T&R Footnotes' May Digital Edition Now Available Online!

Your May 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.

• Tracking Trucks. The very latest advanced technology for keeping track of your tow trucks and the jobs they are on is captured in this article. These amazing new dispatch and accounting tools will save money on fuel and other equipment, save drive time, and make calls more efficient, as well as provide effective online fiscal accounting and equipment monitoring. This will help you keep up with these fast-moving developments.Page 1

• Steering Clear. Want to do everything possible to avoid going to court and the wasted time and expense to defend your interests, either as plaintiff or defendant? Here are some tips from the experts on how to avoid costly litigation. Read and heed! Page 11

• Smart Start-Ups. As the economy gradually improves, towing company owners will want to consider ways to obtain financing for new trucks and other equipment as the banks begin to loosen up on lending. Here are some tips to help you get that loan you need to keep your business thriving and your equipment up to date. Page 17

• The Advisor. The towPartners Advisor appears monthly in Footnotes. Advisor features advice in all areas of towing, from technical details to business operations. towPartners also offers towers the opportunity for great discounts from many equipment and service vendors. Page 13

Also in this issue: Dennis Wencel's column The Black Book offers important business advice for tow company owners; Short Hauls offers the latest nationwide news about towing and recovery every month; see our schedule of upcoming tow shows and education, such asWes Wilburn's training schedule; and much more. Also, we offer great combo print/online advertising deals that will increase product visibility at a 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:
May 2011 Issue: http://www.myonlinepubs.com/publication?i=67114

Towing and Recovery Footnotes .

Sincerely,Bill Candler 
Editor

Got Video? It Might Earn You Some $$

Here's some info sent in by TruTV:

TOP 20 MOST SHOCKING

PRODUCES TOW TRUCK MADNESS FOR SEASON 5!

There’s no business like tow business! As drivers, you know every call can lead you into a hotbed of freakish behavior. From the furious deadbeat targeted for a repo, to the drunk driver who still doesn’t know why his car’s split in two, you can never tell what you’re going to find. That’s why having cameras – in your vehicles and in your yards – is such a slam dunk.

Now, thanks to truTV, those cameras don’t just watch your back – they can earn you some cool cash! This is your chance to showcase your company’s drivers and the bizarre world they inhabit. Did your cameras catch the businessman going ballistic over his illegally-parked Lexus? The rubbernecker who turned an accident scene into a demolition derby? Or the irate customer who stormed into your business? Then you can be part of the hottest reality show on television –TOP 20 MOST SHOCKING!

EARN $$$ FOR YOUR VIDEO! BE ON TV!

TOP 20 MOST SHOCKING is the wildest, most action-packed hour of caught-on-tape footage on the air. Whether it’s the outrageous rampages of Hotheads From Hell, or the unbelievable antics of Biggest Boozers, no other show can match our raw take on the unexpected. And now, we’re ready to deliver our eye-opening look at the job that always comes with a hitch: TOW TRUCK MADNESS!

We’re tracking down the craziest footage from across the country and around the globe of tow trucking lunacy as experienced by the pros! Forget watching others on Operation Repo. Now you can be in the spotlight as the star of our show!

What we’re looking for:

Car Owners Wielding Weapons

Vehicles Falling Off The Truck

Tow Trucks Rammed By Negligent Drivers

Customers Who Think Their Car’s Disabled When It’s Not

Employees Being Chased By Vengeful Drivers

Or any other situation that leaves you hoisting your jaw off the ground!

TOP 20 MOST SHOCKING has consistently topped the ratings, thanks to fans like you sending in the hottest videos out there today. And we’ll pony up to keep delivering the goods! To send in your video, just contact clips@nashentertainment.com, 323-468-4600, or upload footage directly to http://upload.nashentertainment.com.  

Hino Trucks 338 Model Named '11 MD Commercial Truck of the Year

Glenn Ellis - VP of Marketing & Dealer Operations, Sumio Fukaya - President and CEO, Bob McDowell - Sr. VP Sales & Customer Support

Here's part of the press release:

Novi, Michigan – Hino Trucks 338 model took home the 2011 Medium Duty Commercial Truck of the Year award. The 2011 award marks the second year in a row that the American Truck Dealers (ATD) division of the NADA has bestowed this honor on Hino after its 268 model received the same accolade in 2010.
The trucks were judged on innovation, design, fuel economy, driver and owner satisfaction, ease of maintenance and safety. “We congratulate Hino Motors Sales U.S.A. and all of the nominees for participating in this year’s ATD Commercial Truck of the Year competition,” said Dick Witcher, ATD convention chairman. “The award competition, which honors the top medium- and heavy-duty trucks sold in the United States, continues to grow. We look forward to hosting the competition next year during the convention in Las Vegas.” The judging panel consists of journalists from leading truck publications in North America.
“We are honored and thrilled to have won the ATD Medium Duty truck of the Year Award for the second consecutive year,” said Sumio Fukaya, President and CEO of Hino Trucks. “We strive to make the world a better place to live by helping people and goods get where they need to go - safely, economically and with environmental responsibility - while focusing on sustainable development. It brings us great satisfaction to see that our efforts are meeting the expectation of the industry."
The 33,000 lb. GVW, 2012MY Hino 338 model features Hino’s signature J08E series 8-liter diesel engine producing 260 hp and 660 lb-ft of torque that has become the premier choice for many vocations such as beverage delivery, municipalities, construction, utilities, petroleum/gas delivery and waste/recycling. In addition to a 13% improvement in engine torque, Hino’s 338 model provides class 7 vocational fleets the advantages of an industry-leading 5-year/250,000 mile warranty and the only conventional medium duty EPA10 engine certified at the mandated level.

OR Tow Operator Injured

We hope Matt Stuart of Retriever Towing recovers quickly! Here's the story from KGW.com:

PORTLAND -- A tow truck operator was injured after he was hit by a man who was trying to illegally retrieve his car from a tow yard Tuesday night, police said.
"We'd really like to have some help from the public in finding this guy," said Gary Coe, owner of Retriever Towing.
Once caught, the suspect will be charged with vehicular assault. The suspect's vehicle was described as a black Subaru Outback Impreza.  It has a California license plate 5TIC397.
It happened at approximately 5 p.m. at Retriever Towing's property in NW Portland.  Coe said the man showed up to get his car after it was towed from a parking lot near MLK and Washington earlier in the day.
"He asked how much the car was," said employee Chris Jones.  "I explained it to him how much it was."
Jones said the man realized he was short about $20.  He then darted onto the lot and jumped in his car.
Surveillance photos: Suspect in impound lot
"He proceeded to go ahead, rev up his engine and start his car, and went towards the gate," said Jones.
Jones tried to stop the man.  He was joined by his co-worker, Matt Stuart.
"Eventually I was able to get out of his way as he went through our gate," said Jones.  "Matt was pinned between the car and the gate and he fell backwards and hit his head on the asphalt behind him."
Jones said the man raced off the lot and drove away as Stuart laid on the ground, bleeding from his head.
Photos: Injured tow truck operator
"It was pretty disturbing to see my co-worker looking up at me with a glossy-eyed look in his face and seeing the blood underneath his head."
"There's no sense in getting foul," said Coe.  "I just hope we can find the person and bring him to justice."
Fortunately, Stuart will be okay.  He was released from Good Samaritan Hospital at around 8 p.m. and is at home recovering.
Stuart told KGW Wednesday that he is sore but thankful to be alive. He said he was anxious for the man who hit him to be captured.
Anyone with information that may help investigators was urged to call Portland police.

Sad News From WI

Our condolences to the family and acquaintances of tow truck driver Dan Bobholz of Bobholz Trucking, Inc.,  who died Tuesday, April 19, after being struck by two vehicles while he was working on the side of the road. Here's the story from WSIN.com:

ALLENTON, Wis. -- There's new information about the tow truck operator who was killed as a result of trecherous road conditions near West Bend on Tuesday
It's a sad situation," said Bill Rate of Bob's Main Street Auto & Towing.
Tow truck owner and operator Bill Rate looked over a vehicle that may have struck and killed his friend and associate Tuesday in Allenton.
"My heart and condolences go out to the family and everything for the tragedy that happened yesterday," Rate said.
Dan Bobholz, of Allenton, responded to a call around 2:30 p.m. The weather was bad.
Investigators at the scene said that a Jeep traveling southbound on Highway 41 sideswiped a legally parked Washington County Sheriff's Office squad that was doing traffic direction on the right shoulder for Bobholz Towing while Bobholz removed a runoff vehicle from the right ditch.
After the Jeep sideswiped the Washington Cunty squad, it started to spin and struck Bobholz while he was on foot loading the runoff vehicle onto his wrecker.
Bobholz was then pushed into his wrecker and, as the Jeep rotated away, he fell into a traffic lane of Highway 41 where he was then run over by a semi tractor-trailer traveling past the scene.
Tow truck operators said this is their worst fear every time they go out.
"We have the lights. We have the reflective gear. We have all the equipment that we need out there, watching our backs at all times, but in a condition like this, people are just not paying attention," Rate said.
Rate said he was just north of the crash picking up a car about an hour before it happened. He said people were driving way too fast, and he and his other operators are lucky they didn't get hit.
It's a reminder of how dangerous traveling during bad weather can be and a reminder to all motorists to slow down and yield to respect.
The State Patrol said it appeared that icy roads and excessive speed might have contributed to that fatal crash.

Beacon Funding Corporation Announces New Hire for Tow/Work Truck Equipment Financing

Beacon Funding Corporation Announces New Hire for Tow/Work Truck Equipment Financing
Here's the press release:

Todd Chase brings over 18 years of tow truck industry experience to Beacon Funding. His diversified background includes tow equipment/supply sales, tow operations, towing & recovery training and customer relations and support. Todd is also a lead trainer for the Statewide Towing Academy and a Director of the Statewide Towing Association(of Massachusetts).
Per Toby McDonough, Vice President of Beacon's Sales & Marketing, "Todd has already proven to be an excellent addition to our team. His extensive knowledge of all aspects of the work truck marketplace coupled with Beacon's niche truck financing expertise has proven invaluable to his equipment vendor and business owner relationships."
Based in Newburyport, Massachusetts, Todd's primary responsibility will be to assist Beacon in developing new relationships with tow/work truck dealerships and clients.
Todd Chase will be attending the 2011 Florida Tow Show in Orlando, FloridaApril 14-17, 2011.
ABOUT BEACON FUNDING CORPORATION
For the past 21 years, Beacon Funding Corporation has been providing equipment financing solutions to all types of organizations, new and established, throughout a variety of industries in the United States and Canada. For more information please visit http://www.beaconfunding.com.

Sad News From IA

Our condolences to the family and acquaintances of Larry Wickersham, who ran I-80 Towing in Altoona, IA, for many years. He passed away on February 21, 2011 in Colfax, IA, after a long and valiant battle with cancer. 

"Towing and the Law" Book Now Available

Michael McGovern has released a new book, based on 15 years of the popular Legaleze column in Tow Times. 

Dangerous Duty In NE

Here's the story from KETV News 7:

OMAHA, Neb. -- Police said no one was hurt, but two tow truck operators were threatened at gunpoint early Friday morning in midtown Omaha.Investigators said the incident took place near 38th and Farnam streets around 3:45 a.m.As the two operators were loading a car onto the flatbed of their tow truck, three men confronted them, police said. The owner of the car and the owner's boyfriend argued they didn't have enough money to pay the towing fee and then pulled out a gun and threatened the truck operators, according to investigators. Bullet holes found in tow truck's windshield.Police said to two towing company employees went to another tow truck to leave and the man with the gun fired multiple times into the cab of the first tow truck.Officers said, as they arrived, they spotted someone tossing a gun as he ran off. They recovered the weapon and then took Kenneth Hatch, 24, into custody. Hatch is now facing charges of possession of a stolen firearm and terroristic threats, investigators said.Officers said they were given permission to search the apartment where the men came from and found another stolen handgun and some marijuana. Investigators said Kyle Hauder, 22, is facing charges of possession of a controlled substance, possession of marijuana and for an unrelated misdemeanor warrant.

Kenworth Truck Company News

Here's the press release:

LOUISVILLE, Ky., March 30, 2011– Kenworth Truck Company announced that it will offer its first 6x6 configuration for the Kenworth T370 medium duty model.“Kenworth is further expanding its reach into key medium duty markets by providing quality, durable and high-performance Kenworth T370s in a 6x6 configuration for the first time,” said Preston Feight, Kenworth chief engineer. “This new offering will benefit operators running utility service, construction, oilfield service and boom trucks, in addition to municipal applications, such as fire and emergency vehicles. Customers get a great medium duty truck for applications which require a heavier front axle and tandem rear axle to get the job done.”The Kenworth T370 6x6 features a factory-installed front drive axle available in ratings ranging from 10,000 lbs. to 16,000 lbs. The 6x6 will be equipped with a 40,000 lb. rated rear suspension. Initially, the Chalmers series 854-40 suspension will be offered, followed by the addition of the Hendrickson PRIMAAX(R) EX rear air suspension later this year. T370 6x6 customers can choose either the PACCAR PX-6 or PACCAR PX-8 engine. The addition of Kenworth’s new 6x6 configuration builds upon the 4x4 configuration introduced for the T270 and T370 in 2010.Kenworth’s quality medium duty products, combined with excellent dealer support, contributed to Kenworth receiving the 2010 J.D. Power and Associates award for “Highest in Customer Satisfaction for Medium Duty Truck Dealer Service.”*Kenworth Truck Company is the manufacturer of The World’s Best(R) heavy and medium duty trucks. Kenworth is an industry leader in providing fuel-saving technology solutions that help increase fuel efficiency and reduce emissions. The company’s dedication to the green fleet includes aerodynamic trucks, compressed and liquefied natural gas trucks, and medium duty diesel-electric hybrids. Kenworth is the only truck manufacturer to receive the Environmental Protection Agency’s Clean Air Excellence award in recognition of its environmentally friendly products. Kenworth’s Internet home page is at www.kenworth.com. Kenworth. A PACCAR Company.#*Kenworth received the highest numerical score for medium-duty truck dealer service in the proprietary J.D. Power and Associates 2010 Medium Duty Truck Customer Satisfaction Study(SM).  Study based on responses from 1,258 respondents measuring 8 manufacturers. Survey was of primary maintainers and owner operators and measures overall service quality of new (2009 model year) medium-duty (Class 5, 6, and 7) trucks (2009 model year).  Proprietary study results are based on experiences and perceptions of consumers surveyed in June-August 2010. Your experiences may vary.  Visit jdpower.com

New Ranger SST-CommLink MDT With Credit Card Processing

Here's the press release:

New from Ranger SST - CommLink MDT™ -  Now With Credit Card ProcessingExtend and integrate your dispatch process with drivers in the field.  Send detailed call information and receive status updates back from drivers, along with vehicle information and any "Extras"  that were delivered.  Send account-specific pricing parameters with the call and the CommLink MDT™ calculates the charges for the driver and processes the customer's credit card!  All information from the driver automatically updates the dispatch screen and accounting records (in DispatchDirect™).  No Voice Traffic To Manage - you only need the radio for back-up.  Driver interface is a Mentor Ranger MDT unit that  includes  fixed-in-vehicle GPS with antenna.  Enables visual dispatch (drag and drop) from the map (MapTrack™) - shows truck location, truck type, truck availability, and proximity to an incoming call.   See www.RangerSST.com for more information, or call 440.498.1495.  

Here's part of the press release:

Novi, Michigan – Hino Trucks announces “HINO INSIGHT” – the most advanced, tailored, comprehensive web-based location and telematics solution in the medium-duty commercial truck market. Hino‟s solution provides innovative GPS-based, remote fleet management capabilities to fleet operations of all sizes – driving efficiencies, safety, security, customer satisfaction and green initiatives.Hino Trucks and their industry-leading telematics technology partner, WebTech Wireless®, have invested more than two years and over a million miles of real world testing to develop the ultimate, value-added, versatile fleet management solution. INSIGHT is more than a basic telematics package, it is a complete solution including a mix of premium and Hino exclusive services ranging from, route tracking, geofencing, advanced vehicle administration, and planned maintenance management to real-time critical Hino proprietary diagnostics alerts, custom fleet performance dashboard reporting, and remote door unlock telemetry. Additionally, Hino INSIGHT units come standard with a free 1-year service subscription plan and a 2-year Hino OEM full product warranty.

New Lowboys From Landoll

Here's the press release:

Landoll Corporation is pleased to announce an all new line of heavy haul detachable lowboy trailers. The 800 Series has two primary models. The 835 is a 35-ton – with two or three axles; the 855 is a 55-ton – with three or four axles. This new construction series of hydraulic non-ground bearing detachables have loaded deck heights down to 17.75” and deck lengths up to 32’. 
The 800 Series of construction trailers have an impressive list of standard equipment that includes four (4) 100,000-lb. high tensile steel beams and 4S2M ABS with spring brakes on all axles. The 12’5” long gooseneck comes standard with two King Pin settings, 108” by 90” and seven ride height settings. These trailers will be equipped with 12” swing out extensions, a recessed boom trough, a recessed bucket trough in the lower deck and dropped wheel bolsters. Landoll will also include its standard zinc rich powder primer with a choice of six standard powder color top coats or optional hot dip galvanizing is available for the ultimate in rust protection.The 855 will be on display at the Florida Tow Show April 14-17, 2011 – Booth #881

Sad News From TX

Our condolences to the family and acquaintances of 24-year-old Christian Gutierrez who died on Mar. 31 as he was moving a wrecked vehicle on the side of the highway. He was killed by a UPS 18-wheeler. Gutierrez worked for Coby's Auto and Wrecker Service. Here's the story from the Victoria Advocate:

Christian Gutierrez rarely got a day off from his job at Coby's Auto and Wrecker Service.
To maximize their time together, his girlfriend, Maria Cahue, and her 2-year-old daughter, Andrea, would ride in the wrecker with him, Cahue said.
"That's how we spent our time together, up until that same night," Cahue said Saturday.
Cahue, 19, said she had just returned home from responding to a call with her 24-year-old boyfriend when he was called to another wreck near Refugio.
Gutierrez, 24, was struck and killed by a UPS tractor-trailer while loading a vehicle at that wreck.
The crash that killed Gutierrez remains under investigation by the Department of Public Safety.
The couple's one year anniversary was Friday.
On Saturday, Cahue was in Laredo with Gutierrez's family, preparing for his funeral.
Cahue said the family did not want to talk publicly about Gutierrez.
With nine siblings, Gutierrez was a family man, she said.
"Anything for me and my daughter. He always put us first," Cahue said.
Over the phone, Andrea could be heard calling for her mother.
"She asks for him," Cahue said. "She thinks he's working."
Gutierrez moved to Victoria almost a year ago to be with his girlfriend and her daughter, Cahue said.
That was after his service as a Marine in Iraq.
"He was a three-time combat veteran. He went overseas more than once," Cahue said. "He liked serving his country."
Gutierrez received several military honors, including the Marine Corp. Good Conduct Medal, the Sea Service Deployment Ribbon with one Star, the Iraq Campaign Medal with one Campaign Star, the National Defense Service Medal and the Rifle Expert Badge, according to his obituary.
He also enlisted in the Marine Corp. Reserve.
Cahue said on a rare day off, Gutierrez would still be putting others before himself, most likely taking Andrea out to have fun.
"We love him. There was not one person that he did not touch, that did not like him," Cahue said. "He was just very loving."

Related story:  http://www.kristv.com/news/tow-truck-driver-struck-and-killed-on-highway-77/

Everyday Tow Hero Honored In L.A.

Here's the story from EGP News:

Justice Served Through Bravery of Local CitizensDistrict Attorney Steve Cooley honors Los Angeles area residents who were instrumental in putting criminals in jail.By EGP News ReportLos Angeles District Attorney Steve Cooley on Friday recognized four everyday citizens who acted courageously under extraordinary and stressful circumstances to bring criminals to justice.Among them was a man who came to the rescue of a woman getting beaten on an Echo Park sidewalk, a Boyle Heights man who bravely came forward to identify the shooter in a gang murder case, a nine-year-old Los Angeles girl who provided eye-witness testimony in a drug murder case, and a Los Angeles tow-truck driver whose persistence put a group of armed gunmen behind bars.Cooley presented the four with the Courageous Citizen Award during a luncheon held by the Los Angeles Rotary Club on April 1.While driving in Echo Park in January 2010, honoree Robert Mark, 60, saw a man kicking and punching a woman in the face as she lay on a sidewalk trying to block the blows. Mark reacted to this scene by stopping his car, getting out of his car, and charging the assailant, who fled.Soon the assailant, who turned out to be the victim’s ex-boyfriend, returned, but Mark stood in the man’s way, until the attacker retreated for good. The defendant was captured, convicted of assault with a deadly weapon and is awaiting sentencing.In April 2008, honoree Jesus Delgadillo, 28, of Los Angeles, witnessed the murder of a former gang member in his Boyle Heights neighborhood. The victim, a former gang member who had turned his life around, was shot dead during a verbal confrontationWhile other witnesses were unwilling, Delgadillo came forward to testify in court on what he saw. He was able to identify the shooter, who was ultimately convicted of murder and sentenced to 40 years to life in prison.Despite her young age, honoree Chynna Hunt, 9, of Los Angeles, proved a poised and effective witness. She gave testimony about a man shooting to death another man after a September 2008 drug deal. The defendant in the case was convicted of murder and sentenced to 40 years to life in prison.
Tow truck driver Joseph Mosesean, 52, was honored for giving chase to a group of gunmen he witness fleeing the scene in December 2008.Mosean was stopped at a traffic light west of downtown Los Angeles, when he saw a group of armed suspects in a station wagon fire at a second car, killing the driver. When the gunmen attempted to flee, Mosesean jumped into action, following closely behind and relaying critical details to his company’s dispatch operator, who notified police.Mosesean tailed them for more than a mile before a Los Angeles Police Department helicopter joined the pursuit. The three suspects tried to flee on foot, but all were captured, and later each convicted of murder and sentenced to 50 years to life in state prison.

CCMC News

Here's the press release:

CROSS COUNTRY AUTOMOTIVE SERVICES EARNS GLOBAL SUPPLIER AWARD FROM FORD MOTOR COMPANY FOR ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE SERVICES
MEDFORD, MASS, March 22, 2011 – Cross Country Automotive Services (Cross Country), a leading provider of driver and vehicle assistance services in North America, has been selected by Ford Motor Company as a recipient of a 2010 World Excellence Award, the company's highest recognition for its suppliers globally.
Ford honored Cross Country with a Gold World Excellence Award for attaining a superior level of excellence in the management and execution of its roadside assistance program. The Gold award is the highest level of the recognition by Ford for service.  
“Cross Country is proud to be recognized for its contribution toward Ford’s highest standards of customer services,” said Michael Saxton, chief executive officer for Cross Country. “We share Ford’s total commitment to excellence in technology, quality and cost efficiency, and appreciate being entrusted to provide a wide range of roadside assistance services that add value to the company’s innovative vehicles.”
A total of 15 suppliers received Gold World Excellence Awards; Ford selected 47 total World Excellence Award honorees from 16 different countries for aligning themselves with the values and operating practices of Ford.

About Cross CountryFor nearly 40 years, Cross Country Automotive Services has been a pioneer and thought leader in creating and delivering technology-enabled service solutions for the auto and insurance industries.  Cross Country manages roadside assistance programs in the U.S. on behalf of global automobile manufacturers and U.S. insurance carriers, providing solutions for the nearly six million roadside service events experienced by their consumers each year.  In addition, Cross Country provides accident scene management, vehicle release management and total loss screening services for insurance carriers, and customer care services and connected vehicle services for a number of automotive manufacturers. For more information, visit www.crosscountry-auto.com.  

TX Passes Tow Truck "Move Over" Law!

Round of applause! Here's the story from WTAW News Talk 1620:

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) _ Motorists could face new penalties for passing tow trucks on the highway unless they slowed down or changed lanes.Without any debate, the Texas House unanimously approved legislation Wednesday adding tow trucks to the law requiring motorists to move over or slow down when passing law enforcement or emergency vehicles, such as police cars or ambulances. The tow trucks would have to have their emergency lights flashing.Motorists who violate the law would face a fine of up to $200 — akin to a speeding ticket — or more if the violation causes an accident and causes property or bodily damage.Advocates say the bill, pushed by towing interests, is needed to protect tow truck operators who routinely work in extremely dangerous conditions on Texas highways.

2011 Hall of Fame Inductees Announced By ITRHF

Congrats!

March 28, 2011/CHATTANOOGA, TN – Five outstanding industry leaders have been selected for induction into the International Towing and Recovery Hall of Fame as the Class of 2011.
Heather A. Llewellyn (Nova Scotia, Canada), John D. “Doug” McLendon (Sanford, FL), Donald J. Mesaros (Loveland, OH), Eilís M. Murray (Wicklow, Ireland), and Timothy J. Vibert (Unionville, CT) were nominated by members of the International Towing & Recovery Hall of Fame and Museum for their many contributions to the towing and recovery industry, their families and their communities.
“Each year, the inductees share common strengths which have led to their nomination into this prestigious group,” says Rolfe Johnson, President of the International Towing and Recovery Hall of Fame and Museum.
“This year’s inductees share a dedication to their state and local towing organizations as well as the national towing and recovery community.”
Hall of Fame members will be recognized at an induction ceremony to be held at 6 p.m. on September 17th, 2011 at the DoubleTree Hotel of Chattanooga. A full weekend of activities will be held to celebrate this year’s inductees. For more information on the induction ceremony, or to order tickets, call Cheryl Mish at 423-267-3132.
The International Towing & Recovery Hall of Fame & Museum is the only one in the world for the Towing Industry.  It was opened September 22, 1995.  There are 18 antique tow trucks on display along with memorabilia from the industry.  Chattanooga, Tennessee was the chosen site for the museum as Ernest Holmes, Co. built the first wreckers there in the early 1900’s.  The museum is currently located at 3315 Broad St., Chattanooga, TN.  37408.

Inductee Timothy J. Vibert of Unionville, CT

All-New towSearch

Here's the press release:

towPartners announced in early March that it has
launched an all-new towSearch. New upgrades to the service improve user
experience and increase the benefits provided to towPartners members.

The popular towSearch service (www.towsearch.com) has been updated with a
refined and more user friendly interface. Users can now access more
information about member capabilities and services including information
about which members are law enforcement approved, accept credit cards, are
part of an association, and have insurance on file. Users will also have
access to a brand new towSearch mobile application in the near future. This
mobile application will allow users to easily access information about local
towing and roadside assistance companies from anywhere.

Along with being able to share more information about their company,
towPartners members will also benefit from the opportunity to place their
company information in special banner ads reserved for top-tier members.
Furthermore, towSearch is now powering the search for various other towing
search services and offering private label search solutions to others in
order to drive more exposure for the members of towPartners. Kami Rogers,
Product Manager for towSearch said, "towSearch has become a valuable
resource for both users and our member companies. We are continually
striving to improve this product as we work for the industry. towPartners
has the most powerful network in the towing industry with the most accurate
data available and these new upgrades to towSearch, along with the soon to
launch mobile application, continue to improve user access to that network."

towSearch is the nation's leading towing and road service provider locator
tool with thousands of companies currently listed. Member updates are
received daily at towPartners and the results of these updates keep the
system accurate and make it a reliable resource for information on local
towing and road service providers for individuals and commercial fleet
customers across the United States. 

Everyday Tow Hero In WA!

Round of applause to Dick's Towing driver Nick Costerisan for jumping in to put out this fire at an espresso stand before it spread! Here's the story from KING 5 News:

EVERETT, Wash. -- Police say a serial arsonist has targeted two espresso stands in the last two days in south Everett.
The first fire happened at Juice and Java Espresso on the 8000 block on Broadway Ave just after midnight Sunday. The fire was set inside the stand, which is now charred and covered in soot.
The second happened late Monday night at Bean Me Up Espresso on the 6500 block of Evergreen Way. Tow truck driver Nick Costerisan who works for Dick's Towing was passing the stand when he saw it on fire. He grabbed the fire extinguisher in the cab of his truck and put the fire out before it spread.
The stand's owner, Sharon Knowles, calls him a hero.
Police say witnesses saw a person of interest seen running from the scene. They describe him to be a white male in his teens wearing black clothing.
Sgt. Robert Goetz with Everett Police says both fires were started the same way, but declined to make the details public. 

 

Everyday Tow Hero In Canada!

Kudos to City Wide Towing driver Burt Trihart for saving the day for this stranded motorist and her baby daughter :) Here's the story from the Calgary Sun:

He may not have been wearing tights or driving a tricked-out black car with giant fins, but Burt Trithart is a bona fide superhero to Sarah Simms.
Broken down on the QEII near Airdrie with her five-month-old baby Isabell in the back seat, Simms, 25, sat stuck for 30 minutes last Tuesday morning with cars whizzing by on both sides until Trithart, a driver with City Wide Towing, swooped in to save the day.
“I was in the slow lane because I wanted to merge into Airdrie and my car just died,” said Simms.
After calling her boyfriend and dad for help, Simms sat waiting and said she was shocked by the vitriol shown to her by other drivers.
“A truck pulled up and they unrolled their window so I thought they might have a suggestion because I don’t know about cars,” she said.
“But they just said ‘move your (expletive) car you stupid (expletive),’ so I started bawling my eyes out.”
It was about 10 minutes later that Trithart stopped to make sure everything was OK.
“He said ‘let me pull you off the road,’ then saw I had (Isabell) and he was appalled nobody stopped,” said Simms.
Trithart is a father himself who said he’s had his own car troubles and sat hoping, for the sake of his kids, someone would stop to help sooner rather than later.
He said the new mom seemed stressed and distraught, and when he saw the baby he knew he couldn’t leave her.
“Seeing her daughter definitely tugged at the heart strings,” he said.
“My priority was to make sure her and her daughter were safe; I figured ‘I have the equipment and machinery with me to make sure no one hits her.”
Simms said she was concerned about the cost of having her car towed to her parents’ home in Airdrie, but Trithart told her the ride was on the house.
When Simm’s 1990 Chevrolet Cavalier arrived her parents, her dad soon discovered it had simply overheated.
And after being accosted by several angry drivers, Simms said Trithart restored her faith in humanity.
“In a period of 15 minutes I went from feeling utterly hopeless and having zero faith in the Calgary population to having it completely restored,” she said.

New Edition of "24/7 On Call"

The newest issue of On Call 24/7 is now available online! Explore 32 pages filled with articles and photos of Miller Industries equipment. Just select On Call 24/7 to download a pdf file.
Enjoy the following – and more:

• A pictorial tour of our revamped heavy-duty manufacturing process
• Chevron's newest equipment
• A look at the International Towing Museum
• Rigging tips from expert Tom Luciano

AutoReturn In The News

Here's the story from CBS 5 San Francisco:

SAN FRANCISCO (CBS 5) – If you’ve ever been towed for parking illegally in the city of San Francisco, you know how it feels to get hit with that $450 bill. But it can get a lot worse than that.
It happened to Jeff Moses from Monterey, in town for a business meeting. He admitted he didn’t move his car in time. “We all make mistakes,” he said.
So he paid his fines, but when he picked up his Mercedes: “It started making a funny noise. I thought it was the muffler,” he said. So he immediately filed a damage report with AutoReturn, the city’s tow contractor which operates the impound lot.
But when the noise got worse he took it to two different mechanics. “They told me the engine shifted and the engine seals were broken and the only way that can happen on a car like this was to have (it) dropped,” he said.
The estimate came in at over $1,000. So Moses filed a claim with the city, which was promptly denied. Then he filed a claim with AutoReturn, and that, too, was denied. “They just deny my claim, they just continue to deny my claim,” he said.So who is responsible in cases like this? Even though the city is ordering the tows, it said it’s not liable, as spelled out clearly in the towing contract.  AutoReturn said it’s not liable, either, because it doesn’t actually do the towing and doesn’t even have tow trucks.
AutoReturn subcontracts to more than a dozen local towers, who are the ones who ultimately have to pay if they’re found at fault.
“We basically are like a judge between the person whose car has been towed and the tow company,” explained Sam Singer, spokesperson for AutoReturn. Singer said the company’s claims manager is that judge, deciding whether a claim is legitimate or not.
“This past year there were approximately 800 claims that were made,” said Singer.  That’s compared to the more than 60,000 cars towed. Out of those claims, more than 150 – about 18 percent- were paid out, according to Singer.
So are 80% of the claims bogus?  “Many times, when we show them the process they realize that the damage they were claiming could not have been caused by the tower,” said Singer.
Singer claims a number of people who file complaints change their mind once they are shown how their car was towed.
So what about Moses’ claim? “He has not submitted any proof to us that was verifiable. If I were being charitable, this gentleman’s claim is illegitimate,” said Singer.  “If I were being very forthright, I would tell you it’s fraudulent. The car couldn’t have been dropped.”
But according to the two mechanics, AutoReturn never called either of them to discuss their findings, or actually looked at the car.  The San Francisco Police Department told CBS 5 sometimes towed cars do get dropped.
”There were no safety devices attached to that vehicle whatsoever,” said Sgt. Bill Rossi after looking at CBS 5 video of cars being towed.   Sgt. Rossi and his partner Sgt. John Haggett oversee the city’s towing system.
“It’s a very strong possibility that if the road conditions were bad and they were to hit a bump that that vehicle would completely dislodge from the tow truck,” said Rossi. Every tow that you have showed me here the vehicles were not properly strapped to the tow truck.”
Their conclusion: “I think the tow truck drivers are rushing their tows. They want it to get returned as quickly as possible.” Moses believes that rush to tow caused the damage to his car, which conked out for good outside CBS 5 studios during the interview for this story.
Moses filed a lawsuit against AutoReturn in small claims court and was waiting on a ruling.
Meanwhile, towing complaints overall are down since AutoReturn took over the San Francisco’s towing contract from the former tower, City Tow.

Flatbeds May Be Way To Go To Tow Electric Vehicles

Here's the story from AutoBlogGreen.com:

Towing a vehicle, especially one that's powered by batteries and driven by an electric motor, can, if done incorrectly, be destructive. Recently, one of Frito-Lay's electric Smith Newton delivery trucks was towed for a parking violation and, according to Green Car Advisor, was reclaimed by Frito Lay employees who arrived with a flatbed tow truck. Well, as GCA's Robert Calem points out, it's unusual to witness an impounded vehicle towed, rather than driven, off the lot.
This oddity drove GCA to dig deeper and reach out to Bryan Hansel, chief executive officer of Smith Electric Vehicles, for an explanation. The Newton has no transmission connecting its electric motor to the rear drive wheels. Furthermore, the Newton is not equipped with a "neutral" selector to disengage the wheels from the motor. Therefore, towing the Newton with its rear wheels on the ground would force the electric motor to spin. However, since the delivery truck's liquid cooling system is inactive when the vehicle is off, excessive heat could build up and destroy the motor.
Hansel told GCA that the proper way to tow a Newton is to either drop the driveshaft, which connects the electric motor to the rear wheels, or to lift it from behind with the front wheels on the ground. Obviously, tow truck drivers are unlikely to spend half an hour pulling a driveshaft, so Hansel simply advises that Newtons either be hauled away on a flatbed or not towed at all.
Many battery-powered vehicles, including the Nissan Leaf and Ford Transit Connect, are engineered in such a way as to eliminate potential towing issues. However, the use of flatbed tow trucks nearly guarantees that hauling away a plug-in vehicle will not be a motor-destroying event.

Sad News From MN

Our condolences to the family and acquaintances of 75-year-old Leonard L. Ayde of Lino Lakes, MN, who was the owner of Lens Towing. He passed away on Feb. 17. Here's his obituary:

Date of Birth:  March 18, 1935
Date of Death:  February 17, 2011
Len Ayde, age 75 of Lino Lakes passed away peacefully surrounded by family on February 17, 2011.
He is welcomed to Heaven by, parents, Lawrence and Clara; sisters, Dorothy (Greg) Bemlott, Harriet Ayde, Lorraine (Fred) Perrier, Hazel (Gordon) Ecker, Ruth (Wilfred) Whitman, Virginia (Art) Borek. Len is survived by loving wife, Mary with whom she shared 57 wonderful years; 12 children, Kathleen (Gary) Gullikson, Susan (Charlie) Tubman, Leonard Jr.(Claudine) Ayde,  Jeffrey Ayde,  Joseph Ayde, Thomas (Linda) Ayde,  Marilyn (Howard) Nelson,  Steven Ayde,  Robert (Kirsten) Ayde, Richard Ayde,  Annette (Dan) Winberg, Clara (Brett) Lucking; 36 Grandchildren & 26 Great Grandchildren.
 Owner of Lake Sanitation Inc. and Len's Towing - Member of NLCC, BCA, MSRA, NSRA, Winnehaha's and WIT.
A very special Thank you to all the Staff at Fairview Hospice and Minnesota Oncology.
Celebration Of Len's Life
 Celebration of Len's life will be held at ST. GENEVIEVE CHURCH, 7087 Goiffon Road, Centerville, Tuesday February 22, 2011 10:00 AM. A gathering of friends and family will be 1 hour prior to the service. Spring burial in St. Genevieve's Cemetery.
 In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the  family.

It's A Classic

A tire's lifesaver! Here's the press release:

The most under-used gas mileage saver
Gas prices continue to skyrocket. That means you need to take every opportunity to combat the inflation. One major step one can take to reduce high gas mileage is to ensure proper tire pressure. Bell Automotive’s classic brass tire gauge gives driver’s an old school style and a rugged dependability.
When air pressure is too low it causes unnecessary drag on your car and cause your wheels to have to work harder to get you down the road. When tire’s air pressure is too high, the car may be soaring down the freeway, but with a greater chance of swerving off the road due to a blown out tire, or merely balding the tires at a much higher rate. A tire gauge will permit you to save money on tires and at the pump.
Your father always had one, two or maybe 20 tire gauges hanging around the garage. That is because every driver requires a durable and accurate tire gauge to properly inflate the occasional flat tire, to complete the monthly check up or to fight against absurd gas prices.
This tire gauge has a brass construction and measures five to 60 PSI. A bleeder valve allows the operator to easily adjust air pressure. The tire gauge is branded under its original Victor or Monkey Grip name. So give a new tire gauge a home in your toolbox, glove compartment or emergency truck kit. It may save a tire’s life.

Learn more at www.bellautomotive.net. 

Kenworth MD Trucks News

Here's the press release:

Kenworth Medium Duty Trucks Add Factory-Installed Front Frame Brackets for Winch Bumper
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind., March 8, 2011 – Kenworth Truck Company will add durable, factory-installed, front frame brackets for easy winch bumper installation on Kenworth T270 and T370 trucks. The announcement was made in conjunction with The Work Truck Show this week in Indianapolis.

The Kenworth front frame bracket package will provide strength for downward loads as great as 8,500 lbs. for a boom rest or cab guard, and up to 16,000 lbs. in the upward direction for outriggers. This frame package can help reduce customer upfit cost, and is compatible with popular bumpers used by winch customers.

“Kenworth’s new front frame bracket package especially targets utility and municipal customers that choose to operate Kenworth medium duty winch trucks,” said Doug Powell, Kenworth medium duty marketing manager. “With this product addition, we’ve standardized and simplified the installation of specialty bumpers commonly used in the fire and emergency vehicle markets.  This package will further enhance the value of our T270 and T370 4x4 models introduced in 2010.”

Kenworth’s quality medium duty products, combined with excellent dealer support, contributed to Kenworth receiving the 2010 J.D. Power and Associates award for “Highest in Customer Satisfaction for Medium Duty Truck Dealer Service.”*

Kenworth Truck Company is the manufacturer of The World’s Best(R) heavy and medium duty trucks. Kenworth is an industry leader in providing fuel-saving technology solutions that help increase fuel efficiency and reduce emissions. The company’s dedication to the green fleet includes aerodynamic trucks, compressed and liquefied natural gas trucks, and medium duty diesel-electric hybrids. Kenworth is the only truck manufacturer to receive the Environmental Protection Agency’s Clean Air Excellence award in recognition of its environmentally friendly products. Kenworth’s Internet home page is at www.kenworth.com. Kenworth. A PACCAR Company.
#

*Kenworth received the highest numerical score for medium-duty truck dealer service in the proprietary J.D. Power and Associates 2010 Medium Duty Truck Customer Satisfaction Study(SM). Study based on responses from 1,258 respondents measuring 8 manufacturers. Survey was of primary maintainers and owner operators and measures overall service quality of new (2009 model year) medium-duty (Class 5, 6, and 7) trucks (2009 model year).  Proprietary study results are based on experiences and perceptions of consumers surveyed in June-August 2010. Your experiences may vary.  Visit jdpower.com

Sad News From TX

Our condolences to the family and acquaintances of 79-year-old Louis R. "Dic" Rich, who owned Dick's Garage and Wrecker Service in Adrian, TX, for 46 years. He died on March 18. Here's his obituary:

ADRIAN -Louis R. "Dick" Rich, 79, died Friday, March 18, 2011.
Graveside service will be at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday in Memorial Park Cemetery in Vega with the Rev. Dee Slocum officiating. Arrangements are by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors of Vega.
On Sept. 8, 1931, in Hunter, Mo., John Fleming and Alice Ballinger Rich celebrated the birth of a son, Louis Richard, second to the youngest of nine children. Dick grew to manhood and served three years in the Korean War, where he received the Purple Heart medal. Returning from service, he settled in Adrian, where he owned and operated Dick's Garage and Wrecker Service for 46 years.
He married his beautiful redhead, Joyce Marie Tucker, and life blessed them with three children. Dick was a member of the Vega Masonic Lodge No. 899. He enjoyed traveling to see his siblings, children and grandchildren, "just seeing the country." He traveled from this world March 18, 2011.
Celebrating his life is his wife, Joyce; children, Steve and Carla Rich of Plano, Dale and Tammy Rich of Adrian, Todd and Tonda White of Vici, Okla.; grandchildren, Tara and Steve Andrea of Woodward, Okla., Ti White of Las Cruces, N.M., and Tialyn White of Warr Acres, Okla.; great-grandson, Preston Andrea; a sister, Erma Cloyd of Fresno, Calif.; a brother, Alexander Rich of San Diego; numerous nieces, nephews; special friends, Boudro and Hector; and many friends.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials be to First Baptist Church, 701 Walnut St., Adrian, TX 79001.
Sign the online guest book at www.boxwellbrothers.com.

Sad News From WI

Our condolences to the family and acquaintances of Stuart D. Hegna of Cameron, WI. The longtime owner of Stu's Standard and Towing died on March 17 at the age of 78. Here's his obituary:

Stuart D. Hegna, 78, Cameron, Wis., died Thursday, March 17, 2011, at Luther Hospital, Eau Claire.
He was born Nov. 8, 1932, to Milo and Josephine (Papineau) Hegna at Cameron, where he was a lifelong resident. He graduated from Chetek High School in 1951 and operated Stu's Standard and Towing, Cameron, for 50 years. He was also a consultant at Cameron Car Corner with his son Mike for the past 17 years.
Surviving are sons Wayne of Cumberland and Mike (Lori) of Cameron; daughters Debbie (W.G.) Bible of Cameron, Patty Boortz of Rice Lake and Nyree (Tyler) Hoff of Eau Claire; grandchildren Ben Hegna, Kristi Howery, Brad and Jodi Hauck, Ashley Bible, Joel Hegna, Danielle Boortz, Zach and Autumn Hegna and Dylan and Jylian Hoff; six great-grandchildren; as well as many other relatives and friends.
Stu was preceded in death by his parents and a sister Beverly Krans.
Services were held at 1 p.m. Tuesday, March 22, from Rausch-Lundeen Funeral Home, Cameron, with Rev. Jerry Bernecker officiating.
Visitation was held 4-8 p.m. Monday and an hour prior to services Tuesday at the funeral home.

TomTom and Beacon Software News

Here's the press release:

Concord, MA – TomTom, the world’s leading provider of location and navigation solutions, and Beacon Software, a comprehensive towing management solutions supplier, have partnered to help towing fleet operators improve efficiency, reduce costs and increase control of drivers and equipment. The integration of TomTom WORKsmart™ fleet management solutions and Beacon Software towing applications enables live driver location updates and more accurate arrival time estimates.
“TomTom and Beacon Software are solving the perennial problem for towing companies of matching customers to the closest drivers and getting those trucks routed quickly and efficiently to the right locations,” said Michael Geffroy, vice president of sales, North America, TomTom Business Solutions.
WORKsmart™ is TomTom’s ready to use fleet management solution and an innovative way for improving the management of all types of commercial fleets. It offers customers a choice of industry leading solutions combined with a high quality professional service.  Beacon Software enables towing companies to view and dispatch all jobs and trucks on a map in real-time with color-coded icons that show the status and required truck for each call.
“The combination of TomTom and Beacon Software takes the guesswork out of arrival times for towing companies,” said Todd Althouse, president, Beacon Software.
By leveraging WORKsmart, Beacon Software solutions directly dispatch calls to the TomTom device in an operator’s truck and automatically calculate the most efficient routes based on historical traffic patterns and real-time traffic information.  Operators receive turn-by-turn directions to customer locations, while the device automatically provides continuous arrival time and job completion updates to their dispatch control center.
Henry’s Wrecker Service in Washington, DC integrated TomTom fleet management system and Beacon mapping software to reduce costs and increase productivity. “Our dispatchers are just like air traffic controllers now,” said Fred Scheler, president and CEO, Henry’s Wrecker Service. “With two 46-inch flat-screen TVs in dispatch, we can very easily see the location of customers and drivers, so our dispatchers can assign the closest truck and give the customer an accurate estimate for arrival. By travelling fewer miles to each call, we have saved $40,000 per month in fuel costs and our drivers can get to more calls every day.”
About TomTom N.V.
Founded in 1991, TomTom (AEX:TOM2) is the world’s leading supplier of location and navigation products and services focused on providing all drivers with the world’s best navigation experience. Headquartered in Amsterdam, TomTom has 3,500 employees and sells its products in over 40 countries.
Our products include portable navigation devices, in-dash infotainment systems, fleet management solutions, maps and real-time services, including the award-winning TomTom HD Traffic.
For the world’s most up-to-date route planner, including live traffic information please visit www.routes.tomtom.com.

For more information, click here.

PA Coroner Rules Tow-Truck Death A Homocide

Here's the story from the Citizen's Voice:

A woman's death during a AAA tow truck call earlier this week in Plains Township has been ruled a homicide by the Luzerne County Coroner's Office.
Meanwhile, AAA Mid-Atlantic on Wednesday suspended the company, Herbert's Towing in Wilkes-Barre, that it dispatched to assist 55-year-old Denise Polinchak for a vehicle problem in the parking lot of the Social Security Administration building.
The company said Herbert's was suspended for a previous, unrelated matter pertaining to background and driving record checks for employees.
Police said Polinchak died from injuries she sustained when a tow truck driver for Herbert's reversed her vehicle and struck her with an open door around 6 p.m. Monday. The tow truck driver, Robert Wickham, 55, of Dallas, was arrested for the suspicion of driving under the influence after "police detected signs of alcohol impairment," police said.
Polinchak died Tuesday from multiple traumatic injuries and her death was ruled homicide, said Luzerne County Chief Deputy Coroner William Lisman.
"AAA Mid-Atlantic is saddened by the circumstances surrounding the accident and expresses sincere condolences to the family of Ms. Denise Polinchak on their loss," said AAA spokeswoman Jana Tidwell. "Since all facts are not yet available, we will not speculate on the details of this tragic accident. We will be cooperating with any law-enforcement investigations and will await their findings before commenting further on the accident."
The organization said it suspended Herbert's Towing from providing AAA service due to a "possible breach" of the company's independent contractor agreement due to a matter not related to the fatal incident.
Herbert's has had a 30-year affiliation with AAA and averages approximately 500 calls for service each month for AAA, the organization said. Officials for AAA said 80 percent of AAA members requesting assistance said they were "totally satisfied" in their experience with Herbert's.
Police said Polinchak was critically injured shortly after she called AAA for help with her vehicle.
Investigators say Wickham was attempting to reverse the woman's vehicle from a parking stall when Polinchak was struck by an open driver's side door. Polinchak sustained critical injuries and died a day later in Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical Center in Plains Township, police said.
Tidwell confirmed that AAA Mid-Atlantic received a call on March 7 at 4:50 p.m. from Polinchak for assistance and AAA subsequently dispatched Herbert's towing. Herbert's is one of several AAA independent contractors in Luzerne County, Tidwell said.
Tidwell said that once accepted as an independent contractor for AAA, each contractor must annually certify they have conducted background checks for felony and misdemeanor convictions going back 25 years, as well as annual motor vehicle and driving records checks for all drivers providing roadside assistance to AAA members.
Herbert's most recently submitted certification on January 19, 2011, stating that it was in full compliance with those and other contractual requirements, Tidwell said.
As a matter of course, AAA Mid-Atlantic terminates any independent contractor that fails to meet their contractual obligations, she said.
In Wednesday's edition, The Citizens' Voice reported that the fatal incident in Plains Township was the second run-in a Herbert's Towing driver had with Plains Township police in recent weeks. On Feb. 28, an officer observed a Herbert's tow-truck traveling on East Carey Street without any rear tail lights illuminated and the officer stopped the vehicle because he couldn't see the registration plate.
A records check of the driver, Donald Mosley, 40, of Wilkes-Barre, indicated that his driver's license was suspended and the Luzerne County Sheriff's Department had a warrant for his arrest for failure to appear in court on several theft cases, according to Plains police.
Police also noted Herbert's recently purchased the tow-truck, but never registered the title with the state.
Mosley was jailed and the tow-truck was towed from the scene, police said.
Officials for Herbert's declined comment when a reporter visited the Kidder Street business on Wednesday.
Polinchak's obituary appears today on page 27.
bkalinowski@citizensvoice.com, 570-821-2055

Rouse Joins Beacon Funding Team

Here's the press release:

CHICAGO, IL (MMD Newswire) March 10, 2011 -- Beacon Funding announces the addition of David Rouse, formerly Senior Project Manager at Dynamic Towing Equipment, to its tow/work truck equipment financing team as a Business Development Consultant.
David brings over 15 years of tow truck industry experience to Beacon Funding. His diversified background includes tow truck sales, dealership operation, project management and truck equipment manufacturing.
"We are excited about adding David to the Beacon Funding team. David's extensive industry knowledge and long-standing relationships combined with Beacon's tow and work truck equipment niche focus should provide a great opportunity for the businesses with which he works," states Vice President of Sales and Marketing Toby McDonough.
Based in Warsaw, North Carolina, David's primary responsibility will be to assist Beacon in developing new relationships with tow/work truck dealerships and clients.
David Rouse will be attending the Allied Finance Adjusters Convention in St. Louis, Missouri April 13-15, 2011, the 2011 Florida Tow Show in Orlando, FloridaApril 16-17, 2011, and the Tow Expo in San Antonio, Texas May 12-14, 2011.
ABOUT BEACON FUNDING CORPORATION
For the past 21 years, Beacon Funding Corporation has been providing equipment financing solutions to all types of organizations, new and established, throughout a variety of industries in the United States and Canada. For more information please visit http://www.beaconfunding.com.

Dangerous Duty: FL Repo Man Takes Bullet For Wife, Car

Here's the story from NBC Miami:

The life of a repo man is always intense, but it nearly turned deadly for a Miami agent who was just doing his job.
Police say an armed man started shooting at a tow truck driver when he realized his Infiniti M-35 was being repossessed Wednesday night in Hialeah.
The victim, identified by police as 28-year-old William Delvalle suffered bullet wounds to his torso and was taken to Jackson Memorial Hospital in serious condition.
Police say Delvalle took the bullet for his wife, who was driving the tow truck as it was driving away from the shooting suspect.
Police said the alleged gunman, Vladimir Perez Niebla, 35, has been charged with two counts of attempted murder.
The shooting happened just before 10 p.m. in the area of Palm Ave. and 23rd St.
Delvalle had already hitched the car up to the tow truck and was driving off when Niebla gave chase on foot. Niebla was able to catch up to the tow truck and get inside his car to pull out his semi-automatic pistol.
He then fired several shots at the truck. Delvalle, sensing his wife was in mortal danger, pulled her into the passenger seat and jumped behind the wheel. That's when a bullet hit him in the back, police said.
Niebla told police he shot several times in the air to "scare" the repossession agent into letting him keep his car.

Chilly Recovery in WI

A crew from Dive and Ice Wrecker service of Oshkosh uses ropes and pulleys Sunday to lift Dan Groeschel’s vehicle from the bottom of Lake Winnebago onto the ice offshore from Pipe. The vehicle sank in 16 feet of water. Read the whole story here.

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.

STO 2nd Annual Chili Cookoff!

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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.