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Your Resource for Towing & Recovery

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Page 1: Tow professional issue 6, 2014
Page 2: Tow professional issue 6, 2014
Page 3: Tow professional issue 6, 2014
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2 Tow Professional | Volume 3 Issue 6 | www.towprofessional.com

IN EVERY ISSUE

4 |Publisher Letter56| Dealers Place

57|Market Place60|Ad Index

6 |Jerr-Dan 8 |Evans Cooling8 |Location Based Services: Smarter, Better, Easier

10 |Wrecker Rentals, Inc.10 |BA Products Co. 11 |Detroit Wrecker12 |World’s Fastest Wrecker13 |Road America Explands Digital Dispatch Network14 |Wyless Telematics - Customer Feedback15 |All•Grip

30|Wall of the Fallen / Hall of Fame

CONTENTSVolume 3 • Issue 6 2014

www.towprofessional.com

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

IndustryNEWS

18 |What a ShowFuel 4 thought

20|Surviving the Slow Periods

Safety42 | Electronic Communications to the Trucks –

A Blessing and a Curse!

49| MDP30 50| AW Direct<

51|Worksafe 52| Pheonix

53| S&J 53| S&J 54|Next Generation

54| B/A Products 55| Steck 55| Advanced Specalty Products

Hooked Up

24 | WEBFLEET from TomTom Telematics Helps Zores Towing & Metal Recycling Increase Efficiency and

Accurate Record Keeping

26 | Integrating Dispatch and Fleet Management Software

32|Tom Tom Telematics33|Beacon34|VTS35|Budget

36|Tracker 38|Towbook40|Wyless

DAMAGED VEHICLE

MOVEMENT

46 | History of the Self-Loading Dolly -- 42 Years of the Collins Hi-Speed<Dolly Changing the Tow Professional's Industry

47 | Steck’s 4th Wheel Loader

GPS SOLUTIONS

GPS SPOTLIGHTS

24

26

50| Towmate

51| Windshield Cam

4647

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4 Tow Professional | Volume 3 Issue 6 | www.towprofessional.com

PUBLISHERSDarian Weaver

President & [email protected]

Jack HartsfieldVice President & [email protected]

Steve GoodwinSales Manager

[email protected]

__________________________

PRODUCTION

Clint W. CabinessArt Director

Kattie SpenceGraphic Designer

Jill HastyManaging Editor

__________________________

CONTRIBUTING WRITERSThomas BrayDJ HarringtonDan Messina

Executive and Advertising Offices

2007 Old Montgomery Hwy, Suite B Birmingham, AL 35244Toll free: 888-802-8544Fax: 205-978-1550

www.towprofessional.com

Tow Professional is published nine times a year by OverThe Mountain Media, Inc., P.O. Box 26308, Birmingham, Alabama,35260, USA. Tow Professional is distributed free to qualified sub-scribers. Non-qualified subscription rates are $57.00 per year inthe U.S. and Canada and $84.00 per year for foreign subscribers(surface mail). U.S. Postage paid at Birmingham, Alabama andadditional 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

TMLETTER

For a new free subscription, address changes or corrections,

please visit www.towprofessional.comand click on the “subscribe” tab.

P U B L I S H E R S

Hello from Birmingham, Alabama!

As I write this, we are preparing to attend the New Orleans Tow Summit. By the timeyou read this, the Summit will have already happened. We are excited to go to New Or-leans; I have been to New Orleans countless times but have not been there since beforeHurricane Katrina back in 2005. Let’s see - Cafe Du Monde beignets and chicory coffee,muffuletta at Central Grocery, the French Quarter Market, Jackson Square, people watchingon Bourbon Street, mule driven carriages, casinos, the aquarium… and, oh yeah, the TowSummit! A couple of years ago, I told my son (now 15) that he would need to earn enough

money to pay for half of whatever car he wants when the time comes for him to get a car,and that we (his mom and me) would pay for the other half. This summer, he has been cut-ting grass to earn money; he is saving some and spending some. The other day, he men-tioned to me that we haven’t been giving him spending money this summer, that he hasbeen using his own money every time he does something and that he has had to miss outon doing some things that his buddies are doing because of that. I asked him how that felt,and he said, “It stinks not being able to always do what everybody else is doing, but I wantto be able to get a car.” I let him know how proud I am of him for learning what it takes tomake it in life! I have three great children and am proud of them all, but this lesson hitshome for everyone and most teenagers don’t get it.With this issue, we bring you GPS by TomTom, Safety and Hand Held Devices by JJ

Keller, “Fuel for Thought” on the Wisconsin Trade Show by DJ Harrington, “Insightful Talk”by Dan Messina, Company Spotlights on companies affiliated with GPS as well as Dam-aged Vehicle Movement Products, along with plenty of “Industry News” and “Hooked Up.”

Have a great second half of summer!

Darian Weaver and Jack HartsfieldCo-Publishers

Volume 3 • Issue 6 2014

www.towprofessional.com

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6 Tow Professional | Volume 3 • Issue 6 | www.towprofessional.com

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

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The new JFB Rotator body was motivated bythe voice of the customer requiring increasedon-scene performance and functionality.Many of the engineered storage solutionswere inspired by fire-service industry vehiclesand technology. The JFB polypropylene co-polymer constructed body is weather-tight,low maintenance and has high impact resist-ance.

FEATURES• 140% more storage capacity over the standardbody, with the ability to accommodate the Florida DOT Rapid Inci-dent Scene Clearance (RISC) tools and rigging.

• Aluminum Roll-Up Doors with Painted or BrushedFinish

•LED Interior Compartment & DOT Lighting •38 LED Side Marker Lights• 10 Side and 2 Rear Amber Strobes • Wide Variety of Tool Management System Op-tions

• Incident Management Equipment Kits Available • Rear & Top of Body Access • Jerr-Dan’s polypropylene co-polymer supplier ex-clusively warrants the body of the HDR1000, pro-viding a limited lifetime warranty backed by a48-hour* service guarantee for all HDR1000 unitssold and used in North America.

SILVER VS. GOLDJFB Silver Series is the customizable version. This

body includes standard components and allows thecustomer to choose individual storage solutionsthrough Jerr-Dan after-market parts as “a la carte”options, allowing the end user flexibility to choose in-dividual storage solutions they want to include ontheir truck.

JFB Gold Series denotes the “top of the line.”This body includes the standard components of thesilver body plus all available storage solutions.

(see Silver and Gold Series Charts)

In order to support the growing demand of in-cident management and quick clearance pro-grams around the country, Jerr-Dan is pleased toannounce the availability of Heavy Duty Wreckertool and rigging kits. The base Incident Manage-

ment Package was developed around the FloridaRapid Incident Scene Clearance (RISC) program that requires towing companies to carrya significant amount of tools and rigging to rap-idly clear the scene of a traffic incident.

Incident Management Base PackageThe Incident Man-agement Basetool and riggingpackage containsmany or all of theitems needed tocomply with state incident management pro-grams being implemented across the country.

Rugged Kit The rugged kitwas developed tosupplement thebase package forcustomers who re-quire additional

rigging, snatch blocks and chains for those se-vere duty jobs, including sea containers, con-struction equipment, cement mixers and refusebodies, along with additional recovery equip-ment and supplies to perform fuel tanker recoveries.

Spreader Bar Kit The spreader bar kitwas developed tofurther supplementthe base packagethat includes a 112” spreader barand bridals for sensitive picks.

Jerr-Dan reserves the right to make changesin engineering, design, and specifications; addimprovements; or discontinue manufacturing atanytime without notice or obligations.* 48 business hours from notification, valid in North Amer-ica only, some restrictions apply. Limited lifetime warrantyfor HDR1000 body provided only by the body supplier andnot Jerr-Dan. For more information or to obtain a copy ofthe limited lifetime warranty, contact Jerr-Dan warrantydepartment.

For more information, visit Jerr-Dan online at www.jerrdan.com.

Jerr-Dan > > >

SILVER SERIESTire Lift / Bus Arm Accessories

-Polypropylene storage solution for busarms and cross tubes -Polypropylene cabinet with pull out drawers for housingthe ratchets

Fifth Wheel Storage -Polypropylene bracket that hangs on the wall of thebody, accommodates fifth wheel adapter plate

Frame Fork Storage -Adjustable polypropylene shelving for 7 sets of forks -Adjustable polypropylene shelving for fork adapter,spring hanger adapter & pin bracket -End cap / chain adapter steel storage solution

Additional Storage Solutions Available ThroughAfter-Market Support

GOLD SERIESRotary Chain Rack

-Patent Pending Chain Carousel -Free rotation with locking mechanism -Holds 100’s of lbs. of chains

Chain Binder Storage -4 Designated places for standard chain binders

Tilt Down Drawers -3 - 36” x 43” tilt down drawers, each with a 180 lb. ca-pacity

Snatch Block Storage -6 Designated places for snatch blocks adjustable tomultiple sizes

Shackle Storage -24 “peg board” style hooks for shackle placement

Sliding Chain Board -Sliding board, holds up to 300 lbs of chains and ex-tends 16”

Stay Dry Silo -Polypropylene constructed oil absorbent dispenser -Holds up to 120 lbs. or 30 gallons

Tool Chest -C-Tech brand tool chest -All aluminum construction with powder coated finish

Recovery Tools -Storage for a standard axe, up to 12 lb. sledge hammer& 36” bolt cutter

Storage Shelves -Aluminum shelves for variety of tools, rigging, etc. -Fully adjustable, can be removed from body

Dedicated Storage For: - Traffic Cones, accommodates 12 - 36” DOT approved cones - Ladder- Tow Light- Wheel Chocks- Bottle Jack- Flashlight- Fire Extinguisher- Shovel- Grizzly Bar-Spreader Bar

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Evans Waterless Coolants are very dif-

ferent than typical engine coolants be-

cause they contain no water, and

there’s no need to add water. Almost

all other antifreeze formulations con-

tain 50% water. It may be time to

change your thinking about engine

coolants.

Evans high boiling point of 375°F is

more than 100 degrees higher than the boil-

ing point of water-based coolant. Overheat-

ing is avoided, as Evans won’t boil in an

engine. Evans will not form vapor, and oper-

ates at a much lower, safer pressure. There’ll

be no gusher of coolant spraying out, and

frequent topping off is not necessary. Evans

protects against cold weather, too — from

minus 40°F to 375F.

Also, with no water, Evans avoids corro-

sion, electrolysis and cylinder liner cavitation

erosion. Eliminating these problems im-

proves durability and prolongs engine life.

Evans will last the life of your engine, and

never needs changing.

You won’t have to think about overheat-

ing, or corrosion that slowly eats away at

your cooling system. That means less main-

tenance problems, less headaches, and

more productivity.

From tow trucks to construction equip-

ment, classic cars to race cars, and motorcy-

cles to snowmobiles, Evans performs like no

other engine coolant.

Evans offers three formulations: Heavy

Duty Coolant, Powersports Coolant, and

High Performance Coolant, which is not only

used for high performance applications and

classic cars, but for everyday cars, as well.

Prolong your engine life. Preserve your investment. Protect your bottom line. Changing your thinking is the first step. It

may also be time to change your coolant!

To learn more, visit our website at

www.evanscooling.com or give us a

call at 888-990-2665.

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

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8 Tow Professional | Volume 3 • Issue 6 | www.towprofessional.com

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Evans > > >

Location Based Services are dramati-

cally changing the way consumers con-

duct their day-to-day activities. From

shopping to fraud alerts, GPS enabled

smartphones and apps are driving be-

havior in new and exciting ways. The

impact of Location Based Services on

the towing industry is just as impres-

sive from dispatch to automatic

invoicing.

With over 70% of tow professionals carry-

ing smart phones – and with 40% of tow vehi-

cles equipped with a GPS system of some

sort – Location Based Services are already

providing new everyday efficiencies to a

growing number of tow companies.

Increasingly, Location Based Services for

the towing industry go way beyond dispatch

and fleet tracking to use live location data in

new ways, allowing tow businesses to take

advantage of real-time visibility, accountability,

ease, and efficiency not even imagined 10

years ago. Service Providers can now benefit

from seamless and more efficient working re-

lationships with motor clubs, improved driver

and vehicle monitoring, more accurate

mileage records, significant billing efficien-

cies, a decrease in duplicated messaging and

documentation, and improved customer sat-

isfaction scores.

That’s why Agero is committed to making

the transition to Location Based Services as

easy as possible for service providers. Coming

this fall, our location-based services product –

Roadside ConnectTM – will enable dispatch-

ers to assign trucks to events based on cur-

rent location and availability ¬– even when

out-of-territory. These more accurate, efficient

and timely dispatch assignments will result in

decreased fuel use, reduced completion

times, and increased fleet availability and prof-

itability.

It’s also why we’re continually integrating

with other location-based service platforms.

In fact, we recently announced that Progres-

sive Platforms’ GPS tracking and manage-

ment software – which offers a wide variety of

efficiency, customer service, and fleet utiliza-

tion benefits – is now fully integrated with

Agero. To date, we’ve achieved some level of

integration with half a dozen other major in-

dustry platforms.

With service providers, motorists, and

motor clubs embracing a growing range of

exciting Location Based Services, the

complete integration of these promising

apps,

tools, mobile solutions, and platforms is

clearly the road to the future.

AgeroOne Cabot RoadMedford, MA 02155www.agerosupport.com

By Dave Sunkenberg, VP Network Services, AgeroLocation Based Services: Smarter, Better, Easier > > >

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

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10 Tow Professional | Volume 3 • Issue 6 | www.towprofessional.com

Wrecker Rentals, Inc., a Georgia corporation with twolocations to serve you (Atlanta, GA and Dallas, TX),provides towers with replacement trucks while thereis down time due to wrecks or recalls. Most all of thefees associated with a Wrecker Rental are directlybilled to the Insurance carrier of the responsible partyof the dealership where your unit is being repaired. Currently, Wrecker Rentals is serving the S.E. Region, as

well as Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana and Oklahoma with fu-ture plans of expansion into the Northeast and Midwest U.S. Currently offering a short-term (three-day minimum) and

long-term tow truck rental of late model roll back tow trucksand auto loaders. They distribute trucks from both the At-lanta & Dallas office and can normally have a unit to you inas little as 24 hours.Stop by and see Wrecker Rentals at the Tennessee tow

show, or anytime you’re in the Atlanta area, just drop by theRental office at 940 Dailey Mill Road, McDonough, GA30253.

Call the Leasing Office Now at 770-898-1200 or visitus at www.rentawrecker.com.

Wrecker Rentals, Inc. > > >

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Detroit keeps a full line of parts in stock for Dynamic, Jerr-Dan, Chevron, Century, etc. Mike also works closely with themanufacturers and offers every product needed to get your jobdone quickly and safely. Whether you need cargo control prod-ucts, lighting, Back Up camera Systems, jump start kits, clutchpump kits, DOT equipment, lubricants, etc., Detroit has theequipment to take your business to the next level.Detroit Wrecker is 20,000-square-foot facility that includes a

6,000-square-foot show room, in-house paint shop and an all-in-clusive fab shop to meet all your needs. Mike Farrell states, “Weare not just a part changer; we are a full hands-on shop. DetroitWrecker also builds their famous LowLoader & Lil Herculesmodels that have been sold all over the world. Detroit WreckerCAN and WILL build anything that satisfies the needs of a towtruck driver. This place builds custom trucks, beds, cylinders, andcan add nearly any option imaginable to satisfy the customer.Detroit Wrecker has years of experience and an engineeringstaff to accommodate any customer demands.”Detroit Wrecker also recruited Curtis Sanchez, a champion

and expert of towing equipment, to oversee daily operations.Anyone who’s in this industry knows that Curtis is one of thebest! He knows how to find the hard to find parts to get the cus-tomer back to work. Curtis works hard to make sure the cus-tomer not only gets the right part, but it fits their bottom line.Detroit Wrecker also has a website than can meet all your

needs. There is an extensive list of products, videos of theirequipment in action, and a new Shop by Diagram app. This al-lows you to see the part by part number and an image of thatpart when available. The site is very easy to navigate and canhelp the Tow Professionals get all their products needed in oneplace.Mike Ferrell recently had a customer, Bill Chandler of Chan-

dler’s Car Carriers, inquire about servicing his Vulcan 20/20. BillChandler had a cylinder go bad that was $6,500 to replace witha new one. Mike rebuilt the cylinder in house for $1,200 out thedoor, and Bill was able to get the truck back to work quickly. The

Cylinder rebuilding services can be a lifesaver when it comes togetting your No. 1 money maker back on the road, and this isjust one of the many services that Detroit Wrecker offers.

We are just a Toll-Free phone call away, 1-877-869-0030 or 313-835-8700, or email us at [email protected]. Detroit Wrecker Sales19630 Fitzpatrick St.Detroit, MI 48228

Detroit Wrecker > > >

www.towprofessional.com | Volume 3 • Issue 6 | Tow Professional 11

With over 20 years of experience, Detroit Wrecker is the place to go for all your towing needs. Mike Ferrell, Owner& CEO, has been pulling levers since he was 3 years old in his dad’s wrecker. Detroit Wrecker was started whenMike was 13 years old, and he began working alongside his father, with meeting the towers’ needs and improvingtheir business his top priority.

Page 14: Tow professional issue 6, 2014

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

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12 Tow Professional | Volume 3 • Issue 6 | www.towprofessional.com

In August 1979, two-time National Stockcar ChampionEddie Martin drove a 1979 Chevrolet equipped with aHolmes 440 wrecker around the Alabama InternationalSpeedway (Talladega) at speeds in excess of 130 mph. Offi-cial NASCAR electronic equipment recorded an average laptime 109.330 mph, and the unit entered the record books as“The World’s Fastest Wrecker.” The proud Holmes 440toured automotive events for several years before going ondisplay at the International Motorsports Hall of Fame. After anumber of years, it was moved outside to make room for newdisplays where several decades of neglect took its toll. In 2006, after months of negotiations, Miller Industries pur-

chased the unit to return it to its home in Chattanooga. TwinCities Wrecker Sales, Miller Industries distributor in Minnesotawho had expertise in old car restorationwork, took on the task to restore the unitto its original character in time for Holmes90th anniversary and be placed on dis-play in the International Towing and Re-covery Museum and Hall of Fame inChattanooga. Randy Olson, vice president for Miller

Industries, said, “We feel the Holmes 440has been a crucial piece of towing history

as one of the most popular wreckersever manufactured. Due to the rac-ing history of the particular440, it is essential that it ispreserved for future gener-ations of towers and autoenthusiasts to view.” Randy Olson and Sarah-

Beth Camp of Miller Indus-tries signed over the title and handed the keys to museumexecutive director Cheryl Mish. “We appreciate all of Miller Industries generous support of

the museum in helping us preserve the industries history andgraciously accept the Holmes 440 for our collection as we pre-

pare for the industry’s 100 Years of Tow-ing celebration in 2016,” Mish said.

For more information, visitTowingMuseum.com.

Photo caption: Cheryl Mish, Randy Olson, Sarah-Beth Camp

World’s Fastest Wrecker > > >

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Tennesee Tow ShowBooth #503

Page 15: Tow professional issue 6, 2014

www.towprofessional.com | Volume 3 • Issue 6 | Tow Professional 13

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Providers Using Wyless Group Software To Experience Instant,Seamless Integration with Trusted International Roadside Assis-tance BrandWith digital dispatch technology rapidly becoming the

industry standard, providers have been eagerly awaitingthe day when the global connectivity of online communi-cations worked its way into the day-to-day operations oftowing and roadside assistance businesses. For users ofWyless Group (formerly Progressive Platforms) software –that day has arrived. In a recent transition, Road America,one of the largest and most trusted roadside assistancebrands, has added Wyless Group compatibility to its exten-sive digital dispatch web service. Now, individualproviders seeking to work with Road America as part of itsprovider network with the speed and efficiency of com-pletely automated dispatching. “The entire industry has been moving towards a single digi-

tal dispatch standard for some time now,” says Bill Dolan forRoad America. “The Wyless Group is one of the latest to bene-fit from standardization as our system now interfaces withtheirs seamlessly.” For Wyless Group’s current software users, this means that

Road America will instantly become an available provider –capable of placing tow requests, acceptance, and deliveringmotorist and other information through existing automatedsystems. In turn, providers will be able to respond to calls withbetter accuracy and speed – improving both their customersatisfaction rates and overall productivity.

Contacts: Bonnie Verhulst /Bill Dolan/Miguel Cifuentes(888) 293-6672

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ROAD AMERICA EXPANDS DIGITAL DISPATCH NETWORK > > >

Page 16: Tow professional issue 6, 2014

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

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14 Tow Professional | Volume 3 • Issue 6 | www.towprofessional.com

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“I just wanted to say thank you for all your help getting GPStracking for Abington Sunoco.I had spent several days talking to different vendors and com-

paring product cost and features.Just when I was about to scrap the idea of GPS tracking be-

cause of high upfront cost or being locked into a service contractwithout having the opportunity to test the product, I contactedWyless Telematics (nee Progressive Platforms ) and I am veryglad that I did. Your zero upfront cost for the tracking units and the confi-

dence you have in your product to allow our company to use yoursoftware without being locked into a service contract sealed thedeal for me.The system is working well for our company, and it’s nice to

know that you are only a phone call away if I need assistance, notto mention I like to do business with a local company if I can. Ilook forward to your company growing with Abington Sunoco.”

Jim StoneAbington Sunoco

“I have yet to find a more valuable tool in dispatching andmanaging a fleet of vehicles. We have less fuel consumption,shorter ETA's , most importantly, with that being said, highercustomer satisfaction. I would highly recommend WylessTelematics (nee Progressive Platforms ) to anyone that has afleet that is looking to modernize and “get with the times." And,as far as Tech Support goes, they are second to none with Den-nis and Melinda being highly proficient. I usually do not writetestimonials; however, I feel that such a great product shouldnot be overlooked.”

Lawrence CarrollDirector of OperationsAutopro's Towing & Recovery, L LC

To find about more about increasing efficiency in your busi-

ness with Wyless Telematics, contact us on

339-469-0978 or visit www.wylesstelematics.com.

Wyless Telematics – Customer Feedback > > >

Page 17: Tow professional issue 6, 2014

www.towprofessional.com | Volume 3 • Issue 6 | Tow Professional 15

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All-Grip> is dedicated to providing the Professional Tow-ing and Recovery Operators the finest products andtools to get the job done efficiently and professionally.We never forget that Professional Tow Truck Operatorsare the users of all-Grip Vehicle Recovery Products andthey require and deserve products of uncompromisingquality. For 43 years, all-Grip has manufactured andsupplied products of uncompromising quality. Innova-tion, Reliability and Strength are all key words associ-ated with the all-Grip name. There are also words todescribe the dealers that sell all-Grip Vehicle RecoveryProducts…words like integrity, knowledge and profes-sionalism. They are an important link in the distribution

process, for they provide you with local stock, servicesand expertise.All-Grip products are sold only through Wrecker and Ac-

cessory Dealers because these same tow truck operatorsalso deserve the professionalism, knowledge and inventorythat only a local dealer can provide. The local dealer is a criti-cal link in this supply chain. Call your local dealer and de-mand all-Grip!

www.all-grip.com800.748.2651

All-Grip > > >

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WOW!Amazing! What a

wonderful show! It

was a “show of shows.” Pictures are included

so you can see for yourself what you experi-

enced or missed. Towers came from countries

as far away as South Africa and New Zealand

and from four other states besides those from

Wisconsin to attend the annual convention in

Wisconsin Dells for the Wisconsin Towing

Convention.

Every tower competes for their share of

the business out-on-the road during the year.

During convention time, held once a year, it’s a

truly different story because they migrate to

their Wisconsin event with their families. It’s

not just business. This year, the event was held

at Chula Vista Resort in Wisconsin Dells. All

towers and their families gather together for

true brotherhood and camaraderie. They

show off their new equipment, new babies,

new wives and new husbands and brag about

family. One tower, Junior Merten of Merten

Service Center does all the towing for the local

Nestle Chocolate Plant.

Every year, Junior brings with him 20 to

25 cases of chocolate just to share. One

tower, Dave Schultz from Homer’s Towing, lo-

cated in Milwaukee, brings family a day ahead

and starts cooking two gigantic pigs for the Fri-

day Night Pig Roast Picnic. Fellow towers, as-

sisted by older children, help serve the

well-attended event. It’s Family Time! And

what a time it is!

The hit of the show this year was the 60

ton Rotator, equipped with the JFB Incident

Management Body, the Gold Series. Jerr-Dan

put on classes with Mathew Sellner, the

sharpest 16-year-old son that I have met.

Mathew’s mom, Kathy, headed up the chil-

dren’s program for the convention and pro-

vided classes for children of all ages. Sava took

part in the demonstration with Jerr-Dan, using

their very best rescue-recovery lifting bags.

The light show was held in the parking lot

behind this beautiful water park. There were

trucks of all kinds, from antiques to trucks in

memory of lost loved ones. At midnight, the

18 Tow Professional | Volume 3 • Issue 6 | www.towprofessional.com

Fuel 4 thought By D. J . Harr ington

WHAT ASHOW!

Page 21: Tow professional issue 6, 2014

yearly tradition lead by “mom” Dave

Whealon’s mother from Whealon

Towing & Service from Fond Du

Lac, Wisconsin, served every kind of

cheese you could think of. And she

did so until early morning. The beer

was free all weekend.

Saturday morning featured a

great breakfast under the tent, and

then back to the hotel for what they

call “talk-n-towing” and “telling tales.”

Bill Tomlinson, who had just retired after almost

60 years of towing, along with Craig Goldbeck

of Goldbeck Towing, presented the class in the

Sierra Vista room, where they delivered the

TRAA Level I & II Driver Testing on Friday.

Something that Bill Tomlinson had assisted in

writing the TRAA classes many years ago, Bill

was one of the trainers for TRAA. It would have

been great to have all of this on film because Bill

and Craig did a fantastic class. Very informative!

It was followed up with Bob Truitt from All Grip.

That class was also a good one.

There’s another family tower that deserves

mentioning. His name is Jeff Roskopf. Jeff and

Geri Roskopf own Roskopf’s Service & Towing

located in Menomonee Falls. Their son, Greg,

took all the pictures you are seeing in this article.

Every year, Greg takes pictures and then during

Saturday night’s banquet and award presenta-

tion, people can see themselves on the big

screen for a warm recap of the weekend’s

events. At dinner, Geri presented narration that

was synced to Rock n’ Roll songs. Well done!

Prairieland Towing was very kind to chip in

and bring me to the event as your speaker. I

sure do hope I’m invited next year because the

friendly and loving atmosphere

was one I don’t always feel at

every event I attend. And I at-

tend lots of them each year. This

show had it all: company flags,

antique trucks, great families

and mounds of great food and a

lot of just being kind to each

other. It was a reunion that this

industry needs. But that’s not all.

What I discovered most of all

about this event was lots of “real brotherhood.”

Keep it up! TOW

D.J. Harrington is an author, journalist, sem-

inar leader, international trainer, and market-

ing consultant. He works primarily with

customer service personnel, and his clients

include such world-class companies as Gen-

eral Motors, DuPont, Caterpillar and Damon

Corporation. He may be reached at 800-

352-5252 or by email at [email protected], 52

weeks a year, we are as close as your tele-

phone, or at www.djanddan.com.

www.towprofessional.com | Volume 3 • Issue 6 | Tow Professional 19

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20 Tow Professional | Volume 3 • Issue 6 | www.towprofessional.com

I was golfing with a friend of mine, and I asked the big ques-

tion, “How is your business?” There was a pause and a

change of tone in his voice, and he said it was his slow pe-

riod and business was slow. I hear this a lot when I talk to

towers. If things aren’t going well, they decide it’s their slow

period.

As the owner of a tow company, you should know when

tows will slow down and adjust your business to make this time

more productive. When I owned my company, I knew from

Thanksgiving to Christmas would be slow. My customers did

not want to tow doing this period. I had a contract near a uni-

versity. I lost this business during the summer when school was

out.

I knew what my bills were every month, and they did not

change doing slow periods. I knew at the 1st of every month,

the tow calculator went to zero and I needed x number of tows

to pay my bills.

Here are a few ideas that can turn your slow timesinto your most productive times:

Review or Create a Business Plan– The most

important thing you can do for your business is to have a

business plan. If you have one, let’s modify it; if you don’t

have one, let’s create one. This is simply just identifying

what you want your business to look like. It’s important to

write this down on paper. What type of services do you

want to offer and what type of services do you offer

today? This would be a good time for improving on the

services you offer today.

the Slow PeriodsSURVIVING

By Dan Messina

Page 23: Tow professional issue 6, 2014

www.towprofessional.com | Volume 3 • Issue 6 | Tow Professional 21

Expand Your Business – Talk to your customers

and see if there is anything new they are doing that you

can help them with. Review your market and create new

services that meet today’s needs.

Improve Customer Service – Remember, we are

a service business. Let’s look for ways that we can im-

prove our service. Look at your staff and see how they

communicate with the customer, and find out if there is

anything you can do to help them be a better company.

Market – This is something towers are not good at. If

you read my article in last month’s magazine, you’ll see

times are changing and we have to learn how to market

better.

Cross Train – Use this time to teach your dispatchers

what the driver is faced with when they go for a tow, and

teach the drivers what the dispatchers are faced with

when the drivers don’t have a good tow ticket.

Improve Your Skills – The business is changing andyou have to do the same. Go buy a suit and go out and

network and meet your customers. Djanddan.com offers

great training for the business owner. It’s time to join.

Take a Vacation – A simple vacation gives you a

chance to clear out the cobwebs and start fresh when

you get back. You don’t have to spend a lot of money, just

get away. (Go Fishing)

Get Organized –Clean up your shop or storage yard,clean up your staff and clean up the way you do things

that create problems. Define a way to run your business

and each job relating to the business.

Meet Your Customers –Go visit your best cus-tomers and sit down and have a coffee with them. Talk

about things in the neighborhood or hobbies they are

working on. Just go meet them.

Page 24: Tow professional issue 6, 2014

Meet Past Customers – Visit the business you lostand see if there is anything you can do to get them back.

If they left you for a specific reason and you fixed it, let

them know. Ask them what it takes to get your business

back

Begin a Referral Program – Go out and thank thepeople that referred your business and try and have addi-

tional people start referring business to you. Come up

with some type incentive for them.

Learn More About Your Competition – Find outif there are any new players you are competing with or

look at your current competition and see what they are

doing. Identify their best customers and find out why

that customer uses them.

Learn More About Your Market – The market ischanging; find out why. Identify what you will have to do in

the future to compete and what changes will be necessary.

Thank Good Customers –When was the last time

you talked to your best customers? If your competitor is

talking to them more than you are, you will eventually

lose them. Send them gifts or some way to say thank you

for their business.

Modify Website – If you don’t have a website, getone. If you have one, make improvements to let your

customers know you are changing with the times.

Network – Join organizations or associations in yourmarket. Show them you are interested in the same things

they are, such as the local chamber of commerce or other

local businesses. Sponsor a little league team or some

other school event.

Social Media – Start using social media, such as

Facebook. This is the fastest way to tell people about your

business.

22 Tow Professional | Volume 3 • Issue 6 | www.towprofessional.com

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www.towprofessional.com | Volume 3 • Issue 6 | Tow Professional 23

Get Involved –Get involved in the community. These

are the people you service.

You should never have a slow period in your business ever

again. There will just be times when you are doing things other

than towing a vehicle. Start implementing or doing things men-

tioned above and you will be surprised how your business will

change. You are going to find that you will have to do things you

are not used to doing, but you will be required to do these

things if you want to stay in business.

If you want to stay in business, use your slow periods as

grow periods. These times can be the most productive times for

your business.

I know this sounds like a lot, but there are many resources at

your fingertips to make it easy. Get all your employees involved

to and let them offer suggestions on how to improve the com-

pany. They are in the trenches every day, so you will be sur-

prised with the results. Remember, it all starts with you. If you

lead, they will follow. TOW

If you need help, call us or go to www.dananddj.com.

Page 26: Tow professional issue 6, 2014

24 Tow Professional | Volume 3 • Issue 6 | www.towprofessional.com

Company Background44 trucks providing service across the Indianapolis Metro

Area and surrounding states

Zores has been providing towing, metals recycling, auto parts and

auto body services for more than 87 years. Based in Indianapolis, In-

diana, the company has five offices and more than 80 vehicles in

their fleet, 44 of which are used for towing and metals recycling, and

are equipped with the TomTom Telematics solution. The company

provides local and long-distance services, covering both the metro In-

dianapolis area, as well as out-of-state locations.

The ChallengeNew city contract significantly increases call volume

In 2011, Zores’ towing operations won a contract with City of Indi-

anapolis Police Department (IPD), significantly increasing call vol-

ume. As part of the agreement, Zores was required to respond to any

calls from the IPD within 20 minutes, or incur fines and a contract re-

view. With this requirement in place, along with the increase in call

volume, IT manager David Schroeder knew that he would have to

improve the company’s GPS and telematics capabilities – and

quickly!

WEBFLEET from TomTom TelematicsHELPS ZORES TOWING & METAL RECYCLING INCREASE

EFFICIENCY AND ACCURATE RECORD KEEPING

GPS SOLUTIONS

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www.towprofessional.com | Volume 3 • Issue 6 | Tow Professional 25

“The contract with the police de-

partment significantly increased our

volume, and came with a require-

ment that we be on the scene in 20

minutes or we’d be fined,” said

Schroeder. “We knew that drivers

weren’t always taking the best

routes, and wanted to make sure

that they would meet this require-

ment. We also needed a way to cer-

tify to the IPD that we were meeting

the time requirement, should there be any

questions.”

The SolutionIncreased efficiency and accurate

record-keeping

According to Schroeder, the decision to

move to TomTom Telematics has signifi-

cantly improved efficiencies, and made it

easy to communicate with the IPD.

He said, “In the beginning, the police de-

partment was telling us three or four times a

week that we didn’t make the 20-minute

window. With TomTom WEBFLEET we were

able to show them that we did – and saved

ourselves quite a bit of money by not having

to pay fines.”

The system also helps them meet the

20-minute requirement, even when the

police don’t necessarily give them an exact

location.

“Oftentimes, we can show that the origi-

nal call didn’t provide the correct location, so

that resets the clock for us,” said Schroeder.

“We also find TomTom’s maps – which in-

clude mile markers – extremely helpful when

we get a call for a vehicle that is between two

exits on the highway. We can pinpoint where

they are on the map and get there more

quickly.”

TomTom Telematics’ WEBFLEET has also

improved operations significantly, because

WEBFLEET is integrated with Zores’ dispatch

system job information and directions are

sent directly to the driver in the vehicle.

According to Schroeder, “TomTom makes

it simple for us to map where our drivers are

going. They didn’t always use the best

routes, but now, because we are sending di-

rections directly to them, they are getting

where they need to be faster and more effi-

ciently. The savings have been significant.”

TomTom WEBFLEET has also helped

Zores uncover fraud within their organiza-

tion – and help drivers when they have been

victims of crimes. On more than one occa-

sion, drivers have been held up by thieves

and were able to contact dispatch to let

them know they were in trouble. Because

they could track exactly where the vehicles

were, office staff could send police to the lo-

cation to stop the crime.

The Zores staff was also able to uncover

a scheme where one of their drivers was

using company vehicles to buy and sell vehi-

cles after-hours. By tracking the vehicle, the

Zores staff was able to uncover the crime

and provide proof.

Across the company’s tow and recycling

operations, TomTom Telematics has made a

significant impact. TOW

TomTom Telematics

866-459-3499

www.tomtomtelematics.com/towing

“Now that we have this system,even things like the hiringprocess have become easier. Weno longer have to worry aboutwhether candidates are familiarwith every part of the city, as weknow they will get accurate,detailed directions to every job,”said Schroeder. “And the benefitsin terms of efficiency and report-ing have improved our bottomline. We’re able to provide theservice levels necessary for ourIPD contract, and manage the in-creased volume and opportunitythat comes along with that. Thesystem provides unbelievableReturn on Investment for us. I’drecommend it to anyone.”

Page 28: Tow professional issue 6, 2014

26 Tow Professional | Volume 3 • Issue 6 | www.towprofessional.com

Dispatch is essential to your business. It is also frequentlycited as one of the biggest headaches in towing. But tech-nology advances have made it possible to integrate dispatchand fleet management – and finally streamline the repetitivebusiness processes and potential for mistakes that canplague even the most organized tow managers.

Obviously, there are many things to consider when under-taking a search for new technology. There are the hard

factors – how many trucks, how many calls a day, how manydispatchers, etc. And there are the business factors – aredrivers based out of an office, do schedules change through-out the day, how do you determine who to dispatch where?

Another important factor to consider are your currentbusiness practices – how do you receive jobs, dispatchthem, get the driver to the right location, record the job, andbill for the job?

Integrating Dispatch& Fleet Management Software

Page 29: Tow professional issue 6, 2014

www.towprofessional.com | Volume 3 • Issue 6 | Tow Professional 27

TomTom Telematics provides many businesses with the tools to

operate more efficiently – including live traffic updates and vehicle

tracking. WEBFLEET also provides operators with an accurate arrival

time to the customer site, as it takes into account expected traffic on

the route to reach the customer for each vehicle in your fleet.

In many cases, getting all of this done requires manual processes

that are repeated in different systems, raising the probability of errors.

Like virtually everything related to electronics, technology has

changed. Processes have become more efficient, more accurate, and

have provided a safer driving environment for the operator.

Perhaps the most important thing to focus on is implementing

technology that works together. For instance, the last thing a dis-

patcher wants to do is create an order in dispatch software and repli-

cate the info into an application to get to an operator. This process can

be extremely time consuming, and take up valuable time that could

be dedicated to dispatching additional jobs.

By using TomTom Telematics’ fleet management solution,

WEBFLEET, your dispatching process can transform into a seamless

one that resembles the following:

GPS SOLUTIONS

Page 30: Tow professional issue 6, 2014

1. Determine best/closest/appropriate operator to send job to

2.Operator electronically receives job info and navigates to the site

3.Operator one-touch updates for the status of jobs4.Operator confirms completion and closes out job

5.Operator available the next job

Let’s Talk About Driver SafetyIn addition, driver safety is a bigger concern than ever before. Here are

some numbers* to consider:

• 13 – the number of states that have banned all handheld cell

usage while driving

• 23.2 – the number of times more likely you are to be involved in

a safety-critical event if you’re texting while driving

• 44 – the number of states that have banned text messaging

while driving

• $11,000 – the average fine for an employer of a driver who

causes an accident while using a mobile device

If you’re using phones to dispatch and communicate with your driv-

ers, you could be held liable for incidents that occur. TomTom Telemat-

ics has proven to provide towers with a safe and legal alternative to

dispatching jobs to operate in the field. So, not only is a tower able to dis-

patch more jobs in the same amount of time with the same resources,

but they’re able to do this without the same liability.

For this reason, and many other reasons, the best towers have imple-

mented an integrated dispatch, routing and fleet management solution.

TomTom Telematics can integrate with your software and can deliver all

of the dispatch and driving information a driver needs to the truck, can

be voice-enabled, and allow one-touch and hands-free calling if the

driver does need to call the office. TOW

*Source: http://www.ncsl.org/research/transportation/cellular-

phone-use-and-texting-while-driving-laws.aspx

TomTom Telematics

866-459-3499

www.tomtomtelematics.com/towing

28 Tow Professional | Volume 3 • Issue 6 | www.towprofessional.com

Integrating Dispatch& Fleet Management Software

Page 31: Tow professional issue 6, 2014

www.towprofessional.com | Volume 3 • Issue 6 | Tow Professional 29

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TomTom Telematics is committed to helping our customerslower their environmental impact. WEBFLEET provides a dashboardreport on daily fleet carbon footprint, calculated using the vehiclemileage and fuel consumption (miles per gallon etc.). This can helpyou implement an internal carbon footprint reduction program ormeet external incentives or requirements put in place by local or na-tional governments.We are always looking for new features to enhance our fleet man-

agement solutions that help our customers manage their resourcesmore efficiently.

TomTom Telematics is a Business Unit of TomTom dedicated tofleet management and vehicle telematics. Our WEBFLEET platformis a Software-as-a-Service solution – used by small to large busi-nesses to improve vehicle performance, save fuel, support driversand increase overall fleet efficiency.

TomTom Telematics

866-459-3499

www.tomtomtelematics.com/towing

TomTom Telematics is proud to partner with leading towmanagement software:

32 Tow Professional | Volume 3 • Issue 6 | www.towprofessional.com

GPS SPOTLIGHTS

TOMTOM TELEMATICS

Page 35: Tow professional issue 6, 2014

Beacon Software is driving the towing industryto a new level with Dispatch Anywhere. Cus-tomers dispatch over 7 million calls annuallyusing Beacon’s products. They integrate with11 different motor clubs to electronically re-ceive calls (no typing) and to submit invoices.Beacon now links to 15 major GPS companies– including TomTom, StreetEagle (Garmin),Teletrac, iTrak, VehiclePath, Fleetmatics andothers. Their Mobile Apps for Apple and An-droid greatly simplify the dispatch process.Dispatch Anywhere enables you to dispatchmore calls with less stress and greater em-ployee accountability.

Dispatch Anywhere benefits include:• Tracking driver/truck locations on our VisualDispatch screen or Mobile Dispatcher App forApple and Android.• Dispatching calls directly to mobile devices:cell phone, TomTom, Teltrac, iTrak or StreetEa-gle Garmin.• Allowing drivers to update their dispatched

calls by sending data back to dispatch. Data such as timestamps, VINs identification numbers, odometer readings, andmore can be input directly from their cell phone, SmartphoneApp, TomTom or Street Eagle. This automated system elimi-nates many commonly made dispatcher mistakes.• Providing turn-by-turn audible driving instructions – no needfor drivers to look at their directions and take their eyes off theroad.• Uploading photos of accidents, existing vehicle damage,parking violations, documents, driver's license, etc. to protectyour company against unwarranted accusations.• Processing credit cards and printing/emailing receipts fromDA Smartphone apps for Driver and Dispatcher.• Automatically validating addresses for all incoming calls.• Finding motorists using the software’s Locate feature. Thisfeatures pings signals off of cell towers, pinpointing the cellphone users location – just like on television.

Dispatch Anywhere is an easy-to-use application that provides so-lutions for the towing industry by helping companies stay connected,efficient and organized.Android/Apple apps that will track a driver’s cell phone are also

available at no additional cost. TOW

For more information, visit www.dispatchanywhere.comor call866-437-6653.

www.towprofessional.com | Volume 3 • Issue 6 | Tow Professional 33

Towing & RoadsideSoftware Made Easy

Page 36: Tow professional issue 6, 2014

Software is just another business tool, and, like any proficient

business owner, you should evaluate this and other parts of busi-

ness on a regular basis. Investing in the future profitability of your

business should be part of your annual review and budgeting

process, what works and what does not. VTS Systems offers

more than just a towing and VSF software. Our goal is to help our

clients manage their businesses more efficiently by providing

management resources and sound advice based on years of ex-

perience, which includes, among others, a solid and reliable

PC/server based software platform.

All products and serviceshave a life cycle, just like aworking tow truck, softwareshould be upgraded or re-placed to meet your needs.Unlike a truck, software doesnot wear out, but it does havea half-life, and you should ex-pect your software companyto provide regular updateswith added features to helpyou remain competitive. As-suming that all software will perform as advertised, the availability ofdaily support to answer questions, fix operator issues, and be there inan emergency, is far more important. Moreover, allowing your company to become caught up in the

technology race is a position you should avoid. Just because it isnew, it does not mean that it is better, or that your company needs it.

For example, what appears at first to be a wonderful whiz-bang fea-ture offered by cloud-based software is the ability to enter data froma smartphone. Whereas this is a great feature, before you say “WOWI‘ve got to have that,” ask yourself the following questions:

• Are my driver/operators competent typists or texters?• Do my driver/operators have the capability to quickly navi-gate the software application, and correctly enter billing datawithout having someone else review and check their datainput? Mistakes frequently go unnoticed until it is too late torectify without significant financial cost. • Do my drivers have the time to enter invoicing data, or wouldI rather them proceed to the next money earning tow or inci-dent?• Am I trying to push a square peg into a round hole?

How you answer the questions above, maybe depend on genderand age. If you are under 35 years of age, you are frequently morecomfortable with technology and ongoing change. If you fall into theage group above 35, then you may want a solution that not onlymeets your needs, but also allows you to choose the features youneed within an application. This solution may be less complex, and

easier to use. VTS Systems will help youdecide which features and technologybest suit your company-specific needs. In 2001, VTS Systems was the first

company to integrate into its softwareautomated online DMV access, and,later, after collaborating with other indus-try leaders, now offers more than 28 in-dividual state DMVs online. In 2010,VTS Systems was the first towing andVSF Software Company to offer inte-grated electronic certified mail for lienprocessing. “NO MORE GOING TO THEPOST OFFICE.” To provide these andother advanced features, VTS Systems

chose to collaborate with Auto Data Direct and TomTom Telematics,along with other leaders within our industry, who could provide ad-vanced features at a lower cost. TOW

To discuss your needs with no obligation, call Lisa Truitt or NigelPestell 281-373-3072.

34 Tow Professional | Volume 3 • Issue 6 | www.towprofessional.com

GPS SPOTLIGHTS

Page 37: Tow professional issue 6, 2014

BudgetGPS is a vehicle and fleet tracking so-lution geared for any industry but specificallytuned to support fleet management withinthe towing industry. BudgetGPS offers amonth-to-month service (no contracts) withlow upfront and monthly cost. BudgetGPS delivers a full set of features for asingle low price. Features include: Live Mapwith 20-second vehicle updates to the mapwith live Google traffic and map or satelliteviews, Historical breadcrumb view with 6months of history; Alerts and Monitoring forPTO, GeoFence, Ignition, and Speeding; Re-ports including, Driver Distance, StateMileage, Stops, Speeding and more. Budget-GPS integrates with TOPS to offer a true vi-sual dispatching tool where users are able toview vehicle locations as well as call location

/ destination information on the same map.(TOPS not required)BudgetGPS uses industry-leading hardwarethat is mounted discreetly inside the cab ofthe vehicle. We offer several models of hard-

ware, including OBD pluggable devices (forvehicles equipped with an OBD II port) aswell as asset tracking devices. BudgetGPS is developed and supported in-house by BudgetGPS! TOW

For more information:866-800-8677 Opt 2www.budgetgps.com Call or visit our website today to sign up for a30-day free trial!

www.towprofessional.com | Volume 3 • Issue 6 | Tow Professional 35

GPS SPOTLIGHTS

Customer Testimonials

“BudgetGPS allows our company to monitor our Drivers and Trucks in real-time. We no longer have drivers passing each other on the road to work

jobs across town. The fuel savings alone pays for the system.”Curt – Grand Rapids Towing

“ Your system has really helped in dispatching drivers. The system savestime in determining which load to assign which driver, and has eliminated

hours of calling drivers to determine their exact location. GeoFence alertshelp us determine when drivers are located at key locations and destina-tions.” Phillip - Euro Trucking

Page 38: Tow professional issue 6, 2014

Top 5 lines from Moneyball

1. He passes the eye candy test. He's got the looks,he's great at playing the part.” Teams have always made their choices by this evaluation process.He improved his team when he started to look at how to run histeam differently. When it comes to making business decisions,such as tracking your trucks and communicating with your drivers,many companies look to Tracker for help to better understand theunderlying issues and solutions. So, getting a solution to chal-lenges that your company has by doing it differently than you havein the past is almost certain to improve your bottom line percent-

age. My company, Tracker Management, as an example, has fo-cused on making sure the underlying services provided will serveour customers’ needs by utilizing this approach. Offering tools thatfocus on delivering the services our customers expect more sothan “look good or playing the part” has served both our towingcustomers as well as our company well over the last 20 plus years.

2. Your goal shouldn't be to buy players, your goalshould be to buy wins.”This piece of insight is showing him another way to improve. Notneeding to invest money in players, but to invest in being moreproductive. Focus on tools such as the management software,

36 Tow Professional | Volume 3 • Issue 6 | www.towprofessional.com

GPS SPOTLIGHTS

Brad Pitt Teaches Lessons for Tow Company OwnersIn the movie "Moneyball,” Brad Pitt plays Billy Beane, the manager of the OaklandA’s baseball team. The owner of the team does not want to spend all his money onnew players. Billy wants to be the best and so needs to do it with the best players atthe best price.

Page 39: Tow professional issue 6, 2014

GPS tracking and Driver communication devices, such as tabletsand smart phone solutions, will help you as a business owner getthe wins (bottom line more profit) that you want. Your team canimprove by having a seamless and effortless flow of your callsthrough your office from the time the calls come in until therecords of that call are archived, all without excessive employeepayroll.

3. “These are hard rules to explain to people. Whyis that a problem, Pete?"Pete was having a little bit of an issue with understanding that thechanges they were implementing with their team had at timesfallen on closed minds with their players and management team.He knew the change would give him the best chance to win and,although it was different and some of his players did not under-stand, he pressed on. If improving your company and its bottomline is your goal, then changing how you do it now is good for you.Tracker Management can help you get there.

4. “Why do you like him? Because he gets on base.”This shows the most important reason why a company needs tohave the proper tools to win. Towing companies invest in Trackerbecause we know how to help them “get on base,” and thatequates to more wins for their company.

5. “If we try to play like the Yankees in here, we willlose to the Yankees out there.”Again, this statement in the movie shows that you can win by run-ning your team differently than your competitors. Utilizing toolsthat they do not have or use poorly will give your company the bestchance of improving and winning. TOW

P.S. The Oakland A’s won 103 games that year.

P.P.S. See Tracker Ad below

www.towprofessional.com | Volume 3 • Issue 6 | Tow Professional 37

Page 40: Tow professional issue 6, 2014

Owners and managers are alwayslooking for ways to gain an edge, andtowing software you can use fromjust about anywhere is a great exam-ple of a tool that’s making a big differ-ence in towing and recovery.

The tremendous growth of cloud-basedtowing software is fueled by several advan-tages and capabilities that are impossible to ig-nore:Simplicity. When using cloud-based towing

software, you can be up and running in just afew minutes. With no software to install and no

hardware compatibility issues, the process isquick and simple. Plus, with software in thecloud, you don’t need a license for every com-puter, and you can say goodbye to those costlyupgrades – you’re always running the latestversion.Accessibility. Towing software in the cloud

means you can use the system from anywhereyou have Internet service. From a tablet in yourtruck, on your computer at home, from yoursmart phone – you always have access to yourtowing software. When a customer or insur-ance company asks for information, you cansend it to them, quickly and easily. There’s nosuch thing as having to get back to the office tofind the file or leaving something on the wrongcomputer.Mobile Apps. Mobile apps are powerful for

Towing and recovery. Making the job easier fordrivers and giving them the ability to do more

38 Tow Professional | Volume 3 • Issue 6 | www.towprofessional.com

Towing Software in the Cloud

GPS SPOTLIGHTS

Cloud-based towing software has exploded in popularity.

Page 41: Tow professional issue 6, 2014

on the road means less to do in the office andbetter customer service. Mobile apps havemany great features, including: Pictures can beautomatically added to the call, Drivers can geta customer’s signature on their phone andhave it appear on an invoice they email or textto the customer, Plate to VIN features or VINscanning can pull in the full VIN plus the make,model and year. You can even have dispatch-ers or managers dispatch calls from a smartphone or tablet on weekends or overnight.

Safe, Secure, Reliable. Most cloud-basedsoftware is very dependable, safe and reliable.Your data is backed-up constantly on modernservers in a highly secure environment. Plus, re-liable cloud-based software companies make itso you can export your data as needed. Price. You should test drive your towing

software before you sign up. With cloud-basedsoftware, there are little or no upfront costs andyou should never have to pay for an upgrade.Much like your mobile phone or Internet serv-

ice, you have the system for a monthly fee.Many companies won’t even ask you to sign acontract; you’re free to leave with your data anytime you aren’t happy.There are many things to consider when

you add a new software tool for your business.Increasingly, cloud-based software has be-come the standard because the advantagescannot be ignored.

About TowbookTowbook Management Software is headquar-tered in Michigan and has provided cloud-based towing software for over 7 years. Withthe industry’s most advanced and flexible soft-ware, Towbook supports all types of towingand recovery operations. At Towbook, we takegreat pride in having the industry’s best cus-tomer support. Support is free and available24/7/365 – even on holidays. TOW

www.towbook.com855-869.2665 (855-TOWBOOK)No Setup Fees. No Contracts. No Worries.

www.towprofessional.com | Volume 3 • Issue 6 | Tow Professional 39

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Every business wants toincrease profits, productivity andcommunication, but implementing so-lutions can often be costly and time-consuming. Weighing out the costsand benefits of a new deployment canfurther discourage managers from ex-ploring options. To best understandhow tow companies can increase effi-ciency, we researched the needs ofdrivers, dispatchers and managers. Wefound that to be more efficient in theindustry tow companies require realtime management, constant connec-tivity, and software that provides driv-ers with resources they need in theirtruck.

Managing in REAL TIMETo ensure efficient use of fuel, effective use of time, and the safety ofdrivers, managers and dispatchers need real time technology. Theuse of a platform that detects Power Take Off (PTO) and providesstandard GPS tracking back to the center can show unit location andspeed to improve dispatch and tracking. For improved performance,we suggest a platform with a three-axis accelerometer, which sup-ports configuration of acceleration, braking, and cornering at multi-ple levels. Comprehensive platforms offer mobile managementthrough Android and iOs and can help with fleet organization, jobdispatch and evaluation of driver behavior.

Constant CONNECTIVITYNo truck driver wants to be in the midst of delivery and enter a deadzone where they lose a signal and end up driving in circles or asking astation host for directions. Nor does the company want to incur costsfor changing location mid-travel and later find out the driver never re-ceived new instructions. With suppliers now having the ability tochange their delivery requests at any time, the importance of secureand reliable connectivity has never been more important. WylessTelematics offers national connectivity through the largest network

of operators, so regardless of location, drivers re-main on the most advanced network, ensuring nodowntime and no dead zones.

Road REQUIREMENTSWhile drivers will always require GPS to get on location on time, sys-tem advances can improve ETA and customer communication. Im-proved features include advanced mapping and geo-zones.Advanced mapping uses satellites and algorithms to provide up-to-date configurations keeping drivers informed of traffic changes. Si-multaneously, geo-cities track progress and alert dispatch and thecustomer when the truck enters the area so everyone is constantlyinformed and connected.So, what solution is right for your company and how will you de-

ploy it? The cost of hardware, training required and human resourcesneeded to implement a solution that meets these needs is less diffi-cult than previously thought. Wyless Telematics provides a holisticsolution, including free hardware, the largest wireless network, andreal-time software that meet dispatch, driver, and manager needs.The best part is they supply the hardware free of charge, offer soft-ware training and provide integration support to ensure a seamlessdeployment, all for a low monthly fee. TOW

To find about more about increasing efficiency in your business withWyless Telematics, contact us on 339-469-0978 or visitwww.wylesstelematics.com.

40 Tow Professional | Volume 3 • Issue 6 | www.towprofessional.com

Taking to the Road EfficientlyGPS SPOTLIGHTS

TELEMATICS

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The issues with electronic communication systems in vehicles

have been well studied and the dangers well documented. The prob-

lems are “glances” and “attention to task.” When the driver is interact-

ing with the communications device, the driver is not “watching

traffic” (called a visual distraction), is not lis-

tening to what is going on around him/her

(called an auditory distraction), is attempt-

ing to manually manipulate the device

(called a manual distraction) and is not

thinking about driving (referred to as a cog-

nitive distraction).

The more types of distraction a device

causes, the greater the risk is when using it while driving. Texting,

which involves all four types of distraction, has long been recognized

as the most dangerous of the electronic distractions. In one study,

texting was found to increase the odds of the driver being involved in

42 Tow Professional | Volume 3 • Issue 6 | www.towprofessional.com

In this day and age, there are many communicationsdevices that allow you to instantly contact yourdrivers. However, some of these devices can lead toan unsafe situation if used improperly. In somecases, it can also lead to a ticket.

Electronic Communications to the Trucks –

A Blessing and a Curse!By Thomas Bray

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www.towprofessional.com | Volume 3 • Issue 6 | Tow Professional 43

a safety-related event or crash by 23 times. There are many activities

that carry the same level of risk for the same reason — they involve

multiple types of distraction at the same time — such as dialing a cell

phone when driving or using a computer terminal while driving.

Due to the dangers involved in electronic distraction, the Federal

Motor Carriers Safety Administration (FMCSA) and many states have

placed rules on the books limiting the use of cell phones and prohibit-

ing texting while driving. By the way, “while driving” includes while

stopped at a stop light or stop sign, and being stuck in traffic. To be

“not driving,” the driver needs to be stopped and safely parked in a

legal parking place.

CELL PHONESThe FMCSA and state cell phone regulations are such that a driver

can use a cell phone while driving provided certain conditions are

met. First, the phone cannot be held in the driver’s hand. It must be

“hands free.” The hands-free requirement applies to everything from

dialing to hanging up. Dialing and hanging up must be able to be ac-

complished with “one touch.”

Second, the driver must be able to answer or initiate calls while

seated normally in the driver’s seat. If the driver has to reach in such a

way that he/she has to “leave the driving position” to initiate or an-

swer a call, the driver is in violation of the regulations.

S A F E T Y

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44 Tow Professional | Volume 3 • Issue 6 | www.towprofessional.com

The driver does have the option to get off of the roadway (park

somewhere where it is legal and safe to park) and use the cell phone,

if hands-free is not an option.

The only exception to the rules is if the driver needs to contact

emergency services to report an emergency.

Basically, what is prohibited by the FMCSA (and most states and

municipalities that have cell phone rules) is the driver holding the

phone, dialing the phone, or having to leave the driving position to

initiate or answer a call. If the driver has a hands-free headset or a

“smart” vehicle that can link to the phone, then the driver can make

and answer cell phone calls.

As a company, if you want to have “instant access” to your drivers

using cell phones, you will need to make sure that the drivers under-

stand the rules and are equipped with hands-free technology. Other-

wise, the drivers need to be told to let the call go to voicemail, and

stop as soon as safely possible to check the voicemail.

TEXTINGThe FMCSA regulations (as well as most state and municipal rules that re-

strict texting) prohibit the “manual entering of alpha-numeric characters

into a communication device or reading of alpha-numeric information on

a communication device” while driving. This is the technical definition of

“texting.” Unlike the cell phone regulation, the regulations do not provide

an alternate means of texting that would be legal. The only way texting

Electronic Communications to the Trucks –

A Blessing and a Curse!

Page 47: Tow professional issue 6, 2014

www.towprofessional.com | Volume 3 • Issue 6 | Tow Professional 45

when driving can be done legally is if it can be done hands-free (such as

using a smart vehicle system that has “voice to text”).

If the driver receives a text when driving, the driver needs to know to

find a safe place to park to read and reply to the text. As a company, if you

use a text-based system to communicate with your drivers, you need to

understand that there will be a delay in the driver’s reply. This is due to the

driver needing to find a safe place to read and reply. Anytime a driver that

is supposed to be driving replies immediately, you should be concerned

that the driver is texting while driving. This suspicion should at least war-

rant a conversation with the driver to verify that he/she understands and

is following the rules.

These regulations (like the cell phone regulations) include an excep-

tion for contacting emergency services to report an emergency.

Just because you can, doesn’t mean you should!

There are circumstances in which the driver really should not be using

a cell phone, even if it is hands-free. The issue is that cell phones, even

hands-free cell phones, create cognitive distraction. This cognitive distrac-

tion may lead to the driver seeing something in front of him/her, but not

reacting to it. The driver will be especially prone to these phenomena

when there are multiple driving activities that will require his/her atten-

tion.

An example would be a driver approaching an accident scene. Ap-

proaching an accident scene requires covering the brake, checking traffic

in the area, checking mirrors to see what traffic coming to the scene is

doing, following the directions of emergency responders, being prepared

to stop on a moment’s notice, and actively deciding when and where to

stop. A driver that is on the phone may not realize what is going on

around him/her, much less be mentally prepared and able to make

sound decisions.

Other situations, such as heavy traffic, bad road conditions, and bad

weather conditions, can lead to similar problems. If the driver is in a driv-

ing situation that involves taking in a lot of driving data and making sound

decisions, the driver should not be using even a hands-free cell phone.

The bottom line is that when the driver is in a difficult driving situation,

the distraction of talking on even a hands-free cell phone may be enough

to get the driver in trouble. Therefore, work with your drivers on when

they should and shouldn’t be using a hands-free cell phone. And remem-

ber that there are no circumstances where texting while driving is al-

lowed.TOW

Thomas Bray is Sr. Editor – Transportation Management for

J.J. Keller & Associates, Inc. Contact him at

[email protected]. Also be sure to check out J. J.

Keller’s website at www.jjkeller.com.

Copyright 2013 J. J. Keller & Associates, Inc.4

PO Box 368, 3003 Breezewood Lane

Neenah WI 54957-0368

S A F E T Y

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46 Tow Professional | Volume 3 • Issue 6 | www.towprofessional.com

DAMAGED VEHICLE

MOVEMENT

42 Years of the Collins Hi-Speed®DollyChanging the Tow Professional's Industry

History of the Self-Loading Dolly-

With nearly 14 years into the next mil-lennium, we continue to measure ourprogress by our past. Over 40 years ago,Collins forever changed dolly towing forthe towing and recovery industry world-wide. Since its very inception nearly 100years ago, dolly towing, shown below left,required time, space, and maneuvering toget the job done. As vehicles changed, sodid the dollies that carried them. TheHolmes D9 pan dolly, shown below right,was a staple to the towing industry fordecades. Back then, it was an awkward,unpleasant task when vehicles were dol-lied. It started by the vehicle first having tobe raised off the ground with whateverwas available to the driver. Then the bulkysteel and iron dollies had to be pulled offthe truck and assembled underneath thevehicle. The vehicle was then loweredonto the dolly. At the destination point,the vehicle then had to be raised up again,the heavy dollies pulled out from under-neath, disassembled and stowed, and thevehicle lowered back to the ground. Sea-soned veterans will tell you the processwas back-breaking and time-consuming.

All that changed in the summer of 1972.Collins' articulating, self-loading dolly, which

allowed tow operators to retrieve vehiclesand be gone in as little as 60 seconds, wasunheard of, prior to their invention of theSelf-Loading Hi-Speed?Dolly. The present-day configuration started out very simple inthe mid-70s with only four moving parts perdolly side. Simple but not entirely safe. Towoperators eventually pointed out the dangerand liability of the "crack bar" coming backand striking someone in the head -- hencethe nickname. Collins immediately re-sponded in May 1977 with the invention ofthe Safety Ratchet System (SRS). This ar-rested the free motion of the pry bar, pre-venting people from getting hurt. Withthousands of pounds bearing down on thedolly, the Collins Safety Ratchet System con-tinues to protect businesses from damagesand liability, and personnel from injury.

At present, the Collins Hi-Speed?Dollycontinues as the safest, lightest, most ad-vanced dolly in the world -- and the most imi-tated. Collins has been setting the goldstandard of safety, quality, ease, and style ofdollies for over four decades.

With other original patented featuresthat Collins invented like 8-inch aluminumwheels, greasable aluminum hubs, replace-able and serviceable parts, the Hi-Speed?Dolly is indeed unique and original.Additional features introduced by Collins tothe towing industry like aluminum axles in1995 and the aluminum square pry bar in2010, help make the tow operator's jobsafer with less worker comp claims. Collinsuses more aluminum than any of the imita-tors' dollies making them the lightest, andeasiest to use. Although these featuresmake the coveted Hi-Speed?Dolly a targetfor copy-cats in the US, China, and Singa-pore, their imitations are no match for theOriginal.

Today, dolly towing is also available to carcarriers with Collins' patent-pending CarrierDolly System. With all-wheel drive, electric,and hybrid vehicles, or cars with low groundclearance or no hook points, the CarrierDolly System solves all these problems. Afterbeing lifted by the mini-dollies, the tow bar ishooked to the dollies and the tow hook tothe tow bar. Nothing touches the vehicle.The vehicle simply rides the dollies up thebed. The system also doubles as a motorcy-cle dolly. For vehicles without wheels, thepatented Tow Cradle works for both carrierand highway dollies. TOW

Collins Mfg Corp.P.O. Box 1299Jacksonville, OR 97530www.collinsdollies.com(800) 332-9220

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www.towprofessional.com | Volume 3 • Issue 6 | Tow Professional 47

Calls for quickly moving vehicles withbroken ball joints continue to grow.While many use skates or Go-Jacks,many towers find that due to their in-ability to safely load and secure a vehi-cle, especially on the aluminum bed rollback wreckers, they find the need for asturdier device.

Steck’s 4th Wheel Loader is a tough24” x 14” hardened aluminum fabricatedplatform with two 4” x 10” Polypropyleneroller wheels, six 5/8” holes for mini-Jhooks for loading assistance and 1” axleswhich provides a safe platform to easilyhold and secure up to 5 tons while loadinga vehicle. The 4th Wheel Loader also in-cludes two shims that allow the driver toraise the vehicle with busted ball joints,lost wheels and severely bent axles andplace it at a desired height for secure load-ing on the roll back. The Loader is 4” high(without shim blocks) with a built in 6” X 1�” handle which will allow you to store the

25 lb. Loader behind your seat or tool box.Quicker loading and unloading while pre-venting further damage to vehicles by al-lowing the driver to center, pull andproperly secure the vehicle on the rollback bed as well as preventing bed dam-age to the roll back.

We have also found that the shopswhere the towers drop the damaged vehi-cle has a similar problem because Go-Jacks do not work well outdoors, whichresult in many damaged floor jacks tryingto move the vehicle into the shop. The 4thWheel Loader with its two Polypropylenewheels works well in gravel and dirt tomove the vehicle directly into the repairbays and frame racks. TOW

Steck Manufacturing Co.1115 S BroadwayDayton, Ohio 45417937-222-0062www.steckmfg.com

Stecks 4th

Wheel Loader

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48 Tow Professional | Volume 3 • Issue 6 | www.towprofessional.com

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HOOKEDUPProfessionalYour Resource for Towing & Recovery

TM

www.towprofessional.com | Volume 3 • Issue 6 | Tow Professional 49

MPD 30MPD 30 SP solid paint marker from CompetitiveAdvantage makes permanent marks on a wide va-riety of surfaces. Formerly known as Tow Pro,MPD 30 SP is an excellent choice for glass, metal,rubber, chrome, concrete, wood and plastics. Theversatility of applications led to the renaming.

MPD 30 SP is solid paint and is capable or writ-ing under the most extreme conditions, includingwet (even underwater), cold (down to -40) andhot temperatures. The performance under a widevariety of extreme weather conditions makes itthe ideal marker for the towing industry, auto auction sites, scrap yards and oilfieldmaintenance.

MPD 30 SP is available exclusively online at MarkingPenDepot.com in seven col-ors. MarkingPenDepot also sells Sakura Solid Paint Markers, Unipaint felt tip markers,Posca removable markers and AutoWriter removable body shop markers.

Competitive Advantage41775 Elm St, Unit 403Murrieta, CA 92562Phone 951-304-9370Fax: 951-677-2678www.cagwholesaleonline.com

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HOOKEDUPProfessionalYour Resource for Towing & Recovery

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50 Tow Professional | Volume 3 • Issue 6 | www.towprofessional.com

AW Direct®Touchscreen Cut-ProtectionGloves

Your work gloves have one task — protect yourhands from cuts, scrapes and punctures. But yourhands need to do more, like using your smart-phone. The new RadianG Touchscreen Cut-Pro-tection Gloves, available from AW Direct, let you tap,swipe and type on your mobile device. Plus, provide excellentabrasion, cut, tear and puncture protection when you’re on thejob. Make these your new work gloves today.Atomic LED Strobing CabMarker LightsReplace your dull factory lights withbrighter, more visible flashing cab mark-ers. Atomic’s LED technology generates a brighter light for in-creased visibility while requiring less draw on your electricalsystem. And forget about drilling holes in your expensive truck.Just reuse the factory holes. AW Direct features Atomic LEDlights for Ford F250–F750(1999–2014), Chevy/GMC Silver-ado/Sierra (2007–2014) and Dodge Ram (2003–2014).Order your lights today.(800) 243-3194 www.awdirect.com

TowMate3-in-1 LED flare/flashlight/worklight kit

The TMPRO-3-1 is a sturdy US Manufactured rechargeableemergency light system. Replace chemical flares with the LEDflare function, illuminate a work area with its LED work light, orutilize its ultra-bright LED flash light for increased visibility. Theunits’ battery life can reach more than 15 hours. System in-cludes a rechargeable 12V DC charging base. Units start at$225 (as pictured).

Go towww.TowMate.com orcall (800) 680-4455for more information.

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WorkSafe USA, IncThe NO-JACK

A tow truck operator's duties typically involve the use of a service jackfor tire changes, repositioning broken ball joints and tie rods to preparea tow, just to name a few. WorkSafe USA, Inc. is proud to present theNO-JACK vehicle lift system for self loading wheel lift wreckers. The NO-JACK system allows a self loading wheel lift wrecker to be utilized as anon-site automotive service jack, eliminating the need to carry servicejacks and jack stands on the wrecker.

WorkSafe USA, Inc. www.dump-lok.com | (217) 487-7045

Windshield Cam’s 4 Camera Pro-fessional Truck Video Security

Windshield Cam is the original and the leader in Multi CameraTruck Video Security for commercial trucks with a long 2 weekrecording time. The 4 Camera Windshield Cam Systemrecords all 4 sides of the truck, protecting you 24/7 againsttheft, vandalism, hit & runs, traffic accidents and road rage. The2 side mirror cameras are very important in providing proof insideswipes and merging accidents. The Rear Camera recordsall activity behind the truck. Make great training videos, too.

To view Windshield Cam truck video footage,please visit www.WindshieldCam.com or call Ron at(403) 616-6610.

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HOOKEDUPProfessionalYour Resource for Towing & Recovery

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52 Tow Professional | Volume 3 • Issue 6 | www.towprofessional.com

ProfessionalYour Resource for Towing & Recovery

TM

Phoenix USA, Inc. introduces 100 Series Work LightsThese new mountable work lights provide high-powered light where you need it. And since they’re LED, they emit a brighterbeam, stay cooler, last longer and are extremely affordable in relation to other lighting types.

The 4.6 inch diameter round work light has six high intensity LED diodes, 750+ lumen, 18 watt, and 10~30 VDC operation,black housing and polycarbonate lens. Stainless steel adjustable stud mounting bracket and hardware included. Full dimen-sions: 4.6” dia. x 1.7” depth.

The 5 inch square work light has five high intensity LED diodes, 600+ lumen, 15 watt, and 10~30 VDC operation, blackhousing and polycarbonate lens. Stainless steel adjustable stud mounting bracket and hardware included. Full dimensions:4.4” x 5” x 1.7” depth.

For more information: Leigh Ann NethertonPhoenix USA Inc.51 Borden StreetCookeville, TN 38501 931.526.6128www.phoenixusa.com

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S&J New Webbing V Strap

S&J Metal Mfg releases their new web-bing V Strap with 24” extension tokeep winch hook out from under theautomobile being loaded. Helps pre-vent damage to oil pan, spoilers, andbumper

S & J Manufacturing, Inc.203 Commerce DriveCuba, MO 65453Phone: 573-885-4460 Fax: [email protected]

S&J New Axle Chain

New largehook openingAxle Hook foryour towingneeds. One endof the chain with3 sizes of hooks,other end to fitmost any size frameor location and allowslack take up.

S & J Manufacturing, Inc.203 Commerce DriveCuba, MO 65453Phone: 573-885-4460 Fax: [email protected]

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54 Tow Professional | Volume 3 • Issue 6 | www.towprofessional.com

B/A Products Co. Alloy Snatch Block

B/A Products Co.(800) 327-3301 www.baprod.com

Next Generation Tool Co.Portable Automotive DVR"Your Digital Eye-Witness"This new item is a must-have for recording what actually

happens during driving incidents. Features include: HD Quality;Loop Recording and Motion Activation; Wide Viewing Area;Excellent Night Vision; Color Screen. Multi-functional as a DVR,Digital camera and Microphone; Both 12v and Battery Oper-ated; Auto ON/OFF. Excellent for insurance, legal claims andnew drivers. Know where your drivers or family is going. 1 yr.Mfr. guarantee.

Call us today at 1-800-874-5625.

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Advanced Specialty Products Inc.2 in 1 Rust Converter

This new revolutionary hi tech product chemically convertsexisting rust into an inert polymer barrier that protects againstany further corrosion and oxidation on any metal surface. Thereis no need to scrape, grind, or sandblast the rust that exists. Ad-vanced 2 in 1 Rust Converter leaves a smooth black polymer sur-face all in one step! It can be painted over or left as is. Protectsagainst salts, acids, UV rays, and friction!

* Also leaves a clear protective finish on non rusted metal.

Call 631-648-9862Or visit www.aspecialtyproducts.com

Steck Manufacturing I-Bolt

I-Bolt is a universal tow eye with a 2” x 1 ½” loop connected to a 7” longsteel shaft with unique gripping teeth that lock into the threaded holes

on the front or rear of imports and some domestics. Insert the I-Bolt into

the threaded hole engage the gripping teeth by turning the loop clock-

wise (while holding the knurled 1 ¾” knob) until the teeth engage be-hind the nut or in the threaded hole.

Steck Manufacturing Co.1115 S. Broadway | Dayton, Ohio 45417937-222-0062 | www.steckmfg.com

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DealerPlace

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www.towprofessional.com | Volume 3 • Issue 6 | Tow Professional 57

DealerPlace

MarketPlace

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MarketPlace

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MarketPlace

Tow Show Booth #622 Tow Show Booth #702

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Advanced Specialty Products . . . . . . . . . . . . .54

Aldridge Insurance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .59

Alexander Insurance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .38

all-Grip . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21

Amerideck . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .58

Anchor Graphics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .58

Atlanta Wrecker Sales . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .57

Austin Hinds Motors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .57

Austin Insurance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .50

B/A Products . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13, 57

Beacon Software . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .33, 58

Blingmaster . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .58

Bowers Group . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .57

Boxes 4 U/ Crashfilm . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .59

budgetGPS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .35

Collins Dollies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .51

CTTA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16

Custer Products . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3

CW Mill Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .48

Dangelo's Custom Built . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .48

Detroit Wrecker . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15, 23

Direct Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .58

DJ and Dan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .48

Dynamic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19

Eartec . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .52

ECM Performance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .50

Evans Cooling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .44

Eye3Mobile . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .59

Flash Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7

FlowStop . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14

Hal Kresser Insurance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .59

Hallmark Consultants Inc . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .60

Holly's Message Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .51

IAA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22

Industrial Netting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .57

International Towing and Recovery Hall of Fame & Museum / Wall of the Fallen . . . . . . . . . . . .30

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

Keystone Tape . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .55

Larson Electronics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .49

LDC Insurance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .60

Lift and Tow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28

Lodar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .59

Loganville Ford . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .56

Marking Pen Depot . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .59

Mfr. Express . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .BC

Midwest Regional Tow Show . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17

Miti . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .59

Next Generation Tool . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .58

North American Bancard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9

Phoenix USA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27

Pillow Protection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .59

Powerbilt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .39

Powerhouse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .52

Recovery Billing Unlimited . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .43

Recovery Consulting Services . . . . . . . . . . . . .38

Robert Young's Wrecker Sales & Service . . . .56

ROI . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .60

Rugged Tow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .36

RV Wheel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .60

S&J Manufacturing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .53

Specialty Equipment Funding . . . . . . . . . . . . .IBC

Steck . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .47

Surplus Solutions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .59

TomTom Telematics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29

Towbook . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29

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

Tow Partners . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .59

Tracker Management . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .37

Travis Barlow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .60

Triple K . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .49

Tru-Balance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .53

VTS Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .35

Web Rigging Supply, Inc . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5

Weiss Insurance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .59

Windshield Cam . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .57

Worksafe USA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .54

Worldwide Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .56

Wrecker Rentals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12

Wyless Telematics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .41

Yale Cordage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .45

Zacklift . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .58

COMPANY PG COMPANY PG COMPANY PG

MarketPlace

Page 63: Tow professional issue 6, 2014
Page 64: Tow professional issue 6, 2014