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-

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!

Good stuff!

Thanks for the discount!

Wow you guys almost wore it out before you got the graphics put on her. Nice truck

Man I wish I could get some of my drivers to move that fast!

Nice job.

Nice recovery Matt. You guys make it look easy.

Or - - When everyday bad attitudes and circumstances try to bury your ass- shake it off and keep on stomping along!

1982 Peterbilt 359 with 300" c/a Air-ride  and 750 Holmes on the back end. That old truck floated down the road.

Seriously though I've never had a Hino buy my Freightliners are superior in ride of my International. 

George, 

Towbook has a free trial of a month I think. (Then $49 a month.) My son set it all up in a couple of days and the Towbook people have been very attentive to any problems we had.

Holly's Towing Dispatch might be an alternative for you although I have no idea what she charges. http://hollystowingdispatch.com/

That way you can concentrate on towing and let the dispatch service talk to the overseas dispatchers lining up work for you.

Congratulations on 50 years!

I remember my father and I traveled down from Indiana to try and buy a big old tri-axle heavy duty truck you had for sale, probably 35-40 years ago. We didn't get together on the truck but looking at all your trucks and swapping stories between Irvin my father was awesome. 

I always liked the orange and white trucks and looked for them anytime we traveled through Kentucky.

Wes,

FYI- The Myrtle Beach and Evansville links don't work.

Thought you would want to know.

Answering my own question or updating everyone that replied:

I spoke with Fattmerchant and Square about it. We spoke with Towbook at Atlantic City and the told us about they were integrating with Square. We had been using smaller handheld machines from PNC Bank branded Clover. When we called them to see what our obligations were prior to cancelling the service and they advised we could buy more of the handhelds but no other solution they were aware of. Then one of the office ladies ran across the "Clover App" that works on all of our company issued ipads for each driver. This has been a great solution for us so far although we will likely migrate to square with integration to Towbook when that happens.

Thanks for all the great replies everyone and Randy I have one of those old back and forth swipers on the shelf in the back room just in case we have another y2k or the like.

On 9/9/2019 at 12:43 AM, Orcas Tow said:

I have never in my 30 years towing had Gojaks, always used skates to load locked up vehicles, skate on skate for transition on deck, windshield washer solvent mixed with Dawn dishwashing liquid for lube going off deck, sometimes pushing truck out from under vehicle when unloading, etc... I came upon a used set of Gojaks & thought it might make my job easier, loaded a 2019 locked up Range Rover today & had nothing but difficulty with the Gojaks making the transition up the deck, finally gave up on them & used good old skates. Just didn't seem to be the easier way loading on a deck. Any tips/suggestions or send them down the road? Thanks.

 

 

If you have 4 of the "green" Wreck Master skates you can flip them over and set the edge of your flatbed on them making a smooth transition or ramp for the go-jacks. We almost always use the skates and save the go-jacks for cars parked in tight spots that have to be removed carefully. We keep them on on our small tow trucks in go-hack racks with nice covers over them. The tow truck responds to assist the carrier driver and there is 2 of them on scene to help move the car that way.

PB Blaster, antifreeze, cooking oil, lard etc can always work in a pinch too- it just doesn't look real professional to the customer if they are watching.

Welcome

They add those for use at racetracks where a vehicle such as a sprint car needs to be lifted completely off the ground. The cars only weigh 1200 lbs or so- I wouldn't try to lift more than that with the one on your truck.

Gods Speed to you Dale! Our condolences to your family and friends.

Such a shame... thoughts and prayers to the family and friends

We have had every motor club (except aaa) take advantage of our generosity and eagerness to help people in need in similar ways just like that. They will even get the supervisor on the line who PROMISES to pay the extra amount but when you submit it they send you the regular fee and claim nobody can authorize the amount in which you had agreed upon. Sorry it happened to you but that seems to be the way it goes.

ALSO customers in need will call every company that will respond to them and not bother to cancel the in route companies when the first one shows up. This is an incredible waste of resources and time.

Kim02 said:

Nice job. I usually tow those from the bumper. Use medium forks inward of frame where the braces tie into the pull plate. A heavy rubber square with 2 tabs cut each end lays inside the fork to keep from scratching bumper. Gives more clearance & you aren't lifting as much weight.

Kim02 - You took the words out of my mouth- that method saves lifting twice blocking up wheels etc too.

Nice looking truck Waffco. How do you like the roll up doors?

Most companies with any call volume prefer digital dispatching. When I say that I mean using gps and a platform like towbook. I don't think very many of them allow the motor clubs to track their trucks and dispatch the "closest one" to their call. I doubt that will ever catch on although the clubs all have a pipe dream that it will someday.