V3i8 tow webpdfs

2 Tow Professional | Volume 3 Issue 8 | www.towprofessional.com

IN EVERY ISSUE

4 |Publisher Letter

59| Dealers Place

61 |Market Place

64|Ad Index

6 |Jerr-Dan 8 |In The Ditch™ Towing Products

8 |Powerbilt Wreckers

10 |Larson Electronics12 |What Can Be Done? Tracker Management

14 |BA Products Co.14 |Worldwide Equipment Sales

16 |Triple K True Tilt 5th Wheel Quick-Tach

18 |Dangelo’s Custom Built20|Fueling Success for Over 30 Years21 |Purchasing Tips for Synthetic Tow Truck Winch Lines

32|Wall of the Fallen / Hall of Fame

CONTENTSVolume 3 • Issue 8 2014

www.towprofessional.com

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

IndustryNEWS

22|Picture, Prayerize, Materialize

Fuel 4 thought

24|Reacting to Problems

Motor Clubs34 | USAC/MD ACQUIRED

Motor Clubs36 | URGENT.LY : We’re not

your traditional, profit-squeezing

road club.

Service Trucks42 | Then Along Came Poly!

Service Trucks40 | Diversify with Mobile

Service and Increase Your

Bottom Line

52| TowMate App

52| TowMate Power-Link

53| Eye3Data

53| Next Generation Tool Co.

54| Virgo Fleet Supplies, Inc.

55| AW Direct

55| AW Direct

56| TRU-Balance

57| BA Products

58| Mobile Lifts, Inc.

58| Crash Film

59| Snappy Box

Hooked Up

28 | The Winter Season is Coming—Are You Ready?

48 | Front End Collision Protection

51 | RECOVERY BILLINGUNLIMITED

4 Tow Professional | Volume 3 Issue 8 | www.towprofessional.com

PUBLISHERSDarian Weaver

President & [email protected]

Tim SmithV.P. Sales

[email protected]

Steve GoodwinSales Manager

[email protected]

__________________________

PRODUCTION

Clint W. CabinessArt Director

Kattie SpenceGraphic Designer

Jill HastyManaging Editor

__________________________

CONTRIBUTING WRITERSTerri DoughertyPaul EdererD.J. HarringtonDan Messina

Executive and Advertising Offices

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


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

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

ProfessionalYour Resource for Towing & Recovery

TMLETTER

For a new free subscription, address changes or corrections,

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

P U B L I S H E R S

As this Issue of Tow Professional hits your desk, summer is but a memory and fallis upon us. Trade show season is almost over, with great shows just wrapping

up. We attended the Wall of the Fallen Ceremony, the Tennessee Tow show, Ohio,and the Western States show in the last 4 weeks.

It was a great time seeing our readers and vendors who we do business with andtalking about what is in store for the future. The Tow Professional staff will be at BAProducts’ open house distributing the magazine for our readers and out and aboutthe great city of Baltimore for the upcoming show. We are already excited aboutwhat is to come at the PWOF show next year in Orlando.

This issue brings you information on Service Trucks, Motor Clubs, DJ Harring-ton’s Fuel for Thought, and, as always, Dan Messina’s Insightful Talk. We hope youenjoy, and we look forward to bringing more great information to help your businessbe the best it can be!

Thanks!Darian Weaver

Darian Weaver and Jack HartsfieldCo-Publishers

Volume 3 • Issue 8 2014


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

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

Jerr-Dan The MPL-NGS Wrecker > > >

MPL-NGS VERSATILITY

Whether you’re towing low-clearance sports cars or motorcycles, the

MPL-NGS’s customizable wheel lift packages let you take on more

jobs, faster.

MPL-NGS EFFICIENCY

With its 90� rotating cross bar and standard adjustable Level Stop As-

sist SystemN, the MPL-NGS gets you into the perfect position quickly

and allows you to tackle tough picks.

MPL-NGS DURABILITY

A steel diamond plate painted deck is built for a rugged, long work-

ing life and combined with Jerr-Dan’s exclusive No-LubeTM technol-

ogy reduces maintenance, saving time and money.

FEATURES

• Steel body

• Steel diamond deck

• Low-maintenance No-LubeTM technology

• Steel pylon

• LED DOT lighting

• Remote underlift and winch controls

• Winch includes manual free spool and tensioner

• Adjustable underlift Level Stop Assist SystemI

• Back-up alarm

• Multiple grid options:

- Manual / fixed L-arms

- Hydraulic self-loader (including the patented LOCKLINKI

over-center locking mechanism)

- Manual / pivoting L-arms

CHASSIS

• Minimum RBM (Resisting Bending

Moment) - 460,000 in.-lbs. (230,000 in.-lbs. per frame rail)

• Minimum Usable CA (Cab to Axle centerline) - 60”

• Minimum GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight Rating) - 11,000 lbs.

• Maximum unloaded frame height - 36”

• Minimum frame length behind the center of rear axle - 36”

ACCESSORIES

• Aluminium 24” tunnel toolbox (84” CA required)

• Fifth wheel & gooseneck trailer adapters

• Motorcycle towing adapter (hydraulic grid only)

• Tow sling

• Headboard work lights

• Fold-down light bar

• Tow dollies & storage brackets

• Body stone guards

• D-rings

• Tow lights

• Rubber wheel chocks

• Fire extinguisher

• Safety triangle kit

• LED emergency lighting

• Wireless remote control

CAPACITIES

• Underlift

- 4,000 lbs. fully extended

• Winch

- 8,000 lbs. - 3/8” x 75’ wire rope

(single worm)

DRIVE A HARD BARGAIN

The MPL-NGS wrecker from Jerr-DanN has exactly what you need to

do your job quicker and more efficiently, including an unbeatable

price. It’s designed to help you get in and out quicker, and features

the revolutionary Level StopN Assist System, the same technology

found on Jerr- Dan’s top of the line models. And its Negative Tilt Un-

derlift feature is perfect for securing vehicles in parking ramps. Best

of all, it’s a Jerr-Dan—so it’s built better than any truck in its class to

help you get in and out, day in and day out.

For more information, visit www.jerrdan.com.

IT’S A STEEL WITH MOREFEATURES THAN ANY TRUCKIN ITS CLASS

In The Ditch Towing Products has re-

leased the all new ITD1347 Car Carrier

Dolly Mount. This hybrid mount, made

from steel and aluminum, stores the

SpeedI Dolly on a car carrier at an easy-to-

remove and replace angle. Having a

SpeedI Dolly Set on a car carrier provides

more adaptability and preparedness for

any type of recovery, or multiple recover-

ies that might arise. The SpeedI Dolly

slides into the Car Carrier Dolly Mount for

easy storage. The mount features an inte-

grated locking system that can be pad-

locked. The Car Carrier Dolly Mount can

be adjusted to fit all 4:80 x 8 tires.

“Many of our customers have been ask-

ing for us to design a way to store dollies on

a car carrier,” says Chuck Ceccarelli, presi-

dent of In The Ditch Towing Products. “We

answered the call with the new Car Carrier

Dolly Mount.”

In The Ditch Towing Products brings

products to the towing and recovery indus-

try that are innovative and allow towing pro-

fessionals to work efficiently and effectively.

To learn more about the Car Carrier Dolly

Mount, part number ITD1347, visit

www.intheditch.com or call any In The Ditch

authorized distributor.

In The Ditch Towing Products is the

manufacturer of American-made, qual-

ity towing equipment, organizational

products and truck and shop acces-

sories. For more information on In The

Ditch and the Car Carrier Dolly Mount,

please visit www.intheditch.com or

find In The Ditch Towing Products on

Facebook.


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In The Ditch™ Towing Products releasesCar Carrier Dolly Mount to mount towdollies to car carrier > > >

Powerbilt Wreckers, located in the heart of Missouri, is nationally

known for its quality in customized wreckers. Powerbilt owes its

success largely to being owned and operated by individuals who

know and understand the needs of the towing and recovery in-

dustry. With more than 30 years of experience and service in the

field, Powerbilt Wreckers understands the needs of today's high-

stress demands for durable, dependable and safe equipment in

the rapid recovery arena.

Built with you in mind, our standard options will outlast and out

perform any of our competitor’s vehicles. Built in the "show me"

state, we are no strangers to the phrase. No matter your needs, we

aim to please and build to suit. We also have a large selection of used

wreckers to choose from.

Nationally recognized in 2009 as the winner of the Show 'n

Shine award, Powerbilt Wreckers promises to deliver quality, de-

pendability, safety and eye-catching appeal. Years of experience in

the industry have led to quality design and, most of all, safety inte-

grated into every build.

Contact a Powerbilt Wrecker representative today for your

top-of-the-line, professional, customized wrecker.

www.powerbiltwreckers.com

(800) 660-7312

Powerbilt Wreckers > > >. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .



Larson Electronics’ LED10W-1X4LT is a fully portable and

rechargeable light tower that produces a wide flood of light.

Operators can easily transport this 35lb unit with a convenient

built-in carrying handle and set it up as temporary scene lighting.

The telescoping aluminum mast can be adjusted to 8 feet in

height for optimal illumination and will withstand high winds. Ad-

ditional tower stability is provided by collapsible polyethylene

legs that provide a 30-inch support base when deployed. The

four 10 watt LED light heads produce a total of 3,200 lumens

covering an area 150 feet long by 150 feet wide. These lights

are IP68 rated waterproof to three meters and constructed of ex-

truded aluminum with polycarbonate

lenses for ultimate durability. This unit can

run for up to 10 hours on a single full charge

of its onboard batteries. An included AC

charger (wall charger) allows operators to

easily recharge the battery from normal wall

outlets. This unit also accepts low voltage

input from

vehicles and other battery packs to power

the light or recharge the battery. There are

no loose parts, and all connections are al-

ready secured with no need for additional

wiring. Larson Electronics can customize

this light to fit the customer’s specific

needs.

Please give us a call at (800)

369-6671 or send us an email

to discuss any special requirements. For more lighting op-

tions and information, browse our collection of products

on www.larsonelectronics.com. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Larson Electronics > > >

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The biggest problem is _________ . The moststress is caused by________ . The largest wastein a tow business is__________.

We know owners and managers are looking at how to im-prove their businesses, how to answer these questions. While alltow companies have these issues, some will live with them andsome are going to fix them.

Tracker Management Systems, Inc. has spent over 28 yearsresearching what the issues within a tow operation are and what

the best solutions are.We have helped thousands of owners, managers and em-

ployees run a smoother, more efficient and ultimately more prof-itable business.

One of our major focuses for the last two years has been tofine tune our Tracker Mobile application. Based on feedback anda clear understanding of ways to solve the issues a tow company- your tow company - has, we have developed superior solutions.

A direct quote from one of our customer’s dispatchers is, "It[Tracker Mobile] really shortens the amount of time it takes to dis-patch to our drivers, saving us radio time, which, in turns, savesus money." And a quote from a driver, “TrackerMobile has simpli-fied every aspect of communication between dispatch and oper-ator. My job is more efficient, and unnecessary radio traffic askingquestions about my next call have become a thing of the past.Everything is right at my fingertips.”

So, if you want to solve the big problems in your business,then you really owe it to yourself to look at and talk with the folksthat just might be able to help you. Call Tracker Management at800-445-2438 or visit www.trackermanagement.com.

What Can Be Done? > > >

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B/A Products Co. will hold its 8th Annual OpenHouse on Friday, November 21 from 9:00 a.m. to 5:30p.m. Shuttle transportation will be provided to and from theAmerican Towman Exposition in Baltimore. Come see how we“Make It & Break It.” There will be live product demon-strations, along with factory tours and destructive testingdemonstrations throughout the day. Food, drinks, giveawaysand good times await you! All are welcome, and we hope tosee you there.

BA Products 2014 OPEN HOUSE > > > Winter is coming, and we all

know that means JUMP STARTSEASON. Worldwide EquipmentSales knows your pain, and we havea powerful yet small answer to avoidlugging around that huge jump packor dragging out those tangled ca-bles just to add that extra boost yourcustomer’s car needs to fire up. ThePOCKET JUMP STARTER is a super small yet powerful boosterpack with 200 cold cranking amps, a USB port to charge yourphone or computer on the road, along with a supplied cable withmultiple ends to fit most uses. It also includes a short jumper cableset to help start vehicles, utv, snow machines, etc. The POCKETJUMP STARTER will fit in you glove box and it Lithium-ion batterytechnology will hold a charge for a very long time and includes anice flashlight feature to make this an all-in-one answer to night-time jump starts. Worldwide Equipment Sales encourages you tocheck these items out as a major time and space saver. VisitStore.NewTowTrucks.com or call 815-725-4400 for thePOCKET JUMP PACK and thousands of other parts andaccessories.

Worldwide Equipment Sales > > >

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Triple K True Tilt 5th Wheel Quick-Tach > > >The True Tilt 5th Wheel Quick-Tach is aheavy duty under lift that has the mostextension, most retraction, more liftand the most lifting capacity of any lifton the market. It has a lift rating of45,000 pounds retracted and 24,000fully extended. It has a clear extensionof 140” to the center of the axle forksand nearly 160” to the center of theHeavy Duty Wheel forks when used.The unit will tilt the full rated load inthe given positions.

The hydraulic hoses are all “hidden” inthe unit, encased in a nylon trackingchain to keep them in place free fromwear and tear. Our crossbar is made of aone piece solid steel casting made of100,000 pound steel. The tongue it ro-tates in is also one piece cast steel(100,000 pound steel).

We have standard wireless radio builtinto the unit. The radio is a standard fea-ture with a 6 function controller, whichwill control the lift for up-down; in-out;and tilt up-tilt down operation.

Our unit pricing includes either anelectric/hydraulic pump or a valve pac totie into your truck’s PTO pump; the 6function wireless radio control plus a 25’hard wired remote control; 4 sets of axleframe forks; the parking stands; and allnecessary hardware to mount to a roadtractor.

www.triplekindustries.com800-624-2892

SEE US AT OUR BOOTH IN BALTIMORE


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Dangelo’s Custom Built Mfg. LLC. came to be in the year 2006after 30 years in the Towing industry and 35 in the Auto Body Indus-try as Dangelo’s Auto Body and Repairs, which was started in 1978.

At Dangelo’s Custom Built Mfg. LLC., it has always been aboutthree things: 1} The Customer, 2} The Customer, 3} The Customer.And that has carried over into the Heavy Duty Towing Vehicles wemanufacture now here in Kane, Pennsylvania, USA with the careand pride that only the small-town attitude brings to the table, thatbeing teamwork and the very BEST our trucks can be all of the time.Quality is No. 1 at Dangelo’s Custom Built Mfg. LLC., using QualityAmerican Made Steel, Aluminum, Fasteners, Hydraulics, Cables,Winches, Lights, Rings and Pinions for our Rotators, and as many ac-cessories whenever possible. Custom Built means just that. Hand-crafted and hand-fit for precise long-life operation. From metalforming, welding to assembly, our technicians have eyes on everystep of the manufacturing process. Even owner Derek Dangelo has

personal supervision at every step ofthe manufacturing process. Derek isa hands-on owner and takes owner-ship of every piece and part manu-factured here at Custom Built Mfg.LLC., as we manufacture our Booms,Sub Frames, Boxes and All relatedparts here in Kane, PA, USA and jobnothing out, including Paint to Order.The customer gets what he needsand wants every time with the long-time experience of Derek in this busi-ness from his ground-up knowledgebeing in the towing business and theknowledge of a Master Body Techni-cian and Business Owner and all thatit takes to manufacture most any-thing automotive or heavy truckingrelated. The customer is provided a unit based upon the customer’sneeds and wants every time…period.

www.dangeloscustombuiltmanufacturing.com 800-540-5151

Dangelo’s Custom Built Mfg. > > >


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Automated Fuels is asmall business, just like mostof the towing companiesacross the United States.What separates AutomatedFuels from the rest of theFleet Fueling Industry areconsultation and customiza-tion. There are many largefleet fuel cards available inthe marketplace today, suchas WEX and Comdata. These giants may offer some level of con-venience, but card fees and transaction fees can add up and in-crease your Total Costs of Fueling!

Automated Fuels has been servicing customers in the towing in-dustry for a number of years, but recently has seen a great increase inthe number of companies in the industry it is serving. AutomatedFuels has towing industry customers from Pennsylvania to Illinois,and south to Alabama and Georgia. With over 1,250 locations in thePacific Pride fuel network, Automated Fuels can help you almost any-where in the United States.

Many owner/operators in the towing industry are still using cashor credit cards for their fueling needs. There is a better way, and Auto-mated Fuels can show you how!

ConsultationAutomated Fuels, Fleet Fuel Consultants will work with you to seewhat options are best for your company. They want to get to knowyou. Every business has unique needs, even if they are similar busi-nesses. What works well for Joe’s Towing Service might not work forSteve’s Wrecker Company. Automated Fuels wants to learn aboutyour business. Once we understand the needs of your businesswhen it comes to fueling, we can customize a system that best meetsthose needs. We are not going to fit your unique needs into a stan-dard box like some fleet fuel companies; we want to build a box thatfit your needs perfectly!

Customizations• Flexible Billing Options• Restrict Fuel by Type(i.e., Diesel or Gasoline; why would a diesel wrecker operator need tobuy unleaded fuel?)• Restrict Fuel Purchases by Time(If your company only operates from 6 a.m. to 12 a.m., why shouldanyone be allowed to get fuel when they should not be operating?)• Restrict Fuel by Day(If your business doesn’t operate on Sunday, then your fuel cardsshould not access fuel on those days!)• Restrict Fuel by Transaction(If the truck has an 80 gallon diesel tank, why would they need to getmore than 80 gallons per transaction?)• Eliminate Non Fuel Purchases(Credit Cards can be used anywhere; Automated Fuels cards can onlybe used an accepting network fuel locations.)• Save Administrative Time

Comprehensive Fuel Management Reportsthat include the following:• Track Purchases by Vehicle and/or Person• Track MPG (Miles Per Gallon) for Each Vehicle• Complete Tax Summary on Every Report• No More Sorting Receipts• No More Data Entry• No More Credit Card Billing Statement to Convert

Here is what a few of Automated Fuels customersare saying about them.

“Automated Fuels has helped us save money on our fuel cost.We have a couple of tanks on site, but their program works so wellfor our company, we purchase our fuel at Pacific Pride.”

Mike – Indiana

“I was sending my drivers with cash each day before I startedworking with Automated Fuels. Looking back, it was a nightmarewith all of those receipts and creating reports. Automated Fuels hashelped me manage my fuel costs and save me a lot of headachewith their weekly fuel management reports.” Jeff – Pennsylvania

“When I branched out and started my own company, I knew frommy past experience with another towing company that AutomatedFuels – Pacific Pride would work for me. Their customer service hasbeen top notch!” Paul – Indiana

“We were using one of the large fuel card companies for our fuelpurchases. After working with our Fleet Fuel Consultant at Auto-mated Fuels, we have been able to save time and money becausethey customized a fuel program specifically for our needs.”

Dan – Tennessee

Automated Fuels works with companies in many industries, butthey understand some of the challenges you face in the towing indus-try. Let their 30 years in the fleet fueling industry help your businesssave time and money!

Automated Fuels800-288-6383 | www.automatedfuels.com

Fueling Success for Over 30 Years > > >

By Jason Starr

www.towprofessional.com | Volume 3 • Issue 8 | Tow Professional 21

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On tow trucks all over, high-perfor-mance synthetic winch lines are rapidlyreplacing their wire counterparts. It’s achange driven by efficiency and safety.Synthetics are lighter, easier to handle,and just as strong or stronger than thesame diameter steel wire rope; yet if theydo fray or part, they typically do not posethe same threat wire does of injury fromrazor-sharp kinks or violent snap-backs.

If last year’s harsh polar vortex gaveyour wire winch line a beating, or worse,made it a safety hazard, you may want tocheck out your synthetic options.

When you do, be sure to visitYalecordage.com to find a local certifieddistributor. They’ll help you

determine the right synthetic fiber for

your workload, budget, and climate. Envi-ronmental conditions and the primaryweight, volume, and frequency of uselargely determine the ideal fiber.

Choose the best construction for yourworking environment. Rain, freezing tem-peratures, sand, wind, heat, and sun expo-sure all play in to the type of braid youneed.

Align the strength of your rope withthe capacity of your rig, typically five ormore times the rated capacity of your rig.

Analyze your work practices to deter-

mine energy absorption needs, ascer-tained by studying a stress-strain curve ofload vs. elongation. Understand the splic-ing requirements of your lines. Many ofthe newer synthetics have proprietarysplicing techniques. Keep up-to-date onusage techniques to keep you safe out onthe road. Most distributors offer ongoingtraining and technical support. Take themup on it.

www.yalecordage.com(207) 282-3396

Yale Cordage > > >

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Purchasing Tips for Synthetic Tow Truck

Winch Lines

Consider this phrase: “Picturize, Prayerize,Materialize.”Sometimes what you see andhope to get will materialize.It will happen andwon’t be just a dream. The phrase “Picturize,Prayerize, Materialize” reminds me of some-thing that I really wanted years ago.

At the time, I was speaking at a conventionin Myrtle Beach, North Carolina. The resort waslocated on a picturesque piece of property.Since I had the afternoon off, my daughter andI rented bikes and started our leisurely father-daughter ride. We talked about life, boys, andcheerleading. As we rode that sunny after-noon, I noticed a beautiful, white, four-door Lin-coln with a dark blue canvas roof. It wasawesome! I asked Erin for the camera andwalked as close as I could to take a picture ortwo of the car.

To our surprise, the owner came out of his

very large estate to remind me I was stand-ing on private property. My daughter lovedit! Dad was being reprimanded by an adult!Quickly, my feet started moving, and wewere back on the bike trail. That night at dinner,my daughter couldn’t wait to give her motheran update. You’re probably wondering what Idid with the picture that got me into trouble.

That picture became a permanent additionto my bathroom mirror and my desktop. Sev-eral times a day, I looked at that picture. Sixmonths passed. Then one day, we visited alocal Lincoln Mercury store. The general man-ager said, “Remember that car you wantedand were dreaming of? You’re not going to be-lieve this, but a retiring judge just traded in thatexact car last night so he could buy his wife asmaller car.”

My daughter was in shock. She said,

“Whatever you think about comes about, right,dad?” She was reminding me of what she hadheard me repeat many times.

Learn to Picturize, Prayerize, and it will Ma-terialize. I have been a sales trainer since I hadbrown hair and had hair. One day, I was in At-lanta, Georgia, calling on the World Headquar-ters of Coca Cola. This day, we had anappointment with the head person of purchas-ing for Coke—Worldwide. The sales person ac-companying me on this trip asked me what heshould do before calling on an account. I toldhim if it’s a large account like Coke or a smallaccount where the husband & wife run thebusiness...it’s all the same.


Fuel 4 thought By D. J . Harr ington, CSP

PICTURE, PRAYERIZE,MATERIALIZE

My strategy and preparation are simple. Ifirst picture the buyer as a nice person and thatthey like me. They trust my company or firmand then I see the buyer in my mind, signing avery large purchase order. And then, guesswhat happened? He did just that. It was one ofthe largest purchase orders that we ever had.The buyer was a nice person. It was the salescall made in Heaven, or should I say made firstin my mind. People from other walks of lifeshare similar thinking.

Many famous golfers say that they first seethe ball spin into the hole way before they pulltheir putter back and do their slow and evenstrike onto the ball. It’s called Picturize, Prayer-ize, Materialize.

Visualization and expectation is when youexpect things that you want and try not to ex-pect the things that you don’t want. Here’s an-other Picturize, Prayerize, Materialize event.

When we purchased a very nice home inthe Atlanta, Georgia area, the basement wasnot finished. The development was really lo-cated in a “fake it, till you make it” neighbor-hood where most of us bought more homethan we really needed at the time. Most of uscertainly had no way to fill it with furniture.

When we moved into the neighborhood,my daughter Erin was only 8 years old. In onecorner of the unfinished basement, I put up awall and made it into a make-shift workshop.Erin had two little friends she was showing thehouse. They didn’t know I was behind the wall,but I could hear every world they said. Mydaughter began to mimic me! Not alwaysgood! But I listened.

Erin continued with, “Now here will be themovie theatre. Over here and there will be theice cream bar, and this will be where the pooltable will go”. She told one of her friends to stepback because she was now standing wherethe jukebox was going to be. And, yes, therewill be a dance floor.

Now, my daughter is all grown-up. And justas she told her friends that day, the basement isfurnished as she described it. There is a movietheatre with real movie seats, a dance floorwith black and white tile, a pool table, and anice cream soda fountain. The only difference isthat we did not get an old jukebox. We installeda 1973 Ford Thunderbird jukebox. A rare find!And it makes for a great sounding jukebox. Pic-turize, Prayerize, Materialize!!!

My wish to all of you is to learn to picturize.Picture in your mind, first the car, the home,business or career that you want. Then pray,think or meditate on it. And then get ready forwhat materializes. In the words of my dad,“Whatever the mind of man can conceive andbelieve, he will achieve!”

By adapting these three words, Picturize,Prayerize, Materialize, you, too, will be on theright track for what you want.

Until next time. TOW

D.J. Harrington is an author, journalist,

seminar leader, international trainer, and

marketing consultant. He works prima-

rily with customer service personnel, and

his clients include such world-class com-

panies as General Motors, DuPont, Cater-

pillar, and Damon Corporation. He can be

reached at 800-352-5252 or by e-mail at

[email protected].



I’m sure that if you were watching the news for the past

month or so, it was nothing but Ray Rice and how he

abused his wife and what a problem it created for the NFL.

Everyone got involved, and everyone offered their opinion. I

watched different talk shows and they had guests on each

day talking about what was done, or what should have been

done. The bottom line is the people they talked to all agreed

on what was finally done. He is out of football, and now

they are going after the commissioner of the NFL for his in-

volvement or lack of involvement with the incident.

I’m going to look at this through the eyes of the NFL and

how I would have handled it if I was running that business.

Let’s first look at what they did.

1. A two game suspension, and they based it on other

incidents with other players.

2. Then the NFL came out and said they handled it allwrong and they wanted a do-over.

3. Then came the ugly video from the inside of the ele-vator and that changed everything.

4. Ray Rice was suspended indefinitely.

5. The general public is after the commissioner’s job.

If this were my business, I would not have reacted, but I

would have done some investigating before I passed judg-

ment. I feel once these steps took place, the media went

Reacting toProblems

By Dan Messina


crazy, and they probably had a good

reason to do what they did. In this sce-

nario, there were no winners. There

will be an impact on several people’s

lives forever. What Ray Rice did was

wrong, and there should be major

penalties assessed, but make sure

when the punishment comes down,

there is some good involved. Here are

the results of the actions that took

place:

1. You have a young lady that hasbeen publicly humiliated. Shehas to live this over and overevery time she saw it on TV.

2. The young lady is now Ray Rice’swife and her life will be impactedfinancially since her husband losta $10 million a year job.

3. There is no guarantee that thisaction could happen again sincethere was nothing that says Mr.Rice has to get some type ofcounseling.

4. The NFL is taking a public rela-tions hit because of the actionsthey took.

5. It’s possible that the NFL will belooking for a new commissioner.

We work in an industry that this

type of action could happen to any of

us. If you were faced with this type of

problem, you, the owner of the busi-

ness, will have to be prepared to face

the consequences of your actions.

I remember having several inci-

dents at work where there was a fight

over a child. It was a fight in the office

between a driver and his wife, and

they each had a hold of the child and

were pulling. I separated them had a

talk with each employee. There was a

long history of fighting between the

husband and wife, and I was new to

the towing industry, so this was new to

me. They were instructed to get help,

and they both eventually left the com-

pany because of the rules I put in

place. When something like this hap-

pens, and these problems are often

brought into the workplace, it is a

major distraction. Employees take

sides, and a bad working environment

is created.

The rules I put in place were strict

and fair to both sides. As an owner, I

wanted to make sure there was no fa-

voritism to the husband or wife, male

or female. It must have worked, because for the next

seven years, I never had any type of problem like this

again.

Getting back to the NFL problems I think I would have

handled it in the following manner:

1. I would have suspended Ray Rice indefinitely whilean investigation took place.

2. I would have made sure that if he ever wanted toplay in the NFL again that he would have to gethelp. This could comfort his wife knowing that withhelp it may never happen again.

3. Ray Rice would have to donate $250,000 to sometype of shelter for battered woman. This would seta standard for other players that if you are involvedin this type of problem it going to cost you.

4. I would make the owner also donate $250,000 toa shelter. The owner should control his employees.If there is a penalty on the owner, they will takesteps to avoid these problems in the future, andtake action to correct the problem if they knowthey have this type of problem.

5. The shelters benefit because they have a revenuestream that will allow them to make improvementsat their shelters.

6. This would also send a message to any player thatif he has a problem he better get it addressed be-fore it becomes serious.

7. The media may not have been so hard if these typesof actions were taken; therefore, they would nothave been all over the TV.

8. PR for the NFL would not have taken such a big hit.

9. The commissioner gets to keep his job.

As this problem ends, another problem arises with a

child abuse case brought against one of the premier run-

ning backs in the NFL. It will be interesting to see how this

plays out and if the NFL learned anything from the first ex-

perience.

This problem is only going to grow and roll over into

the workplace. As a business owner, you might want to



start establishing rules on how you will handle this type of

problem should it occur. I guarantee you if this happened in

my company my competitor would be calling on all my cus-

tomers telling them how bad I was. Start talking to your

employees about these problems and offer help if any of

your employees are going through something like this.

If something like this occurs in your company, what you

don’t want to do is pass judgment immediately without in-

vestigating. Good employees are hard to come by, and you

don’t want to fire someone who doesn’t deserve to be

fired. Keep an open line of communication with your em-

ployees and let them know they can come and talk to you

about their problems, before they become your problems.

Owners in our industry will be facing all kinds of issues

they never faced before, so don’t react when a problem oc-

curs. Think first, talk to an outside source if you have to; this

will allow you to make the right decision. TOW

If you need help, www.djanddan.com can be of

assistance.


The WINTER SEASON is Coming–Are YOU READY?COLD, ICE & SNOW create problems for all of us, but when yourbusiness is counted on to bring people to safety, being fully preparedis the only way you can be on the road when it counts. Fall is the timeto really get everything in order for the upcoming winter season. Youneed to inspect the truck itself, towing tools, get supplies on hand,and look at your and your drivers’ winter clothing.

Although much has been writ-ten on vehicle maintenance,

tow trucks have special needsthat cannot be neglected. First,you can’t go anywhere unless thetruck starts. Extreme cold temper-atures can turn a battery with afew years of use into a liability. Testyour battery, connections andcharging system to determine ifit’s in top condition and replacethe battery if it’s weak. Battery pro-tectors are available to ensureyour battery does not fully dis-charge if something is uninten-tionally left on.

Inspect your hydraulic system for any minor issues that can turn intomajor ones when the temperature drops. Check for any cracking or chaffingof hydraulic lines, leaks at connections, even a new filter and fluid, if achange is overdue. Switch to a manufacturer recommended cold weathergrade of hydraulic fluid if your winters are severe. The pneumatic system airdryers need to be working at their peak to avoid frozen moisture in the lines,as well. Drain the system and repair if you do find moisture. Engine anti-freeze needs to be tested to ensure protection as the temperature drops.

When the snow and ice fall, having good traction is a must to get around,as well as to perform recovery operations. Inspect tire tread and replace tiresif needed. Check tire chains for wear and proper fit. Look for worn, bent,gouged or stretched chain links. If you do not have tire chains, consider pur-chasing them now before the snow flies so you can properly size and test fitthem when the weather is warmer. It is much easier than ordering them in ablizzard and hoping deliv-ery companies will beable to actually deliverthem when you needthem.

By Paul Ederer, Technical Support, AW Direct


While checking your wrecker’s battery, you should also inspect thetools you need to help your customers’ batteries. Verify jumpstart setshave working plugs and hand clamps. A battery tester to determine thestatus of customer batteries is a very useful tool. Replace weak jump-start pack batteries or worn out units so you can quickly move from callto call.


The WINTER SEASON is Coming–Are YOU READY?While also part of a routine maintenance program, preparing for winter is also agood reminder to lubricate your winch lines to protect them from winter moisture.Dollies should have the bearings re-packed, all fittings greased and tire conditionchecked. Some items need to be stocked up on to be used throughout the winterseason: windshield washer fluid, diesel fuel additive, lock deicer, batteries for flash-lights, ice melter, snow shovels and even disposable hand warmers.

Finally, keep yourself and your op-erators warm, safe and dry out onthe road. Make sure winter cloth-ing fits properly and is not overlytight. We all can change sizesfrom the prior season. Decreasedlight during the winter season andlimited visibility during snow-storms require having hi-vis cloth-ing to be as bright as possible.Inspect clothing for fading frommultiple washings. Most garmentmanufacturers have a limit to howmany washings can be done be-fore the item must be taken out ofservice. Many permanent stainson a garment will also reduce thecolor intensity and are groundsfor replacement. New garmentsmust meet the requirements ofANSI 107-2010 Class 2 andClass 3.


AW Direct | Helping You Help Them (800) 243-3194www.awdirect.com

The winter season is the towing industry’s busiest season, and, with the properpreparation, you can keep your crew safe and your businesses thriving. TOW

In addition to a jacket or coverall, protecting the extremities is also important. We lose much heat through our heads and wear-ing a simple winter hat keeps us warmer. Working in snowy conditions with our hands, cotton work gloves of summer do notprotect the hands from the elements. Waterproof, insulated gloves are needed to keep hands warm and dry. Footwear plays adual role to keep our feet warm and dry but also to provide traction. Steel toe, insulated, waterproof work boots are ideal espe-cially when worn with thermal wicking socks. In icy conditions, work boot traction can be improved further by using ice spikes.And, at the end of the day, placing your work boots on a boot dryer ensures they will be dry for the next day.




MOTORCLUBS

USAC/MD has been around for over 40 yearsand has seen its share of changes, none as im-portant as the one this past September.Innovation Group PLC, a global provider of software and busi-

ness process services to the insurance and fleet industries, acquiredUSAC/MD. The Innovation Group is a publicly traded companyheadquartered in the United Kingdom. Innovation Group operatesin 13 countries around the globe including North America for thelast 7 years.USAC/MD provides a sought-after solution. Lewis Miller, CEO at

Innovation Group North America, explains, “We have been provid-ing a set of claims solutions to the insurance and fleet industries, butdidn’t have a towing solution. This is where USAC/MD fits in.”

The team at USAC/MD is optimistic. “We are extremely excitedabout this acquisition,” said Staley Cash, EVP at USAC/MD. Cashsaid further, “The nature and culture of both businesses are verysimilar. Combining USAC/MD and Innovation Group creates newopportunities for our service provider network. We look forward toextending our service capabilities to Innovation Group’s clients.” Craig Hamway, CEO at USAC/MD, said of the acquisition, “We

are delighted to be joining The Innovation Group. Their strategic di-rection and ambition resonate very well with us, and we are excitedabout what we can achieve as a combined business.” USAC/MD will remain in its headquarters in Dallas, and the en-

tire management team will remain in place. In unrelated news, Jim Hurst who has been with USAC/MD

since 1994 is making a career change. He will still be in the towing

USAC/MDACQUIRED

industry, although now working directly fora major towing company. Hurst explains, “Ihave been contemplating this move forsome time now. This new opportunity givesme more flexibility in my day-to-day life. Ican work from home, and spend more timewith my family.” When asked about his move during an

acquisition, Hurst said, “The timing of mydeparture and Innovation’s acquisition ofUSAC/MD was completely coincidental. Infact, I am extremely excited for USAC/MD.This acquisition is very meaningful for the

company, as it sets the stage for significantgrowth in the number of service callsUSAC/MD will be dispatching to their net-work. And, I am looking forward to continu-ing my relationship with all my USAC/MDcolleagues in my new role.” Cash commenting on Hurst's departure,

“You cannot replace a guy like Jim Hurst.He will surely be missed. I will step intoJim’s role, a job I have done before, and, for-tunately for me, Jim is only a phone call

away. We are looking forward to workingwith Jim in his new role, as well as all ournetwork partners on new opportunities thatwill be created through this transition. Thistruly is a fantastic new chapter forUSAC/MD.”For more details about what to expect in

the future, USAC/MD welcomes you tocome by their booth at the American Tow-man Exposition. TOW


MOTORCLUBS


Traditional roadside business can be a pain...and a drain on yourtowing or roadside assistance business. But now, Urgent.ly is tak-ing the industry by storm, combining great rates, fast digital pay-ments and easy-to-use apps that make it easy for roadsidebusinesses to be profitable. As consumers live more and more through their mobile devices,

the industry is ripe for pay-as-you go, instant access, on-demand road-side assistance solution. Consumers are no longer willing to pay mem-bership or club fees based on antiquated insurance models. Whenthey need help, they want to instantly connect with service providers; avirtual guarantee that “help is on the way;” and a cashless, flat-rate andstraightforward pricing and payment system. Urgent.ly delivers all that and more, using technology that is free to

the towing or roadside provider and amazingly cost-effective for the

URGENT.LY: We’re not your traditional, profit-squeezing road club.

{Urgent.ly customers actually ‘see’ help coming on their

smartphone. This transparency cuts down on customer

calls, anxiety and provides an overall better experience

for service provider and customer.}

customer. Consumers using Urgent.ly’s iOSmobile or web apps take advantage of thecompany’s proprietary real-time dispatchplatform to connect to nearby, available help.They have access to more providers in theirimmediate area, with visibility into theirprovider’s movements via GPS tracking, in-stead of waiting blindly for a service providercontracted by an insurance company thatmay have two to three jobs to complete first. Urgent.ly allows the consumer to see the

provider on a map moving in their direction,and allows them to talk directly to the driverthrough the Urgent.ly application. The iOS consumer application is free and

can be downloaded directly from the AppleiTunes store or via web app.

With Urgent.ly, a six mile tow costs the con-sumer a mere $99, and a roadside repair just$75 -- far less than the $150 annual fee tradi-tionally paid for an insurance program that maynever be used. And the benefits aren’t for con-sumers alone. The towing providers are seeinglarge benefits, as well. Urgent.ly is payingproviders $50 for a road side repair and $75


{Urgent.ly’s Android Driver application uses SmartMatch technology to send onlythose jobs close to an Urgent.ly service provider equipped to handle it.}

MOTORCLUBS

for a 6 mile tow with $3 per mile over. If you are tired of the low fees you are paid

from traditional roadside companies that oftendon’t cover the cost of doing business, give Ur-gent.ly a try. Urgent.ly is simplifying the processand making roadside assistance more prof-itable for service providers. It simply matchesthe closest provider with a customer in need viatheir driver application or dispatch portal, andcharges the consumer a fair market rate for on-demand service from quality providers. And allof these technologies are free to the towing orroadside assistance provider. If you want to get paid more, and get paid

faster -- often in 24 hours via direct deposit --you can learn more or sign up athttp://signup.urgent.ly. You simply provide yourbusiness information online; add Urgent.ly as acertificate holder on your insurance; downloadthe driver application to your Android phonesand start receiving high margin work immedi-ately. On-demand mobile services are the future-- the way consumers are meeting their immedi-ate needs today -- and Urgent.ly is the future ofroadside assistance. TOW


Urgent.ly Service Provider

“It was always a challenge for me to get visibility into my Roadside Assis-

tance fleet’s deployment within our region. With my drivers running Urgent.ly’s

android mobile application, I have full visibility of their realtime locations even

when they are not running Urgent.ly jobs, with no expensive GPS equipment or

monthly fees - a huge plus!” --Kenneth Holmes, Call Charley


Testimonials

“Being an independent operator, I am always look-

ing for new, innovative and efficient ways to supple-

ment my regular business. Urgent.ly’s high paying

roadside assistance jobs make sense for us, and its

simple mobile platform links me to jobs that are close

to my location.” --Chris B. - CB Seegars Colesville, MD

"We typically shy away from the traditional roadside as-

sistance business, given the low margins and red tape of

dealing with it. The combination of Urgent.ly's nearby jobs,

high payout and quick, paperless no-hassle payment sys-

tem makes it make sense to us again." --Rick G. Blairs Towing,

Sterling, VA.


SERVICETRUCKS

Today’s Towing Industry is drastically chang-ing. Towing contracts are becoming more andmore competitive, and, as most of us know, thetowing business is a very volatile business to bein. Doing the math to recognize your costs percall is only half the battle. The never-endingchallenge is figuring out how to maximize yourper-call profits. Purchasing more fuel-efficienttrucks, investing in dispatch management software, and correctlybilling for each and every task performed are great ways to increaseprofits. But what happens when the towing calls just aren’t comingin?

In any business when times are slow – diversification is crucial.There are numerous towing companies across the nation that have al-ready taken advantage of investing in a mobile service truck and haveseen the profits that can be made. And, in many instances, they havefound that their mobile service trucks are the most profitable of theirfleet!

There is a growing need within the trucking industry to get theirtrucks fixed immediately on the side of the road in order to meet de-manding freight schedules. The towing company is often not theirfirst call – it’s the mobile service provider. Large and small truckingfleets alike have seen a rise in dealership service rates but even moreimportantly cannot afford the indefinite down time and endless othercosts incurred while their truck sits at the dealership waiting to befixed. Along with the towing companies, the mobile service provideris becoming a much-needed asset to the trucking industry.

The addition of a service truck to your fleet can increase your bot-tom line in sales by allowing you to provide additional services. Salesof tires, batteries, repair parts, and retail labor sales will increase profits,

which you would otherwise not see. It’s interesting tonote that mobile service providers receive a fee for sim-ply responding to the call. These service vehicles canalso be utilized as mobile command centers for large re-covery scenes, providing tools, equipment, and suppliesneeded for optimum quick clearance support.

When considering an investment in a mobile servicetruck, there are two essential pieces to the puzzle. First,

and probably the most difficult, is finding the qualified mechanic thathas the experience, know-how, and determination to get the job done.The second major piece of the puzzle is equipping the right servicebody with adequate resources, which puts the mechanic in the bestposition to get the disabled truck up and running as efficiently andsafely as possible.

Today’s service trucks are more sophisticated and organized thanever. The minivan with some jumper cables and a diesel can withminimal safety lighting and insufficient work lights is a thing of thepast. New service trucks are basically a shop on wheels –power unitsincluding a welder, compressor, generator, starting unit, fuel and lubetransfer systems, efficient and ergonomically friendly tool & part stor-age are all key elements to getting the job done as quickly as possible.The inside work areas and means for storing tires and wheels are a ne-cessity that new bodies on the market provide.

With the right combination of mechanic, tools, and service body,the sky's the limit. And if you can’t get the truck up and running, I’msure you know a quality towing company that can tow the truck to itsrespective destination! TOW

Zip's Truck Equipment, Inc. www.zips.com | (800) 222-6047

Diversify with MOBILE SERVICEand Increase Your Bottom Line

SERVICETRUCKS

There may not be a stronger case for today’s exis-tence of manufacturing in America than the towingindustry. North American manufacturing would bebroken down without the presence of the towing in-dustry constantly changing for the better with newtechnology and products. Oh, but there are those ofyou who will say we evolved from the European the-ater incorporating their under reach and crane appa-ratus. Don’t get fooled! Just because your last namestarts with Mac or ends in a vowel doesn’t mean youwere born over there either. Good Ole’ USA manu-facturing is alive and well, using the latest in towingingenuity at a continuum throughout America everyday in places like Chattanooga, Norfolk, Greencastle,Deer Park, Bean Station and of course, North Andover,MA. I will give one shout out to our upper North Amer-ican neighbors who share our industry’s passion. Buf-falo towers would be hard pressed without the flow oftheir precious resource into our country. .

Let’s take a closer look at the newest innovative product for the towtruck industry, the PolyBody™. To get a closer view, you’ll notice a fa-miliar flag flying outside the headquarters of United Plastic Fabricating


Then Along Came POLY!

in North Andover, MA. The American flag is proudly waved at all threeUPF manufacturing facilities located here in the United States. UnitedPlastic Fabricating is the first manufacturer and innovator of the trademarked PolyBody™ made of polypropylene, which is a light weight,durable and tough hard plastic that does not create stress crackingcharacteristics, is semi-rigid, and has good fatigue resistance. This

product was engineered and is manufactured for the towing industryright here in the USA. Let’s take a look at is origins and evolution fromthe fire and rescue segments into the towing industry.

United Plastic Fabricating is known for revolutionizing the fire serv-ice with over 80,000 polypropylene tanks (POLY-TANKD) designedand installed since 1986 replacing metal tanks, and now producesthis same high impact copolymer polypropylene for a complete line oflong life polypropylene service, line and wrecker bodies.

Historically, water and foam tanks for fire apparatus were manufac-tured primarily from steel or fiberglass, which were heavy and prone tocracking. In 1982, the first polypropylene water tank was conceived,designed and built through the efforts of a Lynnfield, Massachusetts,Fire Department technician to replace a rusted steel tank in his depart-ment. Word of this successful concept spread quickly and other localFire Departments sought a polypropylene replacement.

By December 1986, the demand for this new tank materialreached the point where the Lynnfield technician and a fellow firefighter decided to be co-founders of the world’s first polypropylenefire tank business. The new company, United Plastic Fabricating, Inc.(UPF), opened their doors in North Andover, Massachusetts, in a6,400-square-foot facility. Sales grew quickly and within a year’s pe-riod of time, UPF moved to a 10,000-square-foot facility. UPF ex-panded operations to Florida in 1989 and to Wisconsin in 1991.With continued growth, UPF Massachusetts moved into a new38,000-square-foot corporate headquarters in 1992, which includes



a design and engineering center. In 2005, UPF Wisconsin moved to a103,000-square-foot facility, and, last year, UPF Florida moved to a78,030-square-foot facility. Today, UPF has 219,030 square feet of fa-cilities and employees 235 people on its team.

In its 28 years, UPF’s sales has surpassed steel tanks to become the

best-selling water and foam tanks in the in-dustry, Poly-TankD. UPF’s lifetime warranty, themost complete warranty in the industry,makes the Poly-TankD the last tank you’ll everneed. There are currently over 80,000 Poly-TankD operational in 85 countries throughoutthe world. All of these tanks were made herein the U.S.

The PolyBody™ is a plastic body madefrom UPF’s PT3™ 1/2” thick Ultra High Im-pact Copolymer Polypropylene. The Poly-

Body™ provides an alternative to the steel service body materials thatrust and corrode, and to the cracking problems associated with fiber-glass. This true, long-life body will provide an outstanding appearanceyear after year and chassis after chassis. In addition, The PolyBody™ of-fers lighter weight than conventional steel or fiberglass bodies, thereby

SERVICETRUCKS



allowing for increased payload or improved fuel economy.UPF’s PT3™ polypropylene is so strong it can withstand theimpact of a sledgehammer. Try that on a steel or fiberglassbody!

Mark Sexton, Owner of Mark’s Equipment Service, Inc., hadthe following to say about UPF Products, “From my years in thefire service, I was aware of the UPF POLY-TANKD. In fact, I en-couraged my fire company to invest in a truck with a UPF tank.Shortly after getting the vehicle, however, it was in an accidentand rolled twice. The chassis was totaled, but the UPF tankbarely had a mark. This stuff is so strong, but it’s also lightweight,corrosion resistant and has a longer warranty. I knew this polymaterial is what I wanted my new wrecker body made of.”

PolyBody8 inherent featuresand advantages:

• Corrosion and rust proof• Resists dents and dings• Maintenance free• Lighter weight improves fuel economy• Custom configurations• Automotive painted finish• Dry compartments• Increased storage capacity• Durable with long life capability• Reduces compartment noise• Roll-up or flush doors

SERVICETRUCKS

The PolyBodyD wrecker body can be specified as a new or replacement wrecker body.UPF started manufacturing PolyBodyD units as secondary styles for new wrecker OEM’s.We have since enhanced our product line to specialize in replacing heavy duty wreckerbodies from a 16 ton to a 75 ton rotator. These bodies can be bought as side packs andmounted to existing sub frames and are measured specifically for your replacement. UPFcan supply the body only, which allows you or your outfitter to customize lighting, chromerails and paint. We have seen the evolution of towing bodies migrating from steel bodies inthe 80s to aluminum bodies in the 90s and into composite type bodies in the 2000s.Common problems with steel bodies were corrosion leading to rust, which could start with



doors, fender walls or covered areas due to settling interior water. It’snot just the snow belts who experience these issues. The UnitedStates is covered by shoreline and salt water that loves to eat metal.Once it starts on your wrecker body, it finds a home until you can seethrough it. Aluminum bodies look great for the first 3 years when thewear and tear of everyday use starts to break down aesthetics.Throwing chains and lumbar in and out of wrecker tool boxes causescosmetic damage and forces you to weld reinforces every few years.If today’s highways were smooth, you probably wouldn’t have an

issue pounding 50,000 to 85,000 lbs. of machine up and downthem every day like every other truck on the road does. Think of thatlong straight weld stretching 150 -250” or more twisting and turn-ing every day. Metal has memory, so it’s only a matter of time beforea stress crack appears. Now, let’s add another 80,000 lb. casualty toyour load and try to avoid the potholes of our roadway infrastructure.You can’t. So, your truck and the body on it are taking a beating.Then along came composite bodies. Great for corrosion resistanceresin panels are glued, not welded, but they are heavy and don’t havethe ability to change styles, since the panels and doors are built froma pre-set mold.

So, today’s choice is yours; spend your winter windfall replacingyour fleet or re-evaluate your total cost of ownership with a Poly-BodyD replacement, where your return on investment keeps moremoney in your pocket today.

We can still enjoy our traditional Wednesday spaghetti dinners,St. Paddy’s day corned beef, and New Year’s Eve fried rice, but I stillfind my favorite beer brewed and bottled in Boston!

For more information, call Patrick Cahill, Director of Sales andBusiness Development at UPF, at 978-989-0264 or [email protected]. TOW



HERD NORTH AMERICA -

With collision rates as high as 1-in-41* drivers in certain parts of theU.S., the costs of repairs, downtime, lost contracts and increasing insur-ance costs, front-end protection is top of mind for all truck drivers. When itcomes to front-end collision protection, Herd provides the #1 solution.

Collision Protection

Front End


Herd North America specializes in

manufacturing vehicle protection guards

for commercial transport trucks and work-

ing–class pickup trucks. Their engineering

team designs each model and application

in-house to ensure that every Herd meets

their high standards of Protection Perform-

ance and Appearance.

“There are two primary reasons that

customers choose Herd,” says Leroy Pe-

ters, Marketing Manager for Herd. “Perfor-

mance and Appearance.” Customers

range from owner operators to small and

medium size fleets. Regardless of the type

of transport (oil field construction and log-

ging to national carriers), they all depend

on Herd to protect them from collision-re-

lated downtime and peace of mind for the

driver.

Herd’s website has testimonial after

testimonial from drivers like Geoff Little,

who writes, “I recently hit a young bull

moose near Savant Lake, Ontario, Canada.

It was a 50 mph impact, hitting the moose

with the left corner of the HERD bumper.

The truck sustained no damage and the

HERD bumper did not bend or crack - NO

DAMAGE! I will never own another truck

without a HERD bumper on its nose!”

Extruded from high quality 6061 alu-

minum, Herd bumpers are fully integrated

and replace your factory bumper to pro-

vide complete front-end protection. They

also mount directly to the frame of your

truck using a steel section with exclusive

impact plates that extend toward the

outer edges of the bumper – the result is

unparalleled protection in the event of an

off-center impact.

Standard features include: Boxed-in up-

rights, 3” tubes or bigger, steel impact

plates, signal lights and Herd’s proprietary

mirror finish.

Firmly established as the industry leader,

Herd is the only manufacturer who offers a

full range of products from economical De-

fender-style to the Ultra-Premium Big Tex and

Super Road Train. All of which are hand-

made on a configure-to-order basis. TOW

Visit www.herd.com for full rangeof products and driver testimoni-als or call toll-free 1-888-543-4373.

(*source: 2013 State Farm Mutual Insur-

ance Company),


Collision ProtectionFront End


Since 2009, Recovery Billing Unlimited, Inc.(RBU)has been hosting their Advanced BusinessManagement Seminars with a flawless feedbackrecord. While other training institutions teach youhow to tow and perform recoveries the properway, RBU teaches you how to be more profitableusing the techniques you’ve acquired by having the ability to bill for your services renderedand ultimately obtain payment. No matter if your company is a one-truck operation, or if yourcompany has multiple locations and five rotators, this seminar will benefit you!With nearly 500 towing and recovery outfits throughout the United States and Canada

attending since 2009, their name, image, and what they stand for is growing within the in-dustry at a tremendous pace. They are an organization dedicated to teaching fellow towershow to become more profitable at what they do in the course of their daily business opera-tions. In addition to profitability, safety, training, and proper certification are key componentsdiscussed within the seminar. RBU teaches:

• Building the proper tow and recovery business fromthe ground up;• Training employees so they project a more profes-sional image;• Remediation of the accident scene to free you fromfuture liability;• Proper way of writing an acceptable recovery in-voice;• Billing on liability insurance coverage only;• State and Federal Laws; and• Obtaining payment for proper billing procedures.

In addition to Bob and Eric Fouquette from Big Wheel Towing & Recovery as the main in-structors of the seminar, they have numerous guest speakers on hand, including Attorneys,Insurance Executives, OSHA Instructors, and even the occasional past seminar attendee thatshares their experiences since they’ve taken the course.Rumors about the course being designed to “scam” insurance companies could not be

any further from the truth. In fact, the seminars teach towing and recovery companies towork with insurance companies to get them to better understand the process that went intocreating the invoice set in front of them. By having an invoice complete with a detailed narra-tive, itemized pricing, breakdown of all equipment, and a full set of pictures, there are nounanswered questions. RBU’s main objective with hosting these seminars is to strengthenthe towing and recovery industry.The initial cost of attendance may seem a bit daunting to some companies; however, the

benefits outweigh the cost tremendously. Included along with the tuition fee comes two freerefresher classes for the same people from each company that attended the first paid semi-nar. Also, RBU stands behind each and every attendee by being on call 24/7 to answer anyand all questions that may arise at a later date. As mentioned earlier, hundreds of companieshave attended the seminar, and the overall consensus is 100% positive feedback. TOW

With that being said, visit them at Booth #405 at the American Towman Exposi-tion being hosted this year in Baltimore, Maryland. They are also hosting one oftheir seminars right at the American Towman Exposition on November 22 and23, 2014, from 8 a.m. - 12 p.m. on both days. If you wish to sign up for that semi-nar, please contact American Towman directly. Otherwise, their next seminarwill be hosted at their Massachusetts facility on January 17, 2015. Please feelfree to contact Linda for more details and how to sign up at 508-763-5474.

HOOKEDUPProfessionalYour Resource for Towing & Recovery

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New and Improved TowMateApp Available Now!

The long awaited update to the TowMate app is finallyhere! Now you can be alerted if you leave your TowMate

wireless tow light behindwithout having the app run-ning in the foreground onyour Android phone or tablet.This makes the app muchmore practical for daily useeliminating the need to re-open it every time a call ortext is made. (Requires TM-BTI Bluetooth interface card,a $100 option, for operation.Does not work with TM22G“The Limelight.”)

Go towww.TowMate.com or call(800) 680-4455 for moreinformation.

TowMate Power-Link Control w/Blue-tooth Connectivity

Always a leader in lighting innovations, TowMate’s Power-Linkcontrol pad with Bluetooth connectivity PLC-TX6BT / $100 option)was the first of its kind and remains the only fully functional 2-wirelight bar control on the market. Check this out and other new devel-opments at this years’ Baltimore Tow Expo.

Go to www.TowMate.com or call (800) 680-4455 for more in-formation.

(TowMate App forAndroid PicturedAbove)

(PLC-TX6BT 6-Button Bluetooth Control Pad Pictured Above)


Next Generation Tool Company ispleased to introduce its newestlockout kit, the Fantastic Four.

This small, but completelockout kit will open mostvehicles on the road today!

The Fantastic FourLockout Kit features:* 44" Long Reach-ItTool with our new sili-cone grip tip* The strongest Inflatable Wedge on the market, which comeswith a 1 year warranty* Our rugged Rhino Pry Wedge, which is a dual sided solidwedge. One end tapers like a standard door wedge, and theother side has a very strong pry feature with a built-in fulcrum. * These popular tools are housed in a durable canvas case.

Be a "hero" and open doors "super" fast with this new kit.Reasonably priced. Call for quantity discounts.

800.874.5625 | www.nextgentool.comExcellent Distributor Pricing

Eye3Data working hard tomake it affordable for you toProtect Your People, Propertyand Business!

Eye3Data haspartnered withMarlin Leasing tooffer you an opportunity to lease your new Video Surveil-lance System!Here are just some of the advantages of Leasing:100% Financing – Our leases finance 100% of the cost

of the equipment. You can include “soft” cost in your lease,such as shipping, software, training, installation and mainte-nance.Cash Flow – Making monthly payments are much eas-

ier than paying thousands of dollars out of pocket.Tax Benefits – Lease payments may be fully tax-de-

ductible as an operational expense. Consult your tax advisor.Contact us for more information on leasing programs.

(888) 777-9059 www.eye3mobile.com


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Virgo Fleet Supplies, Inc.AThe latest thing in lighting is LED – light emit-ting diodes. They are used in so many applica-tions for home, office and especially onvehicles – cars, pickups and big rigs. Theselights do not use bulbs that can burn out andneed replacing, and use much less amperage.The long life – in many cases, years – of theselight emitting diodes more than makes up fortheir higher price, since they don’t need to bereplaced nearly as often as incandescentbulbs. In addition, LED lights come in a widevariety of colors; some of them even changecolor while lit, creating some very interestingeffects. Over time, the money-saving featuresbecome apparent in lower fuel and energybills. On vehicles, especially trucks and big rigs,the more lights the better for high visibility andsafety. In addition, many truckers have usedthem to make a statement – lots of lights andcolors to match the paint and striping jobs on

their rigs. LEDs are available in a wide variety of sizes, styles and shapes to satisfy most requirements. A full range of these products areavailable at Virgo Fleet Supplies in Brooklyn, NY. www.virgofleet.com | (718) 251-6000



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Rubber Wheel Chock –RWC3

The safety orange color of this rubber wheel chockhelps ensure that it isn’t easy overlooked and left be-hind at the jobsite. Features a steel grab handle andmolded rubber construction. Measures 9-1/4”W x 6”Hx 8”D. OSHA 1910.178k compliant. Imported.

(800) 243-3194 www.awdirect.com

VIAIR® 12 VDC Ultra-Duty OnboardAir System – VAOS

VIAIRJ 12 VDC Ultra-Duty Onboard Air System is a complete air solutionkit. With a powerful, 200 psi maximum working pressure, it’s ideal for every-day use. Includes (1) 2.5-Gal. 200 psi VIAIR Air Tank, (1) 480C Chrome200 psi VIAIR Air Compressor, (1) tire inflation gun, (1) 30’L coil hose, (1)¼” NPT quick connect stud (M), (1) ¼” NPT quick connect coupler (M), (1)dash panel gauge with on/off switch, (1) pressure switch, (1) reducer –1/8” NPT (F) to ¼” NPT (M), (1) reducer – 3/8” NPT (F) to ¼” NPT (M), (1)¼” NPT 250 psi safety valve, (1) ¼” drain cock, (3) 1/3” NPT compressionfittings, (1) 4” strip of continuous grommet material, (1) 20’L 12-gaugewire, (1) electrical connection and (1) accessory line.

(800) 243-3194 www.awdirect.com


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FUEL AND TIRES are two of the biggest ex-penses in the Towing business. With the ris-ing cost of fuel, it is crucial to cut costswherever you can. The TRU-BALANCEWheel Centering Products were designed tohelp you cut your cost and keep the profit inyour pocket.

One of the most overlooked ways to im-prove your bottom line is proper centering ofthe wheels. With hub-piloted wheels, theweight of the wheels rests on the top pilots,creating a gap on the bottom pilots. A small

gap the size of a business card creates an “egg-shaped” motion upon rotation. This unevenmotion causes increased fuel consumption,uneven tire wear and tire vibration that balanc-ing alone cannot correct.

The bottom line is, you can’t balancean egg.

The patented line of TRU-BALANCEprod-ucts were designed to bypass the hub-pilotsand center the wheels back to the wheel studs,which is the “TRU-CENTER”of the wheel.Once the wheels are properly centered, the re-

sult is increased tire life, increased fuel mileageand the smoothest ride possible, PERIOD!

We offer three different “Solutions” to cen-ter your wheels. TOW

866-686-9285 www.tru-bal.com

TRU-BALANCE


B/A Products Co.

(800) 327-3301

www.baprod.com


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Crashfilm is a self-adhe-sive protective film. It ap-plies easily to vehicles thathave been involved in acollision, (broken win-dows) in auto storage, (pre-serve interior) or repair(body shops). Easily ap-plied by one individual.

The blue roll is 36”x200’ and has a 45 day UVprotectant. Apply to aclean dry surface to pro-tect the interior from rain,dirt and snow. Crashfilm istemporary protection thatwill release without leavingresidue.

Boxes 4 U1401 E. Plano Pkwy.Plano, TX 75074888-672-2548 • www.crashfilm.net

Crashfilm

Mobile Lifts, a Jerr-Dan distributor since 1990, is your source fortowing parts and accessories. In addition to keeping thousands ofparts for Jerr-Dan and other makes of tow trucks in stock, we alsostock Ramsey winches and parts for them; In the Ditch Tow Dollies;Federal Signal and Public Safety, light bars; Maxxima, Peterson, andSpyder bed and work lights; Deweze and Muncie clutch pumps,PTOs, and parts; Access Tools and Steck lockout tools; Phoenix simu-lators; and more. At our full service shop where we make and repairhydraulic hoses, reseal cylinders, and repair all makes of tow trucks.

www.mobilelifts.com (610) 489-1900

Mobile Lifts, Inc.


DealerPlace

The towing industry and the storage industryhave long been considered quite different fromone another. However, a new company calledSnappy Box Moving and Storage is making iteasy for towing operators to use the resourcesthey already have (such as standard rollbacktrucks and a storage yard) to easily addportable storage. Snappy Box uses their 10years of industry experience to offer a turn-key

management program that runs all aspects ofthe portable storage business and allows theoperator to continue to focus on their towingbusiness.

With the increasing financial pressures thatare facing towing operators, adding portablestorage provides a way to diversify and produceconsistent revenue when times are slow. Thetowing operator benefits by generating addi-tional revenue from both “rent” of the portablestorage container and the “delivery and pick-upfees.” On average, the containers rent for about$200 per month and stay rented for 6 months.That works out to be around $1400 per cus-tomer when you factor in both rent and deliveryfees. That same container when rented for ayear could produce $2800! Multiply this by50, 100, or 200 containers, and towing opera-tors can generate a significant profit.

Portable Storage was created to provide amore convenient option for customers needingself-storage. The portable storage container isbrought to the customer’s home or business

where they pack it up. Once it is packed, it canbe stored at the customer’s property or broughtback to a portable storage company’s secureoutdoor storage lot or warehouse.

Snappy Box sells containers uniquely de-signed to be moved loaded with standard roll-back trucks. The containers are waterproof,stackable, collapsible, secure, quickly assem-bled, lightweight and aesthetically pleasing.They come in two sizes: 8’ x 16’ and 8’ x 19’.These containers are extremely durable, typi-cally have a 30-year life cycle, can carry up to10,000 pounds and can withstand winds up to120 miles an hour.

If you are looking for a way to diversify yourtowing business, create additional revenue foryour business and utilize your trucks and driv-ers through slow times, then SnappyBoxJMoving and Storage may be a great solutionfor you. To find out more about their services,check them out at snappybox.com/towingor call 803-553-0002.

Two Industries Are Better Than One....The Convergence of Towing & Storage

MOVING & STORAGE

SnappyBOX


DealerPlace


MarketPlace


MarketPlace


MarketPlace

Baltimore Tow Show Booth #337



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Advanced Specialty Products . . . . . . . . . . . . .54Agero . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23Alexander Insurance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .52Amerideck . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .62Anchor Graphics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .62Atlanta Wrecker Sales . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .60Austin Hinds Motors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .61Austin Insurance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .54AutoData Direct . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .55Automated Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .43AW Direct . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .47B/A Products . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25, 62Beacon Software . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29, 62Best Tools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .63Bowers Insurance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .61Boxes 4 U / Crash Flim . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .63budgetGPS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .64Collins Dollies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .53Custer Products . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3CW Mill Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .56Dan Messina . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .61Dangelo's Custom Built . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .60Detroit Wrecker . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14, 37Direct Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .61Dynamic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .44ECM Performance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .55Evans Cooling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .50Eye3Mobile . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .64Flash Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7Flow Stop . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18

Gulf Atlantic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .61Hal Kresser Insurance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .64Hallmark Consultants Inc . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .64Herd . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .39Holly's Message Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .57IAA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27In The Ditch Towing Products . . . . . . . . . . . . .15Industrial Netting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .62International Towing and Recovery Hall of Fame & Museum / Wall of the Fallen . . . . . . . . . . . .32Isuzu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5Jerr-Dan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .IFCKBK Insurance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .63Larson Electronics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .51Lattimer's Warehouse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .63LDC Insurance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .63Lift and Tow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22Lodar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .64Loganville Ford . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .59Marking Pen Depot . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .63Mfr. Express . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11Miti . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .63Mobile Lifts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .58Next Generation Tools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .62North American Bancard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13Ohio Power Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .47Pillow Protection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .63PowerBilt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10Powerhouse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .58Recovery Billing Unlimited . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21

Recovery Consulting Services . . . . . . . . . . . . .57Robert Young's Wrecker Sales & Service . . . .60Rugged Tow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17RV Wheel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .63S&J Manufacturing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .52SnappyBox . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .49Speciality Vehicle & Equipment . . . . . . . . . . .IBCSteck . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .46Tom Tom . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31Towmate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1TowPartners . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .63Towramps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26Tracker Management . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12Travis Barlow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .63Triple K Industries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16Tru-Balance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .56Tru-Hitch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30United Plastics Fabricating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .BCUrgent.ly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9USAC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .35Virgo Fleet Suplies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .64VTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .53Weiss Insurance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .63Windshield Cam . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .62Worldwide Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .60Wrecker Rentals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .45Wyless Telematics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19Yale Cordage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .38Zacklift . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .62Zips Truck and Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .41

COMPANY PG COMPANY PG COMPANY PG

MarketPlace

Baltimore Tow ShowBooth #938

Baltimore Tow Show Booth #222

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