ProTower

Ed is giving you some reality in his post. Motor club work should be thought of as "overtime" would be to a factory job. Definitely not something you can base your business on while hoping for something else. That being said you need to get Towbook or similar software to utilize what motor-club work you can get. If you have it contact them and tell them you would like to have the ability for the motor-clubs to send you calls directly based on your GPS location so when you go on a long tow you might pick up a return tow or road service on the way back. Take the ones you can make money on and turn down the losers, nobody can force you to lose money. Don't expect to get a lot of replies on this subject as there is no real answer to your question. Everyone that is successful has obviously found a way to do it and most of the time it was just very hard work and sacrifice that got them there. Good luck and feel free to reach out if you have any questions that I might help you answer.

Happy New Year from Indiana Looking forward to a safe and productive 2023 for everyone.

Managing our battery inventory has just become my responsibility and honestly I’m struggling a bit with it. We have multiple service vehicles servicing vehicle roadside 5 to 10 batteries per day and I need a system to help me track my inventory, sales and warranty batteries. I know there’s a lot of good companies on here and I’m hoping someone else has already solved this problem and is willing to share with me. I made an Excel spreadsheet and I have it somewhat functional but there’s no way anyone else will be able to use it in its present form. That means no days off for vacation for me. 😬

Hello Fellow Towers, Have any of you signed up for the AT&T FirstNet Service? Is it available to towing companies that respond to emergencies? I'm planning to check it out further but wondered if anyone else had any experience with it.

When I use the 8 point tie downs the straps never touch the wheels on the outside. Maybe the chips were already there?

It is pretty senseless that anyone has to lose their life to such an event. I drive a heavy duty truck when I am out of the office and it astounds me to see how many drivers are typing away on those little cellphones as they pass me all day long. I would say it is 90% of passenger vehicles that go by me on the interstates. Sad.

Hello and Happy New Year! Glad to be a small part of this great community. I really enjoy reading and learning about all the recovery techniques everyone uses. I also like to look at the new equipment photos but I wish everyone would put prices on them. I understand why they don't wish to list them but it would greatly add to my "window shopping" experience.

Very nice looking unit.

I don't see any donuts warmer or coffee pot cabinet. The police are not going to be very happy about that. ☺️

All in a days work for Ron Pratt!

Great recovery! Was the bulk tank empty?

I agree completely also. How ironic is it that it’s illegal to move a tow truck with the lights on in Ohio and Illinois it’s illegal to move a loaded tow truck without the lights on. And Indiana really doesn’t seem to care either way.

Sorry to hear of your Dad passing. May he RIP. Thanks for the billing advise on the grain recovery job a couple months ago too.

Nice recovery. What were the trucks you used for it?

Nice looking heavy you got there.

Happy Anniversary! “My, how the years have flown,But there was a timeBack in my primeWhen I could really hold my own”. - Toby Keith

If someone knows whom to speak to at Hurst; please ask them what we can do to help. We are in Indiana but would do whatever we can from here. We have 2 light towers and several trucks we might deploy.

Thankfully you were not injured! Our company has been on the receiving end of the same stupid drivers 3 times over the past 30 years totaling out all 3 trucks. Thank GOD nobody was injured but 2 of the trucks were less than 6 months old at the time.

Some more good ones now that you guys have me thinking: "No good deed goes unpunished" "There's a light at the end of the tunnel" - followed by: "But I'm afraid it might be the train" I heard this from a State Trooper about the rednecks with jacked up 4x4 trucks: "Truck height is inversely proportionate to penis length" "That is what I was shooting for" - used when your results didn't turn out as planned.

That's why they are required to honk before backing up 🤣

"Living the dream"

Flares don't always work either: Be safe out there. Trooper Struck While Investigating Crash on I-80 HAMMOND- For the third time in as many weeks, an Indiana State Trooper has been struck while investigating a prior crash. This morning at 4:07 a.m., troopers from the ISP Lowell Post were investigating a multiple vehicle crash on I-80/94 eastbound at the 1.7 mile-marker. As a result of this crash, the right three lanes were blocked as one of the vehicles stalled and was unable to be moved from the lane. Preliminary investigation by Sgt. Dwayne Dillahunty and Trooper Nicole Maenza shows that Trooper Jarah Burgin parked his fully marked police car behind the disabled vehicle with its emergency lights activated. He also placed approximately 30 flares on the roadway to block the lanes. This is done for several safety reasons, including to alert drivers of the blocked lanes as well as to provide additional warning lighting at the scene. There were also at least three other police cars at the scene with their emergency lights activated. As Trp. Burgin was standing outside of his police car and about to enter it, a tan 2007 Buick disregarded the flares and lighting and struck the 2020 Dodge Charger police car. The Buick then struck Trp. Burgin, catapulting him into the air and striking the windshield of the Buick before the vehicle eventually stopped. Trp. Burgin’s handcuffs were lodged in the windshield of the Buick. Troopers at the scene immediately began to render aid to both Trp. Burgin as well as the driver of the Buick, Jennifer A. Spikes, 35, from Gary, IN. Both patients were transported to Community Hospital in Munster. Trp. Burgin sustained serious injuries but is expected to make a full recovery. As a result of the crash, evidence at the scene led troopers to believe that alcohol may be a factor. Ms. Spikes was offered field sobriety tests as well as a certified chemical test for intoxication and drugs, but she refused all tests. A search warrant for a blood draw was requested through the Lake County Prosecutor’s Office. Once approval by a judge was obtained, the search warrant was executed, and a blood draw was completed. The results of that test are pending. Jennifer Spikes was later released from the hospital and transported to the Lake County Jail. She is preliminary charged with the following: O.W.I. Causing Injury- Level 5 Felony O.W.I. Endangering a Person- Class A Misdemeanor O.W.I. – Class C Misdemeanor Driving While Suspended Causing Injury- Level 6 Felony Failing to Yield to Emergency Vehicle- Infraction All persons named in this release are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in court. All charges mentioned are merely accusations, actual charges will be determined by the Lake County Prosecutor's Office. -30- Stay Connected with the Indiana State Police:

Looks like the BMW's have highjacked your original thread here. I ran across your thread while looking for more info on removing the new Freightliner and Volvo drivelines, they have bolts and nuts instead of the normal set up of 12 point bolts through the bearing cap or straps to secure them. I agree 100% that something more needs to be done about this than the truck manufacturer applying decals warning you the transmission will be damaged if the driveshafts or axles are not removed prior to moving the vehicle. The companies that unknowingly purchase these trucks are the same ones that will scream about the time and labor it takes to tow them properly. We lock the tractor brakes and pull the tractor out from under the trailer so it can be rear towed. Then we use a semi tractor to tow the trailer to safety. The companies feel like you are merely running up the bill on them but they still have to pay it.

RIP Vicki 1980 seems like it was not so long ago...at least to me

Here in Indiana ready for duty!