum’s Wall of the Fallen. This fund was established to help those families who have lost a loved one in the line of service. A Survivor Fund committee was formed of people from all over the United States from the towing industry. The committee is given the information

Survivor Fund Continuing Support

regarding the fallen and the application is

To ensure the longevity of these benefits as we work

processed within 24 hours of receipt. Once the

to build a perpetual fund, we are asking each person,

decision is made, a check is sent right away to the

company and organization in the industry to

family to assist with immediate financial issues

participate in supporting the Survivor Fund and these

during this tragic time in their lives.

families when a tragedy occurs. Your pledge to become a Survivor Fund Continuing Support Partner

Company owners, family members, or friends can

represents a commitment to our industry.

submit the application for benefits on behalf of the family of the deceased. The application can be

As a Continuing Support Partner, you will receive an

found on the website at www.thesurvivorfund.com

e-mail from the Survivor Fund when a tragedy occurs

and can be submitted by mail, fax, or e-mail.

and meets the governing guidelines of the Survivor Fund for disbursement. As always, the ITRHFM

Fourteen years of service to the towing and recovery

Survivor Fund will handle direct payment to the

industry worldwide

families. We will simply solicit your contribution in the

Managed by industry professionals

pledged amount to replenish and build our fund after

Pledges replenish funds and allow payout growth

each approved payout. The e-mail you receive will

$7,500 benefit, $9,500 for museum members

provide information on the current tragedy as well as

Immediate funds to help at the time of tragedy

information on how to remit the payment to honor

Funded by donations only

your pledge.

Hundreds of families supported Tiered system allows payout increases based on reserves Hundreds of thousands of dollars paid out to date

www.thesurvivorfund.com/pledge Make your pledge today to support our industry.

TOW PROFESSIONAL TOP PRODUCTS 2020

RP Recovery Consulting AirLight Series

hree sizes of inflatable LED light towers make up the AirLight series. From our ultra-portable AirLight to our incredibly powerful AirLight Pro Max, there is a light tower to meet your area lighting needs.

10ft Airlight

• • • • • •

AirLight Pro Max

• • • • • •

Height: 9 feet 9 inches Weight: 29 pounds Wattage: 336 Watts Light output: 36,000 lumens Voltage: 120V AC Footprint: 20” x 20” x 18” tall

Height: 14 feet Weight: 72 pounds Wattage: 1,100 Watts Light output: 111,000 lumens Voltage: 120V AC Footprint: 28” x 28” x 24” tall

AirLight Pro

• • • • • •

Height: 12 feet Weight: 64 pounds Wattage: 860 Watts Light output: 74,400 lumens Voltage: 120V AC Footprint: 28” x 28” x 24” tall

Wireless Headsets FASTER RESPONSE

IMPROVED PRECISION

Operators and riggers talk to each other in real-time, hands-free. Deliver instructions clearly and answer questions directly while work caries on. No need to shout or use hand signals – clear communication helps get the job done faster.

There’s no communication breakdown between operators and riggers. On-scene precision and performance goes up as you reduce errors and avoid costly mistakes.

Sonetics Listen-Through Technology lets you mix in outside sound to get the right level of hearing protection and situational awareness.

SITE-COVERING RANGE 2 feet to 1,600. You can depend on the range – no matter what the incident requires

VISIBILITY NOT REQUIRED Far-side operators, talk with your riggers regardless of whether you can see them or not.

Tow Professional | Volume 9 • Issue 9

Instant communication allows for timely warnings, alerts, and instructions to the crew. Avoid job hazards and mitigate the risk of injuries and mistakes.

LISTEN-THROUGH

Advanced Technology That’s Easy to Use Full-duplex Communication Hands-free simultaneous twoway conversation. No more shouting – easily talk and work at the same time with your entire team.

ENHANCED SAFETY

For more information, rprecoveryconsulting@gmail.com or call: 315-730-6566.

www.towprofessional.com

Custer Products

nOne of Custer’s newest products is the 54-Watt work light/amber strobe combo light (WL54AW). Similar to Custer’s WL19F in size and shape, the WL54AW includes a 27-watt white work light in the bottom row of diodes and a 27-watt amber strobe light on the top. This light includes a 3-wire hookup which allows the driver to operate the strobe and work light features independently. To learn more, please visit www.custerproducts.com.

One of Custer’s highest selling items has been the 23” wireless light-duty tow light (LIW-LDTL). The steel handle on top and the 105 lb. pull rubber-coated magnets on the bottom make for easy on-and-off installation. The LIW-LDTL is individually serialized which eliminates cross-talk and protects the owner against theft. This bar meets all DOT requirements, comes with a 3-year warranty and is proudly manufactured in the USA. To learn more, please visit www.custerproducts.com. The LED Amber/White rooftop light bar which is available in 29”, 56” and 72” lengths to fit several different sizes of service trucks. This strobe light bar comes with thirty flash patterns all controlled from a multi-function control box. This bar comes with arrow stick/traffic control built in with seven different flash patterns for each function. To learn more, please visit www. custerproducts.com. The LED Class I Surface mount strobe (STR-XL1) which is available in Amber (not pictured) and Amber/ White. With very low-profile dimensions of 4.85” L x 1” W x 0.3” D, the STR-XL1 series is small in size but powerful in its brightness. This strobe light comes with 24 different flash patterns and can be synchronized with up to twelve other modules of its kind. To learn more, please visit www.custerproducts.com.

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Volume 9 • Issue 9

Tow Professional

TOW PROFESSIONAL TOP PRODUCTS 2020

GUNIWHEELTM

ow do you tow vehicles without wheels and tires? In the world we are in today, stolen wheels and tires are a problem for tow pros everywhere. Just last year, a manager of a Louisiana car dealership started his day with 124 wheels stolen from vehicles on his lot overnight! Statistics show that the number of stolen wheels and tires is increasing in cities across the U.S. Then there are flat tire situations, blowouts, and complete tire separations. All present quite the challenge for towing professionals. Especially since 35% of all new vehicles come without spares. As a towing professional, what is the best way to get these vehicles up on your flatbed or dolly and safely tow to the nearest shop? We’re excited to introduce a revolutionary new tool for the towing & recovery industry. GUNIWHEEL™ is the world’s first universal-fitting vehicle mounting system in a tire a wheel design. With GUNIWHEEL™, you can safely mount and move any vehicle that has missing or damaged wheels and tires. GUNIWHEEL™ is

a solid steel wheel with an airless polyurethane rubber exterior. It’s patented universal-fitting lug pattern system easily mounts on all current passenger vehicles thereby reducing the need to carry multiple spares or “donuts” to move vehicles onto tow beds and trailers. Weighing just 34 lbs. and 22.5” D x 3” W, GUNIWHEEL™ is a compact solution to keep inside your towing compartment or neatly stacked on your tow bed. Each GUNIWHEEL™ can hold up to 2,500 lbs. - strong enough to install on all four-wheel hub locations. They can be driven at a max speed of 5mph and are primarily used to move vehicles on and off tow beds, drive on lots, and into body shops for vehicle repair. GUNIWHEEL™ currently comes in two models: GUNIWHEEL™ 45 is for most standard size vehicles with 4 & 5 lug patterns. GUNIWHEEL™ 56 is for bigger trucks, vans, and large SUV’s with 5 & 6 lug patterns.

NEW PRODUCTS: GUNIWHEEL 80, (24” D x 3.5”) for big 8 lug trucks and vans available late 2020. GUNISPARE, an emergency temporary wheel for standard size cars and light SUV’s that incorporates the same universal fitting technology, but in an air-filled tire. Speed rated at 50 mph - available late 2020. At GUNIWHEEL™ we say “NO WHEELS? NO PROBLEM!” Contact us at www.cuniwheel.com

Tow Professional | Volume 9 • Issue 9

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Marking Pen Depot

CW Mill

W Mill Hydraulic Mounting Kits equip a vehicle with live hydraulics, which means they can have hydraulic pressure anytime the engine is running, regardless of engine RPM’s or gear selection. They can be used for a wide array of applications such as TOW TRUCKS & WRECKERS, salt spreaders, snow plows, dump bodies, ground probes, airplane deicers, cranes, rollbacks, hydraulic air compressors or tools, and for much more. CW also manufactures Compressor Kits for refrigeration truck boxes and Alternator kits which provide increased battery charging for vehicles equipped with an increased amount of DC electric-powered accessories. Generator kits are available for vehicles adding AC power capability for items such as electric power tools but ultimately any AC powered device. For more information, visit www.cwkits.com. ®

uto Marker For Mapping Out Damaged Area On Auto Painted Surfaces and Windshields Marking Pen Depot offers the industry’s largest selection of markers from the biggest names in the industry: Markal, Dykem, Sakura, Artline, Sanford, and Arro. We offer paint pens that leave permanent, removable, weather resistant, high temperature, low chloride and semi permanent marks. Bulk priced markers are available for large users at less than $1.00 each. Replaceable nibs are available for most markers. For more information, visit www.markingpendepot.com.

www.towprofessional.com

Volume 9 • Issue 9

Tow Professional

TOW PROFESSIONAL TOP PRODUCTS 2020

Collins Manufacturing Collins Hi-Speed®Dolly

Collins Carrier Dolly System

6th Generation Self-Loading Dolly

An innovation borrowed from Collins’ early designs — the Damage‐Free solution to loading Carriers: Rolling instead of dragging up the bed.

SAFEST Safety First! Safety RatchetSystem — forTower Safety — Prevents accidents and provides more options in difficult environments, (like snow, ice, gravel, slopes, tight spaces), when loading.

MOST SERVICEABLE No expensive replacements or repairs — no cutting, welding or downtime. Replace damaged parts on the spot with common hand tools in just minutes.

CLEARANCE High‐Ends and Low Profiles. Carrier Dolly lifts vehicles higher off the ground to easily clear carrier bed with low load angles.

LIGHTEST Heavy‐duty. Light‐weight. Industry’s lightest‐weight dolly. Weighing only 54 lb. with static load capacity at nearly 80x its own weight (4,280 lb. with 5.70x8 tires).

DAMAGE‐FREE Damage‐Free Loading. No hooks, chains or cables ever touch the vehicle. Vehicles simply ride the dollies up and down the bed.

WIDE‐RANGE Load hybrids, high‐end, electric, all‐wheel or fourwheel drive vehicles with nohook points. The Carrier Dolly System also doubles as a motorcycle dolly. For more information, visit www.collinsdollies.com.

FOR RENT JUST BECAUSE YOUR TRUCK IS OUT OF SERVICE

DOESN’T MEAN YOUR COMPANY IS TOO Has your truck gone down due to mechanical issues or a collision? Don’t lose your customers and your livelihood by being unable to answer the call. Rent a wrecker from Wrecker Rentals and keep your business in business while your asset is down. Wrecker Rentals can deliver a wrecker or carrier to your location in a matter of hours so that you have limited service interruption.

770.898.1200 • rentawrecker.com 38

Tow Professional | Volume 9 • Issue 9

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Dynamic “Python”

OUR Customers have been asking for a unit that would:

4-YEAR WARRANTY 5000LB FULLY EXTEND WHEEL LIFT 8000LB TOW RATING 82 INCHES OF REACH 25 DEGREES OF POWER AND NEG TILT

• • •

OPTIONS

•

PLASTIC POLY FENDER WHICH ARE LIGHTER, YET STRONGER AND WILL NEVER RUST 8000LB RAMSEY WINCH STAINLESS STEEL PYLON

Lift faster & higher Provide better weight transfer Have the sleek appearance of the Lightning Body design Have large tool boxes and easy access to hydraulics.

For more infomation, visit: www.dynamicmfg.com or anthonydynamic@mac.com.

Look No Further! ADD has the tools you need to run your operation. DirectPost-Office from Auto Data Direct allows you to create, mail, and track your certified lien letters online! Reduce the time, effort, and expense of searching for records and going to the post office.

• DMV Database Records – Access

real-time owner and lienholder records in 35+ states – more than any other company of its kind!

WA MT

IL CO

WV KS

DE Washington, DC

KY NC

TN AZ

NJ MD

MA CT RI

SC MS

• Electronic Certified Mail – Send your notification via electronic certified mail, and receive tracking information.

SD WY

current state of title. notification letter will be automatically filled out with the owner, lienholder, and title information from our inquiry tools.

• Title Check Reports – Obtain vehicles’ • State-Specific Lien Letter Tools – Your lien

Available for Qualified Companies In Development

www.towprofessional.com

Volume 9 • Issue 9

Tow Professional

TOW PROFESSIONAL TOP PRODUCTS 2020

WEBFLEET Solutions WEBFLEET MOBILE APP WEBFLEET mobile app is now more modern and intuitive to better help fleet managers maintain control over their fleet operations while away from their desk. * RDT (Remaining Driving Times) information is now available and can be found under “Driver View” to better support the planning of new jobs/trips. * Never miss an update with auto-refresh of the Map View, Vehicle List, and Detailed Vehicle screens, while the app is open. * Conveniently dispatch new orders by prefilling existing addresses saved in the WEBFLEET address database. * Stay up-to-date with push notifications that proactively display in the Notifications section of Android and iOS devices for incoming text or status messages, and theft and towing events. Learn more at webfleet.com

WEBFLEET ASSET TRACKER With WEBFLEET Asset Tracking, fleet managers & business owners can: • Stay in control at all times by knowing where all their assets are and by receiving notifications when an asset is moved. • Reduce workload with automated processes - users can drastically improve operational efficiency by monitoring all vehicles and assets from one interface and automating reports. • Save costs and maintain the value of their assets, by scheduling maintenance tasks based on odometer readings, engine hours, or, the time since the last maintenance to avoid costly downtime. • Discover the key features of AssetTracking: • Track and monitor: View current positions plus mileage and movement statuses to get a full understanding of how your assets are being used. • Trace view: Gain visibility into where your assets have been with position updates every five minutes on the map. • Instant Alerts: Get notified whenever your asset’s status is changed, e.g. it enters or leaves a defined area, or a movement is detected. • Maintenance Notification: Schedule and manage your assets’ maintenance tasks easily based on the odometer, engine hours or the time since the last maintenance. Learn more at webfleet.com

WEBFLEET LINK 740 LINK 740 is a future-proof vehicle tracking and fleet management device using the LTE-M mobile network technology! It’s the successor to the LINK 710. Highlights of LINK 740 features: * Built with CAN-bus connectivity that enables access to enhanced vehicle data * Support FMS interface and digital tachograph * View Electric Vehicles’ (EVs) charging status, remaining driving range, and more * Support crash detection and driver behavior analysis * Enable a wide range of integration via Bluetooth, 1-wire, and multiple I/O interfaces * Choose non-intrusive installation with the optional LINK CAN Sensor 100 Learn more at webfleet.com

Tow Professional | Volume 9 • Issue 9

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Clore Automotive JNCAIR 12V Jump Starter / Portable Power Supply / Air Compressor

he JNCAIR takes multi-function professional jump starting to the highest level. It features our exclusive Clore PROFORMER battery technology, specifically designed for vehicle jump starting. It delivers high peak amps, extended cranking power, numerous jumps per charge, and a long service life. Plus, with automatic charging from a built-in charger, extra-long cables and a rubberized base that won’t mar a vehicle surface, the JNCAIR is as convenient as it is powerful. Its integrated Air Delivery System can fill a 15” vehicle tire from flat in four minutes, features a 12’ coiled air hose, utilizes an accurate and easy-to-read gauge and has a screw-on chuck that won’t scratch customer wheels. Includes a coupon for a one-time, fixed-fee ($150) out-of-warranty repair, no matter how old the unit is or why it is broken. Simply box it up and send it to us with a check for the coupon amount, and we will repair or replace it, even if it is five or seven years old. Power you can depend on, that’s Jump-N-Carry! For more information, visit www.cloreautomotive.com.

www.towprofessional.com

Volume 9 • Issue 9

Tow Professional

TOW PROFESSIONAL TOP PRODUCTS 2020

Hide-A-Lift VIPER WHEEL LIFT

COBRA WHEEL LIFT

Need a quick and easy unit to tow most consumer vehicles? Viper costs less, is quicker than most competitive self-loaders, is easy to mount, and can be working for you in no time. • Fully hydraulic underlift (in/out and up/down) • Twin 3-½” lift cylinders • 4,000-lb.+ lift capacity • Suggested minimum 10,000 GVW chassis • Hydraulic claws (no springs to malfunction causing damage) • Self-centering head • Brass bushings on king pin • In-cab 6-function control • Double pump for speed and power • Extra frame stiffening recommended • Unique under-body construction

Looking for a tow unit with a little more power? • Heavy-duty lifting 6”x 6” main beam • 4,000-lb.+ lift capacity • Suggested minimum 10,000 GVW chassis • 72” reach • Full 90-degree loading (great for parallel parked cars) • In-cab 8-function control • Quick connect for easy removal • Double pump for speed and power • Twin 3-½” lift cylinders for more speed and power • Hydraulic claws (no springs to malfunction causing damage) • Self-centering head • Brass bushings on king pin • 12,000-lb. winch available • Built-in frame stiffener • Extra frame stiffening recommended More info: https://hidealift.com/cobra/.

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Steck MFG.

4th Wheel Loader

•

4th Wheel Loader is a tough 24” x 14” hardened aluminum fabricated platform with two 4” x 10” Polypropylene roller wheels and 1” axles to easily hold and secure up to 5 tons while loading a vehicle with broken ball joints and/or a damaged wheel/tire on a roll back.

I-Bolt I-Bolt is a 2” x 1 ½” loop connected to a 7” long steel shaft with unique gripping teeth that lock into the threaded holes having diameters of ½” up to 1 ¼” on the front or rear of the vehicle provides a universal hook up solution for the 200+ vehicles identified in the Towing and Service Manual from AAA.Visit www. steckmfg.com.

BigEasy 32955DLX BigEasy 32955DLX “Glo” Lockout Kit with EasyWedge and Carrying Case is the preferred tool to unlock cars in seconds without damaging the vehicle.

www.towprofessional.com

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Tow Professional

TOW PROFESSIONAL TOP PRODUCTS 2020

Wrecker Rentals Inc.

Recovery Billing

recker Rentals, Inc. provides full-service tow truck rental for the lower 48 states. They provide shortterm (three-day minimum) and long-term tow truck rental of late model light-duty wreckers and roll-back tow trucks. They distribute trucks from Atlanta, Georgia, & Dallas, Texas, and, in most cases, can have a truck to you within 24 hours of approval. For more information, visit www.rentawrecker.com.

he average towman is excellent at what he does best, and that’s towing and recovery. Billing can be complex and when starting out in business, it can be a challenge to design the right billing and invoicing systems to take advantage of the recovery work that’s being performed. Think about it. You could be losing thousands per month for unbilled services for what is essentially a clerical oversight. Bob and Eric bring their expertise to seminars throughout the year in Massachusetts and across the continent. Groups are small with only 20 towing companies per session, which makes for a more focused, oneon-one learning experience and higher success rates. We especially take care to help other businesses overcome the red tape and wall of legal babble that prevents towing companies from being paid. We will help you to navigate the legal roadblocks and red tape, helping you to get paid for your work without fail. All it takes is a robust system which you can apply to every job that you complete. For more information, visit www.recoverybillingunlimited.com.

Look No Further! ADD has the tools you need to run your operation.

Auto Data Direct

DirectPost-Office from Auto Data Direct allows you to create, mail, and track your certified lien letters online! Reduce the time, effort, and expense of searching for records and going to the post office.

• DMV Database Records – Access

real-time owner and lienholder records DD’s DirectPostin 35+ states – more than any other company (DPO) of its kind! Office • Title Check Reports – Obtain vehicles’ current state of title. is a great example of • State-Specific Lien Letter Tools – Your lien notification letter will be automatically how technology can filled out with the owner, lienholder, and title information from our inquiry tools. literally improve your • Electronic Certified Mail – Send your notification via electronic certified mail, business and your life, and receive tracking information. particularly with today’s ADD123.com health concerns. Let’s say you833-5ADD123 are a tow (833-523-3123) company in one of the states where ADD offers state specific lien and sale notification letters. And, let’s say one of your trucks just brought in a vehicle with a New York tag. Through your ADD account, you can – in minutes – obtain the owner/lienholder data from New York’s real-time records database, merge that data into the appropriate letter(s), and literally ‘take it to the post office’ with a click of your mouse, never leaving your desk. Whether it is accessing those must-have, accurate realtime owner/lienholder records, reporting to NMVTIS, or sending out those certified letters, ADD’s electronic platform provides a unique approach to safely and efficiently fly through your most important business transactions from the safety of your office. WA

Washington, DC

MA CT

Available for Qualified Companies In Development

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Holly’s Towing Dispatch

olly’s Towing Dispatch answers and dispatches solely for the towing and recovery industry, and is available to you 24/7, 365 days a year. Your company chooses when Holly’s Towing Dispatch works best for your company. Do you need help on nights and weekends? 24/7? We accommodate your needs no matter what time of day. With 20 plus years’ experience, Holly’s Towing Dispatch takes and dispatches all calls directly to drivers, an on-call manager, or in-house dispatcher. Whatever works best for you, we can accommodate. Our goal and purpose are to get your drivers on-scene quickly by providing fast and accurate service. Give us a call today at 800-730-3909 to find out how Holly’s Towing Dispatch can help YOU. For more information, visit us at www.hollystowingdispatch.com.

Tow Truck Locator

ow Truck Locator, LLC is excited to announce the launch of an updated Tower’s Marketplace https://marketplace. towtrucklocator.com that is open to dealers, vendors and private individuals who have new or used towing equipment, parts or services to sell. Features of the new web site include a blog, vendor storefronts, a cart, chat and message through the store – all fully customizable with your branding. This marketplace expands on our already successful listings on TowTruckLocator.com of tow trucks and trailers. For smaller businesses, the cost of launching and maintaining an ecommerce site can be restrictive. The Tower’s Marketplace is the answer to having a complete ecommerce presence at an affordable price. Call Tow Truck Locator’s office at 702-333-3004 for details. Tow Truck Locator, LLC launched TowTruckLocator.com in October 2018 as a resource focused solely on the towing industry. The web site https://towtrucklocator.com currently averages 2,200 visitors monthly not including the traffic we generate for listings on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Tow Truck Locator, LLC are regular attendees at the Florida Tow Show, the Las Vegas AT Showcase, and the AT Exposition in Baltimore as well as being active members of the Arizona Professional Towing & Recovery Association. For more information visit: https://towtrucklocator.com

www.towprofessional.com

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Tow Professional

TOW PROFESSIONAL TOP PRODUCTS 2020

Winches Inc.

inches Inc. with their three brick and mortar locations, is committed to providing your company application solutions for equipment like a new winch, control, PTO, hydraulic or pneumatic product or even an entire system. Winches Inc.’s pricing on services saves time, money, and resources. They sell, service, and design nearly every product you would need for hydraulic or pneumatic lifting, while standing behind every piece of equipment that leaves their stores. They also have experienced and professional support staff that are dedicated to bringing value to and continuously improving the products and services they supply. Winches Inc. in the market of winches, has one goal: to thoroughly know winches and winch applications. In Tulsa, their staff has extensive product knowledge in many other brands such as DP, BRADEN, Ramsey, Warn, and more and a highly trained customer service department to take care of any winch or hoist-related situation. For more information, call us at (877) 495-9721 or visit us online at www.WinchesInc.com.

Towbook Say “Hello” to your newest employee, Towbook! Based in the cloud, and utilizing the latest tools and technologies available, Towbook has become the industry’s unquestioned leader in towing management software solutions. Our goal is to provide software solutions that impact the performance, productivity and revenue potential for your roadside assistance, towing, and recovery operations. Towbook is here to create a seamless experience for each job from beginning to end. You’ll be able to create quotes, receive jobs digitally from all major motor clubs, dispatch jobs to drivers, communicate with staff throughout the entire call, track calls on our mapping system, manage impounds, billing, receive customer feedback via surveys, and so much more! With Towbook, we believe in transparency, so there are never any hidden fees! Training and setup assistance are provided at no additional charge for companies of every size and each Towbook subscription includes unlimited user accounts. We’re known industry-wide for our coveted 24/7/365 Ultimate Support. This support includes live phone support and our “in-app” chat system that enables customers to interact with our team without having to pick up the phone and call. See for yourself and try it free for 30-Days at: www.towbook.com 46

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Custom Built Manufacturing Be Sure to check out our website!

ustom Built Mfg. LLC came to be after 30 years in the Towing industry and 35 in the Auto Body Industry as Dangelo’s Auto Body and Repairs. At Custom Built Mfg. LLC., it has always been about three things:

1)The Customer, 2) The Customer, 3) The Customer That has carried over into the heavy-duty towing vehicles manufactured in Kane, Pennsylvania with the care and pride that only the small town attitude brings to the table. That being true, team work and the very BEST our trucks can

be all of the time. Quality is number One at Custom Built Mfg. LLC. using quality American made; steel, aluminum, fasteners, hydraulics, cables, winches, lights, rings and pinions for our rotators, and as many accessories whenever possible. Custom Built means just that, hand-crafted and hand-fit for precise long life operation. From metal forming, welding to assembly our technicians have eyes on every step of the maufacturing process as well as Derek Dangelo’s (Owner) personal supervision occurs at every step of the manufacturing processes. You will even see Derek involved in hands-on when issues arise. For more information, visit www.custombuiltmfg.com.

www.towprofessional.com

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TOW PROFESSIONAL TOP PRODUCTS 2020

VTS Systems VTS Systems Introduces New Smart Phone Features… 2020 was a challenging year for family run towing and VSF business. Indeed, many learned to do more with less, especially those forced to accommodate junior family members in remote classroom learning. The VTS development team continued to work with our clients and delivered both new and upgraded software features to VTS CLOUD, simplifying operational tasks. For those involved in incident management towing, and vehicle storage, VTS has added instant driver MVR/VIN lookup and auto, populate, plus auto recall of law enforcement reports in addition to our class leading 36 state MVR’s and the fully automated creation of, and the electronic certified mailing of lien/notification letters, which now includes automated individual second number logon passwords, increasing end-user security, while reducing operator complexity. For those involved in motor club services, we have added 11 of the most popular motor clubs’ applications, allowing fully automated request for service, single click acceptance of work ticket, by either the dispatcher or an on-call driver acting as an after-hours dispatcher/driver, and upon job completion, auto billing with checksum

verification and several other bling features. Definition of bling, nice to have, but doesn’t add to the bottom line! On publication of this article, version 2.0 of the VTS CLOUD smart phone app for both iPhone and Android devices is available. The VTS CLOUD program is accessible from any Internet connected device including PCs, laptops, and tablets. Smart phone Version 2.0 provides for both a dispatcher push to a selected driver or for a driver/ manager to act as the shift dispatcher and supervisor. Once accepted by the driver, he/she may take control and update the tow through its multiple stages, driver on-route, driver on-scene, driver loaded and rolling, and arrived.

Eckert & Associates Help your fellow truckers, and let them know they have rights! When tow trucks, semis, and trailers are hit and can’t be driven, large losses of income add up quickly. When your customer’s equipment is down due to an accident, suggest they pursue lost income from the driver that caused the accident. If your tow truck is damaged by another driver, you certainly want them to pay to repair the truck. But what about going after them to pay your lost net income while the truck is in the shop? What about pursuing your other out of pocket expenses? Eckert & Associates, PA can step in and fight to recover your true losses. We represent truckers, 48

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collecting their downtime/lost income. Lead attorney, Kelsea Eckert, champions small businesses in the transportation industry, so the big insurance companies and large self-insured fleets don’t take advantage of them. Owner Operator D. Faulkner said, “Eckert & Associates performed as advertised! Courteous, professional and won my case!” The initial consultation with a lawyer is free. Any attorney fees are paid at the end of the case, as a percentage of the settlement. Let us help you and your customers claim their rightful earnings. We would love to hear from you! Call 1-800-Downtime or visit www.DowntimeClaims.com.

Tops/Budget GPS Lien Processing Simplified! The TOPS lien processing system is a step-based system that takes the headaches out of processing your company’s liens. No more looking at calendars and counting out days to know when to send notification letters, submit forms or set auction dates. The TOPS system manages the scheduling for you, freeing up your lien experts to focus on more important tasks. The TOPS lien system is set up to process YOUR liens and YOUR forms on YOUR schedule. We interview your subject matter experts and put their knowledge into your lien setup, so that nearly any employee can be cross-trained to process liens when needed. Your notification letters and forms are built into the TOPS system, and when printed become a permanent part of the call’s record. In addition, the letters can be searched for and re-processed or re-printed if necessary. The step-based batch processing creates your letters, forms, labels, and envelopes – whatever you need – so that your liens are always legal and compliant, and processed on time.

By: Robert Brockett – TXI Systems, Inc. dba towXchange

TOPS lien processing is designed to be done in ‘Batch’ mode – allowing you to process ALL of your notification letters and forms at once, saving you from having to manage them one-at-a-time. This helps eliminate errors and omissions, and requires very little of your staff’s time and effort. If needed, TOPS lien processing allows you to also process liens individually if there are exceptions, or if they require special consideration for any reason. TOPS lien processing is a fully integrated component of the TOPS inventory and impound management system, allowing you to view and manage the full life cycle of the impound beginning with the initial call and ending with the final lien sale. For more information on the TOPS Impound Management System with Lien Processing or to schedule a demonstration please call 866-800-8677 Opt 2 or visit our websites – TOPS® - www.towxchange.net BudgetGPS – www.budgetgps.com TOPS® is a Registered Trademark of TXI Systems, Inc..

GoLight GOLIGHT GT

Stryker ST

The NEW Golight GT Series remote controlled spotlight by Golight Inc. features: Wireless or Hardwired Remote Control Options, Permanent or Portable Mounting, 370° Rotation x 135° Tilt, and is UV Ray and Saltwater Resistant. Upgrades from the previous Golight RadioRay models include: Updated exterior housing design, Higher torque drivetrain and more precise pan / tilt control, Increased Ingress protection from dust / water (IP56), Permanent mount models boast a robust 14 gauge stainless steel mounting bracket and Portable magnetic models have 2X magnetic grip. Golight GT Series Light Output: Halogen, 225,000 Candela, Max Beam Distance 3,113 ft., 5.5 amps at 13.8V and LED, 544,000 Candela, Max Beam Distance 4,839 ft., 3.7 Amps at 13.8V. Golight GT Series has a 3 year limited warranty.

The NEW Stryker ST Series Remote Controlled Spotlight features: Wireless Remote Control, Permanent or Portable Mounting, 370° Rotation x 135° Tilt, and is UV Ray and Saltwater Resistant. Upgrades from the previous Stryker models include: Multiple Unit Selector Function which allows for independent control of 2 units with 1 remote, Home Position Function (OnCommand return to 0° home), New Wireless Technology Benefits including: Simultaneous Pan + Tilt, Multiple users can operate lights in close proximity without interference, Smart Programming Logic (Quick and simple pairing without dipswitches), and Fluorescent Remote Buttons Stryker ST Series Light Output: Halogen, 225,000 Candela, Max Beam Distance 3,113 ft., 5.5 amps at 13.8V and LED, 544,000 Candela, Max Beam Distance 4,839 ft., 3.7 Amps at 13.8V. Stryker ST Series has a 5 year warranty. www.towprofessional.com

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TOW PROFESSIONAL TOP PRODUCTS 2020

Beacon Software Beacon Software has the most advanced, flexible features to assist companies large and small that were pushed to change their routine during COVID-19. The following updates were designed to reduce the time spent reporting and increase functionality.

Dispatch Anywhere Dispatch Anywhere is Beacon Software’s complete management software for towing and roadside assistance. It is the complete package with countless features designed to optimize your business. • Tow Status Updates: TowStatus allows you to automatically send status messages to your customers via text or email. • Contactless Signature Capture: Contactless signature capture is now enabled for TowTickets, Damage Waivers, Key Drop Offs, and Credit Card Payments.

• Customer Locate: Send a text message to customers in order to verify their exact location from the phone’s GPS. • Custom Favorite Reports: Dispatch Anywhere now provides easy access to your most commonly used reports, eliminating the need for time-consuming searches. • Invoice Narrative/Recovery Report: Document recoveries and display job summaries on any customer invoice.

TowLien TowLien is Beacon Software’s digital lien and impound management software, and the industry’s number one vehicle owner lienholder search and notification software. It’s as easy as Search, Send, and Collect. • Website Update: The TowLien website was rebuilt and redesigned, making the lien process easier and automated. Visit the new website at TowLien. BeaconSoftCo.com. “The second the industry saw the effects of COVID-19, Beacon switched gears,” says Todd Althouse, president of Beacon Software. “We asked what we could do to make operations easier and safer for managers and drivers.”

Visit Beacon Software Beacon Software creates technology that enables towing & roadside providers to manage, update, dispatch, track, and invoice jobs, in real-time, from anywhere in the world. Learn more about how Beacon can improve your business at BeaconSoftCo.com. 50

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TOWERS

INSURANCE Website below and give us a call, we will be glad to set up a time where “We’ll Come See You”. (270-444-6818) www.wreckerins.com •Towing Insurance • Repo Insurance •Transporting Insurance •Trucking Insurance • Heavy Hauler’s Insurance • Salvage/Recyclers Insurance • MotorTruck Cargo Coverage’s • On-hook Coverage • Umbrella’s • Workers Comp • Bond’s

ustin Insurance is a family-owned business, that has specialized in providing insurance to the Towing Industry since 1991. We have dedicated ourselves to providing quality service and a quality product to our customers. We work with several different companies that allow us to give you a quality product for the most competitive price possible. We can give our customers the basic of all towing policies or we can mix and match to make sure they are covered for every kind of risk possible. Austin Insurance has been providing insurance for nearly 30 years and has insured tow companies from all 50 states no matter if they are a 1 or 50 truck account and everything in between. Every company is unique and is different from each other. “We’ll Come See You” is not just a catchphrase, we will come see you and make sure that you have a full understanding of the coverages and answer any questions that you might have. When you have a claim, we will work with you to decide the best course of action regarding the claim. We will walk you step by step of the process of reporting a claim and getting the claim settled as quickly as possible. As a bonus, we are more than happy to help you in complying with any DOT/FMCSA & OSHA compliance Audits. While we are agents for the insurance companies, we are also agents for the Tower as well. Please see the list below of all the coverages we provide, please visit the www.towprofessional.com

Volume 9 • Issue 9

Tow Professional

TOWERS

INSURANCE

ig personal insurance companies spend billions each year on TV ads convincing people that price is all that matters when shopping for insurance. In the commercial world, that is horrible advice. Instead of shopping for the cheapest insurance, you should be shopping for the right insurance agent. Just like not all insurance is the

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same, not all agents are the same. Towing is a niche market for us because Hal Kresser, the agency principal, is very interested in the industry. He worked for a towing service when he was young and even today he is Wreckmaster Level II certified and can operate your equipment. Can your current agent do that? Hal is also involved in the industry. He is an active, participating member of the Towing and Recovery Association of Ohio. In fact, he is so well respected that he was nominated and elected to be president of the local region and is currently serving his fifth term. Before he was an insurance agent he spent 20 years as a cop. He is certified in accident reconstruction and knows the laws and how to deal with police officers. He’s good to have as an advocate in some of the collision claims that happen when there are disputes as to fault and he can help you decide when to fight traffic tickets and violations and when not. For example, we had one two years ago where a person on a bicycle rode into the side of a rollback that was making a right turn. The police officer listed the driver at fault for violating a crosswalk. After talking to the driver, Hal learned that the bike hit the truck by

the back axel. That meant the truck was almost fully through the turn before being struck. That makes it the bicyclist’s fault. He contacted the traffic supervisor and discussed how the report was improperly written and explained why it was not the driver’s fault. The supervisor agreed and got the officer to re-write the report correctly. This saved the customer from having a chargeable accident on his record and saved the insurance company from paying a personal injury claim. Claim adjustors are trained to take a police report as gospel. Unfortunately, not all crash reports are written correctly. Hal has the experience to know and can help when it happens to keep our clients from being unjustly charged with accidents. When you choose the right agent, he will be able to place you with an insurance carrier that best suits your needs. As an independent agent we have the ability to add new companies that enter the market. We have seen companies come into the towing market for a few years and then get back out. When that happens, you can lose your insurance through no fault of your own. A good agent is on top of that and can make transitioning to another carrier seamless. You need to build a relationship with your agent. He can help you decide when to file a claim or when to pay out of pocket. He can advise you on ways to keep your rates down as well as help you implement plans to avoid liability claims. We recommend things like putting cameras in the trucks

to document crashes. They can be invaluable in situations where fault is in dispute. Choose the right agent and build the relationship on trust and integrity. The agent should be viewed as a stakeholder in your business. In a recent Google review of our agency, Tiffany Corey of John Wayne Towing wrote “even when we were told there was no hope by everyone else, they didn’t give up and kept pushing forward. I work for John Wayne Towing and we are a small company so something as major as insurance can really make or break a company. So, if you are needing insurance, I would highly recommend giving them a chance.” You need a good, well managed insurance portfolio to help your business be successful and the agent needs your business to be successful to make his business successful. If you are contemplating any big expansion plans such as adding a new building or moving to a larger facility in another part of town, or adding more trucks you should involve your agent during the planning stage to find out in advance what the impact on the insurance will be. Many times, I get the call to add something like a building, a second location, or a 50 ton rotator to the policy after the fact. Then the insured is upset when he sees how much it costs. Now it’s too late. To learn more call Hal Kresser today! 877-412-3434 or email him hal@kresseragency.com.

www.towprofessional.com

Volume 9 • Issue 9

Tow Professional

TOWERS

INSURANCE

WEISS INSURANCE

ur team, Cindy Horn, Janice LaVitte and Bryan Westfall of Weiss Insurance specialize in various transportation risks. We wear many hats as independent agents. We tailor design your insurance policy to fit your insurance needs. Not all risks are identical. Years in business, your own loss experience, driver experience and type of

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business will affect your insurance cost. We understand your business and your business needs. COVID has made 2020 a challenging year, we expect 2021 to be equally challenging. Our insurance markets are A rated, and in most states. Towing, Transportation, Repossession, Cargo, Excess Cargo,

www.towprofessional.com

Garage and/or Repair Facilities and Auto Sales are some of the types of business that we will write. We have markets for worker’s compensation, group health, property, general liability and personal insurance. For personalized service, give us a call … Cindy Horn @ 636-534-7226 or cindyhorn@weiss-ins.com

Insurance

TOWERS

INSURANCE

$TATED AMOUNT vs CO$T NEW

s your Comprehensive and Collision coverage for your power units and/or trailers written on a Stated Amount or Cost New (ACV) basis? Not knowing the difference could cost you thousands at the time of a loss. Imagine, your prized heavy-duty wrecker was just the subject of an unforeseen accident and your insurance company has deemed it a total loss after identifying the extent of the damages. How and on what basis your full coverage (comprehensive and collision) insurance was written could be the difference between being in an equity or inequity position which could ultimately cost you thousands. According to their contract, the insurance carrier owes the fair market value toward the replacement of the insured power unit regardless of how much is owed to the respective lienholder. If your policy is written on a Stated Amount basis, that amount is the MOST the insurance company will pay, minus your deductible toward the replacement of your power unit regardless of its fair market value. Conversely, if your policy is written on a Cost New basis, the insurance company will pay the fair market value even if it is more than what is listed as the COST NEW amount on the actual policy.

In conclusion, when your insurance policy is written on Originally established in 1950, Mike erage in the industry. With a growing a Stated Amount basis, you should review the Keith Insurance has four Missouri locabasevalue of “A” ratedlisted carriers, we are able to tions offering a broad range of insurance offer coverage in most states with no on the policy with your insurance agent to make sure it products and services. Throughout these radius restrictions. we have taken pride in helping our Our team of Towing & Recovery specorresponds with theyears, fair market value. Since power units customers understand and select the cialists includes Curtis Cooper, CPCU, balance between affordability and Amy Berry, CIC, Amy Sockwell, CISR, depreciate, it is vital right to adjust these values downward quality of coverage. MKI focuses on keepJamie Harrelson, CISR, and our claims ing the interest of our client’s first and all annually with your representation on an annual basis. If employees strive to exceed customer on every your agent sits downexpectations with you atlevel. renewal, that is the perfect A niche agency, MKI has been successful in the details. Towing & Recovery Industry time to work out these fine Also, and of note, when by partnering with major Tow & Recovery carriers and fostering these relationships a power unit is added by endorsement during the policy to be able to offer our insureds the best and the most comprehensive cov- value of the term, be certain to letprices your agent know the power unit or trailer given the current market value in your to fit your insurance needs. Not all risks respective operating territory. are identical; years in business, your own loss experience, driver experience, and Premium comparisons between polices written onwill affect your insurance type of business cost. They understand your business and Stated Amount vs CostCindy New are LaVitte, roughly theyour same given the Horn, Janice and Bryan business needs. They wear many are a unit at Weiss Insurance hats as independent agents, representing overall underwritingWestfall criteria on an account-to-account basis. that specializes in various transportation various insurance companies, which risks. They design your insurance policy allow them to “design” a policy for you. Meaning some policies written on a Stated Amount are more premium dollars than policies written on a Cost New basis…and vice versa. For additional information on this or any other insurance topic you are dealing with, please email or give us a call! For more information, visit www.mkeithins.com.

Tow Professional | Volume 7 • Issue 9 | www.towprofessional.com

Example: Your insured power unit is listed on the policy for $100,000. At the time of the loss, the market value for your power unit is $120,000. When written on a Stated Amount basis, the insurance company will pay $100,000 minus your deductible. Given the same example, if the policy is written on a Cost New basis, the insurance carrier would pay $120,000 minus your respective deductible. Of note, the insurance policy will not pay for the Federal Excise Tax of 12%. www.towprofessional.com

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Tow Professional

coor are d cust ice, busi expe ope not able imp and M agen quic our utiliz ence in th Phys Liab Wor your to sp Tow

Tow Carg Rep of th They satio bility

TOWERS

INSURANCE

XINSURANCE “With XINSURANCE, You can Purchase Customized Liability Insurance Coverage that will Protect You in all the Areas that Your Homeowners, Employers, and Business Insurance Policies Won’t or Can’t!

here are few things as troubling as hearing that you’re not covered by your insurance policy. By providing you with access to customized liability insurance policies that cover gaps in your traditional insurance coverage, XINSURANCE helps minimize exposures and maximize peace of mind. The reality is most liability insurance provides adequate protection for homeowners, business owners, and employers. Unfortunately, in today’s litigious society, there are huge areas of exposure in the event of a lawsuit. XINSURANCE fills that liability insurance void for you.

TROUBLE GETTING COVERAGE? XINSURANCE also specializes in helping individuals and businesses who live a lifestyle or participate in activities that make them difficult for traditional carriers to insure. If you’ve been denied, non-renewed, or canceled coverage, don’t give up quite yet. Chances are XINSURANCE can help.

FOR TOWING AND REPO COMPANIES When a vehicle has been towed or repossessed, there is no

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way to know the kinds of damages that could occur during the transportation or holding period. At XINSURANCE, our goal is to provide coverage for those gaps to those who need it most where regular insurance companies do not. Whether you need insurance for wrongful driver repossession, risks in the transportation of goods, liability insurance for risks associated with garage keepers and watchdogs, or something else, XINSURANCE is the insurance partner you want for the coverage you need.

TOWING AND REPO INSURANCE With XINSURANCE, you can purchase customized liability insurance coverage that will protect you in all the areas that your homeowners, employers, and business insurance policies won’t or can’t. Our underwriting team brings you over 30 years of experience, along with the ability to offer customized limits, coverage, deductibles, and premiums to create the perfect plan for your personal protection. For more information on XINSURANCE’S products & services, go to https://www.xinsurance.com/risk-class/ towing-operations-repossession-companies/.

THE RIGHT FINANCING

IN A CRUCIAL

TIME By Jeremy Tsakiris – Alliance Funding

inding the right financing is so crucial in the towing industry especially during these challenging times. Often it can make or break the cash flow and profitability of the business. With so many companies and dealer financing options out there, the industry can be enmeshing and mind boggling for owners. To bring clarity for good decision making, I am highlighting key factors that I have learned through my twenty-one years of truck-financing experience that can help guide your choice of a finance partner.

Support Availability, Not Distancing It appears this world is trying to operate with minimal human contact. Though this may be helpful on the spread of infection, it is not helpful from a finance service-provider standpoint. Do yourself a favor and choose a partner that will answer the phone or will promptly call you back. When you are expanding your business or replacing needed trucks which have gone down, you need a finance partner

that is knowledgeable, efficient and, for sure, available. Helping you to navigate quickly through processing and titling, the right support will save you needless aggravation and help your business get where you are taking it. Combine this with a finance manager whose character and experience you can trust, and your mind will be at ease. We have received feedback from repeat customers whose have experienced this: “Jeremy is a stand-up guy and has been financing my equipment for more than seven years. I have never found anyone so willing to help the customer.” Mark DensonOnsite Towing, Houston, Texas.

Direct Lender Over Broker Another key factor that I have experienced is to find a finance company like Alliance Funding that is a direct lender on the balance sheet as opposed to a broker. Although a broker can be important for lower-credit scenarios, direct lenders can offer fast processing times, more competitive www.towprofessional.com

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products by avoiding broker margins, and have the ability to structure the lowest rates, longest terms, and a balloon-payment structure. Our goal is not just a sale for you, but a lifetime of sales earned through excellent service: “Jeremy Tsakiris is the man. He hooked me up more than once and has definitely earned my business for life.” Trevor Sherrer –California

Collateral-Specific Financing Equipment finance should be specific to the collateral you want to fund. This may be a confusing statement, but what I have seen through my tenure is that many banks, credit unions, or other equipment finance and capital funding companies will file a blanket lien or incumbent on the business. Alliance Funding, along with a couple of other finance companies that focus on the towing industry, will only file a lien on the title. They do not take

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advantage of the customer by burying the blanket lien language in the fine print.

Early Payoff Numbers at the Beginning In same context of “buried” info, note what the real prepayment or early payoff numbers look like at the beginning of your decision making. Be specific in your questions, so you can learn what all your financing options are. A good of example of options is leasing. Most of my customers prefer to do a lease purchase for tax benefits. However, in an early buyout situation, a small penalty on the “Principle Remaining Balance” is massively more beneficial than having to pay the whole remaining schedule.

Leasing’s Tax Advantage As some of you may know, the tax advantage of a lease purchase program

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far exceeds that of a traditional loan. A lease purchase program is 100% tax deductible as an expense to the company. A traditional loan is considered an asset where a standard depreciation schedule is applied. This results in a fraction of the write-off to the business. A common misconception is that a lease-purchase program is more expensive. When, in fact, after factoring in the expense deduction, the result is most beneficial to the entity. The underwriting requirements do not differ whether I structure the agreement as a lease or a loan. Most financing companies, Alliance Funding included, can do either type of agreement. The lease purchase agreement allows for a longer balloon payment (i.e. 10-30% balloon payment). By doing this type of structure, you are simply allowing yourself more options when the term is over and giving yourself a lower monthly payment through the term. This will allow the business to have a quicker cash flow helping the monthly budget: “Jeremy from Alliance Funding, helps my customers to whom I sell trucks by structuring their agreements with a balloon payment which helps them meet their monthly budgets.” Ed Stroth, Sales, Twin City Wreckers In conclusion, financing equipment and trucks is a requirement for many businesses across this beautiful country. Finding a finance partner you can trust in challenging times or times of boom is crucial to the process. When that time comes, you need a partner who is not just knowledgeable and available, but who is also competitive and can approve the financing with your budget and needs in mind. We don’t just want you to survive during this time, we want you to thrive, so please contact us here at Alliance Financing by calling us at 800-978-8817 or visiting us at our website at https:// alliancefunding.com/ Stay safe, and God bless this great country!

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Eastern Wrecker Sales Inc is the oldest active Jerr-Dan Corp distributor in the nation and we also proudly offer the Landoll line of transportation products, trailers tough enough to move the world. Since 1969. We have one of the largest inventories of new and used tow trucks, carriers, and trailers in the nation and a full parts and service facility. Financing is available, and the process is easy. 60

Tow Professional | Volume 9 • Issue 9

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Tow Professional

Advertiser Index COMPANY

COMPANY

Access Tools ......................................... 7

Guni Wheel .......................................... 30

Safety Vision.......................................... 9

Alliance Funding ................................. 58

Hal Kresser .......................................... 63

Steck Mfg............................................. 50

American Safety & Supply ............... 43

Hide-a-Lift ............................................ 63

The Will-Burt Company ..................... 26

Austin Hinds ........................................ 61

Hino .....................................................BC

Towbook ................................................. 3

Austin Insurance ................................ 51

Holly’s Towing Dispatch .................... 45

Towing Museum ............................32-33

Auto Data Direct ................................. 39

INA Towing Network ......................... 11

Towmate ................................................. 1

Beacon Software ............................... 18

Jerr-Dan ............................................. IFC

TowTruckLocator.com ....................... 37

Budget GPS ......................................... 43

Lodar ..................................................... 53

TT/ WebFleet .......................... 17, 19, 21

Collins Dollies ....................................IBC

MacMahon .......................................... 62

Urgently ................................................ 14

Custer Products .................................. 22

Marking Pen Depot ............................ 63

VTS Systems ................................. 29, 63

Custom Built ........................................ 41

Mike Keith Insurance ........................ 64

Waters Truck ....................................... 59

CW Mill Equipment ............................ 55

Progressive.......................................... 11

Weiss Ins.............................................. 63

Dynamic ............................................... 15

PWOF .................................................... 24

Winches, Inc ....................................... 42

Eastern Wrecker Sales ..................... 60

Ricks Truck .......................................... 60

Wrecker Rentals................................. 38

Echert & Associates .......................... 63

Robert Young ....................................... 64

XInsurance .......................................... 5

Flow Stop ............................................. 54

RP Consulting ...................................... 37

Go Light ................................................ 23

RV Wheel ............................................. 63

Tow Professional | Volume 9 • Issue 9

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Tow Professional - Volume: 9 Issue 9

Articles inside

THE RIGHT

XINSURANCE

Mike Keith

Weiss

Hal Kresser

INSIGHTFUL TALK

Tow Boy

TRAA

Editor’s Letter

Austin

4th Annual Alabama “Slow Down, Move Over” Rally