Don Seeley

We have 5 questions that you should ask your financing partner before you work with them. These are questions that aren't being asked that you should consider before moving forward. Hopefully these help you out, let us know what you think! https://blog.beaconfunding.com/equipment-financing

Being a tow truck operator has its ups and downs. It can often be a tough job that can be extremely dangerous if you don’t take the proper precautions. Whether you are new to the industry or are an experienced professional operator, consider the following tips to keep safe so you can keep others on the road safe. Maintain Your Tow Truck Dress Appropriately Safety on the Scene Carry These Items Tip 1: Maintain Your Tow Truck Tow truck operator safety starts by regularly inspecting your tow truck and equipment. There are several things you can do to maintain your tow truck. Here are just a few: Give your tow truck a thorough inspection. Check the engine, coolants, battery, and brakes. If something needs fixing you want to know about it sooner than later. Check your tires. From the tire pressure to the tread. Worn out and bald tires will not have the traction you need to stay steady while on the road. Don’t forget to check your spare tires, too. You’ll want them to be ready for action when you need them most. Other important things to check. Take a look at all cables, connectors, and winches to see if they are in good condition. You can create a checklist to ensure you check what’s important and that you have everything you’ll need while on the job. Tip 2: Dress Appropriately Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is a key part of keeping tow truck operators safe on the job. Here are a few key items that you should wear: High-visibility clothing. Stay safe while you work by wearing bright colored clothing or a yellow fluorescent safety vest that meets the American National Standards Institute Appropriate footwear. Foot injuries are one of the most common injuries among tow truck operators. Your footwear should be protective, warm, and have good traction. Invest in a good pair of steel-toed boots to minimize the possibility of foot injuries. Weather appropriate gear. In extreme seasons, whether you are in freezing temperatures or hot temperatures, being prepared with the right clothes can keep you protected. Tip 3: Safety on the Scene Be visible. Increasing the visibility of your tow truck and most importantly yourself. Make sure you are us­­­ing flashing lights and reflectors on your tow truck. Drive cautiously. Drive slowly when heading to the scene and be aware of your surroundings at all times. Always maintain safe distances from other vehicles on the road to minimize the chance of an accident. Stop, look, and listen. In the perfect scenario, you would only work from the passenger side, but this isn’t always the case. If you have to work on the traffic side stay safe by using cones, flares, Tip 4: Carry these Items The change in season means the sun is going down earlier and earlier every night. Keep a battery or crank operated flashlight with your gear in your truck. Road flares/reflectors. Always carry extra road flares and reflectors. These help you be seen by other vehicles on the road. Communication devices. Always keep a phone or a radio on you at all times when on the job. These are essential in requesting assistance if an incident where to happen Extra safety apparel. Have extra safety apparel for backup in case of an emergency. Include an extra safety vest, work gloves, and safety helmet. Whether you are a new tow truck operator or an experienced one, your safety should be top priority. With these tips you can won’t have a doubt or concern about your safety. Drive safe and have fun! Check out these other articles for more tips: Gearing Up for Winter: Tips for Towing During the Winter Months Keeping Tow Trucks Tidy: 6 Tips and Tricks Top 5 Tow Tips for Making Your Workday Better The post 4 Tow Truck Operator Safety Tips appeared first on Beacon Funding. View the full article on Beacon Fundings Blog

Being a tow truck operator has its ups and downs. It can often be a tough job that can be extremely dangerous if you don’t take the proper precautions. Whether you are new to the industry or are an experienced professional operator, consider the following tips to keep safe so you can keep others on the road safe. Maintain Your Tow Truck Dress Appropriately Safety on the Scene Carry These Items Tip 1: Maintain Your Tow Truck Tow truck operator safety starts by regularly inspecting your tow truck and equipment. There are several things you can do to maintain your tow truck. Here are just a few: Give your tow truck a thorough inspection. Check the engine, coolants, battery, and brakes. If something needs fixing you want to know about it sooner than later. Check your tires. From the tire pressure to the tread. Worn out and bald tires will not have the traction you need to stay steady while on the road. Don’t forget to check your spare tires, too. You’ll want them to be ready for action when you need them most. Other important things to check. Take a look at all cables, connectors, and winches to see if they are in good condition. You can create a checklist to ensure you check what’s important and that you have everything you’ll need while on the job. Tip 2: Dress Appropriately Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is a key part of keeping tow truck operators safe on the job. Here are a few key items that you should wear: High-visibility clothing. Stay safe while you work by wearing bright colored clothing or a yellow fluorescent safety vest that meets the American National Standards Institute Appropriate footwear. Foot injuries are one of the most common injuries among tow truck operators. Your footwear should be protective, warm, and have good traction. Invest in a good pair of steel-toed boots to minimize the possibility of foot injuries. Weather appropriate gear. In extreme seasons, whether you are in freezing temperatures or hot temperatures, being prepared with the right clothes can keep you protected. Tip 3: Safety on the Scene Be visible. Increasing the visibility of your tow truck and most importantly yourself. Make sure you are us­­­ing flashing lights and reflectors on your tow truck. Drive cautiously. Drive slowly when heading to the scene and be aware of your surroundings at all times. Always maintain safe distances from other vehicles on the road to minimize the chance of an accident. Stop, look, and listen. In the perfect scenario, you would only work from the passenger side, but this isn’t always the case. If you have to work on the traffic side stay safe by using cones, flares, Tip 4: Carry these Items The change in season means the sun is going down earlier and earlier every night. Keep a battery or crank operated flashlight with your gear in your truck. Road flares/reflectors. Always carry extra road flares and reflectors. These help you be seen by other vehicles on the road. Communication devices. Always keep a phone or a radio on you at all times when on the job. These are essential in requesting assistance if an incident where to happen Extra safety apparel. Have extra safety apparel for backup in case of an emergency. Include an extra safety vest, work gloves, and safety helmet. Whether you are a new tow truck operator or an experienced one, your safety should be top priority. With these tips you can won’t have a doubt or concern about your safety. Drive safe and have fun! Check out these other articles for more tips: Gearing Up for Winter: Tips for Towing During the Winter Months Keeping Tow Trucks Tidy: 6 Tips and Tricks Top 5 Tow Tips for Making Your Workday Better The post 4 Tow Truck Operator Safety Tips appeared first on Beacon Funding. View the full article on Beacon Fundings Blog

Attending a tradeshow can be fun and exciting, from the equipment demos to the informative seminars, there’s always so much to do and see. The best part is that you get to be in a giant room full of people and equipment related to the industry you love. That’s why it’s so important to make the most of every show you attend. Here are a few tips that can help guide you as you prepare for your next tradeshow. https://blog.beaconfunding.com/business/attending-tradeshow-guide/

Getting ready to expand with a new tow truck, but don’t know where to begin? Before you start shopping, consider getting pre-approved for financing. Find out exactly how much you can afford so you can budget and be prepared. The best part is that its commitment free! Ready to learn everything you need to know about equipment financing pre-approvals? Read about it in this article: https://blog.beaconfunding.com/equipment-financing/equipment-financing-pre-approval/

With so many types of tow trucks on the market, it can be challenging to choose the type that will make the biggest impact on your fleet. Before you pick just any truck, you’ll want to take into consideration several factors. The following overview will help guide you as you look for the best tow truck for your business. Type Flatbed Tow Trucks Hook & Chain Tow Trucks Wheel-Lift Tow Trucks New or Used Financing Opportunities Read more here: https://blog.beaconfunding.com/business/3-things-to-consider-when-choosing-the-right-tow-truck-for-you-business/

Getting ready to expand your business with a new tow truck, but don’t know where to begin? Before you start shopping, consider getting pre-approved for financing. Find out exactly how much you can afford so you can budget and be prepared. The best part is that its commitment free! Learn more in our latest blog post: https://blog.beaconfunding.com/equipment-financing/equipment-financing-pre-approval/ Don’t let feeling intimidated by equipment costs stop you from financing a tow truck for your business. When you are ready, head to our easy application to start the pre-approval process.

If you answered yes, then you've come to the right place! From simply picking a name to deciding which services to offer, starting your own business can be overwhelming. Luckily, getting the equipment you need to succeed doesn’t have to add to the stress. With a good understanding of the process and a little bit of foresight, you’ll be all set to get your dream off the ground. Read more at: https://blog.beaconfunding.com/equipment-financing/guide-start-financing-tips-getting-new-business-equipment-needs/

Adding another revenue stream to your towing business could be just what you need to take things up a notch. Whether you’ve been in business for years or you’re just starting out, there’s bound to be a market you can tap into relatively easily. To get started on finding your next niche, take a look at the pros and cons of these four towing markets you might not have considered. Keep reading at: https://blog.beaconfunding.com/business/new-markets-break-towing-edition/

We will be there to answer all of your tow truck financing questions, along with a YETI giveaway! In the meantime here are some tips to make the most out of the tow expo: 1. Start planning early 2. Keep an eye on the website 3. Set a few goals Read more here: https://blog.beaconfunding.com/business/7-easy-ways-make-tradeshow/

It’s no secret that used tow trucks are more affordable than those that are brand new, but the process of hunting down the perfect truck can seem daunting enough to scare even the biggest penny-pincher away. Luckily, it isn’t nearly as hard as you’d think, especially if you use these four tips: 1. Know Your Stuff 2. Shop Around 3. Find the Right Financing Prtner 4. Adjust Your Timeline Head over to https://blog.beaconfunding.com/equipment-financing/4-tips-getting-used-tow-truck/ to read more. What other tips do you have?

It’s no secret that used tow trucks are more affordable than those that are brand new, but the process of hunting down the perfect truck can seem daunting enough to scare even the biggest penny-pincher away. Luckily, it isn’t nearly as hard as you’d think, especially if you use these four tips! 1. Know Your Stuff 2. Shop Around 3. Find the Right Financing Partner 4. Adjust Your Timeline https://blog.beaconfunding.com/equipment-financing/4-tips-getting-used-tow-truck/

Northbrook, IL, February, 9 2016 — As part of Beacon Funding’s Agero Truck Financing Perks Program, Lebleu’s Towing in Kannapolis, North Carolina, is being recognized for utilizing truck financing to advance its business growth. Agero Truck Financing Perks is a program provided by Beacon Funding and Agero that helps Agero Service Providers use Agero payments to pay off trucks (via DirectPay) and get perks like Visa Prepaid cards when financing trucks through any of Beacon Funding’s beneficial equipment financing programs. Lebleu’s Towing, a repeat client of Beacon Funding’s Agero Truck Financing Perks program, has already acquired seven tow trucks through the course of the relationship. Back in 2006, the company had one truck and two employees doing 300 tows a month. They now have nine trucks and nine employees doing 1,000 tows a month. In August 2015, Agero set up Lebleu’s in new territory areas spreading them out to Charlotte — 20 miles away from the business. Business was growing rapidly, so owner Jeremy Lebleu enlarged his fleet further to cater to the bigger reach and get more business. He credits his business’ success to offering cheaper prices, emphasizing customer service, and gaining more trucks. “Now we have better equipment. We don’t have to worry about breaking down as much or maintenance. We’re able to keep [the trucks] on the road,” Lebleu says. To showcase this rapid expansion, Lebleu’s Towing agreed to participate in Beacon Funding’s Success Spotlight Program. In more than two decades, Beacon Funding has worked with many clients that have not only used equipment financing to their advantage, but also have utilized it as a business practice to improve volume and increase market reach. The Success Spotlight Program highlights these businesses in order to share best practices and provide real-life examples of how equipment financing can foster business growth. Beacon Funding features participants of the Success Spotlight Program on its website and through a variety of marketing and public relations efforts. Visit the Beacon Funding website or call 847-423-0730 to learn how to be a part of the Success Spotlight Program. For the latest Beacon Funding news, follow us on Twitter. For information regarding Beacon’s financing and leasing programs, visit www.beaconfunding.com. ABOUT BEACON FUNDING CORPORATION For 26 years, Beacon Funding Corporation has been providing equipment financing solutions to all types of organizations and businesses throughout a variety of industries in the United States. Beacon Funding focuses on being a specialist in the select markets it serves. As a result, Beacon differentiates itself by offering start-up and existing business clients a wider range of equipment leasing and financing options. For more information, please visit www.beaconfunding.com. ABOUT AGERO Agero, a member company of The Cross Country Group, is a leading provider of private-labeled, connected vehicle services for the automotive, insurance and aftermarket industries and is a market leader in roadside assistance and claims management. Based in Medford, Mass., the company has operations throughout North America and offices in Europe. For more information, visit www.agero.com. ### The post Lebleu’s Towing Acquires Seven Trucks through Beacon Funding appeared first on Beacon Funding. View the full article on Beacon Fundings Blog

Northbrook, IL, February, 9 2016 — As part of Beacon Funding’s Agero Truck Financing Perks Program, Lebleu’s Towing in Kannapolis, North Carolina, is being recognized for utilizing truck financing to advance its business growth. Agero Truck Financing Perks is a program provided by Beacon Funding and Agero that helps Agero Service Providers use Agero payments to pay off trucks (via DirectPay) and get perks like Visa Prepaid cards when financing trucks through any of Beacon Funding’s beneficial equipment financing programs. Lebleu’s Towing, a repeat client of Beacon Funding’s Agero Truck Financing Perks program, has already acquired seven tow trucks through the course of the relationship. Back in 2006, the company had one truck and two employees doing 300 tows a month. They now have nine trucks and nine employees doing 1,000 tows a month. In August 2015, Agero set up Lebleu’s in new territory areas spreading them out to Charlotte — 20 miles away from the business. Business was growing rapidly, so owner Jeremy Lebleu enlarged his fleet further to cater to the bigger reach and get more business. He credits his business’ success to offering cheaper prices, emphasizing customer service, and gaining more trucks. “Now we have better equipment. We don’t have to worry about breaking down as much or maintenance. We’re able to keep [the trucks] on the road,” Lebleu says. To showcase this rapid expansion, Lebleu’s Towing agreed to participate in Beacon Funding’s Success Spotlight Program. In more than two decades, Beacon Funding has worked with many clients that have not only used equipment financing to their advantage, but also have utilized it as a business practice to improve volume and increase market reach. The Success Spotlight Program highlights these businesses in order to share best practices and provide real-life examples of how equipment financing can foster business growth. Beacon Funding features participants of the Success Spotlight Program on its website and through a variety of marketing and public relations efforts. Visit the Beacon Funding website or call 847-423-0730 to learn how to be a part of the Success Spotlight Program. For the latest Beacon Funding news, follow us on Twitter. For information regarding Beacon’s financing and leasing programs, visit www.beaconfunding.com. ABOUT BEACON FUNDING CORPORATION For 26 years, Beacon Funding Corporation has been providing equipment financing solutions to all types of organizations and businesses throughout a variety of industries in the United States. Beacon Funding focuses on being a specialist in the select markets it serves. As a result, Beacon differentiates itself by offering start-up and existing business clients a wider range of equipment leasing and financing options. For more information, please visit www.beaconfunding.com. ABOUT AGERO Agero, a member company of The Cross Country Group, is a leading provider of private-labeled, connected vehicle services for the automotive, insurance and aftermarket industries and is a market leader in roadside assistance and claims management. Based in Medford, Mass., the company has operations throughout North America and offices in Europe. For more information, visit www.agero.com. ### The post Lebleu’s Towing Acquires Seven Trucks through Beacon Funding appeared first on Beacon Funding. View the full article on Beacon Fundings Blog

No matter how fast things change as a business, it’s always important to remember your roots. Lebleu’s Towing was originally started as a father-and-son towing business in 2006 by Gerald and Jeremy Lebleu in Kannapolis, North Carolina. These two were hard workers who, due to lack of equipment, had to work around-the-clock to keep up with the competition. As Jeremy Lebleu, manager (and son), can attest, expanding Lebleu’s fleet was the best decision he’s made for the business. He says, “I worked 24 hours a day, seven days a week for four years. I was never able to take a day off or spend time with the family, and now I’m able to take vacations. The business runs itself now.” Lebleu’s Towing Snapshot: Established in 2006 in Kannapolis, North Carolina Started as a father-and-son towing business with 1 truck and 2 employees doing 300 tows a month Expanded to 9 trucks and 9 employees doing 1,000 tows a month Acquired 7 well-maintained trucks through Agero Truck Financing Perks program offered by Beacon Funding Expanded business 20 miles away in Charlotte while overseeing from a management role More Trucks Means More Business Back in 2006, Gerald and Jeremy started Lebleu’s with one truck and two employees. They couldn’t keep up with the demand for tows, so expansion was key. After they chose financing to expand, it’s grown to a full-fledged fleet including nine tow trucks and nine employees where the phone continues to ring off the hook. Even with all these shiny new trucks, Lebleu’s has to consider the 10 other towers in the area. The business is able to keep a competitive edge through offering cheaper prices and emphasizing customer service. “Now we have better equipment. We don’t have to worry about breaking down as much or maintenance. We’re able to keep [the trucks] on the road.” “We call the customers before we go [to tow them]. We make sure they’re in a safe place, not blocking traffic. Keep them calm. We try to get there as quick as possible. Keep in contact with them the whole time [before we arrive].” Lebleu’s has customer service down, but how were they able to expand to such a large fleet with financing, you ask? Beacon Funding was the answer. A Little Help from Their Friends In the beginning, the Lebleu family was using a roadside assistance motor club to get more towing jobs, but found another solution. They decided to become Roadside Assistance Service Providers in the Agero Network and never looked back. Not only did they find a better way to get more calls, but also they found out about Beacon because of their ongoing Truck Financing Perks program and partnership with Agero. Jeremy financed his first truck with Beacon Funding in March 2012, and the rest is history. After nine trucks, he has the tow business that surpasses them all. Six of them, including one refinance, were from the help of Beacon and Agero Truck Financing Perks. Agero Truck Financing Perks is a program provided by Beacon Funding and Agero that helps Agero providers like Jeremy use his Agero payments to pay off his trucks (via DirectPay) and get perks like Visa gift cards when they finance new trucks. In August 2015, Agero set up Lebleu’s in new areas spreading them out to Charlotte —20 miles away from the business. Business was growing rapidly, so Jeremy enlarged his fleet further to cater to the bigger reach. Jeremy pointed out how this gave him a distinct advantage over the competition. “Others were losing trucks while we were gaining. [They were] slow to respond to calls, had higher prices, a little bit of everything.” Lebleu’s gets 600 more tows a month through Agero with the help of Beacon Funding. “We used to do 5-10 tows a day. After we got all the equipment, we have 60 tows per day,” Jeremy says. Their Fleet Growth Continues Even with this large fleet, Jeremy is passionate about maintaining wherewithal to get more trucks. The latest financed truck he picked up one day, drove it five hours home, then had it painted his company’s colors the next morning. Jeremy has a commitment to his business and wants to keep growing his operations in order to serve as many people as possible. Beacon and Agero will continue to support that mission by acting as a branch to help Lebleu’s flourish further than its roots. ——— Thank you to Lebleu’s Towing for participating in Beacon Funding’s Success Spotlight program. The Success Spotlight program gives Beacon customers and partners a chance to shine with recognition of their equipment financing success. This is achieved through enhanced exposure and free nationwide publicity through Beacon’s online channels. To learn more about the program click here. The post Success Spotlight: Equipment financing makes Lebleu’s Towing a big-time fleet appeared first on Beacon Funding. View the full article on Beacon Fundings Blog

No matter how fast things change as a business, it’s always important to remember your roots. Lebleu’s Towing was originally started as a father-and-son towing business in 2006 by Gerald and Jeremy Lebleu in Kannapolis, North Carolina. These two were hard workers who, due to lack of equipment, had to work around-the-clock to keep up with the competition. As Jeremy Lebleu, manager (and son), can attest, expanding Lebleu’s fleet was the best decision he’s made for the business. He says, “I worked 24 hours a day, seven days a week for four years. I was never able to take a day off or spend time with the family, and now I’m able to take vacations. The business runs itself now.” Lebleu’s Towing Snapshot: Established in 2006 in Kannapolis, North Carolina Started as a father-and-son towing business with 1 truck and 2 employees doing 300 tows a month Expanded to 9 trucks and 9 employees doing 1,000 tows a month Acquired 7 well-maintained trucks through Agero Truck Financing Perks program offered by Beacon Funding Expanded business 20 miles away in Charlotte while overseeing from a management role More Trucks Means More Business Back in 2006, Gerald and Jeremy started Lebleu’s with one truck and two employees. They couldn’t keep up with the demand for tows, so expansion was key. After they chose financing to expand, it’s grown to a full-fledged fleet including nine tow trucks and nine employees where the phone continues to ring off the hook. Even with all these shiny new trucks, Lebleu’s has to consider the 10 other towers in the area. The business is able to keep a competitive edge through offering cheaper prices and emphasizing customer service. “Now we have better equipment. We don’t have to worry about breaking down as much or maintenance. We’re able to keep [the trucks] on the road.” “We call the customers before we go [to tow them]. We make sure they’re in a safe place, not blocking traffic. Keep them calm. We try to get there as quick as possible. Keep in contact with them the whole time [before we arrive].” Lebleu’s has customer service down, but how were they able to expand to such a large fleet with financing, you ask? Beacon Funding was the answer. A Little Help from Their Friends In the beginning, the Lebleu family was using a roadside assistance motor club to get more towing jobs, but found another solution. They decided to become Roadside Assistance Service Providers in the Agero Network and never looked back. Not only did they find a better way to get more calls, but also they found out about Beacon because of their ongoing Truck Financing Perks program and partnership with Agero. Jeremy financed his first truck with Beacon Funding in March 2012, and the rest is history. After nine trucks, he has the tow business that surpasses them all. Six of them, including one refinance, were from the help of Beacon and Agero Truck Financing Perks. Agero Truck Financing Perks is a program provided by Beacon Funding and Agero that helps Agero providers like Jeremy use his Agero payments to pay off his trucks (via DirectPay) and get perks like Visa gift cards when they finance new trucks. In August 2015, Agero set up Lebleu’s in new areas spreading them out to Charlotte —20 miles away from the business. Business was growing rapidly, so Jeremy enlarged his fleet further to cater to the bigger reach. Jeremy pointed out how this gave him a distinct advantage over the competition. “Others were losing trucks while we were gaining. [They were] slow to respond to calls, had higher prices, a little bit of everything.” Lebleu’s gets 600 more tows a month through Agero with the help of Beacon Funding. “We used to do 5-10 tows a day. After we got all the equipment, we have 60 tows per day,” Jeremy says. Their Fleet Growth Continues Even with this large fleet, Jeremy is passionate about maintaining wherewithal to get more trucks. The latest financed truck he picked up one day, drove it five hours home, then had it painted his company’s colors the next morning. Jeremy has a commitment to his business and wants to keep growing his operations in order to serve as many people as possible. Beacon and Agero will continue to support that mission by acting as a branch to help Lebleu’s flourish further than its roots. ——— Thank you to Lebleu’s Towing for participating in Beacon Funding’s Success Spotlight program. The Success Spotlight program gives Beacon customers and partners a chance to shine with recognition of their equipment financing success. This is achieved through enhanced exposure and free nationwide publicity through Beacon’s online channels. To learn more about the program click here. The post Success Spotlight: Equipment financing makes Lebleu’s Towing a big-time fleet appeared first on Beacon Funding. View the full article on Beacon Fundings Blog