DodgeTowGuy134

I'm still here too

I'm still here!

In the long and short of it YES. Yes, it's available to a Towing & Roadside company that services a law enforcement/fire-rescue rotation list.. You'll get setup as an "extended user" on FirstNet and get setup as your own "agency account" since you'll be paying the bill. You'll need a letter/email from the rotation list authority (sheriff/highway patrol/county commissioners/ local police) stating that you provide your services via the rotation list and as such you are supporting the public safety and services... That's how the process works to qualify.

Still here

Here's an article about how insurance companies are pushing all parties involved with a claim to take photos, "in effort to streamline the process" but what's in it for you and who you should or shouldn't participate as a tow company in providing photos of a wrecked vehicle and crash scene..also, remember that if you do provide photos, that IS a SERVICE and you CAN bill for it! https://www.dig-in.com/opinion/5-reasons-to-invest-in-digital-photo-enabled-claims?fbclid=IwAR3Pi3_oqAW9wZYxoP0lD0t9xi35JKuBh7WaRbd8mQP88FJFPwWp91QBm08

Insurance Risk Services of Georgia finds that Motor Clubs lack financial responsibility, accountability and expose motorists to great financial risks! Here's an article about the low rates and poor operational viewpoints based on the "motor club model" of dispatching services for vehicle manufactures and insurance companies; it's worth a read! I'd also encourage sharing this article via your social media and by email to help spread the work and risks associated with Motor Clubs. https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2022/02/22/2388874/0/en/Insurance-Risk-Services-of-Georgia-finds-roadside-assistance-towing-programs-lack-financial-responsibility-accountability-and-expose-motorists-to-great-financial-risks.html

Still here and checking in

I'm glad to still be around here

Geico Coach-Net/Pinnacle NAC Allstate Urgently Honk Quest Agero/Swoop NSD Allied

I happened upon your post and saw that nobody else had responded yet, so here goes.... We do indeed use BodyCams on all of our drivers in the field and we have found that it has helped tremendously with multiple things, from liability to faud and reported damage complaints. In this day and age of people looking for a quick buck with a fake damage claim to a claim of inappropriate behavior, we have found that using a high quality bodycam has been as extremely positive tool for us! Although there are CHEAP and low/poor quality options out there, we went with the Hytera brand of Body Cameras, because they have many built-in features and are high quality, not only with the physical construction (built rugged) but the high quality video and audio that also has an auto-switching Night Vision with IR lighting. Plus, they have bluetooth pairing and a swivel head that allows for many carry options. We have the nylon cases with either a metal sprung steel clip or a nylon belt loop option for our drivers. The cases we use are Raine/Uncle Mikes brand that fit the body cameras. For the actual models, we use both the Hytera VM680 and the VM780. The VM780 also has the ability to use a cellular SIM card with the PTT option for communication and streaming the video live, whereas the VM680 is more of a standalone option. We get ours from BodyCameraUSA (www.BodyCameraUSA.com) via their online store, but the actual tech specs for the VM680 and VM780 are also available on their website and on the Hytera manufacture website. Like I said, there are cheaper options that are NOT built to a high quality design that could live up to the rugged use and beatings that a tow operator typically subjects the equipment to... We tried other cheaper options and were highly disappointed, either due to not being rugged enough and having broken or to extremely poor video/audio or no Night Vision option. For us, the Hytera VM680 and VM780 have been the way to go. We've been using them for just over a year not are they have saved us from multiple fake damage claims, fake customer complaints against our staff and also by using the audio only recording option, have come in handy for our tow operators being able to record their telephone calls. On another note, we have had truck mounted cameras, but we've found that the body cameras actually allow us far better coverage, by following the actions being down by the tow op on scene, whereas a stationary truck mounted camera can't capture the live footage while working in a ditch that's over a hillside. This has allowed us to be able to fully document live footage of working wrecks, recovery work and the regular daily tows. Plus be added a dash mount clip to allow the tow op to clip their body cam to the dash and can record either the forward facing (road view) or inside the cabin, which is handy when a male tow op is transporting a passenger (such as a pretty young girl) that allows us the ability to document the interaction and prevent exposure to a claim of inappropriate talk or touch... We use them to take still photos for documentation of scenes and vehicle conditions, as well as the live video recordings. Being able to record audio only is handy to capture telephone calls if you use your phone on speakerphone. We can plug the cameras into the USB cord and upload the video and audio clips to our office computer for long term storage. Plus the cameras are tamper proof, meaning that the video and audio recordings can NOT be deleted by any user of the device and can ONLY be deleted via an Admin user of the management software. This has also allowed us the ability to make sure we get all the photos and videos of a scene, instead of having our employees using their personal phones and having them email/text the photos/videos to our manager, so this process is much more streamlined by just using these body cameras as an All-in-One device. If you're also looking for an option that will allow you to use them like a two-way radio (such as the Nextel) then the VM780 with a cellular SIM card can allow these to be an All-in-One solution. The $$$ spent on the body cameras has saved us far much more $$$$$$$$ on fake claims and internal (employee problems). I'd recommend to check their website (www.BodyCameraUSA.com) and offerings and go from there, but again, remember the saying, "You get what you pay for" and know that the Hytera body cameras are high quality rugged built devices that can stand up to the harsh work environment and weather conditions of our towing & recovery industry.

Checking in here

Checking in...

Congrats on 20-years here!

I'm still here

I encourage those on this network to support TowForce.net via patron/sponsorship! Our industry NEEDS this type of online forum to be able to collectively network with other tow companies from across the country! It's these types of efforts that our industry NEEDS to leverage to help unify our industry and pull it from the broken factions that we operate and to encourage comradely and communication among our industry. We NEED TO UNITE AND WORK TOGETHER TO ACTIVELY PROTECT OUR INDUSTRY! IF WE FAIL TO DO SO, THEN THOSE WHO SEEK TO CONTROL OUR INDUSTRY FOR THEIR BENEFIT WILL CONTINUE TO SWOOP IN AND CAPITALIZE, RESULTING IN BROAD MARKET DOMINANCE, WHILE STOMPING ON OUR VOICES! IF WE FAIL AT THIS TASK, OUR INDUSTRY WILL LOOK A WHOLE LOT DIFFERENT IN 10-15 YEARS FROM NOW! PLEASE HEED MY WARNING! We need to work to again have to open dialogues and discussions that we once had on Tow411. I fully acknowledge that our lives ever continue to become "busier and busier" with work, family life and all those other daily tasks and priorities that we place on ourselves. Even state associations are faced with the lack of membership and participation from our industry. It's important to recognize the opportunity we have to grow our industry, *IF* we can work together! Those who come against us are many, from the insurance industry to the motor clubs and the new landscape of the "app based motor club". I implore you to "get involved", both here on this forum and with your state association! Through unity of our collective voices, we *CAN* accomplish much more than those who come against us may recognize! Get Involved, our industry depends on it!