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Your Resource to Towing & Recovery

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Page 1: Tow Professional Magazine
Page 2: Tow Professional Magazine
Page 3: Tow Professional Magazine
Page 4: Tow Professional Magazine

IN EVERY ISSUE

4 | Publisher Letter

28 | HOOKED UP

6 |NRC Industries Inc.

6 | Isuzu Trucks

7 | How2Media announces that Dynamic Towing Equipment & Manufacturing will be part of its “World’s Greatest!...”

8 | Dynamic Towing Equipment & Manufacturing Announces Shelly Schultz to VP

8 | B/A Products Open House

9 | Cross Country Automotive Services and ATX Group Combine To Form Agero

2 Tow Professional | January/February 2012 | www.towprofessional.com

CONTENTSJanuary/February 2012

www.towprofessional.com

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

SAFETY12 | The ERG: Know What

You’re Dealing With!

TOW EQUIPMENT20 | It’s in the Bag...

26 | Going Wireless24 | How Low Can YOU Go?22 | Now You See It...

Now You Don’t...

IndustryNEWS

Cover Image Courtesy of Dynamic Towing Equipment

& Manufacturing

TOWING SOFTWARE14 | Towing Management Software

18 | Dispatch Productivity Online

Page 5: Tow Professional Magazine
Page 6: Tow Professional Magazine

PUBLISHERS

Darian Weaver

President & [email protected]

Jack Hartsfield

Vice President & [email protected]

__________________________

PRODUCTION

Clint W. Cabiness

Art Director

Hal K. Huber

Graphic Designer

__________________________

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Chris AndersonJessica Barone

Tom BrayMike Farrell

Jeffrey GodwinCal Vazquez

Brandon Vazquez

__________________________

Executive and Advertising Offices

P.O. Box 26308Birmingham, AL 35260Toll free: 888-802-8544

Fax: 205-987-1550www.towprofessional.com

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

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

ProfessionalYour Resource for Towing & Recovery

TMLETTERJanuary/February 2012

www.towprofessional.com

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

Iwill start by saying, Happy New Year, to our new audience of readers and the towing

community that has welcomed us to the market. This is our premier/launch issue of

Tow Professional Magazine. This publication will come to you bi-monthly with cover-

age of products and services for the Towing & Recovery Industry.

Tow Professional began as a conversation between best-friends Jack Hartsfield and myself.

After an in-depth study of the market, it became clear that companies needed professional help

in a business to business style format. With 34 years of shared publishing experience, Jack and

myself set out to design a true product and service driven publication, to give companies large

and small a voice in the market.

We were aware of quality publications already established in this specific market; however,

we saw the need for a publication that would be specifically focused on the latest products and

services in the industry. A resource for towing & recovery, manufacturers, dealers, distributors,

and repossessors, motor clubs, police and municipal government.

We recognize that many of us are in nominally separate fields such as: publishing, marketing,

sales, and manufacturing; however, we are all working on the same problem from slightly differ-

ent angles. Our vocabularies and immediate aims may be different, but at the core, we’re all con-

cerned with our presentation, creativity, care of content, and, most importantly, the concerns of

what serves our clients and readers most effectively.

Our goal is to help educate our readers about the features and benefits of the products and

services offered in this market. This, in turn, gives our towing professionals the valuable tools to

make informed buying decisions when selecting vendors.

Our first issue is a look at what manufacturers of the industry are bringing to the forefront of

the market in 2012 with towing software, towing equipment, and a look at safety.

I would like to thank the dealers, distributors, and manufacturers for such a warm welcome to

the market. We appreciate our editors working hard through Thanksgiving and Christmas to pro-

vide our readers with quality content.

And above all, we trust our readers will enjoy the new publication, and over time see they can

rely on Tow Professional to acquire the information to make educated purchasing decisions.

Enjoy,

Darian Weaver and Jack Hartsfield

P U B L I S H E R S

4 Tow Professional | January/February 2012 | www.towprofessional.com

Page 7: Tow Professional Magazine

www.towprofessional.com | January/February 2012 | Tow Professional 5

Page 8: Tow Professional Magazine

The NRC 60/80 SRNRC has upgraded its Flagship “Heavy Inci-dent Manager” by giving it a new stream-lined body. The design of their new6080SR now matches the capabilities ofthe HIM that was already recognized by theindustry as the ultimate Recovery machine.Also available on the 5065CSR, this6080SR features new laser sensors thatallow the computer to know what you can

safely lift depending on your boom & outrig-ger position. The computer screen in-stalled by the side controls will tell you howmuch you are picking up compared withwhat the lifting chart allows you to lift at thisposition. This is the first time that laser tech-nology has been incorporated into a Recov-ery vehicle. Extra rigging points on theboom of this new Sliding Rotator from NRCcomplete the new package.

On the back of this Slider Rotator is thenew NRC Drag winch. This modular dragwinch assembly consists of a 35000 lbsDP winch that sits in a removable cradle. Itis located in the underlift rails and can beused in a variety of positions.

This vehicle is owned by Finish Line Towing of Santa Clara, California.

Whether you’re a small business operatorwith a single vehicle or you manage an en-tire fleet, Isuzu trucks will do more with ademonstrated lower cost of operation.Isuzu’s heritage is second to none – in fact,Isuzu has been the #1 selling Low Cab For-ward (LCF) truck in America since 1986.

Isuzu is the only LCF truck company tooffer a choice of diesel- or gasoline-poweredtrucks.

Our N-Series gasoline-powered trucksoffer GVWR ratings from 12,000-lbs to14,500-lbs.

Our N-Series diesel-powered trucks offeryou a choice of our 12,000-lbs GVWR NPRECO-MAX model that offers up to 20% im-proved fuel economy vs. competitive mod-els

For GVWRs up to 19,500-lbs, there’s ourbrawny 5.2-liter diesel that has improved for2011 to deliver more performance, econ-omy and reliability.

With our N-Series products Isuzu alsogives you a choice: 3-across seating con-ventional cab or our 7-seat crew cab.

We offer wheelbases from 109 to 212inches – and can accommodate bodiesranging from 10 to 24 feet in length – thatmeans there’s an Isuzu truck for virtually anymedium-duty need.

Then there’s Reach – our all-new com-mercial van that provides 35% better fuel

economy than traditional walk-in vans, plusadds the convenience of a walk-in/walk-through design that increases efficiency,which saves you time.

We also offer a variety of tools to help youcontrol costs – for example our Total Cost ofOwnership calculator demonstrates justhow efficient these Isuzu trucks are in thereal world.

Plus, Isuzu has a nationwide dealer organ-ization with factory-trained technicians andconvenient service hours offering an arrayof service, warranty and parts programs tohelp you control costs.

Isuzu trucks deliver: Performance. Practical-ity. Dependability. Durability. We would liketo demonstrate to you how Isuzu trucks canhelp drive up your productivity while drivingdown your cost of ownership. Visit yourIsuzu truck dealer to discuss your Isuzutransportation needs.

www.isuzucv.com(866) 441-9638

6 Tow Professional | January/February 2012 | www.towprofessional.com

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

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

Isuzu Trucks

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

At the Baltimore show this year NRC was displaying a new 80 ton Slider Rotator

NRC Industries Inc. > > >

> > >

Page 9: Tow Professional Magazine

Delray Beach, FL----How2Media, theproducers of the television show“World’s Greatest!...”, announced todaythat they have recently selected DynamicTowing Equipment & Manufacturing tobe a part of the popular television series.

“Dynamic Towing Equipment & Manufactur-ing is one of those companies that we like tofeature on “World’s Greatest!...”. The origina-tor of the Self Loading Wheel lift, which reallymoved the towing business away from amanual process; a privately owned, mid-sizedcompany that prides itself on being able totake the customers’ specifications and build atruck body to those specifications, and, all Dy-namic Towing Equipment is “Made in the

USA”...no outsourcing of anything. That’swhat leaders do, they pioneer, grow, and lead.We think their story will be meaningful to ourviewers” said Gordon Freeman, ExecutiveProducer of the show.

As part of the show, How2Media will besending a film crew to spend time at the com-pany’s Norfolk, Virginia facilities, to get thestory behind the story on Dynamic TowingEquipment & Manufacturing, allowing us tothen show the “World’s Greatest!...” viewers

why they were selected asthe best in their category,and therefore featured onthe show.

“World’s Greatest!...” is athirty minute show dedi-cated to highlighting theworld’s greatest companies,products, places, and peo-ple. Each show is a fastpaced tour around the worldfeaturing behind the scenesfootage, informative inter-

views, and exciting visuals.

How2Media is a 21st Century televisionProduction Company. Their award win-ning programming can be seen on na-tional cable channels and local networkaffiliates across the country. For more in-formation on How2Media and showlineup, please visit How2Media.tv

www.towprofessional.com | January/February 2012 | Tow Professional 7

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .How2Media announces that Dynamic Towing Equipment & Manufacturing will be part of its “World’s Greatest!...”

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

> > >

Page 10: Tow Professional Magazine

Dynamic Towing Equipment & Manu-facturing is pleased to announce the pro-motion of Shelly Schultz to the positionof Vice President. Shelly joined Dynamicin April 2011 as its new Business Devel-opment Manager.

Shelly began her Dynamic career initiallyfocused on assessing opportunities andgenerating sales leads. NeverthelessShelly’s role quickly expanded beyond ad-vertising, sales, and marketing to include ac-counting, legal matters, quality control, andthe management of personnel and opera-tions. The job of Business DevelopmentManager has been incredibly demanding,but Shelly Schultz has stepped up to thechallenge time and time again. The title ofV.P. more accurately reflects not onlyShelly’s actual responsibilities, but also the

incredible talent she brings to the table.Shelly Schultz will play a pivotal role in thecontinued success of Dynamic both in theU.S. and abroad.

Shelly Schultz hails from Macon, Geor-gia, where she graduated from WesleyanCollege with a Bachelor’s degree in adver-tising and marketing communications.

Founded in 1982, Dynamic TowingEquipment & Manufacturing is an innova-tor. Dynamic’s Self Loading Wheel-Lift isthe most sought-after technology in theindustry.

For more information about purchasingDynamic equipment or becoming a dis-tributor, please call Shelly Schultz at757-803-4712 or send an email to:[email protected]

B/A Products Co. started in amodest Hollywood, Florida store-front in 1978, later moving to our cur-rent location in Columbia, Maryland in1984. Offering only a few items at the start,the company quickly grew into a manufactur-ing powerhouse. Supplying first the TowingIndustry and now also the Auto Transport andFire Rescue Industries, B/A continues to offerinnovative products and possesses theunique ability to manufacture custom assem-blies built to customer specifications.

B/A began opening up its doors for an in-side look at our manufacturing facility at ourfirst open house in 2007. We wanted to givepeople a chance to see how the products thatthey use everyday are made and to give ahands on look at the product testing that is

performed before any item leaves ourfacility. In addition, we held live

demonstrations featuring local towingcompanies to show those same items in

use. The 2007 open house was also thestart of our annual charity auction benefittingthe Tow Museum and Survivor Fund. Thatfirst open house turned out to be such a suc-cess that we decided to make in an annualevent.

With each subsequent year this event hasgrown bigger and better and this past Novem-ber was no exception. B/A Products proudlyheld our 5th annual open house November18th and not only did we surpass last year’sattendance, but we were able to raise a record$15,000 during our charity auction. We gen-uinely appreciate the overwhelming support

that we received from all of the people who at-tended. We hold our open house each yearon the Friday of the American Towman Expo.We are looking forward to next year’s openhouse to be held on Friday November 16,2012 and as always, all are welcome.

8 Tow Professional | January/February 2012 | www.towprofessional.com

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

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Dynamic Towing Equipment & Manufacturing Announces Shelly Schultz to VP

B/A Products Co. Open House

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

> > >

BA Products Company founder Mel Bermanand sons in law Fritz Dahlin and Chip Kauff-man present a check for $15,000 to TroyBarnett and Bill Gratzianna of the ITRHFM.The money represents the proceeds fromproducts donated by B/A and auctioned offduring their 5th annual open house held onNov 18th, 2011 and attended by over 500towing and recovery industry members intown for the American Towman Expo. Thefunds raised will be split 50-50 between themuseum and the survivor fund.

> > >

Page 11: Tow Professional Magazine

New name, brand reflects the creation ofleader in roadside assistance, claims man-agement and connected vehicle services

Focus will remain on safety, securityand innovation that enhances vehicleownership

Service Provider community will remainCross Country until March 1

MEDFORD, MASS., DEC. 5, 2011 —Cross Country Automotive Services, aleader for nearly four decades in driver assis-tance programs, and its subsidiary ATXGroup, a pioneer in connected vehicle(telematics) services, today announced itsnew corporate brand name, Agero. For itsNational Network of Service Providers, the

brand change won’t take effect until March1, 2012 on which communications will besent out. All contact info, as well as all ad-ministrative processes and billing proce-dures, will remain the same.

Agero (pronounced Ah-JEH-roh, from theLatin word agere: to do, to lead, to drive)combines the heritage and innovation ofboth companies to create an integrated setof offerings to help auto manufacturers, in-surance carriers and aftermarket providersmanage the entire vehicle ownership anddriving experience. Its services provide driv-ers with enhanced safety, security, and con-venience through roadside assistance,claims management and connected vehicletechnology.

“Since Cross Country Automotive Ser-vice’s acquisition of ATX Group in 2008, ourfocus has been on integrating our technolo-gies and solutions to provide unique and ex-citing new benefits to our clients and theircustomers,” said Michael Saxton, CEO ofAgero. “The introduction of the Agero brand

represents the culmination of these effortswhile providing a platform to continue to de-velop safe, smart and driven solutions.”

Agero has four decades of experienceand nearly 2,500 employees in the U.S.,Canada, Germany and France. Its roadsideassistance services protect more than 75million drivers a year in North Americathrough the response and management ofin-vehicle and post-emergency safety and se-curity situations. These programs are sup-ported by a best-in-class network of morethan 30,000 roadside assistance providersacross North America.

Agero’s claims management servicecombines technology, proven operating ex-perience, and its network of serviceproviders to drive significant cost savingsand maximize customer satisfaction for themajority of the large insurance carriers inNorth America.

Agero’s connected vehicle services divi-

www.towprofessional.com | January/February 2012 | Tow Professional 9

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Cross Country Automotive Services and ATX Group Combine To Form Agero

Agero continued.

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

> > >

Page 12: Tow Professional Magazine

sion has a rich history of innovation and hasbeen one of the pioneers of the in-vehicletelematics industry, starting with the LincolnRESCU program in 1996. Agero provides pri-vate-label connected vehicle services to BMW,Hyundai, Infiniti, Lexus, Rolls-Royce Motor Carsand Toyota.

Agero’s combination of capabilities and ad-vanced technology enables it to provide a mar-ket-leading suite of services and a seamlesscustomer service experience. Recentlylaunched services include the following:

The Hyundai Blue LinkH program,launched in June 2011, which offers one ofthe broadest menus of innovative services inthe connected vehicle market, including aunique, seamless agent-assisted interactivevoice recognition interface for enhanced navi-gation assistance.

The deployment of voice-based ad-vanced automatic collision notification forBMW that utilizes data from in-vehicle crashsensors and customer-provided information topredict the likelihood of severe injury to the ve-

hicle’s occupants, launched in August 2011.The combination of crash notification

services with connected vehicle systemswhich accelerates and enhances vehicleclaims processing for auto insurance policy-holders, launched in May 2011.

The first and largest North Americanroadside program for electric vehicles, with theAugust 2011 deployment of mobile, electricvehicle recharging systems.

The use of mobile technology at thescene of car accidents to accelerate claimsprocessing and drive enhanced customer sat-isfaction, launched in 2010.

The use of GPS smartphone technologyto provide detailed on-time arrival informationof service trucks to stranded motorists,launched in 2010.

As a combined organization, Agero ispoised to continue its growth and innovation,assisting automotive manufacturers, insurancecompanies and others in making driving andthe vehicle ownership experience safe, secureand enjoyable.

About AgeroAgero (formerly Cross Country AutomotiveServices and ATX Group) is the leadingprovider of roadside assistance, claimsmanagement and connected vehicle serv-ices for the automotive, insurance and after-market industries. Based in Medford, Mass.,the company has operations throughoutNorth America and offices in Europe. Formore information, visit www.agero.com.

Agero is a member of The Cross CountryGroup of companies (CCG). CCG is aBoston-based organization comprised ofoperating businesses and investments thatspecialize in private-label, technology-en-abled service programs for global corporateclients.

Contact:Gary Wallace800-511-5891 or [email protected]

10 Tow Professional | January/February 2012 | www.towprofessional.com

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

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Agero continued.

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

Page 13: Tow Professional Magazine

www.towprofessional.com | January/February 2012 | Tow Professional 11

Page 14: Tow Professional Magazine

12 Tow Professional | January/February 2012 | www.towprofessional.com

The Emergency Response Guidebook

(ERG) is a resource that is published

to assist emergency responders � in-

cluding tow operators � when dealing

with hazardous materials (hazmat). It is repub-

lished roughly every four years to provide users

with the most current information.Knowing about the ERG is key during the initial re-

sponse phase. Along with knowing how

to use it, equally important is know-

ing when to use it!

Anything that carries

cargo

Tow operators should always in-

quire, as early in the process as possi-

ble, about the cargo being carried in any

cargo-carrying vehicle. This allows the driver, in the

event of a cargo-related problem, to be aware of what

materials could be involved at the beginning of the in-

cident. An “incident” in this context does not mean

the crash or breakdown that got the tow truck there

initially, it means the operator or someone else at the

scene noticing cargo spilling or dripping from the ve-

hicle.

If the initial accident or breakdown involved the

known release of hazmat, the authorities at the scene

should be working with the tow operator as a fellow

emergency response resource. The

tow operator would also be operat-

ing under the incident com-

mand structure, so the

orders to start moving the

vehicle would be coordi-

nated with the other emergency

response resources working at the

scene by the incident commander.

The ERG:Know what you’re

dealing with!

By Tom Bray

Isolate and identify

If material does start spilling or dripping from the unit

being towed, the driver will need to take steps im-

mediately. First, the driver should isolate the im-

mediate area. It may be nothing, but the risk of

exposing the driver or the public to toxic or dangerous

chemicals is too great to not take immediate precautions.

Next steps for the driver are to identify the materials in-

volved, determine the hazards associated with the materials, and

Page 15: Tow Professional Magazine

www.towprofessional.com | January/February 2012 | Tow Professional 13

take appropriate actions. This is where the ERG comes into play.

The information in the ERG is intended to assist first responders by

providing them an easy-to-use reference that will keep them and

the public safe during the initial phase of an incident. Included in the

ERG is information about:

• Potential Hazards, including fire and explosion hazards, and

health hazards.

• Public Safety considerations, including immediate isolation

instructions and distances (if applicable), necessary protective

clothing, and immediate evacuation distances (if applicable).

• Emergency Response information, including what to do if

the material is burning, how to deal with a spill or leak, and

first aid for anyone that has been exposed to the material.

Using the ERG

Because of its design, using the ERG is fairly

easy ― provided the driver knows some

basic information about the material

involved. To use the ERG, it is best if

the driver knows the name and/or four

digit identification number for the material.

If this is not available, the class of placard that is

on the vehicle (or should have been on the vehicle)

can be used. With any of the above information, the

driver can locate the necessary information in the ERG.

When it comes to the name or identification number for the ma-

terial, where would the tow operator get such in-

formation? It is available through the driver, on

paperwork that is supposed to be in the

cab of the vehicle. If the driver was driv-

ing, it should be visible and within

the driver’s reach. If the driver was

not with the vehicle, it should be on the

driver’s seat or in a pouch on the driver’s

door. Another potential contact is the carrier

operating the vehicle (the name of the carrier

should be on the door). The carrier and driver may not know what

the specific material is, but they will know where they picked it up

and the shipper will know what it is.

Placards are the diamond-shaped warning signs that are on the

sides of a vehicle transporting either:

• Certain hazardous materials (the really dangerous materials

require placarding in any amount), or

• A large quantity of other hazardous materials (the other

hazardous materials must be placarded if the vehicle con-

tains more than 1,000 pounds of hazardous materials).

There are several exceptions to the plac-

arding regulations, so they cannot be re-

lied on as a “foolproof” method of

determining if a cargo-carrying

vehicle contains a dangerous

cargo. The shipping documentation

and the driver are far more reliable. This

goes back to the comment above about

finding out about the cargo in the case of any

cargo-carrying vehicle.

Once the tow operator has identified the material involved, the

next step is using the ERG. Knowledge about the material will be

used to locate the correct “guide.” The guides are the pages that

provide the information discussed above.

If the placard is known, use the “Table of Placards and Initial Re-

sponse,” which is on pages 16 and 17 in the white-bordered pages

in the 2008 ERG, to locate the appropriate guide. If the four-digit

identification number for the material is known, you would locate

the guide using the yellow-bordered pages. If only the name of the

material is known (make sure the spelling is right!), you would use

the blue-bordered pages to locate the correct guide.

The ERG only provides “step one” in a

chain of steps!

One key point about the ERG is that it is

intended to only provide initial re-

sponse information. The informa-

tion necessary for the long-term

handling of the incident is normally not

found in the ERG. This includes information

on how to safely contain and clean up the inci-

dent and how to dispose of contaminated materi-

als. Other emergency responders, such as the “hazmat team,” are

the ones that have access to that information.

Learn about the ERG before some-

thing goes wrong

While the ERG is fairly easy to use, ide-

ally you do not want a tow operator

you have just sent to a scene

where something is dripping out of

the back of the vehicle to be completely

unfamiliar with the ERG. Knowing in ad-

vance what the cargo is, how to use the ERG,

and what the tow operator can do are critical to ef-

fectively responding during an emergency incident. TOW

SAFE+Y

Page 16: Tow Professional Magazine

14 Tow Professional | January/February 2012 | www.towprofessional.com

Call�TakingAll towing software packages are likely

to have a call entry and management

screen organized in some user friendly

manner to track the basics about a call.

Standard information would be to track

the service being performed, informa-

tion about the vehicle being serviced, lo-

cation, destination where applicable,

and customer information so you know

who is paying. As you look at the various

systems, it is important to determine if

the many things you do in your business

are available in the program. For in-

stance, you may need a special field for a

number other than your tow ticket num-

ber or maybe you have customers like

police departments with specific record

keeping requirements. It is important

that you are comfortable that the things

you do every day can be handled by a

prospective software application.

Towing�Management

SoftwareBy Je f f rey Godwin

Have you ever found a product that you thought

you could get from anywhere and it would be the

same? That’s called a commodity. To the un-

trained eye, anything from raisin bran to towing

can be considered a commodity but looking more

closely reveals differences in each offering.

Granted, all raisin bran should be made up of bran

flakes and raisins. But, the real question is “do you

want two full scoops of fresh, plump raisins?” If

so, then there is a brand on the market that has

spent millions of dollars to let you know they offer

two scoops. With towing services, you hope your

potential customers know what makes you better

for them. Maybe you are closer, faster, cheaper (I

hope this is not your primary selling point but it is

often true of towing and raisin bran), have newer

equipment, trained operators, special contract re-

lationships, or some other factor that differenti-

ates you from your competition. In both scenarios,

there are commonalities as well. Many outside of

our industry look at towing as purely a commodity.

The same is true for many of those in our industry

when it comes to software offerings. In this arti-

cle, I want to highlight the basics of what is avail-

able in the industry.

Page 17: Tow Professional Magazine

www.towprofessional.com | January/February 2012 | Tow Professional 15

DispatchIf you use software for live dis-

patch (and you should), the dis-

patch screen is very important. If

you do not dispatch yourself, be

sure your dispatcher looks at the

various software options. Though

dispatching may seem simple,

there are many ways to go about

it and the one that will be best for

you is the one that is best for your

dispatcher. Most of the towing

dispatch systems also have some

sort of mapping interface to allow the dis-

patcher to determine distance on tows or

even the route between two points. Some

even allow the user to bring up a map that

shows where the job is located, where it is

going or both with a breadcrumb-style path

demonstrating a possible route, and offer

mileage between the two points. Dispatch is

the nerve center of any successful towing

business and a good dispatcher with good

software can make a significant difference in

your top and bottom lines.

CustomersThe system should track information about

your customers. This can be anything from a

simple customer list to an elaborate setup that

allows you to provide specialized notes to dis-

patchers or towing operators during calls.

Many systems allow you to set defaults for

customers so information does not have to be

typed in each time a call is taken. Whether it is

the vehicle color defaulting to brown on UPS

calls or a destination defaulting to your im-

pound yard for police calls, there are many

ways the various systems address default val-

ues. A good customer area in the system will

save you time and money as you provide bet-

ter customer service.

TrucksThe trucks area of a system should track the

assets so they can be assigned to calls. This

allows you to report on what value they are

adding to your business. Truck tracking can

be as simple as a truck number or it may add

status information or driver assignment. Truck

data can also include a way to track your

maintenance activity though that is not neces-

sarily a function of towing software.

PricingSystems for the towing industry vary widely in

the area of pricing. For some, pricing is simply

a grid where any values can be input and then

saved. Others offer consistency to customers

by setting pricing in customer profiles. There

can be pricing plans where a customer is as-

signed to a specific set of rates or even spe-

cific rates for every customer. Companies

have many variations of pricing depending on

who the customer is and when or where a

service is completed. Making sure the system

you are purchasing can manage these things

for you will assist you in training your staff and

make sure you are remaining in compliance

when necessary.

Payments,�Paperwork,and�AccountingTowing software can often be your accounts

receivable billing system or it can interface to

a real accounting package such as Quick-

Books. In some cases, these packages can do

both. Getting to the point of billing

and accounting is all about accu-

racy in the system. A good way to

manage this is to receive in all of the

paperwork from your drivers and

then to verify that their paperwork

and received payments match what

is shown in the system. Once any

discrepancies are addressed, these

can then be transferred to an ac-

counting package or you can han-

dle all of your billing and payment

application in the towing system if

that feature is offered. Either way,

there is information that is validated to bill to

customers and to reconcile cash payments re-

ceived. Tracking the paperwork from your

drivers is also a good way to further manage

your tow tickets.

InventoryIf you store vehicles and need to track inven-

tory, towing software packages are made to

assist in this process. Whether you need to

know what is on a particular lot or you need to

find a specific car, these systems are invalu-

able. You can assign vehicles to lots on intake

and begin charging fees based on various

agency and other customer profiles. The sys-

tems should manage re-tows as well as track

all access granted to impounded vehicles.

Systems should allow call takers to locate ve-

hicles in storage, quote prices when con-

sumers call about release options, and track

releases including who the vehicle was re-

leased to and when.

Lien�and�AuctionThere are as many ways to handle lien pro-

cessing as there are software solutions, if not

more. Some systems leave it to you to do this

work manually or simply generate a letter for

you. Others generate every letter that is

needed in the process, tell you when steps are

needed, and then do the bulk of the work for

you so all you have to do is fold, stuff, and mail.

T O W I N G S O F T W A R E

Page 18: Tow Professional Magazine

16 Tow Professional | January/February 2012 | www.towprofessional.com

Trying to make sure you train your staff cor-

rectly for this activity and keep them current

on the specific requirements of your state,

county, and city is a never ending task that can

be managed by a software application. Lien

systems in the towing industry also often tie to

an auction module that allows you to build

auctions and auction lists as well as to man-

age bidders, the sale of vehicles, and even the

generation of paperwork after the sale.

ReportsReports are the lifeblood of any good system

and should include standard things such as

driver and truck productivity to determine

who is doing the most work for you as well as

customer reports to determine when a cus-

tomer’s business picks up or drops off. Re-

ports tell you where your call volume is com-

ing from and what services are being pur-

chased. Reports can allow you to view

commissions, taxes, inventories, cancelled

calls, and more. Reports also encompass spe-

cialized forms such as printed receipts, police

department required report formats, and

more. Be sure the company where you buy

software can provide you with customized re-

ports at a reasonable price. Also keep in mind

that some systems will allow you to track your

work live and to determine where you are in

your business at any given point in the day. A

good graphical report can also help you make

timely decisions and help you to improve your

bottom line.

InterfacesThere are a variety of interfaces in the towing

software arena. For regular customers, you

may have a web interface that allows the cus-

tomer to enter their own tow and service re-

quests or to check the status of an existing

request. For a motor club customer, you may

have the ability to accept calls and bill elec-

tronically. For police agencies, you may have a

tool that allows the agency to look at their in-

ventory online through a simple login. There

are tools that can even allow police agencies

to manage multiple service provider relation-

ships, dispatch directly to your dispatch

screen, or add and remove holds. All in all,

the ability to receive calls electronically or to

have police department connectivity will help

to save you time and further strengthen the re-

lationships you have with your customers.

Multiple�Operating�EntitiesWhether you operate two parts of the same

Towing�Management

Software

Page 19: Tow Professional Magazine

www.towprofessional.com | January/February 2012 | Tow Professional 17

business, have multiple locations with differ-

ent financials, or even have different operating

names and locations, be sure the system you

select allows you to merge these entities

when needed and to separate them when re-

quired as well. Whether it is the ability to dis-

patch all of your entities together at night or

the ability to run separate sales reports for

varying business segments, your company

structure needs to be supported by the sys-

tem you select. There is no value in purchas-

ing a system that only handles part of your

business.

Other�FeaturesThere are many other features that are typi-

cally common among software providers in

our industry and you should look for these

when making a decision. The ability to de-

code VINs to fill in make and model informa-

tion or to alert you when the VIN is incorrect is

important. Systems should allow you to store

images in order to track condition of vehicles

before towing or other service as well as for

parking violation documentation. Most qual-

ity systems also allow you to customize your

screens. Whether one dispatcher likes some-

thing on the left and another on the right no

longer matters.

Price�of�SystemsI could say a lot about the price of systems but

the simplest way to deal with this issue is two

parts. One, you get what you pay for is often

true so don’t go cheap unless you are sure it is

everything you need for your business. You

wouldn’t buy a 20 year old, worn out light

duty truck would you? Two, evaluate the

value. Are you getting software that will grow

and continue to evolve with your business? Is

support included? Is it a monthly fee or a one-

time expense? If you are buying software, be

sure it is everything you need for a long time

to come and that there is a reason for the

provider to always support you. If you plan to

grow your business or want to keep up with

industry or legal changes, go with a company

that makes on-going service a part of the offer-

ing.

Selecting�A�SystemWhether you are on a system now, or are in

the market for one, you should take the time

to see how your selections measure up and

then select the best solution for your com-

pany. TOW

Jeffrey Godwin has been involved in the

towing business in a variety of capacities

over the past 19 years. He currently

serves as Vice President of towXchange,

Inc. and runs the day-to-day operations of

the company’s FTI Groups unit which op-

erates towPartners and several other

businesses. Mr. Godwin can be reached

at [email protected].

T O W I N G S O F T W A R E

Page 20: Tow Professional Magazine

18 Tow Professional | January/February 2012 | www.towprofessional.com

Beacon Software Company, a pioneer in

towing industry technology, is the prod-

uct of a successful partnership between

Todd Althouse, the Managing Partner of

Beacon Software Company, and Rudy Smith Serv-

ice, Inc., a third generation towing company founded

in 1920, and thought to be one of the oldest

in the United States. The company

was incorporated in December

2000 with a mission to marry tech-

nology and experience in order to

offer service-related products to

the towing industry.

DispatchProductivity

O N L I N E

T O W I N G S O F T W A R E

By Jess ica Barone

Althouse has an extensive history in transportation soft-

ware development. He completed a bachelor’s degree at Ohio

University in Electrical and Computer Engineering with a minor

in Computer Science while supporting himself by working for

the Ohio Department of Transportation, and later, for himself.

While still at OU, Althouse formed Althouse Consulting Com-

pany, and shortly after graduation he co-founded Advanced

Data Technologies to develop software for City and State De-

partments of Transportation. By the time Althouse founded Bea-

con Software Company at age 32, he had 16 years of

experience behind him working for himself, Alcoa, and others.

Althouse stepped out on his own with the help of Rudy

Smith Service, which provided both venture capital money and

towing industry knowledge to the new company. Beacon Soft-

ware spent its first three years on research and development be-

fore finally marketing its first product in 2004. Beacon’s first

commercial release was a product called Dispatch Anywhere.

Dispatch Anywhere is a dispatching program designed to dis-

patch more calls using fewer dispatchers. It also offers service

providers tools for accounting, impound management, report

generation, administration, mapping, and the flexibility to run

multiple companies or divisions from anywhere in the world.

Additionally, Dispatch Anywhere is intended to adapt to the cur-

rent needs of the service provider. Customers pay only for what

they use. In 2009 automated motor club invoicing was also

added to Dispatch Anywhere so that companies would no

longer risk forgetting to bill a motor club.

Shortly after the release of Dispatch Anywhere, a new pro-

gram called TowMagic was made available by Beacon. Tow-

Magic is an online dispatching assistant that allows towers and

roadside assistance companies to receive motor club jobs elec-

tronically over the Internet directly to a desktop computer, smart

phone, or other mobile device. The service provider can then ac-

cept the job electronically. With this new product, Beacon was

able to capture four of the twelve motor clubs as customers.

The benefits to the towing industry are obvious. TowMagic

reduces call times from road club dispatchers by approximately

five minutes per call. TowMagic saves both time and money for

its customers in the form of increased employee productivity

and less money spent on telephone services. In 2009, Beacon

Software also solved the problem of inputting information that

is received by fax/email by electronically scanning the

fax/email, entering it into Dispatch Anywhere, and sending the

call out just like a digital call. It is now able to service all towers in

the same way through TowMagic. Towers receive all motor club

information in a consistent, predictable manner. TowMagic can

be used either as a stand-alone product, or in conjunction with

Dispatch Anywhere. Beacon now supports twelve clubs

through digital dispatch, faxes, and email. Today, calls processed

through TowMagic and Dispatch Anywhere, including all elec-

Page 21: Tow Professional Magazine

www.towprofessional.com | January/February 2012 | Tow Professional 19

tronic calls, total more than four million annually.

Dispatch Anywhere is one of the first towing in-

dustry products to adopt cloud technology. Previous

business models had businesses purchasing soft-

ware and installing it on its own computer systems.

All of the data would then be kept on its own servers.

Dispatch Anywhere allows the customer to pay a

monthly fee to use the software, service, and training

while storing all of the information on secure servers

located in Cleveland, Ohio.

The importance of the cloud technology was

never more evident than on August 29, 2005 when

hurricane Katrina hit Louisiana. Beacon’s new soft-

ware was put to the test as its partner, Rudy Smith

Service, Inc. moved all of its trucks and computers out of New Orleans

in advance of the hurricane. As soon as trucks could safely return to

New Orleans, Rudy Smith Service was able to run its business via the

Internet from other cities around Louisiana because all of its informa-

tion was safely stored in Cleveland. When cell phone service was dis-

rupted in Louisiana, Althouse even pitched in by dispatching trucks

from his home in North Royalton, Ohio via text. With the help of Dis-

patch Anywhere, he was able to see the trucks in real time and provide

them with directions on a turn by turn basis. Less than 24 hours after

the levees broke, Rudy Smith Service was up and running.

Hurricane Katrina created the need for the largest towing and re-

covery job ever attempted in the United States. Working with the state

of Louisiana, Beacon and Rudy Smith Service created a plan of attack

for dealing with damaged boats, cars, and even a few planes that

needed to be collected. With Beacon handling the software side of

things and Rudy Smith Service heading up the towing management

side of it, a system was put into place whereby the highway patrol

would mark damaged vehicles and enter them into a database. Soft-

ware was developed that would retrieve the list of vehicles and popu-

late the dispatch program with them. Vehicles were then towed to

huge lots, and the information was linked back to the server when each

vehicle came in. Every night the system was updated in real time and

the state would be notified of which vehicles were collected. The tow-

ing companies collected 15,000 vehicles over a period of months.

Beacon Software was formed to build Internet dispatching soft-

ware, but through Dispatch Anywhere and other software programs

Beacon has been able to offer more automation for the towing industry

than had ever been imagined. Althouse comments, “Dispatch manage-

ment software should not just track calls, but automate the entire

process.” Beacon has succeeded in automating the industry and sav-

ing time and money for the service providers.

In addition to Dispatch Anywhere and TowMagic, Beacon Software

also created TOWSPEC.com as a way to earn name recognition in the

towing industry and to provide a free service for current and future cus-

tomers. This web site was created from many sources and provides

towers with information on tow limits, hook and jacking points, and

manufacturer warnings. TOWSPEC.com services thousands of look-

ups a day. Beacon also provides a variety of other towing and roadside

software.

Today Beacon Software has grown from four employees in 2006

to nine employees in 2011, and it continues to lead the industry in cut-

ting edge technology. Althouse is looking forward to the future, and the

release of new mobile apps that will benefit both large and small tow-

ers. Due to a lack of affordability, it has been difficult to provide smaller

towing companies with the same technology that larger companies

are using. With Beacon Software’s new apps for the iPhone, Android,

Blackberry and Windows 7 Mobile, Althouse says that, “small compa-

nies will have all the benefits of the big companies.” All towing compa-

nies will now have an affordable option for tracking trucks in real time,

sending invoices via fax/email, and receiving calls electronically. By tak-

ing everything mobile, all of this can be done on a phone or a tablet

with mobile apps. Tow companies will be able to run the entire busi-

ness from a phone or tablet with mobile apps. Towers will also be able

to print receipts from a Bluetooth printer, accept credit card payments,

capture signatures, and take photos and link them to their calls for

quick retrieval and protection against accusations of damage.

Beacon Software Company believes that its customers are the

service providers. “We take care of the tower and make sure that

what we do will save them money,” says Althouse. Beacon will con-

tinue to take care of its customers with the next generation of Dis-

patch and Management Systems. These systems are completely

integrated with the Internet to take advantage of the latest technolo-

gies today with an eye to the future. New apps will hit the market-

place by early 2012. Today Beacon Software has over 18,000 users

in 30 countries and will continue to serve the industry with dedica-

tion for generations to come. TOW

Page 22: Tow Professional Magazine

20 Tow Professional | January/February 2012 | www.towprofessional.com

Matjack, a family owned

corporation, started back

1981 in Indianapolis, Indi-

ana is today one of the

largest airbag manufactur-

ing companies in the world. Started from

simple beginnings in 1981, literally work-

ing out of a garage and selling out of the

trunk of a car.

Matjack has grown to manufacturing not

only the Matjack high pressure bags to a full

line of other inflatable industrial products in-

cluding the Jumbo line of recovery air cush-

ions. Originally started by three men, John

Sweezy Sr, William Spencer and Neil Hinkle,

with Dick Clark coming on in the second

year, Matjack became a small, thriving busi-

ness and began to spread out across the U.S.

as word spread about the superior quality of

the Matjack airbags. In 1986, John Sweezy

Jr. joined the team to help with technical and

management challenges, taking over the

spot of CEO in 1989. Soon after the world-

wide expansion and acquisition was on and

why today Matjack is known as “ Simply the

best airbags and cushions available in the

world.”

Matjack High Pressure Air Lifting BagsMatjack high pressure air lifting bag require

only 1" clearance and can lift several tons

with the touch of a button. Primarily used in

low insertion situations with heavy weights

needing to be lifted such as, building lifting,

rescue, load shifts, heavy recovery and ma-

chinery moving to name a few.

Matjacks unique construction of four full

layers of Aramid Fiber per side used primarily

in low duty cycle applications such as rescue

or three full layers of woven steel per

side,used in rugged, demanding, high duty

cycle applications such as building lifting and

recovery, both provide for a lifting bag.

Matjack Low Pressure Air Lifting CushionsMatjack low pressure lifting cushions require

only 1-3 inches clearance and can lift several

tons at the push of a button.

Matjack low pressure lifting cushions

work best in cantilever or "hinged" style lifts,

but can also be used for vertical lifting if

rigged correctly so lateral movement of the

weight being lifted is restricted.

Matjack low pressure cushions work on

volume rather that pressure to create the lift,

working from 8-10 psi depending on the

model.

Jumbo Safelift AircushionSlope top cushion leans into the load, comes

with 3 foot extensions hose and industrial

twist lock coupling also, has grip surfaces on

top and bottom to eliminate sliding.

Today, Matjack is still manufacturing and

located in Indiana, with distribution to over

80 other countries worldwide and more

than 250 dealers.

To see a full line of lifting equipment log

on to www.matjack.com or call 1-800-

827-3755 or 1 -800-495-8626 U.S. and

Canada. TOW

It’s in theBag...

TOWEquipment

Page 23: Tow Professional Magazine

www.towprofessional.com | January/February 2012 | Tow Professional 21

Page 24: Tow Professional Magazine

22 Tow Professional | January/February 2012 | www.towprofessional.com

Lift and Tow is an American

manufactured product serv-

ing thousands of towing

companies across the world. These units

are so versatile and affordable that even

the smallest corner gas station can own

one and install it in no time. Each unit is

American built and tested before it leaves

the plant. All units are powder coated for

longevity to withstand the elements. With

the correct suspension upgrades, these

units can be installed on a 3/4 ton truck,

although a one ton is recommended. One

of the best features of these units is that

they are installed under the truck with

nothing bolted in the bed. This allows you

to use your truck for hauling loads or even

going to church on Sunday mornings with

your family.

Lift and Tow has been manufacturing

wheel lifts for 14 years using the latest tech-

nology and materials available. Presently

there are three models available:

1) 3-Series- a complete inexpensive unit

for the shop that needs to tow that occa-

sional vehicle back to the shop for repairs.

This unit has the Power Up/Down boom

with manual sliding In/out with “L” arms and

shoe stops. Mounting hardware and straps

included.

2) 5- Series- developed for the towing com-

pany or shop that retrieves vehicles daily or

the Used Car Dealer who purchases several

vehicles a week. This unit features Power

Up/Down boom with the Power sliding

In/Out feature with “L” arms and shoe stops.

Mounting hardware and straps included.

3) Z-Series- A complete state of the art de-

sign featuring the ability to retrieve a vehicle

without ever stepping out of the truck! This

unit is fitted with hydraulic arms which open

inside of the wheels for unobstructed re-

trieval every time. No problems with curbs or

how close the vehicle is to a building. This

unit also features a wireless remote control

with a distance of approx 300 feet. This is

the “Repo Mans” dream. The hidden wheel

lift package.

Our company is consistently thriving for

perfection, affordability, sustainability, and

profitable products to be the best in the field.

We at Lift and Tow are continuously develop-

ing new products that cut operational time,

increase quality, and decrease cost for our

customers who have made our company

what it is today. “We've come a long way”

says the owner, Cal, “but we never stop re-

searching better ways to improve our line of

products.”

Keep your eyes open for new state of the

art products with the latest design features

and style. TOW

TOWEquipment

Now You See It. . .

Now You Don’t.. .By Ca l & Br andon Vazquez

Page 25: Tow Professional Magazine

www.towprofessional.com | January/February 2012 | Tow Professional 23

Page 26: Tow Professional Magazine

24 Tow Professional | January/February 2012 | www.towprofessional.com

Detroit Wrecker builds their Low Loader

Flat Bed with knowledge gained from repair-

ing all kinds of other loaders in their 10,000

square foot dedicated repair center. Repair-

ing other systems helped Detroit Wrecker

sales identify the the major issues that arise

when operating your tow truck on a daily

basis. One of the first problem areas they

identified is the control system. Detroit

Wrecker’s Low Loader Flat Bed features a

well thought out control system with the one

rod for each control so that they have the

least amount of moving parts possible to

limit maintenance issues. There are opera-

tors that have running our original controls

without problems for 20 years. The second

area of maintenance are the bed pads. De-

troit Wrecker’s Low Loader Flat Bed features

pads that can be changed without removing

the bed. The pads are on the side of the rails

and will last for about 10,000 cycles and can

be flipped over to get another 10,000 cy-

cles. The ease of pad changing will make it

less likely that you’ll skip this important step

and ruin your rails. All pump winch hoses are

designed to be easily accessed when it

comes time to replace them. The Light Bar

Pylon is stationary and contains the hydraulic

tank. You can always add oil to the tank no

matter where the bed is positioned. There’s

also more room on the bed without the light

bar on there. Another feature of the Detroit

Wrecker Low Loader is that the bed doesn’t

need Bed Locks, the bed is always locked

with the Detroit Wrecker design. With a com-

plete list of standard features, and the well

thoughout bed design. The bed comes in 17,

18 and 19 foot sizes. The Detroit Wrecker

low loader bed will serve you well and make

you money. Go to www.detroitwrecker.com

to see over 140 videos on all the products

and inventory Detroit Wrecker Sales has

ready to keep your trucks on the road or call

them at 877-869-0030. TOW

TOWEquipment

How Low Can

YOU Go?

The Detroit Wrecker Low Loader comes standard with:• Installation while Painted Black• 19' L 96" W - Steel Deck Ramsey 8000lb Worm GearWinch with 75' Cable• Dual Lighted Controls Stations• 3.5 Degree Load Angle & 40 degree Dump Angle • 8" on Center for Cross Members on Deck• 3/16" Smooth Steel Deck w/ 3/8" Tail Plate• LED Whelen Justice Light Bar• LED Light Package on Equipment• Tow Lights w/ Cord• PTO w/ Pump for Manual Transmission (Automatic &Clutch • Pump are optional)• V-Chain• J-Hooks 6' Grade 70 - Pair• Ratchets & Straps for Wheel Lift• 1 Tool Box 36" - Stainless Steel Door• One Piece Control Handles - 1 Rod for each Function, elimi-nating excessive Linkage & Hardware• Superior Bed Wear Pad System - Wear Pads are re-usable(They only wear on one side, they can be flipped over & used again)

• Winch Hose Pulley System - LL uses the same hose sys-tem that a Hi-lo has used for hydraulic hoses for years. Triedand true.• Stationary Header Rack w/ Internal Oil Tank

Detroit Wrecker Sales is large enough to make a quality product,and still small enough to give personal attention to each cus-tomer!

Detroit Wrecker Sales on 19630 Fitzpatrick St. in Detroit is ex-panding when lots of other business are closing. With over20 years of experience in all areas of towing, from D.O.T. in-spections to repairs Detroit Wrecker has gained a reputation

for having a the largest selection of parts and qualified experiencedtechnicians to install them. Everyone in our building has years of experi-ence working in the towing industry and they have a full understandingof your needs.

By Mike Far re l l

Page 27: Tow Professional Magazine

www.towprofessional.com | January/February 2012 | Tow Professional 25

Page 28: Tow Professional Magazine

26 Tow Professional | January/February 2012 | www.towprofessional.com

On a cold dreary night in 1985, Bryan An-

derson, founder of TowMate, was out on a call

and decided that there had to be a better way

to run tail lights to the rear of his vehicle in tow

than hassling with the cold and stiff cord of his

current lights. After performing his research,

engineering, and prototyping, he developed

and released the worlds’ first wireless tow

light assembly to the market. This marked the

dawn of the wireless age within the towing in-

dustry and has inspired everything from spin-

offs to other wireless devices such as wireless

remote controls for wheel lifts, truck beds, and

winches.

Wireless tow lights have come a long way

in terms of aesthetic design, functionality, and

usefulness in this ever changing work environ-

ment that is towing. However, the driving con-

cept behind them remains the same today.

Less hassle, along with less time on the job,

equals greater profitability. Additionally, there

is reduced liability due to the fact that there

are no wires to scratch up a clients’ vehicle.

The greatest concern when weighing the op-

tion of wireless lighting does not seem to be

the original purchase price of the units as

much as it is the cost of replacing them when

they are left behind. Fear not, however, there

It is no secretthat continual advances in the

field of electronics have perme-

ated every industry from space

exploration to agriculture over the

past few decades reshaping the

way we live in and interact with

the world on a broad basis. The

towing industry is no exception to

this phenomenon. In fact, modern

day trucks are built more and

more as a balance between brute

force and electrical elegance. The

same concept extends to a tow-

ers’ toolbox where there is more

to be found than iron and steel

these days. So, what has

changed and why you ask?

GoingWireless

TOWEquipment

By Chr i s Ander son

Page 29: Tow Professional Magazine

www.towprofessional.com | January/February 2012 | Tow Professional 27

are now systems available to remind you if

you leave the wireless tow light behind.

One version even features a screen that

shows how much battery remains in the

light and that the unit is working properly.

Talk about advanced! You can now monitor

the status of your tow light more

closely than you can monitor what

your teenager is doing out past 10

o’clock on a Saturday night.

There are several new features of

wireless tow lights that increase

safety on the job as well. For in-

stance, some manufacturers have

gone so far as to integrate high inten-

sity LED’s into many of their prod-

ucts, or add functions like a quick

“strobe burst” when the brakes are

applied in order to increase visibility,

at no additional cost. It is steps like these

that demonstrate a genuine concern for the

safety of wrecker operators and the general

population alike. A number of wireless tow

lights even feature traffic arrow and strobe

functions, allowing a driver to utilize the

light to direct traffic aside while safely hook-

ing up the vehicle to be towed.

With distributors of wireless tow lights

located in most metropolitan areas, and

some rural, they are more widely available

than ever before. A number of online and

catalog retailers carry them as well. Natu-

rally, there is a wealth of information to be

found online regarding what light system

is best for you and what other towers have

to say about them too. Due to numerous

factors relating to safety, advanced new

features, and lower pricing than ever be-

fore on entry level units, now is the time to

buy a wireless tow light system and live to

be completely satisfied with it. TOW

Page 30: Tow Professional Magazine

28 Tow Professional | January/February 2012 | www.towprofessional.com

HOOKEDUPProfessionalYour Resource for Towing & Recovery

TM

Tiger Tool 10102 – Heavy Duty U Joint Puller

Engineered for use with up to a 1-inch impact wrench,this tool provides the ultimate “brute strength” to disas-semble the most severely seized driveshaft yokes.When it’s time to disassemble one that’s seized, it re-

quires up to 25,000 lbs of force. You don’t want to bewithout this heavy-duty one-piece tool!For further information contact Tiger Tool, 1-800-

661-4661 or visit www.tigertool.com.

BigEasy Lock Out Kit for Professionals

• Security Access to UnlockCars for Emergencies in sec-onds without damaging cars.Tow Drivers unlock cars in sec-

onds without damaging car doorsby using Steck Manufacturing’sBigEasy Lockout Tool. Over thelast 10 years this one tool has be-

come the tool of choice for tow truck drivers. It is simple to use by firstinserting the Easy Wedge into the top of the door to allow enoughroom to then insert the BigEasy tool to press or hook the door lockfrom inside the window rather than using the door panel. The ease ofthe BigEasy to open doors from the inside the window reduces liabil-ity issues with traditional lockout tools which have the potential to dis-able wiring systems inside the door panel.Kits are available at most truck and parts supply dealers as well as

from local tool supply jobbers.Further information check our website for a complete listing of all

our products www.steckmfg.com and videos or by contactingSteck Manufacturing at [email protected] or calling 1-800-227-8325.

Synthetic Rope … a safer andbetter way to recover a vehicleNo recoil, no frayed wires

Synthetic rope weighs less than steel rope but stillhas excellent strength for the toughest recoveryjobs. This smooth rope reduces the chance of cutsor injuries to your hands and won’t get damaged

from “birds nesting.” No-memory constructionmeans no kinks or flat spots. Each brightly col-ored rope floats and can be seen easily dur-

ing water recoveries. USA made.For more informationwww.awdirect.com orcall 800-243-3194

Traveling Speed Chock helpsprevent roll-off disasters!Safety during loading and unloading

Not only does this speed chock keep vehicles from rolling offyour car carrier’s deck during loading and unloading jobs, butit potentially saves lives in the event of a winch or wire failure.It adjusts to fit most passenger vehicles and has a siped rub-ber chock for a better hold. Lightweight design makes it easyto set up from either the passenger or driver side. USA made.For more information www.awdirect.com or call 800-243-3194

Page 31: Tow Professional Magazine

www.towprofessional.com | January/February 2012 | Tow Professional 29

STECK 4th WheelLoaderSteck Manufacturing Company has re-

leased another winning tool: Ability for TowTruck drivers to safely load and secure a vehi-cle with broken ball joints, lost wheels, lockedwheels or brakes, collision damage and con-trol arm failures on their roll back wreckers.Also will allow mechanics and body techni-cians to steer the vehicle into the shop andguide it to lifts or frame racks for repair. 4th Wheel Loader is a tough 24” x 14” hardened aluminum fabri-

cated platform with two 4” x 10” Polypropylene roller wheels, six 5/8”holes for mini-J hooks for loading assistance and 1” axles which providesa safe platform to easily hold and secure up to 5 tons while loading a vehi-cle with broken ball joints and/or a damaged wheel/tire on a roll back.For wheel failures like locked brakes or broken wheels simply lift the dam-aged vehicle and place the wheel in the large 10” x10” recessed pocketof the 4th Wheel Loader and chain the wheel assembly with our LoadBinder with a t end to the locking slots on the Loader platform. Each 4thWheel Loader comes with a 6’ x 3/16” chain, hand adjustable screwtype Load Binder and 3/8” extension nut that will easily connect to thechain and Loader base unit by hand or wrench to secure the load and

pull the car up on the roll back or allowthe technician to steer the damagedvehicle into the shop. The Loader is 4”high (without shim blocks) with a builtin 6” X 1 ¼” handle which will allowyou to store the 25 lb. Loader behindyour seat or tool box.4th Wheel Loader comes one 10”

x 10” x 3” and one 10” x 10” x 1 1/2”Polypropylene interlocking shimblocks, which fit into the recessed

Loader pocket. The shims allow the driver to raise the vehicle withbusted ball joints, lost wheels and severely bent axles and place it at a de-sired height for secure loading on the roll back. Simply insert the desiredshim(s) in the pocket then lift the damaged vehicle and place the rotor,solid axle or control arm to the desired level on the shim block(s) placed inthe 4th Wheel Loader pocket and chain to the locking slots on theLoader platform. Note: Shim design also has a 3” slot cutout to allow thelower control arm to nestle securely on the shim.This timesaver sells for a mere $395.00. Check out the "4th Wheel

Loader" on Steck's web page at www.steckmfg.com Check it outwith smart phones and computers on YouTube:http://www.youtube.com/user/SteckMfg#p/u.

PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT

Page 32: Tow Professional Magazine

30 Tow Professional | January/February 2012 | www.towprofessional.com

HOOKEDUPProfessionalYour Resource for Towing & Recovery

TM

B/A SyntheticWinch Lines

• Lightweight• Durable• Safer to Handle thanWire Rope• Color Coded by Size

B/A - Always BringingYou The “Best Avail-able” Products. For more informationwww.baprod.com or call (800)327-3301

B/A Twist Lock™Latch Hooks

B/A Products has introduced a new line ofgrab hooks with a heavy duty TwistLock™ latch. Once locked into place theywon’t budge until you are ready to movethem! This patented locking hook is amust have for anyone looking for a saferand more economical alternative to thestandard offerings. For more informationwww.baprod.com or call (800) 327-3301

B/A Snatch BlocksFrom Yoke

B/A Productshas intro-duced a newline of SnatchBlocks fromYoke.

• Made fromHigh QualityTensile Steel• 100% Mag-naflux Tested• Come Stan-dard with Safety Latch and Pin• Have Bronze Bushings and Grease Fit-tings for Ease of Use and ExtendedSheave LifeTruly a Superior ItemFor more informationwww.baprod.com or call (800) 327-3301

Page 33: Tow Professional Magazine

www.towprofessional.com | January/February 2012 | Tow Professional 31

PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT

Bailey’s Scotch &Snatch

The Bailey’sScotch & Snatchis designed to im-prove stability oflight duty trucksduring recoveryon any surfacetype. It is a com-

pact design for easy storage; folds to14.5" x 12.75" x 4.5" with 1 pin mak-ing it very easy to use. The Scotch &Snatch has corrosion resistant zincplating and made in the USA. It al-lows you to use your truck to its fullestpotential, doing more with less. baileystowinginc.com

Atomic LED RunningLight System

Introducing the Atomic LED Running Light Sys-tem. The first factory running light led replace-ment that not only looks great, but also doublesas a set of strobe lights. Atomic Led Lightswhere designed from the ground up to replaceyour dull factory lights (using the same factoryplug and holes) and to draw less power fromyour electrical systemwhile creating a brighter,more visible light. Who wants to drill holes in anexpensive truck just to add a strobe bar? AtomicLED running lights take care of this problem byincorporating a custom built led flasher. The re-sult is a clean, factory look with the added safetyof a strobelight system. check out our website atatomicled.com for more information aboutour latest products. (888) 305-1112

Bailey’s SnatchBlock

The Bailey’s Snatch Block is an all-pur-pose block that is affordable and madein the USA. The 4” steel sheave is ma-chined to a smooth finish for use withsynthetic winch lines and cable up to7/16”. A self-lubricating bronze bush-ing is pressed into the sheave for main-tenance free use. The design of thelaser cut side plates allows a variety ofrigging options. All steel parts have cor-rosion resistant zinc plating.• WWL 4.5 Tons, Breaking Strength41,000 lbs. baileystowinginc.com

Page 34: Tow Professional Magazine

32 Tow Professional | January/February 2012 | www.towprofessional.com

ProfessionalYour Resource for Towing & Recovery

TM

800 Rescue 911 23

American Safety & Supply 5

Anchor Graphics 32

Atomic Led 27

AW Direct 16

BA Products 7, 32

Baileys Towing 31

Beacon Software 9

Clean Planet 17

Coker Equipment 31

Collins Dollies 11

Detroit Wrecker 11

Dynamic MFG 1, IBC

Envirotabs 29

Goodyear Wrecker Sales 25

Isuzu Commercial Truck IFC

Lift and Tow 3

Mat Jack 21

Metro Lifts & Equipment 23

MFR Express 30

NA Bancard 21

Professional Dispatch Services Inc 25

ROI Protective Tape 32

Steck Manufacturing 27

Tiger Tool 25

TOPS 10

Tow Museum 30

Towmate 5

Western Star BC

Company pG Company pG Company pG

ADVERTISERINDEX

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