rreschran

Every operator should be able to reverse roll and to employ a catch-line like we've discussed. I have a lengthy segment on Day-2 hands-on for forward and rearward rolls. To make a simple rollover scenario more difficult ... and if you have a boom-truck to play with, I include a reverse roll telling those working the roll that the winch / cable is broken, but the hydraulics still work. That being the case, I have them rig chain only to provide lift with the boom to create the roll in the same manner the cable would do. While it's something that most likely will never happen, it's fun to watch some of those know it all big-rig drivers work this light-duty problem. It's all about the fun and learning how different systems and a little creativity garners the best results. I prefer reverse rolls especially with a twin-winch catch line. R.

Another great technique from the Pacific Northwest ... thanks Uzek.

These are the kinds of loads where professionals earn their mettle. Nice Work G.

121 ? ? ? Where do you live ... on the Sun? It must be a dry heat right? God Bless you ... I personally wouldn't have a prayer due to medical meltation. R.

Nice example of taking time to Ramp-up. R.

It's admirable to hear that you provide service to your local LE free gratis. Here in the big cities, if you're interested in being awarded a tow contract for some agencies, they stipulate free towing for their police vehicles and sometimes all of their city owned cars and trucks. That in itself can be a losing proposition when break-down volumn is way more than a couple vehicles per month. I really miss working in small town environments R.

You make good points Grumps about prior conversations with the customer PRIOR to your arrival. That's a great benefit as long as there's a name and phone number where the tower is able to provide safety instructions. It starts with call takers and dispatchers getting the complete information and passing it on to the tower. That doesn't always happen. You, being in a smaller community and taking the calls yourself gives you an ability to set the tone of safety before you arrive on-scene. I salute your efforts and comments and sharing them within. If you're interested, here's a California case that's really good reading on the subject: https://caselaw.findlaw.com/ca-court-of-appeal/1616140.html#:~:text=Ruben%20Monarrez%20suffered%20catastrophic%20injuries,held%20liable%20for%20Monarrez's%20injuries.

HI Cooter ... kudo's to you to teach em' young so they learn the proper mentality of working in this industry. Your comments of clueless customers is something I take extra time to cover in my CHP classes. Customers are clueless as to the dangers of the highway. I personally don't want customers helping me or being outside the tow truck ... even to watch. It's my practice to tell my highway customers that I can't start any tow, recovery or service UNTIL they're seated inside the tow truck with their seatbelts on. Behind the rail and up the embankment are other alternatives. My instructions are clearly spoken and explained to the point of being polite but verbally aggressive to get the point across. And then, I escort them to the truck's cab and ask if they understand my instructions while soliciting their, "yes", response. Over many years, I've had maybe four individuals who didn't want to sit in the truck. It takes tact and calm to simply explain the highway dangers and you just want them to be safe. R.

Hi Greg ... Welcome to the forum. How are you and your Mom doing in that 116-melting pot?

I've followed this case closely to learn that the Super Duty tow truck was reportedly stolen from a construction site. The subject in-custody was sought for numerous felony warrants. I'm releived to hear that a tow truck driver wasn't involved. What a weird chain of events. R.

Sandusky man killed on Turnpike UPDATE: The Ohio State Highway Patrol identified the other person killed as 45-year-old Darren Hebner, of Mentor. Hebner was the driver of the disabled vehicle. Troopers said all three vehicles were damaged in the crash, and that the investigation of the incident is ongoing. They also released new information on the driver who allegedly struck and killed the two men. "It was determined that Zachary Santoro was not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the crash and impairment is suspected," according to an updated news release from the Ohio State Highway Patrol. No criminal charges have yet been filed, the release states. Original post HENRIETTA TWP. — A Sandusky man and another man were killed late Tuesday in a roadside accident on the Ohio Turnpike. Eric Ackerman, 44, a tow truck operator, was assisting the driver of disabled vehicle when both he and the driver were hit by a pickup, according to a news release from the state Highway Patrol. The identity of the second man killed was not released pending notification of his family. Both men were pronounced dead at the scene, the Patrol said. Ackerman, who worked for Interstate Towing of Norwalk, and the other man, were both outside their vehicles on the right shoulder of the Turnpike eastbound, loading two jet skis from a trailer of the disabled vehicle onto the wrecker when they were hit, the Patrol said. The accident happened near mile marker 132 at about 11:23 p.m. Ackerman was was wearing a reflective vest at the time of the crash and the tow truck's overhead emergency lights were activated. The pickup went airborne after hitting the men, the trailer and the tow truck, overturning and landing upside down in the right lane. The driver of the 2009 Chevrolet 2500 pickup, Zachary Santoro, 30, of Bellevue, suffered minor injuries and was transported to Mercy Health-Lorain Hospital by ambulance. "The crash scene remains active at this time and the investigation is ongoing. Traffic is currently being restricted to pass on the left shoulder and the roadway is expected to fully reopen without restriction at approximately 4:30 a.m.," the Patrol's news release said. Editor's note: This story was edited to fix a mistake in the Patrol's original news release. Link: https://sanduskyregister.com/news/268098/sandusky-man-killed-on-turnpike/

Having watched news headlines in the past few days and especially for the towing and recovery industry ... I can only ask, "WHAT'S GOIN' ON ? ? ?" Here's the newest punch in the industry's face. Tow trucks running from the cops, people being pushed from a moving tow truck and run over and KILLED, tow truck driver allegedly trying to drive over the cops, cops shooting at tow trucks? What the HELL is going on? News video link below bad audio: https://foxbaltimore.com/news/local/officer-fires-shots-in-brooklyn-anne-arundel-county

Watching this video Ron included reminded of a similar incident years back where I covered a traffic unit who stopped a female for DUI. At the time he initiated the DUI stop, all was easy going until the female motorist failed the sobriety tests. When he told her she was under arrest for DUI, he was able to get one cuff on and she lit off like a banshee on-fire. The fight was on to the point he wasn't able to get both cuffs on. When I arrived, the officer got the loose cuff clammped to the front bumper of the police car. This little lady, wearing a nice dress, one shoe off, panty-hose torn, scuffed knees and all, proceeded to bust the antenna, rip both wipers, kick in the headlights and dented the fenders and hood. That my friends ... was the power of one pissed-off psycho woman clearly under the influence. She did aound $4,500 damage to the patrol car ... her third DUI. From this video, in the minute twenty-or-so seconds it took for him to get her cuffed, this officer must have told her nearly ten times, "Put your hands behind your back", he yelled, "Stop", at least 15-times, and I don't know how many, "Give me your arms." This behavior is the new norm where all this could have been prevented with a little cooperation with the inquiring officer. He asked simple questions that simply required simple answers. Tell me Mr. Biden ... how could a counselor served the law in this incident. Go back to chasing ambulances. R.

There's been much discussion in tow forums about rollovers and preventing rollaways. From the photo taken from an earlier post ... QUICK ... how would you put the E-Brake ON without climbing into the vehicle? It's right there. This is a simple process that can be conducted using a 1-inch motorcycle strap and ratchet. Situate the ratchet so it's not rolled-over on and smashed. Show your newer drivers how to find the E-Brake cable, and then, how to get the proper, "Angle of the Dangle", to set the E-Brake. Although it only takes a minute extra to apply the E-Brake from the outside, use it in-conjunction to long 4x4's placed on the roadway. Accordingly, make sure your tow truck or carrier has a readily reachable ratchet and strap that is grabbed at the moment you exit the truck and get to work. Once the process of attachment and angle are learned, it's quick and efficient and easily removed.

With this covid-crap going on, I for one have too much time on my hands. So, here's a suggestion to auto manufacturer's to design and implement by law a, "Cellphone Ignition System", in all vehicles. Each vehicle is equipped with a center console electronic safe with smart ignition technology like that of an DUI interlock ignition. Could this also be an aftermarket device required by law? At the onset to drive a motor vehicle, the driver MUST insert their cellphone into a console-safe that's one-way in. It's part of the ignition starting system. Once inserted, the "box" will read, "Stored", or something similar to indicate the cellphone is NOT accessible to the driver. Once the phone is secured, the car's system lock's the phone within and allows the car to start and drive in a normal manner. Once parked, the system unlocks the console and the phone is accessible to the driver. For those attempting to by-pass using a second phone, the car's electronics detects another cellphone and creates a shut-down warning. Just for fun ... whaddya' think? Any other ideas? R.

This is another CRAP news article that doesn't address a primary root problem that continues to kill towers and first responders ... Texting. R.

I salute Tommy and Tess Anderson for keeping Texas SWTOW open to help Texas towers meet TDLR's training as this virus wreaks havoc. While in California, I haven't had a class since March 3rd and don't plan on being exposed. R.

Hey Ron ... tactical vests (?) That's a discussion we've had before so I'm curious as to what the deciding factor was? Is it all this civil unrest or still a towing problem, or bother? Just interested. Thanks. R.

For motorists to slow-down and move-over, they've got to be 110-percent aware of their surroundings. Accordingly, they first have to recognize that something's within their field-of-vision that could prove to be hazardous. Tow trucks and emergency vehicles should have over-head lights activated to initiate slow-down and make the life-saving move away from the hazard, BUT, to be 110-percent in-control of the vehicle, it's speed and any reactionary movement, the vehicle's operator CAN'T be texting, dialing, scrolling their GPS, playing with the kids, reaching to the glovebox, yada, yada, yada. Law enforcement has got to be committed in keeping the pressure-on with writing SDMO citation and courts applying heavier fines for violators. And, to that, when cops are readily available to write more citations, why aren't they available in-between citations to be on-scene when towers are trying to remove vehicles from the highway's shoulders? More cops, more red and blues, and more on-scene presence is one great way to help reduce tow operator's being repeatedly killed. I salute this 6-State Trooper Project as it's something proactive and LONG over-due. R.

From another tow forum, one tower posted a picture of his injured back citing that someone on the highway failed to slow-down and move-over and brushed by him. Based on his comments, it suggests he was working on the white-line side of traffic when he narrowly excaped injury. For years, I've been teaching that the entire load process for wheellifts and carriers (on the highway) can be done entirely from the non-traffic side when practiced with an emergency mindset. Now, hold-on a sec, this process doesn't include the perfect four-point tie-down or the addition of complete safety chains, straps or extension lights. What the process means, load the vehicle in the fastest possible manner, secure the non-passenger side restraints, and then, drive to the first, widest or safest location where the load and tie-down process can be completed. If that means getting off the highway ... so be it. I dislike hearing towers who say, "I've never been hit", or, "It hasn't happened to me yet." There has to be a culture change where towers fully understand the deadly process of working highway shoulders. To that I'll say, "Pain is a powerful motivator", and I'll bet this young tower is (hopefully) enough to have learned a valuable lesson. Maybe my choice using the word, "ignorance", is unfair, but what does it take to get the point across? Being "unfair" doesn't say it like it is ... work off the white-line and increase the odds of survival. Because SDMO doesn't work and won't work into the future, survival is an individual mindset where staying away from traffic is a conscious choice. R.

Nice comments guys. From what I hear ya'all saying is ... practice makes perfect and having the right equipment helps. And, no, it's typically not used in light-duty applications. That's right ... I said ya'all. R.

Well said! I choose you for the jury Dave. R

To read the last sentence in this news blurb ... you'll see that the AMA's words are nothing more than pure placation. The last sentence read, "The Alberta government has given no indication as to when, or if the province will make changes to the law. Instead, government officials are simply saying they will look into ways to improve safety." Loosely translated, don't expect anything to come of this anytime soon if it happens at all? Actions always speak louder than words. R.

What an awesome story. Good Luck William on your retirement. Fifty-years in business is a great milestone. I wish you the very best. R.

You're welcome.