TowZone

 

This video is presented for discussion into methods used to negotiate traffic when responding to a Breakdown or Accident Scene. As well as the level of urgency of an accident with multiple lanes blocked compared to slowed traffic.

 

Note: there maybe an underlying reason the horn was used in this manner. I will add that information as the discussion progresses along with my own responses to the orginal post found on FB.

Beginning July 1st there will be a Light Duty Recovery Topic Challenge similar to the current Heavy Duty Recovery Topic Challenge which began June 1st. This drawing will be for one of these NEW TowMate TM- FLUX Light Bars. Watch for details in the next couple of days and Good Luck.

 

Condolences to the Family, Friends and Co-Workers.

 

Such a tragic work place accident, please Owners review this with your employees and Drivers review this with your co-workers. This type of event it seems occurs in our industry at least once a year on average. I have to admit in my youth I made poor decisions and lucked out. Never Ever Get Behind a vehicle in an attempt to stop it from rolling the outcome is often like trying to beat a train across the tracks. Don't Do It, nothing is worth more than your life. Gods Speed Young Tow Truck Driver...

Answers found on FB:

 

JS said:

You need one that they integrate in your truck so it sends live footage to your home computer or office
Them sd cameras get stolen lol

To be honest I am giving serious thought to doing a video challenge as to what we carry. It would be much like the one Trent at Plaza Towing did a few weeks back. That video can be found in the "As Seen on Youtube" forum. I know that mine is likely to draw some comments as I have nearly doubled what I regularly carry over the past few months. Got tired of going to the truck every time I needed something. LOL This Trekz Headset works at a distance of at least an average of 40 feet from the source. So, I can leave the phone in the truck walk away and still be connected. It makes a noise out of distance and I just walk back in range. Generally I tell whoever is on the other end their going to loose me for a minute and I'll be back. When I step back in range their still there. Most of these headsets are like this however a few are not. Make sure the one you purchase stays on, does anyone have one that cuts off. I had a Jawbone ear piece that would turn off out of range.

 

What is everyone currently using and add a picture if you can...

First is is not a topic about Team Headsets. This discussion is about bluetooth headsets that are used for extended periods. You listen to your music on them and answer your phone.

 

The common Trucking Industry Type Headset work well for Truckers. But, are Tow Truck Operators Truckers. Not really the Tow Truck operator needs to be able to hear sounds, the ability to hear sounds in both ears and even talk on the phone at the same time is crucial.

 

Check these out,

 

About 6 months ago Kat Killer got me the AfterShock Trekz by Titanium.

 

I have to say for me they are great. Do all headsets work for everyone, of course not. However these are not an in the ear type headset so you find yourself wearing them more. But, be warned they look kinda cyborg. I'll take that over the Trucker Image any day.

 

Do they work in a high noise environment. I do not have experience in an industrial setting. I do know, Roadside they work very well. That's Trekz by Titanium. The come in several colors, I have the slate gray as pictured above.

This was a memory that lives on in Ricks Showroom and now on TowForce.

 

@someotherplace there is a Like button in this new system. Try It...

 

@DAVIDV440 It's been more than a couple of years now. Still Got that 1970 Dodge?

 

 

 

 

Searching for more details to add to this topic. Thanks

I found this one in an old post, one of the only surviving images found in that post.

 

Image taken in 2007/08 at the William e Durr branch library

Without a description I posted it to the Vintage Holmes Wreckers Group and tagged Kevin Kallmeyer.

 

Kevin responded with "This truck is named dad's dream.."

1993 pete 379 3406 b cat 15 spd trans 2 speed rears Holmes 1801 with a zacklift

 

On October 6, 2012 Kevin made the final post under his fathers screen name.

This will be the final post under this screen name... Dad has been called to heaven to be with my mother his wife who preceded him in 1992.. The towing world has had a major hole torn into it today... a wealth of knowledge lost... only part of which was conveyed to me... (Kevin)  May you all travel the road safely...  

 

In Memory of Ken Kallmeyer June 1941 - October 2012  (joined Tow411 in 2004).

A Condolence post in Tribute to Ken Kallmeyer will be transfer to TowForce in the coming months. Thanks

In 2012 mballer SOLD this unit and created this post.

 

military rotator .... the beast..... (SOLD, going to texas)

I have decided to throw this one up for sale...  1968 kaiser m543a2

 

 

 

I have had this truck for about five years. The entire body was stripped down to bare steel and redone when i first purchase the truck.
It has the 45k drag winch, 20k front winch, and the 20k winch on the boom
The stiff legs all work
Has aggressive tires
multifuel engine
comes with torch tanks
Has orignal spades that you put on it
also comes with scotch blocks so you don't have to use the spades
has the boom stands also
Comces with 2 huge snatch blocks and 2 medium snatch blocks
we replaced the grease sleave on the fronts 2yrs ago
Comes with an extra trans still in the military box (nothing is wrong with the one thats in it..... i asked the same question when i bought the truck)
Has a holmes 750 towbar on it.
The seats were all redone last year in camo vinyl
chrome stack is about a yr old
It runs down the road really good and its a blast to drive.

 

 

 

I have even got a couple of trophies at the car shows from it. I am probably going to hate to see it go but i want to open myself up for a couple of more projects. This truck here isn't one of those that is missing this and that, rust all over it, or you have to replace things to get it running.

 

miracle1 said:

Beautiful piece of equipment...Just too far away and wrong colors......Good luck with it's sale....Kenny

 

moremph asked:

how much reach do those units have and what kind of lift ratings?

 

dragonwagonII said:

If that is the original winch on the front they are rated at 10,000 . Its the largest 10,000 lb winch if ever seen . They come with 200 ' of 5/8 wire too .

 

mballor said:

they reach out at 18ft off the side.... we also own a body shop so paint is always an option.   The boom capacity is rated at 10,000 at full extension with the legs down. As everyone will tell you they are extremely under rated. But with that said i personally bought this truck myself... and i also put all the work into the truck buying things for it over the years. This truck has been my baby since i bought it and i have been the only one operating it, I hate to get the damn thing dirty because i am out there the next couple of days getting it back to the way it was before...I actually still have the operating manuals somewhere... if i find them then those will also go with the truck.

 

front winch is 20,000lb has tag..... I have winched trees out of the woods with just the front winch. Have also rotated 10,000 from side to side with the stiff legs down. The truck has gone through clay and has been through mud past the center of the axles just trucking through. Also all the flood lights and beacons work. It has the brake lock on it for hard pulls. Heater also works, and it has a big ass vise on the front.

 

DaddyRay said:

Can't wait to get it, thanks again Matt, , Texas will be it's new home soon. It'll be our mud recovery unit....

 

Dieseltek said:

How do these units pull with the boom winch? Can you pull with them or are they just for lifting?

 

mballor said:

I am sure you can pull with them, the one on the boom goes through a three part block, and its pretty heavy. With the boom reaching out to 18ft its usually just easier to lift them up...

 

mballor said:

We are starting to paint the truck before it makes it trip out to texas

 

 

 

 

Should be able to start adding some red on her today......

updated 4-4 just finishing up the little things on it... have to put on the roof lights and paint a couple of the attachments.... then its all set

 

 

 

 

I found the camera...... 4-9
Coming in for detailing in the morning

 

 

got the frame all painted up... just have to remove the rest of the tape and make those tire shine...

 

 

Deck is also painted up... 

 

 

tow bar is done just have to get up there and spray a couple more spots on the boom that i noticed outside by the sheave.

 

 

loaded up the extra trans. and those heavy boom stands

 

 

one word of advise... if you ever have to remove that tank use a wrecker...

 

 

 

 

 

 

The wife said you can even keep the picture of her on the door......  

I will post some more pics after we detail it up.... should be all set and done tomorrow

 

DaddyRay said:

Looking REAL good, and on a personal/business note, I must say that Matt has made this entire purchase worry free, and is a great person to do business with.

 

dragginwagon said:

very nice quality paint work 

 

DaddyRay said:

Brother Matt's work is outstanding!!!!

 

Mballor said:

 

 

Thanks for the kind words ray.... we got some of the red done yesterday. Going to finish up on the white on the rims

 

 

 

 

 

 

Starting to come together. Going to get more pics in the morning. Going in for the final detail tomorrow then it's all set...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

@Mballor

Well unsure if one of these guys is an industry legend, they are memorable and to me legends. Maybe you have a picture of yourself with an industry legend you can share. I'm going to search for one myself. All Images added need to have been taken more than 20 years ago. just add them in reply to this topic, if we get enough responses it will certainly be interesting.

 

John Beauman and Jimmy Allison

(image stolen from John Beauman Jr FB page)

More than 2 Days and I have not be able to update this incident.

 

Does anyone know the company and/or the driver involved?

MANCHESTER, N.H. —

A flatbed tow truck carrying a mail truck rolled over Thursday on I-293 in Manchester, causing significant backups.

 

Officials said the truck rolled over a guardrail about noon Thursday. The driver was able to get out of the vehicle and was uninjured.

 

The crash happened near the Mall of New Hampshire on the on ramp to I-93 North.

Police said the cause of the crash is under investigation.

 

The left lane of I-293 was closed as crews worked to remove the overturned vehicle.

 

RESOURCE LINK

 

 

I first want to say our Thoughts & Prayers go out to the Beauchine Towing Family. Bob has been a Tow411 Member for more than a decade and now part of TowForce. Our Condolences for this tragic lost. God Speed...

 

@beauchine towing

This story was originally posted on FB with a single image as in Texas. Then later the video was posted without a location, only the visible Garners Towing Units doing the recovery. If anyone has Fact Based Details that would be appreciated as this is why we do not rush to get such news out there to the membership.

Thank You, I found a News Story this morning that gave more detail. Problem is you had to be a subscriber to get to it. That story changed it to the semi hit the tow truck. If anyone has more details or a good story link please post them. Been watching Facebook, but after the initial post often that's all you hear after a few hours. Everything moves why to fast on Facebook, miss a day and  spend hours catching up cause of Family Friends and Interests. Stop in a message board like TowForce click on unread content. So much easier for Towing Related Topics.

 

A semi-truck was sideswiped by a tow truck at about 2:15 a.m. Tuesday on Interstate 10 in Leon County, sending three people to the hospital.

According to The Florida Highway Patrol, the semi, driven by Donald Davis, 38, of Fort Worth, Texas, was traveling eastbound in the outside lane when it was struck by the tow truck, driven by Everett York, 48, of Tallahassee. The semi went off the south grass shoulder and into the wood line where the trailer rolled onto its side.

Davis, his child passenger, and York, were taken to Tallahassee Memorial Healthcare and were treated for minor injuries.  

Florida Highway Patrol was initially assisted by Leon County Fire and Rescue, Leon County EMS and Leon County Sheriff's Office.

RESOURCE LINK

 

Robert Jones, if you need some assistance adding an image of the truck. Just Ask...

UPDATE:

 

Officers are searching for Justin Lang, 32, who is wanted on suspicion of two counts of manslaughter in the crash that killed Ramon Murillo, 32, and Richard Struble, 57.

Let me try this, the Century is the Rotator, then the Hazmat truck with tools and supplies for mitigation/cleanup. Skid Steer to carry the contents of the load from the crash and supplies to & from the area. The Second Heavy is actually the NRC Carrier to transport the Armored Car. Eric, will need to explain the Plan of Action. Sure appears Professional from Start to End. Should be the Industry Standard! After all it's just money...

"No tire changes should be initiated roadside for operator safety"

 

This should be the policy of every Tow Company and Motor Clubs should adhere to this policy as it would save at minimum one life a year.

 

a lane should be blocked with a blocker vehicle

 

This should be a requirement on roadways where the speed limit is a minimum 55mph.

 

A standard industry requirement, to include safety glasses, reflective vest, as well as a hard hat.

 

OK, safety glasses are going a bit far as they are not going to have any effect on roadside safety in regards to possibly being struck. I prefer reflective clothing over a vest as most fail to put the vest on. The clothing eliminates that safety fail. Yes, I'm good with the safety hard hat. Problem is the hard hat that would benefit our industry professionals are at minimum $150.00. The best ones are over $300.00. There fore the cost factor is going to be an issue for many. Yes, I have been researching them and may or may not purchase one this year. If you think those General Plastic Construction Area Hard Hats are going to benefit a Tow Op on the side of the road. The only thing that will protect is a bump on the occasional head which many of us can relate too.

 

The answer is never more regulation, it is education and desire to save lives. Most in this industry in all respect to those effected by a loss is reactive rather than proactive. I think to many who were just out there doing their job and could not have avoided the incident that took their life or cause injury to them. Yes, we can think back that maybe this or that could have been done differently. Yes, reviewing these roadside deaths would possibly save lives. Often out of respect for the family we do not ehter into these discussions. When we have ventured into this discussion few want to participate due to the high probability they could be on the list of those injured or whose name is going on the Wall of Fallen.

 

I generally take so many precautions that I know many think I go overboard. My life has a value, I protect it the best I can. Your family places more of a value on your life than you do. You may or may not know that, but I am sure they worry more and more each and every year. The Odds of being struck increase the longer you are in that situation and they know it. Think Safety

Can you believe the Pinecroft Sedgefield Fire Department did not mention the two tow truck drivers on their facebook page.

 

https://www.facebook.com/PINECROFT.SEDGEFIELD/posts/2806319286108547?__tn__=-R

This truck was SOLD while Listed on Tow411 and ended up someplace in CT.

 

Does anyone know where it might reside today?