ITHACA NY OOLTEWAH TN 37363 8503 HILLTOP DR · 8503 HILLTOP DR OOLTEWAH TN 37363 ... Miller Industries’ equipment hard at work. 30 Miller Rocks the Hard Rock Cafe: Baltimore, MD

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001_247v0301cvr 4/2/07 3:53 PM Page 1

WithVulcan’s

ExtremeAngle™ option,

you can lower theapproach angle to

6 degrees, making theuse of ramps or wood

planks obsolete. Ideal forloading high-end automobiles

with low front-end clearance.And it’s so easy, no gloves

required.

The Extreme Angle™ option is availableon Vulcan 10 Series carriers with solid rails.

For more information about Vulcan’sExtreme Angle™ or any Vulcan product,

call your nearest Vulcan distributor.

Vulcan Equipment Companywww.millerind.com • (800) 489-2401


002_247v0301vulcan1f 3/28/07 1:29 PM Page 2

Table of Contents

On The CoverLarry Curry, Miller IndustriesDistrict Manager, operatesthe controls on a self-loaderfor the TRAA safety video.Miller Industries providedpeople and resources toassist TRAA’s EducationCommittee in producing thevideo and has always been astrong promoter of state andnational association efforts toprovide training and safetyinformation to the industry.

All of us at Miller Industries congratulate TRAA on thissuccessful effort. Please order your copy of the video(see the article on pages 10 – 11) and share it with allof your drivers.

On Call 24/7 1-800-292-0330 3

4 Inside View2006 memories and milestones.

6 Big Is Beautiful: Past, Present and FutureA strong commitment to research and development keeps those heavy-dutys improving.

8 Survivor Fund Reaches $325,000Over the past year, the fund has grown to over $325,000 due to the generosity of towing operators and suppliers.

10 Safety First: The Making of a VideoTRAA answers a safety need with the release of the Roadside Safety Video.

12 Heading Into A Hybrid WorldEaton provides a list of safety “Dos & Don’ts” and tips on identifying hybrid vehicles.

14 Gentlemen: Start Your Engines and Your Towing and Recovery TrucksMiller Industries kicks off another race season.

18 Centering Your AttentionTechniques and tools to safely and efficiently upright cement mixers.

22 Industrial Carriers For HireIndustrial carriers offer towers an opportunity to increase revenue.

25 New Products

26 Air Brakes 101What you need to know about air brakes.

29 All in a Day’s WorkMiller Industries’ equipment hard at work.

30 Miller Rocks the Hard Rock Cafe: Baltimore, MD November 17, 2006

Let’s Not ForgetI recently had the opportunity to attend the TRAA

Leadership Conference in Washington, D.C. It wasgreat to see the emphasis on driver safety and training,and I highly recom-mend that every-one in the industryobtain a copy of thesafety video andmake it a requiredviewing for all ofyour drivers. As wefocus on keeping the names of our brothers and sistersoff of the Wall of the Fallen, let’s not forget those whohave already perished.

I recently made a phone call to an old friend wholost a driver some years back to ask if he had heardabout the Wall. I forwarded him the information and heproceeded to contact the driver’s widow. He called meback to tell me that she and her daughter were planningto attend the unveiling of the names on the Wall inSeptember. I believe that most of the people in thisgreat industry are proud of the service they provide tothe motoring public. Although it can’t extinguish thepain of the loss of a loved one, I believe the family feelsa sense of belonging with an industry that remembersand honors their own.

If you know of someone who gave their life in serviceof this industry, I would encourage you to download theinclusion form from www.wallofthefallen.com, or callthe museum 423-267-3132 for a form or additionalinformation. Please join us on September 15th inChattanooga for the unveiling of the names on theWall. Let’s not forget them.

Randy Olson, Editor On Call 24/7 Miller Industries Towing Equipment Inc. 8503 Hilltop Drive, Ooltewah, TN 37363 E-mail: [email protected]

On Call 24/7 1-800-292-0330 3


003_247v0301toc 4/2/07 10:22 AM Page 3

Contributing Editors

John Hawkins [email protected] is Beautiful:Past, Present and FuturePages 6 – 7

Randy Olson, [email protected]

Inside View

4 Spring 2007 On Call 24/7

Angela RoperSafety First:The Making of a VideoPages 10 – 11

Dayton ShepardAir Brakes 101Pages 26 – 27

Tom [email protected] Your AttentionPages 18 – 20

Fred [email protected] Carriers For HirePages 22 – 23

Each year as we approach theFlorida Show, it is always a pleasure tolook back and celebrate the last year’sachievements, or adjust past perform-ance to further excel in the comingyear. This past year was a fantasticyear for our company. Thanks to cus-tomers, distributors, employees andsuppliers, Miller Industries was ablenot only to introduce new products andconstruct a new plant, but also to deliv-er more units than any other year sincethe inception of our company. What anaccomplishment!

Yet, as I look back at our corporatemilestones in 2006, I realize they wereminor compared to the historic unveiling of the Wall of the Fallen. The Wallof the Fallen will have a positive impact on the industry for years to come. Asan industry, we should all take pride in this fantastic memorial that honorsthose who have lost their lives providing service to the motoring public.

However, I believe the significance of this monument is not just in itsmemorial value. My hope is that the Wall of the Fallen becomes a spring-board that enhances safety in the minds of every tow operator. TRAA recent-

ly released a new Safety Videothat we were proud to help pro-duce. Hopefully, the impressionof the memorial, accompaniedby this video and more industryprojects like it, will inspire tow-ers to take the actions necessaryto insure that they do notbecome a statistic, and to allowthem to return home safely afterevery day on the job.

To those of you in the industrywho worked to accomplish theconstruction of the The Wall ofthe Fallen, thank you. Your con-tribution to the history of ourindustry and the honor you bringto our fallen peers and their fam-ilies no doubt brings each of yougreat satisfaction. And an evengreater satisfaction can be feltknowing that this wonderful trib-ute will also serve as a constantreminder that a safety FIRSTmentality saves lives.

By Jeff BadgleyPresident and Co-CEO

“ The Wall of the Fallen

will have a positive impact

on the industry for years

to come. As an industry,

we should all take pride

in this fantastic memorial

that honors those who

have lost their lives

providing service to

the motoring public. ”

2006 MEMORIESAND MILESTONES


004_247v0301insview 3/28/07 1:32 PM Page 4

Miller Industries8503 Hilltop Drive • Ooltewah, TN 37363

(800) 292-0330

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005_247v0301advant1f 3/28/07 1:29 PM Page 5

Big Is Beautiful: Past, Present & FutureA STRONG COMMITMENT TO RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT KEEPS THOSE HEAVY-DUTYS IMPROVING.

By John Hawkins III, Vice President of Sales,Heavy-Duty Products

Over the past year, we have steppedinto a well-defined industry trend: anational focus on Traffic IncidentManagement. By this I mean the need forbetter equipment to clear motorways effi-ciently without impeding traffic flow.Because of its versatility and capacity,the rotator has stepped forward as thecurrent answer to this demand.

Some of you may recall in 1988 whenCentury and Challenger produced thefirst units designed specifically to tow aswell as recover. That’s nearly twodecades of you telling us what you want-

ed these machines to do and where weneeded to better their performance lev-els. Each time we found ourselves backat the drawing board and in the test pit,checking the finite element theories andchallenging ourselves to improve ourproducts to meet your needs.

Miller Industries invests a lot ofresearch and development time andmoney when creating a new product, andmaybe even more when increasing andimproving an existing product’s capabili-ties and versatility. We take R & D seri-ously: For example, we are able to man-ufacture a 60-ton rotator that weighs thesame as a competitor’s 40-ton rotator,while weighing an entire 10 tons less

than another competitor’s comparable60-ton rotator. This does not happen bychance. We have to know and under-stand every working component in theentire platform while building in structuralintegrity and leaving out unnecessaryweight. That’s tough, but a challenge weenjoy rising to.

We recently released engineering datagathered during the testing of side loadson our 1075S. Contrary to what some inthe industry have thought, when liftingfrom the same distance from the pickpoint of your load to the center of theboom rotation, there was virtually NO dif-ference in performance between 0 and60 degrees. We measured performance


Close to two decades of experience in rotator design and manufacturing enables us to provide youwith the reliability, strength, power and versatility you need while reducing the weight of the rotator.


006-007_247v0301hawkins 4/2/07 10:25 AM Page 6

as the amount of weight we could liftbefore the outriggers began to leave theground. It basically comes down to thedistance from the weight to the center ofthe boom rotation being a constant dis-tance. Performance doesn’t vary withboom angle. If you think about it, it is sim-ilar to safe towing calculations on a towtruck. Cranking the boom higher doesnot throw more weight to the front axle ifthe distance from the fulcrum (center-lineof your rear axle) to your lift point doesnot change. The direction of the chassis,positioning of the outriggers, leveling ofthe unit, cribbing that is used and riggingall play a critical role in your rotator’s per-formance. Size gives you the freedom tochoose your rigging application.

A good operator, especially with a rota-tor, can make a unit perform above thelevels of geometric design. Be carefulhere because that is NOT to say beyondcapacity, BUT beyond simple geometricdesign. Another simple fact is everyrecovery is different, and you rarely areafforded the opportunity to choose theconditions of your recovery. This is why itis key to learn the “tricks” that make the“the platform” perform to your needs.With a rotator, the outriggers are themost critical part of the unit. Cribbing ofthe outriggers can improve recoverycapabilities 25% to 30%. We often referto this as “cheating Mother Nature.” Ourengineers, however, like to say that weare working with science rather thanagainst it.

Our engineering staff has made acareer out of working with science andtechnology to develop better products.Miller Industries’ engineers are the best,most imitated in the industry. Our team isa combination of experienced, knowl-edgeable wrecker engineers coupledwith a group of the brightest, newly-edu-cated engineers we can find.

Besides looking at ways to improveperformance of the towing and recoveryunit, we regularly monitor changes in theloads that you commonly face, knowingthat forks and lifting attachments are acritical and integral piece of the totalpackage. As trucks have become moretechnical, computers and electronic sys-tems make roadside repairs impracticalin most cases. With many trucks on theroad having increasingly heavier front

axle weights, we felt it essential to testand develop a new 25,000-lb. tire lift. Thenew tire lift (part #124002808) is virtuallythe same weight as our current tire liftsystem that has been reliable for years,but boasts twice the lift capacity.

The same testing and engineering thathas let us increase capacities andremove weight in our recovery boomsand underlifts was applied to our new25K tire lift. There’s an old saying thatyou are only as good as your weakestlink. So after extensive testing and finiteelement analysis (a fancy term for com-puter prediction), our engineers deter-mined that we needed to introduce a newcrossbar to accommodate the 25,000-lb.lift so that’s now underway. As I stated

earlier, we design, test and build aTOTAL package to meet your needs.

At Miller Industries, we strive to sepa-rate ourselves from the pack. We like ourspot at the top and for that reason, wewill continue to grow with our customers.I believe that we offer the professionaltowing operator the best complete pack-age in the industry, and judging by thecurrent resale value of our rotators, Iwould have to say that most of you tendto agree with me. In the future you canexpect nothing but exciting innovations,durable equipment, great customer careand our continued commitment to excel-lence from Century, Vulcan, Holmes andChallenger’s series of heavy-duty towingand recovery equipment.

On Call 24/7 1-800-292-0330 7

After completing simulations, the 1075S is rigged in the test pit for actual side pulls to verifythe tip chart data.

u

Engineers prepare the new 25K wheel-lift for testing utilizing strain gauges and a load cell.


006-007_247v0301hawkins 4/2/07 10:25 AM Page 7


Survivor Fund

SURVIVOR FUND REACHES $325,000!

Just one year ago, at theBaltimore Tow Show, MillerIndustries, along with severalof its suppliers, kicked-off theSurvivor Fund with a checkpresentation for over $50,000to the International Towing &Recovery Hall of Fame andMuseum (I.T.R.H.F.M.). Overthe past year, the fund hasgrown to over $325,000 due tothe generosity of towing opera-tors and suppliers. This over-whelming show of support forour fallen brothers and sistersis a great testament to thecamaraderie we see in thisindustry every day.

On January 1, 2007, the fundbegan making distributions tothe families of men and womenwho lost their lives in the line ofservice. Miller Industries has been overwhelmed with pride as their distributors,employees, suppliers and many other individuals and tow companies havejoined forces to support this great cause. With an ambitious but much deservedgoal of $500,000, the Survivor Fund welcomes your contributions. If you havelost a family member in the line of service, or would like to make a donation tothe Survivor Fund, please visit their web site www.thesurvivorfund.com.

Owners and management of West EndService, Inc. in Ellicott City, Maryland:Kevin Bloom, John Klein Sr., John Klein Jr.,Mark Klein and Arminta Bloom show theircommitment to the industry by presentingRandy Olson, Survivor Fund CommitteeMember and Vice President of Marketing forMiller Industries, with a $5,000 contribution.

Representing Ford Motor Company, Rachel Pergl and Christina Valo draw the winning ticket for a NEW 2007 Ford XLT pickup truck at the American Towman Show in Baltimore. The drawing was made possible through the generous support of Ford Motor Company, and was a successful fund raising event for the Survivor Fund. Jeffery Godwin (left) holds the winning ticket as Randy Olson announces the lucky winner'sname, with I.T.R.H.F.M. Executive Committee onlookers George Connolly and Jerry Bullock (center).


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Safety First:The Making of a Video

By Angela Roper

As I sit on the tarmac, awaiting take off, Iam listening to the many safety regulationswe are given each and every time weboard an airplane. I think to myself, howmany of us actually discuss important safe-ty procedures in our towing businessesevery time our employees start a shift.

Although we hear this same speecheach time we board a plane, the airlines stillmake us listen to it. It is a proven fact thatuniformity promotes awareness, just asrepetitive speech makes us rememberthings on a cognitive level.

As a member of the Towing andRecovery Association of America’s (TRAA)Education Foundation, I, along with fellowcommittee members Marci Gratzianna,Ruth Landau and Peter Fuerst, undertookthe project of producing a “RoadsideSafety Video” for the purposes of educat-ing and training towing company ownersand drivers. As sometimes happens, welearned a lot ourselves.

We have all been hearing the termIncident Management more frequently.The term itself has actually been aroundfor a long time, but because of increasedtraffic congestion on our busy roads, it’sbecoming much more important. IncidentManagement’s goal is to clear the road-ways more efficiently and effectively,which reduces the number of secondaryincidents on the highways. The questionarises, “How do we, the towing industry,protect ourselves and our drivers whileaccomplishing this goal?” We work dan-gerous recoveries, in extreme weather,fatigued, for long hours alongside everyinterstate and public road imaginable.Under these conditions, we still manage todo our jobs efficiently and effectively, but atwhat human cost?

The unveiling of the Wall of the Fallenin Chattanooga, Tennessee, has hithome to us on just how many lives ourindustry loses on roadways every year.The leadership of TRAA, your nationalassociation, felt it was time to address

the growing concern of roadside safety.Thus the Roadside Safety Video was born.

The committee’s goals for the videowere to:• Keep it short and to the point.• Make it easy to understand and easy

for owners to use as a training tool.• Make it very effective.

Many people helped make this videopossible. It began several years ago as theidea and vision of Bill Giorgis, then TRAAPresident. As it gained momentum andgrew a life of its own, several towing com-panies, manufacturers and motor clubsfunded the project to make it a reality.

But a special thanks goes to MillerIndustries for providing video equipment,production assistance and support staff.Without their support, we’d still be visualiz-ing what our video would be, not celebrat-ing its release.

The Roadside Safety Video actuallydebuted at the 2007 TRAA LeadershipConference in Washington, D.C. Copiesare $15 each and can be ordered by visit-ing TRAA’s website at www.towserver.orgor calling the TRAA office at 800-728-0136.

Please, promote safety and aware-ness in your business every day, andremember to support “Move Over Laws”in your state. By joining your state andnational associations, we can make adifference together!

Kipp Felice, Assistant Marketing Director for Miller Industries, adjusts the camera forfilming one of the scenes for the TRAA safety video.

Larry Curry, of Miller Industries, operates a self-loader during filming of the TRAA safetyvideo. Curry’s reflective vest and gloves do their job during the evening filming.



010-011_247v0301safety 3/28/07 1:30 PM Page 10

On Call 24/7 1-800-292-0330 11

Flares and safety cones are positioned to funnel traffic away from the emergency vehicles at the scene.

Marci Gratzianna positions flares on the road to assistin controlling traffic flow.

Larry Curry, Miller Industries District Manager, and members of the Tri-Community FireDepartment and Chattanooga Police Department discuss the next scenario with AngelaRoper. The dramatic visual difference between Angela’s light-colored coat and the reflective safety gear worn by the emergency responders shows how critical the properclothing can be on the roadside.


010-011_247v0301safety 3/28/07 1:30 PM Page 11

Heading Into a Hybrid World

By Randy Olson, Vice President of MarketingRising fuel costs and increased pressures for lower emis-

sions are spurring manufacturers to increase production of bothcars and trucks powered by hybrid systems. Eaton has beendeveloping hybrid systems since the early seventies, and builttheir first fully functional hybrid vehicle in 2000.

Several OEM chassis manufacturers currently use Eatonhybrid systems as package delivery and municipal utility vehi-cles. Although these vehicles are only in limited use, Eatonexpects to see these numbers grow so it’s important to knowhow to identify and handle these vehicles. This is not meant tobe a complete training on the Eaton Hybrid System, but rathera list of safety “Dos & Don’ts”.

Hybrid Safety TipsHybrid high voltage components include a motor/generator

that produces up to 500 volts. This motor is always locatedbetween the engine flywheel and transmission. Also be awareof an inverter, power electronic carrier (or PEC) and a DC/DCconverter. These components will be mounted in varied loca-tions depending on the chassis manufacturer.

In case of an emergency there are three procedures to shutdown the system. With all three procedures it is important toremember that the power in a hybrid system is maintained forup to five minutes in the high voltage electrical system AFTERdisabling the vehicle.

Option 1 (preferred): Turn the ignition key to the off position.

Option 2: Disconnect the low voltage 12-volt batteries.

Option 3: Push in the service switch on the PEC, and shut-down the engine.

In all three cases, the high voltage batteries are still “live” butisolated in the PEC. If you must handle high voltage wiring incase of accident or extrication always be sure to:

1. Chock the wheels.2. Follow the emergency shut-down procedures. (Remember:

After disabling the vehicle, power is maintained up to fiveminutes in the high voltage electrical system.)

3. If you must handle the high voltage wiring components,wear Class 0 high voltage rubber insulated gloves.

4. Make sure you will NOT cut or puncture high voltage components.

Other situations may arise that will require emergency atten-tion. For instance, a fire would require that you wear a self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA). In the event of a spill,respiratory protection, rubber gloves and safety glasses wouldbe needed.


The motor/generator (always located between the engine flywheel and transmission) uses and produces three-phase AC up to 500 volts. The high voltage cables connecting it to the system should be identified by orange markings. DO NOT cut into the cables and do not work on the vehicle unless one of the shutdown procedures has been followed and the vehicle has sat for five minutes.


012-013_247v0301eaton 3/28/07 1:31 PM Page 12

Jumping procedures for vehicles equippedwith Eaton hybrid systems are identical tonon-hybrid vehicles using standard 12-voltbattery systems. Towing is also the same asfor non-hybrid vehicles. The drive wheelsshould be elevated off the ground or the driveshaft should be removed if being towed onthe drive-wheels.

To recap you shouldremember to:

• Always assume the vehicle is “live”when approaching a hybrid.

• Always perform one of the three emer-gency shut-down procedures and allowthe vehicle to sit for at least five minutesprior to attempting to work on the vehicle.

• Never cut the orange high voltage cables (when possible).• Never cut into or open the inverter, PEC or DC/DC converter when possible.• Again, this is not a complete guide to hybrid vehicles. You can request a

copy of Eaton’s material safety data sheets by contacting CHEMTREC inNorth America at 1-800-424-9300. You need the following company informa-tion when contacting CHEMTREC: Company Name: Eaton CorporationCompany Code: C371.

This is a prime example of whycross training with fire and rescuedepartments for emergencies is soimportant. Safety informationshould be shared.

On Call 24/7 1-800-292-0330 13

d

The Power Electronics Carrier (PEC) stores on average 340 volts in two sealed Lithium batteries. Aservice switch on the PEC can be pushed to shut down the engine but remember, the power is stillmaintained up to five minutes in the rest of the high voltage system after shut down. After that time,the PEC will be isolated but the high-voltage batteries inside are still live. Special care is needed incase of a fire or spill. Self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA), safety glasses and rubber glovesrated for class 0 are necessary for your safety.

The inverter’s function is to changehigh-voltage DC to AC and vice versaduring motor boost and regenerativebraking modes of the vehicle. Thelocation of the inverter will vary but it isconnected to the other componentswith an orange high-voltage cable.

IdentifyingEatonHybrid

Vehicles

- The outside of the vehicle will containthe word “Hybrid”on a decal ornameplate

- The shift label on the dash states“Eaton Hybrid”

- The presence of bright orangecables


012-013_247v0301eaton 3/28/07 1:31 PM Page 13

Gentlemen:Start Your Engines and Your Towing and Recovery Trucks

Daytona kicked-off yet anotherNASCAR season, and what an excitingstart to the season it turned out to be.Fourteen Miller Race Recovery vehicleswere on hand and staffed by teams ofexperienced towing professionals fromacross the country to handle this year’svery busy Daytona 500 race. Team mem-bers not only volunteered their servicesto keep the race moving smoothly, theyalso helped portray a positive image ofthe towing industry to the many race fans

in Daytona and millions of televisionviewers worldwide.

Over 200 towers and guests sharedMiller Industries' first-class Daytona raceevents, enjoying the race from the MillerRace Compound in Corner 3 after a deli-cious barbecue dinner. Miller guests alsoindulged in other perks like participatingin the pre-race parade lap, garage tours,and visiting the pits to see their favoritecar and driver.

Miller Industries provides equipment

for a variety of race events such asCraftsman Truck Series, Busch GrandNational, ARCA, IRL and NASCARNextel Cup. These events are held atpremier racetracks across the countryincluding Daytona International,Talladega Super Speedway, Darlington,Richmond International Raceway,Kansas Speedway, California Speedway,Michigan International Speedway,Homestead Miami Speedway andChicagoland Speedway. The program iscoordinated by Miller Industries full-timeRace Director Ken Burdine, who hasover 23 years experience with tracksand racing and spends 36 weeks a yeartraveling with our recovery equipment.Ken is inspired by the camaraderie,hard work and professionalism shownby the towers who participate in theprogram. In addition to handling thelogistics required by Miller Industries’extensive race program, Ken alsoworks with Miller Industries distribu-tors, coordinating customer creden-tials. Each year he creates specialoff-track activities in the compound tomake sure every guest's experience isa memorable one.

This year's first NASCAR event inDaytona proved a great success. Miller guests were treated to a lap around the super speedway in the race recovery vehicles

prior to the start.

The Miller Race Recovery Team prepares to hook-up to another casualtyduring the evening Craftsman Truck Race at Daytona.



014-015_247v0301race 4/2/07 10:22 AM Page 14

On Call 24/7 1-800-292-0330 15

One of the recovery crews proudly watchesas our nation’s colors pass by on theDaytona 500 Flag Truck.

It takes a team of dedicated, trained professionals to expedite the clearing of a casualty off the track in a safe but quick manner to keep therace moving smoothly.

One of the Race Recovery Team members directs a driver backing into the garage as another Busch Series driver’s day ends due to an incident on the track.

Two of the Recovery Teams stand by readyto roll as Miller guests enjoy the race fromthe stands at Miller’s Race Compound.

To help spread awareness for the Wallof the Fallen, and to raise money for theSurvivor Fund, Ruth Landau of Fryer’sTowing and Miller Industries’ Vince Tianosold Survivor Fund wrist bands in the compound before the start of the 500.


014-015_247v0301race 4/2/07 10:23 AM Page 15

Century’s Express Series and Midnight Express are perfectfor high-volume towing. Easy in and out makes Century’sself-loaders ideal for crowded parking garages, parallel-parked vehicles and impound and repossession work. Control the boom and hydraulic wheel-lift from the safety and convenience of the cab*.

When the streets need attention, your Century Express andMidnight Express get the job done.

Call your local Miller Industries distributor for more information.

* Always remember to use safety straps, safety chains and tow lights prior to towing.

8503 Hilltop Drive • Ooltewah, Tennessee 37363 • ww


016-017_247v0301century 3/28/07 1:28 PM Page 16

363 • www.millerind.com • 800-292-0330


016-017_247v0301century 3/28/07 1:28 PM Page 17

uring a recent MinnesotaProfessional Tower’s Association

(MPTA) training school sponsored by MillerIndustries, the following photos were takenof a demonstration on recovery rolling tech-niques. A goal of this demonstration was toshow the application of levers as well as theutilization of equipment for multi-purposes.No matter how much toolbox space youhave on a unit there is never enough roomto carry everything on our wish list, let alonepay for what it would cost to do so. A 1/2-inch or 5/8-inch alloy chain bridle is one ofthose items that is a must in many recover-ies, but it’s hard to handle – and where doyou store it? The following article will edu-cate you on how to perform a successfulrecovery by using what you already haveavailable on the truck. We will look at astandard recovery roll, as well as thereverse roll of a downed cement mixer. Nomatter which method you choose, remem-ber to always lift with the winch, not therecovery boom.

By Tom Luciano, District Sales Manager and Training Specialist


CENTERING YOUR ATTENTION�

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018-20_247v0301luciano 4/2/07 10:20 AM Page 18

More on page 14

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On Call 24/7 1-800-292-0330 19

This mixer was loaded with hard-ened concrete and is complete with its engine, transmission and rears.It weighed about 56,000 lbs. The firstphoto shows the use of a First ClassLever, which when used correctly pullsthe casualty toward you. Notice thatthere aren’t two separate winch lines,but one three-part line. This is muchsafer than two individual single-partwinch lines. One three-part linedecreases line tension and tip load on your boom. With more wire rope off the winch you are at a greater gearreduction of the winch that providesmore power.

More importantly, notice the use of the trailer king pin plate, which isstandard equipment on heavy-dutyVulcan units and is available as anoption for Century heavy-duty equipment (Part #9401902). There are many variations on the market, but what separates Miller’s king pinfrom others is the single, large opening(opposite the keyhole end for the kingpin) that supports a large shackle.

This attachment not only serves as a trailer towing plate, but also works wonderfully when making a bri-dle whenever chains or strap bridles are needed. It allows the larger screw pin shackles to be used whenwinching or lifting heavy loads, promoting a safe working environment.

When uprighting or stabilizing a mixer, do not use a single strap or chain on each end of the drum. Bothends of mixer barrels are tapered and the strap or chain can slide off. This can cause a shock load or a side-load on your recovery unit, and could possibly overturn your truck. As you well know we cannot always getour truck/unit in a position square to the casualty because of varying conditions. With the use of the Millertrailer king pin plate we can now allow for necessary adjustments in positioning for a centered pull, and elimi-nate the strap or chain sliding off the ends of the mixer drum. Each leg of the bridle can be lengthened orshortened to allow for correct centering on the casualty.

Another advantage the trailer king pin plate affords is the ability to adjust the lengthso you can position the attaching point low for reverse rolls, or high on the drum whenpulling it towards you. You should always remember that reverse rolling changes the typeof leverage to a Second Class Lever. This method is preferable because it takes lesseffort for the recovery unit to upright the mixer.

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See Centering Your Attention On Page 20


018-20_247v0301luciano 4/2/07 10:20 AM Page 19


Avoid making the legs of the bridle too long, because if they come too far around the drum youmay not have enough room to finishthe recovery job. You can’t get farenough away so the snatch blockends up into the boom sheave before the casualty is uprighted.To compensate for this situation youcan shorten the bridle and position a hardwood block under the snatchblock. This stops the abrasion andbinding of the snatch block, thewinch lines, and the hook in the initial lift, and as the mixer lifts theblock will slide out of the way. On thenew plastic mixer drums it is OK touse chains and not straps. They willnot break or crack the drums. Due to the slick sides of the plastic drums,I strongly advise you use the bridletechnique and not single individualwinch lines.

As always, remember that this is not the only way to handle thistype of recovery, but I hope this information will assist you in “workingsmarter, not harder.”

Notice we have attached screw pin shackles to the trailer plate (which eliminates chain binding and chain link fracturing). This set-up

gives us the ability to place a snatch blockand the winch line hook in the top keyholeend of the plate. Another advantage is thatyour second winch line is free; this will giveyou the option to use a catch line. If an operator chooses to use endless loop straps,the straps can easily replace the chains andbe positioned in the screw shackles. At Miller Industries we offer complete endlessstrap kits (Part #124002697) and screw pinshackle kits (Part #124002706) which aredesigned to complement any true recoveryprofessional’s arsenal of accessories.You may wonder why chains were used

and not straps. As a loaded drum is upright-ed, even though winch lines are tight, gravitytakes over and the drum will spin. This isbecause the heavy concrete will rotate to the bottom, or the low side, regardless ofline tension. Welded seams on the mixerdrum can catch the flat nylon straps as itturns and cut them quickly. However, roundendless loops tend to roll off the welds andnot get caught. As a professional, you mustalso realize before attempting the uprightingof any mixer that you should always chainand bind the drum to the chassis at the rollerring area. The mixer drum sits on two rollerswhich allow it to turn freely while travelingdown the roadway. Therefore, gravity holds itinto position when in normal traveling use.

Centering Your Attention From Page 19

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By Fred Grueber, Midwest District ManagerAs towers look for ways to increase

revenue, many have found that rentalyards can be a great opportunity toexpand their business. The number ofequipment rental operations has soaredover the past years, partly as a result ofincreases in both residential and com-mercial construction. Many contractorsfind it more economical to rent or leasethe equipment for a project rather thanpurchase it. Some equipment rentalyards own delivery equipment, but findat peak times they need additional help.Other rental yards find it a better busi-ness decision to contract delivery.

For example, an industrial equipmentrental company may get an order to haulmultiple pieces of equipment to a largebuild site for a contractor. Using just oneor two carriers would take far too long tobe cost effective for the rental company orthe contractor. A local towing companywith a carrier provides the needed deliv-ery assistance. With the right equipment,a towing company’s revenue stream is notlimited to moving disabled vehicles. Andeven better, most of this work is done

during normal business hours and is notas time sensitive as other types of towingand recovery work.

Plan AheadMaybe now is the time to step back,

evaluate your fleet and see what businessyou could go after. For smaller jobs haul-ing lawn equipment and other lightweightpieces, the perfect unit would be a Miller10 or 15 series carrier (10,000 and 15,000lbs. capacity) with a steel deck. Tighter

cross member spacing on a Miller carrier(standard 8” spacing and optional 6” spac-ing) prevents a “wash boarding,” whichyou may be familiar with in some of ourcompetitor’s carriers. Wash boarding iswhen the floor bows in between the crossmembers so you get dips all the waydown the bed, resembling an old-fash-ioned washboard.

While the 10 and 15 series carriers workwell in tight residential areas for hauling avariety of small lawn and garden or con-


Industrial Carriers For Hire


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On Call 24/7 1-800-292-0330 23

struction equipment, most operators finda 20 series (20,000-lb. deck) to be themost versatile. These carriers are greatfor concentrated weights like mini excava-tors and stationary bucket lifts. Theoptional apitong floor is very popular inindustrial carrier applications. The woodfloor increases traction and provides moresecure tie-down when hauling track or hardrubber tire-equipped equipment. Miller’sindustrial spec carriers are recommendedwith tandem axle chassis and deck lengthsrange from 24 to 30 feet. Miller’s 20 seriescarriers come with a wheel-lift, making itpossible to tow with the same flexible carri-er. If you plan to use a 20 series carrier pri-marily for hauling equipment, a hydraulicdock stabilizer allows for loading dockheight accessibility (comes standard onMiller 30 series carriers).

After some of the recent and especial-ly destructive hurricanes over the pastfew years, Kauff’s Towing in West PalmBeach, Florida, used their Miller industri-al spec 20 series carriers to haul portabletoilets, showers, 7,000 lb. generatorsand water pumps for FEMA. Kauff’s CEO

Geoff Russell says he is very glad thathe has exceptional industrial carriers,insurance and permits to add heavyhauling to his list of capabilities.

An industrial carrier is also useful forclearing incidents on highways. The situ-ation may require a small loader or fork-lift to off-load a trailer. Your carrier canmove the equipment to the scene and itcan be used to haul cargo or wreckagefrom the scene.

Miller’s long list of customizationoptions for carriers designed with equip-ment hauling in mind make the additionof one of these carriers necessary for allforward-thinking professional towers. Formore information on Miller Industriescomplete line of carriers from 10,000- to30,000-lb. deck capacities, or to designan industrial carrier for your fleet, callyour local Miller Industries distributor orvisit www.millerind.com.

Miller Industries’ team hits the road again forthe 2007 show season. Plan now to visit us at oneof the following tow shows:


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On Call 24/7 1-800-292-0330 25

New Products

Dodge Rolls OutNew Ram

Recently Dodge introduced the new RamSeries cab and chassis that has been engi-neered to be more compatible with the instal-lation of towing and recovery equipment. This Dodge Ram will be offered in a model 4500 with a GVW of up to 16,500 lbs.as well as a 5500 with a GVW of up to 19,500 lbs. Both of these models will be available in a regular or quad cab version.

The standard cab is available in a 60”, 84”, 108” and 120” CA. The quad cab is available in 60” or 84” CA. Dodge is pow-ering the new Ram with a 6.7 liter high-output Cummins turbo diesel engine with a standard 6-speed manual overdrivetransmission or optional 6-speed automatic, both of which are PTO capable.

To preview the new Dodge Ram mounted with a Century Aluminum 10 Series Carrier body, stop by the Miller Industries boothat the Florida Tow Show, May 11 – 13 in Orlando, Florida.

Bold MovesFord unveiled their new 2008 Ford Super Duty F-450 at the

Baltimore Tow Show, equipped with Century’s new 301Express, aluminum modular body.Features of the 2008 Ford include:

- An all new 6.4 liter Power Stroke® diesel engine thatdelivers 350 hp at 3000 RPMs, and 650 lb. foot oftorque starting at 2000 RPMs. The new engine is notonly more powerful, but it also runs quieter and cleaner.

- A state-of-the-art interior provides quiet comfort andimproved ergonomics. Features include: an instrumentcluster (with a full complement of gauges), a new climate control system, ergo-friendly center-stackswitches and new sound options that are MP3 capable.

- A redesigned chassis and suspension that includes revisedrear leaf spring suspension for superior handling and ride,along with better balance and control.

- A new exterior design featuring a larger, bolder grille (forimproved cooling), side vents to dissipate engine compartment heat and new stacked head lamps.

For more information on the new Ford F-450 Super Duty or to test drive one mounted with your choice of the finest towingand recovery equipment, visit or call your local Miller Industriesdistributor.

Aluminum OptionMiller Industries has introduced a newly designed alu-

minum body option for their popular Century Express andCentury Midnight Express, and the Vulcan 807 and Intruder.These modular-body designed self-loaders featureadjustable body sides for several different chassis widths,eliminating the need to use fender flares that protrude andare easily knocked off. The aluminum sides can be paintedto match any chassis, while the deck remains a shiny alu-minum tread plate. In addition, the redesigned rear bodyslope provides excellent rear visibility when hooking orunhooking from a vehicle. Left and right locking tool com-partments are standard on the 60” CA units, and a 24” alu-minum tunnel box can be added for 84” CA applications. Formore information contact your local Century or Vulcan dis-tributor or visit www.millerind.com.


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Air Brakes 101


WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOWABOUT AIR BRAKES.

By Dayton E. Shepard

How Air BrakesWork

Air brakes efficiently and safely stoplarge, heavy vehicles. However, like anycomponent system they must be proper-ly used and properly maintained. Todaymost air brakes are dual brake systems.These two systems work together withone set of controls. One system operatesthe brakes on the rear axle(s) while theother system operates the brakes on thefront axle, and sometimes the intermedi-ate axle if on a tandem axle truck.

The service brake system applies andreleases the brakes during normal oper-ation. The parking and emergency brakesystem applies the brakes in the eventthe parking brake is engaged by pullingthe knob located on the dash, or if thesystem loses enough air pressure.

An air compressor pumps air into stor-age tanks. The air compressor is normal-ly engine driven through gears or by abelt drive. An air governor controls the airpressure in the tanks. The normal “cut-in”pressure is about 100 PSI (pounds persquare inch). The compressor comes onwhen tank pressure drops below the“cut-in” pressure, and stops buildingpressure at about 125 PSI.

Compressed air is stored in one ormore air tanks. Enough compressed airis stored in the tank for several brakingapplications. So even if the compressorfails, the truck can be brought to asmooth safe stop. A safety relief valve isinstalled in the first tank the air is pumpedinto. The safety relief valve is normallyset at 150 PSI. Its purpose is to protectthe brake system, particularly the brakelines, in the event the air governor failsand attempts to pump too much pressureinto the tank.

The brake pedal actuates a treadlevalve. As the driver applies more force tothe brake pedal, the treadle valveincreases the air pressure through thebrake lines and a series of valves to thebrakes, or the brake chambers. Brakechambers are located near the brakedrum. The brake chamber is just what itimplies, a chamber. In the chamber thereis a diaphragm attached to a push rod. Aspring on the opposing side of thediaphragm holds it (and the push rod) ina disengaged position until air is pumpedinto the chamber. As air is pumped intothe chamber, the diaphragm expands,moving the push rod that rotates theslack adjuster. The slack adjuster rotatesthe brake cam, which spreads the brakeshoes. This pushes the shoes againstthe brake drum, creating friction thatslows (and consequently stops) thedrum from rotating. Thus stopping thevehicle. Got that?

As brake shoes wear from use it isEXTREMELY IMPORTANT to keep thebrakes adjusted. Normally, correcting thetravel of the push rod by adjusting theslack adjuster will adjust the brake sys-tem. In some situations the push rodlength must be adjusted.

Each truck with air brakes has a set ofemergency and parking brake chambers


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often referred to as “piggy-back cham-bers” or “spring brakes.” These dualchambers, and the springs within them,act as offsets to keep the brakes appliedin the absence of air pressure. When theparking brake chambers are chargedwith air, by releasing the emergency andparking brake valve on the dash, oneside of these dual chambers releases thebrakes. The other side is then free to actas a regular brake chamber during nor-mal braking.

When air pressure is lost, the springsin the emergency and parking brakechambers automatically apply. Withoutair pressure in the system the brakes canonly be released mechanically. Thisprocess is referred to as “caging theparking brakes.” Removing the dust capfrom the back of the parking brakechamber and screwing the cage bolt upby hand accomplishes this task.

Most tandem axle trucks come withparking brake chambers on only onerear axle. However, all truck manufactur-ers offer options to put additional parkingbrake chambers on additional axles.Miller offers a unique Winch BrakePackage on selected Kenworth andPeterbilt models. This feature placesparking brake chambers on all axles,including the front axle, which providesthe operator additional braking powerwhen in a winching situation.

What the DriverShould Know

Always remember the brakes must bein proper adjustment to work correctly.Neither the service brakes nor the park-

ing brakes will work if they are not prop-erly adjusted. Have them checked regu-larly by a certified technician.

Before you start driving complete apre-trip inspection. Walk around yourvehicle listening for any hissing air thatmay indicate an air leak. If you have amanual drain valve on your truck, now isa good time to pull that chain and ejectthe moisture from the air tank.

Check your gauges. Your air braketruck is equipped with a supply pressuregauge. This gauge is connected to the airtank. In a dual brake system there maybe two gauges, or one gauge with twoindicator needles. This gauge(s) will indi-cate the PSI pressure in the air tank.

The application gauge shows howmuch air pressure you are applying tothe brakes. If the pressure continues todrop while maintaining steady pressureon the brake pedal, one of a few prob-lems may be occurring: the brakes maybe beginning to fade from overheating,they are out of adjustment, you have anair leak, or a mechanical problem. If thishappens it is time to have your brakesystem checked.

The low air pressure warning signalwill illuminate and (on most trucks) abuzzer will sound if the system pressurefalls below 60 PSI. If one or both ofthese warning signals comes on, youmay have a serious air pressure prob-lem. If you continue to lose air pressure,the emergency and parking brake willactivate, bringing your truck to a stop. It’sbest to safely pull off the road prior to los-ing all air pressure. Remember, withoutair pressure, the only way to move thetruck is to “cage” the emergency andparking brake chambers. However,doing so will leave no working brakes onthe truck so the vehicle must be hookedto a wrecker or stabilized in some way(chocked).

The yellow, diamond-shaped push-pullknob operates the parking brake. You pullthe knob to apply the parking brakes, andpush to release. Never push on the brakepedal when the parking brakes are applied.You can damage the system on sometrucks. Your truck may be equipped with ared, hexagonal push-pull knob (the TrailerAir Supply). This charges the trailer air

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Brakes From Page 27

brake system once the hoses areconnected.

If you operate a truck that hasa Gross Vehicle WeightRating (GVWR) of 26,001lbs. or more, you are required tohave a Commercial DriverLicense (CDL) with an Air BrakeEndorsement. This means you’vebeen tested and approved tooperate a truck of this size with airbrakes.

If you operate a truck with aGVWR of 26,000 lbs. orless you are not required tohave a CDL, and therefore do notneed an Air Brake Endorsement.

However, if your vehicle has aGross Combination WeightRating (GCWR) thatexceeds 26,000 lbs. – this isthe vehicle’s GVW plus loadweight – then you do need a CDL. Youwill also need an Air Brake Endorsementif your truck is equipped with air brakes.Clear?

My lawyer wanted me to tell you to besure to check with your local police todetermine the driver licensing regulationsin your specific state. In other words, ifyou get in trouble, don’t blame me!

If your truck is equipped with an Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS), as mosttrucks are now, repeatedly stabbing thebrakes is NOT the thing to do. Applysteady pressure to the brake pedal andlet the ABS do its job.

If the ABS light illuminates it meansthere is a malfunction with an ABS com-ponent. When that happens your ABS isdisabled. The brakes will work just finelike a vehicle without ABS, but it IS timeto get the system checked.

Other ImportantThings to Know

The Federal Government requirestechnicians who work on air brakes to betrained and certified regardless of thevehicle’s GVWR. Most truck dealers,parts suppliers and brake componentmanufacturers regularly hold training andcertification classes. You’ll find theseclasses usually take one day and arereasonably priced.

Regardless of the GVWR, if you are

allowing untrained and uncertifiedmechanics to work on your air brakesyou are taking a huge liability risk. Don’tdo it! Either have your mechanics trainedand certified, or take your trucks to pro-fessional mechanics who ARE certified.

When writing or reviewing truck speci-fications, always require an air dryer onyour brake system. As the air compres-sor works, water condenses and ends upin the air tank. If you are in a warm cli-mate you’ll be surprised how much watercan accumulate in a short period. If youare in a colder climate you sure don’twant water in a system that may freezeand cause your air brake system to mal-function or even worse, FAIL.

Brakes are one of a few componentson your truck that can literally be a life ordeath issue. We’ve only scratched thesurface on air brakes, but I hope youunderstand that they are a safe and reli-able system. Although they cost more upfront, they are very durable and usuallyprovide lower maintenance costs whencompared to hydraulic brakes.

We haven’t nearly discussed every-thing there is to know about air brakes,but your Miller sales professional can putyou in touch with an expert who cananswer any questions in detail to provideyou with the correct brake solutions foryour next chassis.

Until next time, Happy Trucking!


Dayton Shepard is Vice President ofOperations at International Truck Salesof Richmond in Richmond, Virginia.


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On Call 24/7 1-800-292-0330 29

QUIRING MOTORSVANCOUVER,BRITISH COLUMBIA

Aldergrove, a small town east of Vancouver, iswhere Elmer and Ann Quiring purchased an ESSOService Station that included one tow truck. Alongwith the area, Quiring Motors Ltd. has grown rapidlyover the past 40 years. Elmer and Ann’s son Bob andhis wife Pam now proudly run the business with theirtwo children Tami and Allan.

Their eight-unit fleet is made up of Holmes,Century and Vulcan products. The newest addition totheir fleet, a Vulcan V-100 with an SP850 XP, hasquickly become a cornerstone to their recovery busi-ness. Allan prides himself on his recovery expertiseand he knew that his knowledge, backed by the brutestrength of four winches, the holdingpower of front hydraulic stiff legs andrear jacks that could handle the tough-est jobs, would be very profitable to hiscompany. One thing is certain: recover-ing logging and construction equipmentout of some of the toughest terrain inthe area will keep his V-100/SP850 XPvery busy for years to come.

SCOTTY’S CARRIAGE WORKSCAMERON, MO

Started in 1949 by Malcom Scott,Scotty’s Carriage Works has flourishedunder their philosophy of offering quali-ty towing with experienced knowledge-able operators at fair prices. In 1995,Malcom retired leaving the business inthe capable hands of his son Mike. Mikeadded a Challenger 9909 70-ton rotatorto the fleet for recovery, which he foundinvaluable when he was called by alocal power company to lift a 20,000 -pound transformer. Scotty’s now worksfor three power companies loadingtransformers that weigh from 20,000 -66,000 pounds, doing a job in minutesthat used to take hours. “Malcom Scott’smotto was ‘there is no substitute forexperience’ and that same philosophyapplies to our equipment purchases,”said Mike Scott. “That’s why we chooseMiller products.”

All in a Day’s Work


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30

“Miller Rocks”guests at the Hard Rock Cafe proudly display their T-shirts, one of the most covetedsouvenirs of the tow show season.

As the evening wound down, guests flocked outside the Hard Rock Cafe to exchange their ticketsfor “Miller Rocks” T-Shirts. Miller Executives Allison Houghton, Sandy Frantom and Randy Olsonpassed out T-shirts from atop the Century Race Recovery unit parked out front.

The large crowd was entertained by the greatsounds of The Kevin KlineBand throughout the evening. Miller Industries’Director of Export &Government Sales, Tom Griffin, sat in with the band for several numbers, showing offhis talent on drums.

Towing professionals from around the world once againpacked the Hard Rock Cafe in Baltimore Friday night forthe number one attended event at the American TowmanShow 2006. “Miller Rocks” was the place to be for fun,laughter and camaraderie with fellow towers and MillerIndustries factory representatives.


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Documents

ITHACA NY OOLTEWAH TN 37363 8503 HILLTOP DR · 8503 HILLTOP DR OOLTEWAH TN 37363 ... Miller Industries’ equipment hard at work. 30 Miller Rocks the Hard Rock Cafe: Baltimore, MD