tow professional

IN EVERY ISSUE

4 | Publisher Letter 35 | HOOKED UP

6 |Advanced Warning Systems, LLC by Russ Automotive

6 | Twin State Equipment welcomes,Scott Rahner - Product Specialist/Sales and Marketing Manager

7 |New Product Releases help propel Steck’s product lines

8 |Don’t Get Clogged up

2 Tow Professional | July/August 2012 | www.towprofessional.com

CONTENTSJuly/August 2012

www.towprofessional.com

T O W P R O F E S S I O N A L

Safety20 | Lifting-related back injuries:

A common, but avoidable

occurrence

Auctions26 |Getting to know Insurance Auto Auctions

IndustryNEWS

Cover Image Courtesy of Track What Matters

GPS10 | GPS: From Tracking To Reinventing

14 | The total solution for the tow truck company

TOW TIPST O W I N G & R E C O V E R Y

company spotlight

30 | InSight USA

33 | Track What Matters 34 | Custer Products LLC

32 |Will-Burt


PUBLISHERS

Darian WeaverPresident & [email protected]

Jack HartsfieldVice President & [email protected]

__________________________

PRODUCTION

Clint W. CabinessArt Director

Hal K. HuberGraphic Designer

__________________________

CONTRIBUTING WRITERSJim Comack

Scott HinterleiterSusan JablonskiTracy Merrit Barry Nay Wil Reed

Travis RhodenRicky-Ann SargentJim ShellhaasJeff Simple

__________________________

Executive and Advertising OfficesP.O. Box 26308

Birmingham, AL 35260Toll free: 888-802-8544Fax: 205-978-1550


Tow Professional is published seven times a year on a bi-monthly basis by Over The Mountain Media, Inc., P.O. Box 26308,Birmingham, Alabama, 35260, USA. Tow Professional is distrib-uted free to qualified subscribers. Non-qualified subscriptionrates are $57.00 per year in the U.S. and Canada and $84.00 peryear for foreign subscribers (surface mail). U.S. Postage paid atBirmingham, Alabama and additional mailing offices.

Tow Professional is distributed to qualified Towing & Re-covery's Top Decision Makers. Publisher is not liable for all con-tent (including editorial and illustrations provided by advertisers)of advertisements published and does not accept responsibilityfor any claims made against the publisher. It is the advertiser’sor agency’s responsibility to obtain appropriate releases on anyitem or individuals pictured in an advertisement. Reproductionof this magazine in whole or in part is prohibited without priorwritten permission from the publisher.

ProfessionalYour Resource for Towing & Recovery

TMLETTERJuly/August 2012


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

Ihope that this issue of Tow Professional finds you and yourcompany doing well.

The year is more than half over; where does your business stand? Every cor-ner I turn, somebody is letting me know how bad the economy is. There is noquestion that dollars don’t stretch as far as they used to, and that it’s a muchtougher market. But I do believe that if you keep your blinders on, stay deter-mined working harder (and smarter) than ever, and have a refuse to lose atti-tude, you will do a lot more listening to the problems rather than talking aboutthem. Control what you can control and don’t let somebody tell you that youcan’t do it in this economy; somebody is going to do it if you don’t. One of thebest phrases I ever heard was in 1994 when I first got into publishing; duringmy training period, my boss asked me this: “If not you, who? If not here,where? If not now, when?” This translates to: Somebody in your town is mak-ing it happen right now. Is it you???

In this issue, you will find editorials on GPS Systems and Technology,Clogged dpf filters, and Back Safety, along with company spotlights on Insur-ance Auto Auctions, Insight USA, Will-Burt, and Track What Matters.

Stay Cool. It’s been a hot summer, and there is a long way to go…

Jack Hartsfield and Darian WeaverCo-Publishers

P U B L I S H E R S


IndustryNEWST O W I N G & R E C O V E R Y

Advanced Warning System (AWS)

(patent pending), the company’s first

product built to protect both respon-

ders and ongoing traffic.AWS merges two technologies to ensure

that roadside emergencies and respondersare easily detected by ongoing traffic. A hy-

draulic platform system allows for aspecially engineered LED lightbar to belifted above casualties which block tra-ditionally mounted lights. The combina-tion of these technologies ensures thatroadside responders cannot be missed.

With 2012 already being one of themost deadly years for emergency re-

sponders, Highlites AWS is a timelyand much needed product. Createdby a towing and recovery operatorwith more than 25 years of experi-ence, Highlites AWS is tailored toserve every type of emergency road-side situation. By effectively alertingon-coming traffic to roadside emer-gencies, everyone involved receivesmore protection. Because the tow-ing and recovery industry is such ahigh risk industry, we spent years de-veloping Highlites AWS includingcountless hours of roadside testingto bring you the latest advancement

in roadside safety.they can’t SLOW DOWN and MOVE OVER

if they don’t know you’re there

Contact us at

877-787-7288

Advanced Warning Systems, LLC by Russ Automotive, is pleased to introduce HighLites

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

> > >

After spending 6 years with Recovery So-lutions, Inc., as Sales and Marketing Manager,we welcome Scott to this new position.Scott’s industry experience and productknowledge will be key in developing our Sub-

Distribution Base in the Southwest. Scott willdirect the day to day sales activities, and con-tinue to develop our existing customer base.

Scott Rahner comes to Twin State Equip-ment with over 25 years experience in theTowing and Recovery Industry. Starting as adriver for a local New Jersey Towing Com-pany in 1985, Scott moved to Myrtle Beach,South Carolina in 1990 opening Quality Tow-ing partnered with his brother. In 1994 Scottbecame Wreck Master certifide and went onto Level 6/7. Scott owned, operated andmanaged Quality until 2000 when hemoved into Wrecker and Carrier Sales atSmith’s Services in Orangeburg, SC, a Jer-rdan Distributor. In 2001 Scott became theNortheast/Midwest Factory Representitivefor Dynamic Manufacting. During that timehe also worked on designing and introducingnew products unitl 2005. Scott took a briefhieatus to work at a Chevrolet Dealer in NorthCarolina in Commercial Fleet Sales and then

returned in 2006 at Recovery Solutions asProduct Specialist and then Sales and Mar-keting Manager as well as designing and in-troducing new products. Scott, now based inLas Vegas, Nevada is looking forward to put-ting his extensive industry experiences towork in developing new customers and distri-bution for Twin States Equipment and theJerrdan Cooperation.

CONTACTScott Rahner TWIN STATE EQUIPMENT 4495 Copper Sage StreetLas Vegas, NV [email protected]

Twin State Equipment welcomes,Scott Rahner - Product Specialist/Sales and Marketing Manager forTwinState Equipment (Las Vegas). > > >

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

www.towprofessional.com | July/August 2012 | Tow Professional 7

New product ideas are the keys togrowth in today’s global market. SteckManufacturing embraces ideas from its toolusers. According to John Brill, President, “newideas are the life blood of our company”. Steckwill evaluate each tool and work with the inven-tor to protect the idea as well as pay a royalty tothe inventor based on the net sales of the tool.Last year it was the Axle Popper (71410) whichprovides even pressure to break loose half

shafts from the transaxle on frontwheel drive cars and Air Tool Oiler(16600) with its adjustable oil noz-zle allows technicians to easily andconveniently oil their air tool aftereach use.

While Steck’s focus is on autobody repair business where they de-velop and sell body shop specialtyrepair tools they also provide prod-ucts to the Towing industry, theirBigEasy Lockout tool kits (32900and 32955) allows technicians to

unlock cars without damaging the car door.Their most recent announcement, 4th WheelLoader (71480) allows Tow Truck drivers tosafely load and secure a vehicle with brokenball joints, lost wheels or locked wheels on theirroll back wreckers. Also will allow mechanicsand body technicians to steer the vehicle overunlevel surfaces as well as gravel and dirt intothe shop and guide it to lifts or frame racks for

repair. Visit our website at www.steckmfg.com or

http://www.youtube.com/user/SteckMfg#p/uto view our product offerings and videos ofsome of more popular.

CONTACTSTECK MANUFACTURING COMPANY, INC. 1115 S. BroadwayDayton, Ohio [email protected]

New Product Releases help propel Steck’s product linesUnique combination of in-house ideas and inventor submitted ideas blendtogether in successful releases > > >

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .


TOW TIPST O W I N G & R E C O V E R Y

This is where the trouble begins. Aclogged DPF filter can result in diesel sootbacking up into the engine, causing dam-age to the VGT actuator, turbo, fuel injec-tors and EGR solenoid. Also, the unburnedfuel injected into the exhaust system, aspart of the regen cycle, can go into thecrankcase contaminating the engine oil.

The most common Cummins DPF re-lated symptoms are clogged and crackedDPF filters; high cleaning / replacementcosts; lost income due to truck down time;excessive regeneration cycles; and re-duced power / limp mode in PTO. TheseDPF problems are so common thatDodge/Cummins owners have filed aclass action lawsuit which has yet to besettled.

Jim Comack at ECM Performance says,“We can get any off road or export DPFequipped vehicle back to full reliability withour unique programming service and cus-tomer removal of the DPF filter. Most cus-tomers ship their ECM to us, but we canalso send a technician anywhere in theworld for onsite service.”

Customers unbolt the ECM from theengine block, unplug the harness connec-tions and ship it to ECM Performance. Theoriginal engine data is read from the ECMand backed up three ways for the cus-

Inreal world work applications, repeated short drive times atless than highway speeds are very common. Also, trucks areincreasingly used as machines requiring long idle and ex-

tended use in PTO (Power Take Off) Mode. Both scenarios prevent atruck from properly going into its regen cycle which is supposed toclean the DPF filter.

Don’t get

CLOGGED UP

By J im Comack

tomer’s protection. A technician then modi-fies the calibration to shut off the after treat-ment system / DPF cleaning cycle. Within48 hours, the new calibration is flashed tothe ECM resulting in 100% Code Free oper-ation. After the customer receives theirECM via next day air, they bolt the ECMback to the engine block, replug the har-ness connections. They must then removethe DPF.

Alex M., a vehicle exporter under mili-

tary contact said, “We ex-ported 30 DPF equippedrollback trucks with Cum-mins 6.7 ISB engines. For 6months, they were all sittingdead in some foreign yarddue to clogged DPF filters.The DPF’s clogged almostinstantly due to the use ofhigh sulfur content dieselfuel. This caused the trucksto shut down or go into alimp mode. Though it wasthe end user’s fault for mis-reporting the fuel standard

for that country, let me tell you, no one washappy about this situation. It held us up de-livering additional vehicles to the same cus-tomer. We contacted Ecm Performanceafter receiving a recommendation from alocal diesel mechanic that had a similarproblem on a farm truck. After ECM Per-formance reprogrammed the ECM, the enduser reinstalled it and removed the DPF.They were so happy that we had ECM flashall the trucks. Now the trucks are in the field,

running great on the local fuel. Mileage andpower were also increased.”

ECM’s Jim Comack said, “Alex’s prob-lems with Cummins/Paccar DPF equippedtrucks are very typical overseas, and verycommon here in the states for other rea-sons. Unlike Alex who is a bulk exporter,most owner’s are just trying to make a livingwith trucks that not reliable. The sole reasonof the unreliability is the DPF Filter and a re-generation cycle that just doesn’t work inthe real world. It doesn’t matter how manytimes you tow the truck back to factoryservice facilities. The only way to restore fullreliability is to shut off the Regen Cyclethrough reprogramming the ECM. They canthen remove the DPF. Like magic all theirDPF related problems disappear & they cango back to making money.”

Cummins, Paccar, Ford, Peterbilt, Ken-worth & Sterling Trucks do not endorse,have any affiliation or connection with ECMPerformance or its services. All Productnames & trademarks featured here are theproperty of their respective trademark hold-ers. For export & off-road use only. TOW



Withthe convergence in mobile technologies, there has beenan explosion in the number and diversity of available solu-

tions - options that can make a material difference in the performance of

your business.

Before laying out the options, first some perspectives to set the stage:

1. "GPS"ain't just what it used to be. "If past history were all therewas to the game, the richest people in the world would be librarians" -

Warren Buffet. GPS used to be expensive, and all about knowing

where your trucks are. GPS navigation is now on your smart phone

and all about operational productivity.

2. One size does not fit all. “The competitor to be feared is onewho never bothers you at all, but goes on making his own business

better” - Henry Ford. The proliferation of GPS "bells and whistles" con-

tinues and often commands too much attention. The hard part in se-

lecting among GPS-based offerings is looking past the sizzle to

choose the right steak to make your business better. How could real-

time information improve how you dynamically, better manage oper-

ations?

3. Tomorrow won't be like today. Gretsky said it well: "Agood hockey player plays where the puck is. A great hockey player

plays where the puck is going to be." The right "GPS choice" for your

company should solve not only the issues of today, but position your

business for the competitive challenges of tomorrow.

"Tracking" used to be the big idea. This remains important, but

today GPS is often a component part in a broader solution to drive signifi-

cant increases in operational productivity - both in the office, and in the

field. I have found it helpful to think along a spectrum of options with four

levels: See Chart

There has never been a better time to assess the potential of GPS-based solutionsfor your towing and recovery business.

GPS: From TrackingTo Reinventing

By J im She l lhaas

www.towprofessional.com | July/august 2012 | Tow Professional 11

Level 1 - Tracking,whilethe most basic capability, tracking

offers for many companies the

highest short-term return. It ad-

dresses key owner concerns:

• Where are my trucks (my

most expensive assets)?

• Are my drivers staying "on

task"? Are they pocketing rev-

enue from jobs that they are

doing on the side?

The more feature-rich offerings

will have Input/Output connec-

tions as part of the black box to

track events on the truck (e.g., en-

gine and/or PTO "On" and "Off"),

show truck travel history ("breadcrumbs"), monitor truck speed, and

create "geo fences" to alert dispatchers when drivers are straying

into areas where they should not be. Importantly the black boxes are

attached to and are tracking trucks (not drivers). The approach cen-

ters on driver supervision.

Level 2 - Guiding builds on the basic tracking ofthe "black box"by adding a user interface in the truck for drivers.This could be a ruggedized device or a derivative of a consumer product -

such as a Garmin or Tom Tom. The user interface assists the driver in navi-

gating to the incident and destination addresses. The better options in

GPS/Mobile Level 1Tracking

Level 2Guiding

Level 3Deploying

Level 4Reinventing

Examples• "Black box" in the truck

• Push-To-Talk phones

• Radios

• In truck turn-by-turn directions

• Email to driver phones

• Full integration with dispatch,Mobile messaging (data not text)

• ”Smart dispatch" tools

• Dashboards

• CC processing in the truck

Office Productivity(Dispatchers)

• Limit unapproved stops by drivers

• Fewer driver calls for directions

• Easier training

• Reduced voice traffic with drivers

• Less hassle for dispatchers

• Better assignments

• Anticipate vs. react

•Improved customer service

Field Productivity

(Drivers)

• ?? Big brother is watching??

• Less frustration finding locations

• Clear calls on mobile device

• Start next call

• Shorter cycle time

• Higher commissions

P&L Impact (Owners)

• Lower risk• Less lost revenue

• Higher efficiency

•Better fleet utilization

• Higher revenue• Lower fuel costs• Better CF


this category will first locate addresses on the

map of the GPS product in the office, and then

transmit the GPS coordinates to the device in

the truck so that drivers do not need to enter

any address details. A variant of this approach

is to send an email to a driver's phone with ad-

dresses that the driver can manually enter into

the Garmin. This avoids the cost of the "black

box", but delivers a lower gain in productivity.

Level 2 adds capabilities that benefit drivers - as-

sistance with logistics.

The major differentiator in getting to Level3 - Deploying is to have a GPS so-lution that is fully integrated withthe dispatch solution. In Level 1 and2, dispatchers will typically be looking at one

screen from one provider for truck location, and

a different screen from a different provider for

dispatching - sometimes on one monitor! The

underlying applications are different and so the

synchronization of information between the

systems is inherently limited. Level 3 solutions

meet two key characteristics:

1. The GPS tracking/mappingcom-

ponent shows not only truck location, but

also truck type, and truck status/availability

(provides a complete picture in one screen

for dispatchers) along with a list of jobs.

2. The mapping and dispatchingcomponents are intrinsically "in sync" - they

share the same information database.

Given the integrated design, updates to dis-

patch and mapping happen simultaneously.

Detailed information on calls and open jobs

is available and displayed on the map.

In Level 3, the integration of GPS track-

ing/mapping with dispatching creates the

opportunity for major improvements in dis-

patching - dispatchers have all the requisite

information for better assignment decisions

available on the map for visual dispatch.

Better call assignment in turn drives im-

proved utilization of trucks and drivers. The

better Level 3 solutions will also incorporate

mobile messaging in the truck to collect ve-

hicle information (e.g., VIN, odometer) and

service delivery details (e.g., Extras, dropped

location in storage lot).

Level 4 - Reinventing sounds a bitpretentious. However, integration of thedispatching solution with GPS tracking/map-

ping enables next generation operational pro-

ductivity processes that go beyond presenting

better information. For example, in dispatch:

• Recommending the most logical trucks for

dispatchers to assign to a new job (automati-

cally identifying trucks that are close by and

soon to be available) to enable better deploy-

ment decisions

• Enabling dispatchers to assign calls from

the map if they choose – i.e., drag and drop a

truck onto the “pin” representing an open job to

improve speed/efficiency and to make assign-

ment easier. When assigned, call details are

sent automatically to the driver's mobile device

• Providing "dashboards" so that dispatch

becomes a control tower with real-time indica-

tors and alerts for fuel efficiency, validity of inci-

dent and destination addresses, truck speed,

and call progress vs. plan

In addition, by leveraging advances in mo-

bile technology, it is now both practical and af-

GPS: From TrackingTo Reinventing


fordable to extend the operational processes of

the office to the truck. This includes forwarding

account-specific pricing parameters (and GPS

calculated mileage estimates) to the truck.

With this, the mobile device can calculate the

correct pricing, and the driver can process the

customer's credit card while on-site. Compa-

nies can move away from the ticket book and

print invoices in the truck. With the conver-

gence of mobile technology, the business

process capabilities are integrated with the

same device that provides GPS information -

ranging from your Android smart phone or

tablet, to a Wi Fi device of your choosing that

connects to a mobile hot spot in the truck (that

also provides GPS and monitors/reports truck

events - e.g., PTO on/off).

So what does all of this mean for you?

What are the levers in your business to improve

operational productivity? Among the growing

range and scope of mobile/GPS possibilities,

which approach gives you the biggest "bang

for the buck" - now, and into the future? The

growing application of GPS in the industry is

making it competitive "table stakes". How

should you use GPS-based solutions to keep

your company among the leaders in opera-

tional productivity? "If you are driving comfortably around

the track, you are probably going too slow"(Mario Andretti). TOW

The author - Jim Shellhaas - is the founderand president of Ranger SST (Ranger Serv-ice Solutions Technology, LLC), a towingsoftware and mobile communications com-pany providing dispatching, two-way mobilemessaging, GPS tracking/mapping, and im-pound-lot management solutions for thetowing and recovery industry. Towers are in-vited to call Jim and the Ranger team any-time for consultation at 440-498-1495.Also, see www.RangerSST.com for moreinformation.

Jim has more than 15 years’ experienceworking with the towing and recovery indus-try, and founded Ranger in 2004 . He hasalso worked as a consultant with executivesin major companies to achieve performanceimprovements. He is a graduate of StanfordUniversity, earning an MS degree in mechan-ical engineering and an MBA.

GPS


“the TOTAL solution for the

tow truck company” Challenging times call for solutions that embrace the difficulties that yourbusiness faces and overcomes them to make sure that you can worksmarter and more efficiently.

Progressive Platforms has created a total solution that is designed to provide all the tools that a towtruck business needs to be successful. By designing a system that works with what tow trucks com-panies need and making sure that the system is as efficient, customisable and simple to use as possi-ble, Progressive Platforms has reduced the time needed for implementing and learning how to usethe system. The faster the system can be brought into use and applied to your business the sooneryour Return on Investment (ROI) can begin.

By Barr y Nay CMO at Wyless Inc.


1. Vehicle tracking unit Vehicle tracking units have been around for a considerable time, and like

most other technologies there have been major steps forward in their

capabilities and a considerable reduction in their cost. Fig1: is a picture

of one the most popular units we have for tow trucks.

Fig 1 Calamp 2610

internal antenna 1

This unit provides a com-

pact platform and is simple to install,

it can be installed to detect Power Take

Off (PTO) and in addition to standard

GPS tracking where the unit shows, the loca-

tion and speed of the vehicle this unit can also be configured

to make use of its three axis accelerometer. By using this capability the

unit can bring back driver behaviour data and if you want, it can be con-

figured to multiple levels of acceleration, braking and cornering as well

as impact detection.

With this combination of functions you can see where you vehicle is,

what it is doing and if the vehicle is being driven correctly.

2. Data connection.The Calamp device uses Wyless for its data connectivity. Wyless is the

leading global M2M managed services provider. Our resilient platform,

delivered in partnership with the world’s largest network operators, pro-

vides secure, reliable communications with wireless devices in over 120

countries.

The system comprises of the following components;

1. Vehicle tracking unit that uses GPS for tracking the vehicle

2. Data connection to send the information gathered by the unit back to the back-end systems

3. Reporting, mapping, alert and dispatch system.

The combination of hardware and software allowsfor the system to be flexible enough to meet theneeds of your business. We will now take a closerlook at the different components.


3 Reporting, mapping,alert and dispatch system.The software component of the system

provides several functions to allow for flex-

ibility and customisation for meeting your

needs. These functions are as follows,

• Mapping

• ETA

• Geo-Zones

• Driver behaviour

• Dispatch

MappingThe mapping function of the Progressive Plat-

forms system shows in a simple and intuitive

way where your vehicles are and what they are

doing. To provide the maximum functionality

the system allows for multiple map views so

you can see the location map which will show

the last location for a vehicle, the vehicle map

which shows a cumulative view of where your

vehicle is, the group map which will show all ve-

hicles in a group on the map. This is all achieved

through an easy-to-use intuitive user interface,

Fig: 2and a number of pre-prepared functions;

Fig: 2

• By clicking on the pushpins information

on that event comes up

• By selecting show location details the

screen will show a list of each event and in-

formation about it

• The Group map shows all units in a group

• The tow dispatch map shows all vehicles

in a group on the map and on the left hand

side the vehicle details, speed, current ad-

dress etc...

ETAThe ETA feature shows when the vehicle will ar-

rive at the location it is moving towards this is

done by using an algorithm which calculates

the distance remaining and the speed.

Geo-ZonesA geo-zone is a predefined area set for

the vehicle, once the vehicle reaches the

area that is defined an event and alert is

triggered. Geo-zones can be defined by

clicking on the vehicle pushpin and se-

lected create Geo-zone. If you have vehi-

cles that go to a specific area consistently

you can see when they enter and leave this

area or if you wish to see when a vehicle

reaches an area for a job and leaves a Geo-zone,

it shows this information. Fig:3 is the Geo-zone

window.

Fig:3


The options that can be defined for the geo-

zone are;

• Description address, the address of the

geo-zone

• Reverse Geocode, takes co-ordinates and

turns them into an address

• Arrival Zone, this will trigger an alert

when the vehicle enters into the defined

area around the Geo-zone

• Departure Zone, this will trigger an alert

when the vehicles leaves the defined the

area around the Geo-zone

• Auto Notify, automatically alerts when the

conditions of the Geo-zone are triggered

• Radius, the defined area around the Geo-

zone, you can choose the distance in me-

tres that you want the Geo-zone to

encompass.

• Lat/Lon, here you can enter the co-ordi-

nates that you wish the Geo-zone to be

centred on.

• Centre on address, enter the address of

the Geo-zone here and click the button,

the Geo-zone will then be centred on this

point

By defining geo-zones for each job you

can make use of the alert feature on the sys-

tem and be alerted when the tow truck is

within a certain distance of the disabled vehi-

cle this will allow you to measure how long it

takes for the tow truck to get to the vehicle

and start the towing process and/or notify the

customer that the tow truck is close. By using

the Geo-Zone you can efficiently use all the ve-

hicles in your fleet and improve customer sat-

isfaction by updating them on the location of

the vehicle.

Driver behaviourThe driver behaviour feature allows for the

measuring of how the vehicle is being driven.

It allows for seeing acceleration levels, braking

levels and cornering.

By measuring and analysing the behaviour

of the driver unsafe driving and overly aggres-

sive behaviour can be highlighted and ad-

dressed. A simple to understand chart shows

the events of individual vehicles by clicking on

any of the events you can see where and

when it happened. A group table is also avail-

able where driver behaviour can be seen in a

chart where again you can click and see where

events occurred.

ConclusionProgressive platforms have designed a sys-

tem that makes best use of hardware and

software so that it performs as you need in a

real world environment. With customisable

reporting, alerts and mapping the system

can be set to meet the exact requirement of

your towing business. Progressive Platforms

also provides bespoke systems so that if the

system does not meet your requirements it

can be customised and designed so that it

works and meets the challenges your busi-

ness faces. TOW

For more information and for a demonstra-

tion please contact us by email at

[email protected]

view our website and see what other ap-

plications we provide at

www.progressiveplatforms.com

or phone us on (877) 306 6478

Using proper posture may be the last thing on an opera-tor’s mind when out on a call. Instead, they may be fo-cused on avoiding oncoming traffic, figuring out thebest way to hook the vehicle, navigating slippery or un-even terrain, and braving the elements. While theseare all critical, so too is putting the body in the best po-sition to avoid sprains, strains, and other musculoskele-tal injuries.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS),strains and sprains are the most common type of in-jury/illness requiring days away from work for tow truckoperators, with back injuries comprising the majority.

WHY IT’S A PROBLEMBack injuries, though extremely common, are not al-

ways recognized until it’s too late. Often, the dis-

orders develop gradually as a result of

repeated small traumas to the back. Further,

the conditions are often ignored until the

symptoms become severe.

Tow operators may associate a

back injury or sudden pain with a spe-

cific heavy lift, but often the real cause

is the combined interaction of the

heavy lift coupled with years of weak-

ening musculoskeletal support due to

repetitive small traumas. So, it’s critical

that operators utilize proper technique

at all times, even when the back is feel-

ing good!

EVEN TOUGHERPROBLEM FOR TOWOPERATORSFor tow operators, the work environ-

ment is constantly changing and, often,

the operators don’t find out what

Lifting-relatedback injuries:

A common, but avoidable

occurrence


By Trav i s Rhoden


they’re dealing with until they arrive at the site. This makes it very

challenging to plan ahead. Add to that the variation in temperature,

site conditions and location, vehicle condition, and schedule, and it is

easy to see why tow operators have a tough time combatting back

injuries. That being said, there are measures operators can take to

prevent these injuries.

Identify the problem areas

It is true that no two towing jobs are identical. But, there are simi-

larities in many. And, there’s always one constant: the operator. If the

operator can learn to identify the factors that can pose a risk for back

injury, he/she can utilize effective safeguards and techniques no

matter the specific environment.

Back disorders result from exceeding the capability of the mus-

cles, tendons, discs, or the cumulative effect of several contributors.

According to the OSHA Technical Manual, these contributors in-

clude:

• Reaching while lifting

• Poor posture—how one sits or stands

• Stressful living and working activities—staying inone position for too long

• Bad body mechanics—how one lifts, pushes, pulls, orcarries objects

• Poor physical condition—losing the strength andendurance to perform physical tasks without strain

• Poor design of job or work station

• Repetitive lifting of awkward items, equipment

• Twisting while lifting

• Bending while lifting

• Maintaining bent postures

• Heavy lifting

• Fatigue

• Poor footing such as slippery surfaces, orconstrained posture

• Lifting with forceful movement

• Vibration, such as with driving a truck

KNOW HOW MUCH IS TOO MUCHNo matter how great the lifting technique is, if the load is too much,

then the body may break down. Operators have to recognize when a

manual lift is beyond their physical limits and either use a mechanical

aid, get help from another person, use two hands rather than one,

safety


move closer to the object being lifted, divide the load into multiple

trips, or adjust body posture (in those limited cases where a posture

shift will allow the load to be within acceptable limits of the body).

Determining an operator’s safe lifting limits is challenging be-

cause there is no across-the-board recommendation or standard; the

weight a given worker can safely lift varies depending on several fac-

tors, including condition of the worker, body posture, closeness to

the load, height of the lift, twisting required, and frequency of the lift.

Operators cannot simply go by the weight of the object. The

same worker who can lift a 50-pound box with ease under ideal con-

ditions may not be able to safely lift the same box when crouched, or

the same weight when it’s an oddly-shaped object rather than a box.

OSHA notes in an eTool that, generally, more weight can be safely

lifted when the:

• Load is close to the body and not too large or bulky,

• Lift is at waist height,

• Lift is performed in front of the body,

• Lift is performed only occasionally,

• Lift does not involve carrying, and

• Load has handles.

In determining maximum safe lifts, operators may want to consider

utilizing several tools. For example, OSHA often utilizes the National

Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Lifting Equation

to evaluate manual two-handed lifts during a workplace inspection.

The NIOSH equation sets a fixed weight of 51 pounds as the load

constant (that is generally considered the maximum load nearly all

healthy workers should be able to lift with two hands under optimal

conditions.) (To view the NIOSH Lifting Equation and Applications

Manual, visit http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/94-110/.)

An alternative lifting guide that focuses on male/female popula-

tion percentages capable of performing a two-handed lift with cer-

tain characteristics, rather than on maximum weight limits, are the

Liberty Mutual Material Handling tables. (To view and use the Liberty

Mutual tables, visit

http://libertymmhtables.libertymutual.com/CM_LMTablesWeb/tas

kSelection.do?action=initTaskSelection.)

While it is not practical to utilize the NIOSH equation or similar

types of guides while out on a towing call, operators can utilize these

before going out to a site to get a general idea of a safe weight for

various types of work.

USE PROPER TECHNIQUEWe’ve all heard the saying “lift with your knees, not your back.” While

that statement is a good general rule-of-thumb, there is much more

to safe lifting than that.

safety: Lifting-related back injuries


FOR TYPICAL LIFTS, IT IS RECOMMENDED TO:• Size up the load—Operators need to get a good estimate of the weight of the object, howthe weight is distributed, condition of the object and handholds, and where theobject will be taken. (Testing the load by lifting an edge/corner can give manyclues as to the characteristics of the load.)

• Place the body close to the load—Operators should place their feetclose to the object and center themselves over the load, utilizing awide stance.

• Maintain neutral and straight spine alignment wheneverpossible—OSHA has noted that usually, bending at theknees, not the waist, helps maintain proper spinealignment.

• Get a good grip, using two hands where possible.

• Lift straight up in a smooth manner, using the legs to push up/lift the load rather than the back or upper body.

• Avoid twists and turns and jerking motions. If turns must be made,operators should step to one side.

• Keep the load in the power zone (above the knees, below the shoulders,and close to the body) where possible.


safety: Lifting-related back injuries

BEWARE OF HEAVY TOOLSWhen we think of lifting injuries, we often think of a worker trying to

pick up a box, container, or similar object to move it from one loca-

tion to another. While those lifts certainly pose challenges, there are

other lifting-related hazards that operators need to be aware of as

well, for example, picking up a heavy tool and holding it. If a tow truck

operator can remember to balance tools such as impact wrenches,

rather than holding them, it can reduce the risk of sprain and strain.

Additionally, just as it is proper technique to not twist or turn or make

jerking motions while carrying an object on a two-handed lift, opera-

tors should avoid these actions when carrying heavy tools and equip-

ment with one hand.

AVOID BENDING WHILE LIFTINGTow operators often find themselves having to work in many awk-

ward positions. When combined with lifting, awkward postures pose

a great risk for injury. In particular, bending while lifting forces the

back to support the weight of the upper body in addition to the

weight being lifted. OSHA notes that bending while lifting places

strain on the back even when lifting something as light as a screw-

driver.

Bending moves the load away from the body and allows leverage

to significantly increase the effective load on the back. This increases

the stress on the lower spine and fatigues the muscles.

Also, keep in mind that carrying loads on one shoulder, under an

arm, or in one hand, creates uneven pressure on the spine.

BUT, WHAT ABOUT NON-TYPICAL LIFTS,

LIKE HEAVIER, SMALL-SIZED OBJECTS? In these cases, there may be a better way to lift. In a NIOSH pub-

lication, Ergonomic Guidelines for Manual Material Handling, it is

recommended that for heavier small-sized objects (such as a

sack) workers:

• Kneel in front of the object;

• Lean the object onto the kneeling leg;

• Slide the object up onto kneeling leg;

• Slide the object onto the other leg whilekeeping the object close to the body; and

• While standing up, keep the object close tothe body.


PLACE HEAVY ITEMS MID-LEVELOSHA recommends that materials that must

be manually lifted should be placed at

"power zone" height, about mid-thigh to

mid-chest. Operators should evaluate their

trucks for optimal placement of tools and

equipment, so that the heaviest and most

utilized equipment can be accessed easily

and within the power zone, where possible.

Further, operators should remove obstruc-

tions around tools and equipment so that

the body doesn’t have to bend while lifting

and the load doesn’t have to be farther away

from the body than need be.

MAINTAIN EQUIPMENTTow operators have some built-in ergonomic

equipment right on the truck. It is important

to take advantage of this equipment; that

means keeping it maintained. Obviously,

poorly maintained vehicle lift/hoist equip-

ment can pose serious hazards if the load

falls. But, beyond that, if handles don’t turn

smoothly or levers stick, it can require more

force from the operator—posing risk of injury

to the back and other body parts.

This should extend to the operator’s cab

as well. If the driver’s seat isn’t adjusted prop-

erly or is worn down, operators may not be

getting proper back support. As much time

as operators spend in the cab, it’s important

the seat provides proper support—over time,

this can lead to increased risk for back injury.

Operators should make sure their regular

vehicle service program includes those

items that make the job easier and safer!

UTILIZE TOOLS AND RESOURCESIn addition to the NIOSH Lifting Equation

and similar guides, there are many great

tools and resources to help operators com-

bat back injuries. For example, the Washing-

ton State Department of Labor and

Industries maintains an Ergonomics Ideas

Bank that may be helpful in finding ways to

address various ergonomic issues. To view

the Bank, visit www.lni.wa.gov/Safety/Top-

ics/ReduceHazards/ErgoBank/default.asp.

In addition, operators may find it helpful

to review catalogues from material handling

suppliers, speak with others in the tow in-

dustry, and/or work with an ergonomics pro-

fessional. (Often a workers’ compensation

insurance carrier will have ergonomics pro-

fessionals on staff or else can recommend

assistance.)

REMEMBER, THERE MAYBE A BETTER WAYLifting safely requires constant self-reminders.

Out on a job site it can be easy to forget to do

this. But, if operators can get in the habit, it

can save a lifetime of back pain. TOW

Travis Rhoden is an editor with J. J.Keller and Associates, Inc. Contacthim at [email protected]. Formore information on J. J. Keller &Associates, Inc. visitwww.jjkeller.com.


Founded in 1982, IAA is driving the salvage auto auction indus-

try, working to provide the best value to buyers and high returns

to sellers. IAA’s unique business model combines in-person and

on-line auctions into one platform. This well-established model allows

the company to flex in ways a single, on-line only auction model cannot.

What should you expect when you work with IAA? IAA makes it easy and convenient for towers to sell their abandoned

and towed vehicles. Towers can free up valuable space on their lots

and earn extra revenue.

Insurance Auto Auctions

Getting to knowBy Susan Jablonski

IAA has unmatched operational expertise. You will

find end-to-end solutions and standardized quality as-

surance practices at each of their 160 North American

locations. IAA experts are on hand to assist buyers and

sellers alike.

IAA has been auctioning for 30 years. It’s no sur-

prise IAA has long standing relationships with more

than 900 independent and national towing compa-

nies. In fact, IAA is more than a salvage auction com-

pany. IAA is considered a single solution for disposition

of vehicles.

What exactly does IAA auction?IAA auctions all types of vehicles in all types of condi-

tions. IAA auctions cars, trucks, boats, motor homes,

personal watercraft, snowmobiles, and travel trailers.

IAA also offers salvage commercial vehicles that range

from buses, trailers to trucks and heavy equipment

such as cranes, emergency vehicles, farm, forestry and

heavy-duty vehicles.

Although IAA does not typically purchase vehicles,

they do manage the sale and disposition of vehicles for

insurance companies, recovered-theft, fleet lease,

rental companies, and charity organizations. IAA con-

sistently produces some of the industry’s highest re-

turns for vehicle providers.

IAA has found by providing an auction environment

with both live and live-

online bidders creates a

healthy, competitive

auction that drives the

best value and high re-

turns for the vehicle. In

fact last year alone IAA

auctioned more than 1.3

million vehicles. And as

part of a larger global

company, KAR Auction

Services, (NYSE: KAR),

IAA has strong financial

cash flow. KAR’s busi-

ness model offers services before, during and after the

auction.

Who can buy at IAA auctions?For the past 30 years, IAA has continued to develop

www.towprofessional.com | July/August | Tow Professional 27

and cultivate a mature and global customer buyer base. Buyers in-

clude automotive body shops, rebuilders, used car dealers, automo-

tive wholesalers, exporters, dismantlers, recyclers, brokers, and where

allowed, non-licensed (public) buyers.

Anywhere, anytime access and mobile technology enable IAA

buyers access to bid in six languages including: English, Spanish, Chi-

nese, French, Polish and Russian. An estimated 30 percent of IAA’s

vehicles are sold and exported to foreign countries. Today, nearly 15

percent of customers

choose a language

other than English. The

team at IAA believes

this percentage will continue to increase.

IAA follows strict regulatory compliance at the federal and state levels and is

well versed in all state titling laws as well as buyer and seller licensing. TOW

For more information regarding towing opportunities, please callIAA’s Transportation team at (734) 461-9365, or email [email protected]. If you are interested in selling vehicles toIAA, please call 262-325-1701, or email Lyndsie Erickson at [email protected]. Go to IAA’s website at iaa-auctions.com.


Insurance Auto Auctions

Managing jobs and providing quick dispatching to your fleet is essen-

tial in ensuring speedy service and optimum customer satisfaction

for towing companies. With StreetEagle, business managers have

the tools and resources

needed to identify and dis-

patch the closest available

driver to incident locations,

monitor tow lift activations to

verify “proof of service”, re-

duce unnecessary radio clut-

ter and improve driver

behavior. Unauthorized vehi-

cle use can be an expensive

problem for towing compa-

nies, StreetEagle can reduce

this by making owners aware

of all vehicle use. Dispatching can be dramatically improved by giv-

ing dispatchers the capability of eliminating address errors and opti-

mizing navigation to incident locations. Customer service can be

optimized by providing accurate ETA’s

to incident locations.

InSight USA is an

employee

owned technology company located in the Mid-Atlantic region serv-

ing all 50 states. Our sole focus is the development and support of

high value technologies that help small and medium sized busi-

nesses improve customer

service and operate more

profitably. Working together

with our integration partners

such as Beacon Software, we

provide a complete array of

business solutions with inte-

grated GPS Tracking. InSight

USA has proudly dedicated

over fourteen years of GPS

systems expertise to provid-

ing mission critical solutions

for the Towing Industry. Our

flagship product, StreetEagle stands as one of the most capable GPS

tracking solutions with proven performance, flexibility, reliability, life-

time hardware warranty and 24/7 customer support.

StreetEagle is already teamed up with

Beacon Software Company’s

Dispatch Anywhere, a

premier online

company spotlight

StreetEagle GPSby InSight USA offers ADVANCED GPS TRACKINGDesigned for the Towing Industry



towing and recovery management software

program. The powerful StreetEagle soft-

ware can also be easily integrated with any

back-end software through the advanced

API to connect your customers, dispatchers

and drivers for total visibility into the service

that you provide.

The recent launching of StreetEagle Pro-

fessional, a complete overhaul of the

StreetEagle line of products offers a new

web-based application with an updated look

and ease of use. StreetEagle Professional

takes all the useful features of traditional

StreetEagle and adds some great new fea-

tures. Some of the new features include: ad-

ditional mapping by Google, single interface

to seamlessly handle geofences and loca-

tions, improved contact management,

posted speed limit alert, user customization

for group creation and handling and many

more useful features. tow

“StreetEagle GPS Trackinghas continued to exceed ourexpectations, when we firstdeployed the technology, wewere amazed at the ease ofuse and the integration withDispatch Anywhere. Thecombination of the two sys-tems has allowed us to im-prove our customerexperience by providing ac-curate ETA’s and increasingthe amount of jobs per driverwith the job stacking capa-bilities, ultimately allowingus to increase our revenues.

Glenn Neuner, OwnerNeuners Towing

Will-Burt vehicle-mounted Night ScanFlight towers turn night into day for towingoperators. Night Scan units deliver high in-tensity, directional light enabling tow truckoperators to work more quickly during night-time operations. Recovery operations maybe completed more rapidly through en-hanced visibility. Greater speed means moreoperations per night turning into more dol-lars for towing operators.

In addition, nighttime illumination in-creases safety at recovery operations. Opera-tor personnel can see potential safetyhazards more easily, avoiding potential in-jury. In addition, trucks with light towers atrecovery scenes are much more visible tooncoming vehicles, alerting them to thepresence of the towing vehicle and reducingthe potential for collision with the truck orpersonnel.

A light tower may be installed on virtuallyany vehicle. Units are available in variouspower options, including 12 volt with LEDlights which requires no generator, savingboth money and space on the truck. In addi-tion, Night Scan light towers use pneumatic

elevation system which may operate offtruck air or with optional all-electric withbuilt-in air extension system.

Light tower units may be mounted on theroof or side of a tow truck cab and elevatedup to 15ft above the truck cab roof. In addi-tion, light towers are deployed quickly, allow-ing rapid scene illumination and enablingimmediate enhanced visibility upon arrivingat a recovery scene.

An additional capability enhancement ofthe Night Scan light tower is that light fix-tures may be pointed in two different direc-tions simultaneously. This feature allows thetruck operator to either focus all light in onedirection for maximum illumination or evenpoint on opposite directions for full 360°light coverage, illuminating the entire scene.The directional feature also enables the oper-ator to ensure lights do not create glare foroncoming traffic, further enhancing safety.

Will-Burt is the world’s premier manufac-turer of telescoping mast and tower eleva-tion solutions – the world’s one stop shop

offering virtually every payload elevation so-lution from one source – for military, fire,towing, cellular, broadcast and other applica-tions. Will-Burt is 100% employee-ownedand has a strong commitment to the contin-uous improvement process set forth by ISO9001:2008 quality standards.

Will-Burt produces a broad range of tele-scoping masts and towers that elevate criti-cal payloads, from lights for fire vehicles inaddition to towing to surveillance and com-munications antenna systems for the mili-tary and border patrol. Will-Burt masts andtowers facilitate safer and more productiveoperations – for critical missions from thewarfighter on the battlefield to the firefighterat a nighttime rescue scene.

Will-Burt products are known for theirquality, performance and reliability. The com-pany’s broad product range is tested andproved for use in harsh operating environ-ments, from the cold and ice of Canada tothe sand and dust of Afghanistan. tow

company spotlight


Increase Revenue andOperator Safety withWill-Burt Night-Scan Light Towers


Flower Mound, Texas - April 30, 2012 – Track What Matters today announced that Bul-let Freight Systems (http://www.bulletfs.com/) in Doral, Fla is using state-of-the artGPS technology from Track What Matters to track its high-value shipments. BulletFreight Systems currently has 47 trucks and 27 trailers.

"We need GPS because of the security risks in Miami, and we ship high-value cargo,”said Kevin Dindial president of Bullet Freight Systems. With an average value of $1M inshipping goods, knowing where the trailers are at all times is of extreme importance.

Bullet Freight selected GPS asset trackers from Track What Matters because of theextended battery life contained in the units. “We’ve had to place GPS units inside thetrailers because when we had them on the outside, they would get lost or broken if thetruck brushed up against tree branches,” said Dindial. Units placed inside the trailers re-quire a longer battery life, and we’ve had problems with other systems.”

Because Bullet Freight Systems has experienced great success with the asset track-ers from Track What Matters, they have recently equipped all of their trailers with thetechnology.

More details are available at www.trackwhatmatters.com.

About Track What Matters Track What Matters provides customized GPS tracking solutions for vehicles in the United States, Mexico, Canada, Africa, the Middle East,and portions of Asia. They support companies who need to keep track of assets, containers, trailers and more.

Track What Matters has made a conscious effort to ensure its service is very easy to use while providing comprehensive delivery of vehicletracking information. Track What Matters, LLC is a GPS tracking company that specializes in creating customized GPS tracking solutions spe-

cific to the individual needs of their clients.Leveraging cutting-edge GPS tracking hardware with vanguard

and incredibly powerful yet user-friendly web-based software, TrackWhat Matters, LLC has helped numerous Fortune 500 clients im-prove returns on investments by reducing waste and inefficiencieselsewhere. With a core philosophy of customized solutions culmi-nated with unprecedented customer service, Track What Matters,LLC is the GPS tracking company that leading companies turn to forinnovative and customized solutions and 24/7 accessibility. Formore information, visit http://www.trackwhatmatters.com orcall 800-293-0420.

Email [email protected] to receive emails thatspotlight critical trends in the GPS tracking industry.

Get the inside scoop on our GPS tracking strategies - follow us onTwitter: @Trackandsave. tow

Bullet Freight Systems Uses Cutting Edge GPS Technology to Track AssetsLogistics Company uses Track What Matters

company spotlight


Custer Products LLC announced a product line expansion by intro-ducing 7 new LED, Strobe and Battery powered beacons. The newline consist of 3 LED beacons including a 16-watt LED rotator, a 3watt LED equipment strobe, and a battery operated LED rotator.Four of our new LITE*IT beacons are powerful tube type strobes withup to 17 joules and SAECLASS 2!

One beacon in our new line is a magnetic suction cup with a 10' cordcigarette plug and 12 joules of power as well battery powered Bea-con that is perfect as a temporary warning light.

The new LITE*IT beacons will provide safety and warning solution fora multitude of towing, agricultural, transportation and safety customers.This new LITE*IT brand beacon line is manufactured with the same qual-ity and affordability that Custer Products is known. Custer Products hasplans to launch many more new or improved products this year whichyou will find on our website (www.custerproducts.com).

Custer Products Ltd has been supplying quality products tothe towing, agricultural, trucking, trailer and safety industriessince 1993 selling to a network of customers throughout theUS, Canada, Mexico, South America and Europe. CusterProducts strives to provide first class customer service, quickorder fulfillment and innovative solutions to fulfill our cus-tomer's needs.

For more New Products and information seewww.custerproducts.com or contact us at800-490-3158 for a current catalog. tow

company spotlight

Custer Products LLC is ATTRACTING ATTENTIONWith the new LITE*IT brand BEACON STROBES


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The Digital cloud-based Car Opening Manualrevolutionizes Information AccessibilityAccess Tools, car opening tool manufacturer based in SouthFlorida, has released their famous Car Opening Manual in acloud-based digital format accessible from mobile phones anddevices with internet access. Up until now, an operator had tocarry around a heavy 800+ page manual in order to perform an

In-the-Door Tool lockout, or have access to a computer to viewthe manual from the CD-ROM. The new Digital cloud-based CarOpening Manual revolutionizes the accessibility of information byproviding a way to view every page of the manual right from yourmobile phone with internet access enabled.The Access Tools Car Opening Manual is unlike any other in theindustry. The manual features every vehicle from passenger carsto heavy trucks and semi’s from present day back to 1979. Withdetailed instructions, diagrams, and pictures to aid the opening,each lockout is researched and tested extensively for accuracy.The Car Opening Manual features a Tool ID system that makesidentifying the proper tool quick and easy. This large manual isupdated yearly, allowing for the latest vehicles to be added. Themanual is available in three formats; Print, CD-ROM, and Digital.With the help of the Access Tools Car Opening Manual, you willbecome faster and more effective at performing lockouts, whichmeans more money in your pocket.1628 NW 28TH Street, Miami FL 33142 Phone: 800-323-8324 • www.CarOpeningTools.com Fax: 305-635-1077

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