Program No 'Clunker' For Scrap Yards, Towing Companies

Here's the story from Crain's Detroit Business:

With a second round of funding approved for the cash for clunkers program, local car dealers, auto salvage yards and towing companies say the first round has been a boon for business.

The small businesses, which have all had a bad first half of the year, are reporting increases in activity.

Among the biggest beneficiaries of the program so far is Jeff Wojtylko, owner of Taylor Auto Salvage Inc. in Taylor.

In the week and a half between July 29 and late last week, Taylor Auto Salvage picked up about 900 so-called clunkers, or nearly 10 percent of the 10,000 vehicles it purchased last year, Wojtylko said.

The availability of vehicles for scrap spurred him to call back eight employees he laid off in November, bringing his employee ranks back to 18.

Taylor Auto is paying dealers the scrap value of the cars plus a premium for the value of the resalable parts and paying a tow service to move the clunkers, Wojtylko said.

Once the vehicle engines have been disabled by the car dealers, auto recyclers drain oil, gas and coolants from the vehicles, remove batteries, cut catalytic converters and remove mercury switches.

Taylor Auto then puts the cars on its lot so customers can come in with their own tools and remove, for a price, any parts they'd like. The lot holds only 1,000 cars, so the oldest 50 vehicles get crushed each day.

Wojtylko initially put the company's employees on a 60-hour work week, but now has them working 72 hours to keep up with the dismantling and crushing demand.

Other auto recyclers say they've begun to pick up clunker vehicles, but the majority of vehicles promised to them by dealerships are sitting on dealer lots, awaiting government approval.

“Some dealers are getting approvals faster than other dealers, and some are taking a gamble the government will pay them back and taking a risk” by having clunkers towed to auto recyclers in advance of final approval, said Brad Horton, owner of U.S. Auto Supply in Detroit.

U.S. Auto Supply has received about 60 cars since July 29. Horton expects his company to eventually get 300 to 500 clunkers from the program when it gets rolling this week.

The company pays dealers a minimum of $50 for each vehicle, which then gets stripped of fluids, batteries, switches and parts for resale before being crushed for scrap.

A1 Auto Salvage and Scrap in Ypsilanti had been losing money since last September as people held onto vehicles amid decreased scrap prices, said co-owner Jim Burns.

Burns is hoping for an additional 300 cars through the program by the end of August, which would add up to about 500 more tons of steel than the company would normally take in, Burns said.

That could mean an additional $80,000 of gross revenue, minus the scrap price paid to dealers and towing fees, he said.

A1 Auto does not pull parts off of vehicles but instead scraps the vehicle except for aluminum wheels.

Working in tandem with dealers and auto recyclers, some local towing companies are also seeing some benefit from Cash for Clunkers.

Wilk's 24 HR Towing & Recovery Inc. in Taylor has been picking up 20 to 30 clunkers a day since the program began, said owner Brigitte Wilkinson.

“This has put me back in a better income frame now that my flatbeds are moving again,” she said.

Wilk's saw its business fall to about three to five vehicles a day early this year from about 15 to 20 vehicles daily late last year as scrap prices dropped, she said.

The company's annual revenue of about $400,000 had fallen by more than half, year to date, prompting Wilkinson to lay off half of her eight truck drivers.

But new towing demand associated with the cash-for-clunkers program has enabled her to bring back three, she said.

“There's been such a dramatic increase in revenue. ... I'm hoping this continues,” Wilkinson said.

Sherri Begin Welch: (313) 446-1694, swelch@crain.com

VA Tow Truck Driver Killed

Sad, sad news. Our condolences to the family and acquaintances of tow truck Andy Starmer, who died Sunday night after being struck by a suspected drunk driver. Starmer worked for Superior Towing and would have turned 37 this week.
Here's the Daily Press story:

NEWPORT NEWS - The driver of a wrecker truck was struck and killed by a suspected drunk driver as he worked on a disabled vehicle on a shoulder of Interstate 64 in Newport News last night.

Andy Starmer, a Newport News resident who would have turned 37 this week, was pronounced dead at the scene on westbound I-64 just east of Victory Boulevard around 8:30 p.m. Sunday. The driver of the pickup truck that struck him, identified as William Charles Burns of Newport News, was transported to a local hospital with serious injuries.

Sgt. Michelle Cotten of state police said Burns is expected to recover fully. He has been charged with driving under the influence and reckless driving. The commonwealth's attorney's office will examine the police report and determine whether Burns' charges will be increased to manslaughter.

Starmer, who worked for Superior Towing, had his truck on the shoulder with its lights flashing as he worked on a disabled Plymouth van. Burns, driving a 2005 Mitsubishi Raider, went off the road and struck Starmer on the shoulder.

Cotten said investigators had not yet determined how fast Burns was driving or whether speed was a factor in the crash.

Story on CA's FSP

Here's the story from The Reporter:

By Danny Bernardini

Posted: 08/01/2009 01:00:17 AM PDT

if(requestedWidth < requestedwidth =" 200;">

Anthony Yrigollen, an operator for Freeway Service Patrol, changes a tire on a van Friday on Interstate 80 in Fairfield. The Freeway Service Patrol is a program administered by the state. (Justin Morrison/The Reporter)

Cruising through traffic Friday afternoon on Interstate 80 in Fairfield, Anthony Yrigollen scanned the shoulders for stranded motorists.

Stopping along the way to tag abandoned cars, his eyes continually looked for flashing hazard lights, letting him know it's time for action.

After a minivan clipped a piece wood lying in the roadway, the driver pulled over to examine the damage. Yrigollen stopped quickly to let the those in the car know he was there to fix the flat, before springing into action that would make some NASCAR pit crews jealous.

Yrigollen operates a tow truck as part of the Freeway Service Patrol (FSP) and roams the freeway during peak traffic hours, looking to help out those in need. The free service has been

offered in the Bay Area since 1997, but most don't find out about it until the white tow truck pulls up.

"They're surprised it's free. They are very appreciative," he said while preparing for his shift. "For a while it was like we didn't exist. There is no advertisement. No radio spots. But more and more people are starting to recognize us."

The FSP is a joint partnership between the California Department of Transportation, the Metropolitan Transportation Commission and the California Highway Patrol. Using $1 from every vehicle registration fee, combined with federal funding, the program costs $9 million a year, said Raymond Odunlami, FSP program coordinator.

Knowing the state is looking to eliminate billions of dollars,

Odunlami said he hasn't heard anything to indicate the program is in danger.

What was once a fleet of 12 trucks patrolling a few hundred miles in the Bay Area, it has now grown to include 83 trucks and 540 miles. Locally the coverage extends to Richards Boulevard near Davis.

The trucks are equipped with gas, water, a car jack, pneumatic wrench, jumper cables and whatever else is necessary to get a driver going again. Most of the rescues are made as drivers patrol the shoulders, but

Freeway Service Patrol operator Anthony Yrigollen fills out paperwork after stopping to assist two motorists with a flat tire Friday on westbound Interstate 80 in Fairfield. (Justin Morrison/The Reporter)

occasionally they are dispatched by CHP.

For the stretch of freeway in northern Solano County, Vacaville Tow is contracted for service. About 20 companies are contracted for the service in the Bay Area.

Each of those trucks is equipped with special computers and global positioning systems to help locate problem vehicles and communicate with dispatchers if needed.

One thing slowing the operators down is the new law forcing drivers to pull over to use a cell phone. Yrigollen said he now comes up on several drivers who usually drive off when they see him pull up.

Another job is tagging abandoned vehicles, again freeing up CHP officers to patrol the roadways. Although much of his day is spent slugging along in traffic, Yrigollen shrugs it off as part of his job.

"The more you're moving, the more you come across," he said. "That's why it's so successful."

Nice Profile of CT Tow Operator

From The Cheshire Herald:

August 1, 2009 by Josh Morgan

The front end of the wrecker truck began to wobble and gently lift off the ground as a four-ton shipping container was being hoisted onto the flatbed.
This was how the morning started for Adam Carrano, towing manager for Strollo Bros & Sons, Inc., dba Strollo’s Towing Service. On July 24, Carrano was scheduled to move an 8,000-pound shipping container from Guilford on the construction site of the future Guilford Commons to the University of New Haven campus in West Haven.
“We are hired to do a lot of container moves,” Carrano explained. “We don’t just tow cars, that’s for sure.”
The traffic was light heading down to Guilford on Interstate 95 but, after arriving to the construction site, the first hiccup of the day made itself clear, yet it wasn’t all that uncommon. The container was still loaded with materials such as small machinery, bags of concrete, and job site tools.
“This happens sometimes,” Carrano admitted, as workers gradually emptied out the 20-foot long container.
As soon as the container was bare, Carrano hooked two massive claws to the edge of the box, which were connected to a thick chain. The winch on the back of the flatbed truck hooked onto the center of the chain and began hoisting the immense container upwards. Getting the container on the back of the truck wasn’t as easy as hooking up the chain and hitting a button. Carrano was constantly fluctuating the angle and height of the bed, as well as the force being used to pull the container. When the shipping container made its way onto the bed, Carrano attached tie down straps to stop the container from shifting left or right. Also, he made sure to clean out all the dirt, rocks, and other debris that collected along the outside of the box over the past few months.
“We don’t want (the debris) flying off on the highway and cracking someone’s windshield,” he said.
The container’s location made it tricky to drive straight out, as there were a few dips and divots on the job site. Carrano said he had to take it easy on the way out, as a few tires could come off the ground and a rollover was a possibility if he were too aggressive. After leaving the construction site without incident, it was back on the Interstate to head to the University of New Haven to drop off the container.
“I am constantly checking my mirrors. It’s all I have to see,” Carrano said, noting that, with the container, the truck now weighed close to 28,000 pounds. “The saying ‘if you can’t see my mirrors I can’t see you’ is very true. If you don’t see them, I won’t be able to see you coming.”
The container had to be left inside a small fenced-off area near the faculty parking lot at the University. Together, the location of the fence and the angle of Carrano’s truck almost made a T shape, but somehow, he was able to finagle the truck, and container, into position without hitting a thing. Getting out proved to be another challenge, as the shipping container was taking up precious room in the fenced in area.
“If that fence wasn’t there, we’d be all set,” Carrano said. “I got it in there, so I should be able to get out, you would think.”
Carrano said the “worst part” of being a tow truck operator is the “other drivers on the road.” He said, when he is making a tow, he always has to watch out for “rubbernecking” drivers who are trying to see an accident. A few times, Carrano admitted, he has had to jump onto the wrecker or over the hood of the car because a motorist was passing too closely.
“I had a small hole in one of my pant legs and I jumped out of the way of a car driving by, and I ripped the leg off my pants completely,” Carrano said. “It’s a dangerous part of the job.”
Carrano also responds to local accidents when vehicles need to be towed from the scene. He said you “never know” what to expect when pulling up to an accident, but he explained that the Cheshire Police and Fire departments are usually pretty good about letting him know what type of accident it is and how severe the damage is.
“They are good to us,” Carrano said. “They want those cars removed just as fast as we do.”
After leaving the University of New Haven, it was back to Cheshire to finish out the day, and after three hours of being on the road and moving a large load, Carrano would have enjoyed a bit of downtime, but it wasn’t in the cards this day.
Almost immediately after arriving back at Strollo’s garage on West Main Street, a call for a bulldozer stuck in the mud came in. Carrano and other employees at Strollo’s were going to have to use a variety of different equipment to get the bulldozer unstuck.
Carrano left the flatbed wrecker behind and hopped into a 40,000-pound tow truck with multiple winches. After arriving at the site in the north end of Cheshire, it was discovered that the small bulldozer was in a hole approximately five feet deep that was filled with a foot of water, making the tow even more difficult. To complicate matters further, a small piece of equipment had died almost directly in front of the bulldozer and needed to be moved off to the side. Also arriving on the scene was a Strollo’s dump truck with a large trailer that carried an excavator. Carrano wasn’t sure if the bulldozer could be towed right out, or if the excavator would have to be used to dig down to free the equipment.
Within a matter of a few minutes, Carrano had rigged up nylon straps and chains to the small, 800-pound piece of equipment that needed to be moved. The excavator pulled double duty and, with chains attached to its big digging bucket, hoisted the small equipment and swung it off to the side, out of the way of the stuck bulldozer.
Then, a series of chains and straps were connected to the back of the colossal tow truck and slowly, yet surely, the bulldozer was yanked out of the muck and back onto solid ground. But, the day wasn’t over just yet.
The ground at the site was incredibly soft and the dump truck and trailer started to get stuck in the grass. Not wanting to destroy the person’s property, the tow truck then connected to the dump truck and trailer and carefully pulled the equipment across the yard without doing any damage.
It was around 2 p.m. and Carrano still had a few hours left in his day. He headed back to the garage, where he would take a look at a few cars, perform some routine maintenance on the trucks, and, if needed, do some fabrication. Strollo’s is also an AAA garage, and calls for getting keys out of locked vehicles, jump-starts, and routine tows come at all times. Carrano said the irregularity of each day is the best part of the job.
“The job is so unpredictable, you never know when the phone is going to ring,” Carrano said. “Nothing is ever the same, it’s always a little bit different.”

Bizarre Events In NY Send Four To Hospital

geez... Here's the story from The Buffalo News:

Four people were taken to the Erie County Medical Center after a bizarre sequence of events Friday afternoon that included two crashes, one involving a Buffalo police cruiser, and a stabbing, according to Buffalo police.

At about 2 p. m., two vehicles were involved in a property-damage accident near Grider Street and Northland Avenue.

Then a fight broke out among drivers for two tow truck companies that showed up to tow one of the vehicles, said Michael J. DeGeorge, Buffalo police spokesman.

“The two tow truck drivers started fighting over the tow, and one of the drivers stabbed another,” DeGeorge said.

The driver who stabbed his competitor drove off in his truck along East Ferry Street, with Buffalo police in hot pursuit, police said.

At East Ferry Street and Winchester Avenue, the police cruiser was cut off by another vehicle making an illegal turn from the wrong lane of traffic, triggering another collision, De-George said.

The driver, an unidentified woman, was cited for an improper turn, failure to yield the right of way to an emergency vehicle and driving without a license.

The unidentified officer in the cruiser, the woman who cut him off, the tow truck driver who was stabbed and the competitor who stabbed him wound up in the medical center, where they were all treated for injuries not considered life-threatening.

Tow truck operator Dwayne D. Ferguson, 31, of Norfolk Avenue was charged with felony assault and harassment, police said.

His victim was identified only as Isaiah Washington, no age or address.

Everyday Tow Hero In MO

Cheers to Billy Stealy of Rothmund’s Towing whose quick decision likely prevented a more serious accident. Here's the story from the Pulaski County Daily:

WAYNESVILLE, Mo. (Aug. 1, 2009) — Last weekend’s series of three personal injury crashes on Saturday, two on Sunday, and two on Monday doesn’t even count the many wrecks around the county that damaged vehicles but didn’t hurt people.

One rollover wreck in front of Big Louie’s at the edge of St. Robert on Saturday night received wide attention because of its highly visible location, a tractor-trailer crash about 11 a.m. Saturday on westbound Interstate 44 at mile marker 169.2 just across the Phelps County line snarled traffic for about two hours, and other crashes also took up considerable time by emergency responders.

While working at a late-night Monday rollover wreck, Lt. Mike Shempert of the Waynesville Rural Fire Protection District said he doesn’t know why so many crashes happened that weekend, but does know it’s important for drivers to be more careful.

“Pay attention to the road; that’s about it,” Shempert said.

While no one likes dealing with injuries, Waynesville firefighter Dan Kallman said he doesn’t mind hard work and many calls, and said he finds his job exciting.

“It’s an adventure every day when you go to work,” Kallman said.

The victims of Monday’s rollover were lucky in one way: a tow company was right behind the crashed vehicle shortly after it wrecked.

Billy Stealy of Rothmund’s Towing said he was on the way to Wal-Mart when he came up to the pickup near a MoDOT overnight construction work zone.

“We were coming down the on-ramp and spotted headlights and thought it was part of the construction. Well, we stopped and … looked and it was a pickup on its side there,” Stealy said.

Rothmund’s Towing personnel hooked their tow cable onto the pickup to prevent it from completely rolling over and called emergency services to report the crash, subsequently removing the vehicle as well.

Shempert said that action likely prevented the crash from being much more serious. The pickup had two passengers besides the driver and one person was trapped inside the pickup when firefighters arrived, he said. That person had to be extricated by cutting the top off the pickup cab, and would have been pinned underneath the vehicle if it had rolled over completely.

CTTA Opposes City-Owned Vehicle Impound Facilities

Here's the press release from the CTTA on their position:

Palm Springs, CA, August 03, 2009 --(PR.com)-- Responding to concerns of California Tow Truck Association (CTTA) members regarding cities and counties competing in what has been considered private sector business by establishing government operated towing and/or storage facilities, the CTTA Board of Directors is taking a strong stance in opposition to this unfair competition and is currently exploring all avenues to assist privately owned towing companies in California to combat this growing trend.

Many towing companies have invested hundreds of thousands and in some cases millions of dollars purchasing equipment, land, and facilities to comply with the requirements to tow for cities and counties under current contracts. In a misguided attempt to generate additional revenue, it appears that these same cities and counties are willing to use tax dollars to purchase equipment and land to compete in the private sector, thus taking away substantial revenue from the towing companies who have been providing these services for many years. Many of these towing companies have operated their business successfully for decades and now are faced with competition from misinformed public entities that have no proven track record of successfully operating their own towing and/or storage facilities.

CTTA President, James Kruger stated, “It is simply a bad idea for cities and counties to compete with private enterprise. Also, it is highly unlikely that cities and counties will be able to provide these services as efficiently as our companies have been providing them for decades.” Mr. Kruger also observed, “Cities are under the false impression that towing and storage is a risk-free revenue stream. The truth is, they will have increased payroll to staff the facilities, increased liability, and increased training costs to comply with all of the State and Federal motor carrier and safety regulations.”

“This idea is bad for the local economy,” declared Jeff Hunter, Executive Director, California Tow Truck Association. “Cities and counties that open their own towing and/or storage business, in essence, are willing to have services diminished within the community. Private sector towing companies will not have the resources to be able to compete against the city or county and many of these private sector businesses will be forced to lay off employees, have equipment, land and facilities foreclosed upon and for some, make the hard decision to close their doors,” explained Mr. Hunter.. Mr. Hunter further states, “Private sector jobs will be eliminated as well as a certain amount of property tax, income tax and sales tax generated by the owners and employees of these threatened businesses. It is hard to believe that city officials would look at this as a viable alternative for their communities.”

“The real tragedy is that by the time cities and counties figure out that they cannot provide towing and storage services in a safe and efficient manner, dozens of towing companies that have provided these services for generations will have been driven out of business, and the local taxpayers will be forced to pay higher taxes for inferior service,” explained Mr. Kruger. Mr. Kruger stated, “The Association recognizes the impact that this will have not only within the towing industry but within the communities they service.” Mr. Kruger further states, “We feel CTTA has a responsibility to its over 1,000 member companies and to the towing industry in California to educate the motoring public, cities and counties who are contemplating entering into the towing and/or storage business. The hardships that will be placed on these towing companies and the negative effect that it will have within the communities will far outweigh any anticipated revenue these cities or counties may project operating their own vehicle impound facilities.”

“CTTA will take any appropriate measures necessary to protect the interests of the towing industry,” states Mr. Hunter.

About the California Tow Truck Association
Founded in 1969, the CTTA was established to provide a means of united efforts in the solution of problems, and to administer such action as might be deemed necessary to benefit the towing industry, to communicate with government agencies on a state and local basis, and to provide a concerted effort toward giving the Towing Industry a better public image and the professional status it deserves.

Texting While Driving More Dangerous For Truckers

A new study conducted by the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute concludes that truckers who text while driving are 23 times more likely to crash or get into a near-wreck than an undistracted driver, while car drivers face the greatest danger when dialing their cell phones.

Researchers found the most shocking statistic to be the length of time that drivers' eyes were not on the road. For nearly five seconds out of a six-second window, drivers' eyes were averted from the roadway ahead of them and instead focused on their cell phone. A news release regarding the study put this finding into perspective,noting that if a highway driver takes his eyes off the road for even 4.6 seconds it equates to a traveling the length of a football field at 55 mph without ever looking at the road.

The researchers were unanimous in agreeing that texting should be banned. Indeed, they found "no redeeming factors associated with why a driver would be able to text and drive." The researchers acknowledged that they are not legislators, however, but hoped that these findings would help prompt legislation to ban not just texting while driving, but the use of cell phones altogether.

Jerr-Dan Announces Summer Cash Back Promotion Event

Here's the press release from Jerr-Dan:

Jerr-Dan Corporation, an Oshkosh Corporation [NYSE: OSK] company and leading manufacturer of towing and recovery equipment, today announces a $1,000 direct-to-the-customer cash-back rebate program on select Ford chassis in stock. When added to the special chassis discount program now available through Jerr-Dan distributors, the combined savings are unmatched in the industry.

Qualifying chassis models include the 2008 Ford^® F-450 4X4, F-550 4X4 and F-650 models equipped with any Jerr-Dan^® wrecker or carrier body. The customer can either choose to receive a $1,000 cash rebate directly from Jerr-Dan or assign the rebate directly to the distributor to use towards the down payment.

“The Ford F-Series chassis is an excellent platform for Jerr-Dan wreckers and carriers, and with this special cash-back program it’s an outstanding time for customers to upgrade their fleets,” said Patrick Cahill, Jerr-Dan Corporation vice president of sales. “When compared to the soon-to be-arriving 2010 models, the savings are more than $7,000.”

To be eligible, retail delivery must be made no later than September 30, 2009. This direct-to-the-customer cash-back rebate program cannot be used in conjunction with any other rebate program. In addition, no additional discounts beyond the special chassis discount will apply or be offered. Contact a Jerr-Dan distributor for details.

And That TX Agency Is Doing Some Investigating...

Here's a story from The Dallas Morning News:

Precinct 1 Constable Derick Evans (shown on far right in photo) uses Dowdy Ferry Auto Services to tow and store most of the vehicles impounded by his deputies.

During a visit to Dowdy Ferry's lot, Evans liked what he saw in an employee there, Margarita Trevino. So he hired her.

Since then, Trevino has apparently been working for both Evans and Milad "Chris" Nasrallah Sr., the owner of Dowdy Ferry, records show.

Dowdy Ferry is currently under investigation by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, which regulates towing and vehicle storage operations.

Evans said he was impressed by Trevino and wanted a Spanish-speaking employee. "I told her you need to come to work for me," he said.

In October 2007, Trevino, 49, submitted her application. She was hired as a clerk in Evans' office in January 2008, according to Dallas County officials.

In her job application, Trevino wrote that she worked for Dowdy Ferry since June 2006 as an office manager with duties that included: "development and maintenance of auto impound records" and "daily data entry of auto inventory."

(Those are records that the state is likely poring over).

Prior to that, she worked for Dallas County Auto Salvage for about 10 years, most recently as a sales manager, the application said.

Both businesses are owned by Nasrallah.

Nasrallah didn't return a message left today at Dowdy Ferry. But he said in a court deposition that Trevino still worked for him as of January 2009, court records show.

She had prepared the paperwork for a Dowdy Ferry invoice that was evidence in a lawsuit, according to the deposition. The invoice was for storage and towing fees for vehicles that had been seized under a writ of attachment executed by Precinct 5 Constable Jaime Cortes' office. The vehicles had been stored at Dowdy Ferry, court records show.

When asked about Trevino's dual role, Evans said he thought she may be doing work for Dowdy Ferry in the evenings.

TX Agency Requesting Proposals For Consulting Services

TDLR UPDATE August 4, 2009 PPI Fee Study RFP Issued!

The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation is pleased to advertise a Request for Proposals (RFP) for consulting services. The purpose is to gather statistical data on the type, nature, and cost of private property towing fees in the State of Texas and advise the agency on implementing the provisions of House Bill 2571 enacted by the 81st Legislature. Please refer to the RFP documents for details: RFP 452-9-1164 Exhibit A: General Terms and Conditions Exhibit B: Execution of Proposal Exhibit C: Proposal Content Exhibit D: Sample Contract Exhibit E: Evaluation Criteria Exhibit F.1: Minimum Cost Proposal - Initial Term Exhibit F.2: Minimum Cost Proposal - Optional Period Exhibit G: Criminal Conviction Certification

Southwest Tow Operators 2665 Villa Creek Drive, Suite 105 Dallas, TX 75234 972-247-9454 Toll Free 866-320-9300 Fax 972-247-1605

Tow Truck Driver In BC Credited For Quick Thinking

Here's the story from BCLocalNews.com:

The driver of a Drake Towing tow truck is being credited for quick thinking after his vehicle began smoking last Wednesday.

Richmond Fire Rescue's Dave Macdonald said the driver spotted smoke around 7 p.m., and then thought he'd move the vehicle away from any nearby buildings.

So he pulled into the parking lot at Richmond Presbyterian Church, near No. 2 Road and Granville.

The vehicle was then gutted by flames, and the Honda sedan it had been towing also sustained some damage.

Macdonald said the fire is still under investigation.

Fire crews were initially concerned because the tow truck was propane powered.

They managed to keep the vehicle's propane tank cool as the vehicle burned, thereby preventing the tank from exploding.

There were no injuries.

Everyday Tow Heroes In IA

Kudos to Glen Mikel and his crew at G&S Towing in Des Moines for their good deed! Here's the TRAA press release:

The Towing and Recovery Association of America, in conjunction with its ongoing effort to improve the image of towers and the towing industry to the general public, would like to acknowledge the recent efforts of a towing company in Des Moines, Iowa.

On June 30, 2009, a boat carried a couple over a dam in Des Moines, leading to a dramatic rescue of the woman and the drowning of her husband. The boat was severely damaged and needed to be recovered from the Des Moines River. On July 3, 2009, G & S Service from Des Moines performed the work for no charge to provide some help after the tragedy.

“We’re doing this pro bono to help the lady out ­— she’s had enough loss,” said Glen Mikel, owner of G & S Service, a towing company in Des Moines.

The boat remained lodged under the dam for two days, but by the time of the recovery it had moved several feet downstream. Employees of G & S Service were able to hook a cable from a boom on its wrecker to the boat.

They towed it downstream and lifted it to a bridge as several dozen people watched the two-hour process.

“I’m glad this company donated their time and effort to do this for the family,” said Betty Lou Smith of Des Moines, one of the onlookers. “They’ve been through so much. It’s a neat thing that this community has come together to do this — first the rescue, now pulling the boat out.”

The full story can be found at http://www.desmoinesregister.com/article/20090703/NEWS/90703008/1001/NEWS

The Towing and Recovery Association of America endeavors to pass along positive news about the towing industry and places press releases in conjunction with these efforts. This release is a part of that effort. News submissions can be sent to jgodwin@towpartners.com.

Tow Truck Drivers Now Covered Under OH 'Move Over' Law

Kudos to OH lawmakers! As of July 1, tow truck drivers are covered under the "Move Over" law! Here's a story from the Buckeye Lake Beacon:

MILLERSPORT - Tom Gary, owner of Millersport's Southwest Towing & Recovery, clearly remembers changing a stranded motorist's tire in heavy rain along I-670.

He was nearly finished when he heard squealing rubber and crunching metal. Gary looked over his shoulder to see a large Chevy Suburban SUV tumbling end over end straight toward him. Luckily for him and the stranded motorist, the Suburban came to rest a few yards shy of Gary's truck. He said the SUV driver served to miss hitting the tow truck in the rain, and flipped his vehicle. Miraculously, the SUV driver walked away from the wreckage and no one was severely injured.

Unfortunately, said Gary, others weren't so lucky. He said two Ohio tow truck operators were recently killed on the job - Matthew Schilling of Orient in May of this year and Seth Hicks of Circleville in August 2008. Gary said the Towing and Recovery Association of America estimates passing vehicles fatally strike 55 tow truck operators annually along American roadways. These incidents prompted the state to add tow truck drivers to its "Move Over, Slow Down" law, which was originally intended for police and medics. Gary is spreading the word. "A few inches is all it takes to kill us," he said.

According to the revised law, motorists on multilane highways must move at least one lane away from safety vehicles with flashing lights - the law now includes safety vehicles with flashing amber lights, such as tow trucks.

Lt. Tony Bradshaw, Ohio State Highway Patrol spokesman, said tow trucks were just added to the law July 1, 2009. In all, the law now includes "emergency vehicles," defined as emergency vehicles of municipal, township, or county departments, or public utility corporations when identified as such as required by law, the director of public safety, or local authorities, and police commandeered vehicles.

The law also includes "road service vehicles," such as wreckers, utility repair vehicles, and state, county, and municipal service vehicles equipped with flashing, rotating, or oscillating lights.

Bradshaw said authorities realize traffic is too dense sometimes to move into an adjacent lane when approaching a service vehicle. "That's where the slow down part comes in," he said. In those situations drivers are required to reduce speed sig- nificantly when passing service vehicles. Bradshaw said individual courts set their own fines for violators. Citations are being written for violators.

It's important to note that same bill made other traffic law revision. Ohio law now requires all vehicles to display headlights whenever windshield wipers are operating because of precipitation of any kind. Warnings will be issued for windshield wiper violations through the end of this year. Officers may issue citations for headlight violations beginning January 1, 2010.

A Chance To Help A Towing Entrepreneur

Some of you may have heard of a KIVA loan. Basically, it's person-to-person microlending, giving the working poor an alternative source of funding to start a business. Individuals lend as little as $25 to help someone. Read more about it at www.kiva.org.

I saw this today about a man named Michael who is need of a $3,000 loan for advertising his fledgling towing business in Atlanta, GA. Read more here.

Michael worked in the towing industry for three years before making the leap to entrepreneurship. As a young man, his ambitions began by leasing two tow trucks and creating contracts with car auction businesses.

Michael is requesting a loan to do more advertising. In the past he was successful at advertising his services to create contracts with car auction companies. His loan of $3,000 will help him create advertising to increase his sales.

He has plans to continue growing the business, to add staff, and develop long-term contracts with insurance agencies and local government bodies for towing services. He enjoys the freedom of owning his own business and strives every day to nurture its growth.

Important Information About This Loan
Kiva realizes that access to credit is a challenge for entrepreneurs everywhere. Kiva started out as a website focused on developing-world entrepreneurs. In June 2009, Kiva began experimenting with allowing entrepreneurs in the United States to raise money on its website. If this is something you support, please feel free to fund this loan. If you have questions, including how an entrepreneur in your neighborhood might get a loan, please visit our Help Center and click on "Loans in the United States."

NY Tow Truck Driver Was Texting, Talking Before Crash

Sure, we're all busy, but texting on one phone while talking on another phone while driving is just an accident begging to happen. Here's another story on the Wednesday accident in NY from the Niagara Gazette:

A woman and child were taken to Buffalo-area hospitals wtih serious injuries Wednesday morning after a flatbed tow truck crashed into their car and careened into an in-ground pool on Tonawanda Creek Road.

Rapids Fire Chief Barry Kobrin said a man identified as Nicholas Sparks, driving a tow truck for Adams Towing, was traveling east on Tonawanda Creek Road about 8 a.m. and was apparently talking on his cell phone and possibly sending a text message on another phone as he approached the intersection with Willow Wood Drive. A car was stopped there and waiting to turn left.

The tow truck driver reportedly struck the back of the car, causing it to spin around and land in a ditch. The tow truck continued on, swerving off to the north side of the road and crashing through a backyard fence.

One of the cars it was towing flew off and struck the house at 6369 Tonawanda Creek Road, crushing the air conditioner and gas main, Kobrin said.

“It took out three or four sections of fence, and there’s some structural damage to the house,” Kobrin said.

One of the motorcycles being towed flew off the truck as well, landing underneath the car on the lawn. The tow truck ended up with its front end in the home’s in-ground pool.

Inside the house, the homeowner, who asked not to be named, said it sounded “like a bomb went off.”

He said he was upstairs with his two 5-year-old daughters at the time of the crash. When he looked outside and saw the devastation, he said one thought went through his mind: “I was thankful (the girls) weren’t swimming.”

Sheriff’s Capt. Bruce Elliot said the tow truck driver was talking on the phone when the accident occurred, and he may have been sending text messages on a separate phone.

“There’s some indication that he might have been texting on a second phone, a personal phone, and taking a business call on a business phone,” Elliot said. “Right now we took possession of the phones, and we’re going to do a search warrant and download records from both phones.”

The driver “didn’t even apply the brakes” before striking the car at the intersection, he said.

That car sustained extensive damage. The woman who was driving was transported to Erie County Medical Center by Mercy Flight for treatment of serious injuries, Kobrin said.

An 8-year-old girl in the back seat, identified as the driver’s great-niece, was transported to Women and Children’s Hospital for treatment of her injuries, including whiplash.

The owner of the home said he ran to the car after the accident and tried to help the woman and the child out of the car.

“I tried to get down there, and we were trying to get them out of the car,” he said. “The lady was holding her head.”

Kobrin said the child was especially lucky to escape without serious injury.

“Somebody was watching over her,” he said, pointing to the car, which was crushed almost beyond recognition in the back end. “Look at that car.”

Elliot said for now the tow truck driver will be charged with reckless endangerment, reckless driving, following too closely and use of a cell phone while driving.

Jerr-Dan Receives Order From Vietnam

Here's the release:

Jerr-Dan Corporation, an Oshkosh Corporation [NYSE: OSK] company, announced that it has received an order for 14 vehicles –12 Jerr-Dan HPL-3560 standard-duty wreckers and two Jerr-Dan MDL 320 medium-duty wreckers—from the Vietnam Ministry of Public Security, Police Department ordered the trucks.

The vehicles will be delivered and placed into service in Hanoi this fall.

The HPL-3560 steel wrecker bodies will be mounted on Ford F-550 chassis. The wreckers feature a self-contained recovery boom with capacities from 4 to 12 tons, and an extended underlift with 3,500 lbs of capacity. The units also offer dual manual wheel lift controls and a six-function hydraulic wheel lift system for easier vehicle loading.

The MDL 320 medium-duty wrecker bodies will be mounted on Hino chassis. The lightweight, composite body resists stress cracks and never rusts. With its long underlift and negative tilt crossbar, the MDL 320 allows for easier reach, especially when making downhill recoveries. The underreach and boom are mounted to the chassis subframe to transfer forces away from the body, reducing wear.

“This order from the Vietnam Ministry of Public Security is testament to the strength of our products,” said Wilson Jones, Oshkosh Corporation executive vice president, Fire & Emergency and interim president of Jerr-Dan Corporation. “We continue to make inroads throughout Southeast Asia with sales such as these.”

ID Man Pinned Between Two Vehicles Nearly Bleeds To Death

Not sure if this unnamed injured man is a tow truck driver or not. Either way, we hope he's on his way to a full recovery. Here's the story from KTVB.com:

GARDEN CITY -- This is one time when failing to wait for medical help to arrive may have actually saved a man's life.

Garden City Police tell us a man suffered life-threatening injuries to his leg late Sunday when he was pinned between two vehicles.

Around 11:34 p.m., officers were dispatched to the area of Veterans Memorial Parkway and Adam Street for a traffic accident. They learned a man was injured while attempting to tow a disabled vehicle. The man became pinned between the hitch and bumper when the towing vehicle was backing up to hook on.

The victim's main artery was injured, which led to massive bleeding. He was take by private vehicle to the emergency room at St. Alphonsus Regional Medical Center.

Police say had the driver waited for an ambulance, the man likely would have bled to death before help could arrive.

At last word the man was undergoing surgery. His name and condition have not been released.

Police are continuing to investigate this incident.

Everyday Tow Heroes In IA

Here's the info in a TRAA release:

Washington, DC, July 28, 2009 -- The Towing and Recovery Association of America, in conjunction with its ongoing effort to improve the image of towers and the towing industry to the general public, would like to acknowledge the recent efforts of a towing company in Des Moines

, Iowa.

On June 30, 2009, a boat carried a couple over a dam in Des Moines, leading to a dramatic rescue of the woman and the drowning of her husband. The boat was severely damaged and needed to be recovered from the Des Moines River. On July 3, 2009, G & S Service from Des Moines performed the work for no charge to provide some help after the tragedy.

“We’re doing this pro bono to help the lady out � she’s had enough loss said Glen Mikel, owner of G & S Service, a towing company in Des Moines.

The boat remained lodged under the dam for two days, but by the time of the recovery it had moved several feet downstream. Employees of G & S Service were able to hook a cable from a boom on its wrecker to the boat.

They towed it downstream and lifted it to a bridge as several dozen people watched the two-hour process.

“I’m glad this company donated their time and effort to do this for the family said Betty Lou Smith of Des Moines, one of the onlookers. “They’ve been through so much. It’s a neat thing that this community has come together to do this — first the rescue, now pulling the boat out

The full story can be found at www.desmoinesregister.com/article/20090703/NEWS/90703008/1001/NE ..

Grand Prize Hino Truck To Be Raffled At 2010 Florida Tow Show

Here's the news release:

NOVI, Mich., July 28 /PRNewswire/ -- Hino Trucks has teamed up with Miller Industries to provide one lucky tow operator a chance to win a fully loaded 2010 Hino model 258ALP with a Century 12 Series LCG Carrier. The truck will be a part of a giveaway that benefits The Professional Wreckers of Florida (PWOF) Education and Legislation Programs and will be raffled during next year's Florida Tow Show in Orlando.

This is the second year Hino Trucks has provided a vehicle for the Tow Show's giveaway. "This is a way for us to give something back to the independent wrecker operators and to help with the success of promoting education and safety," explained Glenn Ellis, Vice President of Marketing for Hino Trucks. "The PWOF are constantly looking for new ways to advance the towing industry and Hino Trucks is proud to partner with Miller Industries to support this event and their organization."

The Hino 258ALP roll back has a unique design and leads the industry by providing a total package of driver comfort and flexibility, superior performance, low-cost-per-mile operation, and outstanding serviceability and reliability. The Century 12 Series LCG Carrier is a revolutionary design that allows the carrier deck to be mounted 5 - 6 inches lower then comparable units providing a lower load angle, better stability, increased safety with the operator being able to secure the load from the ground and the ability to transport taller loads.

Mike Seamon, Executive Director of PWOF added, "The Professional Wrecker Operators of Florida is pleased to once again travel to Tow Shows across the country to allow attendees to test drive the new Hino with a brand new design LCG Miller Industries carrier. The air ride on the Hino and the new low center of gravity mounted flatbed makes for a very low angle for specialty vehicles and is a perfect fit for our industry."