rreschran

This case is a great example of a tow companies vicarios liability where any actins by an individual tow operator makes the company equally responsible. The company can't claim they did know based on prior history. Those are serious drugs alleged in the driver's system. Good luck in your case. R

What ever your actions are Ron ... I salute you for being involved. But from my seat in the nose bleed granstands, I see that there's a great turn in the industry. What you remember from the past may be just that ... memories. At least some of us are holding on. R.

It's really cool to see towers come together to honor their own. RIP Chuck. R.

I know what you mean Richard. Especially for big cities across America, I don't know that it's LE being soft on crime, investigating burned vehicles is a huge and costly (arson) undertaking in a world of low-budget, no-budget and soon to be defunding, stolen vehicles sit at the bottom of the investigative list. That's a tough reality to accept if that's your tow truck, and especially that it's rare (if ever) a suspect is arrested and convicted of the crime. R.

Thanks for sharing this video Ron … what a great training video for cops and tow operators. This goober is what’s wrong with today’s world. It’s clear to me that the icing on his Lorna Doone has fallen clean off his cookie. It’s also clear he’s trying to bait the officers and towers into some reaction as Ron suggests, “Looking for pay-day”. He’s in a public place, he’s making antagonistic comments, and he knows what he’s doing … its totally obvious. He’s nothing more than a rude, sexist, racist, cop hater that taunts’ his prey with unsophisticated and cowardly ways. He’s pushing the proverbial envelope trying to induce heated comments or physical reaction. In the grand scheme of street-policing, I personally believe a subject’s unwe;comed bout of name-calling shouldn’t be the basis of an arrestable offense. I salute these officers for their ability to limit interaction with this fool and basically ignore him … the same goes for the tow operator. Simply ignore and walk-away. To react in a physical manner means Mr. Goober was successful in pulling you into his web. It makes no sense to being arrested as an aggressor. Sure, it would be really, satisfying to have-a-go with this idiot, but, the minute you react with aggression, he wins. When it comes to dealing with these personalities, I have four personal rules: Ignore, ignore, ignore If they’re not involved, limit ALL contact with them I won’t let them bait me into arguments, opinions … anything I don’t negotiate with maggots. While California has a penal code section that this citizen could be arrested for interfering with an investigation, I see this guy’s only crime as him being, “Stupid in Public”. Unfortunately, he’ll be this way his entire life. The reality of it all suggests, while you like it or not, these kinds of interactions ARE the new norm … and I hate that statement. It’s best to gain a thicker-layer of skin; as for every fool like this guy, there are thousands-more hiding in the cracks. R.

Welcome Home Brian ... I always know when you're on the road by the gaps between your time on the forums. These are great answers guys and it's easy to see a similar way of thinking. I appreciate your words of wisdom and will share them this next week when I see them. I agree it's reasonable to split the responsibility of caring for company equipment going back to a, "we're a team", mentality. For argnment sake, I too agree it starts with the driver with certain responsibility with management to see repairs through in a timely manner. I pulled this out of my archive military locker regarding inspections of TRADET MOBILITY Vehicles (HMMWV, RG-33, LT-ATV, Quads, etc.) where our unit personnel employed the acronym, "I D I O T". It's a humerous way of getting the point across while serving a point ... like KISS serves. I = Inspect D = Document I = Initiate O = Organize T = Take the time to get the freakin' thing fixed R.

Having stepped into a behive's argument, to be specific ... is it the driver's responsibility or that of the shops? When it comes to first-line identification of a potential mechanical problem and because the driver's job description typically doesn't include mechanical repair, what seems reasonable? I have it written in my PPM that tow operators are required to participate in meanial repair and maintenance tasks as they are required to wash tow trucks. Asking an operator to inspect for bearings is not an unreasonable task where I don't personally buy the comment, "It's not my job." If a tow operator has skills to load an expensive car or work a complicated recovery, shouldn't they be able to inspect a dolly bearing? This is a simple battle of whits and personalities of who's right or wrong? Thanks, your answers are helpful in settling this debate. R.

I'm stuck in-between a career tow operator and his company owner, both being A-aggressive personalities and having an argument about. "Who has responsibility to check dolly bearings? File this under, "Are you kidding me," I personally think the tower should be hte "hands-on person", as they are the one's using the equipment frequently. It's as simple as giving the visual inspection and the, Rocking Test" (hands on the tires of loaded dollies rocking them back and forth). Because dolly bearings are wear items, it's easy to determine if dolly bearing are bad or need to be services. Besides, how many drivers take time to actually check dolly bearings? The driver says, "I ain't no damned mechanic", yet the owner says it's part of the inspection. While both of them are technically correct, I tend to side with the owner asking the driver to step-up and be more proactive. That's the kind of driver I want on my team. The driver's pulling the, "That's bullshit card", but, I feel there's time for him to do so, especially when equipment's being supplied to him. I believe towers are responsible to do more than just look for cracks in tires and check tire pressure. If it means preventing a really nasty and potentially deadly accident, it makes good sense to check the dollies more than during the annual highway patrol inspection. What's your take? R.

That crash was on one of Northern California's senic backroads where they're narrow and windy. This crash was maybe two-hours away from the crash last month that killed the tow operator in Big Bar, Note: That giant old redwood was previously struck by lightning some time in its life ... but, that truck into that tree only messed up the bark. I too hope the driver makes a full recovery. R.

In California, a hard-hard, bump cap, or full-blown rescue helmet is NOT required by the California HIghway Patrol for companies that service as rotation providers. Ron challenged my choice of wording that, "hard hats are inexpensive," and he's right. Perhaps I should have worded this topic better as there IS a world of difference between a nine-dollar bump cap versus that of a rescue helmet. Pictured is my son Brandon outfitted with a rescue helmet worn by the Orange County (CA) Fire Department. I personally like how the helmet has a good size ledge to funnel water off the wearer's neck and to hang lighting devices and rescue goggles, while Comm's also fit over the edge. Once again the lack of industry standards sidesteps this requirement. Thanks John for your insight. I remember when skull-cap (helmets) came out for motorcycle riders to be in compliance with riding laws. At the time, a really cheap version of a skull-cap was made by Bell Helmets. Soon into production, a competitor (helmet) company came out with a bumper sticker that read ... "If you have a ten dollar head ... buy a ten dollar helmet." Those words ring true for the towing and recovery industry. I've thankfully have never been clocked in the head working a recovery scene, but when that happens, yer' bound to say bad words.

This comment stems from another post regarding a FexEx truck driver was stopped by police and determined the driver's license was suspended due to child support issues. I wrote an article in Towman on the subject in 2012 and I'm considering revisiting the topic. Have you ever had a license suspended due to child support? I have due to an error by the child support unit. It was a harrowing, frustrating, unfair and down-right mind-blowing trying to get the license reinstated.If a tow operator (parent) were to lose their CDL due to suspension, regardless as to what size tow truck, obviously they can't be insured right? If the driver is laid-off or is dismissed because they've become, "uninsurable", the driver loses their job. The company loses a driver, the driver loses any chance to earn the money for support, AND, the children lose support ultimatly due to them . So ... who loses here? What did you have to do (other than pay) to get the license back? Thanks. R.

Here's the viscious circle ... and I mean viscious. Question: If a tow operator (parent) were to lose their CDL due to suspension, regardless as to what size tow truck, obviously they can't be insured right? If the driver is laid-off or is dismissed because they've become, "uninsurable", the driver loses their job. The company loses a driver, the driver loses any chance to earn the money for support, AND, the children lose support ultimatly due to them . So ... who loses here? R

Grumps ... dude ... dude ... DUDE ! ! ! Yer' makin' me twitch Grumps. This was one of my lifetime's bitter-most, personal issues having to deal with the ex-witch when it came to child support. Many, many years ago, San Diego's Family Court Services misfiled one of my support payments and suspended my license. It was their ERROR and the FCS investigator made the correction immediately. HOWEVER, paperwork at DMV stalled and I was without my license for nearly two months. How's this for ironic; I was the tow company's manager who found out I was being suspended through California's Pull-Notice Program. At the time, I was the company's general manager and got the notice in the mail. I made numerous trips to the DA's office and drove no tow trucks for two months working only in the office and admin work. My boss was really accomondating as she dealt with the problem before with other driver, so I was lucky not to be kicked to the streets. In California, both Family Court and then the DMV must be satisfied that support is fully paid where no arrears are present. In this state, it doesn't matter what car is registered to whom, the State can hold any professional license and driver's license. In that, it's good advice to all towers to keep those child support payments current to keep your license from being pulled. Note: If your child support is painfully in arrears and depending on the amount owed, you could be arrested and jailed for due support. In this case, at least the officer didn't arrest the tower or impound the tow truck. I guess it's time for another article as a remineder that ... if you get behind for any reason ... simply put ... "yer' screwed." Don't be that dead-beat parent. R.

I too hope the driver and his customer are OK and pray for their quick recovery. What an especially frightening occurrence as a customer to have this happen. So, I look to focus on the cause of the crash and try and appoint teaching lessons to be learned. Years ago I wrote an article in Towman on the effects and dynamics of loaded flatbed carriers at-speed. From the brief description told herein, it sounds as though speed allegedly was the primary factor in the carrier crash. The reporting is pretty clear to include seatbelts not being worn as an additional cause of injury. I would guess that most companies don't ever have a training session on this topic. but one none-the-less critical to keeping the carrier upright and on its wheels. Accordingly, there's a term most drivers and tow operator don't know. The term is, "Yaw", as it relates to motions and actions caused by speed, momentum and gravity. Simply said, If the tow trucks, "Yaw Rate", is too much into a turn ... the truck's going over. And, once it reaches that tip-over point, there's generally no bringing the tip back to upright. (Hey Greg!!) R.

I like reading articles and hear that some police officers are trained as EMTs or have advanced emergency medical training. All the more reason that makes the argument to keep cops on streets and not defunded. One rarely reads about someone applying tourniquets these days (outside of military environments), so it sounds as though the bleeding was severe enough where the tourniquet was a lifesaving choice. The officer should be commended for his quick thinking and his choice of field application. Nice work. R.

That's a good size hit ... I hope the driver is OK. R.

This is an old topic that has reared it's ugly head again with new and younger generation of commercial officers showing up at heavy recoveries. Several heavy providers in different locations within the state have contacted me after they've been aggressively reprimanded by commercial officers regarding wearing hard-hats for towers performing recovery operations, specifically in Class C, D and Rotator operations. Per OSHA regulation: Section 29 CFR Part 1926 Subpart E (Personal Protective and Life Saving Equipment), §1926.95 (Criteria for personal protective equipment), and where Section 1926 defines, under §1926.28(a): “[t]he employer is responsible for requiring the wearing of appropriate personal protective equipment in all operations where there is an exposure to hazardous conditions or where this part indicates the need for using such equipment to reduce the hazards to the employees.” Hard-hats are inexpensive and serve a purpose in recovery.What (if anything) are you doing to meet PPE requirements for your employees doing heavy recovery? Do you provide hard-hats to your drivers or do they provide their own as part of their driver equipment? R.

I remember certain past recoveries where we'd have extra equipment to get the job done yet we didn't charge for everything used. In some cases it was a matter of adding that level of, "wow factor", expecially for law enforcment calls. We can all agree that Big Wheel Towing has plenty of wow factor right? On one, slow Sunday, the SDPD requested a truck for a stolen recovery; an old, beat-up and stripped Honda having tires and no keys three-quarters of a mile back into a difficult ravine. I sent a wrecker to the location in-case it needed to be lifted from a ditch, a carrier to transport it, but they stayed on-the-pavement. We used only our 4x4 recovery pickup and a length of shortened recovery chain to drag it to the roadway. With one of my tow driver's driving the pickup, I sat in the Honda and applied the brakes every few feet to scootch the front-end in-line with the pickup. The angle of turn and scootch caused the Honda to slide-over and stayed pretty much in the path of the 4x4 until we were back on hard pack and loaded onto the carrier. The officer was pleased. We charged for the 4x4 and two operators on-scene. Due the, "Zero Value", of the Honda, I was able to talk the PD into an abatement slip and the Honda went to scrap within a few days. R.

I used to be careful Grumps ... now I just play the old and stupid card ... but I wear my mask. R.

Not mentioned in the narrative above, I believe it's important that swivel hooks are a must for carriers to prevent accidental "reverse turning" of screw-in eyelets. For a few dollars more, a swiveling hook takes the worry out of accidental rollaway when all components are working as they should. R.

This rag looks nothing more than a spin-off to the 1971's movies, "Duel", and, "Duel II" ... Speilberg Films about a renegade semi-truck driver hell-bent and raged at a motorist played by Dennis Weaver. It's just what we need is another movie to trash the towing and recovery industry right? The only thing missing is the wrecker. R.

Those are some serious swaged loops hanging from the Skidsteer. R.

Hell ya' Mad Max ... especially after being equipped with a fifty-foot flame thrower. Call that, "Cook em' then hook em," under the title of, "Fried Lives Matter." Oh ... I'm sorry. Was that offensive? R.

Thanks Ron for sharing the pic. Although my eyes are the best in the world, it looks as though there is an early "AAA" badge on the front grill, upper left hand-corners. These are really rare and collectible and a great add to any vintage wrecker displayed in a tow truck pageant. Here's is a link to a collection of various AAA badges: https://www.etsy.com/market/aaa_badge

Hey Nick ... thanks for sharing the pics. Outstanding restoration job. These lights are getting more and more rare obviously driving the costs of purchase on Ebay. From my research, stats on tow operator fatalities weren't kept back in the old days as any tow operator fatality was simply recorded as a pedestrian accident. Not until the onset of TIM did accident reports begin tracking operator fatalities.