rreschran

It could be an agency requirement. The CHP says towers cannot photo any sdene without prior permission from the officer on scene. It's not an unreasonable policy. R.

Based on the climbing number of tow truck and flatbed carrier accidents, I invite you to attend, American Towman's Brian Riker and his seminar on, "Defensive Driving and Driving Professionalism". Fact: Tow trucks and solo crashes and incidents are oftentimes the fault of the tow truck driver. Come and learn how tow trucks respond to panic stops, conditions while loaded, why the use of wearing a seat-belt is important, including other driver caused behaviors that result in tow operator fatality. Brian's seminar is must see information and something you should present at your company's next safety meeting. See you there in a couple of days at the American Towman Dallas Tow Exposition, August 17th, 2019 at 0800 Room Appaloosa 2. R.

Hi All ... I'm headed to the tow show in Dallas where this year, I'm teaching my seminar, "From the Dispatch Office", focusing on the importance of good dispatching. Dispatchers are those behind the scenes office heroes who make tow action happen, but the wrong dispatcher can harm a company's productivity, morale, efficiency and total operations. I invite you to be part of this light-hearted presentation designated to salute all dispatchers this Saturday, August 17th, at 10 AM, Room: Appaloosa 1. I look forward to seeing you there. R.

Hi All ... I'm looking forward to seeing you in Dallas. I'm teaching a seminar on the importance of building an advanced warning area for tow operators serving the highways. When reading tow operator fatalities, one of the most mention associated factor in white-line fatalities is because towers FAIL to identify their roadside work zone. This photo presentation shows what steps and techniques are helpful and why they are necessary in making your presence more visible beyond turning on the tow truck's overhead lights. I invite you to attend my seminar on Friday, August 16th at 10 AM in Room: Appaloosa 1. See you there.

The reality in any traffic stop is ... you never know if a motorist is planning to kill you. Christine and I pray for the fast and complete recovery of the two surviving officers as well as the officer who lost his life. R

I'm surprised to see no one responded to this question. Having documented more than 900+ tow operator fatalities since 1934, I believe that the greatest cause for operator fatality is towers are working the white-line side. But remember, the fatality numbers have climbed at the invent of cell-phones and an increase in distracted, intoxicated and drug-related vehicle operations. The number mentioned (60) is an average only. Also note, when state law require that four point tie-down and safety chains must be applied to towed and transported vehicles, state law puts the operator in harm's way. The message of white-line safetyvfor all towers to fully understand and practice, but somehow not practiced, just like cops that walk and stand on the white line to make traffic stops. I think the best training to instill that safety message is by taking a free TIM course. R

With all of that rain in the Pacific Northwest, you've got Holmes trees all over the place. Great job and thanks for sharing. R.

These are all magazine quality photo's guys ... thanks for sharing. R.

Christine and I sendour condolences in the tragic loss of this tower, his family and the company he worked for. R.

My data counts 41-tow operators killed so far in the line-of-duty for this year with almost five-full months left in the year. last night around 9:15 PM, another tow truck operator was killed in Louisiana. Christine and I send pur prayer and sympathy to this tower's family and his company. R. Tow operator, Lloyd Moore Jr., (65) was attempting to load a disabled vehicle onto his wrecker on the shoulder of I-20 when he was struck by an unknown vehicle. https://www.knoe.com/content/news/Wrecker-driver-hit-and-killed-on-shoulder-of-I-20-516494101.html https://www.thenewsstar.com/story/news/crime/2019/08/03/wrecker-driver-hit-killed-unknown-car-interstate-20/1910783001/ Details are limited and a toxicology report is pending. At this rate of five tow operators being killed per month in 209, we're on the way to reaching the average of 60-operators killed.

Here's praying for Darrell Simpson speedy recovery. R.

I can only imagine the mental stresses he, his family, and Jacob's Towing are having. Christine and I send to Todd our prayers and support wishing him a full and speedy recovery. And, that includes him having the intestinal fortitude to return to work if that's his and his family's decision. R.

Thanks Ron for providing the link to the USCCA site and your's is a very good recommendation for sure. You're right about the world we live in, especially after Steve Tasker was gunned down in Baltimore last Monday as the result of a possible street robbery. Perhaps the best defense for any shooting is whether or not the action is justifiable and that the shooter is properly trained and permitted to do so. Even still ... the family of the deceased may file a wrongful death suit because there are plenty of ambulance chasers awaiting the opportunity. R.

Hi All ... I've been following this Vegas shooting since it came out. Interesting. I'm wondering if any insurance representative or insurance expert on this Tow Force site can clarify if there exists any form of insurance to cover on-the-job, or on-the-job site shootings, whether justified or not? What happens if a tow employee shoots and kills someone robbing the company on auction day hoping to liberate auction proceeds? OK ... so the shooting is deemed justifiable but results in a civil suit by the family of the deceased. What if someone pulls a gun on a driver who has a valid CCW permit and the shooting is questionable versus justified? If the driver's shooting is deemed, "on-the-job", will there be any insurance coverage specific to shootings? What if during a PPI, a tow truck driver a punches and involved party, they fall to the pavement and they split their head and dies three-days later? Now what? I know too many towers who carry, both legally and illegally based on the dangerous nature of their work. I ask this question based on having recorded as many as 117 tow operator shootings or other violent acts since 1934. Ive recorded all kinds of reasons ... during repos in action, PPIs, road rage, during attempted auto theft and especially robberies. Aside from the police investigation, what happens when the tow company and tow employee is sued in civil court after-the-fact? If the deceased family wins in court ... is there insurance coverage? What about company policy and procedures for no carry? A company can have a written policy, but if an employee is involved in a gun related incident outside of the no carry policy anyway, is there insurance to cover the employee's actions? That's is a tough one. As a former Crimes Against Persons investigator, I know the police side, but what about insurance coverage for a civil action after-the-fact? I think this is a reasonable question based on the violent climate of the towing and recovery industry. Are there any insurance reps willing to provide some clarification or guidance? R.

Perhaps the value of a chock block (misssed by everyone bye the way) could have prevented this roll-away. It's an easy practice, but one not typically employed. R.