JustinCruse

As towers, it can sometimes be hard to remember that the casualty isn’t the most important thing on scene. Yes, what you are there to do is tow a vehicle. But why you are there is to help someone in need. Simply put, you should always take care of the customer before taking care of the casualty. Why? Because it’s the customer, not the casualty, that may feel overwhelmed, unsafe or confused. Because the customer is in more danger than the casualty. Because it’s the customer, not the casualty, that called for assistance. And it’s the customer, not the casualty, that expects good customer service. When you arrive at the scene, before you even start inspecting the casualty, you should speak with the customer. You need to introduce yourself and quickly move the customer to a safe location. WreckMaster recommends putting the customer in the cab of your truck with their seatbelt on while on the road side. At the minimum, the customer should at least be placed on the non-traffic side of a barrier. Speaking with the customer is part of your survey. They may have information about their vehicle that may be important. That said, always be sure to verify what information the customer tells you before beginning your tow. After your survey has been completed and you’ve made all your calculations, you still need to explain to the customer what is going to happen. This is an important conversation to have so they know what steps to take after the casualty has been moved, but also to help put their mind at ease. All conversations with the customer can happen with the customer in the cab of the truck and the operator on the non-traffic side of the scene. Remember, towing a casualty is what your are there to do. Helping someone in need is why you are there. View the full article on WreckMaster.com...

As a WreckMaster Instructor and veteran of the towing industry, what are some of the things that you think carrier operators need to be doing a better? I think Carrier operators should be watching out for themselves a lot better, looking for traffic, looking for hazards. 18 out of 20 towing related injuries happen on a flatbed or roll back, so you need to make yourself the most important person at SCENE. What is the three points rule and why is it important that operators follow it? The three points of contact rule is at when you enter the truck you always have three points of contact one like two hands or two feet one hand and get it out of the truck or exit the truck the same way, always maintaining three points of contact. That way if a car comes close to you you can pull yourself back in the cab. How do you recommend an operator deals with the customer while working roadside? Does the volume of traffic impact this? First and foremost, I think they should be taking care of the customer, getting the customer in their truck’s cabin with a seat belt on or behind the guard rail. The customer needs to come first. The amount of traffic should not matter when it comes to the customer, whether there is one car or 400 car. Is it ever OK to cut corners on a busy road way or if you’re only traveling a short distance? The only shortcut I feel that should be taken is on a busy roadway or interstate. You can tie down one front corner and one rear corner of the casualty until you can get off the roadway, to a rest station or some other safe location to finish tying the other two points down. That way you’re not impeding the flow of traffic and you’re not in any danger as you’re off the roadway. Remember. 18 out of 20 injuries happen in our industry on a carrier. Why is it important to properly survey the casualty and area? The reason it’s important to do a SCENE survey on any casually is there will always be stuff hidden. It may be stuck on a tree stump or on a guard rail, etc. Many different things could happen so what you need to do is survey the situation. You need to calculate what it’s going to take the winch the casualty up on the deck of the carrier. You need to explain to the customer, law enforcement or anyone else on scene what you are going to do. You need to check your no’s to make sure that there are no errors. Finally, you need to execute. Do it once and do it right. What tips would you offer a new carrier operator? My suggestion to a new operator is get as much training before you go out on the road by yourself. Watch videos, go to the WreckMaster website and get the skills and training. Go to WreckMaster, a Level 2/3 class and get some hands-on training. I have had students say they learned more coming to a class than in 20 years experience on the road, that learn a lot of different techniques, even just on the carrier scenario alone! View the full article on WreckMaster.com...

A loaded tractor trailer with a gross vehicle weight of 74,952 lbs has become stuck in a rest area after parking on the off-ramp shoulder. The left side of the unit is on the concrete shoulder. Upon your arrival, you park your wrecker out of the way. Once, you locate the driver, you introduce yourself advising them you will perform a walk around then come back to talk about the recovery process. You ask them if they have a scale ticket for the unit with the current load in it. The driver hands you the scale ticket advising you that the load is a sealed load which will prevent the trailer doors from being opened. The load is a mixed load of general freight. The front axle weighs 10,972 lbs with the right side on gravel. When the driver parked, they had to make sure the whole unit was on the other side of the white painted line. Both of the drive axles on the trailer weigh 15,870 lbs. While performing your walk around you noticed the right side of the drive axles there is mud to the center of the tire. The trailer axles weigh 16,120 lbs which you noted had mud covering to just below the center of the hub. When you complete your survey, you ask the driver if the unit still runs? does the tractor still have air pressure? will the tractor and trailer brakes release? The driver informs you that the unit does run which allows it to build up air pressure which will allow the brakes to be released on the semi and trailer. Launch the test below to fill out your answers! TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE View the full article on WreckMaster.com...

In our almost three decades, we’ve been told repeatedly by operators that they don’t training or that they are too experienced for our courses. We also know from first-hand experience that this is rarely true. That’s why we’re giving you Six Reasons You Need Towing Training: It will keep you safe It goes without saying that towing isn’t the safest profession. Towers are constantly placed in dangerous situations and rarely receive the same respect from the motoring public that first responders do. In North America, one towing operator is killed working roadside roughly once every six days. The only thing that can keep you safe on the side of the road is yourself. With WreckMaster training, you will learn how to safely create a barrier between you and the motoring public as well as best practices for staying safe while on scene. It will keep your equipment in better shape It is the responsibility of every tow operator to know the capabilities and limitations of their equipment. However...that isn’t always the case. The simple truth is that even experienced operators aren’t getting the most of their equipment, or even worse, exceeding what their equipment is capable of. In our training, we teach students not only how to safely operate their equipment, but how to also maintain the health of their tools. You will work faster When you go through WreckMaster training, you learn to take out the guess-work. You learn how to evaluate and calculate every job the right way the first time. This efficiency means you can get your customers on their way faster and you can be on to your next job more quickly. You will make more money WreckMaster can help you make more in a number of ways: When you are more efficient, you spend less time on scene. This means you can take on more jobs. When you know how to properly maintain your equipment, your tools and equipment last longer. When you’re not constantly replacing tools, you’re saving money. WreckMaster certification is proof that you know your stuff. This means you can justify your rates more easily to customers. You become part of a community WreckMaster is a community. For almost three decades, we have been building comradery in the towing and recovery industry. Anyone who has ever attended a WreckMaster training course knows that our industry is strongest when it works together. You will learn something new Not all of our students attend our training by their choice; sometimes they are sent by their company’s owner or manager. Our instructors have heard it all: “I don’t need training, I’ve been in the industry for years.” “There’s nothing you can teach me that I haven’t learned on the road.” After three decades, there is one thing we can say for certain - no one has ever left a WreckMaster course without learning something new. No matter how much you think you know, there is always something else to learn. Join us and help us keep growing the towing industry of tomorrow. Cya in the ditch. View the full article on WreckMaster.com...

You believe that towing operators that become complacent in their job can end up being metaphorically asleep at the wheel. What are the dangers of an operator’s job becoming too monotonous? Well to start with, there are the not so metaphorical dangers that most of us are all to familiar with. Things like damaging the vehicle we were sent after, or our equipment/rigging during the recovery or transport. Or even getting involved in a traffic accident because we reached down to grab the tow sheet from the salvage pool! (Umm I may have some first-hand knowledge there…🙄) Those are all very real problems that most of us would agree, happen far too often and could usually be prevented by simply paying attention to the job at hand! Hiding quietly under all of those obvious physical dangers are the mental and emotional issues that are seldom discussed and almost never truly dealt with. When in reality, the vast majority of things we blame for physical problems, such as inattentiveness, forgetfulness or fatigue, are physical symptoms of an underlying mental or emotional problem. Operators are putting themselves in unbelievably demanding situations and rarely considering the mental side of our profession. Many of us talk about making sure we are in good physical shape,(probably not enough) but when was the last time you heard a couple of operators talking about the time they set aside to work on their mental state? When was the last time you as an individual considered the state of mind you are in when you interact with customers? Have you ever in all sincerity asked yourself: “Why am I here?” Yes I know, you have bills to pay and you need a job. I get that. But that is not why you choose to be in the towing and recovery industry. There are plenty of easier ways to make a living. There is something deeper that gets you in that truck every day and when you understand and own that, it is the source for all the drive and passion you will need! Do you have any suggestions for operators to prevent their jobs from becoming too monotonous? First and foremost, find your “Why!” That's not end-all, be-all, but it is definitely the surest foundation. Another big thing for me is to find the different parts of your daily grind that you can turn into a game and make it enjoyable. Every job on this planet has some part that sucks, every single one! The best thing I have found for those things is to take them as a challenge and see if you can figure out a way to master them. If nothing else it is mental exercise and we could all use a healthy dose of that. You’re a strong advocate for discovering the “why” in the workplace. What do you think this means for towers? This was a concept that I was kind of on the edge of understanding for several years. Little flashes of it would come up at times but I never really got a hold of it. Then I read the book “Start With Why” by Simon Sinek and bang! It was like the light turned on and so many things started to fill in the gaps! Finding your why means figuring out what is driving you; your purpose for existing. But it is an incredibly personal process and really depends on the individual. No two why's are exactly the same and that's fantastic, because your why is who you are when you are at your best. That’s what gives you a unique perspective, so when you get someone's perspective on a job when they are at their best amazing things happen! Just think about a team going out to do a recovery and all of them have a solid grasp on who they are and why they are there, and you can see the drive and passion in them working together… man, how could you not be excited to go to work with that in front of you? How can you make towing a meaningful profession? Well first you have to ask yourself “meaningful to who?” It has to start with you. Do you truly feel like your profession is meaningful? If you're answer is not a pretty rapid yes, then in all honesty, you need to get out! There are plenty of other jobs out there and most of them are far less likely to get you killed. This is a dangerous profession! Yes, it should be less dangerous.Yes, we are working on that. But we will never be able to make it as safe as being a librarian. So don't risk your life for something you don't even find meaningful! Hell, why risk it for anything you don't have a burning passion for? This is not an issue for most operators, but what about the public? If you were able to ask the motoring public as a group if our profession was meaningful, it would be met with a resounding “meh.” So right there is one of our industries biggest problems, how do we get our customers to view us as more than just “meh?” I am absolutely convinced that it begins with each individual operator’s self worth! That is the true root of our issues in this industry and nearly everything else is a symptom that can be traced back to that. If I could snap my fingers and do one thing, it would be to show each individual their true worth! Is there any responsibility on the company owner or manager to ensure their operators are challenging themselves in the workplace? I believe that people are far too willing to give that power to someone else. This is something that is not unique to towing - it’s something that we see far too often in society as a whole. Remember: how you conduct yourself in your personal life affects how you conduct yourself in your work life. As towers, we often say “Well those auto clubs are just running us into the ground with those rates,” or “those insurance companies are strangling us with these policies.” Stop conceding your power to those around you! In order to take control of those situations you must first take responsibility for not controlling them to begin with. You have the power to make up your own mind! You have the power to speak or hold your tongue, to move or stand still. You will never be able to take back power from someone if you continue to blame them for things you can control. While I as an owner may have a vested interest in challenging, educating, and inspiring my operators so that they can excel both as individuals, and in their profession, the responsibility lies with the individual! View the full article on WreckMaster.com...

Whenever something is being towed, additional securements should always be attached. This doesn’t just apply to wreckers - secondary attachment chains should be attached even hauling a trailer, boat trailer or camper. These chains are there for an obvious reason: to prevent an accident in the event of an attachment failure while towing. But why does WreckMaster insist that the secondary attachments are always crossed? It prevents casualty from veering into traffic Probably the most important information on this list, crossing your chains ensures that the casualty will stay behind your truck in the event of a disconnect from the wheel lift/underrearch. If the chains were parallel and went straight back to the casualty, they would be able to veer and swing freely in both directions and potentially into other vehicles. When the chains are crossed, the casualty is prevented from veering too far in either direction and will instead stay behind the wrecker. NOTE: in the event of a disconnect, be sure to slowly change lanes and reduce speed to avoid the casualty from slamming into the back of the wrecker. It affects turning Secondary attachments can be affected by turning in two ways: You can use the shortest amount of chain and it will make less contact with the ground. If the chains were to be connected parallel and go straight back to the casualty, one of the chains would become too tight whenever turning. For example, when a wrecker turns right, the distance between the left side of the wrecker and the left side of the casualty increases. On the opposite side the chain continues to slack thereby making contact with the ground. By crossing the chains, the amount of chain required is reduced and therefore you will minimize the likelihood of your chains contacting the ground. They Can go above or under the under reach When the chains are crossed, whether they go above or below the wheel lift does not matter. Why is this important? It means that securing to the most logical attachment point becomes easier. Cross the chains over the under reach also helps keep the chains from making contact with the ground while turning. There are benefits to both: Crossing the chains beneath requires more chain but they will not interfere with any other equipment such as towing lights or scratch the under reach. Crossing above can scratch the under reach but requires less chain. or Just be sure that whether you cross them above or below the under reach that they will not interfere with any other pieces of equipment, such as the towing lights. View the full article on WreckMaster.com...

In your opinion, what is it that tow operators aren’t understanding when dealing with customers while on Scene? Customers can be viewed as a type of victim as they are often faced with an unfortunate situation which leaves them somewhat traumatized. While we are not psychologists, we do have to deal with very emotional people. Empathy is the key to communicating in these situations and can help to level emotions and calm a victim. How would you define empathy as it applies to the towing and recovery industry? Empathy is thinking of yourself in the customer's situation. These people are having a bad day and often the operator is their first sounding board, so they may unload. The operator is in control in this situation, so they must remain calm and level headed. When two people are emotional, arguments can ensue and judgement can become clouded. You believe that too many operators are confusing sympathy with empathy. Why is it more important to be empathetic than sympathetic? People don’t typically want others feeling sorry them. Saying you're sorry is sympathetic, but it won't help solve their problem at the moment. Saying you can relate to their predicament and understand their frustration is empathetic. While it may not solve their problem, it can help diffuse the emotion associated with it. What are some of the ways an operator can read how a customer is feeling / understand their emotional state? Customers can be angry, afraid, frustrated and nervous just to name a few of the emotions that the trauma of a breakdown or accident can cause. It’s important to watch their body language or facial expression and not just listen to the words they speak, but their tonality as well. What are the ways you can respond to a customer who is in a difficult emotional state? It is the operator's job to help the customer feel safe and secure and instill confidence in them that they will be able to meet their needs and help solve their problem to get their day back on track in a satisfactory way. What are personas? How would you describe them regarding customer service? Customer service involves communication at a level both parties understand. Identifying an individual's persona will help to reach the understanding necessary to communicate effectively. It’s the difference in communication with a police officer on the scene to the customer of the incident. While these are both examples of who our customer is we use a different demeanor when communicating with these two totally different personas. View the full article on WreckMaster.com...

When customers feel positively about an interaction with a representative of a company, they are more likely to become a repeat customer or recommend your organization to friends and family. Whether you are a dispatcher, operator or owner, your interactions with customers can majorly influence their future decisions to use your services again. Here are some tips to improve customer retention and increase your client’s overall experience: Make a good first impression As the saying goes, “you only have one chance at a first impression.” Customer experience and retention starts with the first contact a customer has with a company – whether it is with an administrator or an operator. Customers who call for a recovery are usually in some sort of distress. It is important to take this into consideration when engaging with them, as they may be more irritable than usual. Being polite, helpful and answer all their questions will go a long way in ensuring their experience with company is viewed positively. “Vehicle issues create a lot of stress for customers,” says Kurt Wilson, Lead Instructor for WreckMaster. “Be sure to introduce yourself to any customers and officials at a scene and be polite.” Use positive language and answer questions Customers want to know what’s going on – it is there vehicle that is being handled, after all. They may have questions about the techniques an operator will use, how it will affect the vehicle and where the vehicle may be going. It is important to respond politely and make sure customer feels like they know what’s going on. “Too many times people who have been in their job for any length of time forget what it is like for someone to experience an accident or need a recovery for the first time,” say Wilson. “Explaining the procedure to them is actually more important than the act itself.” Try and use simplified language that a non-tower would understand and refrain from using slang terms for equipment and operations. Respect makes us stronger Let’s be honest - you’re not going to like everyone you encounter while working. Whether it’s a difficult customer or a disrespectful coworker, problems do arise. It is important to remember that you DO NOT need to like everyone, but you MUST respect them. When towing operators treat their customers and each other with respect, it makes them stronger. How does it make them stronger? It can provide them with a sense of understanding of what the other is going through and allow them to empathize with the person they are struggling with. It also creates a more professional atmosphere, which makes work-life more enjoyable and leaves a better impact on customers. While becoming annoyed or angry during your work day is almost completely unavoidable, you must keep a level of respect for everyone you deal with. Keep a truck and clean uniform Typically, during a recovery, you will be taking the customers vehicle away from them for a short period of time. They will want to know that their vehicle is in the best hands possible. Regardless of an operator’s skills and experience, a uniform that is in disarray or a unkempt truck can cause uncertainty in the eyes of the customer. Create customer service guidelines Every company – especially those offering technical services – should have some sort of organizational handbook. These books generally have information about day-to-day operations, benefits, contact information and employee conduct standards. Adding a detailed set of customer service guidelines can help ensure that all operators and administrative staff are uniform in their approach to dealing with customers. The guidelines do not have to be overly complicated, and there are a number of online resources that can help you write your own for your company. View the full article on WreckMaster.com...

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From your experience managing towing companies, what have you noticed about the way operators take ownership and pass blame? When the blame game happens in a towing company, it not only causes issues between coworkers but also with customers. It’s only when everyone in the company - not just operators - take ownership of a problem that these issues start to become minimized. Why is important to take ownership for your mistakes? It is always easier to resolve problems by being proactive instead of reactive. When ownership is taken, all parties involved feel better about the process and how it gets handled.. When the issues are hidden or swept under the rug, it gives off the impression that the company doesn’t care about their customers. When it’s an issue between two coworkers it can build up animosity between them and can lead to a potential “us against them” mentality within the organization. Why do you feel that taking ownership is so important for operators in the towing industry? While taking ownership of one’s mistakes can be a huge hit to a person’s pride, it shows a level of awareness that there is an issue that needs to be resolved. The goal is never to make someone feel like they are inferior about any issue, but to come together as a team to form the quickest and most effective solution. When problems are hidden or ignored, the perception is that company or employee doesn’t care. That’s normally the furthest thing from the truth. It’s the consequences that is often most scary, not the issue. Do you have any examples of when an operators has stepped up to take ownership or has not succeeded when they have tried to pass blame? Pretty much everyone has experienced a situation where something didn’t go as planned or been faced with a less than successful result as the outcome. An example of this in the towing industry would be damaging a door frame or window during an unlock and then trying to blame the vehicle’s owner as if it’s their fault since they are the ones who caused the problem to start with. A tower is typically called out to resolve a bad event, not create it. Another example would be a dispatcher who gets overwhelmed with a flood of calls all at once, causing them to forget about one of the calls they had taken. When the customer calls back in to find out why no one has arrived, the response is key. Making an excuse won’t resolve the situation, but taking ownership and apologizing is a step in the right direction. How do you feel this relates to the WreckMaster philosophy? I believe that WreckMaster is doing more than just teaching towing and recovery techniques. When a student comes to one of our hands-on courses, they get exposed to the idea that being a tow truck operator is true profession, not just a job. We instill in them they must take pride in themselves and the work they perform every day. We teach them that things may not always go exactly as planned and that they need to take ownership when things go poorly. It’s easy to stand up and take credit when someone is impressed, but difficult to own it when someone isn’t happy. How we react in those situations can leave a lasting impression on our coworkers, employers and customers. Normally, we only get one chance at a first impression. Towers not taking the time to make it a good one is one of the reasons that the towing industry doesn’t get the respect it should. As a professional tower and WreckMaster instructor, I honestly believe the majority of towing companies out there have the same goal: help people in their time of need by improving the situation. There is still a lack of training on the customer service side of our industry and that makes taking ownership of a problem difficult for our operators. You believe that following a strict discipline can make positive impacts on individuals both in their career and otherwise. How do you feel that connects to a towing operator? The WreckMaster philosophy is tied to a discipline that creates a guideline for operators to follow. It may sound crazy to some, but that discipline leads to freedom. When an operator takes ownership of the situation that are involved it, it can reduce the stress of their mistake or blame being wrongfully assigned. There’s a lot of freedom that comes with attacking a problem instead of just waiting for it to disappear. WreckMaster not only gives people the confidence to do their job but it shows them there is a lot to be proud of in the industry. View the full article on WreckMaster.com...

Damage to a casualty's wheels or axles can make any job tough, particularly when it prevents the vehicle from rolling freely. It can however be just as difficult to load a vehicle onto a carrier bed when a front or rear wheel is missing. To avoid further damage vehicle one of the following steps can be taken while loading a vehicle onto the carrier bed. How to load the casualty Fitting a WreckMaster skate to the brake rotor of a vehicle using the molded slot on the top of the skate will allow the vehicle to move along the ground’s surface with significantly reduced resistance. Then, after the carrier bed has been appropriately angled and lowered in front of the vehicle, a second WreckMaster skate can be used as a ramp by flipping it upside down and keeping it in line with the skate attached to the brake rotor. Then, simply manipulating the carrier ramp to be in line with the top of the lower skate, the vehicle will slide safely on the deck. Loading with a broken suspension or ball joint In situations where there are suspension or ball joint issues, a more advanced technique is likely required. By inverting the heels of two WreckMaster skates so they are opposing one another and locking the teeth together, you can place a block of wood on top of the skate assembly for the vehicle to rest on, resolving a suspension or ball joint issue. This is a key example of a commonly used piece of equipment carried on your truck that can be repurposed for other uses. View the full article on WreckMaster.com...

You're passionate about towing operators putting pride into their appearance. Why do you believe that it is important a tower looks professional? First of all, you don't get a second chance to make a first impression. It helps put the customers at ease and this image is what sets companies apart from one another. If we want to be recognized as professionals we need to start with our personal appearance dress for success If you know that your clothes will just become dirty throughout your work day, why bother putting this effort into your appearance? Your clothing isn't just for your work, it's for personal pride! Yes, they will get dirty but it is still a uniform. The only contact a customer has with a company is with the employee that stands in front of them. When a customer is looking at you, they are judging you company. How do you recommend a tower dresses? Is there anything in particular they should do? i.e., wear a shirt with a collar or tuck in their shirt? A tower Should be dressed in a company uniform with the company logo on it. This uniform should be a professional looking uniform that distinguishes the tower from the every day person. It should also recognize them as a professional operator. The shirt should be tucked in and the boots should be tied. With your boots tied tight, you are not only making yourself look good, but being safe and ensuring that your boots won't slip off or the laces won't get caught in any equipment. There are a few PPE items that operators are required to wear while on the job. Why do you feel they are important? The personal protection equipment the tower is required to wear makes it easier to distinguish the tower from a barrel. Unfortunately this does not protect us from being hit by the motoring public, but it can help reduce the risk. It can also help prevent injury from cuts, bruises and falling object.s Additionally, wearing this equipment can allow the tower / family to be compensated if in fact a tragedy occurs. Is appearance limited to the operator? Or should they be putting the same effort into keeping their truck clean and organized? Why or why not? No, it’s not limited to the operator. We should have a clean everything. That includes your work truck. Image is everything! It is what's going to set you and your company apart from your competitors. Do you have any tips for young operators on how to dress or deal with customers? Young operators need to dress in the company uniform and always maintain a good professional attitude. A young operator should explain to the customer what they’re about to do and show they are confident in their skills. This will help gain the customers trust. For young operators reading this, you need to always remember: There are no second chances are first impressions. Have any tips on dressing professionally? Add a comment below! View the full article on WreckMaster.com...

Team WreckMaster has been assembled in Buffalo, New York for their winter meeting. The Team took time to visit Niagara Falls then from there went to BATL yo show off their hand eye no coordination. #TeamWreckMaster #Instructor

The US Department of Transportation and most manufactures recommend investing in new tires every five to six years with the maximum useful service lifetime of a tire being no more than 10 years. This is not an issue that just impacts passenger vehicles; even large, industrial size tires on trucks, wreckers, tractors and more have a limited lifetime that is based more on when the tire was manufactured rather than how often it has been used. This means that even though a wrecker or truck may not see a lot of time or distance on the road, the tires are still deteriorating. This is why DOT date codes are vital in determining the health of your tires. What is a DOT Date Code? DOT date codes can be found on all commercially purchased tires, allowing you to keep track of the age of your tires and help determine how close they are to requiring a replacement. Because tires deteriorate over time and not just due to usage, knowing the age of tires is vital. The date codes also help in determining whether the tires have sat in storage when purchasing a new set. Additionally, understanding how the date codes work can help recognize why an incident may have occurred on a customer's tires and offer them a solution. How to read DOT Date Codes All DOT date codes can be found on the side of every tire. The code itself is made up a numbers and letters and will all be clearly marked with “DOT.” The remaining characters will outline the week and year the tires were manufactured, where the tired was made, the tire’s size as well as a unique manufacturers code. The final four digits of the code are the most important as they contain the age of the tire, outlining the week and year the tires were made. For example, if the final four digits of the code read “3217”, the tire was manufactured in the 32nd week of 2017. Prolonging the Life of Your Tires While it is recommended that all tires, commercial and industrial, be replaced between six and 10 years after the manufacturers date, some additional methods can be taken to keep tires healthy and efficient. Whether or not they are on or off the vehicle, properly storing the tires away from the elements or extreme temperatures can help extend the life of your tires. It is also highly recommended that any tire over five years old be visually inspected regularly. Watch for any wear on the tread of tire while keeping an eye out for whitening rubber or hairline cracking on the tire’s sidewall. View the full article on WreckMaster.com...

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