Leaderboard

Wait till the water recedes, there is absolutely no reason to enter the water. The vehicles are already a total loss and what little fluids may leak with not be enough to contaminate the environment. The tow truck you see in this image may not be effected by this action tomorrow or next week. But it will show signs of failure within a month or two. unless the fluids are changed immediately.

We were called to pick up a vehicle for the state park service in Atlantic City at the light house. Where it broke down made for a pretty good picture.

I had a call today for a new Suburban that had rolled backwards into a market swail, I have been here many times before, honey hole I guess. The 40 gallon plastic gas tank was sitting on the sharp rock retaining wall so winching forward was not an option, needed lift. We brought 2 trucks & my son with me. We positioned the trucks at 45 degrees to the rear wheels, boomed out, used WreckMaster K straps in a basket wrapped through the rear wheels around the wheel hub, snatch blocks then terminating the wire rope at the boom. I had my son in the drivers seat with the engine running holding the brakes while we winched the rear up allowing the gas tank to rise off the rock wall, once level my son eased off the brakes allowing the Suburban to roll forward slowly as we kept winching until the rear wheels were back on solid ground. Recovery was done very slowly with all 3 of us working very smoothly together, which was key. All good, no damage in or out, they drove off under their own power.

One cannot break the law, or policies, but we do need to, collectively as a nation do a better job in working to give people a second chance. It is a very stressful undertaking to make that decision on any hire. It is exasperated when the person has a record. I am not advocating a hug a thug mentality. For the record I am 100% for the death penalty. But there are some people out there with records who have excellent skills, and with a second chance are worthy of the opportunity to be an outstanding employee.

This afternoon Paul Jr was called to Fairview Road approx 1/2 mile east of Route 401 for a BMW X5 in a ditch. We found no damage to the vehicle and the right front wheel was in a drainage culvert. A low line was place on the driver’s side rear lower control arm using an endless loop. As soon and tension was applied, the left rear wheel dropped to the ground and the right front lifted up out of the culvert. The vehicle was placed in neutral and winched back to the roadway with no damage. The vehicle was driven from the scene. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I hate reading news accounts where towers are run-over while loading or off-loading. I try to look at ways to focus on safety techniques for loading and off-loading training. Most towers think that incidents like this one happen only to carrier operators. While the news article suggests that the tow operator could have been working a flatbed carrier or wrecker, where tower's work stand and walk is key to operator safety and not being run over when unloading or off-loading vehicles. A multitude of tow operators have been injured or killed because they were situated in the wrong place when and e-brake failed, a winch-cable snapped, the winch-line hook broke, hydraulics failed, free-spool wasn't fully engaged, failure to use chocks, no top-side safety strap/chain, applying safety chains to a towed vehicle, or whatever other reasons for runaway. My data shows as many as 88 x tow operators have been killed in run-over or pinned between (industrial accidents). Although one would think this is a no-brainer topic, the numbers prove differently. I believe it's important for tow companies to include load/off-load safety as a special, "hands-on", safety topic in their monthly safety meeting. In a like-type fatality of a tow company employee, one OSHA investigation stated, "The company had a written safety and health program, but procedures for this activity were not included in the program." These are the little details that surface when an incidental fatality occurs at the onset of an OSHA investigation. So, what does your safety program stay? Note: I didn't refer to this being, "... an accidental fatality", as I believe that standing walking and working comes from the safety mindset of the worker/tow operator/employee. R.

Hats off to you!!!

Absolutely yes! I believe in cameras so much that I have dual facing cameras even in all of my personal vehicles. We live in a twisted society where false accusations are commonplace. I really am considering a body am, although there are some legal restrictions on civilian use of body cameras that vary from state to state. I will share a very personal story, one from nearly 30 years ago that illustrates exactly how important cameras really are, and perhaps is where my feelings about them come from. I was an 18 year old kid, fresh out of high school and new CDL holder driving school bus, yes a school bus. All was good until after the first Christmas break when my supervisor changed my assignment to a high school route from an elementary route. Mind you, this was the district I graduated from just 6 months earlier so these were former classmates (underclassmen) of mine. On this route there were two trouble maker girls that I had previous encounters with as a student, and despite me making it known I had no interest in either of them (was already with the girl who became, and still is, my wife). SO there is bad history between us, lots of history! First complaint happened within a week of me being on the route, one of their mothers decided I wasn't driving safely and lodged a complaint with the district. Fortunately, the Director of Transportation knew me well, he was also in charge of the auditorium where I spent most of my time as the student tech director for lighting and audio (geek I know). He dismissed her complaint without so much as a second thought. Next time the girls decided to report me for lewd comments, glances and one even said I tried to touch her. Absolutely not! Now, complaints of this level could not just be swept aside, so there was a full investigation that took all of a day thanks to the cameras we had on the bus. My employer had been very progressive and installed cameras that captured student behavior early on, although the system relied on a portable Mini 8 type camera (very expensive) so we shared one camera among all 44 buses. Each had the box, complete with flashing red light, and the students didn't know if it was actually recording. I had a gut feeling something bad was going to happen so I had the camera in my bus and it clearly showed absolutely nothing had happened when they claimed, and since I was worried I had been changing and keeping tapes since the driving complaint, so I had proof nothing had ever happened. Having this video evidence saved my job, my clean criminal history (must have to teach in the school and be on police rotation) and most importantly -my marriage. I doubt a young couple with a almost 1 year old baby could have survived this type of accusation if I had not been exonerated. It is because of my personal experience with issues like this that I have always kept on top of event data recorders of all types, simple CYA. I can't even imagine how my career track would have been altered, my whole life changed had it not been for that video evidence 30 years ago.

Pirate jokes from Readers Digest, enjoy. Arrrrgh! https://www.rd.com/funny-stuff/pirate-jokes-pirate-puns/

The calibration of the turbo actuator motor can cause a lack of power. The actuator arm can be assembled incorrectly inside the turbo, or the actuator can be not calibrated. Cummins software is needed, and actuator must be removed(after draining coolant from block), and installed to get it checked/set correctly. I would also recommend using DIESEL KLEEN additive in the fuel. It has worked wonders in my trucks, and many of my customer's trucks. My truck was a turd(no codes) when I bought it, would barely do 65 on the highway. After a month of DK(double dosed), it will now hit the speed governor at 78, and has stayed that way. It is possible that the DPF is slightly restricted. You can remove it to inspect/clean it yourself. I have had good success using oven cleaner, and a pressure washer. Hope this helps.

We were called just after 9 pm on 9/5/19 for one vehicle after a crash on Route 401 in the area of St Matthews Road. We were asked to standby at the church as wires were down on top of a vehicle. The driver and his son were trapped in the vehicle due to the live wires down. They remained in the vehicle until Peco arrived to verify that power was shut off. Once Peco gave permission we were able to winch the vehicle back to the roadway. The Peco crew helped us out by lifting the wires over the vehicle as Paul Jr winched it out of the ditch. The vehicle was loaded onto the Paul Sr’s flatbed and transported to our storage facility. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

In the world of water hydrology, as little of 6-inches of rushing water has the power to move an automobile. Once that 6-inches reaches the lower portion of a door's seam, water that enters the vehicle's cab adds to its sinkability. If you go back to the 1970 El Nino storms in California's history, more than one full-sized RV was washed down the LA River Basin when vehicle drivers attempted to cross flowing roadways. As much as two-feet of standing can float a semi and trailer. Not to mention, you would never see that the roadway under you has been completely washed out or there's a giant sink hole. I'mm adding a YouTube link of a semi truck and trailer that's taken on a riverboat like quality. R.

No matter what California does to fight clean-air ... the fact is ... it's simply killing all tow and trucking companies who are forced to re-new their truck fleets, not just those Mom n' Pop tow companies. Even to go the route of re-powering a California truck with a wrecked out-of-state truck, that too takes time, money and huge effort. But note, the same California smog-crap has been endorsed by as many as 13x additional states where they too are adapting to California standards. R.

"GAAAAAARRRR ... it looks like me gots' scurvy in me skivvies!"

Shiver me timbers (or t-shirts in this case).

Aaaarrrggggghhhh! Ahoy, me hearties! Yarrr gonna learn to talk like a pirate today

SDMO Gear Launches New Site for Products Haslet TX, September 12, 2019 - SDMO Gear, LLC announced today the initial launch of its new online store offering fresh designs in Slow Down Move Over branded items to consumers. The business is about raising awareness of the issue from the inside of a for-profit business model while being tasteful and respectful of those professionals in the industries most impacted by the public’s lack of awareness or concern for those in harm’s way. SDMO Gear also plans to help the families of those who tragedy befalls by supporting the non-profits who are dedicated to specific groups whose constituency is on the roadside taking the risks every day as they pursue their careers. The company has chosen to focus on numerous public safety disciplines and to identify some specific groups who are highly impacted by the lack of compliance with the existing Slow Down Move Over laws in all 50 states. Primary responders like Police, Fire, Towing, and EMS were the most obvious choices due to the on-demand nature of their response and the additional dangers of being on the roadside in situations where your presence is unplanned. Additionally, SDMO Gear has specifically called out the Mobile Mechanic role, Road Construction workers, and Flaggers, all of whom face many different types of situations and deal with the same driving public as the others. There are certainly more to be recognized but SDMO Gear is also working to setup the relationships with the best organizations offering support to the various groups. Simply put, SDMO Gear aims to raise awareness, save lives, make money, and support those left behind when tragedy strikes. Learn more at www.sdmogear.com. About Us SDMO Gear, LLC is dedicated to generating public awareness of the dangers faced by emergency responders and others on our nation’s roadways and to educating the audience about the existence of Slow Down Move Over laws. Our for-profit venture sells SDMO branded gear to generate this awareness and we donate significant time as well as a portion of top line revenue to charitable causes and organizations supporting those left behind by these tragedies. We make it the customer’s choice as to which group receives the financial benefit of their transaction. Through this approach we hope to support all disciplines and professions faced with the senseless tragedy of roadside deaths caused by the same motorists these men and women work to serve.

The message to the motoring public,. in southern California is, "Don't drown, drive around". R.

Topic Originally Created on Tow411 in November of 2015: When your discussing the classics...you better say it right! Jag-you-ar... LoL Yea our Techs were happy to see this coming in....

I would open my response by stating that I was legally parked on the shoulder of the road in the course of legal business for the purpose of assisting a motorist who had suffered a mechanical issue to their vehicle and was in need of immediate assistance due to their being at risk by being in the side of an active roadway. After the third objection from the plaintiff attorney, I would continue by stating that I had mitigated the apparent risks to the best of my abilities by being legally parked to maintain a clear lane adjacent to the scene, I had activated my emergency lighting to warn potential distracted drivers of my presence as well as the presence of a pitential hazard. And I would close by stating that I worked as efficiently as safely possible to remove my presence from the scene so as to not be placed in jeapordy from an impaired or distracted driver who, in the course of, and as a result, of their impairment or distraction were a deadly threat to my person.

Usually I try not to Monday morning quarterback jobs on a public forum, however this one shows a lack of professionalism period. There are many ways to do this job, rotator although nice, is not required. Even with just the truck he had on scene there were better options than what was chosen. I believe this may stem from a lack of care, no or little training and maybe a culture of "who cares" at his company. The risk on this one was at an unacceptable level, no control over the vehicle at all when it came over the guide rail it slammed into the back of his truck. Sorry, not going to happen if I owned the truck. Besides risking damage to the tow truck, he could have been crushed when it swung free. What would have happened if the rigging let lose or maybe the oil pan or fuel tank were punctured? I won't even harp on his lack of proper PPE as I am so tired of preaching about vests, hard hats and other protective gear. I would have rather seen him teeter toter it over the rail than try to lift it free and clear in one shot. As said by others in this thread, it appears that the guide rail ends close by, it could have been winched to an opening wide enough to get it out. Also, judging by the light poles, that appears to be a on-ramp area so there may have even been options to access the vehicle from the rear without blocking traffic or putting the tow truck in a bad spot off road. Even given that in most states towers are relieved of liability for secondary damages during police ordered recoveries that does not give a tower a license to intentionally inflict damage such as ripping off the rear bumper on the guide rail. We still must act with reasonable caution in our care of these vehicles.

Tow truck drivers are out there working one of America’s most dangerous jobs Jose Francisco Rael Jr.’s tow truck lumbered over to the side of the westbound 60 Freeway. It was rush hour, and a beat-up Chevrolet sedan was on the shoulder with a flat. Rael paused before opening his door, peeked over his shoulder to ensure no vehicles would sideswipe him and, once out on the asphalt, turned around. He walked backward to the front of his truck, giving him at least a tiny chance to jump from trouble. As he crouched over asphalt, jacking up the Chevy to replace the tire, he was at his most vulnerable. Just a few feet away, cars and semi-trucks hustled by. Rael was paying attention to all of them – even if the drivers were not paying attention to him. “I can feel their wind,” he had said earlier when asked if he knew when trouble was too close. Sometimes, tow truck drivers get what they call a “tap on the shoulder” – brushed by a side mirror. Many others suffer worse. All this makes driving tow trucks, especially on freeways, one of the most dangerous jobs in the country. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention – in a rare study focused on the trade – determined that in five years ending in 2016, 191 tow truck drivers were killed nationwide. That worked out to 42.9 fatal injuries per 100,000 workers. Only pilots, roofers and fishermen had higher death rates if that statistic is compared to figures of other jobs considered by the Bureau of Labor Statistics for 2017. For firefighters, according to the BLS, the rate was 8.9 deaths per 100,000 workers. For police, it was 12.9 deaths. “First responders all get hit – firefighters, EMTs, Caltrans, Highway Patrol,” said California Highway Patrol Officer Kathlene New, who is based in Orange County. “It just seems like tow trucks are getting hit more frequently.” Lawmakers have tried to help. Every state in the nation has adopted its own “Slow Down, Move Over” law, California in 2007. It requires drivers to slow down and move over a full lane if they can do so safely when they see an emergency vehicle with flashing lights on a freeway shoulder. “Some drivers, if they see a firetruck on the freeway, they know they have to move over,” said Patrick Sampson, the manager of motor services for the Orange County Transportation Authority, which oversees the local Freeway Service Patrol. “But if they see a tow truck, they don’t. They don’t associate the appearance of a tow truck with safety.” Injuries and worse CHP Officer New supervises tow truck drivers in Orange County’s Freeway Service Patrol, a cousin of what Rael works for in Los Angles County. These specialized tow trucker drivers, funded by the state and the county that has them, pull over for every stopped motorist they find, giving stranded drivers a tank of gas or a tow off of the freeway for free, aiming to keep overall traffic moving along. “We haven’t lost anybody, but I had a driver get hit so hard that he never came back to work,” New said of Orange County’s fleet. That driver was struck a few years ago while in the middle of the 5 Freeway, just south of the 91, when trying to tow a broken-down car to safety. Another vehicle slammed into the tow truck, sending him careening into the truck’s back window, head first. He end up with just cuts and scrapes – but that was enough. New ticks off other near-disasters: A driver who got got hit on his elbow, then narrowly missed a second strike as the car spun around. Another struck as he was stretching to grab a bucket in the lanes. “I’ve had an operator who carefully tried to open his door, when he was sideswiped,” she said. “I’ve had an operator who got his foot run over when he was assisting a driver.” It can get much, much worse out there. Mark Tornow, who owns and drives for Finish Line Towing & Transport in Long Beach, knows all of this too well. He lost an employee, in 2012. Faapuna Manu, a 27-year-old father of three, was changing a tire on a darkened Cherry Avenue onramp of the 405 Freeway when a drunk driver in a 2005 Toyota struck him. A recent morning, from behind the wheel of one of his trucks as he beelined to rescue a woman stranded by a flat tire in a sushi shop parking lot, Tornow recalled the crash that killed “Mac.” “Mac was on the side of the road changing a tire at 2:28 in the morning,” Tornow said. An EMT driving home from a holiday party plowed into the tow truck, and then the Mercedes Benz, right where Mac was kneeling down in the roadway. “(The driver) spun out, then he hit the wall,” Tornow said. “When he woke up and saw what he did, he took some glass and tried to kill himself. … It’s dangerous out here.” ‘Like a bull’s-eye’ In February, in Sausalito north of San Francisco, an AAA tow truck driver helping a motorist stranded on the 101 Freeway was killed when a passing pickup truck lost control in the rain and slammed into the tow truck, which hit the AAA driver standing on the other side, killing him. In June, another AAA driver was killed, this time in Castaic, as he was helping a driver on the 5 Freeway: A passing semi-truck hit the driver and fled, with the semi’s driver never found. Erwin Mendoza Geremillo, a 47-year-old father from Castaic, was that AAA driver. On June 29, he was buried at Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Hollywood Hills. Tow truck drivers from around the region attended his funeral. On the road leading to the cemetery’s central white chapel, surrounded by rolling green hills, a dozen tow trucks lined up on either side. The jumpsuit-clad drivers hopped out, gathered, then headed into the chapel. Most did not know Mendoza. But many knew a driver like him who had been killed. All have had close calls themselves. Not long before, Johnny Perez, a 45-year-old tow truck company owner from Baldwin Park, was aiding a stranded motorist on the 10 Freeway when a semi-truck sideswiped his tow truck, shearing off a side mirror. “I saw the semi kind of veering,” Perez, a former EMT, said near the parked tow trucks. “I jumped out of the way. If I wouldn’t have moved, I would have been hit.” Mendoza’s assignment that night, the overnight shift, is one many drivers dread. “If it’s not stop-and-go traffic, it’s dangerous out there,” said Ken Wilson, an owner and driver of Panorama Towing Service in Panorama City. “For the late shift, sometimes my guys don’t even want to go out there. “It’s like rolling the dice.” A driver could get distracted, or misjudge the distance to the right shoulder. Or a drunk could come your way. “We’re like a bull’s-eye,” said Bill Rauh, a 61-year-old driver with Castaic Towing, Mendoza’s employer. He and others say drunk drivers tend to drift in the direction of lights, including the amber LEDs on their tow trucks. “They want to go toward the lights.” ‘It got close’ Tina Coffey, 47, is a rarity – a woman tow truck driver. She and her husband, Steve, also a tow truck driver, own a towing company in Barstow and were in Hollywood Hills as well to honor Mendoza, who they didn’t know. The couple has eight children and step children – there’s plenty to worry about if either gets injured or killed out on the road. “It’s like we’re resigned to more deaths,” she said. “But then something like this happens, and it reminds us that we’re vulnerable.” Despite the danger, tow truck drivers keep driving. “Why do I still drive?” Tornow said. “Well, I like it.” The industry is recession proof – in downturns, more people drive older cars, so tow services are needed more frequently. Some point out they like helping people. Back on the 60 Freeway, Rael has just finished changing the Chevy’s tire. He climbed back into the cab. Even though it’s early in the day, it was already warm out, and he was drenched in sweat. “It’s constantly on my mind,” he said of the possibility of getting hit. “Looking for someone drifting over, not paying attention. If I see it coming, just making sure I don’t get hit.” On the passenger side of his dashboard is a copy of “Our Daily Bread” sitting next to a taped-in-place wooden crucifix. Just a week before, a semi-truck barreling along the 605 Freeway forced Rael, on foot, to tuck into a safer spot. “It got close, it got very close,” he said. “He was drifting a little bit, and I go, ‘Wait a minute, something’s wrong.’ “ Rael was sure the driver was looking at his cellphone. “I saw him get back in (his lane), but he went like this.” Rael mimicked the driver, looking up from a hand and saying, “‘Oh!’” RESOURCE LINK

As others have already stated... They are great for smooth surfaces and to reposition or 'stage' a vehc. prior to towing. I (we) never go onto the bed with them. Having a service truck bring them to a site is our procedure so there are 2 people present. This highly reduces risk, damage, injury, etc. Good luck in the future. Stay safe.

first off i asked TOW ZONE were to post this up and he said here and will approve this posting after its up . i had been in the towing business for around 10 years and seen a lot and done a lot of cool stuff . i also seen a lot of guys struggle with some jobs and i saw a need to make things better / faster / easier so i set out to try and fill this need . my old boss had one but it was not as beefy as mine is and over the years he found a few week points and had to have them fixed up and strengthened . my unit i set out to build took all these week points or design flaws and kicked them out the door and i went BEEFY with my build . i have had a few people look at this and say it looks over built and 1 guy who is a engineer said its very sturdy and could have been built a little less beefy and still be fine . here is my little ad i have made up for the unit . i have a lot more pics of the unit all you need to do is just ask me for them . the price point i am targeting is $6,000 dollars for the unit ready to go as you see it in the pic . this is within the price point for its size as the smaller dolly units for 1ton down for cars and such can be over 2k dollars for the top of the line set new . this unit is made to handle much bigger loads and haul almost anything you can think of on it . also do not forget this is special equipment and most billing limit rules do not apply so charge what you feel is needed for the speed of the unit & easy of use . this unit can pay for its self in 2-3 jobs then its all profit from then on . i welcome any feedback on this item and questions about it just ask and i will answer them . thanks for reading and looking my unit over and have a safe work day out there . --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- today we have ........ SUPER DOLLY .................. this unit is much bigger than your standard tow truck wrecker dolly unit . this unit is made for BIG trucks / campers / stuff that's just to big or bulky to fit in a reg size tow dolly setup that is found on smaller wrecker trucks . this unit is made to help DRASTICALLY reduce your on site clean up time of a wreck or disabled BIG vehicle that for some reason you can't tow with the axles on the ground . this item can be loaded on a rollback flatbed to deliver to the work site . this gives you a extra worker at the site to help speed up the job . you can even hang this from your BIG wrecker tow truck and be taken to the call . you would then lift one end of the disabled vehicle and place the SUPER DOLLY under and set the load in and secure it down with up to 8 5/8" D-ring tie down points on the unit to pick from . then hook the other end and tow away and get the job done faster & with less work . if you want a faster way to move big objects / dead & damaged trucks / old dead campers / shipping containers / what ever you can think of to fit in or on this then this is the unit for you . the load capacity of the tires is 16,320 lbs on 16" trailer cargo tires with load range G and 14 ply . the unit is 10ft 8in wide outside tire to tire . the inside area is setup to to fit up to 104inch width . the tire pans low point is 12" off the ground . the SUPER DOLLY is just at about 1000 lbs weight by its self . the open section of the unit is set at a 53inch opening to give oil pan / brake chamber / drive shaft room for most items being hauled . the last 2 pics are of a trailer suspension unit fitting in the SUPER DOLLY . this item can pay for its self in just 2-3 jobs then after this its all profit . this unit is made for for temporary use as to its overall width . this unit is for trained towing professionals only . the unit is sold as is with no liability or warranty on sellers part as it is to be used by trained professionals as each and every job is unique .

It was pretty tall, I had to have the phone all the way on the ground ant cam style to get the whole thing in the shot. The big glass building of the Ocean Casino Resort, formerly known as the Revel Casino.

Bottle with man's ashes resumes journey in Gulf of Mexico A bottle containing the ashes of a Texas man along with some handwritten notes from loved ones has been returned to the Gulf of Mexico, resuming its ocean journey after it washed up on a Florida Panhandle beach. The beachgoer who found the bottle near Miramar Beach handed it over to local authorities last week. Inside were some of the ashes of Brian Mullins, a tow truck driver from Garland, Texas, who died earlier this year at age 39. Sgt. Paula Pendleton of the Walton County Sheriff's Office said she cried while reading the notes, which included the phone number of the deceased man's family. His mother had placed four $1 bills in the bottle to help pay for the phone calls she hoped people would make to update her family on the bottle's journey. "This bottle contains the ashes of my son, Brian, who suddenly and unexpectedly passed on March 9, 2019," one of the handwritten notes said. "I'm sending him on one last adventure." A second note, written on wrinkled school paper, especially moved Sgt. Pendleton, whose husband died last year. "When my father passed, I was 14-years-old," the message read. "It has struck our whole family pretty hard and, so far, it has been a very hard road. But, like my granny said, he loved to be free. So, that's exactly what we are doing." Pendleton knew she had to help. "I was overwhelmed with emotion," Pendleton recalled. "I sat in here, in my patrol car, and cried like a baby." Pendleton enlisted an acquaintance who owns a charter boat to ferry the ashes far off the Florida coast. And on Friday, the bottle, the dollar bills and the ashes were again at sea. "He was an avid fisherman. He wanted to travel the world," his mother Darlene Mullins said, noting that her son had never gone ocean fishing. Garland, a suburb northeast of Dallas, is about 300 miles (480 kilometers) from the Gulf Coast. Unable to afford to take her son's ashes out to sea herself, the mother entrusted the task to relatives bound for Florida. While visiting the small Panhandle community of Destin in early August, the bottle was released into the tide. "We thought it might have been the last we saw of the bottle," Darlene Mullins said. "But we'll see where it turns up again." http://www.startribune.com/bottle-with-man-s-ashes-resumes-journey-in-gulf-of-mexico/559765422/ No father info could be located at this time. if anyone has info that can be added to the memorial page please advise.

With this week being Slow Down Move-Over Week, Ron and Chris provide this article of what NOT to do when it comes to tow operator safety. Not to pick a fight, but this picture is worth one-thousand words. Although staged for this story, I know the value of a photo especially in courtroom settings where a motorist may be on-trial for a tow operator's death. Playing the Devil's Advocate here, in this one, single photo, if this photo was the focus on tow operator safety, it clearly sends the message of incompetence by showing: 1) The tower is working, standing, walking on the traffic-side 2) He's standing in an active lane of travel (turn lane) 3) His back is to traffic 4) There are no cones, flares, triangles, etc, to identify an active work-zone or indicate advanced emergency notice 5) If that other truck is a tow truck there as a blocker truck, there's no value in its position Tow operators tend to be their own worst enemy. It's understandable that the towing and recovery industry is a dangerous occupation, but to put one's self in harms way doesn't reflect lessons learned from more than 300-highway related fatalities through the years. While the location shown may not be a super-highway, SDMO laws aren't enforcement on city streets, but the dangers are still very much the same. This photo and its narrative may fully entertain the motoring public, but should send a different survival message to every tower reading it. I don't like tow truck driver stories where tower's tell about how they were hit by a mirror, or almost run over, especially the statements that claim, "I was nearly hit five times." What that says to me is ... "I was a dope five times where I, Me, Myself, stood where I shouldn't have been standing." Tow operator safety begins in the mind and attitude of every tower, not with SDMO programs, laws and narrative like this one published in the Orange County Register. The culture of operator safety needs to change, especially in California where rotation towers and FSP providers are still changing tires. To that, the pictures shown in the original article depict a bleak representation of the reason operators are continually killed. Consider this rant my personal opinion, but the industry's fatality history since 1934 doesn't lie. The fatality numbers should be decreasing, not increasing in the upward count. And, bye the way, California LEADS the industry in highway and shoulder related fatalities ... go figure. R.

Topic Originally Created on Tow411 in April of 2012: Here are a few simple tows we have done with the 600R. This truck tows very well, the heavy weight on the steer axle helps a lot, it has 9900 pounds on the steer. The only complaint, it is a little under powered at 5000 foot above sea level, but it gets the job done. The yellow RV is a 1974, front wheel drive with air suspension in the back but well thought out, you pump it up with an onboard electric compressor then close the valve to lock in the ride height, all factory, made towing it and keeping ground clearance a breeze. ltl900tow said: looks good i love that truck, with those fords in the spoons i always pop off the center caps due to they are so brittle Keen1051 said: Not bashing, but why choke up on your L-arms? I always open them up so it will sit in deeper, less chance of coming out in case of sudden stop. Brian991219 said: We have very steep curb cuts and high angles in and out of out driveways and intersections in Albuquerque so it is a balancing act to get the wheels in the spoons, the ride height correct and not drag the rear end or catch the tires where they hang down below the cross bar. I have found it is easy to bottom out the front wheels just coming into a parking lot out here. RobertCAdams said: Truck looks GOOD!!!! Robert gen4towman said: gotta love those fwd gmc motorhomes. GStyle said: I've seen a rv like that, but it was green. Remember Stripes with Bill Murray? Brian Bell said: Nice Looking Job's but I will say I'm super scared of those 19.5's just being held in by lasso straps. They will jump out when you get into a PANIC STOP !!! Trust me BTDT the towed vehicle will be all into your tailboard ... You need a chain or another strap ran straight up or slightly forward up to the front T-hooks or even around the sway bar pulling backwards to your crossbar. I always kept a auto transport style cluster with about 3ft of 5/16 chain on my truck to do this. I could use it to pull cars out of the ditch also. I found this picture in my photobucket the red line is where there needs to be a chain / strap ... You could just go around the spring stack also and leave it with a little slack if dips / hills are a huge issue.. as long as the tires can't lift up out of the L arm then they cant go forward.... I know your thinking that's what the Lasso strap is doing but there will be enough force and or leverage to flip or roll them out. AutoHaus1 said: Good Idea on the hold-back strap. I don't let the laso straps go below the top 1/3 of the tire, and I wrench em down to where the tire complains. danielswt said: I have too seen first hand damages done with 1 tons/trailer combos pushing out of the spoons. Bellboys idea is good, I used to do that. But I prefer to wrap the entire tire, grid, and L-arm completely all the way around with a longer strap. Just have to watch dips with that setup. I still think you need to lose the flames and go with orange fenders reckmaster1 said: I hauled one too, kinda threw me off i had never seen a front wheel drive RV Robert Anaya said: Brian, The truck looks good. Is this one your assigned truck? I towed a few of those a while back, they hold a convention type cruise every year and they run right through here. Pretty cool little rv, no need to pull DL!!! David V said: Those GMC campers are built with the same front end as the old Oldsmobile Tornodo and Cadillac Eldorado. 500 c.i. engine, tranny next to the block, a big chain from the engine output to the tranny input, and I think they even had torsion front suspension didn't they? Lovely old beasts. David V. Brian991219 said: Robert, no I don't have an assigned truck I float thru whatever I need to to get the job done. I have been training one of our drivers who has been here two years on medium duty towing and rotator operation. We have been a little busy so I have been running more calls myself and I like this truck a lot. Everyone else, thanks for your comments and advice, I love how we can all share our expierence without getting our feathers ruffled! Good point on the wheel straps and chain, I have introduced that into my training program, thanks for the reminder. Daniel, I'm with you but the owner decided he likes the flames, for uniformity I would rather have the fenders orange or blue, most likely orange since this truck is the inverse of all our other trucks, meaning where this one is blue ours are orange. Blue Stripe said: Looks good Brian, glad to hear she's staying busy! Chris Flynn, WM 091008 Boardman Towing & Recovery Brian991219 said: Good to hear from you Chris, she is staying very busy, I am at almost 20,000 miles already and have had several chances to use the rotator to it's full capacity. It has turned out to be a very good truck for us, it has filled our light/medium duty gap quite nicely.

I also prefer it, I like to work close to the casualty and I've never had a reverse roll fight me to come over

Very well done

Christine and I too will be in Chattanooga for HOF and WOF events. I'm looking forward to see in you John. R.

Good planning and team work! Slow and easy is always best.

A year later and we are at 3,682 members. That's about 750 members short of where we should be at this point. I am sure that if every tow operator visiting our message board would take a few seconds to join this deficit could be made up by years end. Participation is the key to a successful community but social media has become about reading and not participating.

HINDS Mack L. Born : June 18, 1909 Entered into rest : September 5, 1958 49 years old While attempting to hook to a car it began to roll toward an embankment. Mr. Hinds jumped into the car to try and stop it but could not. He either jumped or was thrown from the vehicle and landed on a log at the bottom of the embankment. The car landed on top of him and pinned him underneath it. He was taken to the hospital where he passed away five days later. Added to the Wall of the Fallen in 2007 PERHAM Edward A. Born : June 8, 1954 Entered into rest : September 15, 1974 20 years old Edward was working the late shift at Ted's Towing when he responded to a call of a Ford Mustang broken down on the Pike. Perham took the driver, later identified as George Whitham, who had been released from prison a month earlier for car theft, and the car, which was leaking oil, back to Ted's. That's where Whitham clubbed Edward over the head with a tire iron. Whitham was caught driving Perham's car a few hours later. In April 1975, Whitham was found guilty of second-degree murder, as well as larceny of $30 and Perham's car, and sentenced to 15 to 30 years. Added to the Wall of the Fallen in 2007 CARRANDI Ivan Born : July 14, 1932 Entered into rest : September 19, 1978 46 years old Ivan answered a radio request from Trooper Alvin V. Kohler of the Florida Highway Patrol. Kohler had been questioning two teens and asked to see one of their driver's license. One of the boys, Lester Enriquez, walked back to the car and pulled out a .357 magnum shooting Kohler in the head. Ivan was also shot and killed, his tow truck was taken by the two underage drivers but was stopped a short distance later and they were taken into custody. They were trying to runaway from home. Ivan left behind a wife and two teenage children. Added to the Wall of the Fallen in "unknown" SHEEHAN "Red" Bernard Born : May 18, 1926 Entered into rest : September 1985 59 years old He was one of Massachusetts' most respected and liked towing and recovery specialists in West Springfield. He was the owner of Red's Exxon. He had towed in a tractor which was damaged in the front. The tow truck driver backed the tractor onto a low-boy for transport to a repair shop. The tractor was on the bed and Red knelt on the ground to place a jack stand underneath it. There were no blocks or breaks on the tractor to prevent it from rolling. The tow truck driver stepped on the clutch and the tractor rolled forward. The tweaked front wheel caught Red and turned him around and pinned him to the low-boy, the tractor slipped off the bed and crushed Red from the chest up. It was a freak accident that took Red's life. Added to the Wall of the Fallen in "unknown" WEBB Jr. Ronald V. Born : July 8, 1933 Entered into rest : September 1985 52 years old Ronald gave up his life in the line of duty. He was from Colton, California. Ronald was killed in a hit-and-run accident on Interstate 215. Forty seven trucks made up the procession to the cemetery in his honor. Added to the Wall of the Fallen in "unknown" CLAMP Larry C. Born : May 15, 1951 Entered into rest : September 5, 1993 42 years old Larry was hit by a car while sweeping glass at an accident scene on North Street, Nacogdoches, TX. Added to the Wall of the Fallen in "unknown" PROBST Jr. Gary Lee Born : March 19, 1968 Entered into rest : September 20, 1997 29 years old He was a tow truck operator in Las Vegas. He is survived by his wife and son and many other relatives. Added to the Wall of the Fallen in "unknown" TUBIA Donald S. Born : April 7, 1951 Entered into rest : September 21, 1997 45 years old Donald was an employee of Phelps Repair Shop in Ilion. He was helping a family whose vehicle had broken down on the New York State Thruway near mile marker 207 in the town of Danube, near Little Falls. A driver in a milk truck had fallen asleep at the wheel and killed him. The driver was cited for reckless driving and moving from a lane unsafely. He leaves behind a family and friends. Added to the Wall of the Fallen in "unknown" WATSON Brian E. Born : December 18, 1975 Entered into rest : September 18, 2001 25 years old The driver of an out of control 1985 Ford LTD struck Watson as he changed the tire of a stranded motorist before colliding with the disabled jeep on U.S. Highway 85. Four other people were injured in the accident Dan's Towing, Sturgis Added to the Wall of the Fallen in 2007 TRUEBLOOD "Billy" William H. Born : December 25, 1942 Entered into rest : September 22, 2003 60 years old Trueblood was helping to remove downed trees in North Carolina when the truck’s tow cable snapped and struck the victim, throwing him some 20 feet. His neck broke when he landed on his head. Added to the Wall of the Fallen in "unknown" GARRETT Billy W. Born : November 16, 1932 Entered into rest : September 19, 2004 72 years old Garrett was returning from a job towing a boat to Nevada, when in New Mexico on Interstate 40 his vehicle was struck by a tractor-trailer that crossed the median. The driver of the tractor-trailer had reportedly fallen asleep at the wheel. Garrett served as a volunteer firefighter and over the years received three Honorary Oklahoma Highway Patrol awards for outstanding service. Owner of Garrett Wrecker Service Added to the Wall of the Fallen in "unknown" BLUMER Joseph A. Born : October 6, 1960 Entered into rest : September 29, 2004 43 years old Blumer's accident occurred shortly after 2:30 p.m. when he was towing a pickup truck up a sloped driveway. Another tower said that Blumer probably got out of his truck to check the vehicle he was towing, then the brakes on his truck apparently failed and it rolled over him. "The truck caught him in between the wheels," he said. Edlin Automotive Services, Knoxville Added to the Wall of the Fallen in 2008 SHULTZ Michael B. Entered into rest : September 9, 2005 24 years old Shultz was killed while changing a tire for a AAA member on the 91 freeway in Yorba Linda. A woman in her mid-20s was driving an Oldsmobile Cutlass in the fast lane when she lost control of her car and swerved across four lanes of traffic, crashing into the sound wall and then hitting Shultz while he was changing the tire. The accident is still being investigated. Bitteto's Tow and Service, Anaheim Added to the Wall of the Fallen in "unknown" WALTERS "Rob" Robert Entered into rest : September 20, 2005 30 years old A tractor-trailer and a tow truck were stopped on the side of the highway when another 18-wheeler traveling North veered off the road and hit them causing all three vehicles to burst into flames. The tow truck operator was under his vehicle when the collision occurred and was killed instantly. ABC Towing Added to the Wall of the Fallen in "unknown" NETTLES "Dinky" Edwin L. Born : January 21,1954 Entered into rest : September 28, 2005 51 years old Mr. Nettles lost control of the rollback tow truck he was driving causing it to overturn. He died as a result of the injuries sustained in the crash. Added to the Wall of the Fallen in 2007 RUBIO Joey Born : September 9, 1970 Entered into rest: September 6, 2006 35 years old Rubio was struck and killed last night in a hit-and-run accident on State Route 2-0-2 in Tempe. D-P-S says the victim was standing next to his truck, getting ready to tow a disabled car from the emergency lane when he was struck. Officers say the Shamrock tow truck had its yellow emergency lights flashing, and the truck's rear-deck loading lights also were on. The incident occurred sometime between 10:30 and 11:30 p-m on the eastbound side of the 2-0-2, near the area of McClintock and the entrance ramp to southbound State Route 1-0-1. D-P-S is requesting the public's help in identifying the vehicle that struck the man. It says it should have extensive damage to the right front due to the impact. Shamrock Towing Added to the Wall of the Fallen in 2007 SANDERS David Lee Entered into rest : September 20, 2006 56 years old Sanders worked at Paxton Towing as a property caretaker and was murdered there in the yard in Chula Vista. The killer, later identified by police as 28 year-old Edward L. Snow Jr., was arrested by Chula Vista police detectives in Arkansas City, Kansas. Police received an anonymous tip that Snow had gone to Kansas after the shooting. The detectives also seized $26,000 in cash from a house where Snow had been staying. The money is suspected of being stolen from the towing business. The San Diego District Attorney's Office is working with the Kansas authorities for Snow's extradition. Added to the Wall of the Fallen in 2007 SYMEOY Jimmy Born : September 17, 1961 Entered into rest : September 10, 2007 45 years old Jimmy was on his way to pick up an NRMA breakdown on the F3 when he hit a spare tire in the roadway. The tire fell from a southbound truck around 3:40 p.m. The truck Jimmy was driving ran over the tire and caused him to lose control of his vehicle which hit the rear of a semi-trailer traveling in the same direction. The impact sent the tow truck spiraling into a rock wall. Jimmy was trapped in the truck until emergency crews could extricate him. He was flown by helicopter to the hospital but died in the emergency room from his internal injuries. Jimmy worked for Suburban Towing for about 20 years and was recently employed by Abal Towing for a week. He was also an active member of the Round Corner Fire Brigade. Jimmy leaves a wife and several children behind. Added to the Wall of the Fallen in 2008 PUGH Jr. Cecil Eugene Born : February 4, 1948 Entered into rest : September 17, 2007 59 years old Cecil, who was transporting a vehicle on his tow truck, was shot and killed by a man cleaning his rifle inside his home. A 50-year-old man was cleaning the weapon in his trailer near North 29th Avenue and Deer Valley Road when the rifle discharged. The bullet pierced through his blinds and window, shattered the windshield of the tow truck, and lodged in the left side of the passing driver's forehead, killing him instantly. Pugh fell out of the cab as the vehicle continued moving down the road. The gun owner ran outside, jumped in the truck and managed to bring the vehicle to a stop before hitting any houses. Phoenix police said there's a good chance they'll recommend the man who fired the rifle be charged with serious crimes. DV Towing Added to the Wall of the Fallen in 2008 FRIZZLEY "Mandy" Amanda Born : March 26, 1981 Entered into rest : September 30, 2007 26 years old Amanda was driving her tow truck at about 4:40 a.m. on Sunday when she collided with an errant SUV driver going the wrong way down a one-way street, Donald Street and York Avenue in downtown Winnipeg. She and other tow-truck drivers were busy clearing the downtown area of vehicles to make way for a charity run to benefit cancer research. The collision caused her tow truck to roll onto its roof. Amanda later died at the hospital. Friends will always remember her as someone who was always there for them, whenever they needed help. She worked for Dr. Hook Towing for several years. Added to the Wall of the Fallen in 2008 SCHULTZ Stanley Born : Entered into rest : September 23, 2008 55 years old Schultz was killed Tuesday when he was struck by a van while removing debris from a previous car accident on FM 3083 in Conroe. He was taken to Conroe Regional Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead. Patrol cars partially blocked the eastbound lane of traffic and Schultz apparently crossed the road into the westbound lane of traffic to pick up debris. That's when the 2000 Chrysler van traveling east on FM 3083 hit him. The van apparently passed to the left of the marked patrol cars and the driver did not see Schultz in time to try to avoid hitting him. Schultz also was not wearing a reflective safety vest as required by state law. Alcohol did not appear to be a contributing factor, but speed and other factors are still being investigated. The van driver and her 10-year-old passenger were not hurt. She was released at the scene pending the outcome of the investigation. Added to the Wall of the Fallen in "unknown" WALSH Daniel Joseph Born : July 12, 1951 Entered into rest : September 13, 2011 60 years old Dan was working alongside his co-worker, Jesse, on Interstate 80, when a semi truck driven by Herbert Terrell, 54, sideswiped the first tow truck, then struck the disabled semi flatbed which was pushed into the second tow truck. Four men lost their lives on the side of the Interstate including the driver of the disabled semi flatbed. Dan worked for Hanifen Towing for the last four years. He is survived by his wife and family and friends. Added to the Wall of the Fallen in 2012 INMAN Jesse J. Born : May 24, 1982 Entered into rest : September 13, 2011 29 years old Jesse was one of four men killed on Interstate Highway 80 east of Grinnell. Jesse and his co-worker, Daniel Walsh were assisting a driver of a flat bed semi truck at mile marker 188 next to the westbound lanes of Interstate 80 shortly after 7 p.m., Tuesday when the accident occurred. A semi truck, driven by Herbert Terrell, 54, of Indiana, side swiped the first tow truck, then struck the parked semi, pushing it into the other tow truck. All four men were pronounced dead at the scene. Jesse was a Heavy Duty Tow Truck driver for Hanifen Towing for the past five years. He is survived by his wife and three daughters, family and friends Added to the Wall of the Fallen in 2012 WATROUS II Ralph Henry Born : Entered into rest : September 10, 2017 44 years old Ralph was assisting a disabled motorist on the northbound side of Route 222 near the Peach Road overpass in West Earl Township around 1:50 a.m. Ralph was assisting Robert M. Buckwalter Jr., 46, of Ephrata when a vehicle driven by Anthony Caldwell of Stafford had struck them as he drove passed them. Lancaster County Coroner Dr. Stephen G. Diamantoni pronounced them both deceased at the scene. West Earl police, the Lancaster County crash team and the district attorney's office are investigating the incident. No charges had been filed as of Monday. Ralph worked as a tow truck driver for Mack's Tire Service in New Holland. Ralph left behind a fiancé and many family members. It was said the he had enough "dad jokes" to last a lifetime. He will be missed by many. dded to the Wall of the Fallen in 2018 In Remembrance of LUCE "Jim" T. James Born : December 29, 1923 Entered into rest : September 4, 1994 70 years old Mr. Luce served as president and executive director of the Texas Towing and Storage Association from 1984 until his death in 1994. In 1986 he was appointed to the Advisory Board for the Vehicle Storage Facility Act by the Commission of the Texas Department of Labor and Standards. He was the managing editor of The Texas Tow Line, a publication of the Texas Towing and Storage Association, and handled all association business and accounting through the T. J. Luce Company. HUSTON Mike Born : October 26, 1937 Entered into rest : September 10, 1999 61 years old Mike worked for about thirty years in the towing and recovery industry. He drove and/or owned Brannon's Towing in Buttonwillow, CA, South Union Body Works and Kern Towing And Salvage both in Bakersfield, CA. On September 10th, 1999 Mike lost a long fight with cancer. A battle fought bravely by a man who loved his work more than anyone I've met. He is survived by his wife Ellen, two sons Chuck and Robert (his oldest also a proud Towman), and three Grandchildren Shannon, Travis and Tara. He was 61 and will be sorely missed! Please join me in wishing him luck in that big ditch in the sky. Sincerely, Chuck Huston Cedar Bluff Towing Knoxville, TN BIVINS Jr. Charles S. Born : April 20, 1941 Entered into rest : September 25,1999 58 years old Charles died of a heart attack. He will always be remembered as a jolly old soul ..always smiling and always ready to give a hand. Owner of Bivin's Wrecker Service RONK George J. Born : May 18, 1915 Entered into rest : September 16, 2000 84 years old George founded Ronk's Auto and Truck Towing Inc. in Crestline. The company is now owned by his wife, Eunice. TANTON "Little Mike" William Michael Born : February 19, 1980 Entered into rest : September 16, 2000 20 years old Mike was killed while loading a van onto his tow truck by a drunk driver who swerved onto the shoulder and hit him. "Mike was a young man, who would do anything for anyone. Small in size, but had a heart as big as the universe. There are so many kids on the wrong track these days, yet here you had a young man at 20 who worked full-time, had an apartment and vehicle of his own and was making plans for College. Clyde Baldridge took all of this away from Little Mike. He knew what he was doing when he took his first drink." stated Lynda Woods. Humble Wrecker Service BENJAMIN Harry C. Entered into rest : September 29, 2000 61 years old Harry died at his home. Mr. Benjamin was the owner of Harry Benjamin’s Garage, previously known as Benjamin’s Arco. He operated a towing service for many years. He enjoyed racing and won several championships. He was member of the Wysox Fire Department and Wysox Ambulance Association. LOWE Gerald Carl Born : April 28, 1941 Entered into rest : September 1, 2002 61 years old Mr. Lowe owned Lowe’s Garage/Towing and Wrecker Service. MITCHELL "Buddy" Howard R. Born : January 27, 1925 Entered into rest : September 3, 2002 77 years old Kentucky State Police said that at 3:10 p.m., Howard, turned left onto U.S. 68 at Fairview. An eastbound pickup struck his wrecker as he turned. Howard went through a field. Struck a fence, and hit a parked Subaru before coming to rest against a tree at the bottom of a hill, state police said. Howard was a farm equipment and car dealer. DIXON James F. Born : March 22, 1923 Entered into rest : September 18, 2002 79 years old James owned and operated Dixon’s Wrecker Service. He passed as a result from complications of a quintuple bypass operation performed over two months prior. Mr. Dixon was an Army veteran of World War II. HOAGLAND "Hoagy" James Born : April 1, 1929 Entered into rest : September 22, 2002 73 years old James died of complications from the West Nile virus. Mr. Hoagland was a member of the 1999 International Towing and Recovery Hall of Fame. He bought his first tow truck in 1951 and started Hoagy’s Wrecker Service, which is still in operation. Mr. Hoagland was co-founder of the Indiana Towing Association and director of the Interstate Towing Association. He was also a member of the American Legion, Fraternal Order of Police and the Indiana Motor Truck Association. He was active in Friends of Towing and helped promote annual fund-raisers for the organization, which supports the International Towing and Recovery Museum and Hall of Fame. HARMON "Bob" Robert P. Born : August 17, 1934 Entered into rest : September 2, 2003 69 years old Bob Harmon was a Past President of PWOF and Owner of Bob Harmon's Towing & Recovery in Pensacola. DEITZ Sr. Burton E. Born : May 5, 1933 Entered into rest : September 17, 2003 70 years old Deitz died at Kingston Hospital in New York. Mr. Deitz was the former owner of several auto and towing firms. He was the father of Burton Deitz Jr., present owner/operator of Bryant’s Towing, an authorized NYS Thruway tower in Kingston, N.Y. Mr. Deitz was the owner/operator of Coast RV in Crystal River, Fla. He was also the founder and former proprietor of Burton E. Deitz Inc. Auto Supply and Towing, Burton E. Deitz Auto Transport and Bryant’s Towing. STUMP Stephen Entered into rest : September 22, 2004 52 years old Stump owned S&R Automobile Repair and Towing in Lancaster. BREESE Arthur Entered into rest : September 14, 2005 63 years old Arthur "Sonny" Breese, 63, of Monmouth Junction died suddenly yesterday at his home. In 1968 he founded and opened Sonny's Garage and was still active in his business until the time of his death. He was responsible for servicing police and the Monmouth Junction First Aid Squad vehicles and in early years also serviced the Monmouth Junction Fire Company trucks. HAFENSTEINER Diane L. Cutri Entered into rest : September 8, 2006 50 years old Diane died at St. Mary’s Home Asbury following an extended illness. Diane was co-owner of H & S Service Station for many years. She was the wife of late Tom Hafensteiner. On Tow411, she was known as "Sidekick" Thank you Steve (Truck9) for remembering Diane WILSON Clay Entered into rest : September 21, 2006 47 years old "We lost a good man and a great WreckMaster today. His family needs your prayers to get through this trying time. Clay was born August 16,1959. He was a light and heavy duty driver. Clay loved his work and loved this industry and he will surely be missed by us all. I'll see you in the ditch my friend, Cliff". Doc's Towing Thank you Cliff (cliffwm010069) for remembering Clay BARRETT Craig Alan Born : December 16, 1980 Entered into rest : September 2, 2007 27 years old On Sunday, September 2nd of 2007, Craig was involved in a fatal motorcycle accident. He was a member of the Jim's Towing family for over three years. WHEELER Donald L. Born : Entered into rest : September 23, 2007 43 years old Donald was the owner of D&D Towing in South Boston. He died Sunday of a sudden illness. People remember him as being a funny man, someone who could always make them laugh, the big heart he had always lending a helping hand and as a man who was amazing and a true friend. You will truly be missed, Donald. PANNICIA "Vinnie" Vincent Born : Entered into rest : September 24, 2007 72 years old Vincent was the owner of Vincent Service Station in Mamaroneck. He did towing for several police departments and the AAA. He also had been an auxiliary officer in Harrison, where he was a resident, and Mamaroneck when those departments had auxiliary police. HALL Jayson Born : Entered into rest : September 28, 2007 29 years old Jayson was known for being a hard worker and always willing to lend a helping hand. His sense of humor could keep his friends and co-workers laughing all day long, which is something they will miss very much. Jayson passed away due to a heart attack suffered on Friday. He leaves behind a fiancé and a little girl of whom he was so proud of because she had just started Kindergarten. Resource: Towers Memorial Page If you can add details for any of these towers added to the topic. Please do not hesitate to add them in reply of contact me. Thank you!

That was a hard hit

First, our thoughts and prayers go out to Joe for a full recovery and to everyone at Ray's that this terrible accident may have caused a lot of mental anguish to. Thankfully it was not fatal. It is really frustrating when Hamid said the down pour caused their wheels to slip. How about slowing to a safe speed for the road conditions and slowing down for the flashing lights and move over if you can. I believe Wisconsin has a slow down move over law. If they do the driver of that semi should be charged and convicted to the full extent of the law. In my opinion when a serious accident such as this one, that caused injury, the driver that caused the accident, should have their drivers license permanently revoked. Everyone be safe out there and always watch your back. Jack Herman, Wildwood Service, Gages Lake, Illinois

I was able to get the obituary and funeral information from the following link: https://www.meaningfulfunerals.net/?action=obituaries.obit_view&CFID=e74e7351-7110-4355-b4f9-25b129c55ce8&CFTOKEN=0&o_id=6541287&fh_id=14145 I also found out through Starlite's FB page that there will be a wrecker line-up: https://www.facebook.com/StarliteWrecker Still, there is no official news report that has been located yet. Charles

Names Rob, there are several in the app store. The one I use is Scanner Radio, but there are several that come up using that search. So look for these images in your app store.

Thanks for sharing - - - - Always good to see the types of tow trucks used elsewhere....

I received a call this weekend by someone that knew him and looking if there was anything that could be done for the family and he was setting up a go fund me account. He was unsure of the details but said there was a problem with the park on the truck and they was unable to get the truck to go in park at the scene. I have not seen any info on local news or online on this. I asked him to send me details by email. I believe if this is the case that the towing company wont be giving out much details.

A great one to have in your "Catalogue" John....Impressive job.

Thank you, love the detail in the pictures. Very well executed example of what being a professional is all about.

Thanks for sharing John. I really like the high-level of professionalism as depicted in the pictures of all parties involved. Best Regards. R.

Okay, so normal GPS doesn't know the weight of the vehicle you are driving. Even the ones specific to trucks, the one where you have to input the weight, still mess up. Never trust your GPS. Always look for signs and keep in mind how much you weigh. Also, this driver may be blaming his GPS but he's still at fault because he should have known better. This will be something we see more and more in our industry, when self driving cars become more prevalent. People don't want to admit to a mistake, they look to blame it on someone or something else.

Topic Originally Created on Tow411 in June of 2006: I was sent on a recki to organise a recovery of a burnt out JCB in a farmers field. I arrived at the farm and the farmer told me i need to meet up with the Electricity board as it was there tractor. When he told me where it was i thought he was joking. I followed his directions and found the JCB. about three fields away from the farm house. This is what i found. The Electricity Boards Mechanic was on site with it removing all the salvageable equipement. The mechanic told me that the over head lines were being replaced and the tractor was left there over night with a drum of copper cable attached and some toe rag tryed to steel the lot. All the electricity boards vehacles have immobalisers fitted so it couldnt be moved so i guess they decided to tourch it. On closer inspection this is what we were left with. NOT A LOT as you can see. I took a look around to see how we were going to tackle the job. No over head lines so I decided we would use the recoverer crane to lift the JCB and it would have to be placed on the Landoll trailer. Next problem was how i was going to the Landoll Trailer in as it wouldnt go in through the back of the farm it is impossable. I see a gate at the bottom of the field but the field was in crop. Need to have a very very nice word with the farmer. I went down and caught up with the farmer and explained the way i wanted to do the job and in my thinking was that i couldnt get the Landoll through the back of the farm. I see a gate at the bottom of the field and would it be posable to use it. The farmer was not to happy as the new crop was growing in that field. I did explane that i would try our best not to contaminate the field with any debris and we would keep to the tracks made already. If we had to travel through a coulpe of fields there was a possability of contaminating more than one field. In the end he agreed. So this morning Andy AKA Castle Sloth and myself arrived on site at 07:20 it was nice and cool and and the sun was out. We drove in to the field and closed the gate behind us (REMEMBER THE COUNTRY CODE ) as Andy pointed out. We followed the tracks and the Landoll lost traction so i had to assised by pulling the low loader up the hill. We were hoping this wasn't the way the day was going to carry on. (IT WASNT) We sited the Scania ready for the lift. I like the JCBs there are lots of places safe enough to lift of off. After we put the JCB on the Landoll Andy and i had a clean up of all the debris and placed all the rubbish in to bins though the enviroment agencey will be coming to remove all the contaminated soil (Contaminated by Hydrolic oil and Diesel) Burn outs are a messy job. This is what we looked like. Here is Andy Didnt have any problems getting out of the field as it was all down hill. We had to repeat the lift at the JCB Main agent to off load. It was a good job and all went to plan above all it was a pleasure working with Andy as we are on the same wave lenth. Elliot... GRAYA4 said: Good job guys!! Its sometimes not good to keep the farmers happy! Is that bins yours or the EA's? mushspeed said: Well Done Guys........Looks like I dodged the bullet with that one. Next....... you will want me to provide portable showers!! It's good when when a plan comes together...when you have the top guys on the job ..........all about Teamwork Be Safe, Be Lucky. May all of your Punctures be little ones, 'cos it's only flat on the bottom. John www.castlerecovery.com unknown member said: We all learn everyday .Elliot guessed that three shining new dustbins would be enough to clear up the burnout residue as we found out it was not enough so from that the formula is 1 JCB 3cx=5 bins ----- burnout------- wreckeruk said; Job well done as usual. Just curious why u didnt just use your flatbed hiab to lift and remove it?? Keith Rotator60 said: Outstanding job performed by a well trained team. A joy to watch. Thanks for sharing. Scott Hedgcoth git r towed said: Nice job, Dirty job, Nice pictures, Real nice equipment, Good money, Thanks job well done......John hoover said: Nicely done lads. Love the coveralls, Robert and I are ordering a set each from the supplier in Doncaster to try over the pond here! Simon Towee999 replied: Hi Keith we estimated the weight of the JCB to be 7 to 7.5 ton and the lorry loader crane would not be capable of lifting the tractor and placing it on the trailer at the distance you see in the pictures. Elliot... unknown member said: good job lads two of the best ON THE JOB ................ tony brett control room at castle recovery dorset england

We were dispatched by the state police to respond to a single vehicle accident. Knowing the area, I was pretty sure it was going to be in the woods. I arrived to find a Mitsubishi that left the roadway, struck a tree sideways and spun back around pinning a tree between the front bumper and fender. The fire department cut the 2 trees of as low as they could then I pulled it straight back to clear the stumps. Once clear of the stumps and tree I repositioned my truck and pulled it sideways back to the road so I could tow it away. Once loaded I moved up the road a few hundred yards to a pull out so I could strap it down for the 30 mile ride home.

We use Square also, it just works period.

I can't remember where I saw this, but I use a 2 ton snatch block in the tow eye & then the end of my wire rope back to the front slot of my bed to get a somewhat inline straight pull to load on a carrier. Sent from my SM-N920V using TowForce mobile app

Until the mindset is adjusted and improved, this industry will rely on BOB bottom of the barrel to fill in the gaps. If you want people to be a professional, you have to treat them like a professional. And you have to stop running your operation like a brothel, worrying what the competition does and what they charge. You have to give people time off and benefits. You have to constantly be on the lookout for talent, and be willing to develop talent. This industry is it's own worst enemy. And has nobody else to blame.