Tow Truck Parade Honors NH Tower

Our condolences to the family and acquaintances of Russell Drew, Sr. of Tilton, NH. He passed away on March 9. Drew owned Russell Drew's Wrecker Service and Salvage Yard in Tilton, NH and was a member of the NH Towing Association for more than 40 years. Here's the story from WMUR 9:

TILTON, N.H. -- Tow truck drivers from all around the state gathered in Tilton on Sunday to remember a friend who died suddenly last Wednesday.
Russell Drew Sr. was 82 years old. He was a veteran and two-time Citizen of the Year.
Drew Sr. operated his own wrecker service and salvage yard, and made friends with truck drivers all across New England.
"Couldn't ask for a better guy; knowledgable, friendly. An all around good guy," said one friend.
"Anyone who knows anything about towing around New England knows Russell, and once they heard he passed it was just the thing to do," said another.
Drew Sr.'s family was honored by the dozens of drivers who drove around town in unison.
"This parade today leaves me speechless, it's great," said his grandson.

Sad News From Canada

Our condolences to the family and acquaintances of Harold Hammond, owner of Hammond Towing, who died on Mar. 13 after his pickup truck was hit. Here's the story from the Langley Advance:

The driver of a pickup truck sent flying off the Langley Bypass died in hospital Sunday, two days after the crash.
Harold Hammond, of Hammond Towing, was at the wheel of the blue pickup truck heading east near the 20500 block of the bypass.
Langley police say a large white delivery van apparently made an illegal left hand turn, striking the pickup and sending both cars spinning.
Hammond’s pickup flew into the ditch on the south side of the road, near a car dealership.
Both vehicles spun and flew off after the crash. The white van shed parts across dozens of feet of the roadway before coming to rest in the middle of the Bypass.
He and his passenger were taken to Royal Columbian Hospital for treatment. The driver of the white van was not seriously injured.
Witness Tressa Japp, who is a first aid instructor from Boston Bar, was the first person on the scene to offer aid to the men in the pickup.
The passenger in particular was in bad shape, Japp thought. His head had apparently hit the windshield – a bloody mark remained there – and his knee was injured.
“The passenger was in and out [of consciousness],” Japp said. “He could hardly even sit up.”
Shortly after the crash, the police said they believed both men were in serious but stable condition.
The Bypass was closed shortly after 9 a.m. for several hours so crash reconstruction teams could comb over the scene to determine what happened.
Both vehicles have been seized for mechanical inspections. Langley Traffic Services are now investigating, and charges are possible, said Cpl. Holly Marks.

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Dangerous Duty in VA

Here's the story from NBC12:

CHESTERFIELD, VA (WWBT) - A tow truck driver nearly lost his life while on the job after he was sideswiped by another driver who didn't stop. The hit and run happened on Interstate 95 just south of 895 in Chesterfield.
Barry Best has a massive bruise on his lower back, but has since returned to work, even taking jobs on the interstate again. The hit and run driver is still on the run.
Best's wife turned to Craigslist for help and even offered a reward.
Best could've easily been killed. A huge bruise on his back is a painful reminder.
"Felt like I'd been hit by a baseball bat," said Best.
Best was on-call early Saturday. Two men needed a tow to Petersburg.
"I was at least six to eight feet on the other side of the white line," said Best.
He was about to load up their car when the father of two said his life flashed before his eyes.
"I was standing pretty much like this when I saw the car coming towards me at an angle and about that time is when I squeezed up like that, and it still clipped me right there," said Best.
Best said he heard and felt the car's side mirror shatter against his back. Neither Best nor the men he was helping got a good look at the car. He thinks it was a dark colored Honda Accord.
"They should have at least stopped to see if I was okay," said Best.
Last year, the DMV tracked 243 crashes statewide involving tow truck drivers. One was killed, 20 others hurt.
Tow truck drivers are now protected under Virginia's move over slow down law. State lawmakers expanded it last year to include amber flashing lights. Best said his were on. He was also wearing a bright safety vest.
"It's very, very easy to see at night," said Best.
Best's wife posted an ad on Craigslist, but only one other person besides me responded, asking if he was okay.
"That kind of makes us wonder if this person knows something about it," said Best.
State police are investigating. If you have information that could help solve the case, give them a call. The vehicle involved will have damage to the front passenger side mirror. 

Towing Tirade In MI

Here's the news story from 9&10 News (click on the link to watch the video):

Police in Mecosta County say a woman threw a massive tantrum Monday afternoon when she saw her towing bill.
They say she did more than $3,000 worth of damage over a $225 bill. Deputies say the woman attacked an employee at Weeks Towing in Morley and then pulled a baseball bat off the wall smashing everything in sight.
The employee waiting on the woman says she shattered windows, knocked holes in the walls, and destroyed a computer.
9 and 10's Kyle Mitchell and Photojournalist Corey Petee have more on the attack and how it was all caught on tape. 

Sad, sad news from CO

Our deepest condolences to the family and acquaintances of 35-year-old Allen Rose, a married father and Iraq war veteran who served multiple tours, who died Wednesday, Feb. 23. Rose, who co-owned J&J Towing was towing an illegally-parked SUV. A woman jumped into the SUV and drove off, catching Rose in the tow cable and dragging him to his death. She has not yet been caught. Here's the horrible story from ABC7News:

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. -- A man was killed Wednesday when he was dragged behind by a vehicle he was trying to tow.
Witnesses said the tow truck driver was in the process of towing an illegally parked SUV when the female owner of the vehicle jumped into the SUV and took off. Initial reports had said the woman jumped into the tow truck, but police corrected that to say she was driving the SUV.
Witnesses said the victim's leg was caught in a cable that snapped as the woman drove off.Witnesses said they ran after the woman to try to get her to stop.
The tow truck driver was dragged for more than a mile before his leg was torn from his torso.
The SUV was found parked in a nearby neighborhood and police were interviewing several persons of interest in the case.
KRDO-TV reported the victim had both of his legs severed as a result of the dragging incident.
His company, J&J Towing, identified the victim Wednesday night as Allen Rose, 35, a married father of two and an Iraq War veteran who served multiple tours. He was a co-owner of the towing company.
The incident started at the Hill Park Apartments in the 300 block of N. Murray Blvd. in Colorado Springs. Rose's body was found at Babcock Road and Platte Avenue.
Police said the crime scene stretched for 1.2 miles, containing blood and other evidence of the dragging.
Several streets in the area were closed through the evening rush hour while police documented evidence.

FMCSA's Proposed Rule on Commercial Motor Vehicle Drivers' Hours-of-Service Gets Poor Review

Here's the statement from the Competitive Enterprise Institutes or CEI, which is a nonprofit, nonpartisan public interest group that studies the intersection of regulation, risk, and markets. For more about CEI, visit www.cei.org/about-cei:

Washington, D.C., February 18, 2011—The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has proposed a new Hours-of-Service (HOS) Rule for commercial motor vehicle drivers. The rule would increase restrictions on the number of hours that truckers and other commercial drivers can work. One proposed change currently being debated is a drop in the maximum driving hours within driving windows from 11 hours to 10.
Yesterday, CEI Land-use and Transportation Policy Analyst Marc Scribner submitted comments on the proposed HOS Rule, explaining why the proposed rule is costly, inefficient, and virtually unenforceable.
Scribner made the following points:
(1) According to FMCSA’s own data, the proposed hour restrictions will disproportionately affect self-employed commercial drivers, who are usually paid a per-mile rate, and who will face significantly increased costs by complying with the new HOS Rule.
(2) The FMCSA claims that the new rules will increase highway safety; however, scheduling practices in the trucking industry give drivers strong economic incentive to violate HOS limits. Intensifying HOS restrictions is thus hardly an efficient or effective means to improving traffic safety. The FMCSA could better achieve its goals by working with industry stakeholders to develop new schedule planning practices.
(3) As already noted, drivers already violate HOS limits, which are difficult to enforce. This is true even if the Agency were to mandate electronic on-board recorders, as has been proposed. Private arrangements between commercial drivers and their insurers would be far more enforceable as matters of private contract. However, burdensome public regulations like the HOS Rule are crowding out private solutions which might actually improve practices and standards in the trucking industry.
“[The FMCSA] does not properly establish the need for revised hours-of-service limitations proposed in the HOS Rule,” Scribner writes. “It has repeatedly obfuscated the core issue by relying on non-safety health impact benefits calculated under a dubious methodology to force a non-negative net benefit finding.”
“The Agency fails to understand its own institutional limitations and consider that private market regimes may provide solutions that result in superior safety and cost outcomes. Examining alternative private institutions that could better enhance highway safety and productivity should be made a priority by the Agency’s Office of Analysis, Research and Technology.”

Shows, Training & Demos

          Publicize your tow show, big recovery demo, training class, or repo event. Send your information by email: bcandler@dominionenterprises.com; fax: 757-233-7047; or mail: Bill Candler, Towing & Recovery Footnotes, Dominion Enterprises, 150 Granby St., Norfolk VA 23510.

Apr 9-10
New Hampshire
LD & MD Training
By David Lambert
Fillmore Industries
Loudon, NH
603-863-4206
nhtowingassociation.org

Apr 14-17
The PWOF
Florida Tow Show
International Expo
Hilton Hotel
Walt Disney World
Orlando, FL
www.pwof.org
407-296-3316

May 12-14
A.T. Tow Expo
International
Gonzalez
Convention Center
San Antonio, TX
www.towshow.com
800-732-3869

May 14-15
New Hampshire
Tow & Trade Show
Hampton Beach St. Pk.
603-863-4206
nhtowingasssociation.org

Jun 1-4
Western States
Tow Show
Silver Legacy Resort
Reno, NV
www.ctta.com
800-874-2860

Jun 10-11
Iowa Tow Show
Iowa Speedway
Newton, Iowa
515-244-5193

New Towing Association in OH

The newly-formed Professional Towers of Ohio had their first meeting on Feb. 10 at the Petro Truck Stop in Hubbard, OH, with 20 companies present. According to the press release, "the PTO is a non-profit organization formed by a group of towing professionals who intend to provide the general public with education about the towing industry. They encourage a friendly atmosphere to share knowledge and wisdom for anyone in, or related to the towing industry, large or small. They are dedicated to the enrichment and betterment of the towing industry."
For more information, or to join,  please call Mel or Jeff at (330) 829-2360.

More Congrats!

Round of applause to United Road Towing's Driver of the Year, Phillip Storey of West Nashville Wrecker Service, and URT's Support Person of the Year, Christine Rose of Export and Pat's towing in Boston! Here's the press release:

MOKENA, IL--(Marketwire - 02/15/11) - United Road Towing (URT), the industry leader in towing, impound management, vehicle disposal, and motorist assistance solutions, continued its commitment to its highly trained professionals by announcing the 2010 driver and support person of the year.

Phillip Storey from URT's Nashville operation, West Nashville Wrecker Service, was awarded driver of the year honors and Christine Rose from URT's Boston operation, Export and Pat's Towing, was awarded the support person of the year.

Phillip has been committed to redefining the towing experience at URT since 2005. In that time, he has mastered all levels of towing and has shared his expertise with his peers. His leadership and mentoring were on display in the spring of 2010 when over 5,500 tows were safely conducted in just 21 days to clear the Nashville metropolitan area after devastating floods hit the area.

Christine has been committed to redefining the towing experience at URT since 2008. Through her leadership in human resources, she has sought and overseen the hiring of only the most passionate, service-minded professionals. She has also eliminated the proverbial billing hassles for municipalities and customers by ensuring transparent accounting processes.

URT honors both the driver and support person of the year annually. They are given an all expense paid vacation with their significant other or spouse and are the guests of honor at URT's annual leadership conference.

Jerry Corcoran, Chief Executive Officer and President of United Road Towing, stated, "At URT, we find, create, and develop leaders at all levels. Our leaders share our dream of redefining towing and the towing experience for all our customers. We recognize and encourage leadership at all levels as well as build teams with talented and motivated leaders. It's imperative that we recognize our employees' accomplishments and commitment. Both Phillip and Christine have embodied this vision in their performance in 2010 and they deserve to be recognized."

About United Road Towing, Inc. 

United Road Towing, Inc. is the leader in towing, recovery, impound, and vehicle management solutions in both the private and public sectors. Through an extensive portfolio of local and regional brands, the Company dispatches approximately 500,000 tows, manages over 300,000 impounds and sells over 60,000 vehicles annually across the United States. The Company markets its service offering to the public sector via its UR Vehicle Management Solutions brand. UR Vehicle Management Solutions is the leading provider in optimizing, developing and managing municipal towing programs from Los Angeles to the State of Massachusetts.

The Company currently operates out of 12 major markets and is headquartered in Mokena, IL.

Congrats!

Here's the press release:

FRANKLIN, Tennessee (February 1, 2011) – A local towing services company, Akins Towing Services LLC, was recently awarded the Geico 2010 Certificate of Excellence for Outstanding Customer Service.

In response to winning the Geico award, owner Stacy Vivrette said, “We are honored to be recognized for our performance and commitment to great service. I’m delighted to have been able to meet the expectations of our customers and community. We are committed to providing the very best customer service 24 hours a day, 7 days a week here in Williamson County.” Stacy also added that Akins Towing is also a member of the Better Business Bureau and the only towing services company in the Franklin Tennessee area to have that distinction.

Akins Towing is a family-owned business, located in Franklin and servicing Williamson County and the surrounding area around the clock 7 days a week. The Vivrettes have been a local employer since 2006, employing a staff of DOT certified drivers. They have recently added an 8 ton wench truck that allows for towing in more complex situations. Akins Towing specializes in emergency roadside assistance, including not only towing, but changing flat tires, hauling off junk cars, jump starts and car lockout help.

Contact:

For more information about towing services or about Akins Towing, please call their offices at 615-794-4757, or go to their websites at http://www.akinstowing.com. 

Sad News From CA

Our condolences to the family and acquaintances of this as-yet unnamed 27-year-old CA tow truck driver who died Monday evening, Feb. 7, after he was hit by a box van on the side of the road. Here's the story from the Sacramento Bee:

A tow truck driver from Auburn was killed Monday evening when a box van struck a bus on Highway 50, officials said. The 27-year-old victim was assisting the private bus that had run out of gas near an exit in El Dorado Hills, said Officer Jasper Begay of the California Highway Patrol.
Begay said the driver of the 1962 school bus had bought the vehicle to rebuild it into an RV for his personal use when it became disabled on westbound Highway 50 near the Latrobe Road exit.
The bus driver waited for about an hour on the right shoulder for the tow truck driver. Shortly before 6:30 p.m., the tow truck driver was operating the levers at the left rear of the truck after he had attached the bus when the box van drifted onto the right shoulder, Begay said.
The white van struck the bus in the rear and demolished the left side of it before hitting the tow truck operator, killing him instantly, Begay said.
The van driver, a 41-year-old Pollock Pines man, suffered moderate injuries and the bus driver suffered minor injuries, Begay said. Both men were taken to UC Davis Medical Center. Names of those involved in the crash were not immediately released.
Begay said officers are investigating what caused the van driver to drive onto the right shoulder.

Wes Wilburn's Training Schedule

Wes Wilburn’s

Training Schedule

2 Day: Med & Heavy Duty, April 9-10, Fayetteville, NC
2 Day: Light & Med Duty, May 14-15, Kansas City, MO
1 Day: Advanced Light Duty, May 18, Denver, CO
2 Hr: Hybrid Awareness, May 19, Denver, CO
2 Day: Heavy Duty, May 19-21, Denver, CO
2 Day: Light & Heavy, Jun 4-5, Des Moines, IA
2 Day: Med & Heavy, Jun 11-12, Imperial, MO
2 Day: Light & Med , Jun 25-26, Franklin, NC
2 Day: Rotator & Heavy Rigging, Jul 16-17, Cochranton, PA
Contact Wes Wilburn Consulting, PO Box 007, Wade, NC 28395
www.towco-op.com; weswilburn@aol.com; 910-486-8928

Sad News From NJ

Our condolences to the family and acquaintances of 47-year-old Thomas Serinese of Coppa's Towing. He died Jan. 12 in a horrible accident. Here's the story from My FOX New York:

NORTH BRUNSWICK, N.J. (AP) - Police say a worker clearing snow from a flatbed tow truck at a central New Jersey towing business was killed when the truck's bed was lowered by a co-worker, pinning the victim beneath it.

Police told the Home News Tribune of East Brunswick that 47-year-old Thomas Serinese of Burlington was pronounced dead at the scene Wednesday morning.

Police say Serinese and another employee at Coppa's Towing in North Brunswick had raised the flatbed so snow would slide off. The other worker hit the controls to lower the flatbed, not noticing that Serinese apparently had bent over the truck's chassis on the opposite side. He was crushed between the flatbed and the truck's large toolbox.

Out In The Cold In NY

Here's the story from FOX23 News:

New York's “Move Over Law” took effect on New Year's Day, forcing drivers to switch lanes when they see emergency vehicles on the side of the road.

However, the legislation doesn't include hazard vehicles, like tow trucks and DOT trucks, even though tow truck operators spend most of every workday helping people on the side of the roads.

The distance from them to the cars whizzing by is the same distance as for emergency responders, leaving towers wondering why all lives aren't valued equally out on the roadways.

“It’s very dangerous out there,” explained Tom Brennan who owns T & T Towing in Cohoes.

With their backs to speeding traffic and their focus on the task at hand, tow truck operators face dangerous conditions everyday. “When they whiz by at 60 or 70 miles per hour they're literally moving your vehicle and the vehicle you're working on,” Brennan said.

For Brennan and workers like him, it is still legal for drivers to speed by sometimes just inches away.

“I have felt mirrors brush my back and I’ll tell you at 60 miles per hour, when they don't slow down and don't give you any room, that's a little disconcerting,” explained Peter Cary who owns Capital District Towing.

“Tow truck operators, although I determine them as heroic, they don't come to the same level as police and fire in people’s perception,” explained Attorney Peter O’Connell who is a lobbyist for the Empire State Towing and Recovery Association.

O’Connell says they've been working since 2003 to get legislation passed that includes tow trucks.

Now that the law is passed for emergency responders, O’Connell is meeting with legislators this week to try again with a separate bill. “The life of a tow truck operator or a DOT worker is less important than police or firemen,” O’Connell asked. “That's a bad message to be sending.”

Brennan and Cary are frustrated to be left out of the current “Move Over Law.” “We're there to clean up the mess, we're equally at risk of being injured,” Cary said.

Nearly 300 towers have been killed in roadside accidents across the country.

Brennan and Cary, both with more than 20 years experience, are hopeful a new law will give them some breathing room. 

“My wife and my kids worry about me I’m sure,” Brennan said.

Cary agrees. “Give us the opportunity to go home safe at the end of the day.”

To personalize the new legislation, lobbyists are discussing naming it the “Kyle Parker Bill” in honor of a tower who was killed in a roadside accident back in 2003.

Everyday Tow Hero In NV

Here's the story from the Las Vegas Sun:

By Paul Takahashi (contact)

Tuesday, Feb. 1, 2011 | 1:55 a.m.

When Tom Fay received a $25,000 check in December to fund construction of a teen lounge at the Green Valley Library, he was a little more than surprised.

“I was kind of shocked,” said Fay, executive director of Henderson Libraries. “People have donated $1,000, but it’s a rare occasion to get a donation like this in one large sum. It was very generous; it made for a great holiday.”

One might think a donation that large was from a community group or a corporation. In reality, the gift was from local philanthropist and business owner Robert "Bobby" Ellis.

The president and CEO of Snap Towing found out the Henderson Libraries had entered the Pepsi Refresh Challenge to compete against more than 1,000 community projects around the country for a $25,000 grant.

The money, if won, would help the Henderson Libraries create a Teen Lounge that would double the space available for teens to study and socialize at the Green Valley Library, 2797 N. Green Valley Parkway in Henderson.

“I just kind of figured in my own mind that the chances are nil that they are going to get that,” said Ellis, 68.

Despite efforts by the library to secure the funding, sure enough, Ellis was right. And without hesitation, Ellis said he was on the phone with Henderson Mayor Andy Hafen to discuss ways he could help.

“I said, ‘Heck, this is a great cause,” Ellis said. “It seems like the city is always pushing for these young kids to have a place to go… Kids are dropping out and not completing school. Maybe this will help keep the kids there, give them a place to study.”

That was the hope for Fay, who made the push for a teen center at the library since he saw youth attendance drop after age 14. However, facing a $2.4 million budget cut since the recession began, Fay said he was grasping at thin air until Ellis stepped up.

“It’s an interesting demographic in Green Valley. We have every socioeconomic status from those with low income to those on fixed income,” Fay said. “It’s a challenge for us to have the space and programming to fit the needs of the entire community.”

The new Teen Lounge will be partitioned from the rest of the library and have seating areas for teen events and gaming, quiet study, art, electronics, a video game library and a non-fiction book collection geared to teens. The teen room is in the design stages and is slated for completion in August 2011.

For Ellis, the new Teen Lounge is another way he’s giving back to the community. And he has been doing it in big amounts. For the last several years, Ellis and his wife, Sandy, have donated $50,000 to Nevada State College and $50,000 to Whitney Elementary School for scholarships, and to feed children breakfast and lunch. Ellis has donated more than $1 million to local schools and charities so far.

I just sold my business (B&E Auto Auctions) three years ago and thought I’d give a little back,” he said. “When I was growing up, we didn’t have a lot of money, but at least we had a roof over our heads. A lot of these kids, they have nothing.”

Ellis is sympathetic to his beneficiaries. The Rancho High School graduate dropped out of what's now UNLV soon after orientation.

He founded Snap Towing in 1971 with one tow truck. Five years later, he started B&E Auto Auctions on an eight-acre patch of land in Henderson.

w, Snap Towing boasts 20 towing trucks and B&E Auctions, which was sold to Insurance Auto Auctions in 2008, has grown to 40 acres.

Despite his success, Ellis said he knows those like Bill Gates, Mark Zuckerberg and even Robert Ellis are few and far between.

“I didn’t go very far in school,” he said. “My wife and I couldn’t help our son a lot when he went up to college. We helped him the best we could.

“Watching our grandkids grow up, we know that if you don’t have an education, it’s tough to get a job right now,” he continued. “The kids are the future to our next generation. If we don’t start getting them more education, we’re going to be lost.”

Marine Corps Wrecker Operator Named RC-SW Marine of the Year

Congrats! Here's the story from the Marine Corps Times:

Rain, snow or shine, if a vehicle in southern Afghanistan gets stuck, blown up or breaks down, it’s Lance Cpl. Stephan C. Wall’s job to get it moving again — even if that means braving bomb blast and enemy fire.

A wrecker operator assigned to General Support Motor Transport Company, Combat Logistics Regiment 15, he is tasked with recovering damaged vehicles and getting resupply missions moving again as quickly as possible.

“A slow target is an easy target,” he told Marine Corps Times during a phone interview from Camp Leatherneck, in Afghanistan’s Helmand province. Every second a convoy sits still, “the enemy has a chance to pounce and attack it.”

Since deploying in September from Camp Pendleton, Calif., Wall, 21, has recovered about 90 blown-up or otherwise incapacitated vehicles — and he nearly met his maker, twice. For his dedication and bravery along Afghanistan’s treacherous roads, he was named Regional Command Southwest’s Marine of the Year.

The command oversees about 20,000 Marines, and all were eligible for the award. A board of sergeants major in RC-Southwest nominated and reviewed a list of contenders, then recommended four to Maj. Gen. Richard Mills, the chief Marine commander in Afghanistan. Mills made the final call.

Wall, who drives 7.5-ton Medium Tactical Vehicle Replacement wreckers and 22.5-ton Logistics Vehicle System wreckers, said his job calls for recovering both combat-damaged or stranded vehicles. Every mission is different, requiring him to think on his feet.

While on a routine resupply mission in October, a vehicle in Wall’s convoy was disabled by an improvised explosive device. Working furiously to clear the vehicle from the road, a second IED detonated less than 10 yards away, peppering his vehicle with shrapnel. Rattled but spared serious injury, he quickly finished hooking up the truck and hauled it back to base.

“I felt a little dazed and confused, but I knew that I had to keep doing what I had to do to get out of there,” he said.

He received a Grade 2 concussion and was put on mandatory light duty. Wall received the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal for his actions that day. He was back behind the wheel a week later.

In November, he had a second close call.

“We were going up to recover a mine roller that was hit by an IED. After waiting for a sweeper team to clear the area, we drove up to the mine roller, and my front left tire hit another IED,” he said.

His vehicle was badly damaged, but again he escaped serious injury.

Despite what his superiors describe as exemplary service, he is humble about his achievements. He credits his success to the Marines and sailors around him, and his family and friends back home.

“I feel honored that I was even put up for the award. I just try to mimic my command. Trying to be like them made me the Marine I am today,” he said.

Wall’s deployment is scheduled to end in April. For now, he said he is taking things a day — and a mile — at a time by keeping the convoys moving.

Footnotes' February Issue Now Available Online!

Your February 2011 digital edition of Towing and Recovery Footnotes is now available. Simply click here to instantly begin reading the issue, or click on the features below to read specific articles.

• Exciting News!!!! In this issue, Footnotes proudly presents the first of what will be a regular monthly four-page feature. towPartners has joined with Footnotes to begin publishing in each issue the now-monthly towPartners ADVISOR! The Advisor will feature advice in all areas of towing, from technical details to business operations, while offering towers everywhere the opportunity for great discounts from the many, many equipment and service vendors who have teamed with towPartners to provide these savings to the industry. Page 13

• Bucks For Trucks is the beginning of a four-part series of articles for towing company owners on getting financing for their businesses in an era of tight money that is perhaps loosening up some. This first article gives the reader an overview of the current fiscal situation and discusses possibilities for getting the money to buy or lease that truck you need. Keep your eye on this series for the kind of advice that can help you thrive during trying times. Page 1

• Return of the Lizard Lickers. Love 'em or not, these wild and colorful Carolina repossessors, featured in our June 1010 issue, have earned an audience on a cable reality TV show and have gotten such a following from that that they now have another show! With an entertaining website and even a book coming out, the Lizard Lickers are again on the move! Page 22
• The Black Book. The author of "The Black Book On Towing" and owner of the website www.towprogram.com begins his first column of what will become an occasional series on how to be better at the business you’re in. Dennis Wencel is both a towman and a business writer and so he knows of what he speaks. Avoid the costly mistakes that can hurt your business and rob you of profits. Watch for The Black Book. Page 7

Also in this issue: Comments from tow business owners on the thorny issue of paying overtime, new and improved towing equipment inGear Mart, and great combo print/online advertising deals that will increase your product visibility at a savings over the usual rates.

If you cannot click on any of the links above, please copy and paste this URL into your web browser:
February 2011 Issue: http://www.flashedition.com/publication?i=59144

We hope you enjoy the February issue of Towing and Recovery Footnotes .

Sincerely,Bill Candler 
Editor

Hino To Debut First Diesel Hybrid Cab Over Engine Truck

RSVP by Feb. 18th! Here's the press release: 

JOIN US AS HINO TRUCKS MAKES HISTORY IN THE LAUNCH OF NORTH AMERICA’S

FIRST MEDIUM DUTY DIESEL-HYBRID CAB OVER ENGINE TRUCK.

Tuesday, March 8, 2011 • 4:00 pm (reception immediately following)

NTEA Work Truck Show • Indiana Convention Center

HIGHLIGHTS OF HINO AT NTEA INCLUDE:

»» MARCH 8

• Hino Trucks Conventional Chassis Update Session (9:30 am)

• Hino COE New Truck Unveiling, Press Event & Reception in

Booth #5731 - Hall J (4:00 pm)

»» MARCH 9

• Hino Trucks COE Chassis Update Session (11:00 am)

• Green Truck Summit Ride & Drive featuring the all new Hino COE

hybrid truck (12:00 pm - 4:30 pm)

»» MARCH 8 - 10

• Hino Trucks Display in booth #4131

YOU’RE INVITED TO BE OUR GUEST.

To register to attend Hino Trucks CEO unveiling and NTEA Work Truck Show,

please visit www.hinoevents.com (id: ntea2011; password: hinoatntea).

You must register to attend by Feb. 18th.

ALSO CHECK US OUT ONLINE.

Learn more at www.hino.com or seek us out on our social network to ask

questions [Twitter] or see video of Hino Trucks in action [YouTube]. Search

for “Hino Trucks USA”.

Mater (and McQueen) Get A Stamp!

Here's the release from USPS:

Since 1986, Pixar films have stretched the boundaries of our imagination with stories about unlikely heroes who explore the bonds of friendship and family. Now some of those heroes are the subjects of colorful new Send a Hello stamps that encourage people to connect with loved ones through the mail.

The Send a Hello stamps, which go on sale Aug. 19, are a natural outgrowth of the Art of Disney stamp series issued between 2004 and 2008. Originally intended as a series of three annual issuances depicting friendship, celebration, and romance, the Art of Disney stamps proved so popular that the Postal Service expanded the series to include issuances in 2007 and 2008 to celebrate imagination and magic.

Based on that success, the Postal Service was eager to work with the Walt Disney Company again, choosing to explore the Disney*Pixar films, which offer exciting, contemporary characters and strong themes involving family and friends.

This pane of 20 stamps includes five different designs featuring Pixar characters: Lightning McQueen and Mater from Cars (2006); Remy the rat and Linguini from Ratatouille (2007); Buzz Lightyear and two of the green, three-eyed aliens from Toy Story (1995); Carl Fredricksen and Dug from Up (2009); and the robot WALL*E from WALL*E (2008).

Since the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature was introduced in 2001, all seven Pixar films released since that time have been nominated and five of the seven have won, including Ratatouille, WALL*E and Up.

WI Tower Gets Local Coverage For Footnotes' Cover Shot :)

We're happy to have featured Andy Tessmann's truck on our December cover, too! Here's the story from Watertown Daily Times Online:

LOCAL BUSINESS FEATURED

Andy Tessmann of Emergency Starting and Towing stopped by our office the other day with a copy of the December 2010 issue of Towing & Recovery Footnotes, a monthly publication for the towing industry.

The cover story was about a new charity the towing industry in the Midwest is embracing. Tow truck owners from all over the Midwest drove to the Chicago area back in early December and held a parade with tow trucks as far as you could see. Over 190 companies were represented with many of them bringing more than one tow truck. They were all decorated in the Christmas spirit and they were collecting Toys for Tots in the Chicago area. They brought thousands of toys. There's lots of needy children in that metropolitan area, making this a wonderful holiday charity.

Well, to illustrate the parade and the charity work this industry is doing, the editors of Towing & Recovery selected one tow truck to be on the front page.

Sure enough, it was Emergency Starting and Towing's unit all decorated. It probably helped that the tow truck is painted a bright red. Tessmann told us he didn't even know they took his rig's picture let alone have it selected to be on the front page. The first he knew about it was when an industry friend sent him an early copy he had received.

It was a pretty impressive photo. And, Tessmann tells us he's already planning to be there for next year's parade.

CA Towing, Storage Bill Takes Effect

Here's the story from www.abrn.com:

California Assembly Bill 519, which deals with towing and storage laws, will go into effect statewide in January 2011. The bill was supported by the insurance industry and opposed by the Collision Repair Association of California (CRA) and others.

It impacts companies that charge for towing or vehicle storage related to a tow. Those companies must:

Upon request provide a Towing Fee and Access Notice to the owner or operator of the vehicle. 

Provide an itemized invoice of the actual tow charges. 

Provide a notice on your invoice stating, "Upon request, you are entitled to receive a copy of the Towing Fees and Access Notice" and have the notice available.

The notice only needs to be on invoices that have tow charges.

The CRA suggests that repairers have the tow provider provide the information required relating to the tow on their invoice then incorporate by reference their invoice on your invoice (for example: see attached invoice xxxx for a total $xx.xx). Using the tower-provided invoice repairers are by this statute not responsible for the accuracy of the unaltered documen, according to CRA.

The bill allows for additional services or fees (mark up) to be charged if they are itemized and explained. This could be a handling fee or administration fee. Repairers should have the fee on their authorized estimate, according to CRA.

For more information, call CRA at 916-837-2362.

WA Builds Up "Move Over" Law

Here's the story from The Seattle Times:

By Sara Jean Green 

Seattle Times staff reporter

Drivers who speed past emergency vehicles stopped on state highways or fail to give first-responders more room will face hefty new penalties beginning Jan. 1.

The state's new "Emergency Zone Law" builds on the 2007 "Move Over Law," creating a 200-foot zone around stationary emergency vehicles that have their lights activated — including patrol cars, fire engines, tow trucks and state Department of Transportation (DOT) vehicles, according to the State Patrol.

The enhanced law is meant to offer greater protection to first-responders, said Capt. Steve Burns, commander of the State Patrol's District 2, which covers King County. Speeding fines in the emergency zones will double, and fines for failing to slow down and safely move over will increase from $124 to $248, he said.

"This gives the law a little bit more bite," said Burns at a news briefing Tuesday morning in a AAA garage bay in Seattle.

Under the existing law, motorists traveling on a roadway with at least two lanes in their direction of travel must move over a lane from the shoulder when approaching a stationary emergency vehicle with its lights activated. They're also required to slow down and proceed with caution.

On roadways with only one lane in their direction of travel, motorists must pass to the left of an emergency vehicle if they're able to safely do so, while yielding the right of way to all vehicles traveling in the opposite direction.

The law remains the same under the "Emergency Zone Law" but creates the 200-foot zones in front and behind emergency vehicles, doubling the penalty for failing to slow down or safely move over within the zone.

In 2008, a year after the "Move Over Law" went into effect, 30 patrol cars were hit by motorists on state highways. Last year, an additional 28 patrol vehicles were hit by drivers during roadside traffic stops and other investigations, Burns said.

One of those vehicles was assigned to State Patrol Sgt. Dan Atchison. In October 2008, he and other troopers were tracking an escaped sex offender and had set up a containment zone on east Interstate 90 near North Bend. When two speeding vehicles came around a bend, one hit the other and then careened into Atchison's patrol car, which had its lights on and was parked in a median to the left of the highway.

Two of his troopers "had to jump in the ditch" to avoid being hit by Atchison's car, which was shoved off the road.

Atchison's patrol car was totaled and the driver who hit him was cited for speeding and following another vehicle too closely. The 15-year patrol veteran suffered injuries to his knee and lower back. "I went to the hospital, and I've been sore ever since," Atchison said.

But Burns and other officials who attended the news briefing said it's not just troopers who are at risk from impaired, speeding and distracted drivers. In September, tow-truck driver Tony Padilla, 51, of Burien, was hooking up a disabled vehicle on southbound Interstate 5 in Seattle when he was fatally struck by a vehicle. The driver and passenger both fled the scene but were later arrested. The driver has been accused of driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

Between April 2009 and Nov. 30 of this year, troopers contacted 2,940 drivers and issued 592 citations under the "Move Over Law," according to the patrol.

Information from Seattle Times archives is included in this report.

Sara Jean Green: 206-515-5654 or sgreen@seattletimes.com

Everyday WI Tow Hero!

Round of applause to WI State Trooper Craig Larson and tow boss Pat Brauner of Brauner’s Towing in Black River Falls for their quick actions! Here's the story from the Leader-Telegram:

BLACK RIVER FALLS — Three young children and two adult women are lucky to be alive after nearly being overcome by carbon monoxide Sunday night after their car went into the ditch on Interstate 94 near Black River Falls.

According to a press release from the State Patrol, the incident occurred about 10:30 p.m. when the car went into the median ditch while on the way from Minnesota to Chicago. When State Trooper Craig Larson responded, all five people in the car appeared to be in good condition.

However, after the tow truck arrived and the operator began to remove the vehicle, the driver became unresponsive. Larson then realized all five people in the car were unresponsive.

Larson and tow truck operator Pat Brauner of Brauner’s Towing in Black River Falls quickly removed the five from the car. At Larson’s request, Brauner began chest compressions on the female driver and Larson performed CPR on the three children, ages 2, 4 and 6, until they became responsive. The female passenger was breathing and was not as seriously overcome as the others.

After removing the vehicle from the median, it was discovered that the exhaust pipe broke off, causing carbon monoxide fumes to enter the car.

The family has asked not to be identified. They were treated at Black River Falls Memorial Hospital and released.

Footnotes' January Digital Edition is OUT!

Your January 2011 digital edition of Towing and Recovery Footnotes is now available. Simply click here to instantly begin reading the issue, or click on the features below to read specific articles.

• Get It In Gear! Enjoy Footnotes' annual equipment issue, featuring articles on the impact of customer opinion on equipment development, some towers' favorite gear, and products seen at SEMA, the big equipment trade show. New trucks and accessories from the major manufacturers are highlighted as well. Page 1, Page 6 and Page 9

• Regs, Regs, Regs! Towers are getting hit by more and more onerous regulations and paperwork requirements from government at all levels. What can be done about it, if anything? For a little help on the issue, see our in-depth analysis of the situation regarding regulations affecting towing companies. Pages 14

• Rough Stuff In Philly. Some towers in Philadelphia are fiercely competitive, often racing to a scene to beat the tower called to handle the job, and this behavior is starting to get the attention of the city government, to the potential detriment of all towers there. Pages 20
• Wreck Chasers. In a companion story, you will learn how Philadelphia towers are getting even wider attention via a reality TV show. Will this show hurt the image of city towers even more? You be the judge. Page 21

Also in this issue: A chance to win a $119 Tie-Down Bundle from Pierce Sales, which includes three sets of two different tie-downs each; new products from Jerr-Dan, NRC, and Miller; and even a few jokes as well. And don’t hesitate to ask about our combo print/online advertising deals that will increase your product visibility at a great savings over the usual ad rates.

If you cannot click on any of the links above, please copy and paste this URL into your web browser:

January 2011 Issue: http://www.flashedition.com/publication?i=56063

We hope you enjoy the January issue of Towing and Recovery Footnotes .

Sincerely,
Bill Candler
Editor

Everyday VA Tow Hero Honored!

Here's the story from fredricksburg.com:

A tow truck driver with Anytime Towing in Ladysmith was honored tonight with the Life Saving Award for his heroic actions that saved two lives on Halloween morning.

Sheriff Tony Lippa presented T.K. Loving, 36, of Hanover, with the award during a dinner at Timbers Restaurant.

Sheriff Tony Lippa and Major Scott Moser present T.K. Loving with the Life Saver Award Wednesday night.

Lippa, who said he is a former tow truck driver, said he knows the dangers of that job and thanked Loving for his heroic actions that not only saved his own life, but the life of someone else.

Loving was responding to a AAA call around 4:3o a.m. on Oct. 31 to tow a vehicle that had broken down on I-95, halfway between the Ladysmith and Thornburg exits.

That’s when a vehicle drove off the main road and struck Loving  and the customer he was helping as they stood on the northbound shoulder.

The crash left Loving and Robyn Silcox, 20, of Stafford with serious injuries. The driver of the vehicle drove off.

Silcox, a 2008 Stafford High School graduate and a junior at Old Dominion University, is recovering from serious injuries to her hand and arm and has more surgery planned.

She credited Loving with spotting the oncoming vehicle before it hit them, managing to mostly push her out of its path and saving her life.

In an earlier interview with the Free Lance-Star, Loving said he reacted as anyone would, and gave the credit to the rumble strips.

“I heard the rumble strips. The rumble strips pretty much saved me and her,” Loving said.

When he heard tires crossing over the strips, embedded in the pavement to alert drivers they are straying from the road, “I looked up, saw headlights, and grabbed her,” Loving said.

The impact shattered Loving’s right ankle and tore his Achilles tendon. He is not allowed to put any weight on his foot, and is using crutches. He will need surgery and physical therapy.

Loving has been a tow- truck driver for Anytime Towing for three years, and said most of his work is on I-95. Until that day, he’d never had a close call with passing traffic.

When he responded to Silcox’s call, Loving said he parked his tow truck on the grass, putting the entire northbound shoulder between him and the right travel lane of I-95.

“It’s not like I was close,” Loving said.

He suspects the driver may have mistaken the shoulder for a travel lane.

Loving will receive worker’s compensation for a portion of his salary, but said he could be out of work for six months. Loving’s wife is a stay-at-home mother to their four children, including a 4-month-old.

“It’s going to be a struggle. I’ll have to figure something out,” Loving said.

The driver of the dark blue 2008 Chevrolet Cobalt or Pontiac G5  fled the scene without stopping, and has yet to be located.

Anyone with information about the crash or vehicle is asked to call the Virginia State Police Area 44 Office in Caroline County at 804/633-6799 or e-mail the office at area44@vsp.virginia.gov.

Everyday Tow Heroes In WI

Here's the story from the Janesville Gazette:

JANESVILLE — Thirty tow trucks paraded through Janesville on Saturday to spread holiday cheer.

Trucks were decorated with tinsel and stockings. One truck had Santa’s sleigh and reindeer on its flatbed. Others carried large boxes designed like Christmas presents.

When the tow truck drivers arrived at Traxler Park, they delivered more than 1,000 toys to the Salvation Army and ECHO. The toys will be donated to local families.

The parade was part of the Tow Trucks for Tots program, which collects toys for children and promotes the towing industry. Worldwide Equipment Sales of Rockdale, Ill., and the Wisconsin Towing Association organized the event.

Pat Winer of Worldwide Equipment started Tow Trucks for Tots a few years ago.

He said tow trucks often would form a parade as part of a funeral procession when a tow truck driver died.

“We wanted a tow truck parade when everyone would laugh and have a good time,” Winer said. “We thought, ‘What would be better than collecting toys for children?’ ”

Worldwide Equipment does a tow truck parade every year in Illinois, he said. The company also organizes a parade and toy giveaway in other cities that might need help.

Janesville was chosen because the General Motors plant and other businesses have closed, creating a hardship on families, Winer said. GM makes many tow trucks.

“The people who built those helped the towing industry,” he said. “We wanted to help them.”

Tow trucks from Wisconsin and Illinois were in the parade. They had their lights flashing when they drove. Police cars, ambulances and fire trucks also participated in the parade.

When the trucks arrived at Traxler, about 75 people helped unload presents. They formed assembly lines to pass the presents from the trucks to other vehicles that will take gifts to the Salvation Army and ECHO.

“Look at these people. They’re all smiling and happy to be helping out,” Winer said.

Steve Davis of Davis Citgo in Janesville and the Wisconsin Towing Association said fundraisers were done to buy toys. He said the towing association asked its members to donate and help.

“This time of year it’s a good thing,” Davis said. “It’s a good day for Janesville.”

Everyday Tow Hero In Canada!

Kudos to Mario's Towing for their new Dinner for Cars program! Here's the story from Global Winnipeg:

A Kelowna towing company has come up with a unique program to feed the needy while helping people get rid of their old clunkers.

Mario's Towing will pick up unwanted vehicles in the Kelowna area free of charge during December, tow them to a metal recycling company and donate the money they get for scrap, which averages out to about $75 for every vehicle.

The program is called Dinner For Cars and Mario’s hopes it becomes an annual event.

The company hopes to get at least 31 cars in December, which will raise enough money to feed approximately 900 people during the holiday season.

For more information, call Mario's Towing at 250 - 765 - 6009.

WooHoo! December Digital Edition is Out!

Your December 2010 digital edition of Towing and Recovery Footnotes is now available. Simply click here to instantly begin reading the issue, or click on the features below to read specific articles.

• Charity Begins At Work. The holidays are a perfect time to consider what charitable and community efforts would best suit your towing firm and/or family. Helping others in your market area is not only a good thing for the recipients but it's a morale builder for your towing team as well as being good for business — a win/win for all. Page 1

• Higher & Higher Tech. The technology available today for towing companies is nothing short of revolutionary. The ultimate is to completely eliminate conversation (and thereby errors and lost time) between dispatchers and drivers and to go with a virtually paperless office. Two articles give insights into the very latest. Pages 14 & Page 16

• Hazmat Training & Safety. Two articles shed light on hazmat recovery, a serious issue for towers. If you’re not an expert on hazmat, here are some basics that will get your office and your drivers started from the standpoint of regulations, training, safety, and some things to watch for on-scene. Pages 19 & Page 22
• Nights & Daze. Driving your wife crazy with your snoring? Always feeling sleepy at the wheel? Productivity down? You may have a health condition that is correctable but potentially dangerous if ignored. Here are some answers that could change your life and work and improve things at home as well. Page 8

Also in this issue: A chance to win a $427 Signal Vehicle Products Lightbar from Pierce Sales; the advantages of working with a friendly competitor; a tower’s favorite chassis and wrecker; and the story ofthree generations of family towing. And don’t hesitate to ask Sales Manager David Abraham at 877-219-7734, ext. 1 about our comboprint/online advertising deals that will increase your product visibility at a great savings over the usual rates.

If you cannot click on any of the links above, please copy and paste this URL into your web browser:
December 2010 Issue: http://www.flashedition.com/publication?i=53031

We hope you enjoy the December issue of Towing and Recovery Footnotes .

Sincerely,Bill Candler 
Editor

Sad News From WA

Our condolences to the family and acquaintances of 62-year-old Anthony Poortinga of Wenatchee, WA, who was the owner of Anthony’s Cheap Tow towing service. He died on Saturday, 11/27, in a house fire. Judging from the story comments, he was a great guy who will be missed deeply. Here's the story from The Wenatchee World (click the link to go to the newspaper online, there is an additional story from 2005 on Anthony):

EAST WENATCHEE — Anthony Poortinga, 62, the well-liked and flamboyant owner of Anthony’s Cheap Tow towing service, died Saturday night, his body found by firefighters inside his East Wenatchee home.
Firefighters responded at 11:33 p.m. Saturday to a house filled with smoke at 167 12th St. N.E. Douglas County Fire District 2 firefighters quickly knocked down a small fire and found Poortinga in a bedroom while searching and ventilating the house, said Douglas County Fire Chief Chuck Fenton. Poortinga lived alone and was the only person in the house at the time of the fire. There were no smoke alarms in the house. Fenton said it appeared Poortinga had awakened and tried to make it to a window before being overcome by smoke. The fire call came from an East Wenatchee Police officer who spotted the smoke.

Fenton said he knew Poortinga personally and found him to be a very friendly person who was always willing to help others.

“He really didn’t have a chance,” Fenton said. “If there’s anything we can take from this, it’s a lesson that smoke detectors are critical. It could have made a difference.” The smoke started in a closet close to Poortinga’s bedroom. It’s likely the fire was caused by an electrical short, but impossible to say for sure, Fenton said.

East Wenatchee Police confirmed the victim was Poortinga Sunday after notifying his relatives. He was an East Wenatchee resident since 1979. An autopsy will be made to determine the cause of death, said Dan Rierson, East Wenatchee Police assistant chief.

Poortinga was well known around the valley as the owner of Anthony’s Cheap Tow. In his wide-brimmed cowboy hat, bandana tied around his neck, pearl-buttoned denim shirt and cowboy boots, he could be seen nearly every day driving one of his tow trucks around the valley or stopped by the side of the road helping a motorist. When he wasn’t on a towing mission, he could be found in one of his trucks reading a paperback mystery book or in a local cafe. His favorite haunts were Jimmy’s Diner on the Eastside and Denny’s and Smitty’s restaurants in Wenatchee. He loved to read.

“When he didn’t come in Sunday, we wondered where he was,” Sherri Schoonover, a waitress at Jimmy’s Diner, said this morning. “He would come here every day and order the breakfast special and read a book. He was very well liked here.” Schoonover said he would often come in with his daughter and grandchildren. “He was like family. He will be missed.”

Poortinga started Anthony’s Cheap Tow in 2004 after retiring from a career as a private contractor installing power and telephone poles throughout the Northwest. Interviewed for a 2005 Wenatchee World article, Poortinga said he started the towing business because his previous career had kept him on the road all the time and made it difficult to make friends.

He started out with a pickup and flatbed trailer that he used to transport race cars, then added the towing service and gradually added several more vehicles, stationed around the valley. The blue trucks with their Anthony’s Cheap Tow signs were his only form of advertising. He said the business didn’t make him a lot of money, but he loved it because it gave him a chance to help people and make a lot of friends.

“I’ve always done things a little different,” he said in the 2005 article. “I’ve always blazed my own trail.”

Rick Steigmeyer: 664-7151

steigmeyer@wenatcheeworld.com