goodmichael

Oklahoma University is employing new technology to imm9bilize illegally parked vehicles. The barnacle is a large pad that attaches to the windshield of a vehicle via a vacuum. There are electronics built into the pad that hold the vacuum, that can be released by wireless technogy. The University is using this technology as an alternative to towing vehicles.

Randy, here in San Antonio there is a law prohibiting "oversized" vehicles on the street. I received a number of ticket for being parked oversized. Their solution was that I find a business that would allow me to park outside their closed business. That was not going to happen. I appeared in court and requested a jury trial. They backed down and dropped the charges. There was an operator who had to salk close to a half mile as he lived in an apartment complex.

We actually sat down with the captain of the substation. I explained to him, as well as the sargeant, the scenario. I needed a lane closed to allow me to work, as I was on next to a guard rail. It was a rolled vehicle on its top. I did inform the trooper of my plan. He interupted and told me that there was absolutely no way I could have a lane. They offered the explanatory standpoint of secondary crashes, the early morning hour, just basically took the side of their colleague and justified his decision. We did concur that the temporary lane closure would have been the safest way to operate. I am not going to hyperextend my safety stance and work next to moving traffic. I had a similar situation a few months later, at the same spot, under similar circumstances and was granted my request for a temporary lane closure. I have invested heavily in snatch blocks, chained attached snatch blocks, rollover sticks machined from sticks of aluminum, the list goes on to allow me to work safely. All of those tools are just a box of crap if you do not speak up for oneself. I have always gone above and beyond to build that bridge with law enforcement. They do however not walk on water. And they sometimes, though rare in occurrence, forget that we are both on the same team, with a common goal. That goal, number one, being in a position to go home at the end of the day. Number two is that we clear the scene in as safe, and as expeditious manner possible. Too many in this line of work, I believe, confuse themselves with the role of a superhero, believing they can save the world. I am all for assisting and helping people out of a tight spot. But I have adopted the median point in my mindset that I did not break it, fail to maintain it to the point it failed catastrophically, or just plain drive it past the point that Duck tape. Gorilla tape, super glue, and a prayet to Saint Ephesius, patron Saint of idiots will keep it together. I am not going to risk my life to rescue you from your stupidity.

Randy, two attributes of your response stick out. One: Move over laws are just one component to operator safety. The slow down move over law does little to nothing to protect you. It is a penny piece of paper with a pennies worth of ink. Most people do not even know it exists! And it will not do anything to protect you from an impaired driver. Two: The hard hitting reality demands that we towers are vigilant to our own personal safety. I have to ask, when was the last time that you, as a professional driver/operator refused service to a client due to scene being unsafe? You just looked at it from a distance and said "hell no, I aint dying for Geico!" You may have changed your strategy, but you made a conscious decision to abort the mission. I had an incident a months ago where I requested that a State Trooper temporarilygive me another lane. He flatly refused. I proceeded to load up my equipment. As I was walking to the cab he approached me and asked me what I was doing. I told him I was leaving get someone else. I further informed him that I was not asking him for a lane, I was telling him that I needed a lane to safely do my job. It got pretty heated. I left the scene. The result was that we had a meeting with the supervisors and got things ironed out. When you are on a scene, you control and dictate the scene. Law enforcement, after they have done their measurements and inventories of property surrender the scene to you. They are then your supporting cast. They do not tell you how to do your job. And if they are not willing to do all humanly possible to ensure that, you need to do what you need to do to survive another day.

Randy, here in San Antonio there is a law prohibiting "oversized" vehicles on the street. I received a number of ticket for being parked oversized. Their solution was that I find a business that would allow me to park outside their closed business. That was not going to happen. I appeared in court and requested a jury trial. They backed down and dropped the charges. There was an operator who had to salk close to a half mile as he lived in an apartment complex. Thd city has contractors for their rotation and could care less about anyone else. Until we get an ice storm in town and they need everyone's help.

That will get somebody's attention! That picture looks REALLY cold. It was 80 degrees Fahrenheit here today.

With this incident occurring at 0415 hours I have to consider whether driver fatigue played a roll in this crash. I have been guilty of overextending my capacities to chase that dollar in the past. I am more mature and responsible now. I am ashamed to admit that I jearordized many people's health safety and well being due to my unwillingness to say, " no, I need rest", turn off the phone, and put out the do not disturb sign. It was looked upon as a weakness if people did not overextend themself. And I was not coragious enough to tell people to give me the time to recover. I had many close calls. Some very close, too close for comfort. I did finally fall asleep at the wheel driving down the interstate. At 70 mph. I totalled the truck, and injured my back. Luckily the only external injury was to a stop sign and about fifteen feet of gaurd rail. I launched an F450 with an 882 Vulcan off an embankment, in the air, landed on the front clip knocking the front axle out completely, slid down the embankment on the frame and oil pan, crossed four lanes of traffic, hit and climbed over the curb as if I were going up the embankment on the other side. I thank God I did not hurt anyone else. I always listen to people when they say they are exhausted. Safety begins even before you start your shift. The quality and amount of rest you get prior to your shift is the foundation for the safe completion of your work day. Your number one priority is to go home safe, EACH and EVERY time you step into that truck. And if that little voice on your shoulder tells you to slow down, stop and rest, do not talk an unneccessary chance; listen to that voice, not the one that tells you to push forward and operate in an unsafe manner.

When I graduated from St. Mary's University with my BA in 1993 one of the people in my class lost both parents and his only sibling as a result of state police abruptly closing an interstate highway to put up a roadblock to search for prison escapees. He received a 26 million dollar settlement.

As mentioned, it is the employer's responsibility to provide proper PPE to staff. An employee who has not been provided with the proper PPE may legally refuse to complete a task that mandates PPE. It is important to convey to your staff when PPE is to be worn. Eye protection, must be worn whenever under a vehicle. Safety glasses are of little benefit when proppod up on top of ones head. Great article.

Aside from the possibility of death or see erious injury, there is also the issue of liability pulling a vehicle on the drive linss. While some have a slinger that will move fluid around, it is no substitution for the pump running and a proper procedure being utilized.

Great job. Both of you!

I believe it is time to call in representatives from law enforcement, vehicle manufacturers, vehicle insurance companies, commercial insurance companies that write policies for the industry, motor clubs, and representatives from the towing equipment manufacturers to discuss the dire need for ramping up safety through training and blocker vehicles. It needs to be done on a manner where there is total agreement. And everyone needs to bring their big boy and big girl pants to the table to discuss the true cost of safety. Do it soon, do ig now. Blocker vehicles will save lives. And if a blocker vehicle can save even one life it is worth it. If initiating a program where a blocker vehicle is mandated on the side of a highway while a tow is being performed costs this industry 20 million dollars a year and it saves just one life it is worth 20 million dollars. Locks keep honest people honest. They due little to prevent a criminal who has a true desire to steal. Move over laws keep sober, conscientious, responsible drivers between the appropriate lines. They do little to prevent a drunk, high, or self absorbed person in a lane safe away from traffic or between the lines in the lane next to the shoulder where you are trying to work.

Training is expensive. Few companies charge a rate that allows for companies to pay a living wage let alone training. Many companies only requirements are that a driver can walk, has a pulse, and a drivers license. They then cut them loose. I believe that part of the reason it is hard to find operators, and I mean operators not drivers is because there is little to offer for the education, experience, knowledge, and training in return for the time and sacrifice required. I once worked for a man who stated up front that it was his conscious objective and desire to be the most expensive wrecker service in town. He prided himself on fast response and customer service. He demanded that we had the cleanest trucks in town. We were paid a decent wage, and had every other weekend off. We got new equipment once a truck hit 100,000 miles. The man had an eigth grade education, but knew what it cost him ti run a call, and how much it cost per mile. He actually had a formula that he used, placing the cost of diesel into the formula to get the results. He was on top of his business. This was as opposed to a company that had a goal to generate as much cash flow as possible, burning out staff and grinding equipment into the ground. Regardless of whether a call made or lost money. State Associations have little impact on ownership in the scheme of the big picture. They are great to be a member of, but they do not change the heart an mind of a company that does not care. And that driver that you grind up and spit out might just have had the potential to be a great leader and driver. But because of a scab company, he or she choses to go make a living in another industry where he is compensated and treated as the professional he or she really is.

Somebody needs a two year scholarship to Towing and Recovery Technology. You are absolutely on point. This is a prime example of the parallel of towing today to what firefighting was in the 70's. Not knocking anybody, but the truth is the truth. And you hit the bullseye with your assessment.

Rules to live by: My top 10 1. Your #1 job and priority is to go home safe to your family EACH AND EVERY day. 2. Profit is your best friend. (Know your operations costs) 3. Banks and financial institutions are not. 4. New trucks break down too. (And cost more to fix.) 5. Chrome does not get you home. (A solid business and safety plan does) 6. It costs money to be a professional. Your costs of doing business are unique to your business. Far too many in this field are no better than prostitutes. They worry about what every other person on the corner in doing and what they are charging. Be unique. 7. Find you niche and solve their problems. 8. Have fun every day. A man told me once that life is a pond. Drink from it with a bucket, not a spoon. But do not spill any water it is precious. 9. ALWAYS make time for your family. They are your full time job. 10. As #9 implies, towing is how you provide for your family. Family ALWAYS comes first.

Personally, I hate tire work. I avoid it like the plague. I would rather wrestle with a rabid raccoon than mount tires, any tires. Hunter makes a machine that measures road force in addition to balance. I can balance a square with weights, but road force will tell if the tire is true. And save money from a comeback. The machine is called the shark.

Brother, I look back at some of the things I have done in the wonder years of my towing career, and can honestly say that God does protect idiots. I am living proof! If I ever push through a curriculum for an associates degree in Emergency Logistical Transportation course # 2310 will be on towing bloopers and pitfalls: how to avoid them. I can honestly say I wrote the book on and lived the topic.

Know what your cost to run a call is, as well as your cost per mile. Include profit in each as well. You do not put food on the table or pay your house payment breaking even. ANYTHING beyond the scope of your contract is paid for with a credit card in advance. No exceptions. No negotiations.

I would use the exact same strategy that Grumps detailed. I rolled a full size suburban using the driveline as a rollover stick some years back. Rolled over smooth as a hot knife through butter. All situations are different. I used to carry an Echo PB210E leaf blower in the truck to clean debris. Had an officer complain about the dust once told him to get ppe or shut his eyes real tight and get out of the way!

If a law enforcement entity requests that a wrecker expedite they should send an escort for the tow unit. It is still, even with an escort, a huge risk to your business. Government agencies have legislatively passed limits to their liability. You as a business owner do not. A police officer or EMT who passes through a red light and is struck when running code still has the responsibility to yield to oncoming traffic. If they are involved in a crash, they are still protected. You as a driver, or a business owner are not. A law enforcement officer making such a request is a huge gray area. A law enforcement officer in Texas can request that you assist them in person, but they have no authority to shield you from the consequences of a traffic violation. And if you are exceeding the speed limit by 1 mph, you are violating the law. In the event that a collision occurs, the governmental agency will turn their back on you. And many times will be prepared to put the screws to you. We can not get everyone on board to use safety chains, auxiliary lighting and safety ppe. We still have people who will not take a few extra seconds to operate controls that limit their exposure to danger. I do not think these operators are skilled in the ksa's required to do thier job as it is written now. When they reach that llevel of awareness, then they might be worthy of a siren.

Why would you limit experience, knowledge, education and training to only law enforcement towing?

Thanks for your input! Having an operator who has completed say 60 college credit hours in report writing, invoice documentation, public speaking, english, math to include geometry, physics, chemistry, as well as the safe and proper methods to secure a vehicle and cargo, liability for the operator personally as well as the company they represent, preventative maintenance, and proper pre check inspection has to add value to both the individual as well as the entity they are employed by. And by adding/ commanding value there must be additional compensation involved as well.

I believe their is enough information required to develop a curriculum for a. Associates degree in towing and recovery. This would also include public speaking, physics, and a basic chemistry class. The secret to this industry being recognized and elevated to the level of a profession is education and training. VERY few companies offer any type of benefits, let alone demand rates that allow for these perks. Until these are offered, towing and recovery is in many cases merely a job to get a person through a certain point of their life. And with what many people are offered in return for the required experience, knowledge, education, and training that is all it will ever be.

I am against towers being designated as first responders due to the poor choices in work habits that many operators present. As far as liability, it is a sad fact that those who follow the rules have to carry the burden of high insurance to cover owners and operators who do not work with safety in mind. Even after they are given the opportunity to be properly trained, and have proper techniques demonstrated. I really would like to see all unsafe operations fail, go out of business, and be a distant memory. Then the extra burden will be off the shoulders of those who have the desire to run their business the proper way. And operators as a whole will be much safer.

Disrespectful to clowns. They have a purpose and are funny.