Tow Professional

2 Tow Professional | Volume 2 Issue 2 | www.towprofessional.com

IN EVERY ISSUE

4 | Publisher Letter 37 | HOOKED UP

6 |Alabama Towing & Recovery Association

6| TowMate

8 |Police Tower Initiative

12 | Care, Custody and Control, Part II

10 | International Towing & Recovery Survivor Fund

14 | Hiring New Employees

CONTENTSVolume 2 • Issue 2 2013

www.towprofessional.com

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

Lubricants36 | Lubricants and Wire Rope

Battery Chargers24 | Is Your Shop AGM Ready?

IndustryNEWS

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

company spotlight

33 |American Safety & Supply

34 | Recovery Billing

35 |Progressive Platforms

Cover Image Courtesy ofWeil Wrecker

Safety28 | Safeguarding Employees with

Protective Clothing

Spill Control20 | Do You Have the Right Training and Spill

Products to Respond?


PUBLISHERS

Darian WeaverPresident & [email protected]

Jack HartsfieldVice President & [email protected]

__________________________

PRODUCTION

Clint W. CabinessArt Director

Hal K. HuberGraphic Designer

Jill HastyManaging Editor

__________________________

CONTRIBUTING WRITERSPaul E.

Richard FarrelDan MessinaJim O’HareWayne Olson

Mark H. Stromme

Executive and Advertising Offices

P.O. Box 26308Birmingham, AL 35260Toll free: 888-802-8544Fax: 205-978-1550


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

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

ProfessionalYour Resource for Towing & Recovery

TMLETTER

For a new free subscription, address changes or corrections,

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

P U B L I S H E R S

The New Year is well in motion here at Tow Professional, and Ihope that this issue finds you and your company doing well.

After having cycled for over a full year in the Towing and Recovery market, I would like toshare a quote from the editor’s letter in our very first issue (in hopes that we continue tohit the mark):

“Tow Professional began as a conversation between best-friends Jack Hartsfield and my-self. After an in-depth study of the market, it became clear that companies needed pro-fessional help in a business style format. With 34 years of shared publishing experience,Jack and I set out to design a true product and service driven publication, to give compa-nies large and small a voice in the market.

We are aware of quality publications established in this specific market; however, wesaw the need for a publication that would be specifically focused on the latest productsand services in the industry. A resource for towing and recovery….”

Hopefully we have done what we set out to do; you be the judge and let us know. Plentyof you in our audience have given us praise and some criticism, both are recognized andappreciated. Keep the comments coming.

In this issue, we bring you features on Spill Control, Personal Protective Clothing, Lubri-cants, and AGM batteries, along with company spotlights on American Safety and Sup-ply, in addition to Recovery Billing. Plenty of “Industry News” and “Hooked Up” round itout.

Have a great month,

Darian Weaver and Jack Hartsfield Co-Publishers

Volume 2 • Issue 2 2013


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

The Power-Link series of lighting by TowMate represents the most

revolutionary and cutting-edge technology available for recovery ve-

hicle lighting today. Essentially wireless, the light bar, work lights,

marker/flasher combo units, along with other LED modules offered,

simply tap into existing power and ground wires and are operated

with a control that is also merely a two wire install. The PLC56U

light bar that features work lights and stop/tail/turn modules also

works in conjunction with a TowMate wireless tow light and in-

cludes a wireless transmitter with the standard package. The Power-

Link control will operate any Power-Link light system and is able to

be expanded with other products at any time. One add-on is the

new PLC-TCC6 sequencing traffic cone light system. This set of six

traffic control cone lights will arrow from left to right or right to left in

unison with an overhead Power-Link light bar, or they can be pur-

chased separately as an independent system, as well. When not di-

recting traffic one way or another, the default mode for the cone

lights is a highly visible strobe. Utilizing high intensity LEDs with

peak performance and efficiency, coupled with a lifetime warranty

and made in USA stamp, TowMate’s Power-Link series is the perfect

storm to usher in a new generation of recovery vehicle lighting prod-

ucts.

The new ‘Safety Alert System’ by TowMate lets you know when

the perimeter of your work site is breached, alerting you to get out

of the way! When the air hose is run over, it sends a wireless signal

to a receiver tied to the horn of the truck, locking the horn in the on

position for 15 seconds. This gives you a moment’s notice to get out

of the way of the traffic that could otherwise be coming right for

you.

For more information, or to find a local dealer, visitwww.TowMate.com or call 800-680-4455.

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

6 Tow Professional | Volume 2 • Issue 2 | www.towprofessional.com

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .TowMate > > >

The Alabama Towing and Recovery Association

(ATRA) is a state organization of towing services

and related companies that are dedicated to

educating tow operators, promoting the

towing and recovery industry, and working

with state and local law enforcement

agencies to improve the safety of our

streets and highways. The ATRA is de-

voted to serving and protecting the best

interests of the towing industry, keeping its

members fully informed, and to assist them

in gaining an ever-greater recognition and op-

portunity for profit.

In 2012, the members of the ATRA had a busy year,

including everything from adding a lien law to changing the

Move Over Law to include tow trucks. The ATRA has been working hard

for the towing man.

“I believe it is just as important to stop a harmful law from being

passed as it is to actively pursue changing current ones,” said Lynn Hurst,

president of the ATRA.

Just to list a few things, the ATRA was able to work with the Alabama

Department of Revenue to have abandoned vehicle owner/lienholder

information made available online. This change has given

towing companies the convenience of immediate in-

formation, which helps expedite the abandoned

vehicle process.

The ATRA is proud of the relationships it

has been able to build with the various gov-

ernment agencies across the State. David

Lowery, the ATRA’s lobbyist, has worked tire-

lessly to continue building these relation-

ships and to help further the ATRA’s sphere of

influence in our state.

The ATRA will be hosting eight or more

classes in the upcoming year. The classes will range

from light duty to a super heavy duty rigging class with

Wes Wilburn and Patrick Zozaya. They will also be hosting a

DOT question-and-answer workshop with the Alabama DOT in June of

this year.

On behalf of the ATRA, we would like to thank Tow Professional

Magazine for supporting the ATRA and its industry.

www.altowassociation.org

Alabama Towing and Recovery Association > > >


Aninitiative designed to give municipal towersthe tools they need to keep a prosperous re-

lationship with their towns and police departmentsis being organized by towers around the nation. In-dustry veteran John Borowski is spearheading themovement. Borowski is former president of theStatewide Towing Association of Massachusettsand sits on its board as a past president.

The initiative will be called Police Towers of America (PTA).

“Rates, Encroachment, Insurance are the three key words that

describe the battles that need to be fought on behalf of police tow-

ers,” said Borowski.

A company he manages, Amber Scene Clean in South Hadley,

Massachusetts, is known for it successful dynamics in collecting

from insurance companies.

“We believe this initiative can bring all towers the tools they need

to successfully collect 100% of their towing, storage and cleanup

fees,” he said.

Another critical issue now sweeping the nation’s first, second

and third tier cities is that of Encroachment, middlemen forging long

term contracts with municipalities to control dispatch and rotation

of towing services for non-consensual tows at the expense of the

towing industry.

Another veteran industry professional, Bill Johnson, will play a

key advisory role in the new organization. Johnson is president nine

years running of the Statewide Towing Association of Mass.

He said, “Outside companies are winning five-year contracts

with cities that virtually amount to the tower getting less than 50%

of the tow fee the motorist pays. It’s just wrong. And the only way to

stop it is by organizing and offering these municipalities a program

that can knock outside bidders out of the box.”

Auto Return, based in San Francisco has been reaching out to

cities across America the past few years. It recently signed up

Kansas City and has bids currently being considered in Seattle and

other cities.

If these “middlemen” are successful, said Borowski, they will “di-

vert hundreds of millions of dollars away from towing businesses

and suppliers to our industry.”

The third issue that PTA will address is the need for equitable

Rate Hikes. Police towers, said Borowski, need the proper presenta-

tion tools to successfully make their case to the town for the rate in-

crease they need. To do this, they need the right statistics, the right

narrative, and the right medium.

The biggest problem, said Johnson, is the reality that “local tow-

ers don’t trust one another and don’t communicate. They’re dog-eat-

dog competitors. But there is a reason for them to unite in their

respective towns. This is the common ground they can come to-

gether on. PTA’s role is to facilitate their coming together and arm

them with the tools they need to win the necessary battles. “

PTA members and prospective members will convene in Las

Vegas, according to Borowski, during Tow Industry Week on May

17 at the Las Vegas Hotel and Casino, located next to the LV Con-

vention Center, which is hosting the new American Towman Show-

Place–Las Vegas.

For more information, call 413-575-9333 or email [email protected].

Police Tower Initiative > > >

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

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

“Rates, Encroachment, Insurance arethe three key words that describe thebattles that need to be fought on be-half of police towers,” said Borowski.“We believe this initiative can bringall towers the tools they need tosuccessfully collect 100% of theirtowing, storage and cleanup fees.”

www.towprofessional.com | Volume 2 • Issue 2 | Tow Professional 9




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

Have you ever noticed the sign in theservice department stating “Not Respon-sible for Personal Items Left in Vehicle”?Looks very official but, if you go to court,you lose. Whenever you tow or have any ve-

hicle in for service or storage, you are re-

sponsible for the contents and any damages

to that vehicle while in you possession.

If you do recovery work, any damage

done due to the extrication of that vehicle

could be your responsibility. It is a very com-

mon practice to have a “HOLD HARMLESS”

form that the customer would sign prior to

any winching. It might contain wording like,

“Not Responsible For Damages Due To Extri-

cation.” I would explain to the vehicle owner

that I had no way of knowing what might be

under the vehicle or what they may have run

over.

One company I worked for had a rubber

stamp made. We would stamp the back of

the motor club ticket and have the customer

sign that. One day, a very clever fellow took

the owner to court. He said the driver made

him sign the back of the card blank. From

that day on, we had the owner hand write

the Hold Harmless on the back of the invoice

or motor club ticket.

We had one of those customers from

Hell. No matter how much he would com-

plain about the service times etc., he would

still call; we couldn’t get rid of this pest! He

thought we should work for free. After all,

the motor club was paying $8.00 for a flat

tire change. This was the kind of guy that

wanted you to sign two separate cards and

then take off his two good tires and install his

two snow tires in his drive. NO tip, just sign

an extra card. I tried to explain that this was

not emergency service and he would need

to take the tires and drive to the station. One

day, this guy backs into the snow bank at the

Care, Custody& CONTROL, PART II


mall behind our station. This time, the boss

says he is personally going to “service” this

jerk. He makes the customer hand write the

“Hold Harmless” and sign it. Then my boss

hooks a chain to the grill and proceeds to rip

the grill off the front of the car! Next he hooks

to the door handle and “POP”…the door is on

the ground. This was funny to watch but

even with a Hold Harmless signed, the boss

had to fix the damages. Seems you still must

act in a reasonable and professional manner,

but the pain in the neck customer did stop

calling us. My point here is simple. You are

held to a standard of service. Protect your-

self, be professional, and watch out for those

“customers from hell.” TOW

Detroit Wrecker Sales19630 Fitzpatrick, Detroit, MI 48228Local: 313-835-8700National: 877-TOW-0030www.DetroitWrecker.com

Email: [email protected]


1. Craigslist (costs money, you have to create an ad)

2. Newspaper ads (Does anyone even read the newspaper

anymore? Everything is online. Once again, this costs money.)

3. Local newspapers like Green Sheet or the Penny Saver

(don’t reach enough people)

4. A friend’s recommendation (If you are an owner, your

friends are already in the business.)

5. Employee’s recommendation (This is the best, but if you

have a bad employee, you could end up with a second bad

employee.)

6. Local networking groups (not many tow truck drivers in this bunch)

7. Facebook (Once again, your friends on Facebook are usually looking for the same type of people you are looking for.)

8. A drive-by sign (doesn’t reach enough people)

9. Your vendor’s recommendation (You may feel obligated to hire them.)

10. Your competition (If you steal from your competitor, remember that they will start stealing from you.)

11. A staffing company (Not many staffing companies provide this type of employee.)

By Dan Mess ina

HIRINGNEWEMPLOYEESEveryone, at some point in time, has had to fill a position with their company, whether itwas a dispatcher, a driver, office personnel, a bookkeeper, a sales person, etc.

Here are a few of the standard ways for finding employees:


Don’t take me wrong; all ofthe items listed above areways to find employees. Ihave used a few of themmyself, depending on theposition I was trying to fill.You will find different peoplein different places based onyour needs. When you aretrying to fill a position, thereare a few questions youmust answer, such as:

1. Can the position be filled from within?

This is how you promote your staff. It

builds morale and creates a positive

work place.

2. What is the definition of the position

you need? Are you sure that is the

position you need to fill or can you

change responsibilities within the

company and meet your needs?

3. What are the requirements of that

position? You have to be able to judge

hat person on the job they are doing.

If they are not clear on what they

should be doing, then it will be hard to

judge them. Allow them to add input

once they start. It will be new ideas

rom a new face, and they have hands

on the job and may come up with

ways to improve your company.

4. What are you going to pay for this

person? Once again, different positions

require different pays. Make sure you

don’t pay anyone more than a current

employee doing the same job unless

you have a good reason. Don’t pay

them more than the position. You

want to allow them to have room to

grow in a position.

I once had a sales person, and I was con-

stantly reviewing his job. I wasn’t so much

concerned about his pay; I wanted to make

sure I was using his talents properly. This per-

son also represented my company at tow

hearings. Once I figured out that his real po-

sition was my lawyer who handled sales, I re-

alized I was definitely getting my money’s

worth.

I was recently talking to a small business

owner in Pennsylvania whose company was

growing fast and he needed help. He fol-

lowed the steps in this article and was able

to hire some good people and grow the

company at the same time. There is no

magic to building a great staff. If you have a

good company and you are a good owner,

everyone will want to work for you. When I

built my company from one truck and no ac-

counts to 16 trucks, over 1,200 accounts,

and 36 full-time employees, it was not luck;

every step was calculated based on a good


business plan. Over the eight years I owned my company, only one

employee ever quit. Here is what I did to build a great staff.

It all starts with the owner. When I startedmy company, I knew nothing about theindustry, but I knew who I was and how Iwould operate. Growing up, I played a lot ofteam sports. I never realized how thatwould play a role later in business. I wasvery competitive and always wanted to win.In order to win, you need several things tohappen:

1. Know the rules of the game.

2. Know your objective.

3. Look intimidating.

4. Surround yourself with good players.

5. Don’t worry about your reputation.

6. Define your character.

These were the winning ingredientsfor my company.

Rules of the game:When I opened my business, I learned

all of the laws pertaining to my business, both state and fed-

eral. I knew all of the city ordinances of the cities that I oper-

ated in and how they pertained to my business. I even got so

involved in the industry that I helped write the laws that af-

fected my business, but that’s a story for another day.

Your objective:When I opened my doors, I knew exactly

how I wanted my company to look and how I wanted it to func-

tion. We hit the road running and tweaked it as necessary

going forward.

Look intimidating: Any sports team I played on, I made sure

we had matching uniforms, all of the colors matched, added

bling, and had the latest and greatest equipment. All of my em-

ployees wore uniforms, the colors of the trucks and uniforms

matched, we had state-of-the -art equipment, and we deco-

rated our trucks to add a little flair. All of my competitors talked

about me and knew who I was…and so did their customers.

Good players: I tried to hire the best employees for each posi-

tion. We were a team, and each position complemented each

other. Your competition gets discouraged when they see that

you have a winning team. When you have a great team, your

success rate is much higher, everyone wants to work for you,

and your turnover will be minimal.

Your reputation: When you are the best company, your com-

petition will try to ruin your reputation. Remember that this is

not who you are; these are other people’s opinions. They can

paint any picture they want and make you look how they want

you to look.

Your character: Your customer will know who you are by

your character, the team you built, and the way you conduct

business.

It is difficult being a small business owner because you wear all

of the hats even if they don’t fit. Make no mistake, your company

will become what you are. Remember these few things once you

have your staff:

• If you want others to pursue excellence, you must set the

standard.

• If you want others to communicate, you must be prepared

to listen.

• If you want others to have innovation, you must give them

freedom to fail.

• If you want others to trust you, you must earn their trust.

• If you want others to follow you, you must demonstrate ex-

cellent leadership.

Be honest, moral, and ethical, and your business will succeed.

As all employers quickly learn, there's a world of difference be-

tween a worker who's correctly matched to their job and their or-

ganization, and one who is not.

How do you find the right people for the job? By developing a

comprehensive plan that identifies all of the positions you want to

fill. If you want good results, don’t take shortcuts or the plan will fail.

HIRINGNEW EMPLOYEES


Before you start the hiring process, deter-mine your strategy relative to how people fitinto your organization. What is your processfor making sure they're a good fit with yourcompany's culture? Your goal is to have aplan that will help you determine whetheryou have a qualified applicant who will fitinto your company's culture.

1. Job description – Have a job description for each position

in your company.

2. Develop a profile – For drivers, you want them to be over

25 years of age, married, clean cut, good hygiene. For

dispatchers, you want good phone skills, know how to talk

to customers, and have some computer skills.

3. Create an ad – If you are running an ad, make sure it has

the key qualifications required.

4. Develop phone screening questions – When you call a

candidate or meet with them, have a list of questions that

qualify the candidate.

5. Review the resumes –Most of the people I hired did not

have resumes, but when I talked to them in the interview, I

found out what I needed to know.

6. Select candidates – After the interviews, you want to

select the candidates that are best qualified for the next

step in the process.

7. Meeting the candidate – It’s time to meet the people

you’ve been talking to on the phone. Again, you want to

ask questions and get them to talk. Listening is part of the

interview.

8. Background check – This can help you choose the right

person and eliminate problems before they start.

9. Make an offer – The information you collected during the

interview process will provide you with important insights

as to starting compensation levels and training needs.


If you want your business to attract and retain good clients, your

comprehensive people strategy must include a recruiting and selec-

tion strategy that attracts and retains quality employees.

Following a well-thought-out, structured process will help you

best match the right people to the right jobs in your company.

Your evaluation process should also be able to predict the an-

swers to three specific questions: Is the applicant able to do the

job? Is the applicant willing to do the job? And, is the applicant man-

ageable if hired? There should be a good match between the com-

pany's needs and the applicant's expectations.

Here is what I would do when I was hiring. I would go to a grocery store or aSam’s or a Wal-Mart and look for the candidate that fit my profile. I was notconcerned about experience; I wantedthe person that fit my company. I couldalways teach them the towing side. I wasin computers for 35 years before I gotinto towing, and I build a successful company. Here are the steps I followed:

1. I would find a potential candidate.

2. I’d ask them if they were interested in changing careers.

3. I knew I could probably offer more money than they

were making.

4. I’d sell them on me the owner.

5. I’d sell them on the excitement of the company and

how no two days are the same.

6. I did not have to do criminal background checks because

heir current employer already did that. Same with drug

testing.

7. No money was spent on ads.

8. In most cases, the clerical positions already had the skill

sets I needed.

9. The drivers I hired did not know about other companies.

10.You’d be surprised how many guys would love to be at the

scene of all the wrecks on the highway.

11. I’d let new employees talk to other employees, so they

could get the feel for a fun environment.

As I mentioned before, there is no sure way to hire, but it can be

easy if you do it right, and it all starts with you, the owner. TOW

Dan Messina is a small business specialist, www.danmessina.com.

HIRINGNEW EMPLOYEES


FlowStop, the first of its kind sys-tem for controlling and containing

storm drain contaminants, has an-

nounced the production of their new,

smaller sized mechanical plugs. Mechanical

Minis are a series of 6", 8" and 10" plugs

that work with the FlowStop system to

achieve a better seal with maximum speed.

The Minis can be mixed or matched to

meet specific requirements.

The FlowStop system is a unique inflat-

able containment pipe plug engineered to

handle both emergency spills and routine

maintenance of storm drain and sewer line

pipes. It was especially designed to help

Hazmat teams, fire departments, emer-

gency crews and maintenance profession-

als handle: flow control, containment,

remediation, spill response, evacuation,

flushing and drain line maintenance quickly

and efficiently.

Originally FlowStop plugs smaller than

12" were not available. With the launch of

the new M&M series containment teams

can now plug smaller pipes of just 10", 8"

or 6". There's no assembly required. Simply

install the plug and it's ready for deploy-

ment - with no inflation needed.

The Mechanical Minis withstand 99% of

all known chemicals. It's constructed with

heavy-duty stainless steel components and

flow-through tubing to assure longevity in

the field. The protective nitrile rubber sleeve

for added grip and 3/4'' Polypropylene ball

valve make it easier than ever to block off

the pipe to keep fluids from leaking.

The ball valves and transfer tubes built

inside FlowStop's inflatable plug are unique

design features that ensure success with

every use. The transparent front and rear

flanges allows for easy viewing to deter-

mine fluid levels -- saving time and assuring

quality remediation.

The FlowStop Mechanical Minis are backed

by a 5-year Warranty. The set of three in-

clude a 3/4'' X 10' suction/drain hose. It

comes in a Pelican 1630 storage case with

custom Insert marked with a reflective iden-

tifiable FlowStop Decal. The total weight of

the case with units is just 86 lbs. TOW

For more information about the new

Mechanical Minis, along with pricing

information, call FlowStop at 877- 356-

9767. The company also designs and

develops custom pipe plugs. Contact

FlowStop with your specs to learn more:

www.flowstop.net

FlowStop's new Mechanical Minisdo a big job in smaller places

MECHANICAL MINIS 6”



• 1 - Pelican 1630 case which is water- proof and weather resistant.

• Watertight, crushproof, and dust proof

• Easy open Double Throw latches

• Open cell core with solid wall design -strong, light weight

• O-ring seal

• Automatic Pressure Equalization Valve

• Fold down handles

• Stainless steel padlock protectors

• Retractable extension handle

• 4 strong polyurethane wheels with stain-less steel bearings

TOWOPERATORS ARE OFTEN THE

FIRST TO ARRIVE AT AN ACCIDENT

SCENE, MEANING THEY COME ACROSS CHEMICAL

SPILLS FROM DISABLED VEHICLES ON A ROUTINE

BASIS. KNOWING HOW TO PROPERLY IDENTIFY

THE TYPES OF SPILLS AND USE THE CORRECT

CLEANUP PRODUCTS ARE KEY SKILLS IN QUICKLY

CLEARING ANY SPILL, WHETHER IT’S ON THE ROAD

OR IN YOUR SHOP.Tow operators are often the first to arrive at an accident

scene, meaning they come across chemical spills from disabled

vehicles on a routine basis. Knowing how to properly identify

the types of spills and use the correct cleanup products are key

skills in quickly clearing any spill, whether it’s on the road or in

your shop.

The Federal Highway Administration of the U.S. Depart-

ment of Transportation knows the importance of clearing spills

quickly to minimize traffic delays. They classify traffic incident

spills into three categories: 1) Vehicular Fluid Spills (fuel,

coolants and transmissions fluids); 2) Cargo Spills (non-haz-

ardous or hazardous); 3) A mixture of the first two categories.

Regulatory standards are currently in place to protect respon-

ders, the public and environment from exposure to these chem-

icals. Still, there is much that can be done to minimize traffic

delays caused by the spill clean-up efforts, especially when the

only spills present are from vehicle fluids.

All first responders, including tow truck operators, should

have proper training so that they can identify the potential harm

of the materials present, as well as know what can be done to


SpillDo You Have the Right Training & Spill Products to Respond?

By Paul E., AWDirect Technical Product Suppor t

www.towprofessional.com | Volume 2 Issue 2 | Tow Professional 21

minimize that harm. This ability to analyze the scene better enables tow

operators to report details to authorities before they arrive. Having the

proper training, resources and personal protection equipment allows tow

operators to assist with basic spill control and containment. Sorbents,

storm water inlet covers and wedges are just a few of the products that

can be used.

Sorbents may be made of many materials and are designed for spe-

cific uses. Universal sorbents absorb any liquid from water-based fluids,

non-aggressive liquids such as radiator coolants, petroleum-based chemi-

cals such as gasoline or diesel fuels, and even aggressive chemicals such

as acids and bases. These sorbents are commonly made from polypropy-

lene. Petroleum sorbents are designed for absorbing petroleum-based

liquids like fuels, solvents and oils like motor oils and hydraulic oils. How-

ever, these sorbents are hydrophobic, meaning they don’t absorb water

or water-based liquids. They’re often constructed of polypropylene or cel-

lulose materials. Finally, Maintenance sorbents absorb non-aggressive liq-

uids, including water and petroleum based-liquids and oils. They are

made of the same materials as universal or petroleum sorbents, or recy-

cled materials such as corncobs, cotton, cellulose or wool.

Sorbents come in many forms. Large-diameter booms (Figure #1)

and smaller-diameter socks are cylinder-shaped sorbents of various

Control

Figure #2

Figure #1

lengths that are placed around a spill to keep it from spreading. Pillows

(Figure #2) are rectangular shaped and are used to clean up spills or be

placed in areas were minor dripping of chemical occurs. Pads (Figure

#3) are sorbent materials that come in flat, rectangular sheets. They may

also be purchased in long rolls, which have pads that can be torn off the

roll as needed. Loose sorbents (Figure #4), which are not contained in

any specific form, are sprinkled over smaller spills to absorb liquids. They

come in a granular powdered format and can be made of polypropylene,

cellulose, corncobs, cotton, clay or wool.

Using storm water inlet covers (Figure #5 and Figure #6) for curb-

side storm water drains and manhole drains prevents the spilled fluids

from contaminating the environment. Inlet covers or wedges are usually

made of impervious solid materials such as flexible PVC or

polyurethanes. The use of sorbent booms or socks is another alternative

that may be employed.


Figure #3

Figure #4

SpillDo You Have the Right Training & Spill Products to Respond? Control


Employees responding to incidents where

a hazardous material spill may potentially occur

must meet the training requirements of

OSHA’s Hazardous Waste Operations and

Emergency Response (HAZWOPER) standard,

29 CFR 1910.120. There are several levels of

training, depending on anticipated exposure

level. The first responder-awareness level is for

those who witness or discover a hazardous ma-

terial release and notify authorities, with no fur-

ther action. The first responder-operations level

is for initial response and spill containment at a

safe distance to prevent exposure. The highest

level of training is for the hazardous material

technician whose purpose is to stop the spill.

With the assistance of a Department of

Transportation grant, the Towing & Recovery

Association of America created a national Tow

Truck Driver Certification program that, in addi-

tion to light-, medium- and heavy-duty towing

and recovery topics, also incorporates haz-

ardous material training into their curriculums.

More information is available at the TRAA web-

site at http://www.towserver.net/certifica-

tion.htm. TOW

To contact an AW Direct Technical Spe-cialist call 1-800-243-3194 Mondaythrough Friday, from 7:00 AM – 4:30PM CST.

Figure #5

Figure #6


Is Your ShopAGMReady?

AS THE WORLD OF AUTOMOTIVE BATTERIES CONTINUES TO EXPAND AND VEHICLE MANUFACTURERS STARTLOOKING FOR ALTERNATIVES TO STANDARD FLOODED ACID BATTERIES, a shop owner or tech needs to be preparedto service any size or type battery that comes into their shop environment. One of the battery types becoming more prevalent

in passenger vehicles is the AGM battery. While AGM batteries have benefits over other types, there are precautions and guide-

lines that a shop must take to properly service these batteries. In this

article, we’ll cover a few shop equipment categories to help ensure

your shop is prepared to service AGM batteries.

What is an AGM Ba++ery?AGM (absorbed glass mat) batteries differ from flooded acid batteries

in the sense that the electrolyte is absorbed into thin fiberglass mat

separators, rather than flooding all the plates. These very thin glass

fibers are designed to increase the surface area enough to hold suf-

ficient electrolyte on the cells for their lifetime. This results in a

more dependable and resilient battery that is better suited to the

constant cycling resulting from the electronic conveniences and

add-ons found in modern passenger vehicles.

AGM batteries can be found in a variety of shapes and sizes,

including spiral-wound designs or in traditional designs re-

sembling a flooded lead-acid battery. These batteries’

prices typically run 50-100% higher than flooded acid

batteries, so they are commonly found in higher end vehi-

cles or in applications where their durability, cycling capac-

ity and vibration resistance are of great value. With the

increasing demand on a battery to power amenities such as DVD

players, navigations systems, and power controls, the amount of AGM batteries

found in passenger vehicles is predicted to increase in the coming years.


BE PREPARED WITH THE RIGHT TOOLS

Ba++ery ChargersAGM batteries require a “smart”

charging routine, by a Smart Battery

Charger, in order to be properly

charged. In this case, “smart” means

progressing through the charging

stages in a manner compatible with

the specific battery being charged

(AGM) and automatically and pre-

cisely adjusting its output to achieve

a full, beneficial charge. Charging an

AGM battery with a traditional bat-

tery charger will result in too much

energy being pushed into the battery,

with a lack of the control needed to

charge it correctly. This could easily

damage the battery, reducing its re-

serve capacity and shortening its

service life.

Ba++ery TestersBut, how do you know if it is worth your time and effort to charge a problem battery rather than re-

placing it? The right tool for that assessment is your battery tester. But, do AGM batteries present

any specific challenges in this regard? Not if you have the right equipment.

The most important thing to consider or determine is whether your battery tester is specifically

designed to test a wide variety of

battery, including AGM batteries.

For digital testers, your tester

should prompt you to indicate the

type of battery construction you

are testing, such as SLI, AGM or

Gel Cell. If not, your tester may only

be capable of properly assessing

traditional flooded batteries. A digi-

tal tester is only as good as the ref-

erence data within the tester itself.

So, you want to be sure that you

are referencing data specific to the

battery you are testing.

Jump Star+ersAs familiarity with and knowledge of AGM batteries grows, we have been fielding

a new question that we haven’t heard before from shop owners

and technicians:

“OK, I now know that I need to use a special

charger with AGM batteries, but what about

my jump starter? Does that need to be AGM-

compatible as well in order to avoid damage

to these new batteries?

A jump starter is designed to act as an ex-

tension of the vehicle’s battery, enabling that

sudden burst of energy that makes the en-

gine starting process possible when the vehi-

cle’s battery is not up to the task itself. While

powerful, this auxiliary supply of energy does

not affect the health or well being of the vehi-

cle’s battery, whether it is a flooded, AGM Gel

Cell or other type of battery.


Is Your ShopAGMReady?

Be Preparedwith the RightToolsWe hope that this quick survey

of the tools needed to properly

service and maintain AGM bat-

teries is helpful to you. With the

right equipment, particularly in

the battery charger arena, ex-

tending your service range into

these increasingly popular new

batteries should be profitable

and painless. TOW

CLORE AUTOMOTIVE

www.cloreautomotive.com

800-328-2921



Operating a tow vehicle can be physically tough work for em-

ployees. Bending, crawling, climbing, and pulling…these ex-

ertions take a toll on the body. Not only do they take a toll on the

employee, they also take a toll on employee’s clothing.

That’s why the clothing worn by tow operators must be de-

signed to withstand abuse and protect the wearer from injuries. It

should be heavy-duty industrial grade clothing made for hard use.

The clothing your employees wear should be based on the weather

conditions, job duties, and OSHA’s requirements.

WEATHER CONDITIONSDepending on your location, late winter and early spring can bring a

wide range of weather conditions. Rain, wind, snow, and sleet in

certain parts of the country, or high temperatures and blazing sun in

others, can confront the tow operator.

Instruct your employees to select the proper clothing for the

weather conditions they will be exposed to each day. Conditions

can also rapidly change during the day, so employees should have a

variety of protective clothing options to choose from.

OSHA REQUIREMENTSNot only do your employees have to make decisions on what protective

clothing to wear each day, OSHA requires that you protect your employ-

ees while they are performing their job duties. This can include provid-

ing the proper personal protective equipment (PPE).

OSHA requires employers to conduct a hazard assessment per 29

CFR 1910.132(d). This hazard assessment must determine if hazards

are present, or are likely to be present, that require the use of PPE. If such

hazards are discovered, then you must select, provide at no cost, and

have each affected employee use the types of PPE that will protect

them.

There is an exception to the employer-provided PPE requirement.

OSHA doesn’t require you to provide or pay for non-specialty steel-toed

shoes or boots, and non-specialty prescription safety glasses if employ-

ees are allowed to wear them off the job.

While not PPE, it is worth noting that you are not required to pay for

everyday clothing, such as long-sleeve shirts, long pants, street shoes,

and normal work boots; or ordinary clothing, skin creams, or other items,

used solely for protection from weather, such as winter coats, jackets,

gloves, parkas, rubber boots, hats, raincoats, ordinary sunglasses, and

sunscreen.

There may be times that you will require your employees to wear a

winter coat or jacket (or other clothing) that has your company name

and or logo on them. This would be similar to requiring them to wear a

uniform. These do not have to be furnished free of charge to your work-

ers. No matter if you decide to provide the clothing, or if employees se-

lect what they will be wearing, consider the following information.

Safeguarding Employeeswith

By Mar k H. Stromme


OUTERWEARProtection starts with the torso—the largest part of the body that is

exposed to the elements. Protect the torso and you’ve gone a long

way in protecting the entire body. A common option is to provide a

jacket as the outer layer of torso protection. Temperature extremes

must be considered as too heavy a jacket can cause the wearer to

overheat.

The jacket, shirt, or vest must be abrasion-resistant as operators

spend considerable time crawling under vehicles on concrete,

gravel, mud, and dirt. The outer fabric has to be tough enough to re-

sist tearing and shredding. The outer garment should also be roomy

so the wearer is not constricted and has an adequate range of mo-

tion. Reinforced elbows or elbow pads are a good idea and will pro-

tect the operator from undue pressure and strain on the elbow.

The pants must also be durable and roomy. Reinforced knees, or

the use of separate knee pads, should also be considered to protect

the operator from abrasions when crawling under a vehicle.

Another option is a one-piece coverall. These are handy for wear-

ing over a shirt and pants and can keep the operator clean as the cov-

erall can be laundered frequently. However, sometimes one-piece gar-

ments don’t fit certain body types as well as a separate jacket and

pants.

HIGH-VISIBILITY CLOTHINGAs mentioned earlier, OSHA requires employers to conduct a hazard

assessment per 29 CFR 1910.132(d). This hazard assessment must

determine if hazards are present, or are likely to be present, that re-

quire the use of PPE. If such hazards are discovered, then you must

select, and have each affected employee use, the types of PPE that

will protect them.

One type of protective clothing that would fall into this category is

high-visibility safety apparel. This type of clothing would be required

for your operators if your hazard assessment revealed that they could

be exposed to a struck-by hazard. The appropriate high-visibility

safety clothing would include apparel that meets the Performance

Class 2 or 3 requirements of the ANSI/ISEA 107–2004 publication.


There are various types of high-visibility safety clothing. One of the most com-

mon is the high-visibility vest in its numerous configurations. There are also match-

ing pants that increase employee visibility even more. Since this is specialty

clothing, it must be provided at no cost to your employees.

HEAD PROTECTIONHead protection may be needed to prevent injury from cold temperatures, the

sun’s rays, or being struck by falling objects. The first two hazards can typically be

prevented by the wearing of an appropriate hat that insulates the head or blocks

the sun’s rays.

However, OSHA specifically requires hard hats be worn when there is the po-

tential for injury to the head from falling objects or bumping the head on an object.

Crawling around and under vehicles can expose employees to these hazards.

Every tow call may not require a hard hat to be worn, but they should be available

when needed.

OSHA requires that head protection comply with:

• ANSI Z89.1–2009, American National Standard for Industrial Head Protection; or • ANSI Z89.1–2003, American National Standard for Industrial Head Protection; or• ANSI Z89.1–1997, American National Standard for Personnel Protection—Pro-tective Headwear for Industrial Workers—Requirements.Employers are required to pay for and supply workers with the appropriate head

protection.


FOOTWEARYour employees working on and around the tow truck may be ex-

posed to hazards that could injure their feet. At the tow site, there

could be broken glass, shredded metal and rubber, and hazardous

chemicals (gasoline, diesel fuel, radiator anti-freeze) that could injure

employees. That’s why you will want to require them to wear the

proper protective footwear; however, you are not required to pay for

it, unless it is considered specialty footwear, such as metatarsal

guards used to protect the top of the foot from falling objects.

When you or your employees are selecting and buying footwear,

make sure that it complies with either of the following consensus

standards:

• ASTM F–2412–2005, Standard Test Methods for Foot Protectionand ASTM F–2413–2005, Standard Specification for PerformanceRequirements for Protective Footwear; or

• ANSI Z41–1991 or ANSI Z41–1999, American National Standard forPersonal Protection—Protective Footwear.Slipping and falling is another hazard that could be encountered,

especially when working in icy conditions. There are specific types of

devices (with spikes that bite into the ice) that attach to boots that

provide added traction in these conditions.

HAND PROTECTIONHand protection must be used when employees’ hands are exposed

to hazards that could result in severe cuts or lacerations, severe abra-

sions, punctures, chemical burns, thermal burns, and harmful tem-

perature extremes.

Employees are often exposed to hazards like these when working

around wrecked and disabled vehicles. They often handle chains and

wire rope used to tow vehicles, in addition to picking up pieces of de-

bris that resulted from the accident. Many times, there are hazardous

chemicals that have spilled from fuel tanks or other containers that

can burn or be absorbed through, the skin.

There are cut-resistant gloves designed to

protect worker’s hands from lacerations or

punctures and chemical resistant gloves to

protect from chemical burns. In the winter

months, insulated gloves may be needed to

prevent frostbite.

EYE PROTECTIONOSHA requires that appropriate eye protection

be provided when there is a hazard from flying

particles, molten metal, liquid chemicals, acids

or caustic liquids, chemical gases or vapors, or

potentially injurious light radiation.

If you have employees that are working

near moving traffic, they could be exposed to

road debris being picked up and thrown

around. Also, crawling under and around vehi-

cles can exposed them to dirt, road salt, and

fumes that can fall into or enter the eyes.

Keeping the debris and related particles out

of workers eyes is one of the main reasons to

wear eye protection.

Employers are required to provide (at no

charge to employee) the proper PPE to protect

against eye hazards. Safety glasses (either

spectacles or goggles) are a common form of

eye protection. If there is a severe hazard from

flying objects, then a face shield may also be

necessary. At the least, safety glasses with side

shields should be used.

Employers are not required to pay for non-

specialty prescription safety eyewear, provided

that the employer permits such items to be

worn off the jobsite.

No matter if you supply them or the em-

ployee supplies them, OSHA requires that eye

and face protection devices comply with the

ANSI Z87.1-1989 or ANSI Z87.1-2003 con-

sensus standards (American National Stan-

dard Practice for Occupational and Educational

Eye and Face Protection).

TRAININGMake sure you train employees so they know

at least the following:

• When PPE is necessary;• What PPE is necessary;

• How to properly don, doff, adjust, and wearPPE;

• The limitations of the PPE; and• The proper care, maintenance, useful lifeand disposal of the PPE.In addition, each employee must demon-

strate an understanding of this training, and the

ability to use PPE properly, before being al-

lowed to perform work requiring the use of

PPE.

WRAP UPNo matter what the season and weather condi-

tions, the proper protective clothing, and PPE is

essential for safeguarding employees from the

hazards they could be exposed to.TOW

Mark H. Stromme is a WorkplaceSafety Editor with J. J. Keller &Associates, Inc., 3003 BreezewoodLn., Neenah, WI 54957; (920) 722-2848. Email:[email protected]. For moreinfo, visit www.jjkeller.com.



American Safety & Supply is a full-line, stocking distributor of safety products in-

cluding High-Visibility Clothing, First-Aid Kits and Supplies, Gloves, Personal Pro-

tective Equipment, Spill Containment Absorbents Flashlights and much more.

American Safety & Supply was founded in Springfield, Massachusetts, in 1990

by The Caron family - Hank, Fran and their son Chris. When Fran and Hank decided to retire, Chris and his longtime

friend John took over. Over the last several years, Chris and John have put their focus on the High Visibility Clothing

market specializing in the Towing Industry. The availability of High Quality yet affordable Jackets, Vests, and T-

Shirts have filled a need in the Towing industry as well as the Construction, Arborist, and Municipal markets.

American Safety & Supply continues to search for new improved items to meet

the needs of workers in dangerous situations. They will have a new line of af-

fordable jackets in the Fall of 2013.

800-472-3892

[email protected]

www.americansafetysupply.com

”Meeting today's safety needs...TODAY!”

company spotlight

American Safety & Supply


Since its creation in the summer of 2009, Recovery Billing Unlim-ited Inc. (RBU) has educated hundreds of towing and recoveryoutfits throughout the United States and Canada. The full-day Ad-vanced Business Management Seminars, instructed by Bob andEric Fouquette of Big Wheel Towing & Recovery, contain a wealthof information covering all facets of a successful towing and re-covery operation. With the inclusion of guest speakers rangingfrom insurance executives, to attorneys, to OSHA instructors, allangles are touched upon. Topics of discussion include:

• Building the proper tow and recovery business fromthe ground up

• Training employees so they project a moreprofessional image

• Remediation of the accident scene

• Proper way of writing acceptable recovery invoices

• Billing on liability & property damage coverage only

• State, local, & federal laws

• And, most importantly, obtaining payment

With no other known organization providing seminars of this kind,RBU is an industry first. While other training institutions teach com-panies how to tow and perform recoveries in the proper fashion,RBU teaches companies how to be more profitable using the tech-niques they’ve acquired by having the ability to bill for their servicesrendered and ultimately obtain payment. RBU is an organizationdedicated to teaching fellow towers how to become more profitableat the work they do.

Rumors about the course being designed to “scam” insurance

and/or trucking companies could not be any further from the truth. In

fact, the seminars teach towing and recovery companies to work with

insurance and/or trucking companies to get them to better under-

stand the process that went into creating the invoice set in front of

them. By having an invoice complete with a detailed narrative, item-

ized pricing and breakdown of all equipment at the scene, and accom-

panied by a full set of pictures, there are no unanswered questions.

The initial cost of attendance may seem a bit daunting to some

companies, however, the benefits outweigh the cost tremendously. In-

cluded along with the tuition fee comes two make-up / refresher

classes for free for the same people from each company that attended

the first paid seminar. Also, RBU stands behind each and every at-

tendee by being on call 24/7 to answer any and all questions regard-

ing the information brought about within the seminar itself and/or

issues that may arise at a later date pertaining to towing and recovery.

As mentioned earlier, hundreds of companies have attended the semi-

nar, and the overall consensus is 100% positive feedback.

Classes are typically held monthly or bi-monthly in East Freetown,

Massachusetts, and spots are limited to the first 20 companies that

sign up. The next upcoming seminar will be held April 6th . The next

seminar that RBU will be hosting, is a two-day seminar at the Las

Vegas Convention Center starting at 8 am and lasting until noon on

May 17 and May 18, 2013. In order to sign up, or receive more infor-

mation regarding any of the seminars please contact Linda at 508-

763-5474. TOW

RECOVERY BILLING UNLIMITED 508-763-5474

company spotlight

RECOVERY BILLING Unlimited Inc. (RBU)


company spotlight

PressurePro� provides Peace of Mind. Protectyour vehicle and occupants with PressurePro�.RELIABLE UNDER PRESSURE�

SafetyPressurePro™ provides an alert when pressureis low, adding greater safety for you and yourvehicle.• Peace of mind knowing that your tires, your

only contact with the road, are inflatedproperly for optimum performance andhandling.

• Monitor displays current tire pressures for alltires.

• Tire pressure is constantly monitored, whilemoving or parked.

• PressurePro alerts to dangerous low-pressuresituations with both a visual and an audiblealert.

• Two thresholds of low tire pressure warnings -a double threshold of safety.

• Greater stability, handling and braking withtires properly inflated. Tires with low airpressures skid and hydroplane more easily.

• Each year, 80,000 accidents are attributed tolow tire pressure.

EconomyPressurePro™ assists in loweringmaintenance costs, reducing fuel useand saving tire tread.• Properly inflated tires last longer.

The life of your tire is extendeddue to less tread wear.

• PressurePro requires no costlyinstallation, installs in minutes withno tools.

• The monitor can easily be relocated from theprimary to the towed vehicle with noadditional installation.

• Properly inflated tires save fuel.• Proper inflation protects and saves the tire

casing, reducing the chance of blowouts andzipper rips.

• Properly inflated tires extend the life of tiretreads by as much as 35%.

• Properly inflated and maintained tires savecostly roadside repairs and downtime.

• The Department of Transportation estimatesthat 5.4 million gallons of fuel per day (over 2billion per year) are wasted due to low tirepressure.

EnvironmentPressurePro™ is environmentally friendly, con-

serving precious resources.• Tires wear longer, saving valuable resources

used to produce new tires.• Properly inflated tires save fuel.• Under-inflated tires wear prematurely, adding

to the landfill/disposal problem.• Assists in preventing dangerous debris on the

road from worn and unsafe tires and casings.• Reduced rubber particulates in the air,

affecting air quality.• Proper inflation prevents irregular tread wear,

preventing dangerous conditions that can leadto accidents. TOW

877-306-6478 • progressiveplatforms.com

The finest Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) on the market�.

LUBRICANTS WILL BREAKDOWN OVER TIMETHROUGH OXIDATION WITH AIR AND WITH THE SUN’S ULTRAVIOLETRAYS. IT IS ALSO LOST DURING NORMAL USE AS IT IS SQUEEZED OUT OFTHE CORE FROM REPEATED CABLE TENSION AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACEDPERIODICALLY.

Some tow truck and wire rope manufacturers do NOT lubricate the wire rope and leave that chore to the

customer. The oil that is on a new cable may only be the machining lubricant that is used during the manu-

facturing process as the wires are drawn through the dies. Do not presume it has been lubricated for you

with a lubricant specifically for wire rope.

Wire rope primarily wears from the INSIDE out through the friction of wires rubbing against each other

and the sheave wheel as they bend and flex. This internal friction works away unseen and from every angle.

It’s not unusual for a cable to look fine on the outside, but for the inside wires and strands to be badly worn, or

have many completely broken inside through this wearing effect.

Rain water, road salt and other contaminants get in between the wire and strands, causing pitting and

corrosion. A penetrating lubricant fills those spaces where water can accumulate and displaces the water. A

good quality lubricant will penetrate the wire rope completely, neutralize acidic contaminants, and coat the

cable with a protective film. Only a good lubricant specifically made for wire rope will do all three. Vitalife lubri-

cants include corrosion and water displacing inhibitors, anti-wear additives, anti-oxidants, and plasticizers for

low temperatures.

Why you should never apply used motor oil to wire rope:

• Most, if not all, of the anti-friction properties have broken down.

• Used motor oil becomes acidic, so it will actually contribute to corrosion.

• It will attract dirt to the cable since motor oil does not dry.

• It contains impurities and contaminants that will clog the wire rope, preventing any future

lubricants from penetrating properly.

A wire rope that is regularly lubricated from when it was new will last on average three times longer

than one that is not lubricated (Roebling Wire Rope Handbook). TOW

Olson & Company

3 Oxford Court | Suffern, New York 10901

Ph: 845-357-0829 | Fax: 845-918-1823 | [email protected]


Lubricants &Wire Rope

HOOKEDUPProfessionalYour Resource for Towing & Recovery

TM

Nussbaum Heavy

Duty markets two

affordable mobile

columns lift sys-

tems, the MCS

48000 & MCS

66000.

48,000 Lbs. &

66,000 lbs. lift

systems use a 2 hp. oil immersed pump

& motor in each column that require

220 volt single phase power source.

Each column has a pallet jack style jack

for easy movement with a four foot turn-

ing radius, to a lifting

height of 63”; MCS are

standard 15” tire fork

length on all four

columns with adjusta-

bility from 13” to 24.5”

tire size.

With one master

control panel,

all functions are performed at

the master column, up & down,

each column can be controlled

individually, the cylinder displays

the height of each carriage in

use. The lock system is an

oil pressure system when

you stop the lift the lift

locks itself at that position.

“When It’s Stop It’s

Locked”

The 16,500 Rated

Stands have a spring assist

for easy

adjust-

ment, all welded con-

struction with a range of

51” to 80”; a tilt back

style wheel system

makes moving them

easy.

For more information contact:

Heartland Truck Equipment

Alan Heir

800-884-0808 • 785-542-5252

Commercial Fleet Safety Back up Camera System• Heavy Duty 7” color LCD monitor

• Heavy Duty Infrared camera (night vision)

• Wide viewing angle

• High resolution display (1440 x 234)

• 49 ft Etx – cable

• Audi option

• 2 Video inputs

Special Limited Price for Tow Professional Readers $339.00

FLASH EQUIPMENT 1-800-570-8866

Need a Lift?


FLASH EQUIPMENT PRESENTS – REARSIGHT


4-year warranty5,500 lb. lift

The sleek one piece steel design and construction of

the 755 Lightning has excellent rear visibility and a 90 de-

gree hook up creating extra quick recovery. The largest

tool box in the industry also contains an easy access valve

body which will still store the 5000 series GoJaks.

Equipped with bronze bushings, the unit has a 25 de-

gree negative and power tilt and 94 inch reach with

L-Arms extended and Maximum wheel lift height at ten

feet.

(800)-831-9299 • www.dynamicmfg.com

The New 755 Lighting by Dynamic


TM


TM

TOW MATE TM36S236" wireless truck bar with

built in strobes. Provides

stop, tail, and turn signals

with end marker lights for

maximum visibility. This bar

also features two 4.5" amber high-intensity LED

strobes that can be activated with the flip of a switch

on the unit. Charges off 12V DC. Lifetime warranty on

electronics and LEDs. Uses two 6V7AH batteries.

Range 1000 feet.

800-680-4455www.towmate.com

TOW MATE TM3NPair of high intensity, lightweight,

nickel-cadmium battery-powered

wireless tow lights with side mark-

ers. The units mount with one 90Lb. pull magnet per side with

rubber boots to prevent scratching. The NiCad battery pro-

vides extended run time and can be recharged via a cigarette

lighter charge cord. System comes complete with the lights,

transmitter, double-ended DC charge cord, and rubber boots

for the magnets. Lifetime warranty on electronics and LEDs.

800-680-4455

www.TowMate.com


Towbook, the fastest-growing provider

of web-based Towing Management

Software, recently released new mobile

features designed to help Towing Oper-

ators do just about anything from the

road.

Towbook is real web-based soft-

ware, which means you don’t install

software on your computer, and you

can access the system from any computer or device with In-

ternet access. You pay no up-front license fees, no setup

charges, and no per-user fees. Towbook has simple pricing

with programs starting at $49 per month.

With the recent release of new apps for iPhone and An-

droid, towing operators can run Towbook from most mobile

devices. Another important new mobile feature is Tow-

book’s new dispatching interface, which creates a real-time

connection between drivers, dispatchers and anybody in

your company using Towbook.

So, what does that mean? Drivers have the latest infor-

mation on every dispatch, without texting or calling. Any

update made to a tow record is instantly visible to all Tow-

book users.

Every time someone on your team performs a tow, Tow-

book makes it simple to snap a few photos of the vehicle

and upload them to the dispatch record so you have a com-

plete history of each move.

Drivers can scan or key in a VIN# and Towbook will auto-

matically populate the vehicle’s Make, Model and Year.

Receipts and invoices can be instantly emailed by drivers

or dispatchers directly to the customer – you can even send

them to your customer’s mobile phone.

Whether you have a large multi-truck operation and need

a full-range of software capabilities or if you run a business

with one or two trucks and simply want to record your tow-

ing records in a simple system, they’ve got you covered.

About Towbook

Towbook Management Software is headquartered in Michi-

gan and has provided management software in the towing

industry for over 5 years. They take great pride in having the

industry’s best customer support. Support is free and avail-

able 24/7/365 – even on holidays.

http://www.towbook.com

855-869.2665 (855-TOWBOOK)

No Setup Fees. No Contracts. No Worries.

Olson & CompanyAxle Caps™ are axle covers for towing buses and trucks when it is neces-

sary to pull the axles prior to towing. Our axle covers do not need gaskets

and come with an access hole for adding oil before towing. With models of

axle covers for most bus and truck drive axles, we've got you covered. They

are available in pairs or sets for North American, Japanese, and European

commercial vehicles. We also sell Vitalife wire rope lubricant, which pene-

trates to the core and dries tack free so it will not pick up dirt. Perfect for

towers. Please visit our website, www.axlecap.net, for product information.

Olson & Company

3 Oxford Court, Suffern, New York 10901

Ph: 845-357-0829 • Fax: 845-918-1823

[email protected]

Towbook Puts Mobile Apps to Work


TM

Available Through B/A Products Distributors Worldwide

The ORIGINALPatented made-in-the-USA

Premier Winch-Hoist products from

Always imitated but never duplicated!• Made in the USA• Lightweight tool with heavyweight performance• Built-in overload protection. Hoist handle (Winch Hoists)and Stress Link (Web Strap Hoist) are safety featuresdesigned to bend (handle) or break (stress link) ifoverloaded, protecting both you and your tool. StressLinks and Replacement handles are available at minimal cost.

• Minimal Hoist Maintenance: castaluminum open constructionframe allows for instant toolinspection and comes standardwith Lubricated -For-Life bearings.

Available ThroughB/A Products Distributors Worldwide

SUPER SORBENT Liquid & Oil Sorbent

• Saves time & effort- Instantly soaks up and so-lidifies liquids. Leaves surfaces completely dry.Absorbs 10 to 12 times more liquid than tradi-tional clay products.

• Safe to use -All natural ingredients. Environ-mentally Friendly, Non-Flammable & Non-Toxic.

• Versatile - Can be used on hazardous spillssuch as acids*, bases, oils& solvents. (*Not for useon hydrofluoric acid orproducts containing HF)

• Reduce Slip/FallIncidents - Quickclean-up reducesyour liability.


FOR MORE INFORMATION

PLEASE VISIT US ONLINE!

B/A Products Co. • 8925 McGaw Court • Columbia, MD 21045-4725Toll Free (800) 327-3301 • Phone: (410) 381-1700 • Fax: (410) 381-6358 • www.baprod.com


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Agero . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15

Alexander Insurance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29

American Safety . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .33

Anchor Graphics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .43

Austin Insurance Agency . . . . . . . . . . . .31

B/A Products . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12, 44

Beacon Software . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .43

Bowers Group . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .44

Clore . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27

Collins Dollies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30

Custer Products . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .32

CW Mill Equipment Co. . . . . . . . . . . . . .32

Dan Messina . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23

Dangelo's Custom Built Mfg, LLC . . . . .22

Detroit Wrecker . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13

Direct Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .44

Dual Tech . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .41

Dynamic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .IFC

ECM Performance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31

Flash Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3

Fleet Sales West . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .42

Florida Wrecker Sales . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .42

FlowStop . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19

Goodyear . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .42

Hal Kresser . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .43

Hanscom K . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29

Heartland Truck Equipment . . . . . . . . . .40

Heavy Duty Towing Equipment . . . . . . .27

IAA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9

International Towing & Recovery Museum . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .40

Lift and Tow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1

Lodar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .43

Marking Pen Depot . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .43

Mfr. Express . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26

NABancard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5

Olsen and Company . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .43

Pillow Protection Corp . . . . . . . . . . . . .43

Progressive Platforms . . . . . . . . . . . . . .BC

Ranger . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .35

Recovery Billing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23

Ricky's Truck . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17

ROI . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .43

Rugged Tow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21

RV Whee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .43

S&J Metal Mfg., Inc . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30

Survivor Fund . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10, 11

ToolTopia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25

Tow Connections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .43

TowBook . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9

Towmate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .IBC

Twin State Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .41

Weiss . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .43

Zacklift . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .44

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Tow Professional