TowZone

I continue to hear the same two responses on social media.

1. Tow Truck Drivers need a special license. I wonder what that special license would do other than create another government agency. When an industry looks to government to resolve it's issues. It often creates more issues.

2. Training is Expensive and they a driver moves on as this is not a career for most new hires. State Associations could make a difference use CTTA and the Texas Associations as examples of an ongoing effort. Problem with that is the majority of tow companies in other states are not members or are not active in the association. I once gave up on promoting association membership. If we can throw on the attitudes & egos that may be the only thing that can save us.

Just my ramblings, sorry to subject our readers to my continuous dribble of nonsense!

This is obviously a SCAM and I fail to understand why Motor Clubs even entertain such accusations. Obviously they do not have qualified adjusters to tell the person to pound sand that is obviously wear and tear on an older vehicle. Anyone of us can tell that is old damage. I would not hesitate to say the scratches inside the door are from a loose seat belt.

Agero, was doing good in the poll early on. But, continue to fall because of reports such as these. Don't the motor clubs have enough real issues to deal with not to chase stuff like this?

Oh, how I do miss Philip. His was a positive voice of hope and reason. He sought out the positives in the industry and worked for others to make changes. We have seen so many of these industry professional pass through our community over the past 20 years. I am positive a new generation will step up to the plate, however lacking the guidance of those who had been active members that will require bring their work back. Lacking their further interaction we will need more members which have the knowledge to guide them.

Know that I will always respect those I know have past by adding in Memory of prior to their screen name. God Bless Philip and others.

A man who on Monday stole a car with children inside from a Rocklin auto repair shop had been released from jail earlier that day, according to the Placer County Sheriff's Office. Charles Hall, 33, of Live Oak, is facing charges of kidnapping, carjacking, committing a felony while out on bail and auto theft in connection with the Monday evening incident at Knutz Auto and Truck repair shop on Industrial Avenue in Rocklin, according to the Placer County Sheriff's Office. His bail was set at $480,000, according to an online inmate log. Get the full story in the video above.

RESOURCE LINK with video

The Loss of 2 Tow Truck Operators within 24 hours is difficult to comprehend. Though it has happened before I do not recall every hearing of such tragedy on New Years Eve & New Years Day. Our thoughts are with the Illinois Family, Friends and Co-Workers. we just can't make it though a month without losing a Tow Operator now this is the first in 2020 and the first in the around decade which shows no signs that we will find relief of our industry losses. God Bless!

Randall, hope this is what information you are seeking as in both news reports it was stated that:

"Authorities were called about 6 a.m. to eastbound I-290 near Ninth Avenue, Illinois State Police said. A tow truck driver was towing cars from an earlier crash when they were hit by a vehicle."

I am going to keep my thoughts brief as I have worked with this good man for many years. I got word of the tragic event that has taken this Tow Operators Life early this morning. The phone started ringing and I had numerous texts, several making sure I was not involved. My shift had ended and I was home when the event took place. I haven't added my Thoughts & Prayers as this loss is very hard to except. I have been in shock most of the day and now the reality sets in.

I want to wish everyone a Happy New Year, though our New Year is not Happy having tragically lost a member of our unit. Please remind everyone on your team of the dangers we face and though they have heard it numerous times tell them to be safe out there. None of us know when we will be effected directly by such a loss. Yet, we all know it can happen when we least expect it. God Bless

Updated: 11:39 AM, Dec 30, 2019  - SEE ORIGINAL POST ABOVE

goodmichael, I believe Jim B was focused on the First Responder Designation aspect. It seems that all the aspects of the dialog here come back to the Knowledge based Training through Education.

One thought that has come to mind would be that a First Responder would be in a vehicle which has proper equipment to expedite or respond code 3 to a situation. There are a few Companies which have such permission from their local authorities to use it appropriately when requested. That means Lights and Siren. Code 3 is Speed, for a Tow Truck that such just be stepped up from normal driving. I have such authorization, equiped with Lights & Siren and cannot tell you the last time I turned on my Siren. Likely, it was a wrong way driver a few weeks ago. I have been able to stop 3 wrong way drivers in the last 20 years and I didn't have a truck equipped with a siren at that time. Not a Fan of the Siren, for the fact that someone could say you used it improperly. So, I would have to be responding code in a situation that regards it. Since less than half of my responses are priority I do not consider myself a First Responder as such. Can you hold First Responder designation on a Part Time bases. I don't think so, but it is possible.

Several New & Returning Sponsors have requested Sponsorship Information in the past 30 days.

Deep Discounts are still available, however time is running out as the board continues regeneration.

Those still considering a TowForce Sponsorship have until January 6, 2020 to confirm your sponsor status.

New Patrons are also being requested, as we have funding requirements which exceed our current funds.

https://www.towforce.net/subscriptions/

In all my years there is one contributing factor. That is the relationship between the Tow Operator and the Officer. When they call and I show up on scene then the recovery and transport part of the incident become my scene. HATS is a great video which should be mandatory for every professional responding to these scenes. The officer knows when I show up I know what I am doing and sometimes ask how they can help. Most often they just wait to see if I need any assistance, they know I will ask.

The problem the tow industry has is a high turn over of drivers which are rarely trained in the proper manner to respond to a traffic incident. This has often lead to officers assuming all tow truck operators have the same mental skill level and that causes skilled drivers to get that same attitude. I try to explain to drivers. Keep your month shut, go about your duties and get out of there. While there is times when chit chat is appropriate, it is not in the middle of an active traffic scene.

A Professional Demeanor and Approach will go a long way in being treated as a Professional. That's how you get treated like First Responders and that seems to be the reason a large numer in the industry desire to be referred to as a First Responder. As though just putting a label on it changes things, it doesn't...

In conclusion: One Bad Officer or One Bad tow Operator can make all look Bad. If I encounter an Officer with an Attitude I generally just take it their having a Bad Day. I have those too, we all do...

In Response to the comment "hard-assed cop’s on-scene".

Do you know where that attitude came from and who caused them to react in such a manner to the tow truck operator?

Does not seem to have hit the house very hard. wonder if it was a manual or and automatic.

Fire always yanks the siding off to check to see if any wires were damaged which may cause a fire.

Just go watch the _ _ _ _ being posted on FB and you will quickly realize why the industry has a difficult time with the title First Responder.

First Responders have continuous training. The majority of the industry does not.

First Responders always arrive on scene in proper uniform regardless of time. The majority of the industry does not.

First Responders ______ I could go on and on. While there is a segment of the industry that can relate to being a First Responder, Participate in on going Training and address a scene in a Professional manner. The majority of the industry does not.

Perhaps a video series with a Q & A at the end would help get us to the point that many desire. Would the majority of the industry participate, even if that were available free for just signing up? Sadly, I doubt they would...

This is what Tough Love of the Industry looks like! Sorry, if I offended anyone!

In the end we deal with so many variables that the situation dictates the course of action. I find it disturbing the number of light duty operators that do not assess the situation prior to addressing the recovery. As I do the number of drivers that park their truck away from the vehicle to be towed and walk up to the scene when the scene was ready for them to position their truck to load the vehicle. This all comes down to training and the industry as a whole is not ready for any type First Responder Designation. My comment is based on numerous factors.

As for the rude comment, that is out of context here in this venue. I am assuming that there was some sort of misunderstanding that we can resolve quickly. It may be that we are not on the same page, my response may have even gone in a different direction from the original direction of this post.

Let's Talk About It further, since that is how we learn from one another.

1. I like the support they received from Police & Fire. Assistance with clearing trees and traffic control. We would not lose as many drivers if we had more support in the instances where they were on scene and left or should have been on scene.

2. The homemade side puller looks great. I would not have know they fabricated it themselves had I not watched the entire video.

3. I am not a fan of the jackets. The part I dislike is the X pattern on the back. I fear it could become like a target. Straight lines which wrap around with be much better. Personally, I would not wear those but that's just me thinking outside the box out loud.

My preference to the uniform these days are the Guardian Angel Lights, Even though they are not in the roadway and it is daylight everyone on sceen should have them on. I have two and they make a difference. My fear is though very much worth it, many hesitate to invest the nearly $100 for the devise. My comment is how much is your life worth? Reflective Clothing, various types of lighting devises do make a difference. Have we ever heard of a tow operator being struck that had lighting devises such as the hockey puck style or the Guardian Angel. How about the Lighted Vests that CTTA sells on their website?

Be Safe Everyone the Odds of another Tower Down increase Dramatically through the end of the year.

If memory serves me correct over a decade ago @Jeff Poquette was a contributor to Georgia's Towing and Recovery Incentive Program (TRIP) which was implemented in metro. He is a very experienced resource when it comes to quick clearance.

Soon after Florida implemented their program follow by Virginia, Tennessee, Kentucky, Ohio etc.

Most of this is from memory, while the states mentioned above were found on google and were updated as recently as 2018.

There are more missing and stolen tow trucks then the industry is aware of. Like years ago companies would hide driver injuries and drivers being struck and injured. Today they hide the fact that a tow truck is missing or been stolen. So, we only hear of about half those tow trucks which are stolen. Partly because those companies are not active on any social media and in part they don't want the information out there. If I wanted my truck back post it to all forms of social media and ask those on social media to spread the word.

Did you know that few than 30 percent of the industry is on social media and only 15 percent are active on a regular basis. With less than 5 percent checking any form of daily. Any one group on Facebook only reaches about 3 percent of the industry and industry members posting under their own name reach less than 1 percent of the industry. TowForce is reaching about 8 percent of the industry and 4 percent on a regular basis. Sadly participation is less than 1 percent, the Goal for 2020 is to drastically increase the numbers of Tow Operators Being Reached Regularly.

120 new members added in just 10 days. That's an Average of 12 new members every day. Thanks for keeping this train moving along as the message board regenerates from near destruction when the old system was broken in 2017.

MERRY CHRISTMAS & HAPPY NEW YEAR

There is a way to tweak the App to be much more appealing to regions with several tow companies.

Tow truck driver injured while working on Trans Canada Highway should be call to action, says friend

John Brown was on the Trans-Canada Highway, near the Malakwa Market,  getting ready to winch a vehicle that had veered off the road when every tow truck driver's worst fear happened.

From what his friend and old co-worker Mike Horsley has been told of Friday's events, Brown was struck by a pickup, allegedly driving above the speed limit in less than ideal conditions.

Brown’s truck was destroyed and the impact sent the deck of his truck into the cab.

While he was outside the vehicle at the time of the crash he still suffered several broken bones, internal bleeding and possible vertebrae damage.

Horsley has been told the pickup that hit Brown’s tow truck was from Alberta and was a couple with two children were inside. The driver was injured in the impact.

“Luckily the RCMP were already there, or any further delay on an ambulance, could have resulted in a worse outcome,” Horsley said.

Brown still has a long recovery ahead of him.

“Those who know John, know that he is a force of nature, that will keep ticking when any normal person would just roll over and expire.”

Horsley is hoping his friend will make a full recovery but thinks that this recent incident should be a call to action — it is another reason for meaningful enforcement to the current Slow Down, Move Over laws.

The laws have been around since 2009 and are supposed to get motorists to slow their speed 70km/h when in an 80km/h or over zone and 40km/h when in an under 80km/h zone. If travelling on a multi-lane road, drivers are supposed to move into another lane to pass when passing stopped vehicles with a flashing light, where safe to do so.

This would give roadside workers and emergency personnel with greater protection from accidents and injuries.

While the rules are all well and good, Horsley said they’re almost entirely unenforced.

“It’s terribly dangerous doing what we do, exponentially more so than being a police officer,” he said. “It is getting worse, not better. I've had two close friends hit in two years now, towing.”

While Canadian statistics on the issue were unavailable, the US’s Bureau of Labor Statistics,  found that 191 motor vehicle towing workers were killed between 2011 and 2016, resulting in an annual rate of 42.9 deaths per 100,000 full-time equivalent workers. For all other industries, that rate was 2.9 per 100,000 full-time equivalent workers.

Additionally, the annual nonfatal injury rate among motor vehicle towing workers during that same period was 204.2 per 10,000 FTEs – more than double the rate of 98.2 for all industries.

“The statistics are staggering,” said Horsley, adding that it’s frustrating that there’s no protection in place.

“(John) was doing everything right. His lights were all on. He was on a straight stretch and he was positioned appropriately,” he said.

“I hope this can bring some iota of awareness to the SDMO laws and maybe pressure the police to actually begin enforcing this. It's in their best interest, too.”

He’s also hoping that some further safety measures are implemented.

Better lights would be a start. Currently, tow truck drivers are allowed amber lights, but he thinks adding blue lights may actually get people to pay better attention to roadside workers.

RESOURCE LINK

CBS 4 Denver has pulled their news video on this incident and there is not explanation. You will still be able to locate it on the resource link.

The Tow Truck Driver likely did not want to block any lanes of traffic. Let's see inconvenience drivers or vehicles or a train, which would cost more and be an increased risk...

I found several of these when I did a search. I was thinking I might see this one, although close there was nothing quite like it. I found several 1930 Model A Trucks covered and then realized it looked more like a 1928 Model. I don't know that much about them so I don't know for sure what year it is, maybe you or someone else does.