To Grumps the Towman and the other current supporters who have asked how they can help. It's all good, this is just one promotion and there will be other opportunities the contribute. The funds that you already contribute annually will assist us later to reach and exceed this goal without needed to beg for funds. TowForce has had to cut back over the past several years. We're not currently a Museum Member however we still want to do our small part for the fund. Our hope is next year the funds are back on track to attend industry events when they return. One of the programs in demand is to return the program where we gave someone a Hall of Fame Weekend Trip. That was a fantastic program and several members went to Chattanooga for the first time because of the opportunity. We're on track, members will step up to the plate the industry has not gone dark we're just going through a difficult time. This has touched all of us, but look at the activity level here. Never Give Up! Thank You...

1) Hector Ramos has upgraded from Patron I to Patron III

2) precisiontowingri is now a Patron III Member

TowForce will donate $131.25 to the Survivor Fund. Let's Keep It Going!

 

It appears Investigators are still trying to piece together what led up to the shooting.

Just to note for those that disagree with the manner these funds are being secured here. The Goal is a Low $400.00 we do this type of promotion to support the Survivor Fund a maximum of two times a year. This is likely the only time this has been offered this year and it only involves new supporters only. Should we not reach the goal I will seek other ways to fulfill the annual commitment. Now You Know! Thanks

How many new supporters were signed up during this promotion to secure funds for the Survivor fund. NONE

 

I don't know if it the current state of the industry or just society. But, 20 years ago when asked non supporters turned out in numbers. Just 10 years ago those number dropped and today as TowForce nears the high levels of both traffic and topics we can't achieve a goal of $400 which those on the outside would see as pennies. While we would like to see this number to be 10 times larger, these are not pennies to those who are giving them.

 

So once again I ask for non supporters to assist us in reaching the $400 Goal on PRIME DAY.

 

These Codes are Valid Prime Day Only:

 

TF25OFF for First Time Patron I, Patron II and Patron III

 

TF50OFF for First Time Bronze, Silver, Gold, Gold Plus and Platinum

 

Note: These Discount Codes will be valid for 48 hours starting now.

 

10.12.20 - 07:31pm

A Lack of Mental Wellness is a HUGE Problem. Officers often do not have anyplace to take the mentally ill who are a danger to themselves and society. Back in the 60's and 70's these facilities were well funded. In the 80's & 90's the funding was limited and those in society were told it was wrong to commit these citizens. The result is they ended up on the streets or in a domestic situation they are incapable of coping with...

The ACLU has made it possible for these types to taunt & harass police officers as they preform their duties. The officers could find a reason to arrest a subject such as this but when the courts will not back them. It isn't worth it. So, just ignore them and they finally move on and that may be a reason he didn't go after the female tow truck driver. Also, I feel he was intimated with her from the get go.

 

Now I have shared this video on a FB page. The Drivers on that page and here are the comments I got before the topic fell down the page.

 

Why? Why did you share this disaster of a person harassing people?

 

If you can't tolerate the entire video then I say skip to the end as you're missing the point.

 

This is a scenario you could easily find yourself in, how will you handle it?

 

Will you totally ignore the person with the camera phone or will you get in there face. There is an in between, however I know plenty of old school tow ops that would want to push the person out of the way if in their way. The person would then want to sue, might even pretend to fall. That's a PayDay for them, don't be the victim.

 

To tell me I can walk around is going to bring out a fury for their camera. Walk around, yeah right! Are You In A Stand Your Ground State?

Anyone recognize the location of this event?

 

 

Sorry, I was not able to share this LIVE on TowForce last night.

While it would be safe to bet it is towing related for tow companies in the state of California...

 

 

"If they do not know how to inspect a tool then they need to be trained how to, which they should be anyway!"

 

You do realize the this is the towing industry we're discussing and that training isn't always a high priority. So, what makes anyone think that doing a Pre Trip or being trained to properly inspect the equipment and correct problems before they become major issues is a high priority.

 

It would be good to hear who here requires a daily inspection and who is expected to fill out a daily inspection.

"Ultimately the person in the seat is responsible for the truck and equipment. Ask any DOT officer."

 

I agree 100% as it is the drivers responsibility to conduct the pre trip inspection and take responsibility for seeing those issues are corrected. It is then managements responsibility to see that is it done. However, DOT is not concerned with management when issuing citations or taking a unit out of service. Therefore when a driver determines a vehicle has an issue that would be a violation that unit should be taken out of service by the driver until service can be completed an the issue resolved. Such things as dolly bearings and non working A/C would not be covered though should be an equally important part to the proper maintenance of company equipment for an extended life. 

So, it often depends on the size of the towing company as to the requirement of the driver to preform mechanical maintenance and repairs to the equipment beyond the normal driver skill level. Such tasks in companies with 3 or more units needs to be preformed by an actual mechanic in an actual shop devoted to the maintenance of the equipment. Some companies have shops that preform maintenance on other vehicles as well. I know of a few that only work on their accounts equipment and do their towing & transport. Several companies have a couple of mechanics of which one can jump into a truck when needed. It depends on the size of the company.

 

A Tow Truck Operator inspects the equipment daily and fills out a daily a daily inspection sheet and turns it in. That Driver notifies management when there is a problem such as a bearing needing repair. The driver greases the equipment between PM's aka Service Intervals.

 

It is a Drivers responsibility to keep their equipment clean and in good working order. You've heard the expression Rode Hard and Put Away Wet?

 

"The expression "rode hard and put away wet" refers to a person who looks worn out or unwell. "Ridden hard and put up wet" is another variation on the same phrase. ... The phrase itself is derived from horseback riding. When a horse is forced to run quickly, it works up a sweat."

 

Personally, I can preform basic mechanical tasks, nothing that requires tools I do not have access to. I have not repacked a bearing in years and since we have been adding the Lube Dust Caps often referred to by the brand name Bearing Buddy greasing them has been a regular part of the daily inspection. If a company were to expect me to be a mechanic when the hired a tow truck operator I would have to find another company as they would not be happy with my limited skills and the time it takes to preform them. Not that I don't want to, I just simply don't have that skill set and never worked to develop it.

 

Now, lets talk a about that daily inspection sheet and the purpose behind it. These sheets need to be reviewed within a day or two and never more than a week. Major issues are brought to the attention of management often in this industry that is an owner. Although, many companies have a manager or a lead. Each company will be different depending on size. "There is not a One Size Fits All in the Towing Industry" 

 

Let's look back as the non working A/C unit discussion. It seemed the driver had taken the proper steps to get it repaired. In each of these instances once an issue has been noted on the daily inspection sheet a service date need to be assigned within a reasonable amount of time. Even if the next date available for service is a week away. An pray the dispatcher doesn't send that truck out on a major account where the owner of that company has been waiting on the side of the road for an extended amount of time in 100 degree temps. Something like that reflects poorly on the company and has cost tow companies major accounts over the years. I know many don't get it because their seems to e a gap in both driver relations and customer relations. It boils down to a combination of good management and marketing! Same with the bad dolly bearing that was reported, whose shoulder does this fall on in your company?

 

Does your company have an extra set of dollies or one side of the dolly set. Most do not but it can be a good idea, however it is an added expense most companies cannot justify as a stock item.

 

OK, this one hits close to home as I have had years of experience in the area of maintaining Dollies. Part of that is a regular inspection of the bearings, now most drivers either rely on a company mechanic to check the bearings when preforming a PM (Preventative Maintenance) Service.

 

When this is done and the dolly bearings are repacked properly this lowers the odds of bearing issues. The problem is few ever take the time to take the dollies apart and repack the bearing, I do not have access to a shop nor authorization to repack the dollies so we kept going through them. When the dollies were moved from the top of the bed to under body dolly bunks the issues increased. Finally the dollies have been moved back up on top with swing out mounts. And after years of trying our shop finally installed Lubed Dust Caps. Having these allows the driver to grease the dolly bearings as they grease the truck regularly. While the dolly bearing do not require grease as often as other working parts they should be inspected regularly.

 

Note: be careful not to over grease these lubed bearing protectors as it could cause a larger issue. So, in some cases it should be taken care of during the PM.

UPDATED TODAY at 11AM:

 

Fortuna Tow Truck Driver Suffers Major Injuries in Highway 36 Crash, CHP Says

 

 

On 10-06-2020, at approximately 1:35 p.m., Humboldt Area CHP responded to a single-vehicle collision on State Route 36 east of Riverside Park Drive.

 

A preliminary investigation by CHP revealed that 59-year-old David Mangin of Fortuna was driving a 2016 Dodge Ram flatbed tow truck eastbound on State Route 36, east of Riverside Park Road.

 

For unknown reasons, Mr. Mangin allowed the truck to travel off the north side of the road and collide with a large tree. Mr. Mangin suffered major injuries as a result of this collision.

 

Emergency medical personnel responded to the scene and subsequently transported Mr. Mangin to St. Joseph Hospital for treatment of his injuries. Impairment is not considered a factor in this collision.

 

The CHP Humboldt Area Office is continuing its investigation into this collision and asks anyone with information to contact the Humboldt Area CHP Office at 707-822-5981 or send an email to humboldt_area.humboldt_area@chp.ca.gov.

 

 

RESOURCE LINK

 

David Mangin

Because GLOCKS Do Not Have A Safety:

 

"Glock eliminated the need for a manual safety with their design. When carried in a proper holster (that holds the weapon securely and covers the trigger), by a properly trained individual (who keeps his/her finger off the trigger until ready to fire), it needs no manual safety to be safely manipulated."

 

A GLOCK is not for a novice or someone who does not carry their weapon in a holster.

Recently, I was reminded of this story from my days in marketing:

The man who sold very good hot dogs

There was once a man who lived by the side of the road and sold hot dogs.  He was hard of hearing so he had no radio - he had trouble with his eyes, so he read no newspapers and of course he didn't look at television.  But he sold very good hot dogs. He put up signs on the highway telling everyone how good they were, he stood on the side of the road and cried out to all that past 'buy a hot dog, they are the best in town'.

 

And people bought his hot dogs and he increased his meat and bun orders. He bought a bigger stove to take care of all the extra business. He finally got his son to come and help him out with his business. 

But then something happened, his son who had been well educated said . . . ' Father, haven't you been listening to the radio or reading the newspapers or watching television? There's a big recession happening right now. The current business situation is terrible in this country - we have problems with unemployment, high living costs, strikes, pollution, the influence of minorities and majorities, the rich, the poor, drugs, alcohol, capitalism and communism '.

 

Where upon his father thought, ' well my son's been well educated, he reads the papers, listens to the radio and watches television, so he ought to know '.

 

So his father cut down on his meat and bun orders, took down all his advertising signs and no longer bothered to stand by the side of the road to promote and sell his hot dogs, . . . . and his hot dog sales fell almost overnight.

 

'You're right, son' the father said 'we certainly are in the middle of a recession'

Author Unknown

 

This is but one of the few stories that I have carried throughout my life. The Optimist Creed is another and when someone says you can't do it. Tell them to just watch as you tackle that thing that couldn't be done. Successful Tow Operators do it all the time.

Don't get me wrong any Hard Hat is better than none. I simply prefer the Emergency Responder Helmets to Common Construction Hard Hats Hats. I have a couple of those and find that an insert in a ball car works nearly as well when I bump my head. It's the lack of a chin strap on a cheap hard hat that concerns me in the towing industry. I am sure John aka mushpeed can educate us on the UK standard.

I have to disagree with "Hard-hats are inexpensive"

 

While Hard Hats are inexpensive for the construction industry. Proper Protection for the towing industry is more expensive. Hard Hats protect from over head dangers and offer little if any protection from the sides or back.

 

 

 

 

        

 

I have thought numerous times of investing in a quality Hard Hat.

My choice would likely be the Safety Green one in the center.

 

 

 

A Viscous Circle is Right, although I rarely hear of this as much as say 10 or 20 years ago. Back then it seemed to be a regular occurrence in the towing industry. The automotive industry as a whole heard of it more back then. So, either the nuclear is more intact these days or those payments have become more stable. If an child support error does occur and they have numerous times. Fighting that error is time consuming, attempting to direct those child support funds to the appropriate needs of the child can be a nightmare. I used to know fathers that had to make sure the child was fed and clothed as additional funds for that purpose were not going to those needs. Now, like everything else most child support is paid and used properly. It's those that are not we hear about.

 

But, I will say there are far too many tow truck drivers that have past legal issues that can come back to haunt them. Tow Companies must do a better job of guiding these drivers, rather than looking the other way as it can actually lead to larger unrelated issues for the company.

Woman accidentally shot herself in leg, state police say

 

Devon King's girlfriend, who was in the vehicle when the crash happened, said

he tried to help her in that split-second; 'He is my hero and I miss him so much'

 

Friends, family and dozens of fellow tow-truck drivers gathered at the Innisfil ONroute today to mourn the death of Devon King, the 21-year-old man from Newmarket who died in hospital following Monday's vehicle rollover on Highway 400. 

 

A makeshift memorial has been set up near the scene of the deadly wreck. 

 

King, who was driving the truck and wasn't wearing a seatbelt, was ejected from the vehicle and landed on the grass following Monday's crash, which happened shortly before 8:30 a.m. 

 

Earlier this week, police said King vehicle lost control while trying to make a lane change and get into the ONroute facility where it entered the ditch and flipped. 

 

King’s girlfriend, 28-year-old Sara Avila of Wasaga Beach, was a passenger in the vehicle when the crash happened.

 

She was wearing her seatbelt and sustained minor injuries. 

 

Avila told NewmarketToday that, if nothing else, she wants people to know that he thought of her in that split-second moment.

“He stuck his arm across the seat and held me back as best he could,” she said, tears streaming down her face. “My face bounced once off the dash, but it may have been much worse.

 

"He is my hero and I miss him so much.”

 

Avila said she and King had been together for about a year. Just this past week, she had professed how deeply she loved him.

 

“There was a seven-year difference between us and he was always trying to prove he was mature enough to be with me," she said. "I realized this past few weeks just how much I loved him and now I’ve lost him. I hope he can see how many people loved him here today.”

 

 

More than 100 tow-truck drivers made the trek to the Innisfil ONroute parking lot — many representing several different companies and from as far away as Brampton — to pay their respects. 

 

Taylor Sowerby, who works for Luxury Towing out of Richmond Hill, said King was one of his best friends.

 

Sowerby told NewmarketToday that he had talked to King not long before the crash, as they were going to “meet up for a coffee and a smoke” before starting their shifts Monday morning. 

 

“He was a jokester, always trying to put a smile on everyone’s faces,” Sowerby said. “Even with the dark skies we’re having, with COVID-19 being here and it being slow across the board for everyone, he would try and make every driver laugh as best he could.”

 

Sowerby and others erected a makeshift memorial on the grass at the Innisfil ONroute, which is located in the southbound lanes of Highway 400, just a few minutes south of Barrie. 

 

Acting Sgt. Dan Hunter, with the OPP's Highway Safety Division, said on Monday that the preliminary investigation had revealed that the driver was not wearing a seatbelt. Speed, drugs or alcohol were not factors in the crash, he said 

King lost control while trying to make a lane change to get into the ONroute facility, where the truck entered the ditch and flipped.

 

“It was just a lane change and a loss of control," Hunter said. 

 

Jason Coward was the second person on the scene after the crash. Although Coward said he didn’t know King well, he tried to comfort the injured young man until paramedics arrived.

 

“When I saw him lying there, I knew it wasn’t good," Coward told NewmarketToday. "I just told him to stay calm and that help was coming, but he was having a really hard time breathing and was in rough shape. He stopped breathing a couple of times and then came back around.

 

"It's really sad to hear that he’s gone," he added. 

 

A tow-truck driver himself, Coward was in a crash several years ago and said he often hears the negative things people say about the workers in the industry. But he hopes they also remember who they call when they need help on the roads.

 

“People talk s--t about us all the time, but we’re usually the first ones on the scene when they need assistance," he said. "What if it was your kid or your spouse who needed help? We’re here and we try to help. It's dangerous out here.

"I got crushed at Essa Road eight years ago, spent a year-and-a-half in a wheelchair and was told I wouldn’t walk again," Coward added. "Two years ago, I got back to work because I love this job and I love helping people so they’re not stranded in the middle of nowhere.”

 

Sowerby echoed those sentiments and hopes people have some compassion instead of being judgmental.

 

“At the end of the day, this is somebody’s son, a friend of mine and a brother to everyone here,” 

 

Sowerby said. “We’re not out here to blow through stop signs, blow across highways or out here being gangster like everyone paints us out to be. We’re out here doing our job in our trucks — our office — to make sure people are alive and get home OK.

 

“That's what Devon was doing and he wasn’t speeding or being reckless," he added. "It was an accident; they happen whether we like it or not. He was a good guy and I hope he is looking down at how loved he was and how a part of the industry he was.”

 

 

RESOURCE LINK

TOW or TREAT

WHEN: Saturday, October 24, 2020 at 5 PM – 9 PM

 

WHERE: 7700 Vine St, Cincinnati, OH 45216

 

DETAILS: Tow Truck version of trunk or treat. Let's bring the towing community together and put on a great show for the kids. There will be more details to come as we get closer to date.

Any questions feel free to ask. If you would be interested in putting a tow truck in this event please contact us to RSVP. Be safe out there and hope for a great turnout at this event.

 

HOSTS: Mikey Graves, David Cook, Greg Boyle, Justin Hamblin

 

https://www.facebook.com/events/478127216454890/

 

 

 

 

I don't know, but it would make a really interesting tow truck...

The kid was like squirrel and we are left wondering how that angle worked out. I would think the top of the cab would hit the top of the door. But I'm not good at math. LOL