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!

Depends on if users have their web browser setup to "remember" their login credentials... I know that I have my primary office computer workstation set to keep me logged in, but if I travel and visit here from one of my laptops or tablet/notebook computers that had been turned off for a while, that it might not do the "auto-login" when I visit the website. So, this "might" be one of the many possible reasons why.. Just providing some of my views.

Breaking free from the lockdown here!

I can say that APTO in Ohio is aware of the CISA document and has been in contact with our State and DC representatives to provide our input on the matter. Additionally, I'm aware that some Ohio based tow companies have also drafted their own netter and submitted them, such as Bill had done. I had also submitted a letter on behalf of my companies as well. I'm surprised that there haven't been any other responses to your request for comment here. -Tom

I'm just curious if PWOF is aware that their tentative dates to hold their show in June are in conflict with the new American Towman Games in Ohio that is going to be held during those dates.... I mention this as a matter of importance, so that vendors that have existing commitments with those dates are aware. Thank you for your time, attention and consideration.

As many others have already said, to get a credit card # from the customer upfront and bill for your "service call" (your time & mileage), then there would be a second CC charge for the actual services...On that note, one thing to be especially aware of if you take the CC# from the customer upfront and over the phone: Have some sort of process in place to help protect you from credit card chargebacks in these situations, especially if the customer doesn't notify you to cancel coming out the the location and they have another company onscene... What we do is two-fold. First, we have the customer take some pictures of the situation and email them to us, with a statement that they (the customer) is requesting us to come out to their location to provide service. Then, we generate an invoice through our credit card processor and email the invoice to the customer for the "service call" and require them to PAY in invoice with their CC.... The email serves as a written request for service and serves to affirm that they requested your services, thus justifying your "service call fee", especially when you get onscene and the customer refuses to sign any of your paperwork! That way, if the customer attempts to file a CC chargeback with their bank, you have written proof (via the email and photos) to submit as supporting documentation for your service call fee that was billed and that the customer, themselves paid online via entering their card info and paying the invoice. We have found this process to be exceptionally useful!

It looks as though others are having the same/similar issues/problems with NSD that we are having too... The state reps are GOA and UTL (Unable to Locate), they do NOT response to emails/phone calls and they are changed too frequently, likely due to the extremely high turnover rate at NSD. For YEARS, we have relied on PATRICK as being the ONLY reliable/constant contact at NSD NSD did have the potential to be/continue to be a great motor club to PARTNER with (Notice that I said "Partner" with and NOT "work for"), but due to their decline in proper vendor relationship management with the network providers, I see that NSD has been and continues to be slipping away from their position within the motor club marketplace.

Do most tow companies prefer DIGITAL dispatching or traditional Voice dispatching (via telephone, radio,etc) ?? I'm curious to know if many companies are making the transition into the digital age to embrace technology or if they are long clinging to the ways of the past.

Just curious how many provide a company owner phone or tablet to your drivers vs how many allow your employees to BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) such as their personal cell phone or tablet to use for running the Digital Dispatches and such for your company. There's pros/cons to both sides of this: - Employees care more about THEIR phone/tables, and will take better care of it to not damage it vs, if it's not theirs, they don't care if they break it - Potential for an employee to assert a claim against you IF their equipment gets broken in the course of their work, then you might be on the hook for paying for the replacement, vs, company owned equipment is company owned equipment - Tracking & Privacy: With the Digital Dispatching and other apps that track your location, there's a concern about breach of privacy for the employee potentially always being "followed" the the GPS/App, unless they log out of it on their personal device, vs, company owned equipment can always be tracked (as a company asset) and can be left at home while off-duty/not working. So what are you doing? Is your company providing the phone/tablet to your employees or are you allowing your employees to use their own device with your software/App/Digital Dispatch?? Thanks for your responses in advance!

We all are aware of the digital dispatching options and the push by the motor clubs for providers to go digital... Why, because it allows them to cut THEIR costs! They don;t have to have call center reps calling providers, instead the computer does the work and sends the dispatches out... That said, on the towing/roadside assistance company side, I'm curious how others are either embracing the change and options of technology vs staying with the long standing dispatching methods. The old method goes with the pen/paper and calling the drivers to give them the dispatch info for a job. So you're drivers have to pull over each time to get the job details, as it's not permitted to text or be on the phone and drive a CMV. Next option is to email/text the job to their phone, but there's problems with that, as it's not permitted to "text or be on a cell phone while driving a CMV" Link here:-> https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/regulations/rulemaking/2010-23861 Third option is to use radios and do dispatching via voice over a two-way radio system that you either own or lease access to. Problem is that it has a limited coverage area, so if your driver/truck goes outside your service area of coverage, the radio stops working.. Fourth option is the newer digital dispatch and App based platforms, but still again, the drivers and the dispatcher in your office still need to communicate, so you're either back to calling them on the phone or radio or pulling over to text the office... I've seen a few options where it "looks" like a two-way radio for your truck, but it's actually a cell-phone with a Push-to-Talk feature, so you could be based in Florida, and drive to Texas and still be able to use the truck "radio (which is a cell phone with Push-to-talk) and communicate with all of your drivers/dispatch and office while you were long haul trucking to Texas... While this sounds good initially, I do see some inherent flaws in the implementation with this approach. First, it REQUIRES that you have a cellular service connection for it to work! So if you drive thru an area with limited/spotty coverage or lose service, then it stops working..because it's not a real radio, but instead it uses the LTE cellular network.. Secondly, it's an additional cell line of service for each and every unit you have one mounted in to use it, so if you have 9 trucks, 7 service vehicles, 3 support units, plus supervisors/owners and your dispatch offices, then that can VERY quickly add up for having A LOT of cellular lines of service, just to be able to that option...Third, although it's a "cellular radio" that's ALL it can do is the Push-to-Talk, it can't download or run ANY apps! So why pay for all those lines of cellular service if it's not even a real and full functional smart phone?! and on the flip side compared to real two-way radios, those have their limitations, as I already pointed out above! Is anyone using any other solution? That allows VOICE dispatching..... I don't think there are many companies that still use two-way radios for dispatching and I see that trend continuing to go down, so with technology, what are others doing, besides just calling on the phone? So, what are others thoughts and what are others doing to dispatch? I believe that real-time VOICE dispatch is NEEDED and I'm curious what others are doing. Thanks in advance for your responses!

As others have said, motor club work can be a mixed bag, but also depends on where you're located (city/rural) and how many other tow companies are close to you. You NEED to have a well laid out plan in place, along with KNOWING AND UNDERSTANDING YOUR costs & expenses! Also remember this important point:-> VOLUME DOES NOT ALWAYS = $$$....Unless that volume is at a RATE$$$ that also pays enough to cover all of your costs, plus leaves some profit margin!