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wonder what he would say today, if asked was it worth it. To turn around after leaving to run someone down and they shot around who was running away. Florida may be a stand your ground state. However, the threat must be coming toward you and not away.

Small Dozer, did it max the carrier out?

This is why we have two fire extinguishers on each unit. This didn't just catch fire all at once, there was likely enough time to get a fire extinguisher at the point to where the fire began.

Two Fire Extinguishers on each truck, drivers are shown where they are on a routine basis and are responsible for the ones on their assigned unit. If they are missing a Fire Extinguisher, we will replace it once in a years time period. If they had a situation they had to use it, they can trade it out for a new one. We don't want any of our truck to not have a fire extinguisher on board.

Isn't it something, this topic is 12 years old. Yet, the industry has not changed much, with the exception of we see more video's of tow trucks coming together when there is a Fallen Tow Operator. Seem the Tower Down message goes out and it's like ringing a bell. But, ring the bell for an association meeting os a state event and less then half if that will show up. Where is the Industry going if we cannot unite as competitors. I know there is plenty of work for most of us. More work most days now then we have drivers. I think I might be glad when jobs are harder to find cause we get better drivers during those times. I hear how we are all doing our best to be safe out there working along the side of the road. Yet, I still see the majority of companies no doing enough to be safe. I was told to shut up and mind my own business. Old man said Kid you don't know what you're talking about. All the while I stood there with my ANSI III Clothing and a Guardian Angel on my shoulder. I stayed and directed traffic around them before to left with the vehicle I came for. Oh and yes, they drove off and left debris in the roadway which I cleaned up. Cops took note of that and said it would be the last time they hooked up without cleaning up.

Checked with the Office (Mom) and they never heard of Saferide before. Guess that's why they were not on mentioned in the rankings. That or they are not a Top Ten Club. Would like to know more about them, we tow motorcycles and small RV's.

That's how I would have done it... Was the driver of the jeep on the phone and failed to stop? Could have just as easily been a tow truck siting there which got struck. Distracted driving is everywhere, I see people on their phones....

What would a YouTube Video be with a critique. 1) At first I thought he was going to be working from the traffic side. 2) Between the vehicle and the tow truck is the Danger Zone don't make it a Kill Zone. Work from the sides as much as possible, even exposed to the traffic your odds are my better. Take the time to sit out a cone or light at the of the vehicle. I have an additional guardian angel for just that reason and if I leave it attached to the vehicle it will still be there when I realize that I have forgotten to remove it. That happens sometimes. The cost is small when compared to the Benefits. All of our guys have at least one now. If they lose it then they are responsible for the replacement. Never lost one yet... 3) When re-entering the truck, I find that is is safer to walk around the front compared to the rear. Why you ask, because you are facing the traffic when returning to the driver door and your eyes are on the traffic. In this video it appears the driver took his eyes off the traffic walking back to the truck for enough time that he could have been struck. These are just my observations, you may disagree or have a varied viewpoint. I am here to learn as well as pass along what knowledge I have from growing up in the tow biz.Thanks

Are you doing anything special for your Mother today? I might need an idea other than flowers. I don't want to leave out all the Moms that are active in the tow biz, must be one or two on here.

Those roll up doors are fantastic, told dad we need those on our heavy when we get one. He keeps delaying, but we have business to justify the purchase. Good Luck with it...

I don't understand how this accident occurred. I did hear it was a matter of miscommunication. Some I have seen blaming the trucker, I need to know why the tow op was in a position such as this one. Was this a case of Let the Truck do the work for you. Was there away to have used the tow truck which would have avoided being in that position. So many questions which will likely go unanswered and nothing will be learned. So, without that knowledge it could happen to another tow op. RIP Flaco

YouTube is full of these type video's of drivers cussing traffic while working in the Danger Zone.

I see them everywhere, more women with cell phone cameras then men. Had one last week that wanted to record everything I was doing as I hooked up her sons vehicle. When she kept getting in the way, I stopped. I told her it was fine to record and asked her if she could do it from 6 feet, not 2 feet. She said she wanted to document in case of damage and needed to be closer than 6 feet. At that point I said OK and began to unhook from the vehicle. Took her a minute till I was nearly done to figure it out. She asked what I was doing and I said due to safety reasons I could not complete the tow. She asked what safety reason and I said hers as she was not following directions or safety protocols. You got to be careful cause she may have been wanting more than damage to vehicle. If I were not playing attention, I may have bumped into her. Should this have caused her to fall, who be at fault. While this isn't the same as the above video, it does relate to the extreme antics that some will go it. Have you had anything like this happen to you?

Our condolences, so sad to have been so close to slowing down and in a moment that is taken away. Gods Speed, sorry I did not get on this one sooner, very busy.

Someone must know this driver and have an update on his condition. Sure sounds much worse then what the tow truck looks. Then again that door and roof is heavily crunched.

The Show is so scripted...

Well that is Annoying, sorta like Baby Fish...

Steve W, Thanks it seems we may need to consult our attorney of what a Safe Working Perimeter is in say feet. My thoughts have been within a range something could come strike the person such it come loose while loading the damaged vehicle. Now, how do you define that range. obviously the sidewalk would be acceptable as long as the vehicle (s) was not located there or within an unsafe distance. This is all still rather foreign to most of us having not dealt with it in the past. Being proactive is far better than being reactive. A is it acceptable to permit someone into you work zone that identifies themselves as media regardless what type of media they are. What manner would you ask them to back up. Say they get in the way, lay on the ground to get a camera angle. As the tow op what is your responsibility for their safety, cause obviously they are going to sue for the smallest infringement of their rights and any injury which occurs. Say you laid a chain on the ground and they trip over it, that a lawsuit... Are we going to have to define the recovery scene using some OSHA standards? Obviously that would likely entail a work zone marked with cones and hard hats required. Do we go that far, just throwing it out there. Is there an attorney in the industry that is willing to address this issue?

We hold regular meetings on these topics even if not all the drivers are present. If that's the case then we review it again the next week. I've held a meeting with just myself, then did the very same meeting the next week. These are actually safety meetings but we go over much more so I dropped safety for mandatory meeting. What mandatory meeting means in towing I don't know, but it sounds good. We've been so busy the past few weeks this will be our first meeting in 3 weeks now. Much to share in an hour, it's gonna run over as there is always some conversation and debate.

Welcome. TowForce is a wealth of information. Far more professional than Fakebook.....

There's is no way that is not light in the front end. controlling the steering would be fun. Been there done stupid things and got away with it. Don't do stupid things like this anymore.

Plenty of safety reminders for our meeting tomorrow. Thanks Ed for sharing on TowForce, hope it's much better now. I've done one finger, Ice right away takes away the sting. Dad used to talk about how he got his finger caught in the car door when he was very young. Says the doors were real metal back then. LOL sorry it had to hurt.....

This one will get a laugh in tomorrows meeting for sure.

Never had a issue with a camera yet, most are just the vehicle occupants recording the scene. Not sure how to handle someone not associated with the scene, say a bystander... I suppose the best advise is to control your scene and ignore them. If they enter your scene (space) then ask them to back up for their safety. Stress over and over from their safety. Thinking body cams at some point, cause they don't generally like to be recordsed themselves I have noticed from the video's. Anyone think there may be a touch of mental illness or lack of something driving these interrupters. I think it has more to do with a few minutes of YouTube Fame! Harassing the Cops, something to be Famous For.... NOT!

Always, something to add to our meetings. I had forgotten about these, but have seen them on a couple of cars. Kinda hope they don't make a come back, Dad used to preach these and pickup truck bed covers, toppers, liners... I had a liner go fling in the wind when I started out on my own. Beat up old farm truck, no tailgate... Thankfully no one showed up for it, as they'd want as much as the truck to replace the liner. Thanks TowForce for the much valued Info. Anyone else passing this along to your drivers, never assume they know cause I wouldn't if I didn't grow up in riding shot gun in a tow truck.